Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Fugitive Pleads Guilty in Florida Multimillion-Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A Cuban national who fled the United States and had been wanted since 2013 on federal criminal charges relating to a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme in the greater Tampa Bay area pleaded guilty today for his role in the scheme.
U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Paul Wysopal of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office, Special Agent in Charge George Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Shimon Richmond of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
Ubert Guillermo Rodriguez, aka Ubert Guillermo Rodriguez Sigler, 47, pleaded guilty in federal court in Tampa today to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Rodriguez was arrested on the health care fraud charges when he arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from Cuba in October 2015.
According to documents filed in the case, Rodriguez was the president and owner of G.R. Services Equipment & Supplies Inc., a Largo company that purported to provide durable medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries. From May 2013 through July 2013, Rodriguez’s company submitted approximately $2,579,695 in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for durable medical equipment, such as wound care supplies, that was not legitimately prescribed by doctors and was not provided to beneficiaries. For example, Rodriguez’s company sought reimbursement for thousands of dollars of negative pressure wound therapy electrical pumps and sterile collagen dressings purportedly provided in May and June 2013 to Medicare beneficiaries. Federal law enforcement agents previously executed a seizure warrant on Rodriguez’s company’s bank account, resulting in the seizure of approximately $243,339 in proceeds of the health care fraud scheme.
HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case, which and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Florida. Senior Trial Attorney Christopher J. Hunter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 2,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6 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.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
DeLand Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Threatening to Kill the President and Assault A Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Jeremy L. Addison (24, DeLand) to seven years in federal prison for mailing a letter threatening to kill the President and assaulting the U.S. Secret Service agent who was investigating the threat. He pleaded guilty on October 13, 2015.
According to court documents, on September 17, 2014, while awaiting trial for an unrelated state charge in the Volusia County Jail, Addison wrote a letter to President Obama. In that letter he stated, “you’re a dead man…boy I hate swine. I’m the general me…and anthrax, so yes I intend to kill you.” A short time later, a U.S. Secret Service agent attempted to interview Addison about the letter. At the conclusion of the interview, Addison spit in the agent’s face and stated, “…I am going to kill you too.”
After pleading guilty in this case, but prior to sentencing, Addison wrote another letter, this time threatening to kill the Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the case. Four days later, Addison wrote a second letter apologizing for the threatening letter.
Based on Addison’s criminal history and the threat to kill the prosecutor, the Court enhanced Addison’s sentence by finding that he had not accepted responsibility for his criminal behavior and that he had obstructed justice by writing a letter threatening to kill the assigned Assistant U.S. Attorney.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Larry Garfield Letterman (63, Wildwood) yesterday pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Letterman met with a confidential informant in a series of video-recorded transactions during October and November 2015. Each transaction took place at Letterman’s residence, where he sold the informant three firearms and ammunition, including an AR-15 rifle. Based on the transactions, federal agents executed a search warrant at the residence on December 15, 2015. They recovered an AK-47 rifle, a shotgun, a handgun, packaging from another handgun, and more than 260 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Letterman confessed to possessing all of the firearms and ammunition, and that he had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary, and sodomy of a male less than 14 years old. As a previously convicted felon, Letterman is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Justice Department Settles Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Owner of North Fort Myers, Florida, Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle ParkRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Thomas Mere, the owner and operator of Mere’s Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park in North Fort Myers, Florida, has agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The settlement, which is in the form of a consent order, must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
The government’s complaint, also filed today, alleges that the defendant falsely told African Americans that no mobile homes, recreational vehicles or recreational vehicle lots were immediately available for rent, but told similarly-situated white persons that they were, in fact, available for rent. According to the complaint, the defendant encouraged prospective white renters to consider residing at Mere’s Park and discouraged African Americans from residing there by, for example, referring African Americans to another mobile home and RV park, making discouraging comments about units that were available for rent and failing to provide African Americans complete and accurate information about available units and lots. The lawsuit is based on the results of testing conducted by the department’s Fair Housing Testing Program, in which individuals pose as renters to gather information about possible discriminatory practices.
“Owners of rental properties cannot pick and choose residents based on race or color,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold owners who violate the law accountable for their discriminatory conduct.”
“All citizens and their families should be free to choose where they want to live without fear of discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. “Our office is committed to eradicating all forms of housing discrimination in the Middle District of Florida.”
Under the settlement, the defendant will establish a settlement fund of $30,000 to compensate victims of his discriminatory practices and pay a civil penalty of $10,000 to the United States. The agreement also requires that the defendant implement nondiscriminatory application and rental procedures at the park, undergo fair-housing training and provide periodic reports to the department.
Individuals who have information about, or who believe they may have been discriminated against at Mere’s Park, located at 1555 North Tamiami Trail, 1051 North Tamiami Trail and 1699 Ixora Drive in North Fort Myers, should contact the Justice Department toll-free at 1-800-896-7743, option 96, or by email at [email protected]. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt.
Mere Complaint and Consent Order
Justice Department Settles Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Owner of North Fort Myers Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle ParkRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – The Justice Department announced today that Thomas Mere, the owner and operator of Mere’s Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park in North Fort Myers, Florida, has agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The settlement, which is in the form of a consent order, must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
The government’s complaint, also filed today, alleges that the defendant falsely told African Americans that no mobile homes, recreational vehicles or recreational vehicle lots were immediately available for rent, but told similarly-situated white persons that they were, in fact, available for rent. According to the complaint, the defendant encouraged prospective white renters to consider residing at Mere’s Park and discouraged African Americans from residing there by, for example, referring African Americans to another mobile home and RV park, making discouraging comments about units that were available for rent and failing to provide African Americans complete and accurate information about available units and lots. The lawsuit is based on the results of testing conducted by the department’s Fair Housing Testing Program, in which individuals pose as renters to gather information about possible discriminatory practices.
