Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody has sentenced Marion Dwight, Jr., a/k/a “Woe,” (31, Lakeland) to 23 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Dwight had pleaded guilty on February 23, 2018.

According to court documents, from at least May 2015 and continuing through July 20, 2017, Dwight conspired with others to commit multiple armed robberies and burglaries of several local drug dealers within the Middle District of Florida. Dwight was the leader of the organization and had orchestrated the robberies. To date, the FBI has identified at least 14 armed robberies and 4 armed burglaries that were committed by Dwight and his co-conspirators. The conspirators discharged and otherwise brandished firearms during the commission of all of the robberies and burglaries. In many instances, small children were present at the time of the robberies.

Dwight’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and each faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, as noted below:

 

Name

Age, Residence

Status

Bradney Henry McGary

32, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 1 count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 19 years and 2 months in prison on October 17, 2018.

Sherrod Raeshad Gordon,

a/k/a “Hott”

32, Tampa

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 29 years and 8 months in prison on February 1, 2019.

Michael James Baker,

a/k/a “Bake,”

a/k/a “Maserati”

35, Clearwater

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 21 years and 4 months in prison on April 12, 2019.

Fredrick James Burney, Jr.,

a/k/a “Frido”

a/k/a “Free”

28, Clearwater

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 12, 2019.

Antonio Marquis Roddy,

a/k/a “Lil Head”

31, Orlando

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 17 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Sentencing scheduled for May 10, 2019.

Jevin Michael Stone

30, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of, and 2 counts of discharging and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 23 years and 5 months in prison on April 12, 2019.

 

Shamar Thomas

 

26, Clearwater

Found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and using or carrying a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, after a jury trial on October 11, 2018.

Sentenced to 35 years in prison on February 1, 2019.

 

"This case exemplifies the determination and dedication of the Tampa Bay Safe Streets Task Force to rid our communities of violent crime", said Eric W. Sporre, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. "This gang brought fear and violence to neighborhoods from Clearwater to Orlando. I want to commend the work of our special agents, task force officers and prosecutors who worked diligently throughout this investigation to protect our community and stop the violence."

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell. Co-conspirator Shamar Lajuan Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and James Muench.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kimberly Dues (37, Jacksonville) with disaster assistance fraud involving Hurricane Irma. If convicted, Dues faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, plus restitution to the United States. Dues made her initial appearance in federal court yesterday. Her arraignment is set for April 24, 2019.

According to the indictment, in September 2017, Dues falsified records concerning her primary residence when submitting an application for assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected] . You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Richard Huntington (45, Lakeland) to 120 days in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Huntington was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. He had pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019.        

According to court documents, Huntington, a former U.S. Postal carrier, provided addresses along his delivery route to coconspirators who arranged to have packages containing marijuana shipped from Oregon to those addresses. When the packages arrived and were placed in Huntington’s control, Huntington would scan the packages as delivered to the addresses, and then turn them over to his coconspirators for further distribution of the marijuana.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Mirza Afzal Hussain (56, Brandon) to 37 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor, document fraud, and aggravated identity theft. 

A federal jury found Hussain guilty on January 11, 2019, after a one-week trial.      

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Hussain agreed to house his sister and her family, including two minor daughters, when the relatives legally immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh in 2010. Hussain’s relatives were culturally and socially isolated, did not have employment, lacked transportation, and spoke very little English. During their stay at his house, Hussain developed a romantic and sexual interest in his 12-year old niece. He bought the child tight fitting clothing, romantic jewelry, and cellphones. He also sexually battered his niece and started living with her openly as if she were his spouse—in front of her family and his wife.

Hussain’s wife left him, and, in early 2012, the relatives (including his 12-year-old niece), also moved out of his home. Hussain sent numerous sexually explicit text messages to his niece—professing his love for her and his intention to marry her, discussing sex with her, soliciting naked photographs from her, and asking her to masturbate for him. He also manipulated her into falsifying reports claiming that her parents were abusing her.

In November 2012, Hussain traveled to Bangladesh and obtained a false birth certificate that changed his niece’s birthdate, making her appear to be three years older. He returned to the United States and used that birth certificate fraudulently to obtain a new Legal Permanent Resident Card reflecting her new birth year. Hussain then showed up at his niece’s home and tried to take her away from her parents—presenting the Legal Permanent Resident Card as proof that she was an adult.

 “This criminal put his own agenda first, hurting his own family. He thought he could get away with his despicable behavior by lying and blaming others for his actions,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to our HSI special agents and law enforcement partners, a jury of his peers found him guilty and he will now be unable to harm anymore. His family can feel safe knowing justice has been served.”  

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Murray and Mandy Riedel. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Peresie and Rachel Jones assisted in the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Myron William Ernst (61, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Ernst faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Ernst committed a spree of nine bank robberies and attempted bank robberies in both Florida and Alabama. During each incident, Ernst presented bank employees with a threatening note demanding money. 

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Hemalkumar Shah (27, citizen of India, residing in Tampa) to eight years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to his participation in an Indian call center scam. As part of Shah’s sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $80,000.

Shah had pleaded guilty on January 28, 2019.

According to court documents, from 2014 through at least 2016, Shah conspired with U.S.-based co-conspirators and India-based call centers to extort money from U.S. residents by impersonating IRS officers and misleading victims to believe that they owed money to the IRS and would be arrested and fined if they did not pay their alleged back taxes immediately. The conspirators collected the fraud proceeds by (1) withdrawing cash from prepaid cards purchased and funded by victims; (2) hiring other conspirators (runners) to retrieve money wired by the victims to those runners; and/or (3) hiring runners to open bank accounts into which victims deposited fraud proceeds. The defendants collected the proceeds by providing the runners with the victims’ names, locations, and amounts paid. The runners were directed to retrieve the fraud proceeds in cash and turn the funds over to the defendants, often less a payment to the runner for opening the account or conducting the transaction.

Four others previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. On March 25, 2019, Alejandro Juarez was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, and on March 29, 2019, Nishitkumar Patel was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months’ imprisonment. Sharvil Patel and Brenda Dozier are currently awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Alain Nezius (36, Orlando) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Nezius had pleaded guilty on January 29, 2019.

According to court documents, in 2007, Nezius was deported to Haiti following multiple convictions for possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver it. He illegally returned to the United States after being deported and has a current outstanding order of removal with the Department of Homeland Security.

After illegally reentering the United States, Nezius assumed his deceased brother’s identity and obtained a Florida driver license in his brother’s name. On April 17, 2018, Nezius attached and submitted his own photo with an application to renew his brother’s U.S. passport. The U.S. Department of State recognized that the alleged passport applicant was deceased and that the submitted photograph did not match the previous photographs associated with the passport. On the passport application, Nezius represented himself to be his deceased brother, who was a naturalized U.S. citizen.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations as part of Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE.

 

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Christopher Ray Faella (34, Palm Bay) to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving and possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Faella to forfeit a cellphone and micro SD cards, which were used to download and store images of child pornography.

Faella had pleaded guilty on August 15, 2018.

According to court documents, on April 13, 2017, the Palm Bay Police Department initiated an investigation, based on a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that a Google account under Faella’s name had uploaded files containing child pornography. The tip involved 946 images and 22 videos of child pornography. Google identified Faella’s email address and several internet protocol addresses that were associated with Faella and his residence.

On July 22, 2017, the Palm Bay Police Department executed a search warrant at Faella’s residence. Faella, a known felon with a lengthy criminal history, was in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and several rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A forensic analysis of Faella’s cellphone revealed 617 images and 3 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that had been downloaded through Google Chrome. Faella also had several micro SD cards that contained 1,147 images of child pornography. The images depicted bondage, bestiality, and other acts of sadistic conduct perpetrated against young children, including toddlers. As a result, the Palm Bay Police Department referred the investigation to the FBI for the filing of criminal charges. 

