District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Government Files Complaint Against CA Inc. for False Claims on GSA ContractRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The government has filed a complaint against CA Inc. (CA) for violations of the False Claims Act in connection with a General Services Administration (GSA) contract, the Justice Department announced today. CA manufactures and sells information technology products and is headquartered in Islandia, New York.
“We expect companies that do business with the government to comply with their contractual obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery. “As this case demonstrates, we will take action against those who seek to abuse the government’s procurement process.”
“Too many federal contractors think they can get away with overcharging the government,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. “Our complaint alleges that CA broke its promise to give the government the discounts promised under the contract, as well as the same prices it was giving commercial customers. We look forward to vigorously pressing these claims in court and recovering every dollar that is owed to the American taxpayer.”
In September 2002, CA entered into a GSA contract to provide software licenses, software maintenance, training and consulting services to various government agencies. The government’s complaint alleges that, since at least 2006, CA knowingly overcharged the government for software licenses and maintenance in various ways. For example, the government alleges that CA provided incomplete and inaccurate information to GSA contracting officers during negotiation of contract extensions. At the time CA negotiated these extensions, applicable regulations and contract provisions required CA to fully and accurately disclose how it conducted business in the commercial marketplace, so GSA could use that information to negotiate a fair price for government customers. The government also alleges that CA failed to truthfully update its discounting practices during the life of the GSA contract. CA repeatedly certified to GSA that its discounting policies and practices had not changed, when in fact its discounts to commercial customers had increased.
The government’s complaint also alleges that, since 2002, CA failed to apply properly the contract’s price reduction clause. The contract required CA to monitor discounts to certain commercial customers, compare these discounts to the discounts given to the government and, if the commercial discounts were higher, pass on those higher discounts to the government. The government alleges that CA failed to make those comparisons or, when it did make such comparisons, failed to do so correctly, resulting in the government overpaying for CA’s information technology.
CA’s contract is a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. Under the MAS program, GSA pre-negotiates prices and contract terms for subsequent orders by federal agencies. Agencies that purchase under CA’s contract include the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor.
“Companies doing business with the federal government on a GSA schedule must disclose current, accurate, and complete commercial discounts, so that GSA can get the best prices on behalf of American taxpayers,” said GSA Acting Inspector General Robert C. Erickson. “We will continue to investigate all allegations indicating that the federal government may have been overcharged by a contractor.”
Some of the allegations that are the subject of the government’s complaint were filed in a lawsuit originally brought by Dani Shemesh, a former employee of CA Israel Ltd., under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The Act also authorizes the government to intervene and assume primary responsibility for litigating the lawsuit, as the government has done in this case. The government had previously notified the court that it intended to join in Shemesh’s lawsuit and file its own complaint.
This investigation reflects a coordinated effort among the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the GSA’s Office of Inspector General.
The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Dani Shemesh v. CA Inc., No. 09-1600 (D.D.C.). The complaint filed by the government contains allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
14-124Former Council Member Michael A. Brown Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Accepting $55,000 in BribesBrown Also Admitted Carrying Out Separate Schemes Involving Contributions to Two Council CampaignsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael A. Brown, a former member of the Council of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 39 months in prison for carrying out a scheme in which he accepted a total of $55,000 in a series of meetings with undercover FBI agents posing as officials of a company that purportedly wanted to win government contracting opportunities.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Thomas J. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Brown, 49, pled guilty to a federal bribery charge in June 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Chief Judge Richard W. Roberts. The plea agreement called for Brown to pay a money judgment of $35,000 in forfeiture, covering the amount of money he collected before confronted by law enforcement. Upon completion of his prison term, Brown will be placed on two years of supervised release; during that time, Chief Judge Roberts ordered that he perform 200 hours of community service.
Brown was the third member of the Council of the District of Columbia to plead guilty within the past three years to federal charges involving crimes committed while they were in office. Harry L. Thomas Jr., who represented Ward 5, pled guilty in January 2012 to federal theft and tax charges in a scheme in which he used more than $350,000 in taxpayer money for his own personal benefit. Kwame R. Brown, the Council’s former Chairman, pled guilty in June 2012 to a federal charge of bank fraud, involving two personal loans, and a second criminal charge involving a violation of the District of Columbia’s campaign finance laws.
The charge against Michael A. Brown involved a scheme in which he admitted taking the cash payments in return for his assistance in winning the District of Columbia government’s approval for a company that was seeking to be classified as a Certified Business Enterprise, a designation that would create potentially lucrative business opportunities; Brown also agreed to help the company with government contracting opportunities.
Also, in two separate schemes, Brown admitted concealing the true source of $20,000 that was secretly contributed to his failed bid in 2007 for a seat on the District of Columbia Council and over $100,000 that was secretly contributed to his successful bid in 2008 for a seat on the District of Columbia Council. Under the plea agreement, Brown will not be criminally prosecuted for this conduct.
“Rather than wielding his political power to serve the citizens of the District of Columbia who voted for him, Michael Brown exerted his influence on behalf of purported contractors who were willing to line his pockets with hundred-dollar bills,”said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Brown’s decision to auction off the public trust was especially disappointing because of his enormous potential to stand as a bright light for the residents of this city. His term of incarceration will hopefully serve as an admonition to other public officials who are considering betraying their oath of office for fast cash.”
“In a shame to his oath of office and his duty to the District of Columbia, Mr. Brown took $55,000 in bribes and evaded campaign finance laws,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that no one is above the law. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to investigate public officials who abuse the public trust and use their office to commit illegal acts.”
**Brown was elected as an At-large member of the District of Columbia Council in 2008 and took office in January 2009. He left office on Jan. 2, 2013, following his defeat last November for re-election. Brown then launched a bid to win another At-large Council seat in a special election scheduled for April 23, 2013. However, he withdrew his candidacy on April 2, 2013, less than three weeks after he was confronted by law enforcement in the bribery scheme.
Bribery Scheme:
According to a statement of offense signed by the government as well as the defendant, Brown’s At-large Council duties included acting as Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Housing. The committee is responsible for matters related to economic, industrial and commercial development. The bribery scheme focused largely on a special program run by the District of Columbia government to help its small local businesses become economically viable: the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program.
Status as a CBE carries preferential procurement and contracting opportunities. To be eligible for this designation, businesses must meet certain requirements and be certified by the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD).
Prior to July 11, 2012, Brown had discussions about obtaining assistance of $50,000 to $75,000 for Brown from a government contractor. Brown expected to assist the government contractor with its business if the contractor provided such financial assistance to Brown.
These discussions led to a series of meetings with two undercover FBI agents, posing as employees of a Maryland company that wanted CBE approval and contracting opportunities. Between July 2012 and March 2013, Brown met in person with one or both of the undercover agents a total of eight times. He was in contact with one of the undercover agents on more than 30 separate days, in person, by phone, or by text, frequently seeking payment, in whole or in part, for the efforts he was making on the company’s behalf.
Over the months, Brown made calls on the company’s behalf to the director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development, introduced the undercover agents to a contractor at a symposium he sponsored, and took other actions meant to speed through the company’s attempts to win approval as a CBE. He continued these efforts even after his defeat in the November 2012 election. In January 2013, the Department of Small and Local Business Development did a site visit for the company’s application.
Brown accepted a total of $55,000 in five of the meetings. The final meeting was March 14, 2013, in which he accepted a $20,000 payment.
The company subsequently withdrew its CBE application.
Campaign Finance Scheme:In the spring of 2007, Brown was a candidate in a special election for the Ward 4 seat on the D.C. Council. Around that time, he met with business owner Jeffrey E. Thompson about obtaining funding for his campaign.
Thompson is the former chairman, chief executive officer, and majority owner of Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio and Associates (TCBA), a corporation that provided accounting, management, consulting, and tax services. He also is the former chairman, chief executive officer, and owner of D.C. Healthcare Systems, Inc. (DCHSI), an investment holding and for-profit corporation. Both companies generated millions of dollars in government contracts.
Thompson and six others have pled guilty to charges involving Thompson’s illegal contributions to numerous federal and District of Columbia campaigns.
In seeking the contribution in 2007, Brown understood that Thompson would not contribute in a public manner because certain business activities required support for other candidates, based on various political dynamics.
Brown understood that the contribution from Thompson would be publicly disclosed as having been contributed in the name of another person. He also understood from his discussion that it would exceed the limits on the amount that an individual could contribute to a political campaign committee. At the end of the meeting, “Thompson told Brown that Brown would hear from somebody to arrange the contribution.
Following this meeting, Brown was contacted by Eugenia C. Harris, another business owner, in the District of Columbia. Then, as agreed upon by Brown, Harris and Thompson a series of bank transfers began taking place. Brown understood that a total of $20,000 originated from Thompson. Harris sent two wire transfers, of $10,000 each, to Brown’s personal bank account. Brown, in turn, contributed the funds to his campaign.
Brown subsequently caused the campaign committee to file a form with the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance that publicly disclosed that Brown made an individual contribution of $25,000 to his political campaign committee, which Brown knew disguised the fact that Thompson was the source of most of this money.
Harris pled guilty in July 2012 to charges in the investigation.
Following Brown’s guilty plea, additional evidence was discovered about the extent of the contributions that Thompson secretly made to Brown’s successful campaign in 2008 for a seat on the District of Columbia Council. Brown admitted to this activity in an amended statement of offense filed in February 2014.
Among other things, Brown admitted that after losing the Ward 4 seat in 2007, he decided to enter the election for an At-large seat on the D.C. Council in 2008. Brown once again met with Thompson, who in October 2008 secretly channeled more than $100,000, through Harris, for a get-out-the-vote effort. Brown subsequently won the election for the Council seat.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Special Agent in Charge Kelly commended those who investigated the case for the FBI and IRS-CI.
They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael K. Atkinson, David A. Last, and Bryan Seeley of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony D. Saler, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Finally, they expressed thanks for assistance provided by Forensic Accountant Maria Boodoo; Paralegal Specialists Tasha Harris and Krishawn Graham, and Legal Assistant Angela Lawrence.
14-125Maryland Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Supplying Network That Distributed Cocaine and Heroin-Arrest Followed DEA Investigation-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Herman Curtis Malone, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Md., was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for his role in a network that distributed substantial quantities of cocaine and heroin in the Washington, D.C. area.
The sentencing, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Karl C. Colder,Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Malone pled guilty in March 2014 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ellen S. Huvelle. Upon completion of his prison term, Malone will be placed on five years of supervised release; during that time-frame, he must perform 75 hours of community service each year. Malone also must pay a forfeiture money judgment of $150,000.
Malone, who helped run youth basketball programs, had been convicted of a narcotics offense during the 1990s in Prince George’s County, Md. He was arrested on the current offenses on Aug. 9, 2013, following a DEA Group-43 Cross-Border-Task-Force investigation.
Three others have pled guilty to charges in the case. Clarence Redd, 35, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a charge of distribution of heroin that took place in August of 2012. He was sentenced to a 90-month prison term. Derico Williams, 36, of Silver Spring, Md., and Stephen Williams, 30, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Both men are awaiting sentencing; they are not related.
Another defendant, Micah Jerry Bidgell, 47, of Washington, D.C., is a fugitive.
According to the government’s evidence, Malone himself conspired with others from August 2012 to August 2013 to distribute cocaine and heroin in the Washington, D.C. area. Malone acknowledged that as part of the conspiracy he was responsible for at least five kilograms of cocaine and at least 100 grams of heroin.
On Aug. 9, 2013, the DEA found a loaded .40-caliber handgun in the upstairs bedroom of Malone’s home in Upper Marlboro. Downstairs in the basement, agents found 998.5 grams of cocaine and 81.2 grams of heroin; a bag of .40-caliber ammunition; and cocaine residue in a sink and trash can. Malone, as someone who had been previously convicted in 1991 of a felony offense for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Prince George’s County, Md., was not lawfully able to possess a firearm.
“Curtis Malone had the opportunity to be a positive role model for young people, but with today’s prison sentence, he becomes a cautionary tale,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “The lesson is simple: peddling drugs and toting guns will put you behind bars. We hope that young people who see Malone’s fate will steer clear of the lifestyle that led to his downfall.”
“The cloak that Curtis Malone wore for more than two decades has been removed and a man who was once entrusted with his community's most valuable assets, its children, will no longer live freely in the community that he was covertly destroying,” said Special Agent in Charge Colder “DEA has assured that Mr. Malone will pay a dear price for dealing heroin and cocaine on the streets of the District, all the while touting himself as a mentor to children. As a father, I cannot think of anything worse in life than being entrusted the future of our youth and abusing that privileged as Mr. Malone has clearly done.”
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge Colder commended the work of those who investigated the case for the DEA. They also expressed appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Maryland State Police, and the Maryland Park Police. Assistance was provided by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge Colder also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca, Starla Stolk, Candace Battle, Teesha Tobias, Regan Gibson, Kim Hall and Mary Downing; former Paralegal Specialist Jeremy Stoller; Legal Assistants Jessica Moffatt, Tammy Scott, Latoya Wade, and Diane Brashears, and former Legal Assistant Niya Attucks. They recognized the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allessandra Stewart, Zia Faruqui, and Arvind K. Lal, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Gripkey, Darlene M. Soltys, and Nihar R. Mohanty, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Zamarin, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
14-122Maryland Man Sentenced to Nine-Year Prison Term for Attacking Woman Near Northeast Washington Metro StationTwo Good Samaritans Came to Victim’s Aid, Helped Police Apprehend the DefendantRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Quamain Jacks, 23, of Hyattsville, Md., was sentenced today to a nine-year prison term on charges stemming from an attack in January 2013 against a woman near a Metro station in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Jacks, also known as Kwamane Jacks, was found guilty by a jury in February 2014, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of felony threats, kidnapping, misdemeanor sexual abuse, simple assault and malicious destruction of property. He was sentenced by the Honorable William M. Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Jacks will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Jacks accosted the 26-year-old victim in the early evening hours of Jan. 17, 2013, as she was walking home from the Brookland Metro station in Northeast Washington. Jacks, a stranger, ran up behind her and grabbed her buttocks. The victim turned, faced Jacks, pushed him off her, and kept walking.