“All citizens and their families should be free to choose where they want to live without fear of discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. “Our office is committed to eradicating all forms of housing discrimination in the Middle District of Florida.”
“Owners of rental properties cannot pick and choose residents based on race or color,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold owners who violate the law accountable for their discriminatory conduct.”
Under the settlement, the defendant will establish a settlement fund of $30,000 to compensate victims of his discriminatory practices and pay a civil penalty of $10,000 to the United States. The agreement also requires that the defendant implement nondiscriminatory application and rental procedures at the park, undergo fair-housing training and provide periodic reports to the department.
Individuals who have information about, or who believe they may have been discriminated against at Mere’s Park, located at 1555 North Tamiami Trail, 1051 North Tamiami Trail and 1699 Ixora Drive in North Fort Myers, should contact the Justice Department toll-free at 1-800-896-7743, option 96, or by email at [email protected]. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. Senior District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Jetmir Qose (23, St. Petersburg) to 8 years in federal prison for transportation and possession of child pornography. The Court also ordered him to forfeit certain items used in the commission of the offenses, including a laptop computer and two external hard drives.
Qose was found guilty after a bench trial held on November 5, 2015.
According to court documents, in September 2014, during an undercover operation, law enforcement discovered that Qose was sharing files of child pornography using a publicly available sharing program. As a result of this initial investigation, a search warrant was executed at Qose’s residence and several of his electronic devices were seized. An examination of the devices revealed a large collection of child pornography, including numerous videos and images featuring the exploitation of minors under the age of 12.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Jones and Jennifer Peresie.
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.
Pinellas Pain Management Doctor and Wife Found GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury found Edward N. Feldman, M.D., guilty of conspiring to dispense controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, dispensing controlled substances that resulted in death, and money laundering. His wife, Kim Xuan Feldman, was also convicted of conspiring to dispense controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice and money laundering. Dr. Feldman faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, and Mrs. Feldman faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 23, 2016.
The Feldmans were indicted on December 10, 2014.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from October 2009 through December 2014, the Feldmans operated Feldman Orthopedic and Wellness Center (FOWC) in Pinellas Park, Florida. FOWC saw between 80-100 patients a day, with new patients paying $300 in cash for visits, and follow-up patients paying $150-$225 for visits. Insurance was not accepted at FOWC.
During the trial, an expert in pain management opined that Dr. Feldman’s prescriptions to patients had not been for a legitimate medical purpose and had been outside the usual course of professional practice. The expert further opined that Dr. Feldman had been so far outside the usual course of professional practice that he had not been practicing medicine when he had prescribed large doses of controlled substances to his patients.
Additionally, Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners opined that J.M., R.G., and S.W. had died as a result of multi-drug toxicity related to the large amounts of Methadone, Oxycodone, Alprazolam, and Diazepam found in their systems. J.M. and S.W. only visited Dr. Feldman once before their respective deaths.
Evidence also showed that the couple had deposited more than $5,000,000 in cash in dozens of bank accounts during the period of the charged crimes. The couple used proceeds from FOWC to purchase their home and property for their business, and to fund investments accounts. More than $500,000 in cash and gold were recovered from various bank accounts and safety deposit boxes in the name of the Feldmans and other family members. Also, a 2011 Porsche, 2006 Infinity, and 2009 Mercedes Benz were seized. The issue of forfeiture will be determined at a later date.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Kaitlin O’Donnell.
Orlando Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced David Ryan Alberts (43, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to pay restitution to the victims of his offense. Alberts pleaded guilty in September 2015.
According to court documents, Alberts downloaded and possessed scores of images of prepubescent children, including infants, engaged in sexual acts with adults and with other children. Several of the images depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct, and included images of children engaged in bestiality. He also searched for and possessed dozens of sexually explicit stories involving incest. Based on his prior conduct, Alberts received an enhanced sentence for engaging in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.
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 the 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.
Lutz Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Enticement and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell yesterday sentenced Bryan Shane Sneed (42, Lutz) to 20 years in prison for the attempted enticement of a minor for sex, and for possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The Court also ordered him to serve a 20-year term of supervision and to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Sneed was found guilty by a federal jury on August 7, 2015.
A superseding indictment was returned against Sneed on March 18, 2015.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on January 24, 2014, an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old child responded to an online personal ad posted by Sneed. Sneed, who traveled frequently, communicated with the undercover agent through emails and text messaging for almost a year. During the communications, Sneed repeatedly sent the “child” multiple graphic images of adult pornography and a video of adult pornography. Sneed made firm plans to meet the “child” in Tampa on January 21, 2015, and when he arrived at the agreed upon location, he was arrested. A search of Sneed’s vehicle by law enforcement revealed a loaded 9 millimeter and .45 caliber handgun and several condoms.
“This criminal intended to have sex with a 14-year-old child,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Our HSI undercover special agents made sure that instead of forever harming a child, he is going to spend the next 20 years behind bars.”
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.
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.
District Court Enters Permanent Injunction to Prevent Florida Man from Distributing Unapproved Herpes CureRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against James R. Hill, of Ocala, Florida, to prevent the distribution of unapproved drugs masquerading as a cure for the herpes virus, the Department of Justice announced today.
The department filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida alleging that Hill sold a product, Viruxo Immune Support (Viruxo), that he marketed as a “natural herpes medicine” that can “Stop Herpes Outbreaks.” Although labeled as a dietary supplement, Viruxo qualifies as an unapproved and misbranded drug, according to the complaint, because of Hill’s claims that it could treat the herpes virus despite the absence of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it was safe and effective for such a use.