This case was investigated by the Palm Bay Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Santiago Silva-Ortiz (28, Colombia) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Silva-Ortiz had pleaded guilty on January 14, 2019.

According to testimony and court documents, Silva-Ortiz served as a member of the Colombian National Police for two years and became involved with narco-traffickers. On October 10, 2018, Silva-Ortiz served as the load guard on a go-fast vessel that was interdicted south of the Dominican Republic by the United States Coast Guard. Silva-Ortiz and his conspirators were attempting to smuggle more than 1,190 kilograms of cocaine.

In March 2019, the captain of the go-fast vessel, Eulices De Jesus Barliza-Lopez, was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for his role in the offense.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force (PANEX) - a federally approved Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Operation Panama Express currently targets South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for smuggling drugs to the United States and elsewhere for distribution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Thomas A. Calderon (49, Deltona) to a year in federal prison for making a materially false statement to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (“RRB”) concerning his eligibility for disability benefits. As part of his sentence, Calderon was also ordered to pay $168,950.70 in restitution.         

Calderon had pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019.

According to court documents, in 2012, Calderon applied for and obtained disability retirement benefits. In his application, Calderon indicated that he was unemployed and acknowledged that he must notify the RRB immediately should he work for any employer or perform any self-employment work. On July 14, 2017, Calderon signed and submitted to the RRB a Continuing Disability Update Report in which he indicated that since January 1, 2015, he had not worked anywhere and had not been self-employed. In fact, from 2012 through 2017, Calderon owned and operated the Sports Den Bar in Orange City, Florida.

“The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General is committed to fighting fraud, waste and abuse,” said Inspector General Martin J. Dickman. “The case sends a loud and clear message that combating disability fraud is a top priority and abuse of RRB programs will not be tolerated.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Terrell Eady (33, Tampa) to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Eady had pleaded guilty on December 21, 2018.

According to court documents, between February and March 2010, Eady persuaded two female minors, whom he had met online, to produce and send him child pornography.

Eady met one of his victims on Facebook, where he had claimed to be a 15-year-old boy. He told the victim that he had obtained a naked video of her and threatened to send the video to her Facebook friends unless, she took naked photographs of herself for him, or filmed herself on a webcam. Unbeknownst to Eady, law enforcement took over the girl’s Facebook account and Eady attempted to persuade an undercover agent, whom Eady believed was the minor, to produce child pornography and send it to him.

The investigation revealed that Eady had previously communicated with a 16- year-old girl online. Eady had pressured that minor to produce and send him child pornography and threatened to send naked photographs of the girl to her friends on the internet unless, she produced more naked photographs for him. Pressured by Eady, the minor produced and sent him at least three pornographic images of herself.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the New York Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced John Craig Myrick (67, Groveland) to seven years and three months in federal prison for forcible assaulting a federal officer causing bodily injury. Myrick was convicted following a two-day jury trial on January 8, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on August 11, 2018, Myrick arrived at the Orlando International Airport from Bogota, Colombia. While passing through the screening area, a Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) directed Myrick to the baggage control seating area. While in the seating area, Myrick had an altercation with another CBPO who attempted to control Myrick by grabbing Myrick’s arm. Myrick resisted, fell on top of the CBPO, and began punching the officer in the back of the head several times. The CBPO suffered a fractured ankle in the process.

“This case emphasizes zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, this man will be held accountable for his actions.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE, and Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Kenneth R. Jackson, Jr. (42, Lehigh Acres) to six years and three months in federal prison for identity theft, conversion of government property, aggravated identity theft, passing a forged treasury check, and access device (credit card) fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $71,931.87, the proceeds obtained from the charged criminal conduct. Jackson was also ordered to pay $99,230.90 in restitution to three banks.

Jackson had been found guilty by a jury on December 21, 2018.

According to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Jackson operated a business that allowed him full access to credit reports. He used his business to unlawfully obtain credit reports on his victims and opened fraudulent online bank accounts in their names. Jackson then deposited approximately $115,000 in stolen U.S. Treasury tax refund checks into the fraudulent accounts. He used associates to launder the money or directly withdrew cash from ATMs at the banks.

“We have come a long way in combatting the scourge of identity theft in Florida,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today’s sentencing should pose as yet another warning to would-be crooks that stealing someone’s identity is a serious crime that IRS Criminal Investigation will not tolerate. We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to track down identity thieves. We will continue to fight for the victims. We will continue to put offenders behind bars.”   

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Deepak Deshpande (41, Dublin, California) to life in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual conduct, and 30 years’ imprisonment for production of child pornography. Deshpande had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2018.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, in July 2017, Deshpande contacted a minor in Orlando through an online chat application. At that time, Deshpande posed as a modeling agent and persuaded the minor to send him nude images of herself. In the months that followed, Deshpande contacted the same minor, posing as two other individuals, and threatened to disseminate her nude images if she did not continue producing additional child pornography for him.

In September 2017, Deshpande traveled to Orlando from California to meet the minor in person for the first time. He brought her to a local hotel, and filmed himself sexually assaulting the victim multiple times. Between September 2017 and April 2018, he repeated this same conduct during four additional visits to Orlando.

In early May 2018, following an anonymous tip, the FBI began investigating Deshpande. An undercover FBI agent then began posing as the minor in communications with Deshpande. On May 12, 2018, as a result of the undercover investigation, Deshpande returned to Orlando and was arrested upon his arrival at the Orlando International Airport.

Following his arrest, Deshpande plotted to kidnap and murder the minor victim in advance of his trial. Deshpande recruited a fellow inmate, whom he believed would soon be released, to serve as a middleman. Deshpande gave the inmate names and contact information for individuals who might be willing to carry out the abduction and murder, and furnished personal details concerning the victim and her family, including her residence and schedule. Upon learning of the plot, the FBI conducted an undercover investigation and Deshpande’s efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

“Those who work the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children program bring compassion, commitment, and steadfast determination to their investigations to ensure predators like this are brought to justice,” said Eric Sporre, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. “This case is particularly noteworthy in the level of planning conducted and depravity displayed by the perpetrator. I would like to recognize the courage of the victim who helped make sure this predator cannot hurt others and also encourage our community to remain vigilant online and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James Moody today sentenced Okechuwku Desmond Amadi (39, Garland, TX), a/k/a Desmond Amadi, to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. As part of Amadi’s sentence, the court also entered a forfeiture order of $833,625 against him, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, and ordered Amadi to pay $1,358,500 in restitution to the victims.

A jury had found Amadi guilty on November 7, 2018.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Amadi worked with an international criminal organization based in Nigeria that defrauded dozens of victims across the United States with multiple schemes and then laundered the funds through a complex network of bank accounts. The organization, known as the Neo Black Movement of Africa or the Black Axe Group, coordinated the fraud and money laundering activity around the globe via cells or “zones” in Nigeria, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. 

The Black Axe fraud schemes took several forms. Many of the organization’s victims were widowed or divorced elderly women. Conspirators posed as fake suitors on dating websites to develop relationships with the victims. They then convinced the women to wire money, often consisting of their retirement savings and cash taken out from home equities, to bank accounts in the United States as part of a supposed investment opportunity. The conspirators also defrauded title companies with fake cashier’s checks in phony real estate transactions.

The organization’s victims were instructed to wire their money into funnel accounts held by conspirators in the United States, known as “money mules,” and the funds were then quickly moved to other accounts in the United States and around the world before the victims could discover the fraud. Bank records presented at trial demonstrated that, from 2012 to 2015, several millions of dollars in wire transfers were funneled into Black Axe accounts to be laundered. Amadi, a real estate investor and insurance broker in Texas, used his own bank accounts to launder more than $833,000 in fraud proceeds that victims had sent to accounts controlled by his associate in the Dallas area. Amadi wired much of that money overseas, including to Canada and Nigeria, to promote the conspiracy and conceal the source of the funds.

This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from various federal and local law enforcement partners, including the Toronto Police Service (Ontario, Canada) and the Toronto Strategic Partnership. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Scruggs and Diego Novaes.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Kenneth Minnick (43, Fort Myers) to 20 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. 