About two blocks later, Jacks approached the victim again, asked her if she “wanted to die” and began dragging her behind a line of trees. He punched her repeatedly, breaking her glasses. He then put his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming as he straddled her and ran his hand along the rim of her tights. She bit him as a result.
Two students from Catholic University came to the victim’s rescue and chased Jacks off of the victim. After getting the victim into their home across the street from the scene of the crime, these Good Samaritans noticed a man who looked like the attacker, outside in the area near the front of their home. They asked the victim to look out at him and she immediately recognized the defendant as the man who attacked her both times. Jacks was subsequently arrested.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Tracey Hawkins and Katina Adams-Washington; Paralegal Specialist Tiffany Jones; members of the Litigation Technology Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenya K. Davis, who prosecuted the matter.
14-120Man Found Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter While Armed in May 2012 Stabbing in Northwest WashingtonDefendant Started Argument, Leading to AltercationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Jonathan Dawkins, 32, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the stabbing of a man in May 2012 in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The verdict was returned in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, following a three-day trial. The Honorable Russell F. Canan scheduled sentencing for Aug. 8, 2014. Dawkins faces a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 1, 2012, at about 2:15 a.m., the victim, Dwayne Brisbon, 33, was stabbed to death in the 400 block of Florida Avenue NW. Mr. Brisbon, a CT scan technician at Washington Hospital Center, was on his way home from Marvin, a bar and restaurant in the 2000 block of 14th Street NW. On his way home, Mr. Brisbon pulled his car over to check on a person he recognized from the establishment.
Dawkins, who was walking with the person, became upset and aggressively approached Mr. Brisbon’s car. Dawkins began arguing with Mr. Brisbon. Mr. Brisbon eventually got out of his car and walked to the rear of the car, where Dawkins met him. Mr. Brisbon punched Dawkins, and the two continued to fight. During the fight, Dawkins stabbed Mr. Brisbon in the upper left bicep and the neck, piercing his carotid artery and jugular vein.
Dawkins then fled the scene while Mr. Brisbon got back in his car in an attempt to drive himself to the hospital. Mr. Brisbon lost consciousness within seconds, and crashed into Shaw’s Tavern in the 500 block of Florida Avenue NW. Surveillance video from Shaw’s Tavern captured the defendant and the person who was with him just minutes before the murder.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of members of the Metropolitan Police Department, who investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Machen also thanked those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Mia Beamon and Kelly Blakeney; Victim/Witness Services Coordinators La June Thames and Katina Adams-Washington; Litigation Support Specialist Kimberly Smith; Criminal Investigator Durand Odom; and Victim Witness Specialist Tamara Ince. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holly Shick and Veronica Sanchez, who prosecuted the case.
14-121District Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Death of Infant Son at Northeast Washington ConventDefendant Smothered Baby Shortly After Giving BirthRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sosefina Amoa, 26, formerly of Samoa, was sentenced today to four years in prison on a charge of voluntary manslaughter stemming from the death of her infant son at a convent in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Amoa pled guilty to the charge in February 2014 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Robert E. Morin. Upon completion of her prison term, Amoa will be placed on five years of supervised release. She also is subject to deportation proceedings.
According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, Amoa arrived in the United States from Samoa on Oct. 5, 2013. She then entered a program to become a member of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an international congregation of Roman Catholic women who provide worldwide service to the elderly poor. She was considered a “Postulant,” a person who wanted to be admitted into a religious order. Amoa moved into the Little Sisters of the Poor’s convent in Northeast Washington, where she was to reside for five months while she received religious classes, learned doctrine, experienced prayer and community life, and cared for residents.
On Oct. 10, 2013, Amoa asked to be excused from her duties and went to her room. The baby was born in Amoa’s room that morning. Amoa cleaned the room in what authorities determined was an attempt to hide the birth of the child.
The following morning, Oct. 11, 2013, Amoa contacted one of the Sisters and took her to her room, where she showed her the baby. The Sister knew that the infant was dead.
Amoa gave conflicting accounts to the Sisters and police about what happened. Ultimately, on Oct. 16, 2013, she told detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that, after she gave birth to the child, the baby fell to the floor. She said that she got on the floor next to the baby, not knowing what to do, and that she was afraid that someone would hear crying and learn of her pregnancy. According to Amoa, she then placed a wool garment over the baby’s nose and mouth and applied pressure with her hand for two to three minutes.
The District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was asphyxia. The infant was a fully developed, full-term baby, born alive. There was evidence in the lungs that the baby had cried and had been alive before being asphyxiated. Additionally, there was bruising and scratches to the infant’s nostrils.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney, Victim/Witness Advocates Marcia Rinker and Lorraine Chase, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who prosecuted the case.
14-119New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charge for Stealing More Than $130,000 in Two Schemes That Spanned, D.C., Maryland and New YorkAdmits Collecting Fraudulent Unemployment Benefits, as Well as Stealing from Former EmployerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sakinah Smith, 26, of New York, N.Y., pled guilty today to a federal charge stemming from a pair of schemes, including one in which she used stolen personal identification information to collect more than $80,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits, and another in which she stole more than $50,000 from a former employer.
The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Bill Jones, Special Agent in Charge for the Washington Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and Blanche L. Bruce, Interim Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Smith pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of wire fraud. The Honorable Senior Judge Thomas F. Hogan scheduled sentencing for Aug. 27, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the parties have agreed that Smith faces a likely range of 21 to 27 months of incarceration and a fine of up to $50,000. She also has agreed to make full restitution and to pay an additional $15,246 as a forfeiture money judgment.
According to a statement of offense filed as part of the guilty plea, Smith created an events planning service in 2009 in Washington, D.C. She created a website for “Saki Mone Events Management” and posted employment advertisements on Craigslist. Potential applicants were asked to provide personal information, including dates of birth and social security numbers.
Smith then used this personal information to fraudulently request unemployment benefits in the names of 17 individual applicants. Between 2009 and 2012, Smith obtained $80,111 in fraudulent unemployment benefits from the District of Columbia, Maryland and New York. The benefits, in the names of the 17 applicants, were deposited into Smith’s own financial accounts.
In a second scheme, Smith admitted that she fraudulently wired about $52,174 from an employer’s bank account to accounts she created for herself. This activity took place from November 2009 through May 2010, while Smith was working for a temporary employment agency in Washington, D.C.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, Special Agent in Charge Jones, and Interim Inspector General Bruce commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Labor Department’s Inspector General’s Office, and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General. They also thanked the New York State Department of Labor – Office of Special Investigations; the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – Division of Unemployment Insurance; the Virginia Employment Commission; the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, and the Burlington, N.C. Police Department for providing assistance in the investigation.
They acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo and Angela Lawrence, Intelligence Specialist Sharon Johnson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who assisted on forfeiture issues. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, who is prosecuting the matter.
14-118Maryland Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductWith A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew Scanlon, 31, of Pasadena, Md., was sentenced today to 51 months in prison on charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Scanlon pled guilty to the charges in February 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Rudolph Contreras. Upon completion of his prison term, Scanlon will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on July 10, 2013, Scanlon contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social network site. Over the next few days, Scanlon engaged in e-mail and text message conversations with the undercover officer, whom the defendant believed was the father of an under-aged girl. During this period of time, Scanlon arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.
During the course of their communications, Scanlon also sent the undercover officer one still image and two videos of child pornography. On July 16, 2013, Scanlon traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested. Pursuant to a search of an external hard drive seized from the defendant’s residence, law enforcement recovered approximately 225 additional images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute those who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and
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Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who is prosecuting the case.District Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges in $3 Million Embezzlement Scheme-Defendant Bought House and Trips to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, and Hawaii-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Howard E. Person, Jr., 36, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to fraud charges stemming from his embezzlement of $3 million from a small business in the District of Columbia, using his employer’s money for the purchase of a house, trips to casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and other personal expenses.
The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Kathy A. Michalko, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service.
Person pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to Interstate Transportation of Money Taken by Fraud. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2014. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Person faces a likely range of 46 to 57 months in prison. As part of his plea, person must pay $3.2 million in restitution.
According to the government’s factual proffer, Person was hired to be the Finance Director of a small business in the District of Columbia. As the Finance Director, Person managed and maintained all of the financial accounts and records for the company. He was responsible for and oversaw the company’s payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoices, bank accounts, loans, and expense payments. From March 2008 to September 2011, Person diverted money from the company to another account which he exclusively controlled in order to embezzle money from the company. He accomplished the theft by opening a bank account in the name of the company but with himself as the sole person with authority to conduct financial transactions on the account. The owner of the company was not aware of this account and did not authorize Person to maintain a company account solely in his exclusive control.
Person then obtained payment checks which had been mailed or delivered from the company’s clients for payment of work performed; instead of depositing the checks into the authorized company bank account, Person caused them to be deposited into the secret account over which he had exclusive control. Person arranged for clients to make electronic payments to the secret account instead of the authorized account for work performed by the company.
Person also arranged for a finance company to send money to the secret account through its system of financing Accounts Receivable for expected payments for work performed by the company, without the knowledge and permission of the owner.
Through this method of depositing checks, diverting client payments, and financing loans, Person obtained in the secret account approximately $6,545,000, which was due and owing the company.
In order to conceal the theft, Person transferred approximately $3,336,000 from the secret account to the company-authorized account and at times paid legitimate company expenses. He also used fake invoices substantially underreporting the amounts of money due and owing to the company. In this way, Person was able to trick the owner into believing that the amounts of deposits into the authorized account matched the incoming money as reflected on the fake invoices.
Person also obtained debit cards on the secret account enabling him to charge goods and services to be paid by the money in the secret account which was funded by money he stole from the company. Person spent the $3,209,000 in stolen money for his own personal business and enjoyment, including: purchasing his home in the District of Columbia, in an amount in excess of $340,000; paying for trips to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, the Dominican Republic, and Hawaii; transferring money into his personal bank account and into his side-line business account; funding parties and shows; and causing withdrawals of over $55,000 in cash from ATMs and over $35,000 in debit card purchases at casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Chief Lanier, and Special Agent in Charge Michalko expressed appreciation for the work performed by MPD detectives from the Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit as well as by the Special Agents and financial analysts from the U.S. Secret Service. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigator Juan Juarez, Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo and Corinne Kleinman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Kavanaugh and Anthony Saler, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Chris Dobbie, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Virginia Cheatham and Bryan Seeley, who are prosecuting the case.
14-116District Man Sentenced to 75 Years in Prison for 2008 Shooting That Killed Two People-Targeted One Victim in Dispute; Other Was Innocent Bystander-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Arvel Crawford, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 75 years in prison on first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and related weapons charges for the slayings of two people in 2008, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Crawford was found guilty by a jury in February 2014, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Jennifer Anderson.
At trial, the government’s evidence established that on Aug. 14, 2008, at about 10 a.m., Crawford snuck up on Johnquan Wright, 18, in front of a building in the unit block of K Street NW and shot him multiple times in the back. One of the shots went through Mr. Wright and hit and killed Nolan Cooper, 61, an innocent bystander. In the months preceding the murders, a dispute had arisen between two groups of young men in the Sursum Corda neighborhood, leading to multiple homicides. Crawford and Mr. Wright were on opposite sides of this dispute.
In a separate case, Crawford is serving an 18-year prison sentence for killing his father on Dec. 1, 2009 in a robbery conspiracy gone awry. Today’s sentence runs consecutively to the prison time in that case.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and evidence technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Meridith McGarrity and Kwasi Fields; Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince; Intelligence Specialist Zachary McMenamin, and Litigation Technology Specialists Anisha Bhatia and Paul Howell.
Finally, he acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Bach, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Magdalena Acevedo and Glenn Kirschner, who prosecuted the case at trial.
14-113District Man Sentenced to 73 Years in Prison for Killing A Man During 2009 Kidnapping and RobberyTwo Co-Defendants Earlier Sentenced, One to Life in Prison, One to 90 YearsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Merle Watson, Jr., 57, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 73-year prison term on charges stemming from the 2009 killing of a man during a kidnapping and robbery, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Watson and co-defendants Keith Logan and Paul Ashby were found guilty by a jury in August 2013 of first-degree murder while armed, with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy, kidnapping while armed, armed robbery, and weapons offenses. Logan also was found guilty of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and mayhem while armed, for shooting a potential witness on the night of the murder. The verdicts followed several weeks of trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. sentenced Watson today. Logan and Ashby, also of Washington, D.C., were sentenced in April 2014 by Judge Dixon. Logan, 52, was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of release, and Ashby, 51, to a 90-year prison term.
According to the government’s evidence, Watson, Logan, and Ashby conspired to kidnap and rob Carnell Bolden, 36. They lured Mr. Bolden into Logan’s residence in the unit block of W Street NW during the early evening hours of Dec. 30, 2009. After beating him unconscious and tying him up, the defendants then went to get Mr. Bolden’s car, which was parked on the block.
Watson, Logan, and Ashby then discovered that Mr. Bolden’s girlfriend was sitting in the car. Fearing she would be a witness against them because she might know where Mr. Bolden was going when he left the car, they then decided to kill both of them.