The complaint further alleged that Hill defrauded consumers by promoting Viruxo to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease despite the absence of well-controlled clinical studies or other credible scientific substantiation to support those claims. Hill made his misleading claims about Viruxo despite having received a warning letter from FDA and the Federal Trade Commission advising him that his product is an unapproved drug and was misbranded.
“Consumers should exercise extreme caution when purchasing supplements online,” warned U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III for the Middle District of Florida. “Viruxo was marketed to consumers as a ‘medicine’ for herpes, even though this product was not approved by the FDA and there were no well-controlled clinical studies to support the therapeutic claims.”
“Unfortunately, many dietary supplements cannot do what their sellers claim they can do,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “In some instances, consumers might be choosing supplements over other proven therapies for serious conditions under the mistaken belief that these products can help. The Department of Justice will continue to work aggressively with FDA to prevent the distribution of unapproved drugs.”
Hill agreed to settle the case and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. Although he has ceased selling Viruxo, the consent decree requires him to notify FDA and receive its permission before resuming sale of Viruxo or distribution of any food, including a dietary supplement, or drug. To obtain permission from FDA, FDA must first determine that Hill’s practices comply with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The government is represented by Trial Attorney Daniel E. Zytnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Lacy R. Harwell Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with the assistance of Senior Counsel Claudia J. Zuckerman of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel – Food and Drug Division.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Attempted Sexual Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Ross Edward Paulson (60, Wittenberg, WI) to 20 years in federal prison for attempted sexual enticement of a minor. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the cellphone and laptop he had used to facilitate the offense. Paulson pleaded guilty on November 30, 2015.
According to court documents, while visiting Florida in July 2015, Paulson responded to a Craigslist ad. The ad had been placed by an undercover officer posing as the father of a 13-year-old girl who was looking for other men to have sex with his daughter. During a series of online communications, Paulson graphically discussed the sexual activities that he wanted to engage in with the “child.” On July 23, 2015, Paulson agreed to meet the “father” and “child” in a parking lot in Brevard County so that he could have sex with the “child.” When Paulson arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested.
This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.
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 the 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.
Twelve Members of Orlando-Area Heroin Trafficking Crew Charged with Federal Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that 12 members of a drug trafficking organization have been charged with distributing street-level quantities of heroin in the Orlando area. A criminal complaint has been unsealed charging Steven Joseph Malham (55, Orlando), Angel Manuel Fontanez (31, Clermont), Pedro Juan Rivera-Aviles (63, Orlando), Jason Paul Manore (36, Orlando), Aref Hamdan (39, Orlando), Wilbert Joel Alequin-Pagan (21, Orlando), Robert Bryan Sautner (28, Winter Garden), Emmanuel Verges (26, Orlando), Constantine Kotsianidis (37, Orlando), Zuleyka Jeanette Colon-Rivera (24, Orlando), Ernesto Cabanas-Torres, (41, Orlando), and Domingo Perez-Lamboy (42, Orlando) with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, a drug trafficking organization whose members referred to themselves as “La Compania” or “the Company” acquired heroin from out of state. They then used a telephone number that changed frequently (the heroin line) to sell heroin to customers in Orlando, primarily in the tourist district, near International Drive. Using information provided by informants, the Drug Enforcement Administration identified the organization’s heroin line and had informants and undercover agents call to set up controlled purchases of heroin. Between November 2013 and October 2015, controlled purchases of heroin were made from each of the individuals charged in the criminal complaint. These drug sales ranged from 5 baggies of heroin for $100 to 200 bags for $2,000. More than 100 grams of heroin was sold to law enforcement officers during this investigation.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled “La Compania.” The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew C. Searle and Embry J. Kidd.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in Scheme to Steal More Than $2 Million in Social Security ChecksRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Richard Lee Anderson (37, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Anderson also faces drug and firearms charges in a separate federal case (8:15-CR-473-T-35AEP).
According to the plea agreement, between May and October 2012, Anderson received stolen Social Security benefit checks, totaling at least $2,275,000, from a United States Postal Service mail handler who worked at the Processing and Distribution Center (PDC) facility in St. Petersburg. The checks were all addressed to beneficiaries living in Pinellas County. Anderson then sold the checks to various individuals for a percentage of their face value and those individuals, in turn, cashed the checks or employed others to do so for them. Anderson paid the mail handler a percentage of the checks’ face value.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Edgar Yanez-Gutierrez (31, Nayarit, Mexico) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering offenses and conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Yanez-Gutierrez faces a maximum term of 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy charge, and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to life, on the drug trafficking conspiracy charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court documents, Yanez-Gutierrez’s plea is the latest in an investigation that has netted 28 convictions in the Middle District of Florida, for drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses, with sentences ranging from 4, up to 35 years’, imprisonment. The defendants were part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that shipped cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana from California to drug distribution and money laundering cells throughout the United States, including Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Alabama, and Arkansas. Yanez-Gutierrez fled from California to Mexico in 2011, but was later arrested and extradited to the United States in December 2015.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from other federal, state, and local agencies as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply The Office of International Affairs, Department of Justice, assisted with Yanez-Gutierrez’s extradition to the United States.
Media Advisory - Law Enforcement Officials to Announce Multiple Arrests of Members of Central Florida Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
WHO: A. Lee Bentley, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Jeffrey T. Walsh, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Orlando District Office, Central Region of Florida
Sheriff Jerry L. Demings, Orange County Sheriff's Office
WHAT: Press Conference
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to announce charges involving several individuals in a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy.
WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016, at 1:00 P.M. EST
WHERE: United States Attorney’s Office
400 W. Washington Street, Suite 3100
Orlando, FL 32801
OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license). Media may begin arriving at 12:30 P.M. EST.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Jorge Valencia (43, St. Petersburg) to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography and attempting to entice a minor. The Court also ordered Valencia to forfeit items that he had used while committing the offenses, including a laptop and an iPhone. Valencia pleaded guilty on September 24, 2015.
According to court documents, in January 2015, an undercover FBI task force officer discovered that Valencia was using an online file-sharing program to share files depicting child pornography. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Valencia’s residence and several of his electronic devices were seized for evaluation.
The forensic analyses of the devices revealed that since at least 2012, Valencia had been using a phone messaging app to chat with individuals, he believed to be under the age of 18, for the purpose of soliciting sexually explicit pictures from them. A large collection of child pornography, including numerous videos and images depicting children under the age of 12, were also found on his devices.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
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.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich has sentenced Tom Kelly (St. Petersburg, 32) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. He pleaded guilty in October 2015.
According to court documents, Kelly operated a drug house in St. Petersburg. During the execution of a search warrant at his home in October 2014, law enforcement officers found Kelly in possession of two loaded firearms, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and prescription pills. Kelly has multiple prior felony convictions for drug and firearm offenses, and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. The officers also seized more than $100,000 of jewelry and cash from the residence and other locations as proceeds of the drug distribution scheme.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, are coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy on reducing violent crime in communities.
Central Florida Drug Importer Sentenced to Ten YearsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Thiago Correa (22, Windermere) to 10 years in federal prison for drug importation, conspiracy, and trafficking violations, and for using a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Correa is the fourth individual to be sentenced in Orlando for drug trafficking and related charges concerning the importation and distribution of methylone and ethylone, also called “Molly” or “Mol,” from China into Brevard and Orange Counties. These prosecutions are part “Project Synergy,” an international investigation headed by the Department of Justice’s Special Operations Division.
According to court documents, from approximately January 2014, through their arrests on March 18, 2015, Thiago Correa, Camila Correa (25, Windermere), Travis Simmons (25, Deland), and others conspired to import no less than 25 kilograms of ethylone and methylone from China into Orlando, Melbourne, Titusville, and Windermere. Thiago Correa was a leader and organizer in the conspiracy: he ordered the drugs from China; paid for and directed others to pay for the drugs; coordinated shipments; and recruited and directed others to distribute the drugs. During this conspiracy, Correa used a variety of firearms, including handguns and an assault rifle.
“HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together toward keeping dangerous and deadly substances from harming our citizens,” said Susan L. McCormick special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Our communities are safer today because we dismantled this drug trafficking organization.”
Camila Correa and Travis Simmons previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case. On September 8, 2015, Simmons was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Correa’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 14, 2016.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Bishop Ravenel.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Cedric Monroe (35, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Monroe pleaded guilty to this offense on December 4, 2015.
According to court documents, Monroe sold crack cocaine and a firearm to a confidential informant in the bathroom of a local restaurant. At the time of the incident, Monroe had been previously convicted of multiple drug offenses. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 Stacie B. Harris.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violence in our communities.
Adventist to Pay More Than $2 Million to Resolve False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation (Adventist) has agreed to pay the government $2.09 million to resolve allegations that patients were administered portions of single-dose vials of chemotherapy drugs that were left over from administrations to prior patients.
Subject to a very few strict exceptions not applicable here, these single-dose vials of chemotherapy drugs can only be accessed once and their contents (whether some or all) can only be administered to one patient. That is because these single-dose vials lack any anti-microbial ingredients or other preservatives, and accessing them can introduce harmful agents that can be passed on to subseqent patients.
This settlement also resolves allegations that some platinum based drugs were administered inappropriately; that certain infusion services were upcoded; and that some patients had to be admitted for treatment as a result of the foregoing acts and omissions.
These events occurred between late 2007 and mid-2011, at an Adventist location in Central Florida, and resulted in the submission of improper claims to federal government health care programs, including Medicare, TRICARE, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. In January 2012, Adventist voluntarily self-disclosed certain of the above-described conduct to the United States and repaid $819,828.82 to the United States. The company will receive a credit of that amount toward the $2.09 million obligation.
“Beneficiaries of federal health care plans, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer, should not be treated with drugs that present unnecessary and avoidable risks,” stated U.S. Attorney Bentley. “When a lack of proper oversight permits circumstances like this to occur, resulting in the submission of false healthcare claims, responsible providers will be held accountable.”
"These actions put patients at needless risk in an attempt to boost profits at taxpayer expense," said Shimon R. Richmond, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "This settlement demonstrates that such practices have consequences."
The settlement resolves allegations in a lawsuit filed by relator Heather Huddleston in February 2013. Huddleston’s suit was filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which authorizes private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Huddleston was formerly employed by Adventist and had disclosed certain of the conduct internally to Adventist in 2011. The relator will be receiving $376,452 from the proceeds of the settlement.
This case was investigated jointly by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Harden of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida; Trial Attorney Tom Morris of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The lawsuit was filed in the Middle District of Florida, and is captioned United States ex rel. Huddleston v. Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation, Case No. 8:13-cv-710-T-27-EAJ (M.D. Fla.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Operation Smokin’ Bones Drug Conspirator Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Ilian David Gomez Mathews (25, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between November 2012 and November 2015, Mathews conspired with others to ship at least 15 kilograms of cocaine through the U.S. mail from Puerto Rico to Orange and Osceola counties for distribution. Mathews admitted to distributing the majority of the cocaine, which was typically between 500 grams and two kilograms per month. As part of the scheme, tens of thousands of dollars were transported as bulk cash back to Puerto Rico, to the cocaine supply source.