Minnick had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2018.

According to court documents, between September 16 and October 25, 2016, the FBI downloaded multiple child pornography files from an Internet Protocol address associated with Minnick’s residence. On December 9, 2016, the FBI and local law enforcement executed a search warrant on Minnick’s home and seized his computer and two flash drives. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed 253 images and 13 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted infants, toddlers and pre-school age children engaging in sex acts.

"Together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we are taking action to protect our children from sexual exploitation and abuse," said Eric Sporre, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. "I would like to thank all the investigators, attorneys and other professional staff who do this difficult but extremely important work."

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force in Fort Myers, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, and the Bradenton Police Department. The New York Police Department also assisted with this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie D. Connally and Jennifer Peresie.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Brian Burt, a/k/a “Sledge,” (47, Port Orange) to 11 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Burt pleaded guilty on January 16, 2019.

According to court documents, in April 2017, the FBI, and later the DEA, began an investigation into the drug trafficking organizations (DTO) that had supplied motorcycle clubs, including the Pagans Motorcycle Club, operating in the Middle District of Florida with distribution amounts of methamphetamine. At the time, Burt was a member of the Pagans’ Mother Chapter, a group of 13 that directed the Pagans’ criminal activities throughout the United States and conspired with different DTOs to distribute methamphetamine in and around Daytona Beach.

To date, 19 individuals have been found guilty as a result of this joint investigation.

“This case exemplifies the cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle dangerous criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "The FBI will continue to target the leadership of these organizations and bring them to justice for the harm caused by their criminal actions.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

WASHINGTON – One of the largest health care fraud schemes investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice resulted in charges against 24 defendants, including the CEOs, COOs and others associated with five telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies and three licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $1.2 billion in loss, as well as the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts.  In addition, the Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that it took adverse administrative action against 130 DME companies that had submitted over $1.7 billion in claims and were paid over $900 million.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Lydon of the District of South Carolina, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida, Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chief Don Fort of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and Deputy Administrator and Director of CPI Alec Alexander of the CMS/CPI made the announcement.

Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of South Carolina, New Jersey and the Middle District of Florida.  The MFSF is a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and HHS-OIG.  In addition, IRS-CI and other federal law enforcement agencies participated in the operation.

The charges announced today target an alleged scheme involving the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes by DME companies in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries by medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces that are medically unnecessary.  Certain of the defendants allegedly controlled an international telemarketing network that lured over hundreds of thousands of elderly and/or disabled patients into a criminal scheme that crossed borders, involving call centers in the Philippines and throughout Latin America.  The defendants allegedly paid doctors to prescribe DME either without any patient interaction or with only a brief telephonic conversation with patients they had never met or seen.  The proceeds of the fraudulent scheme were allegedly laundered through international shell corporations and used to purchase exotic automobiles, yachts and luxury real estate in the United States and abroad.

“These defendants — who range from corporate executives to medical professionals — allegedly participated in an expansive and sophisticated fraud to exploit telemedicine technology meant for patients otherwise unable to access health care,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “This Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals and executives who look to line their pockets by cheating our health care programs.  I commend the Criminal Division prosecutors and our partners from U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement agencies across the country for their unrelenting efforts to stop this alleged fraud before more money was stolen from American taxpayers.”

“Simply put, the law applies equally to all in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon.  “The same spoon that serves indictments on drug dealers, felons in possession of firearms, and corrupt officials will also feed those companies and individuals who engage in Medicare fraud.  White collar crime is not victimless.  All taxpayers will endure the rising cost of health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs as a result of fraud on our Medicare system.  I am honored to stand with our partners at the FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI, who led this outstanding and nationally significant investigation from right here in South Carolina.”

“The indictments we are unsealing today charge the defendants with running a complex, multilayered scheme to defraud our Medicare system and avoid detection by government regulators,” said U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.  “The defendants took advantage of unwitting patients who were simply trying to get relief from their health concerns.  Instead, the defendants preyed upon their weakened state and pushed millions of dollars’ worth of unnecessary medical devices, which Medicare paid for, and then set up an elaborate system for laundering their ill-gotten proceeds. We are proud to join our law enforcement partners in New Jersey and around the country to put a stop to this unscrupulous criminal activity.”

“Protecting the integrity of America’s health care programs is necessary to ensure that our citizens receive the care they have paid for and deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez.  “The mammoth coordination and cooperation demonstrated among the various offices, districts, and agencies involved in this case leaves no doubt. We will leverage the full weight of our resources to combat fraud and abuse, wherever it is found.”

“Today, one of the largest health care fraud schemes in U.S. history came to an end thanks to close collaboration and coordination between the FBI and partners including HHS-OIG and IRS-CI,” said FBI Assistant Director Robert Johnson.  “Health care fraud causes billions of dollars in losses, it deprives real patients of the critical health care services they need, and it can endanger the lives of real patients so individuals like those arrested today can profit from their criminal activity.  Through today’s coordinated national effort, we put an end to this egregious and costly health care fraud scheme, and the public can rest assured the FBI will continue to make health care fraud investigations a top priority.”

“Our law enforcement officers are focused on preventing and uprooting health care fraud schemes like those alleged today,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell.  “These schemes divert money from taxpayer-funded federal health care programs into the hands of criminals.  Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency will continue to investigate and disrupt attempts to undermine Medicare and target beneficiaries.”

“The breadth of this nationwide conspiracy should be frightening to all who rely on some form of healthcare,” said IRS-CI Chief Don Fort.  “The conspiracy described in this indictment was not perpetrated by one individual.  Rather, it details broad corruption, massive amounts of greed, and systemic flaws in our healthcare system that were exploited by the defendants.  We all suffer when schemes like this go undiscovered and I’m proud of the work our agents did in working with our partners to uncover this complex scheme.”

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI) is proud to work very closely everyday with our law enforcement partners to stop exploitation of vulnerable patients and misuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Deputy Administrator and CPI Director Alec Alexander.  “In this case CMS has taken swift administrative action and has suspended payments to 130 distinct providers thereby likely preventing billions of additional dollars in losses.  CMS remains committed to protecting the millions of beneficiaries we are honored to serve and to preventing fraud of all sorts in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

According to allegations in court documents, some of the defendants obtained patients for the scheme by using an international call center that advertised to Medicare beneficiaries and “up-sold” the beneficiaries to get them to accept numerous “free or low-cost” DME braces, regardless of medical necessity.  The international call center allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain DME orders for these Medicare beneficiaries.  The telemedicine companies then allegedly paid physicians to write medically unnecessary DME orders.  Finally, the international call center sold the DME orders that it obtained from the telemedicine companies to DME companies, which fraudulently billed Medicare.  Collectively, the CEOs, COOs, executives, business owners and medical professionals involved in the conspiracy are accused of causing over $1 billion in loss.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Amongst those charged by Strike Force attorneys include:

In the District of New Jersey, charges were brought against Creaghan Harry, 51, of Highland Beach, Florida; Lester Stockett, 51, of Deefield Beach, Florida; and Elliot Loewenstern, 56, of Boca Raton, Florida; the owner, CEO and VP of marketing, respectively, of purported call centers and telemedicine companies, for their alleged participation in a $454 million illegal health care kickback and international money laundering scheme related to the solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  In addition, Joseph DeCoroso, M.D., 62, of Toms River, New Jersey, was charged in a $13 million conspiracy to commit health care fraud and separate charges of health care fraud for writing medically unnecessary orders for DME, in many instances without ever speaking to the patients, while working for two telemedicine companies.  The cases are being prosecuted by Fraud Section Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Darren Halverson.

In the Middle District of Florida, charges were brought against Willie McNeal, 42, of Spring Hill, Florida, the owner and CEO of two purported telemedicine companies, for his alleged participation in a $250 million scheme related to the solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorneys John Michelich, Catherine Wagner and Sara Clingan.