Ashby drove Mr. Bolden, tied up and unconscious, to the 3000 block of Park Drive SE, where he dragged him into a wooded area adjacent to that block. He then shot Mr. Bolden twice at close range with a .38 or .357-caliber handgun, killing him.
While Ashby was on the way to Southeast Washington with Mr. Bolden, Logan approached Mr. Bolden’s girlfriend as she sat in her car. He stood outside the driver’s window and shot her four times with a nine-millimeter handgun. She was rushed to Washington Hospital Center and survived the attack.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, and the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va.
He also thanked those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates and Specialists Marcia Rinker, La June Thames, Katina Adams-Washington, and Michael Hailey; Paralegal Specialists Sandra Lane, Kendra Johnson, Kwasi Fields, Anthony Griffith, and Antoinette Sakamsa; Litigation Technology Specialists Paul Howell, William Henderson, and Anisha Bhatia; Law Clerks Lauren Sparks and Ryan Lipes, and Criminal Investigators Derek Starliper, Mark Crawford, Nelson Rhone, Chris Brophy, and Melissa Matthews. In addition, he acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alessio Evangelista, who led the grand jury investigation, and Reagan Taylor, who helped prepare the case for trial. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Liebman and Erik Kenerson, who tried the case.
14-114District Man Sentenced to 15-Year Prison Term for Brazen Home Invasion in Southeast Washington-Second Assailant Was Fatally Shot by Victim-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Jaren Holley, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 15-year prison term for a brazen, armed home invasion he committed in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced. During the crime, Holley’s accomplice was fatally shot by one of the victims, who feared for his life.
Holley pled guilty in January 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of first-degree burglary, aggravated assault, and a firearms offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ronna L. Beck. Upon completion of his prison term, Holley will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Sept. 19, 2012, at about 8:30 p.m., Holley and 21-year-old Joel Johnson armed themselves with firearms and participated in a home invasion in the 4200 block of First Street SE. The victim was returning to his apartment building from a grocery store. Holley and Johnson waited until the victim was closing the door to his residence. At that point, they rushed the door and pushed past him into the man’s third-floor apartment. A woman in the residence was cooking dinner when the assailants rushed in.
Holley assaulted the man by hitting him on the head with a firearm, while Johnson ran after the woman. She was able to escape into her room, and then managed to jump out the third-floor window to get away. She broke her ankle and several toes, and ran away in search of aid.
Meanwhile, the man struggled with Holley, and gained control of Holley’s firearm. After losing control of his gun, Holley repeatedly urged Johnson to shoot and kill the man. Johnson had his gun drawn, and the man, believing he was about to be shot, fired the gun he took from Holley twice. Johnson died on the scene from gunshot wounds. Holley then fled out the window and was able to leave the area without injury. Holley was arrested several days after the attack. During his flight, Holley left behind a hat which was found to contain his DNA.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Richard Cheatham, Anthony Griffith, and Antoinette Sakamsa. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tejpal S. Chawla, George Pace and James Petkun.
14-115Former Army Contracting Official Indicted on Federal Charges in Bribery and Kickback SchemeDefendant Accused of Taking Cash, Vacations, and Other Benefits, Including Part Ownership of Two Companies Awarded Government ContractsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – In Seon Lim, a former contracting official for the U.S. Department of the Army, was arrested today following his indictment on federal bribery and other charges in a scheme in which he allegedly accepted more than $350,000 in cash, along with vacations and other benefits, from favored contractors.
The indictment was announced by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Thomas J. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector General for the Small Business Administration (SBA); Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); and Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU).
Lim, 48, of Fairfax Station, Va., also known as InSeon Lim, was indicted on May 8, 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The 10-count indictment, which was unsealed following today’s arrest, accuses Lim of one count of conspiracy, four counts of bribery, money laundering, a tax offense, and related charges. Lim made his initial court appearance today and was released pending a status hearing May 20, 2014.
Lim is the latest person to be charged in an investigation into domestic bribery, bid-rigging, and federal contracting. A total of 17 individuals and one corporation, Nova Datacom, LLC, have pled guilty to federal charges, and a second company, Saena Tech Corp., entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.
The indictment provides notice that, if convicted, the United States will seek forfeiture of all proceeds of the charged offenses, including Lim’s house in Fairfax Station.
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“A federal grand jury has charged this Army official with taking more than $350,000 in cash, a Lexus, and a trip to the Bahamas in exchange for steering business to crooked contractors,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Seventeen people and one corporation have already pled guilty as part of this sweeping investigation into bribery in federal contracting. The wide reach of these prosecutions should send a clear message to corrupt public officials and contractors who use secret payoffs to cheat the system.”
“Accepting personal gifts in exchange for favorable action on government contracts steals from the American taxpayer and has no place in government contracting,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “Working together to protect federal funds, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to ensure that those who commit fraud and corruption are brought to justice.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation is focused on cases in which greedy public officials, who for their own personal benefit, use their official position to accumulate ill-gotten wealth at a cost to the taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly. “The illegal activity detailed in the indictment regarding this bribery and kickback scheme was both extensive and significant. IRS Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, is committed to investigating cases just like these.”
“Federal small business contracts are not pay-to-play,” said SBA Inspector General Gustafson. “Corruption, bribery, and deceitful actions will be rooted out of the system, and those responsible will be brought to justice. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their cooperation and dedication to this investigation.”
“It's a sad day when the public's trust is shaken by the criminal acts of government officials who are entrusted to safeguard our taxpayer dollars, said DCIS Special Agent in Charge Craig. “However, today sends a strong message that DCIS, along with its investigative partners, will ensure prosecution of those individuals to the fullest extent of the law, no matter who they are or what position they hold.”
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According to the indictment, Lim was a public official until April 2012. The charges involve his activities as an assistant project manager and product director with the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems, a part of the Army that provides infrastructure and informational management systems.
The indictment covers activities from May 2007 through October 2011.
Until June 2010, Lim resided and worked in Seoul, South Korea. While in South Korea, his primary duties were to oversee and implement communications systems upgrades for the U.S. forces there, which included approximately 10 communications centers and various other special projects at military sites throughout the country. Among other things, Lim coordinated work on a major contract, which, in turn, had numerous sub-contracts.
From June 2010 until his resignation in April 2012, Lim worked as a product director at Fort Belvoir, Va.
The indictment alleges that Lim secretly used his official position to enrich himself by soliciting and accepting gifts, payments and other things of value from government contractors in return for favorable official action. Among other things, the indictment alleges, Lim received payments personally and to accounts that he controlled; payments for travel, vacation, vehicles, cellphones and cellular service for himself and family members; payments for female escorts; ownership interests in two companies, and assistance in obtaining home financing.
The government contractors, meanwhile, enriched themselves by secretly obtaining favorable official action, the indictment alleges. At Lim’s direction, some of the contractors allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices for purported work that was not actually performed. Also at Lim’s direction, the indictment alleges, these contractors then paid him a portion of the proceeds generated by the fraudulent invoices.
The indictment provides details about numerous contracts and payments. For example:
-Nova Datacom: According to the indictment, two former employees of the company - Alex N. Cho, also known as Young N. Cho, and Nick Park - separately paid Lim a total of $50,000 in cash in 2007. In addition, Park paid for Lim’s travel, lodging, meals and entertainment during a trip to the Philippines in 2007, and Cho paid for lodging and a $1,000 casino chip during a trip later that year to Las Vegas, the indictment alleges.
-Avenciatech: According to the indictment, two former officials of Avenciatech, Inc., a government contractor based in Annandale, Va., provided Lim with cash and an ownership interest in the company in exchange for official action. For example, the indictment alleges, one of the former officials - Oh Song Kwon, also known as Thomas Kwon - provided Lim with cash payments; payments for hotel stays for Lim and family members, including a trip to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas; payments to finance the purchase of a 2010 Lexus automobile, and payments for other things of value. Kwon also assisted Lim in obtaining financing for the purchase of a home in Fairfax Station, Va., where Lim resided following his reassignment in 2010 to a position at Fort Belvoir.
- UEI:Nick Park left Nova Datacom in 2007 and co-founded another government contractor, Unisource Enterprise Inc. (UEI), based in Annandale, Va. According to the indictment, in exchange for favorable treatment, Park provided Lim with a secret ownership in UEI. Among other things, Lim allegedly provided Park with sensitive procurement information.
-Saena Tech: According to the indictment, a former official with Saena Tech, which was based in South Korea, provided Lim with $70,000 in cash; payments for meals, entertainment, and an automobile, and $175,000 of the proceeds generated by a fraudulent invoice.
Cho, Park, and Kwon are among those who earlier pled guilty to charges in the case.
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An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office; the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Office of the Inspector General for the Small Business Administration; the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and the Army Criminal Investigation Command. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael K. Atkinson and Bryan Seeley of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, all of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Hanly, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
14-112Former Employee of Day Treatment Program Found Guilty of Criminal Abuse of A Vulnerable AdultDefendant Made Malicious Statements Toward Person in Her CareRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ivy Fauntroy, 34, a former employee of United Cerebral Palsy of Washington & Northern Virginia, a District of Columbia day services provider for individuals with developmental disabilities, has been found guilty and been sentenced for criminal abuse of a vulnerable person in her care, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr. and District of Columbia Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby announced today.
Fauntroy, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on May 8, 2014, of one count of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult. The Honorable Yvonne M. Williams found her guilty following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Williams sentenced Fauntroy on the day of her verdict to a 60-day jail term, but suspended the time provided that Fauntroy successfully completes nine months of probation.
According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 4, 2013, the adult victim attended a day treatment program for developmentally disabled persons operated by United Cerebral Palsy in Northeast Washington. On that day, Fauntroy repeatedly made malicious statements toward the victim, directing her to “roll over” and “play dead.” Fauntroy directed the attention of her co-workers to this abuse, while capturing video footage of the incident on her cell phone. This video clip was subsequently used by the government in its prosecution of the case.
In announcing the conviction and sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen and Inspector General Willoughby praised the work of Investigator Eduardo Torre of the Office of the Inspector General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), who handled the investigation. They also commended the work of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne Rose and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Wolfingbarger of the MFCU, who jointly prosecuted the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Merikas, who worked on the matter prior to trial.
14-111Two District Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Carjacking and Robberies Committed in Same Night-Third Defendant Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for Joining in Crimes-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rayshawn Clark, 25, and Dwayne Hilton, 22, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to prison terms of 31 years and 25 years, respectively, for carrying out three separate armed robberies on the same night, as well as a carjacking of one of the victims, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
A third man, Pernell Lee, 37, also of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for participating in one of the robberies and acting as a getaway driver.
The men were found guilty by a jury in February 2014, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. They were sentenced by the Honorable Anita Josey-Herring. Upon completion of their prison terms, they will be placed on five years of supervised release.
The jury found Clark and Hilton guilty of conspiracy, three counts of armed robbery, armed carjacking, and firearms offenses. The jury found Lee guilty of one count of armed robbery, fleeing a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, and firearms offenses.
According to the government’s evidence, the series of crimes began in the early morning hours of June 17, 2012. Clark and Hilton pistol-whipped, robbed and carjacked the first victim, a man, in the 5600 block of 14th Street NW. An unidentified third co-conspirator got away in the victim’s car. A second man, who was walking by while the robbery was in progress, was pistol-whipped and robbed by Hilton, while Clark continued to hold the first victim at gunpoint. After obtaining property from both victims, Clark and Hilton took off in a dark Ford Explorer.
Minutes later, after the first victim had called 911, Clark and Hilton returned to the scene after realizing that during the robberies they dropped a cell phone – later determined to belong to Hilton. Clark got out of the car, and with a gun drawn, demanded the dropped phone. The victim, who had found and hidden the dropped phone, pretended to know nothing about it. Clark then robbed the victim of his remaining belongings.
Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived as this robbery was concluding, and as Clark ran back to the Explorer to flee. Following a chase, the Explorer flipped over. Lee, who had been driving, ran and was caught after a foot chase. Clark was extracted from the flipped vehicle with the first victim’s property in his pocket. Hilton escaped on foot and was arrested later. Two guns were recovered in and around the car. Hilton’s DNA matched DNA found on one of the guns.
In a separate proceeding today, Hilton was sentenced to an additional two years in prison – to run consecutively to his other sentence – on a charge of assault with significant bodily injury. He pled guilty earlier this year to that charge, which stemmed from a stabbing at the District of Columbia Jail on Dec. 20, 2013. Hilton participated in the attack against another inmate.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the robbery and carjacking case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He acknowledged the efforts of those who provided assistance and handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chrisellen Kolb and Suzanne Curt, Deputy Chiefs of the Office’s Appellate Division; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Criminal Investigators John Marsh and Stephen Cohen; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Paralegal Specialists Deborah McPherson, Wanda Trice, and Todd McClelland. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Vivien Cockburn, who handled the initial investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalia Medina, who prosecuted the robbery and carjacking case at trial.
U.S. Attorney Machen also expressed appreciation to those who handled the case involving the stabbing at the jail, including the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services, Paralegal Specialist Todd McClelland, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jin Park, who prosecuted that matter.
14-110Former Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge-Admits Under-Reporting Gross Receipts and Overstating Expenses on Tax Returns-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Zewditu Wondemu, 62, who owned Zed’s Restaurant, a business in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a federal tax charge for under-reporting gross receipts and income and overstating expenses on tax returns.
The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Thomas J. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Wondemu pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of filing a false tax return. The Honorable Beryl A. Howell scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of three years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Wondemu faces a likely range of 10 to 16 months in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. As part of her plea, she must pay $50,350 in restitution to the United States government, representing the taxes still owed.