In November 2015, federal and local law enforcement arrested five individuals, including Mathews, for drug trafficking, as part of Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force Operation “Smokin’ Bones.” Those individuals were indicted in December 2015. Mathews is the first defendant to plead guilty. The remaining individuals, Jose Javier Nieves Torres (45, Kissimmee); Dennis Rodriguez De Jesus (38, Kissimmee); Ramon Alberto Castro Ortega (26, St. Cloud); and Hector Manual Sanchez Garay (55, Orlando) are awaiting trial.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Bishop Ravenel.
Nassau County Man Arrested and Federally Charged with Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Clement Ashford Reeves, Jr. (73, Yulee) has been charged by indictment with receiving child pornography over the Internet. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervision. Reeves was arrested at his residence on February 16, 2016.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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 until, and unless, proven guilty.
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.
Eight Federally Charged as Part of Violent Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest of eight defendants on federal firearms and drug charges (see chart below). Penalties for the various offenses range from 5 to 40 years’ imprisonment. The arrests are the result of a violent crime initiative being jointly undertaken by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
“Fighting violent crime is a top priority of my Office,” said U.S. Attorney Bentley. “We’re doing that by prosecuting felons possessing firearms and drug traffickers in the areas most victimized by violent crime. We’re very grateful for the hard work and dedication of ATF and our tremendous local partners, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.”
“ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and commit personnel and specialized resources in order to remove from our community individuals that use a gun to commit acts of violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Regina Lombardo, ATF-Tampa.
"Due to the increase in violent crimes involving firearms around the country, it is critical that we address these issues immediately through a variety of enforcement efforts. One effective measure are joint operations such as this, where we can optimize our manpower and strategically focus on offenders who put the citizens in our county in danger," stated Colonel Donna Lusczynski of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed violations of one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams, Michael Leeman, Shauna Hale, Taylor Stout, and Carlton C. Gammons.
These cases are prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to combat violent crime in our communities.
Dade City Gang Member Sentenced to 17 Years for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew yesterday sentenced Seguiel Medrano (31, Dade City) to 17 years in federal prison for drug distribution and firearm charges. Medrano pleaded guilty on October 15, 2015.
According to court documents, Medrano, a member of a Dade City street gang, sold methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement officers, and was armed during the drug transactions. During a search of Medrano’s residence, law enforcement seized multiple firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and cash.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violent crime in our communities.
Atlantic Beach Woman Indicted on Federal Charge of Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Sunshine Marie McEwen (41, Atlantic Beach) has been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with failing to register as a sex offender after traveling from Florida to California. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison. McEwen was arrested in Palm Springs, California on November 28, 2015, and is currently in state custody in Jacksonville.
According to the indictment, on or about August 20, 1998, McEwen was convicted of two counts of lewd and lascivious act (sexual battery) in Jacksonville, Florida. Subsequent to her conviction, and between May 15, 2015, and November 28, 2015, she traveled from Florida to California and failed to register as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The Adam Walsh Act provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the United States Marshals Service, to assist state and local authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palm Springs (California) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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 until, and unless, proven guilty.
This 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.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced for Check-Kiting Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Roger Eugene Hagood (44, Fort Myers) to four years in federal prison for bank fraud. As part of the sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $677,722, the proceeds of the fraud. Hagood pleaded guilty on November 17, 2015.
According to court documents, Hagood operated Coral Palm Auto Sales, a used car dealership. Coral Palm Auto Sales received financing through a third-party lender to purchase automobiles. Vehicle titles were provided as security to procure the loans, and loan payments were made using proceeds from the vehicle sales. Once each loan was paid in full, the third-party lender would release the vehicle titles used to secure the loan back to Coral Palm Auto Sales.
In November and December 2011, Hagood engaged in a check-kiting scheme by writing 13 checks, totaling $1,592,121, on his business checking account, made payable to the third-party lender, knowing that the account lacked sufficient funds to cover the checks. As a result, the third-party lender wrote new loan checks on its account made payable to Coral Palm Auto Sales. Hagood’s scheme caused two federally insured banks to suffer a total loss of $1,037,770.01.
On March 29, 2015, Hagood attempted to surreptitiously dispose of 20 banker’s boxes containing records and documents pertaining to Coral Palm Auto Sales by throwing them in a dumpster located more than a mile from his residence. A video surveillance camera partially captured Hagood attempting to dispose of the boxes. The boxes were retrieved by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and turned over to the FBI. A portion of the records and documents that Hagood tried to destroy were responsive to a federal subpoena previously served on him earlier that month.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.
Windermere Man Sentenced for Stealing Money from Former NBA Basketball Player and Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced John A. White (40, Windermere) to four years and nine months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax-related document. A federal jury found him guilty on September 2, 2015. The Court will decide at a later date the amount of restitution White owes and the proceeds he must forfeit.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2006 through 2012, White was employed as the personal assistant to NBA basketball player Gilbert J. Arenas, who has since retired from professional basketball. During calendar years 2008 through 2011, White stole approximately $2,188,170 from Arenas by making unauthorized online banking money transfers from one of Arenas’s bank accounts, into three different bank accounts that White controlled. White spent these funds on his own personal expenses, including mortgage payments for his home in Windermere, and the purchase of a Ferrari and a Range Rover. White also filed false joint income tax returns with the IRS for each of these years. In these tax returns, he and his wife never reported more than $60,000 in gross income, when in fact their joint income was significantly greater, due to the money White had stolen from Arenas.
White’s false tax returns caused a tax loss of approximately $621,144 to the IRS.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Transporting and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew has sentenced James Dale Little (43, Jacksonville) to 20 years in federal prison for transporting and possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to serve a life term of supervision and to register as a sex offender upon his release. A federal jury found him guilty on October 21, 2015.