In the Northern District of Texas, charges were brought against Leah Hagen, 48, and Michael Hagen, 51, of Dalworthington Gardens, Texas, owners and operators of two DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $17 million illegal health care kickback scheme related to the payment of kickbacks in exchange for the referral of medically unnecessary DME orders.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Brynn Schiess and Carlos Lopez.

In the Western District of Texas, Christopher O’Hara, 54, of Kingsbury, Texas, the owner of a purported telemedicine company, was charged in an $40 million scheme related to the alleged solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell.

In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Randy Swackhammer, M.D., 60, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, was charged for an alleged $5 million conspiracy to commit health care fraud that involved writing medically unnecessary orders for DME while working for a telemedicine company, in many instances with only a brief telephonic conversation with the patients.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Adam Yoffie.

In the Central District of California, charges were brought against Darin Flashberg, 41, of Glendora, California, and Najib Jabbour, 47, of Glendora, California, owners of seven DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $34 million scheme related to their payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Robyn Pullio.

In addition to the Strike Force prosecutions, other enforcement actions were taken, including the execution of search warrants to support related investigative efforts in seven additional U.S. Attorney’s Offices to include in various investigations conducted by the District of New Jersey, District of South Carolina, Southern District of California, District of Nebraska, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Washington.

In the District of South Carolina, charges were brought against Andrew Chmiel, 43, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, owner of over a dozen companies involved in the scheme, for his alleged participation in a $200 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim May and Will Lewis of the District of South Carolina.

In the District of New Jersey, charges were brought against Neal Williamsky 59, of Marlboro, New Jersey, and Nadia Levit, 39, of Englishtown, New Jersey, owners of approximately 25 DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $150 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  Albert Davydov, 26, of Rego Park, New York, was also charged for his alleged participation in a $35 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Urbano and Stephen Ferketic of the District of New Jersey.

In the Middle District of Florida, search and seizure warrants are being executed at 20 different business locations, including numerous DME companies and a fraudulent telemarketing company. The search and seizures are being executed by over 100 law enforcement officers from six federal agencies, including HHS-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, VA-OIG, SSA-OIG, and USPS-OIG.  In addition to the 20 search warrants, millions of dollars and other assets tied to the conspiracy are being seized and/or frozen, including through a civil injunction naming 13 defendants as authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 1345.

The cases announced today are being prosecuted and investigated by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide, along with MFSF teams from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of New Jersey, District of South Carolina, Southern District of California, District of Nebraska, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Washington; and agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, IRS-CI and other federal law enforcement agencies.

A complaint, information or indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Any doctors or medical professionals who have been involved with alleged fraudulent telemedicine and DME marketing schemes – including Video Doctor USA, AffordADoc, Web Doctors Plus, Integrated Support Plus and First Care MD – should call to report this conduct to the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Additional documents related to this announcement will shortly be available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-april-9-2019-press-release-health-care-fraud.

One of the largest health care fraud schemes investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice resulted in charges against 24 defendants, including the CEOs, COOs and others associated with five telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies and three licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $1.2 billion in loss, as well as the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts.  In addition, the Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that it took adverse administrative action against 130 DME companies that had submitted over $1.7 billion in claims and were paid over $900 million.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Lydon of the District of South Carolina, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida, Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chief Don Fort of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and Deputy Administrator and Director of CPI Alec Alexander of the CMS/CPI made the announcement.

Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of South Carolina, New Jersey and the Middle District of Florida.  The MFSF is a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and HHS-OIG.  In addition, IRS-CI and other federal law enforcement agencies participated in the operation.

The charges announced today target an alleged scheme involving the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes by DME companies in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries by medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces that are medically unnecessary.  Some of the defendants allegedly controlled an international telemarketing network that lured over hundreds of thousands of elderly and/or disabled patients into a criminal scheme that crossed borders, involving call centers in the Philippines and throughout Latin America.  The defendants allegedly paid doctors to prescribe DME either without any patient interaction or with only a brief telephonic conversation with patients they had never met or seen.  The proceeds of the fraudulent scheme were allegedly laundered through international shell corporations and used to purchase exotic automobiles, yachts and luxury real estate in the United States and abroad.

“These defendants — who range from corporate executives to medical professionals — allegedly participated in an expansive and sophisticated fraud to exploit telemedicine technology meant for patients otherwise unable to access health care,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “This Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals and executives who look to line their pockets by cheating our health care programs.  I commend the Criminal Division prosecutors and our partners from U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement agencies across the country for their unrelenting efforts to stop this alleged fraud before more money was stolen from American taxpayers.”

“Simply put, the law applies equally to all in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon.  “The same spoon that serves indictments on drug dealers, felons in possession of firearms, and corrupt officials will also feed those companies and individuals who engage in Medicare fraud.  White collar crime is not victimless.  All taxpayers will endure the rising cost of health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs as a result of fraud on our Medicare system.  I am honored to stand with our partners at the FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI, who led this outstanding and nationally significant investigation from right here in South Carolina.”

“The indictments we are unsealing today charge the defendants with running a complex, multilayered scheme to defraud our Medicare system and avoid detection by government regulators,” said U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.  “The defendants took advantage of unwitting patients who were simply trying to get relief from their health concerns.  Instead, the defendants preyed upon their weakened state and pushed millions of dollars’ worth of unnecessary medical devices, which Medicare paid for, and then set up an elaborate system for laundering their ill-gotten proceeds. We are proud to join our law enforcement partners in New Jersey and around the country to put a stop to this unscrupulous criminal activity.”

“Protecting the integrity of America’s health care programs is necessary to ensure that our citizens receive the care they have paid for and deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez.  “The mammoth coordination and cooperation demonstrated among the various offices, districts, and agencies involved in this case leaves no doubt. We will leverage the full weight of our resources to combat fraud and abuse, wherever it is found.”

“Today, one of the largest health care fraud schemes in U.S. history came to an end thanks to close collaboration and coordination between the FBI and partners including HHS-OIG and IRS-CI,” said FBI Assistant Director Robert Johnson.  “Health care fraud causes billions of dollars in losses, it deprives real patients of the critical health care services they need, and it can endanger the lives of real patients so individuals like those arrested today can profit from their criminal activity.  Through today’s coordinated national effort, we put an end to this egregious and costly health care fraud scheme, and the public can rest assured the FBI will continue to make health care fraud investigations a top priority.”

“Our law enforcement officers are focused on preventing and uprooting health care fraud schemes like those alleged today,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell.  “These schemes divert money from taxpayer-funded federal health care programs into the hands of criminals.  Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency will continue to investigate and disrupt attempts to undermine Medicare and target beneficiaries.”

“The breadth of this nationwide conspiracy should be frightening to all who rely on some form of healthcare,” said IRS-CI Chief Don Fort.  “The conspiracy described in this indictment was not perpetrated by one individual.  Rather, it details broad corruption, massive amounts of greed, and systemic flaws in our healthcare system that were exploited by the defendants.  We all suffer when schemes like this go undiscovered and I’m proud of the work our agents did in working with our partners to uncover this complex scheme.”