According to the government’s evidence, Wondemu owned and operated Zed’s Restaurant at the time of the offenses. She admitted understating gross receipts on corporate income tax returns for the tax years 2005 through 2008. At the same time, she overstated business expenses. Additionally, she admitted understating her income on individual income tax returns for the tax years 2005 through 2008. As a result of her actions, the tax losses to the government for those years totaled at least $50,350. Wondemu has since sold the restaurant.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge Kelly commended the work of those who investigated the case for IRS-CI. In addition, they expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Trial Attorney Erin Pulice of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division and Associate Director Jeffrey Olson of the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, Criminal Investigator Stephen Cohen, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section, who is prosecuting the matter.
14-109District Man Found Guilty of Robbing Restaurant at Gunpoint and Obstructing Justice After His Arrest-Defendant Was A Manager at the Restaurant He Targeted-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Torrey C. Robinson, 26, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of robbery and other charges in the hold-up of a Northwest Washington restaurant where he was employed as a manager, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Robinson was found guilty on May 8, 2014, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of robbery, burglary, obstruction of justice, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The Honorable Robert I. Richter scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2014.
According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 26, 2013, Robinson worked the day shift as a manager at Taylor Gourmet, located in the 600 block of E Street NW. He was replaced that afternoon by the victim, a new female manager set to work her first night shift alone that evening. At about 9:05 p.m., just after the restaurant had closed, Robinson returned to the establishment, wearing black Helly Hansen pants with reflective striping, a black North Face jacket with the hood up, a ski mask, and black-and-gray gloves.
Upon entering the restaurant, Robinson turned off the lights and approached the victim, who was working behind the counter. Robinson opened his jacket, displayed a dark-colored gun in his waistband, and told the victim, “This is a robbery, this is not a game.” He commanded her to open the safe. When the victim did not do so, Robinson consulted a clipboard containing the safe combination – which was hidden in code – and opened the safe himself, taking nearly $2,000 in cash, as well as multiple rolls of quarters wrapped in orange-and-white paper.
Senior staff at Taylor Gourmet later reviewed a surveillance video and immediately believed that the robber was Robinson, a manager at that location. Pursuant to a search warrant, police found the black Helly Hansen pants with reflective striping worn during the robbery in Robinson’s room, along with nearly $950 in various denominations, including 100 in $1 bills, and one roll of quarters wrapped in orange-and-white paper. Also found in the room was a box of 9 mm ammunition. In a search of Robinson’s car, police found the black-and-gray gloves worn during the robbery, along with four more rolls of quarters wrapped in orange-and-white paper. Additionally, police searched Robinson’s iPhone and found photos and a video of him holding a thick wad of cash the night after the robbery. Text messages recovered from Robinson’s cell phone proved that he was in the area of the robbery; he texted a friend that he was arriving at a store just two blocks away, minutes after the crime.
When he picked his friend up at the store, Robinson was wearing the black pants with reflective striping. Finally, in the weeks after his arrest, Robinson made multiple telephone calls from the District of Columbia Jail in which he solicited various friends and family members to move his gun, which he called “Baby Girl.” In one such call, Robinson learned that the gun had been successfully moved.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which investigated the case. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigators John Marsh and Nelson Rhone, Paralegal Specialist Todd McClelland, and Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Petkun, who investigated, indicted, and tried the case to verdict.
14-108District Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud, Sold Counterfeit Documents to Would-Be Home Health Care Aides-Documents Needed to Gain Work, Confirm Qualifications-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adoshia L. Flythe, 36, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a federal charge of health care fraud following an undercover investigation into the sale of counterfeit health certificates to people seeking jobs in the home health care industry.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Nicholas DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), for the region that includes Washington, D.C.; and Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Flythe pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable Rudolph Contreras scheduled sentencing for Sept. 4, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison as well as financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Flythe faces up to six months of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000.
Flythe, a personal care aide, was one of 24 people -- including operators of home care agencies and nurse staffing agencies, office workers, and personal care aides -- arrested in late February 2014, following investigations into fraudulent billing practices in the home health care industry. The investigations uncovered numerous, separate schemes involving fraud, kickbacks, and false billings in the growing field of home care services for District of Columbia Medicaid patients. She is the first defendant to plead guilty in the various schemes.
The home health care industry includes services intended to assist people in performing the activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, taking medication, and other needs. Such services are provided by personal care aides, who often work for home care agencies and nurse staffing agencies. In order to be reimbursed by D.C. Medicaid, the personal care aides performing the services had to have documentation showing that they meet numerous qualifications as set forth by D.C. regulations.
In her guilty plea, Flythe admitted selling packages of counterfeit documentation to two individuals, charging them $350 apiece. The fraudulent documents Flythe sold included a counterfeit “Home Health Care Aide” certificate from the University of the District of Columbia and a counterfeit “Health Certificate for Staff” that contained the forged name and signature of at least one doctor. The two individuals who purchased the documents from Flythe purportedly wanted to apply for employment with a home care agency and to cause Medicaid to be billed for personal care services; actually they were working as part of the undercover investigation.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, Special Agent in Charge DiGiulio, and Inspector General Willoughby commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo, Krishawn Graham, Corinne Kleinman, and Nicole Wattelet.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of the prosecutors handling the health care cases, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Friedman, who appeared in court today, Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Johnson, Ted Radway, Lionel André, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dangkhoa Nguyen.
14-107District Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Her Infant SonDefendant Admits Drug Use, Also Pleads Guilty to Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tisheena Louise Brown, 33, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death last year of her seven-week-old son, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
In a related matter, Brown also pled guilty to a charge of second-degree insurance fraud. She entered both pleas in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2014.
According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, Brown has a history of prescription drug abuse, which began in 2007 or 2008. Her reported prescription drugs of choice were Percocet (Oxycodone) and Dilaudid (Hydromorphone), both of which are Schedule II controlled prescription drugs. She also used Promethazine (a non-controlled prescription drug).
Brown admitted frequenting local hospitals in an effort to unlawfully obtain drug prescriptions (including Oxycodone, Dilaudid, and Promethazine) while using fraudulent identifiers. She would also go to multiple hospitals, using her own name and obtaining prescriptions, which would then be filled and paid by Medicaid. While using her own name, Brown secured prescriptions for drugs without advising the doctor that she had obtained the same prescription on the same date for the same medicine from another doctor and hospital. When purchasing her drugs, she used Medicaid to pay for the drugs.
In a four-month period from September 2013 through December of 2013, Brown had over 1,700 pills prescribed to her from a variety of doctors.
On Sept. 17, 2013, Brown was at her home in the 2900 block of Akron Place SE. She reported that, around 10:30 p.m., her seven-week old son, Hakeem, was fussy and so she provided him Promethazine, a drug which had been prescribed for her. She provided the infant with this drug even though the label warned that it was not to be administered to children under the age of two. Sometime after 2 a.m., Brown looked over at her son and noticed that he was “blue and wasn’t breathing.” She then called 911. The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department arrived at her home, where they found the infant unconscious and not breathing. Hakeem was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and pronounced dead at about 3:20 a.m. Brown initially told police the only thing she gave her son was an “over the counter” gas relief medication, which was not true.
On Sept. 19, 2013, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy. The cause of death was ruled a homicide and the manner of death was a lethal dose of Promethazine. In October 2013, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Forensic Toxicology Unit determined that the autopsy drug screen was positive for Promethazine. Promethazine, commonly referred to by the brand name Phenergan, is a non-controlled prescription medication which is prescribed for allergy, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, nighttime sedation, pain relief following surgery, and to help certain narcotic pain relievers work better. It is prescribed with the warning that it should not be used in children younger than two years old because it may cause serious (possibly fatal) slow/shallow breathing.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as an agent from the FBI who assisted with investigation of the insurance fraud. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Mia Beamon, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
14-106District Man Pleads Guilty to Federal and D.C. Charges for Shooting at Van Full of Police Officers in Northeast WashingtonDefendant Was on Supervised Release at Time of the ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shawn Gray, 23, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to charges stemming from a shooting last year in which he fired at an unmarked van full of police officers in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Gray pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, a District of Columbia offense, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, a federal offense. He appeared before the Honorable Richard W. Roberts, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence of eight to 10 years in prison. Gray is to be sentenced July 25, 2014.
According to the government's factual proffer, on Jan. 26, 2013, at about 7:10 p.m., officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were operating an unmarked burgundy minivan in the 1600 block of Montello Avenue NE. The officers were wearing casual clothing and operating as a unit in the robbery intervention program.
As the officers drove through the block, they spotted Gray and another individual acting suspiciously. After the officers drove around and re-entered the block, Gray suddenly fired multiple gunshots at the van. One bullet entered the van and passed between the four officers inside, and others apparently hit houses across the street.
Gray fled, but was soon found hiding underneath a parked vehicle in the rear of the alleyway from which he had fired. Seven spent shell casings were found on the ground. The gun itself was ultimately recovered from the ground near where the defendant was seized.
At the time of the shooting, Gray was on supervised release for a 2009 conviction in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for carrying a pistol without a license.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He also commended the efforts of those who assisted at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Starla Stolk, Teesha Tobias, and Kim Hall, and Legal Assistant Jessica Moffatt. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincent Caputy, who indicted the case, and Stephen J. Gripkey, who handled the plea and is prosecuting the case.
14-105District Man Sentenced to 28-Month Prison Term for Sexually Assaulting Teenage Relative-Defendant Snuck into Child’s Bedroom as She Slept Next to Her Sister-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Washington, D.C. man, was sentenced today to a 28-month prison term for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old relative last year at the child’s home in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the victim’s identity, pled guilty in February 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of attempted second-degree child sexual abuse. He was sentenced by the Honorable Rhonda Reid Winston. Upon completion of his prison term, the defendant will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 23, 2013, at about 1 a.m., the 13-year-old victim was asleep in her bedroom next to her sister. The defendant, who was visiting the residence, snuck up the stairs and into the child’s bedroom, where he molested the victim in her bed. After the victim reported the incident to her mother, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigation began, leading to the defendant’s arrest on Oct. 29, 2013.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from MPD’s Youth Division. He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key; Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danny Nguyen and Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
14-104Corrections Officer Arrested on Federal Bribery Charge, Accused of Taking Cash to Smuggle Contraband into FacilitySecond Officer Was Arrested Last Week in Related CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Lenard Fleming, 33, a corrections officer with the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), has been arrested and charged with bribery following an undercover FBI investigation in which he allegedly accepted money for smuggling contraband into the District of Columbia’s Correctional Treatment Facility.
The charge was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Thomas N. Faust, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections.
Fleming was arrested today by the FBI and appeared this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance pending a hearing on May 14, 2014.
Fleming had worked for CCA as a corrections officer at the Correctional Treatment Facility. CCA, a private company, has a contract to provide services to the D.C. Jail.
The arrest came nine days after another CCA corrections officer, Darren Malry, 51, was apprehended and charged with bribery in a related investigation. Malry also worked for CCA at the Correctional Treatment Facility. He has pled not guilty to the charge.
According to the charging documents that were filed today, on Jan. 5, 2014, Fleming met with an undercover FBI agent in the parking lot of a shopping center in Capitol Heights, Md. The undercover agent gave Fleming a cellphone and cigarettes for Fleming to deliver to an inmate housed at the Correctional Treatment Facility. The undercover agent also provided Fleming with $750 in cash at that meeting, which was given in exchange for Fleming smuggling the contraband into the facility and delivering it to the inmate. The FBI recovered the contraband from the inmate shortly after Fleming gave the items to the inmate.
Fleming was terminated by CCA in February 2014 following a complaint that he was smuggling contraband into the facility for another inmate.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno, of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine K. Connelly and Allessandra Stewart, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.
14-103Albrecht Muth Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for 2011 Slaying of His 91-Year-Old Wife-Slaying Followed History of Domestic Violence-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Albrecht Muth, 49, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 50 years in prison for first-degree murder in the slaying of his wife, 91-year-old Viola Drath, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Muth, who has taken on numerous personas over the years, including that of an Iraqi Army general, was found guilty in January 2014 by a jury following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The jury found Muth guilty of first-degree (premeditated) murder with the aggravating circumstances that the murder was especially heinous, cruel, and inflicted on a vulnerable victim. Muth was sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan.
The sentencing, like the trial, took place without the defendant present in the courtroom. Muth, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2011, has been hospitalized after staging a series of hunger strikes dating to December of 2012. His refusal of regular sustenance has caused his physical health to deteriorate and resulted in the hospitalization. The government contended that Muth’s refusal to eat was part of a manipulation designed to avoid trial. Muth was able to listen to and participate in the trial proceedings, out of view of the jury, via a video link to the courtroom. Likewise, he was able to listen to and participate in today’s sentencing that way.
At sentencing today, Judge Canan declared that the evidence against Muth was “overwhelming” and that his refusal to eat was “a transparent attempt to avoid prosecution.”
“Albrecht Muth’s 20 years of violence toward his wife ended only when he strangled her to death in their Georgetown home,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “For the rest of his life, Muth won’t be able to masquerade as a military officer or member of a royal family while subjecting his wife to intolerable abuse. He will be a federal inmate paying the price for his brutal crime.”
“This was a tragic ending to an abusive relationship,” said Police Chief Lanier. “In addition to killing the victim, the defendant also further victimized her family by attempting to defraud the family out of a large sum of money. We hope this sentencing offers the family some sense of solace that these acts did not go unpunished.”
According to the government’s evidence, on the morning of Aug. 12, 2011, Muth called 911 and reported that Ms. Drath was dead on the bathroom floor of their home in the 3200 block of Q Street NW. The District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner determined that Ms. Drath’s death was caused by strangulation and blunt force injuries.