According to evidence presented during the three-day trial, law enforcement officers identified Little while investigating another individual with whom Little had been trading child pornography via email. The agents discovered that Little had received and sent images of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and materials portraying children engaged in sadistic conduct and violence.
Little had a prior conviction in 1996 for injury to a child in Galveston, Texas. Evidence at sentencing showed that this prior conviction involved Little’s molestation and sexual abuse of a 4-year-old child.
"Protecting our children from these heinous crimes is one of the top priorities of Homeland Security Investigations," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “This sentencing is one more step in making our communities safer.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Karase and Gregory Nolan.
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.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Threatening to Firebomb Two Mosques and Shoot WorshippersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Martin Alan Schnitzler, 43, pleaded guilty to a hate crime in the Middle District of Florida for calling two mosques located in Pinellas County, Florida, and threatening to firebomb the mosques and shoot their congregants.
Schnitzler pleaded guilty to obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs for making the violent threats. As part of his plea, he admitted that on Nov. 13, 2015, he intentionally obstructed members of the Islamic Society of St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Islamic Society of Pinellas County from practicing their religion when he left voicemail messages threatening the safety of the mosques’ congregants. Schnitzler admitted that his threats were prompted by the terrorist attacks in Paris. Among other things, Schnitzler also admitted that in one of the voicemails he threatened to “personally have a militia” report to one of the mosques and “firebomb you, shoot whoever is there on sight in the head. I don’t care if they’re [expletive] two years old or a hundred.”
As a result of the above threats, both mosques requested increased law-enforcement presence at their locations and took extra safety precautions for congregants.
“Our Constitution and laws guarantee all people – regardless of where they worship – the right to live free from violence and discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Criminal threats of violence against people or places of worship have no place in our society, and as proven today, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit religion-based hate crimes.”
“The right to worship as one chooses, free from threats and intimidation, is one of the core principles upon which our great nation was founded,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to taking whatever action is necessary to vindicate this important First Amendment right.”
Sentencing for the defendant will be scheduled at a later date. Schnitzler faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel George and Daniel Irick of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Schnitzler Plea Agreement
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Threatening to Firebomb Two Mosques and Shoot WorshippersRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Martin Alan Schnitzler, 43, pleaded guilty to a hate crime in the Middle District of Florida for calling two mosques located in Pinellas County, Florida, and threatening to firebomb the mosques and shoot their congregants.
Schnitzler pleaded guilty to obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs for making the violent threats. As part of his plea, he admitted that on Nov. 13, 2015, he intentionally obstructed members of the Islamic Society of St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Islamic Society of Pinellas County from practicing their religion when he left voicemail messages threatening the safety of the mosques’ congregants. Schnitzler admitted that his threats were prompted by the terrorist attacks in Paris. Among other things, Schnitzler also admitted that in one of the voicemails he threatened to “personally have a militia” report to one of the mosques and “firebomb you, shoot whoever is there on sight in the head. I don’t care if they’re [expletive] two years old or a hundred.”
As a result of the above threats, both mosques requested increased law-enforcement presence at their locations and took extra safety precautions for congregants.
“Our Constitution and laws guarantee all people – regardless of where they worship – the right to live free from violence and discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Criminal threats of violence against people or places of worship have no place in our society, and as proven today, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit religion-based hate crimes.”
“The right to worship as one chooses, free from threats and intimidation, is one of the core principles upon which our great nation was founded,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to taking whatever action is necessary to vindicate this important First Amendment right.”
Sentencing for the defendant will be scheduled at a later date. Schnitzler faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel George and Daniel Irick of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
United States Announces Approximately $10 Million Settlement with Four Physicians and Two Compounding PharmaciesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that two compounding pharmacies - WELLHealth and Topical Specialists, as well as four physicians - Manish Bansal, Mehul Parekh, Marisol Arcila, and Syed Asad, have agreed to pay the government a total of approximately $10 million to resolve allegations involving TRICARE, the military’s healthcare program.
The United States contends that Topical Specialists was created by the pharmacist for WELLHealth and four physicians - Bansal, Parekh, Arcila, and Asad. It was meant to be a standalone pharmacy, but was unable to obtain separate contracts with the government healthcare programs. Instead, Topical Specialists simply sent all of its prescriptions to WELLHealth, which in turn submitted these prescriptions to the federal government.
The United States alleges that Bansal, Parekh, Arcila, and Asad had an incentive to refer prescriptions to their pharmacy, as steering costly prescriptions to Topical Specialists resulted in lucrative revenue streams for the doctors. The United States contends that these four physicians wrote hundreds of prescriptions for pain and scar creams. After speaking with patients, the government contends that these prescriptions were often not used by patients, despite the tremendous cost to the government. While the pharmacies billed the federal government tens of thousands of dollars for these creams, the cost to actually compound them was often 4-5% of the submitted cost. Records reviewed by the government showed that the pharmacy was making up to 90% profit for each cream submitted to the TRICARE program. This profit was then disbursed to the doctors who wrote the prescriptions. In some cases, the four physicians recruited other doctors to write prescriptions – promising to share revenue with them. The government alleges that in some cases, the doctors who wrote prescriptions to Topical Specialists and WELLHealth received up to 40% of the reimbursement.
At one point, certain defendants suggested that payments to physicians for these prescriptions were legitimate because these physicians were engaged in a “research study” to monitor the clinical effectiveness of these creams. No patient contacted by the government knew that they were enrolled in a research study, and no research findings were ever published.