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI) is proud to work very closely everyday with our law enforcement partners to stop exploitation of vulnerable patients and misuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Deputy Administrator and CPI Director Alec Alexander.  “In this case CMS has taken swift administrative action and has suspended payments to 130 distinct providers thereby likely preventing billions of additional dollars in losses.  CMS remains committed to protecting the millions of beneficiaries we are honored to serve and to preventing fraud of all sorts in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

According to allegations in court documents, some of the defendants obtained patients for the scheme by using an international call center that advertised to Medicare beneficiaries and “up-sold” the beneficiaries to get them to accept numerous “free or low-cost” DME braces, regardless of medical necessity.  The international call center allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain DME orders for these Medicare beneficiaries.  The telemedicine companies then allegedly paid physicians to write medically unnecessary DME orders.  Finally, the international call center sold the DME orders that it obtained from the telemedicine companies to DME companies, which fraudulently billed Medicare.  Collectively, the CEOs, COOs, executives, business owners and medical professionals involved in the conspiracy are accused of causing over $1 billion in loss.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

*********

Amongst those charged by Strike Force attorneys include:

In the District of New Jersey, charges were brought against Creaghan Harry, 51, of Highland Beach, Florida; Lester Stockett, 51, of Deefield Beach, Florida; and Elliot Loewenstern, 56, of Boca Raton, Florida; the owner, CEO and VP of marketing, respectively, of purported call centers and telemedicine companies, for their alleged participation in a $424 million illegal health care kickback and international money laundering scheme related to the solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  In addition, Joseph DeCorso, M.D., 62, of Toms River, New Jersey, was charged in a $13 million conspiracy to commit health care fraud and separate charges of health care fraud for writing medically unnecessary orders for DME, in many instances without ever speaking to the patients, while working for two telemedicine companies.  The cases are being prosecuted by Fraud Section Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Darren Halverson.

In the Middle District of Florida, charges were brought against Willie McNeal, 42, of Spring Hill, Florida, the owner and CEO of two purported telemedicine companies, for his alleged participation in a $250 million scheme related to the solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorneys John Michelich, Catherine Wagner and Sara Clingan.

In the Northern District of Texas, charges were brought against Leah Hagen, 48, and Michael Hagen, 51, of Dalworthington Gardens, Texas, owners and operators of two DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $17 million illegal health care kickback scheme related to the payment of kickbacks in exchange for the referral of medically unnecessary DME orders.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Brynn Schiess and Carlos Lopez.

In the Western District of Texas, Christopher O’Hara, 54, of Kingsbury, Texas, the owner of a purported telemedicine company, was charged in an $40 million scheme related to the alleged solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the referral of DME orders to DME providers.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell.

In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Randy Swackhammer, M.D., 60, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, was charged for an alleged $5 million conspiracy to commit health care fraud that involved writing medically unnecessary orders for DME while working for a telemedicine company, in many instances with only a brief telephonic conversation with the patients.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Adam Yoffie.

In the Central District of California, charges were brought against Darin Flashberg, 41, of Glendora, California, and Najib Jabbour, 47, of Glendora, California, owners of seven DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $34 million scheme related to their payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Robyn Pullio.

*********

In addition to the Strike Force prosecutions, other enforcement actions were taken, including the execution of search warrants to support related investigative efforts in seven additional U.S. Attorney’s Offices to include in various investigations conducted by the District of New Jersey, District of South Carolina, Southern District of California, District of Nebraska, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Washington.
 

In the District of South Carolina, charges were brought against Andrew Chmiel, 43, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, owner of over a dozen companies involved in the scheme, for his alleged participation in a $200 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim May and Will Lewis of the District of South Carolina.

In the District of New Jersey, charges were brought against Neal Williamsky 59, of Marlboro, New Jersey, and Nadia Levit, 39, of Englishtown, New Jersey, owners of approximately 25 DME companies, for their alleged participation in a $150 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  Albert Davydov, 26, of Rego Park, New York, was also charged for his alleged participation in a $35 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Urbano and Stephen Ferketic of the District of New Jersey.

In the Middle District of Florida, search and seizure warrants are being executed at 20 different business locations, including numerous DME companies and a fraudulent telemarketing company. The search and seizures are being executed by over 100 law-enforcement officers from six federal agencies, including HHS-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, VA-OIG, SSA-OIG, and USPS-OIG.  In addition to the 20 search warrants, millions of dollars and other assets tied to the conspiracy are being seized and/or frozen, including through a civil injunction naming 13 defendants as authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 1345.

The cases announced today are being prosecuted and investigated by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide, along with MFSF teams from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of New Jersey, District of South Carolina, Southern District of California, District of Nebraska, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Washington; and agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, IRS-CI and other federal law enforcement agencies.

A complaint, information or indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Any doctors or medical professionals who have been involved with alleged fraudulent telemedicine and DME marketing schemes – including Video Doctor USA, AffordADoc, Web Doctors Plus, Integrated Support Plus and First Care MD – should call to report this conduct to the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Additional documents related to this announcement will shortly be available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-april-9-2019-press-release-health-care-fraud.

Jacksonville, Florida – Christopher Shawn Potter (50, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to distributing a video over the internet that depicts a young child being sexually abused. Potter faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential life-term of supervised release. He has been detained since his arrest on September 20, 2018.

Potter worked as a teacher at Clay High School in Green Cove Springs from 2016 - 2017, and was a teacher at Orange Park High School from 1997 - 2004. 

According to court documents, in February 2018, Potter, utilizing the user name “Catsfan1987,” responded to a notice posted online by an undercover officer with the Orange Park Police Department who was posing as a 14-year-old child. Potter engaged in online conversations with the undercover officer during which Potter requested photos of the “child” and discussed meeting the “child” for sex. Potter sent the undercover officer a video clip depicting a young child being sexually abused and a video of Potter performing a sexual act. 

On September 20, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Potter’s home and seized several computer devices and smartphones. During an interview, Potter admitted sending the video and stated that he fantasizes about sexual acts with young girls. One of Potter’s smartphones contained 21 videos depicting child pornography.     

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange Park Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Palatka Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced William Beach (40, Tampa) to eight years and three months in federal prison for tampering with a federal witness.

Beach was found guilty following a jury trial on December 17, 2018.

According to court documents and trial testimony, Beach threatened to shoot a key federal witness in a case (United States v. Corey Damond Smith, Jr., involving a death caused by a fentanyl overdose), if that witness continued to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution of the defendant. Law enforcement immediately intervened to protect the safety of the federal witness.

This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo. It is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.   

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury has found Ashanti Roundtree (44, North Port) guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin, possessing a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Roundtree faces a maximum penalty of life and a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11, 2019.

Roundtree was indicted on November 21, 2017.

According to testimony presented at trial, from about October 2014 through on or about February 26, 2015, Roundtree directed the illegal narcotics distribution activities at a “trap house” located at 200 Granada Boulevard, in North Port, Florida. Roundtree supplied drugs to the residents of the house, then sold the drugs on Roundtree’s behalf, purchased the drugs for their own use, or used them with the promise of paying Roundtree later. Along with supplying the residents with heroin, cocaine, synthetic marijuana (spice), marijuana, and a variety of prescription pills, Roundtree supervised the sale of the drugs, including setting the prices and the hours of sale. He also collected the proceeds from the various drug transactions and participated in drug transactions, by either selling drugs directly to customers or giving drugs in exchange for sexual favors.

During the illegal activities, Roundtree used violence, fear, and intimidation to maintain his position as leader of the conspiracy. While at the trap house, he commonly carried a Taurus firearm for protection. Additionally, co-conspirators and other witnesses saw Roundtree pistol-whip someone with the gun and point it at persons. As a previously convicted felon, Roundtree is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

On February 26, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the trap house and recovered a loaded Taurus firearm. Forensic testing confirmed Roundtree’s DNA on the firearm and ammunition magazine. Agents also recovered an assortment of controlled substances, including heroin, marijuana, cocaine, prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Baggé-Hernández and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Brian Alan Jones (36, Lady Lake) with producing child pornography. If convicted, Jones faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years, in federal prison.     

According to court documents, Jones produced sexually explicit images of a minor. Jones took photographs of the victim’s genitalia on his cellphone and sent them to an undercover officer who was posing as a pedophile.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – Marc Lionel Lewis (51, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to a federal charge that he distributed images depicting the sexual abuse of children over the internet. Lewis faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to court documents, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation to identify individuals who were using a particular file-sharing network to access and distribute child pornography over the internet. Agents confirmed that a host computer located in Jacksonville, Florida was offering files depicting child pornography for sharing over the internet, and were able to download images of young children being sexually abused from this host computer. Further investigation revealed that these files were being shared over the internet, by Lewis, at his Jacksonville residence.      