On the evening of Aug. 11, 2011, the government’s evidence showed, Muth had been drinking. Witnesses indicated that Muth became progressively louder and somewhat belligerent during the course of the evening. A witness escorted Muth to the house on Q Street and saw him walking down the stairwell to the basement of his residence at approximately 10 p.m.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2011, a witness heard a woman’s faint cry and a man’s laugh emanating from inside the defendant’s home. Then, at approximately 7:56 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2011, Muth made the call to 911. When MPD officers arrived, there were no signs of forced entry into the house and nothing was taken or disturbed. According to the defendant, only he and Ms. Drath had keys to the house. Also according to the defendant, he and his wife were the only two people present in the home during the previous evening.
During the trial, the government presented evidence of a documented history of domestic violence by the defendant against his wife. In addition, Muth had made a number of statements over the years indicating a desire to kill her. By the summer of 2011, Ms. Drath had enough of the defendant’s abuse and was trying to end the marriage. Also, despite the fact that Ms. Drath specifically disinherited Muth in her will, he regularly pressured her for money. After killing the victim, and before her body was removed from the home, Muth presented a fraudulent document to the daughter of the victim demanding $200,000.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen and Chief Lanier recognized the outstanding efforts of the detectives, evidence technicians, and officers who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Department of Corrections for its assistance in the matter. They also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O. Lyons, who assisted in the investigation; Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; former Investigative Analyst Lawrence Grasso; Criminal Investigator John Marsh; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Maria Shumar and David Foster of the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenn Kirschner and Laura Bach, who tried the case.
14-102Former Social Security Administration Employee Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribes in Return for Giving People Increased Benefits-Admits Accepting Total of $54,662 from 13 People-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Payton, a former specialist for the Social Security Administration in Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to soliciting more than $50,000 in bribes from Social Security recipients in return for providing them with extra, unauthorized benefits.
The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Division of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.
Payton, 46, of Mount Rainier, Md., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of bribery. The Honorable Senior Judge Gladys Kessler scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Payton faces a likely range of 30 to 37 months in prison and a fine of up to $60,000. The plea agreement calls for him to pay $54,662 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant and the government, Payton was a Social Insurance Specialist for the Social Security Administration’s Anacostia Office in Southeast Washington. His duties included conducting interviews regarding eligibility for benefits, authorizing or disallowing entitlement, and reviewing and authorizing Supplemental Security Income. He had computerized access to the agency’s database.
Between January and May of 2013, Payton met with 13 people as part of his responsibilities at the agency. Upon meeting these individuals, Payton told them, in substance, that if they gave him a tip, he would take care of them. After they agreed to his solicitation, Payton caused retroactive Supplemental Security Income benefits to go into the individuals’ bank accounts. These retroactive payments were not properly authorized, and Payton knew that the people receiving them were not entitled to the extra income.
After the individuals began seeing increased retroactive benefits in their bank accounts, they met with Payton throughout the Anacostia neighborhood and gave him payments. All told, Payton received $54,662 in cash payments from the individuals for his actions.
Payton’s activities came to light after someone reported his suspicious conduct. In addition, authorities received information through a fraud hotline operated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. The public can report allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse online at http://oig.ssa.gov/report or by phone at 1-800-269-0271.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge McGill praised the work of those who investigated the case from the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo, Krishawn Graham, and Angela Lawrence; Investigative Analyst Sharon Johnson, and former Paralegal Specialist Shanna Hays. They expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Trial Attorney Edward P. Sullivan of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, who is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who is assisting with forfeiture issues.
14-101Former Employee Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Stealing Nearly $95,000 from Real Estate Company-Defendant Secretly Collected Rents, Pocketing the Money for Herself-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kirsten Wilkinson, 34, of Dumfries, Va., was sentenced today to three years in prison for stealing nearly $95,000 from a real estate company where she worked as a personal assistant, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Among other things, the government’s evidence showed, Wilkinson secretly collected rent on apartments that were not her own.
Wilkinson pled guilty in February 2014, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to charges of interstate transportation of stolen property and second-degree theft. She was sentenced by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson. Upon completion of her prison term, Wilkinson will be placed on three years of supervised release. While on supervised release, the judge barred Wilkinson from opening new credit cards or working in a position in which she would be utilizing financial accounts. Wilkinson also must pay $94,757 to her former employer. Finally, she is subject to a forfeiture money judgment in the same amount.
According to the government’s evidence, Wilkinson began work in November 2010 as a personal assistant for a small company that renovates and refurbishes buildings throughout Washington, D.C. She carried out a scheme to rent the company’s properties for her own gain, secretly telling tenants and potential tenants to write rental checks to her in her own name.
The scheme involved multiple individuals who believed Wilkinson owned and operated the apartments. When they needed assistance, she made clear that she was the specific point of contact for any issues that might arise. Not only did she dupe these unsuspecting potential tenants through advertisements on Craigslist, but her scheme continued for more than a year, leading to theft of $82,959 in rental income that properly belonged to her employer.
In addition, according to the government’s evidence, Wilkinson made $11,798 in unauthorized charges for personal expenses from her employer’s credit cards.
At sentencing, the government noted that Wilkinson has six prior convictions in Virginia for offenses such as embezzlement, identify theft, larceny, and similar crimes. In this case, her actions nearly bankrupted her employer’s company.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), especially its Fraud Unit. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo; Investigative Analyst Sharon Johnson; former Paralegal Specialist Shanna Hays, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zia Faruqui, who assisted with forfeiture issues. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, who prosecuted the case.
14-100District Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Murder of Taxi Driver and Assault of Two Police OfficersDefendant Fired at Officers, Forcibly Entered Apartment in Hopes of Evading CaptureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ercell D. Overton, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 28 years in prison on charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a taxicab driver and a subsequent shoot-out with police, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Overton pled guilty in February 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of second-degree murder while armed for the slaying of Solomon J. Okoroh and two counts of felony assault on a police officer while armed. The plea agreement was approved by the Honorable Russell F. Canan, who sentenced Overton this morning. Upon completion of his prison term, Overton will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3 a.m. on June 4, 2013, three officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were in a police vehicle and on patrol in the Adams Morgan area of Northwest Washington when they heard the sound of a single gunshot. Moments later, the officers observed a speeding Ford Explorer, “Classic Cab” taxi pass their location. The taxicab headed south in the 2300 block of Ontario Road NW, where it crashed into a parked car. As the taxicab passed by the police vehicle, officers observed a muzzle flash and heard the sound of a second gunshot from inside the passenger compartment of the taxi.
Upon impact, officers observed an unarmed man flee from the rear passenger side of the taxi. Two of the officers exited the police vehicle and apprehended the fleeing man without incident after a brief pursuit by foot.
Overton, on foot, then appeared behind the police vehicle and pointed a pistol toward the third officer, who was at the driver’s wheel. That officer exited the vehicle and took cover. Overton then ran behind the fence line of a house in the 2300 block of Ontario Road NW and discharged his weapon in the direction of two of the three police officers, who returned fire. Overton then forcibly entered a basement apartment on the block in an attempt to evade capture. MPD officers subsequently gained entry into the apartment and apprehended Overton and recovered a semi-automatic pistol in close proximity to Overton.
The taxi driver was later identified as Mr. Okoroh, 59, of Glenarden, Md. Mr. Okoroh suffered two fatal gunshot wounds to his back. He was taken to a hospital, where he died about two hours after the shooting. Prior to his death, he provided detectives assigned to the case a physical description of his assailant, which matched that of Overton.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised those who investigated the case for the MPD, including members of the Third District and Homicide Branch. He also expressed appreciation for those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kwasi Fields. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S Attorney George Pace, who prosecuted the matter.
14-099Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Federal Narcotics Conspiracy Charge-Defendant Also Must Forfeit Two Vehicles and over $20,000-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ralph Terry, 42, of Germantown, Md., was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Washington, D.C. area, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Terry pled guilty in February 2014, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, also known as crack. The plea, which called for a sentence of 100 to 151 months of incarceration, was approved by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Terry will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the evidence presented at the plea hearing, during the fall of 2012, Terry conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in the District of Columbia and its surrounding areas, cocaine and cocaine base, also known as crack.
This investigation arose on the evening of Nov. 29, 2012, in Northeast Washington. At that time, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a search at Second and Adams Streets NE of the GMC Yukon driven and owned by Terry. During the course of that search, officers recovered, among other items, over 40 grams of crack cocaine and $17,391. The recovered money was proceeds of Terry’s narcotics trafficking activities.
On Dec. 11, 2012, with the assistance of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, a search warrant was executed at Terry’s residence in Maryland. Law enforcement recovered, among other items, $2,830 in cash and the key to an Oldsmobile Cutlass, located at the residence. A search warrant was subsequently executed on the Oldsmobile, and inside that vehicle, law enforcement recovered over 170 grams of crack cocaine, over 245 grams of powder cocaine, and digital scales. The money was proceeds of the narcotics activities.
As part of his plea agreement, Terry agreed to the forfeiture of the GMC Yukon, the Oldsmobile, the $17,391 recovered on Nov. 29, 2012, and the $2,830 seized on Dec. 11, 2012.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the efforts of the members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the actions of the Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who investigated this case. U.S. Attorney Machen also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Opher Shweiki, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Connelly, who assisted with forfeiture aspects of the investigation.
14-098Former Executive Director of Public Charter School Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Stealing $29,000 in Funds-Defendant Wrote Series of Checks for Personal Benefit-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Monique S. Murdock, 45, the former executive director of Nia Community Public Charter School, was sentenced today to nine months in prison on a federal theft charge stemming from the embezzlement of $29,000 in funds meant for the school.
The sentence was announced by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General for the District of Columbia; Steven Anderson, Special Agent in Charge, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
Murdock, of Fort Washington, Md., pled guilty in November 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of theft from a program receiving federal funds. As part of her guilty plea, Murdock also admitted making unauthorized purchases with a government-issued purchase card while she worked for another employer in Virginia.
She was sentenced by the Honorable Richard J. Leon. Upon completion of her prison term, Murdock will be placed on three years of supervised release; Judge Leon ordered that the first three months of that time be spent on home confinement. Judge Leon also ordered Murdock to pay more than $40,000 in restitution for her crimes. Finally, he ordered her to pay an additional $29,000 forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, Murdock was a co-founder of Nia Community Public Charter School and its executive director from June 2006 through October 2008. As the executive director of the Northeast Washington school, she had the primary responsibility of overseeing its fiscal management.
Public charter schools are independently-operated public schools that are open to all District of Columbia residents. Enrollment is on a space-available basis. Public charter schools receive public funds based on the number of students they enroll. Nia Community Public Charter School, for example, received funding through the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board as well as through the U.S. Department of Education.
Between July 2006 and August 2008, the school received more than $3.3 million from the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board. The school also received more than $548,000 from the U.S. Department of Education during the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years.
From March 2008 through August 2008, Murdock signed five checks on the school’s account, totaling $29,000, and converted them to her own personal use and benefit.
The theft charge involved the money stolen from the charter school.
The guilty plea also resolved a criminal investigation in Virginia. After separating from the school, Murdock was hired in August 2009 as a Child Youth and School Services Assistant Director by the Cody Development Center in Fort Myer, Va. In this position, she was provided with a government purchase card that was to be used for buying work-related items.
As part of her plea, Murdock admitted that from February 2012 through December 2012 while employed by the Cody Development Center, she used her government purchase card to make $11,773 in unauthorized gift card purchases.
Murdock’s restitution payments will include $29,000 to the U.S. Department of Education and another $11,773 to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The theft from Nia Community Public Charter School was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General. The activities at the Cody Development Center were investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense.
U.S. Attorney Machen, U.S. Attorney Boente, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, Inspector General Willoughby, Special Agent in Charge Anderson, and Special Agent in Charge Craig commended the work of those who investigated the matters. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialists Krishawn Graham and Diane Hayes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Connelly, who assisted with forfeiture issues. Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lionel André, who prosecuted the case.
14-097Former Background Investigator for Federal Government Pleads Guilty to Making A False StatementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Brian T. Rapier, 34, a former background investigator who did work under contract for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), pled guilty today to a charge stemming from his falsification of work on background investigations of federal employees and contractors, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management.
Rapier, of Sumter, S.C., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to making a false statement. The Honorable Beryl A. Howell scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2014. The charge carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of the plea, Rapier has agreed to pay $173,446 in restitution to the federal government.
According to a statement of offense submitted to the Court, Rapier was employed by USIS, formerly known as U.S. Investigations Services Inc., as an investigator under contract to conduct background investigations on behalf of OPM’s Federal Investigative Services.
Between June 2009 and April 2010, in more than four dozen Reports of Investigations on background investigations, Rapier represented that he had interviewed a source or reviewed a record regarding the subject of the background investigation. In fact, he had not conducted the interviews or obtained the records of interest. These reports were utilized and relied upon by the agencies requesting the background investigations to determine whether the subjects were suitable for positions having access to classified information, for positions impacting national security, or for receiving or retaining security clearances.
Rapier’s false representations have required Federal Investigative Services to reopen and rework numerous background investigations that were assigned to him during the time period of his falsifications, at an estimated cost of at least $173,446 to the U.S. government.
Federal Investigative Services has a robust integrity assurance program which utilizes a variety of methods to ensure the accuracy of reported information. The falsification of investigative case work by the defendant was detected through the program.
This is one of numerous cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia since 2008 involving false representations by background investigators and record checkers working on federal background investigations. In addition to Rapier, 17 other background investigators and two record checkers have been convicted of charges.
Federal Investigative Services, through its workforce of approximately 7,600, including 6,100 field investigators, is responsible for conducting background investigations for numerous federal agencies and their contractors, on individuals either employed by or seeking employment with those agencies or contractors. Federal Investigative Services conducted more than 2.3 million investigations during the 2013 fiscal year. More than 700,000 of these investigations involved applicants for access or continued access to classified information.