Roughly 40% of the prescriptions submitted by WELLHealth and Topical Specialists were written by these four physicians. Bansal is a cardiologist at Baptist Hospital. Arcila is a pain management physician at Premier Spine & Pain Center. Asad is a neurologist at Universal Neurological Care. Parekh is a general practice physician at Baptist Hospital. All four received hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursements.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to fighting healthcare fraud wherever it may occur,” said U.S. Attorney Bentley. “Those who defraud the TRICARE program are stealing funds that should be used to provide quality healthcare to military families. We will continue to use every weapon at our disposal to stamp out this fraud and recover misappropriated funds.”
Today’s settlement involved false claims submitted to the TRICARE program. This case was developed as part of a broader effort to identify and target unscrupulous compounding pharmacies. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has been focusing efforts on pharmacies that abuse the TRICARE program and defraud the government. Since March 2015, the district has collected more than $50 million in recoveries related to compounding pharmacies.
"The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to protecting the integrity of TRICARE, the U.S. military health care program, so that it continues to provide quality medical care to America's Warfighters and their families, while ensuring that health care facilities and providers comply with Federal laws and regulations," said John F. Khin, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Southeast Field Office. "Through joint investigations with our law enforcement partners, DCIS will fully pursue both civil remedies to recover taxpayer dollars and criminal prosecutions to bring violators to justice."
"I applaud the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida for holding these pharmacies and physicians accountable for their actions," said Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency. "Their egregious actions targeted American service members, veterans and their families, and in many cases offered them products with little or no substantiated evidence that they would improve health outcomes. The Defense Health Agency will continue working closely with the Justice Department and other state and federal agencies to investigate all those who participated in these nefarious, fraudulent practices."
This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered more than $27.1 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $17.1 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, including the conduct described in this case, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
These cases were investigated by Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS/OIG), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA/OIG), Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Mehta.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Fernandina Beach Man Indicted for Making Multiple Hoax Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging David Anthony Moody (26, Fernandina Beach) with six counts of making hoax bomb threats. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count.
According to the indictment, Moody left notes at various public places in Fernandina Beach between January 30 and February 2, 2016. Each of the six notes stated, in substance, that a bomb was going to explode in the downtown Fernandina Beach area.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Fernandina Beach Police Department, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Coast Guard Explosives Detection Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations – Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Punta Gorda Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Kurtis Johnson (26, Punta Gorda) to eight years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to forfeit his laptop and three external hard drives that had been used to commit the offense. Johnson pleaded guilty on November 5, 2015.
According to court documents, in October 2014, an FBI task force agent was able to download numerous images of child pornography from Johnson’s computer using a file sharing program. On October 30, 2014, a search warrant was executed at Johnson’s residence. During an interview with agents, Johnson admitted to downloading and possessing child pornography on his computer. Subsequent forensic analyses of the computer media seized from the home revealed more than 3,500 images, and over 800 videos depicting child pornography.
This case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
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.
Winter Park Man Charged with Failing to Pay Withheld Employee Payroll Taxes to the Internal Revenue ServiceRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging William Bruce O’Donoghue (61, Winter Park) with failure to pay over federal employee payroll taxes. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, O’Donoghue was the President and majority owner of Control Specialists, a traffic engineering company in Central Florida. As president and majority owner, O’Donoghue exercised control over the company’s business affairs, including approving all payments by the company and controlling all of the company’s bank accounts.
Throughout 2009 and 2010, O’Donoghue caused Control Specialists to withhold payroll taxes from its employees, but failed to pay over those withheld payroll taxes to the IRS. During that same time period, O’Donoghue caused Control Specialists to make thousands of dollars in expenditures for his personal benefit, including approximately $125,000 in cash payments to fund his campaign for Congress. The amount of payroll taxes withheld by Control Specialists and not paid over to the Internal Revenue Service during this period is approximately $219,962.95.
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 Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Selling Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Nathaniel Atkins (27, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2015.
According to court documents, between January and May 2015, Atkins sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant (CI) on four occasions. He also sold a firearm to the CI on one occasion. Atkins was arrested on July 29, 2015, at the Tampa International Airport.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon, III sentenced Dontreaun Tremayne Alexander (25, Orlando) today to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for robbing a convenience store and brandishing a firearm during that robbery. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the firearms and ammunition involved in the robbery. Alexander pleaded guilty on November 20, 2015.
According to court documents, on the night of December 28, 2014, Alexander and co-defendant Brandon Long robbed the Circle K store located at 7530 Forest City Road in Orlando. They entered the store with their faces covered and demanded that the cashier open the safe. Both men carried and brandished guns. When the cashier was unable to open the safe, Alexander threatened to shoot her. The robbery was recorded by store video and audio surveillance. Long was apprehended at the scene and Alexander fled.
Long previously pleaded guilty for his involvement in this case. On July 17, 2015, he was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.
Jacksonville Man Charged in $1.3 Million Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Carmel Linot with one count of conspiracy, four counts of theft of government funds, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, 10 years’ imprisonment for each theft of government funds charge, and 2 years in federal prison for each identity theft charge. The indictment also notifies Linot that the United States intends to forfeit assets traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between January 2011 and June 2012, in Duval County and elsewhere, Linot conspired with others to obtain the names and Social Security numbers of juveniles and then filed or caused to be filed fraudulent tax returns using that information. The indictment also alleges that the conspiracy involved the filing of 1,800 false and fraudulent federal income tax returns, resulting in $1.3 million in refunds being paid out. The conspiracy included the theft of the personal identifying information (“PII”) of juveniles from a website in Palm Beach County, Florida. These identities were then used in some of the false and fraudulent tax returns.