On July 17, 2017, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Lewis’s residence and seized several computer devices. Forensic analysis of the computer media revealed approximately 37 images of child pornography and 142 images of child erotica. Lewis had attempted to delete these files using anti-forensic software, but the contraband images, as well as evidence of the file sharing program, remained and were recovered. By accessing and downloading child pornography through the file-sharing program, Lewis knowingly made it available for sharing and distribution to other users over the internet.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Pedro Sanchez (35, Plant City) to five years in federal prison for arson.  The court also ordered Sanchez to pay $15,000 in restitution.

Sanchez was found guilty on January 3, 2019, following a bench trial.

According to court documents, on January 10, 2018, Sanchez set fire to a house located at 8579 Lamanto Avenue North in Jacksonville. The house belonged to his employer, and the employer had assigned Sanchez to renovate the house and prepare it for sale. Eyewitnesses observed Sanchez walking away from the house after it had erupted into flames. Sanchez later admitted to law enforcement that he had set the house on fire.

This case was investigated by the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Frank Talbot.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Nishitkumar Patel (31, Tampa) to eight years and nine months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, relating to his participation in an India-based call center scam. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $200,000, and ordered Patel to forfeit cash and a 2015 Land Rover that was seized in October 2018.

Patel pleaded guilty on January 9, 2019.

According to court documents, from 2014 through at least 2016, Patel conspired with U.S.-based coconspirators and India-based call centers to extort money from U.S. residents by impersonating IRS officers and misleading victims to believe that they owed money to the IRS and would be arrested and fined if they did not pay their alleged back taxes immediately. The conspirators collected the fraud proceeds by (1) withdrawing cash from prepaid cards purchased and funded by victims; (2) hiring other conspirators (runners) to retrieve money wired by the victims to those runners; and/or (3) hiring runners to open bank accounts into which victims deposited fraud proceeds. The defendants collected the proceeds by providing the runners with the victims’ names, locations, and amounts paid. The runners were directed to retrieve the fraud proceeds in cash and turn the funds over to the defendants, often less a payment to the runner for opening the account or conducting the transaction.

Four others previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. On March 25, 2019, Alejandro Juarez was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Hemalkumar Shah, Sharvil Patel, and Brenda Dozier are currently awaiting sentencing.

“As a proud IRS Special Agent of 20 years, this fraud infuriates me,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigations Tampa Field Office. “We here at IRS CI recognize the heartache and concern these crooks cause innocent people. This is why we are eager to team up with our law enforcement partners to track down these impersonators in whatever corner of the globe they may be hiding in.”

“This terrible scam took advantage of people who wanted to comply with what they thought were proper authorities,” said FDLE’s Tampa Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell. “Thank goodness, investigators from several agencies were able to put an end to it and those responsible will no longer be able to mislead innocent people.”

“Over the last several years, American taxpayers have been subjected to unprecedented attempts to fraudulently obtain money by individuals impersonating Internal Revenue Service employees,” said J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “Victimizing taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime,” George continued. “TIGTA and our law enforcement partners will continue working to ensure that those involved in the impersonation of IRS employees are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This significant sentencing should serve notice to those who engage in this type of criminal activity that they will be held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Vincenzo (Vincent) G. Savarese (36, Melbourne) to 15 years in federal prison, for accessing with the intent to view child pornography and for violating the terms of his supervised release. The court also ordered Savarese to serve a lifetime of supervision following his release from prison.

Savarese pleaded guilty on October 5, 2018.

According to court documents, in 2009, Savarese was convicted in the United States District Court in Utah of possession of child pornography. Savarese was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On June 9, 2015, Savarese completed his prison term and returned to Brevard County, Florida, where he began his supervised release.   

On May 24, 2018, while on supervised release, Savarese accessed and attempted to access child pornography with the intent to view it, using a computer at a job placement business that was open to the public. Savarese stated that he had gone to the business several times a week and used the computers there to search for child pornography. Law enforcement officers searched the computer used by Savarese and located more than 85 searches for child pornography and 4 images depicting child pornography.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – Howard Joseph Vorder Bruegge, III (36, Tampa) pleaded guilty today to possessing and distributing child pornography. Vorder Bruegge, a former mathematics professor at Hillsborough Community College (HCC), faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Vorder Bruegge, using the internet monikers “JoeBlow73” and “JoeBlowFL,” distributed child pornography on multiple occasions. He also collected child pornography on his cellphone, including sex-abuse videos of babies and toddlers.

Vorder Bruegge also used his phone to film and publically share voyeur videos on the internet. He employed peepholes in bathrooms on the HCC campus to film college students while they were in restroom stalls. He then distributed those videos on websites that host voyeur content. Vorder Bruegge’s phone contained at least four videos capturing adult males through peepholes in public HCC restrooms.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s  Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Nicholas Whitetto (39, Quincy) to 42 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $65,000, the proceeds of the credit card fraud.

Whitetto pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019.

According to court documents, Whitetto and others devised a scheme wherein they called a credit card company (referred to in court documents as the Banking Institution) and provided the personal identifying information of actual credit card account holders. Whitetto or another coconspirator then requested to be added as an authorized user on the credit card accounts and directed that the new authorized user’s credit cards be mailed to addresses controlled by the conspirators. The conspirators utilized this plan to fraudulently obtain at least 50 unauthorized credit cards.

Once they received the fraudulently-obtained credit cards in the mail, the conspirators went to various banks and made cash advance withdrawals. The conspirators also used the fraudulently-obtained cards to make unauthorized purchases. The Banking Institution suffered a loss exceeding $100,000.

On January 11, 2019, co-conspirator Frank Tillman pleaded guilty to his role in the scam. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2019.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has  sentenced Keneon Fitzroy Isaac (45, Cocoa) to 80 years in federal prison for production and possession of child pornography. The court also ordered Isaac to forfeit the smart phones that he used to commit the offenses.

Isaac was found guilty on January 4, 2019.

According to court documents, Isaac sexually abused a homeless, 13-year-old child on at least two occasions, and recorded the abuse using his smart phone. Isaac met the victim at a gas station, where she was panhandling with her mother. During the next two months, Isaac gained the family’s trust by providing basic necessities for the family including food, clothing, and shelter. Isaac also obtained 213 images of child pornography from the internet, some of which depicted the sexual abuse and exploitation of infants, toddlers and prepubescent children.

“This criminal abused the trust of a family under the worst of circumstances,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “While this predator has essentially received a life sentence, we hope it can provide some closure for the young victim during the healing process.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cocoa Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Charles S. Leis (48, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity and possession of child pornography. Leis faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement count and up to 10 years in federal prison for the possession offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on October 24, 2018, an FBI special agent in Orange County, Florida initiated an undercover investigation within an online chat group that alluded to “family fun.” Leis joined the chat group and initiated conversations with the undercover agent, who identified himself as the father of two girls, ages 9 and 11. During the span of several days, Leis solicited sex, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex, from the minors. In that process, Leis distributed images of child pornography to the “father” in an effort to prove that he was “real” about his intent to engage the “girls” in sexual activity. Leis made plans to meet the “girls” in Tampa on November 2, 2018. However, on that date, the agent could not find Leis at the agreed upon location.

Further investigation revealed that around the same time (October 2018), Leis had been in contact with another FBI agent through another chat group. That undercover agent was acting as the father of 6 and 7-year-old girls. Leis also distributed child pornography to that agent and requested to have sexual intercourse with his “children.” 

On November 29, 2018, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Leis’s residence in Tampa and seized his computer. The computer had depictions of girls between 3 and 10 years of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys Rivera Miranda and Francis D. Murray.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Daniel Francesco Vidal (29, Jacksonville) to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Vidal to forfeit the Walther PPK pistol that he had possessed.

Vidal pleaded guilty on August 6, 2018.