In performing background investigations, the investigators conduct interviews of individuals who have information about the person who is the subject of the review. In addition, the investigators seek out, obtain, and review documentary evidence, such as employment records, to verify and corroborate information provided by either the subject of the background investigation or by persons interviewed during the investigation. After conducting interviews and obtaining documentary evidence, the investigators prepare a Report of Investigation containing the results of the interviews and document reviews, and electronically submit the material to OPM in Washington, D.C. OPM then provides a copy of the investigative file to the requesting agency, which can use the information to determine an individual’s eligibility for employment or a security clearance.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Inspector General McFarland praised the efforts of Special Agent Christopher Sulhoff, OPM, Office of the Inspector General, and Philip Kroop, David Newcomer, and Jeffry Addicks, OPM, Federal Investigative Services. They also acknowledged the work of Paralegal Specialist Nicole Wattelet of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Chubin Epstein and Philip A. Selden, who investigated and prosecuted this matter.
14-096District Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for September 2013 Credit Union Robbery- Defendant Fled on Metro Train Following Robbery -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Norman Ellis, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison for robbing a credit union in September 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI=s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Ellis pled guilty to one count of bank robbery in January 2014 and was sentenced today by the Honorable Richard J. Leon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $2,481 in restitution.
According to a factual proffer of evidence presented at the time of the guilty plea, on the morning of Sept. 21, 2013, Ellis entered a Signal Financial Credit Union, in the 1400 block of Irving Street NW, approached a teller, handed over a note demanding money, and gestured as if he had a gun. After the teller handed Ellis $2,481 in U.S. currency, Ellis fled the credit union. Moments following the robbery, Ellis entered the Columbia Heights Metro station, and removed his jacket and baseball cap before boarding a Metro train and fleeing the area.
Ellis was arrested Oct. 18, 2013 and, during a search of his home, law enforcement recovered the clothing he wore during the robbery.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave, and Chief Lanier commended the investigative work of the Special Agents from the FBI’s Washington Field Office who worked on the case and the entire joint FBI/MPD Violent Crimes Task Force.
In addition, they acknowledged the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jessica Moffatt and Paralegal Specialist Starla Stolk, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Connelly, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking Section, who prosecuted the case.
14-094District Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for July 2013 Attempted Bank RobberyDefendant Committed Offense While on Supervised Release for String of 19 Bank Robberies in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia in 2003Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Calvin Kinard Adams, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to five years in prison for attempting to rob a bank in July 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Adams pled guilty to one count of attempted bank robbery in January 2014 and was sentenced today by the Honorable Richard J. Leon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to a factual proffer of evidence presented at the time of the guilty plea, on the morning of July 3, 2013, Adams entered a Wells Fargo Bank, in the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, approached a bank employee, and handed over a note demanding money. As the teller attempted to press the silent alarm, Adams fled the bank.
Adams was arrested on Oct. 18, 2013. At the time of the offense, Adams was on supervised release following his 2003 convictions for a string of 19 bank robberies he committed in 2003 in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. In that case, the Honorable Paul L. Friedman in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sentenced Adams to 11 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Adams had been on supervised release for less than six months when he committed the attempted bank robbery in this case.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave, and Chief Lanier, commended the investigative work of the Special Agents from the FBI=s Washington Field Office and the FBI Laboratory Latent Print Operations Unit who worked on the case, and the entire joint FBI/MPD Violent Crimes Task Force. In addition, they acknowledged the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jessica Moffatt and Paralegal Specialist Starla Stolk. Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking Section, who prosecuted the case.
14-095Former Accounting Assistant Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge in $144,000 Theft from Non-Profit-Defendant Created and Processed False Expense Reports-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Tabitha Harley-Williams, 34, pled guilty today to a federal charge stemming from the theft of more than $144,000 from a non-profit organization where she worked as an accounting assistant, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Harley-Williams, of Upper Marlboro, Md., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The Honorable Senior Judge Gladys Kessler scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Harley-Williams faces a likely range of 12 to 18 months of incarceration, as well as a fine of up to $30,000. Under the plea agreement, Harley-Williams also must pay restitution to the non-profit. Finally, she is subject to an additional forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, the non-profit, identified in court documents as “Company A,” is an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for the accreditation of professional, technical and occupational career education programs. Harley-Williams began working there in 2008 as an accounting assistant. Part of her responsibilities included processing reimbursement requests from employees for travel and entertainment expenses.
In or around October 2012, Harley-Williams began creating false expense reports on behalf of other employees that appeared to be legitimate expenses. After Harley-Williams received supervisory approval to process these false expense reports, she changed the wire payment request information sent to “Company A’s” bank to reflect her own bank account information, rather than the account information of the employee for whom Harley-Williams had submitted the false expense reports. Between October 2012 and April 2013, Harley-Williams processed approximately 38 transactions in this manner, directing a total of $144,113 to her personal bank account. Harley-Williams had no legitimate rights to any of the funds. She left the non-profit in May 2013, and the transactions were later discovered in a budget review.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave commended those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo, Corinne Kleinman, and Angela Lawrence, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine K. Connelly and Anthony Saler, who handled forfeiture issues. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
14-092Corrections Officer Arrested on Federal Bribery ChargeDefendant Accused of Accepting Money in Return for Smuggling Contraband to InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darren Malry, 51, a corrections officer, has been arrested and charged with bribery following an undercover FBI investigation in which he allegedly accepted money for smuggling contraband into the District of Columbia’s Correctional Treatment Facility.
The charge was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Thomas N. Faust, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections.
Malry was arrested by the FBI on April 21, 2014 and appeared today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance pending a hearing on May 6, 2014.
At the time of his arrest, Malry worked for the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) as a corrections officer at the Correctional Treatment Facility. CCA, a private company, has a contract to provide services to the D.C. Jail
According to the charging documents, on March 11, 2014, Malry met with an undercover FBI agent in the parking lot of a shopping center in Greenbelt, Md. The undercover agent gave Malry a cellphone, cigarettes, and rolling papers for Malry to deliver to an inmate housed at the Correctional Treatment Facility. The undercover agent also provided Malry with $750 in cash at that meeting, which was given in exchange for Malry smuggling the contraband into the facility and delivering it to the inmate. The FBI recovered the contraband from the inmate shortly after Malry gave the items to the inmate in the inmate’s jail cell.
Malry met again with the undercover FBI agent on April 21, 2014 at a restaurant in the same shopping center in Greenbelt. At that meeting, the undercover agent gave Malry cigarettes and several packages of a substance resembling marijuana. The undercover agent also provided Malry with $600 in cash, which was in exchange for Malry smuggling the contraband into facility for the same inmate. Malry subsequently was arrested.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno, of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine K. Connelly and Allessandra Stewart, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.
14-093District Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Killing One Man and Wounding Another in 2012 Confrontation-Defendant Stabbed Victims During Fight in Southeast Washington-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donzell Butler, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 13 years and four months in prison on charges stemming from an attack in which he fatally stabbed one man and wounded another, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Butler pled guilty in January 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of voluntary manslaughter and felony assault. He was sentenced by the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson. Upon completion of his prison term, Butler will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of July 7, 2012, the trouble began with a brief exchange of words between Butler and 20-year-old Charles Scott outside a carry-out restaurant at the corner of East Capitol and 53rd Streets SE. Mr. Scott and a friend, who had gone to the carry-out that night, then walked away, heading north on 53rd Street and turning onto Ames Street SE. Butler was walking in the same direction.
Once on Ames Street, Butler exchanged words with Mr. Scott’s friend, and a physical confrontation then ensued. Mr. Scott attempted to assist his friend in the fight, and another person came to assist Butler in the confrontation. As events continued, Mr. Scott fought Butler with his fists. At some point, Butler escalated the level of violence, stabbing Mr. Scott in the neck and shoulder and stabbing Mr. Scott’s friend in the upper body.
Mr. Scott fell to the ground, and Mr. Butler fled. Mr. Scott and his friend were transported to a local hospital, where Mr. Scott died from his injuries.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kendra Johnson and Sandra Lane and Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Bradford, who investigated the case, and Reagan M. Taylor, who prosecuted the matter.
14-091District Man Sentenced to 23-Month Prison Term for Accosting 10-Year-Old and 12-Year-Old GirlsSeparate Incidents Took Place in 2012Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Gantt, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 23 months in prison on charges stemming from his sexual abuse of two girls in separate incidents during the summer of 2012, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Gantt pled guilty in January 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of attempted second-degree child sexual abuse and one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse. He was sentenced by the Honorable Robert E. Morin. Upon completion of his prison term, Gantt will be placed on three years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, in July 2012, Gantt molested a 12-year-old girl in the laundry room of an apartment building in Southeast Washington. Approximately one month later, Gantt inappropriately touched a 10-year-old girl who was visiting a friend who lived in Gantt’s apartment.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division, which investigated the case. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Jason Manuel and Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
14-089District Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Shooting Store Manager During Attempted Robbery-Victim, Shot in the Back, Remains Partially Paralyzed-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricky Vinston, 55, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for shooting a store manager in the back during an attempted robbery of a drugstore in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Vinston pled guilty in October 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to aggravated assault while armed and assault with intent to rob while armed against two separate victims. The plea agreement, which called for a sentence of 13 to 17 years in prison, was contingent upon the approval of the Honorable Patricia A. Broderick. Upon completion of his prison term, Vinston will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 13, 2012, at approximately 12:25 p.m., Vinston entered a Rite Aid store in the 1400 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE. He approached a clerk and asked about the price of a pack of candy. While the clerk worked to verify the price, Vinston brandished a handgun and demanded the money from the store’s cash register. The clerk fled, and Vinston began attempting to open the cash register himself.
At this point, the store’s manager walked towards the defendant to try and prevent any violence. Vinston told the manager he had two minutes to open the cash register. When the manager struggled to get it open, Vinston counted to three, cocked his firearm, and fired once at close range. The manager, hit in the back, fell to the floor. He was later rushed to the hospital, where he received emergency surgery to repair the damage to his spine caused by the bullet. Since the shooting, the manager remains partially paralyzed from the waist down and must use a wheelchair.
Vinston was arrested a week after the attack.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the efforts of the detectives and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, whose investigation revealed the defendant’s identity as the shooter. He also acknowledged the efforts of Paralegal Specialist Kalisha Clark. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Smith and Nicholas Cannon, who investigated and secured the indictment in the case, and James Ewing, who handled post-plea litigation and sentencing.
14-088District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed and Other Charges in 2012 Murder of Unarmed TeenagerDefendant and Two Accomplices Fired at Least 28 Shots at Group of Unarmed Young MenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Calvin Shaw, 24, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and other charges for the July 4, 2012 shooting of a group of unarmed teenagers and young men, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today. Shaw also was convicted of charges stemming from a second shooting earlier that year.
Shaw, also known as Sharkim Sharp, was found guilty by the jury on April 17, 2014, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He is to be sentenced on June 20, 2014 by the Honorable Jennifer Anderson. Shaw faces a mandatory minimum of 67 years of incarceration and a maximum sentence of 290 years in prison for the various offenses.
In addition to the murder charge, the jury found Shaw guilty of five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of aggravated assault while armed, and related weapons offenses for the July 4, 2012 shooting, which took place in the 5000 block of First Street NW. He also was found guilty of two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and related weapons offenses for an April 18, 2012 shooting that occurred in the same block.
According to the government’s evidence, the murder took place at about 7:55 p.m. on July 4, 2012, when Shaw and two accomplices walked into the 5000 block of First Street NW and opened fire on a group of unarmed teenagers and young men who were gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and enjoy a cookout. As the teenagers and young man ran for cover, a gunshot pierced the back of 19-year-old Crevontai Key, severing his aortic arch and killing him. A second 19-year-old victim suffered serious injuries when he was shot in the abdomen. A 15-year-old victim was injured when a bullet grazed the top of the head. A fourth young man was shot in the back, with the bullet exiting his neck. Several other young men were shot at as they ran away. In total, Shaw and his two accomplices fired 28 times at the group of young men.
The jury also found Shaw guilty of the April 18, 2012 shooting of a young man in the same block, and of attempting to shoot another young man who rushed to that victim’s aid.In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the efforts of those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the FBI. U.S. Attorney Machen also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Kwasi Fields; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Witness Security Specialist Debra Cannon; and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling.
Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kerkhoff and Michelle Parikh, who tried the case, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Hegyi and Heather Carlton, who investigated the case.
14-090Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge in $44,000 Theft from Non-Profit-Defendant Used Employer’s Credit Card for Personal Expenses-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Thomas Webb, 33, of Hyattsville, Md., pled guilty today toa federal charge stemming from the theft of more than $44,000 from a non-profit organization where he worked as an administrative assistant, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Webb pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The Honorable James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2014. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Webb faces a likely range of six to 12 months of incarceration, as well as a fine of up to $20,000. Under the plea agreement, Webb must pay restitution to the non-profit. He also is subject to a forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, the not-for-profit organization, identified in court documents as “Company A,” provides financial assistance to underinsured patients being treated for chronic or life-threatening illnesses who are unable to afford the full cost of care. Webb began working as an administrative assistant there in or around January 2013.
Webb was responsible for processing financial transactions, including reimbursing employees for work-related expenses. In connection with these duties, the non-profit granted Webb access to its bank account and its general ledger information systems. Almost immediately after hiring him, the non-profit issued Webb a company credit card.