According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, on March 12, 2017, Vidal was driving a car on Interstate 95, in Jacksonville, when a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (“JSO”) patrol officer determined there was probable cause to believe that the car had been stolen. Three JSO patrol officers attempted a traffic stop of Vidal’s vehicle, but Vidal failed to comply. Ultimately, Vidal stopped his car after the officers forced him off the road. Vidal was detained, and inside his car, an officer found a Walther PPK pistol, along with drug packaging and paraphernalia consistent with trafficking in marijuana.

On May 22, 2017, Vidal made a call for service to JSO, and two JSO patrol officers responded to Vidal’s house, where two additional firearms were found in plain view.

On July 25, 2017, JSO officers attempting to execute a federal arrest warrant for Vidal encountered him driving a pickup truck on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville.  During the stop, Vidal used his pickup truck to intentionally ram JSO vehicles, then attempted to flee on foot. Vidal was apprehended, and a search of his truck revealed several pounds of marijuana and approximately $37,000, as well as a gun safe in the bed of the truck.

Prior to committing these crimes, Vidal was a 10-time convicted felon, and thus is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – James Lockhart (31, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to an information charging him with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. Lockhart, formerly a paramedic for a private ambulance company, faces up to 70 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to the plea agreement, between March 2016 and February 2018, Lockhart produced a four-video series of child sex abuse where he recorded himself having sex with a one-year-old child. In the videos, Lockhart displayed signs bearing the dark web forum’s name and his online moniker in order to gain notoriety in the forum and elsewhere. In addition to the dark web series, Lockhart created other sex abuse videos and images of the child.

Lockhart also collected child pornography not involving the one-year-old victim. Following the execution of a search warrant on Lockhart’s residence, authorities seized devices containing 43 videos depicting child pornography and at least 4,000 images of child pornography. Lockhart’s child pornography collection included infants and sadomasochistic and violent conduct.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (Boston and Tampa), with assistance from the Queensland Police Service (Commonwealth of Australia). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Ryan J. Fluke (28, Port Richey) to 21 months in federal prison for aiming a laser at a police helicopter. Fluke pleaded guilty on November 20, 2018.

According to court documents, the offense occurred on December 5, 2017, around 10:50 p.m., when a Pasco Sheriff’s Office helicopter was dispatched to assist other deputies during an encounter with a barricaded individual at a residence in Port Richey. The helicopter flew over the house where the individual had barricaded himself. As the helicopter was providing assistance for the deputies who were preparing to enter the home, Fluke aimed a laser pointer at the helicopter. The laser pointer caused a high-intensity red laser beam to enter the interior cockpit and the pilot’s line of sight, initially blinding and disorientating the crewmembers for several seconds, and making it hard to operate the aircraft. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was flying low to the ground, over a heavily populated area. The aircraft was forced to abandon air support for the ground units.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Baggé-Hernández and Charlie Connally.

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Shameer Hassan (45, Kissimmee) and Nadine Bromfield Alexander (39, Orlando) to 10 years and 7 years in federal prison, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Hassan was sentenced to an additional 2 years’ imprisonment for money laundering. The court also ordered Hassan and Alexander to pay $150,314 in restitution to the identified victims of the fraud scheme.     

A federal jury found Hassan and Alexander guilty on November 6, 2018.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Hassan and Alexander participated in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that operated in the Middle District of Florida and Jamaica. Members of the conspiracy targeted victims throughout the United States, many of whom were elderly, and falsely informed them that they had won a multi-million dollar prize in a sweepstakes contest. The conspirators instructed the victims to wire funds to “representatives” in Orlando in order to prepay fees and taxes associated with the prize. Upon receipt of the funds, other members of the conspiracy converted the funds to money orders and cash. They then paid Hassan, who operated several money transfer businesses, to wire the fraud proceeds to Jamaica.

Alexander stole the personal identity information belonging to more than 35 individuals from her workplace and gave that information to her co-conspirators. Hassan then used the stolen identity information to launder the funds. In less than two years, Hassan and his co-conspirators transferred $4.7 million in funds, obtained from victims, to conspirators in Jamaica. 

The court previously sentenced the following members of the conspiracy:

Charlton Morris (39, Casselberry) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison.

Robert Blake Madurie (29, Jamaica) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. 

Danny Lopez (32, Orlando) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison.

Treysier LaPalme (25, Orlando) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to seven years and three three months in prison.

Oral Anthony Stewart (35, Lithonia, Georgia) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the SCIRS Federal Financial Crimes Task Force, whose members include the IRS- Criminal Investigation, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Cloud Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Casselberry Police Department, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Maitland Police Department, the Palm Bay Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Gable and Roger B. Handberg.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Mohammad Abdul Malek (68, St. Marys, GA) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Malek pleaded guilty on October 30, 2018.

According to court documents, between August 23 and August 26, 2018, Malek engaged in email and text communications with an undercover agent posing as a 13 year-old girl. Malek asked for photos of the “child” and told her he wanted to teach her about “making love.” Malek was advised and acknowledged that the “child” was a minor, and he suggested that they meet to engage in sex. On August 26, 2018, Malek traveled to Jacksonville to meet the “child,” and was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

“This child predator thought he was traveling to sexually assault a child,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Instead, he was met by undercover law enforcement who stopped him in his tracks.”

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.          

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Michael Douglas McNeil (31, Jacksonville) to a term of 10 years in federal prison for using the internet to attempt to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. McNeil was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. McNeil is a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy; he has been detained since his arrest on August 30, 2018. 

According to court documents, on August 27, 2018, a detective with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, who was posing online as a family member of a 12-year-old handicapped child, received a message on a social media application from McNeil, who identified himself as “Mark.” McNeil expressed interest in having sex with the “child” and was advised that the “child” was 12 years old. Between August 27 and August 30, 2018, McNeil and the undercover detective discussed plans for McNeil to meet the “child” for sex. McNeil asked for several photos of the “child,” sent the undercover detective an explicit photo of himself, and asked specific questions about the “child’s” sexual experience and abilities. On August 30, 2018, McNeil drove to a coffee shop in Orange Park to meet the “child” for sex and was arrested.

During an interview, McNeil admitted that he had engaged in online and text conversation with the “guardian” of the 12-year-old “child” and that he showed up to meet the “child” because of his “curiosity” about “a younger girl.”     

“With the help of HSI’s law enforcement partners at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, this predator was stopped before he could harm a child,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Ocala, Florida – Ruth S. Sprake (60, Crystal River) today pleaded guilty to theft of government funds and making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA). She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the theft offense and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the false statements charge. Sprake was indicted on November 7, 2018. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Sprake is a former rural route carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Since September 2002, she has been receiving full workers’ compensation disability benefits from the Department of Labor (DOL) for a work-related injury. Each year, since 2013, Sprake was required to submit a report to the DOL detailing her sources of income and any employment activities. However, from 2013-2018, Sprake failed to report her income from her dog-breeding business, as well as her clerical work for a real estate company. As a result, Sprake obtained more than $192,000 in benefit payments to which she was not entitled.

Further investigation revealed that, in December 2015, Sprake also made false written statements to the SSA in which she had underreported her personal and household income in an effort to obtain increased disability benefit payments from that agency.    

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General and the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced sex offender David Padilla-Rivera (39, Orlando) to two years in federal prison for failure to comply with the terms of his supervised release.

According to court documents, on April 5, 2017, Padilla-Rivera was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender pursuant to the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Padilla-Rivera’s registration requirements stem from his 2010 state conviction, for the false imprisonment and attempted sexual assault of a 16-year-old female. Following his release from prison, on February 26, 2018, Padilla-Rivera violated the terms of his supervised release by failing to notify his probation officer regarding anticipated changes in address and employment. He was then sentenced to 14 months in federal prison.

Upon his release from prison on December 21, 2018, within 24 hours, Padilla-Rivera was found possessing a smartphone, in violation of the conditions of his supervised release. A forensic search of the phone revealed that Padilla-Rivera had visited pornographic websites between December 22, 2018 and December 27, 2018.    