Beginning in February 2013, Webb began using his company-issued credit card for personal expenses, in spite of his employer’s explicit policies against such use. Between February and July of 2013, Webb generated a total amount of $44,457 in personal expenses on the credit card, including personal expenses related to travel, transportation, hotel lodgings, retail purchases, meals, food, and entertainment. Webb paid the monthly balances of his company-issued credit card directly from the non-profit’s bank account. He never made any attempt to reimburse the non-profit for any of the personal expenditures.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donna Galindo, Corinne Kleinman, and Angela Lawrence; Criminal Investigator Juan Juarez, who investigated the case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Zia Faruqui, who assisted with forfeiture issues, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
14-087Father and Son Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Investigation Involving D.C. Taxicab Industry-Admit Acting Illegally in Attempts to Generate Business-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony C. Y. Cheng, Sr., and his son, Anthony R. Cheng, Jr., pled guilty today to federal charges stemming from an undercover investigation into a scheme to illegally generate business through the District of Columbia taxicab industry, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Anthony Cheng, Sr., 65, and his son, 40, both of Alexandria, Va., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Anthony Cheng, Sr. pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of making an offer of unauthorized compensation to a public official. Anthony Cheng, Jr. pled guilty to a felony charge of payment of a gratuity to a public official.
The Honorable Ellen S. Huvelle scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2014. Anthony Cheng, Sr. faces a statutory maximum of a year in prison and financial penalties. Anthony Cheng, Jr. faces a statutory maximum of two years of incarceration and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the Chengs face up to six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000.
According to plea documents filed today, Anthony Cheng, Sr. is the owner of businesses, including Tony Cheng’s Mongolian Restaurant, in the Chinatown area of Washington, D.C. His son owned a bus company that provided interstate transportation to the public.
The charges involve the Chengs’ dealings in 2010 and 2011 with a person described in the court documents as “Public Official Number One,” who at the time chaired the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission. Unbeknownst to the Chengs, “Public Official Number One” was working in cooperation with the FBI on an investigation.
“With today’s guilty pleas, a financially successful father and son confessed to their efforts to pay off public officials to advance their business interests,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “The Chengs should be commended for owning up to their crimes before trial, but their admissions are a sobering reminder that we must continue to aggressively fight the pay-to-play culture that, if left unchecked, can determine who has the ability to engage in business opportunities with the government. We hope that these convictions serve as a warning to other business owners who are tempted to make illicit payments to public officials in order to get ahead.”
“The integrity of our government is threatened when individuals engage in pay-to-play schemes with public officials,” said Assistant Director Parlave. “The FBI is committed to investigating corrupt backroom deals that work to influence government officials and restoring an even marketplace for honest business owners who do business in our city.”
The D.C. Taxicab Commission, an agency within the District of Columbia government, has authority for intrastate regulation of the taxicab industry. Among its many responsibilities, the taxicab commission handles the licensing of owners, operators, companies, associations and fleets. The agency also employs inspectors who are deployed to prevent illegal taxicab operations within the District of Columbia. If inspectors identify taxicabs that are operating unlawfully, they can have the vehicles towed and impounded.
According to today’s court filings, Anthony Cheng, Sr. decided in or about the fall of 2010 to start a towing company in the District of Columbia. In order to do so, he was required to have a license for a locked storage facility, a towing license, and insurance. On or about Dec. 18, 2010, Anthony Cheng, Sr. met with “Public Official Number One” at Cheng’s restaurant. At that time, he offered ”Public Official Number One” compensation of 10 percent of the profits of his towing company in return for assistance in completing the paperwork associated with establishing the business and assisting the company in securing towing assignments from the taxicab commission. In a follow-up meeting on Jan. 12, 2011, also at the restaurant, Anthony Cheng, Sr. again requested the assistance of “Public Official Number One,” including the securing of at least 100 towing assignments per month from the taxicab commission.
Also in 2011, according to the court documents, both of the Chengs met with “Public Official Number One” regarding licenses for multi-vehicle taxicab companies. At the time, a legislatively mandated moratorium was in place prohibiting the issuance of any new business licenses to operate new taxicab companies, taxicab associations and limousine businesses.
The Chengs and “Public Official Number One” discussed a plan to circumvent the moratorium by using falsified backdated corporate documents representing that their taxicab companies had been in existence since 2009. “Public Official Number One” advised Anthony Cheng, Jr. of the need to make a “contribution” of not more than $1,500 for his help with the backdated paperwork. On or about Jan. 31, 2011, “Public Official Number One” provided Anthony Cheng, Jr. with backdated operating authority licenses to make it appear as if the companies existed before the moratorium was in place. During that meeting, based on prior discussions with and at the direction of his son, Anthony Cheng, Sr. reimbursed “Public Official Number One” with $1,500 in cash on his son’s behalf.
In addition, according to the court documents, Anthony Cheng, Jr. met in 2011 with a person he believed was an official with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. This person actually was an undercover FBI Special Agent. On or about March 31, 2011, Anthony Cheng, Jr. met with the undercover agent and provided him with $250 in cash in return for backdated certificates of occupancy for two multi-vehicle taxicab companies.
The Chengs obtained two licenses for multi-cab companies – named Green Top Cab and ECO CAB Company - but never opened the businesses.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave commended the efforts of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Krishawn Graham and Tasha Harris; former Paralegal Specialist Diane Hayes; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lionel André and Loyaan A. Egal, who are prosecuting the matter.
14-086Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Woman in Northwest Washington-DNA Later Tied Him to the Crime-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Glenn A. Smith, Jr., 37, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman in 2010, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Smith was found guilty by a jury in December 2012, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas J. Motley. Upon completion of his prison term, Smith will be placed on five years of supervised release. He also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 13, 2010, the victim was walking down Wisconsin Avenue NW, after leaving a party in the Friendship Heights neighborhood at about 2:30 a.m. At the time, she had just graduated from Georgetown University with highest honors in her major. Smith grabbed her behind a building, turned her away from him, and choked her. He then pushed the victim to the ground and sexually assaulted her. When the assault was over, Smith took the victim’s underwear and wiped her with it, and then fled, taking the underwear.
The victim immediately reported the assault to police and was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where she was treated for injuries and swabbed for DNA. The case was cold until May 2011, when Smith was identified as a suspect through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a web of state and national databases containing DNA profiles from convicted offenders and crime scenes that is used as an investigative tool. Smith’s DNA was in the system as a result of an earlier conviction in a case involving identity fraud. MPD detectives obtained a sample of the defendant’s DNA, and it matched the DNA left behind by the assailant in 2010.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit, Second District, and officers from the Forensic Science Division. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughn; Paralegal Specialists Jason Manuel, Tiffany Jones, and Cynthia Muhammad; Karen Lee-Putt of the Finance office; John Marsh of the Criminal Investigations Unit, and Victim/Witness Specialists David Foster and Katina Adams-Washington. He particularly commended the work of Leif Hickling and the entire Litigation Support Staff for a strong team effort. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Zubrensky, who investigated and tried the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenya Davis, who co-tried the case.
14-085Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Woman in Northwest Washington-DNA Later Tied Him to the Crime-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Glenn A. Smith, Jr., 37, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman in 2010, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Smith was found guilty by a jury in December 2012, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas J. Motley. Upon completion of his prison term, Smith will be placed on five years of supervised release. He also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 13, 2010, the victim was walking down Wisconsin Avenue NW, after leaving a party in the Friendship Heights neighborhood at about 2:30 a.m. At the time, she had just graduated from Georgetown University with highest honors in her major. Smith grabbed her behind a building, turned her away from him, and choked her. He then pushed the victim to the ground and sexually assaulted her. When the assault was over, Smith took the victim’s underwear and wiped her with it, and then fled, taking the underwear.
The victim immediately reported the assault to police and was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where she was treated for injuries and swabbed for DNA. The case was cold until May 2011, when Smith was identified as a suspect through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a web of state and national databases containing DNA profiles from convicted offenders and crime scenes that is used as an investigative tool. Smith’s DNA was in the system as a result of an earlier conviction in a case involving identity fraud. MPD detectives obtained a sample of the defendant’s DNA, and it matched the DNA left behind by the assailant in 2010.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit, Second District, and officers from the Forensic Science Division. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughn; Paralegal Specialists Jason Manuel, Tiffany Jones, and Cynthia Muhammad; Karen Lee-Putt of the Finance office; John Marsh of the Criminal Investigations Unit, and Victim/Witness Specialists David Foster and Katina Adams-Washington. He particularly commended the work of Leif Hickling and the entire Litigation Support Staff for a strong team effort. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Zubrensky, who investigated and tried the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenya Davis, who co-tried the case.
14-085Crime Victims, Good Samaritans and Community Groups Honored at Event Marking National Crime Victims’ Rights Week- U.S. Attorney Machen Cites Bravery of Victims, Survivors -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia today paid tribute to more than 50 crime victims, their families, witnesses, and community advocates for their bravery, compassion, and dedication to the pursuit of justice.
The honorees were recognized during a ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, timed with the annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme, “30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice,” focuses on the strides that have been made for victims since the passage of the Victims of Crime Act in 1984.
In addition to U.S. Attorney Machen, speakers at today’s ceremony included Angela Rose, the founder and executive director of Promoting Awareness/Victim Empowerment (PAVE), a community-based, non-profit organization that uses social, educational and legislative tactics to bring attention to the issue of sexual violence. Ms. Rose is a survivor of a brutal sexual assault and has worked to assist victims of sexual assault throughout the country. PAVE now has more than 35 chapters and affiliates, including an affiliate in the District of Columbia.
“We all aspire to help victims seek justice, find hope, and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “In doing so, we ourselves are inspired by the courage and dignity of these victims and survivors. It is important for us to stand up and celebrate those who are brave enough to say something or do something to make our community a safer place.”
Today’s ceremony included awards for several individual victims and Good Samaritans whose efforts furthered the cause of justice. For example, the honorees included a carjacking victim and the police officers and civilians who came to her aid; two former students from Catholic University, who helped rescue and then protect a woman who was being assaulted; the neighbors of a young man who came to them for help after his brother killed their mother; people who banded together to help an elderly woman whose husband had been slain, and others who stepped forward as witnesses and advocates on behalf of victims of crime. The honorees also included a supervisory victims’ coordinator for the U.S. Parole Commission who ensured that the family of a murder victim had the opportunity to be heard regarding the killer’s request for parole. The family’s views were taken into consideration and the offender was not released.
The program also recognized the work of organizations such as FAIR Girls, a non-profit based in the District of Columbia that sponsors programs worldwide to prevent the exploitation of girls. FAIR Girls has provided assistance in numerous cases in the District of Columbia, offering support and services to victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.
Special recognition was given to the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. The task force’s work has led to numerous prosecutions of people in the District of Columbia for child pornography charges and other federal offenses. Undercover officers act swiftly when they learn of victims of sexual abuse and child pornography, and their work has led to arrests in recent months of defendants in Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Today’s event was developed and organized by the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney=s Office for the District of Columbia. Members of the Unit provide essential services and support to victims and witnesses, such as making referrals for counseling, addressing safety concerns, assisting with access to Crime Victim Compensation Program funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings. The Unit also notifies victims of their rights and provides information regarding significant case events, such as the filing of charges, plea hearings, trials and sentencing hearings.
As part of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Department of Justice gave special recognition to the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Unit won two honors: Outstanding Victim Services Professionals of 2014, and Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act Champion of 2014. The Department of Justice cited, for example, the Unit’s work to ensure that families and victims of last year’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard were provided with invaluable resources and support.
Additional information about the Victim Witness Assistance Unit is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/dc/programs/vw/vwa.html.
Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.
14-084Crime Victims, Good Samaritans and Community Groups Honored at Event Marking National Crime Victims’ Rights Week- U.S. Attorney Machen Cites Bravery of Victims, Survivors -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia today paid tribute to more than 50 crime victims, their families, witnesses, and community advocates for their bravery, compassion, and dedication to the pursuit of justice.
The honorees were recognized during a ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, timed with the annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme, “30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice,” focuses on the strides that have been made for victims since the passage of the Victims of Crime Act in 1984.
In addition to U.S. Attorney Machen, speakers at today’s ceremony included Angela Rose, the founder and executive director of Promoting Awareness/Victim Empowerment (PAVE), a community-based, non-profit organization that uses social, educational and legislative tactics to bring attention to the issue of sexual violence. Ms. Rose is a survivor of a brutal sexual assault and has worked to assist victims of sexual assault throughout the country. PAVE now has more than 35 chapters and affiliates, including an affiliate in the District of Columbia.
“We all aspire to help victims seek justice, find hope, and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “In doing so, we ourselves are inspired by the courage and dignity of these victims and survivors. It is important for us to stand up and celebrate those who are brave enough to say something or do something to make our community a safer place.”
Today’s ceremony included awards for several individual victims and Good Samaritans whose efforts furthered the cause of justice. For example, the honorees included a carjacking victim and the police officers and civilians who came to her aid; two former students from Catholic University, who helped rescue and then protect a woman who was being assaulted; the neighbors of a young man who came to them for help after his brother killed their mother; people who banded together to help an elderly woman whose husband had been slain, and others who stepped forward as witnesses and advocates on behalf of victims of crime. The honorees also included a supervisory victims’ coordinator for the U.S. Parole Commission who ensured that the family of a murder victim had the opportunity to be heard regarding the killer’s request for parole. The family’s views were taken into consideration and the offender was not released.
The program also recognized the work of organizations such as FAIR Girls, a non-profit based in the District of Columbia that sponsors programs worldwide to prevent the exploitation of girls. FAIR Girls has provided assistance in numerous cases in the District of Columbia, offering support and services to victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.
Special recognition was given to the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. The task force’s work has led to numerous prosecutions of people in the District of Columbia for child pornography charges and other federal offenses. Undercover officers act swiftly when they learn of victims of sexual abuse and child pornography, and their work has led to arrests in recent months of defendants in Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Today’s event was developed and organized by the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney=s Office for the District of Columbia. Members of the Unit provide essential services and support to victims and witnesses, such as making referrals for counseling, addressing safety concerns, assisting with access to Crime Victim Compensation Program funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings. The Unit also notifies victims of their rights and provides information regarding significant case events, such as the filing of charges, plea hearings, trials and sentencing hearings.
As part of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Department of Justice gave special recognition to the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Unit won two honors: Outstanding Victim Services Professionals of 2014, and Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act Champion of 2014. The Department of Justice cited, for example, the Unit’s work to ensure that families and victims of last year’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard were provided with invaluable resources and support.
Additional information about the Victim Witness Assistance Unit is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/dc/programs/vw/vwa.html.
Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.
14-084Physical Therapy Clinics to Pay $2.78 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Two companies that operate physical therapy clinics in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, along with three individuals associated with the businesses, have agreed to pay the United States $2.78 million to settle allegations that the firms’ billings to Medicare and the TRICARE health care program violated the False Claims Act.
The settlement was announced today by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Nicholas DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The companies -- Alliance Rehabilitation, LLC and Active Physical Therapy Services, LLC -- submitted invoices to Medicare and TRICARE through a consolidated billing office in Fairfax, Va., that was managed and overseen by Geeta Trehan, of Virginia. The companies’ owners, Thomas Bray and Rajeev Gupta, both of Maryland, also managed the operations.
The settlement resolves allegations that, between January 2007 and August 2012, the companies submitted claims which falsely represented that the physical therapy services being billed were either rendered or directly supervised by the physical therapist identified on the claims by his or her National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. In fact, the physical therapist identified on the claim had no involvement in the services rendered. The settlement also resolves allegations that Alliance Rehabilitation, LLC, and Active Physical Therapy Services, LLC, sought payment from TRICARE for physical therapy services that were not provided by the physical therapist identified on the claim.
In addition to the False Claims Act settlement, the companies and Trehan, Bray, and Gupta have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S Department of Human Health and Services Office of Inspector General. That agreement imposes integrity obligations on each of the entities and individuals and requires them, among other things, to retain an independent review organization to review their coding, billing, and claims submissions to Federal health care programs.
“These physical therapy clinics overbilled the federal programs that provide health care to senior citizens and military families,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “If health care providers want to be paid for their services with taxpayer dollars, they have to play by the rules. Americans deserve to know that they are getting their money’s worth. This nearly $2.8 million settlement is part of our continued fight to protect taxpayers and to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs.”
“When health care companies and the individuals who run them try to enrich themselves by misrepresenting the medical services they bill to taxpayer-funded health care programs, we will make sure they are held accountable for their deceptive schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge DiGiulio.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service seeks to hold those accountable who jeopardize the Department of Defense's objective to provide affordable and safe health care to the men and women serving in the armed forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig. “Current and former soldiers deserve adequate care. Health care providers who seek financial gain through inaccurate billing processes and irresponsible treatment of their patients will continue to be diligently investigated by DCIS agents in partnership with the DOJ and other law enforcement agencies. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this investigation.”
The conduct at issue was brought to light through a lawsuit that was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by two former Alliance employees under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions, of the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act is one of the government’s most powerful tools in the effort to combat fraud on federal programs. The Act allows private citizens to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. In this case, the two former Alliance employees will receive more than $400,000 as their share of the government’s recovery.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated investigative effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case is United States ex rel. Angel and Natal v. Alliance Rehabilitation LLC et al., Civil Action No. 10-cv-02124 (D.D.C.).
14-083Physical Therapy Clinics to Pay $2.78 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Two companies that operate physical therapy clinics in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, along with three individuals associated with the businesses, have agreed to pay the United States $2.78 million to settle allegations that the firms’ billings to Medicare and the TRICARE health care program violated the False Claims Act.
The settlement was announced today by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Nicholas DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The companies -- Alliance Rehabilitation, LLC and Active Physical Therapy Services, LLC -- submitted invoices to Medicare and TRICARE through a consolidated billing office in Fairfax, Va., that was managed and overseen by Geeta Trehan, of Virginia. The companies’ owners, Thomas Bray and Rajeev Gupta, both of Maryland, also managed the operations.
The settlement resolves allegations that, between January 2007 and August 2012, the companies submitted claims which falsely represented that the physical therapy services being billed were either rendered or directly supervised by the physical therapist identified on the claims by his or her National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. In fact, the physical therapist identified on the claim had no involvement in the services rendered. The settlement also resolves allegations that Alliance Rehabilitation, LLC, and Active Physical Therapy Services, LLC, sought payment from TRICARE for physical therapy services that were not provided by the physical therapist identified on the claim.
In addition to the False Claims Act settlement, the companies and Trehan, Bray, and Gupta have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S Department of Human Health and Services Office of Inspector General. That agreement imposes integrity obligations on each of the entities and individuals and requires them, among other things, to retain an independent review organization to review their coding, billing, and claims submissions to Federal health care programs.
“These physical therapy clinics overbilled the federal programs that provide health care to senior citizens and military families,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “If health care providers want to be paid for their services with taxpayer dollars, they have to play by the rules. Americans deserve to know that they are getting their money’s worth. This nearly $2.8 million settlement is part of our continued fight to protect taxpayers and to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs.”
“When health care companies and the individuals who run them try to enrich themselves by misrepresenting the medical services they bill to taxpayer-funded health care programs, we will make sure they are held accountable for their deceptive schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge DiGiulio.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service seeks to hold those accountable who jeopardize the Department of Defense's objective to provide affordable and safe health care to the men and women serving in the armed forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig. “Current and former soldiers deserve adequate care. Health care providers who seek financial gain through inaccurate billing processes and irresponsible treatment of their patients will continue to be diligently investigated by DCIS agents in partnership with the DOJ and other law enforcement agencies. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this investigation.”
The conduct at issue was brought to light through a lawsuit that was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by two former Alliance employees under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions, of the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act is one of the government’s most powerful tools in the effort to combat fraud on federal programs. The Act allows private citizens to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. In this case, the two former Alliance employees will receive more than $400,000 as their share of the government’s recovery.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated investigative effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case is United States ex rel. Angel and Natal v. Alliance Rehabilitation LLC et al., Civil Action No. 10-cv-02124 (D.D.C.).
14-083District Man Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison for Pair of Bank Robberies in Downtown Washington-Defendant Held up Two Banks on the Same Day-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Clyde Lacy Rattler, 56, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to an 8 ½-year prison term on two counts of bank robbery stemming from a pair of hold-ups committed in downtown Washington on the same day, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Rattler was found guilty by a jury in January 2014, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Rattler will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also will be required to pay $2,791 in restitution to the banks.
In 2005, Rattler was convicted of three bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.
According to the government’s evidence, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at about 10 a.m., Rattler approached the teller station at United Bank, in the 1600 block of K Street NW, and told the teller that he had a gun and wanted money in large denominations. The teller gave Rattler multiple clips of $100 and $50 bills, and he exited the bank. The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,650.
Later the same day, at about 5 p.m., Rattler approached the teller station at the TD Bank, in the 1000 block of 15th Street NW. He told the teller he had a gun and a bomb, and he wanted money in large denominations. The teller gave him money, and he exited the bank. The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,141.
A news report describing the robberies aired on a local television station, including bank surveillance footage. After seeing a news report, several persons, including two law enforcement officers, called the FBI, and Rattler was identified as the perpetrator of the robberies.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Chief Lanier commended the actions of those who investigated the robberies for the FBI and MPD. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle and Legal Assistant Tammy Scott. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
14-082District Man Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison for Pair of Bank Robberies in Downtown Washington-Defendant Held up Two Banks on the Same Day-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Clyde Lacy Rattler, 56, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to an 8 ½-year prison term on two counts of bank robbery stemming from a pair of hold-ups committed in downtown Washington on the same day, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Rattler was found guilty by a jury in January 2014, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Rattler will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also will be required to pay $2,791 in restitution to the banks.
In 2005, Rattler was convicted of three bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.
According to the government’s evidence, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at about 10 a.m., Rattler approached the teller station at United Bank, in the 1600 block of K Street NW, and told the teller that he had a gun and wanted money in large denominations. The teller gave Rattler multiple clips of $100 and $50 bills, and he exited the bank. The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,650.
Later the same day, at about 5 p.m., Rattler approached the teller station at the TD Bank, in the 1000 block of 15th Street NW. He told the teller he had a gun and a bomb, and he wanted money in large denominations. The teller gave him money, and he exited the bank. The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,141.
A news report describing the robberies aired on a local television station, including bank surveillance footage. After seeing a news report, several persons, including two law enforcement officers, called the FBI, and Rattler was identified as the perpetrator of the robberies.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Chief Lanier commended the actions of those who investigated the robberies for the FBI and MPD. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle and Legal Assistant Tammy Scott. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
14-082District Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years in Prison for Stabbing Two People in Separate Robberies Last Winter-Both Victims Robbed of Their Cell Phones After They Were Stabbed-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eric D. Smith, 43, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a prison term of 6 ½ years on charges stemming from the stabbings of two people in separate robberies on back-to-back nights last December, one occurring outside of Gallery Place, and the other in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.
Smith pled guilty in February 2014 to assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and attempt to commit robbery in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced on April 4, 2014, by the Honorable Robert I. Richter. Upon completion of his prison term, Smith will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, the first attack took place at about 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2013, in a rear alley behind the 600 block of H Street NW, near Gallery Place. Smith approached a man and stated “Money, money,” before stabbing the victim in the rear torso. The victim fell, and Smith went through his pockets, stealing a cell phone and other property.
The next night, Dec. 19, 2013, near 7th and H Streets NE, Smith and another man, Brandon Watts, approached a male victim and a female victim. Watts stated, “Give me your stuff,” and Watts asked Smith if Smith “still had the knife.” Smith then pulled out his knife, and stabbed the male victim in the thigh. Smith and Watts stole the man’s cell phone, and fled.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), responding to a 911 call regarding the stabbing, located Smith and Watts a few blocks away. Both men were wearing ski masks. One of the men had made a throwing motion towards the ground; a knife and the victim’s cell phone were found on the ground where the objects were seen landing.
Smith pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery in the second attack, and attempt to commit robbery in the first attack. Watts, 24, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery in the second attack, and to receipt of stolen property in the first attack. Watts was sentenced on April 4, 2014 to a 43-month prison term. Watts will be placed on three years of supervised release following his prison term.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Petkun, who prosecuted the matter.
14-080District Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years in Prison for Stabbing Two People in Separate Robberies Last Winter-Both Victims Robbed of Their Cell Phones After They Were Stabbed-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eric D. Smith, 43, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a prison term of 6 ½ years on charges stemming from the stabbings of two people in separate robberies on back-to-back nights last December, one occurring outside of Gallery Place, and the other in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.
Smith pled guilty in February 2014 to assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and attempt to commit robbery in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced on April 4, 2014, by the Honorable Robert I. Richter. Upon completion of his prison term, Smith will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, the first attack took place at about 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2013, in a rear alley behind the 600 block of H Street NW, near Gallery Place. Smith approached a man and stated “Money, money,” before stabbing the victim in the rear torso. The victim fell, and Smith went through his pockets, stealing a cell phone and other property.
The next night, Dec. 19, 2013, near 7th and H Streets NE, Smith and another man, Brandon Watts, approached a male victim and a female victim. Watts stated, “Give me your stuff,” and Watts asked Smith if Smith “still had the knife.” Smith then pulled out his knife, and stabbed the male victim in the thigh. Smith and Watts stole the man’s cell phone, and fled.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), responding to a 911 call regarding the stabbing, located Smith and Watts a few blocks away. Both men were wearing ski masks. One of the men had made a throwing motion towards the ground; a knife and the victim’s cell phone were found on the ground where the objects were seen landing.
Smith pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery in the second attack, and attempt to commit robbery in the first attack. Watts, 24, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery in the second attack, and to receipt of stolen property in the first attack. Watts was sentenced on April 4, 2014 to a 43-month prison term. Watts will be placed on three years of supervised release following his prison term.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Petkun, who prosecuted the matter.
14-080District Man Found Guilty of Armed Robbery and Other Charges for Beating and Robbing A Man in Early Evening Attack-Defendant Stole Victim’s IPhone, Wallet and Keys-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marvin Jefferson, 25, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of aggravated assault while armed, armed robbery, and related firearms offenses for attacking a man in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Jefferson was found guilty by the jury following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2014.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early evening hours of Oct. 28, 2013, Jefferson attacked a man he had just encountered at a liquor store in the 1300 block of North Capitol Street NE. The victim, a 24-year-old engineering graduate of Howard University, had stopped at the store to get a beer. Jefferson, also inside the store, tried to take the victim’s iPhone. The victim put his iPhone in his jacket pocket, paid for his beer, and left the store.
Jefferson, however, followed the victim to the street. He tried to reach into the victim’s jacket to get the iPhone, and when the victim turned around, Jefferson began striking him. Jefferson hit the victim in the forehead with what appeared to be a gun, causing lacerations. Then, while the victim was in a disoriented and semi-conscious state, Jefferson robbed him of his phone, wallet and keys. The victim lost consciousness and dropped to the ground, chipping his tooth. Once he regained consciousness, he flagged down two police officers. A few days after the attack, he was able to identify Jefferson as his attacker.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Paralegal Specialist Donville Drummond, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mannarino. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton O’Connor, who secured the indictment, and John P. Fucetola, who prosecuted the case.
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