This case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Joseph David Caltagirone (61, Tampa) to 12 months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered destructive device. Caltagirone pleaded guilty on December 10, 2018.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2018, members of the Tampa Police Department Bomb Squad were conducting training on North 12th Street, in Tampa, when they heard a loud explosion. They saw a large greyish-white smoke plume several blocks away, rising above East Columbus Drive. Officers canvassed the neighborhood, eventually locating Caltagirone’s residence.

Inside that residence, law enforcement officers discovered PVC piping, a hobby fuse, and precursor chemicals such as potassium nitrate, air float charcoal, and sulfur. Officers also discovered an assembled destructive device resembling a “pipe bomb.” The device had been constructed using a PVC pipe, sealed at each end by PVC end caps, and an improvised initiator. The pipe contained Tannerite, an explosive mixture. Had the device exploded, it could have projected PVC fragments at high velocities in all directions.

Caltagirone admitted to having designed, constructed, and possessed the devices. He also admitted to having detonated an explosive device in the backyard of his residence—a house in a densely populated neighborhood just north of Ybor City and only a few blocks from a middle school.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

Ocala, Florida – U.S. Senior District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Richard Mel Phillips (36, Fruitland Park) to 18 months in federal prison for transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce. Phillips had pleaded guilty on November 8, 2018.

According to court documents, Phillips sent a series of threatening phone calls and voicemails to members of Congress. In the most recent of these voicemails, Phillips threatened to travel to a member of Congress’s home district to kill them, and threatened to “slaughter” any law enforcement agents that were sent to Phillips’ home. In a subsequent interview with the FBI, Phillips admitted to making the threatening voicemail.

This case was investigated by the FBI–Daytona Beach Resident Agency. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Sean Patrick Farrelly (47, Palm Coast) with sex trafficking of a minor girl. If convicted, Farrelly faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, between approximately March 2018 and February 2019, Farrelly recruited, enticed, transported, obtained, maintained, patronized, and solicited a girl under the age of 18 years old to engage in a commercial sex act.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Flagler Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Eddie Junior Saez (28, Cape Coral) to nine years and seven months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Saez was found guilty by a federal jury on December 12, 2018.

According to evidence presented at trial, on March 12, 2015, while executing a search warrant at Saez’s residence, Lee County Sheriff deputies located a loaded .45 caliber handgun that was concealed in a knit cap. The investigation had revealed that, in addition to the firearm, Saez had been storing lucrative quantities of narcotics at the home, which he shared with his parents. As a previously convicted felon, Saez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Jason Earl Hill (53, Ingles) to 15 years in federal prison for bank robbery. The court also ordered Hill to make restitution to Center State Bank, N.A., in the amount of $2,250.

Hill had pleaded guilty on January 4, 2019.

According to court documents, Hill robbed a branch of Harbor Community Bank (now known as Center State Bank) in Ocala, Florida on May 11, 2018. Hill presented the teller with a demand note, and with instructions to hand over large sums of money. Hill then fled with $2,250 in his green 2006 Saturn, which was caught on surveillance video at a nearby fast-food restaurant. After identifying the vehicle, law enforcement was able to obtain a positive identification from the victim-teller.

Hill was previously convicted in the District of New Mexico for three bank robberies in 1997. After serving time on those offenses, he was then convicted of bank robbery in the Eastern District of Tennessee in 2002. Following his 12-year sentence on that case, Hill relocated to Ocala, Florida, where he committed the latest bank robbery. In addition to his convictions for multiple bank robberies, Hill has several 1990s convictions for felony theft and burglary in Tennessee.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Stephen Cometa (63, Marion County) to 17 years and 3 months in federal prison for forcibly assaulting and resisting federal employees with a deadly and dangerous weapon, and for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal jury previously found Cometa guilty of the offenses on December 13, 2018. 

According to the testimony and evidence presented in court, in December 2016, Cometa entered a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in The Villages carrying a loaded AR-15 assault rifle, a concealed handgun, and hundreds of rounds of extra ammunition for both firearms. Cometa walked through the clinic to a psychiatrist’s office, interrupted an ongoing treatment session, and pointed the assault rifle at the psychiatrist as he opened the door. The psychiatrist, as well as a VA contractor and two VA police officers, struggled with Cometa for control of the assault rifle and eventually subdued him. During the struggle, Cometa fired the assault rifle, shooting holes in the walls, ceiling, and furniture.    

This case was investigated by the FBI—Ocala Resident Agency, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Tampa, Florida– A federal jury today found Justin Scott Hunt (31, Tampa) guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. Hunt faces a mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14, 2019.

A grand jury had indicted Hunt on August 16, 2017.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Hunt engaged in six months of online conversation with someone he believed to be a small child and the child’s mother. In reality, he was actually talking to an undercover agent. On numerous occasions, Hunt requested to meet the “child” and described, in graphic detail, the sex acts that he planned to engage in with the minor. He also sent two pictures of his erect penis to whom he believed to be the mother of the child, encouraging her to show the child the pictures, expressing hope that the child would then begin to develop “a lust or fantasy” about Hunt.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory T. Nolan and Candace Garcia Rich.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Willie Iva Jennings (36, Reddick) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon. Jennings previously had entered a guilty plea to the offense on October 22, 2018.

According to the plea agreement, on July 15, 2018, law enforcement discovered Jennings behind the wheel of a recently stolen automobile. While taking Jennings into custody, investigators located a loaded semi-automatic firearm in his pocket and Jennings admitted that the firearm belonged to him.

Jennings’s criminal history contains multiple drug sales and robbery convictions, as well as resisting a police officer with violence. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. As a result of his extensive prior criminal history, Jennings qualified for enhanced sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal.

This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ocala Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, Florida – Shawn Andrew Wilson (44, Yulee), a/k/a “Red Dog,” has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on January 27, 2018, a 911-caller reported to the police that Wilson was at a trailer home in Yulee, Florida, and had fired what sounded like a pistol. Responding police officers arrested Wilson, and, with the consent of a resident of the home, entered and recovered a loaded pistol in a bedroom. Following his arrest, Wilson explained to an officer that he had shot a gun from the doorway of the home, but that he was not trying to hit the 911-caller.  Wilson has at least three prior felony convictions, and as such, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. 

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Orlando, Florida – Bryan Matthew Cooney (30, Casselberry) has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Cooney faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to court records, from September 19, 2018 through September 27, 2018, Cooney chatted with an FBI undercover agent (UC) via a social media application known as “KIK” about sexually exploiting a 12-year-old female child, which Cooney said was his daughter. During the chats, Cooney shared clothed images of the minor with the UC and said he had sexually abused and produced images of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

During the investigation, FBI agents identified Cooney’s residence and obtained a warrant to search for evidence related to the allegations. On October 30, 2018, FBI agents executed the search warrant and interviewed Cooney, and Cooney admitted that he was the person chatting with the UC about sexually exploiting a 12-year-old child. Cooney also said that he had actually obtained images of the minor from his friend’s Facebook page and had shared those pictures with the UC during chats. Cooney also said that he had been viewing child pornography for the past four of five years, which he downloaded to his iPhone through KIK, and then uploaded to a Dropbox account.

Upon viewing the Dropbox account, agents found hundreds of videos and numerous images of child pornography depicting bestiality and other acts of sadistic conduct against prepubescent children between the ages of 4 and 10. Cooney had posted images of his friend’s daughter on KIK, and attempted to obtain images of child pornography from other KIK users, by trading clothed images of his friends’ daughter.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

 

Fort Myers, FL – Casey Lowell Hickok (32, Copeland) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with second-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Hickok made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the complaint, while aboard a commercial fishing vessel, Hickok was witnessed bludgeoning a sleeping member of the boat’s crew to death with a spare boat alternator, which he later threw off the vessel. At the time, the vessel was in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 66 nautical miles west of Marco Island. 

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.