Linot is also charged in four individual counts of theft of government property, in which it is alleged that Internal Revenue Service tax refunds were electronically deposited into his bank account in June 2012. The theft charges are the basis of four separate aggravated identity theft charges because names and Social Security numbers of persons were used unlawfully in order to claim the four fraudulent refunds.
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 Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dale Campion.
Former Police Department Employee Pleads Guilty to Computer IntrusionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Tonia Bright (53, Tampa) pleaded guilty today to two counts of obtaining information from a protected computer for a fraudulent purpose. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Her sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Bright was a civilian employee of the Tampa Police Department and worked as a community service officer. As part of her authorized duties, Bright took reports from citizens related to incidents not requiring the response of a sworn police officer. In this capacity, she had access to local, state, and federal law enforcement databases, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computerized index that contains the personally identifiable information (PII) of millions of individuals. Bright’s use of these databases was restricted to the performance of her authorized duties.
Between 2009 and 2014, Bright accessed NCIC and other password-protected law enforcement databases to obtain PII, and then provided it to her friend, Rita Monique Girven, on at least ten occasions. Girven used the information to file fraudulent federal income tax returns and claim refunds to which she was not entitled. When Girven received the fraudulently obtained refunds, she shared some of the proceeds with Bright. Girven previously pleaded guilty in a separate case. On November 20, 2015, she was sentenced to 12 years in federal.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mandy Riedel and Megan Kistler.
Federal Jury Convicts St. Petersburg Man for Ammunition and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Tony Donnell Mathis (48, St. Petersburg) guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2016.
Mathis was indicted in December 2014.
According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, on or about September 25, 2014, Mathis operated a drug house, and was in possession of a loaded firearm, a distribution quantity of crack cocaine, and body armor. With prior convictions, including fleeing or eluding, aggravated assault, battery of a law enforcement officer, burglary, and robbery, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Rachel K. Jones.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, are coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy on reducing violent crime in communities.
Federal Jury Convicts Four Individuals for International Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Sale of GoldRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Naadir Cassim (40, Barcelona, Spain and Orlando, FL), Jon Craig Nelson (69, Houston, TX), Michael Skillern (49, Houston, TX), and Adriana Maria Camargo, a/k/a Adriana Palomino (37, Barcelona, Spain) guilty of conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and mail fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count, and 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count. Cassim, Nelson, and Skillern were also convicted of wire fraud charges, and face up to 20 years in federal prison for each charge. Additionally, the jury found Cassim guilty of an illegal monetary transaction charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. The sentencing hearing has been set for May 24, 2016.
The individuals were indicted on February 18, 2014.
According to evidence presented at trial, from August 2011 through February 2014, Cassim, Nelson, Skillern, and Camargo, along with others, engaged in a fraud scheme where they directed and caused the sale of purported but nonexistent gold ore or gold doré from mines owned or controlled by them, through a company called OWN GOLD, LLC. The conspirators’ victims were located both inside and outside of the United States, including the United Kingdom. To facilitate the scheme, the conspirators paid telemarketers to place unsolicited calls to potential and existing victims outside the United States. The conspirators used the victims' funds to perpetuate the scheme and for their own personal enrichment. During the course of the fraud scheme, approximately 440 victims wired more than $7.3 million to the conspirators.
“The defendants defrauded more than 400 victims and collected more than $7 million through an elaborate scheme to sell nonexistent gold ore and gold doré,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Entrusted with a unique international authority and assisted by the efforts of our foreign law enforcement partners, HSI dismantled this transnational criminal organization.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from law enforcement partners in the United Kingdom, Spain and Cyprus, and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in the extradition and mutual legal assistance requests in this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara C. Sweeney and Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.
Sumter County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, announces that Thomas Franklin Dinkins, Jr. (25, Lake Panasoffkee) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the drug offense and a consecutive sentence of at least 5 years, up to life, for the firearms offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on December 16, 2014, deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) stopped Dinkins for an expired tag. After a narcotics canine subsequently alerted on the car, deputies performed a search and found a locked, portable safe in the trunk. The key to the safe was in Dinkins’s jacket. Inside the safe, deputies found methamphetamine, two digital scales, plastic baggies, and a loaded .22 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number. Deputies also located a backpack containing additional plastic bags and ammunition. A check of Dinkins’s criminal history revealed he was a multi-convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. Dinkins later admitted that the firearm was “probably stolen” and that he had it to protect himself while distributing drugs.
On March 21, 2015, a discarded cellphone was discovered by a citizen and turned over to SCSO. After reviewing some of its contents, deputies determined that it had belonged to Dinkins. Multiple pictures and text messages found on the phone linked the recovered handgun, another shotgun, and numerous drug sales to Dinkins.
This case was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Citrus County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Alan Kenneth Thompson, Jr. (33, Crystal River) has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on or about June 2, 2015, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) determined that Thompson had been using a computer application to post and receive images of child pornography over the Internet. Agents tracked the activity to Thompson’s residence, executed a search warrant, and seized a cellphone and two laptop computers. Forensics analyses confirmed that the devices contained more than 4,500 still images and 84 video files depicting child pornography. Thompson later admitted to the agents that he had been receiving child pornography, and that some of the victims were only four or five years old.
This case was investigated by HSI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Nathan Bryan (40, Bradenton) to life in federal prison for producing child pornography and attempting to entice a minor for illegal sexual activity. The Court also ordered him to forfeit items that he had used while committing the offenses. Bryan pleaded guilty on October 25, 2015.
According to court documents, in April 2014, a detective from the Bradenton Police Department conducted an undercover investigation of Bryan, who was attempting to obtain babysitting jobs by posting and responding to online ads. Bryan communicated with the detective, who Bryan believed was the stepfather of an 8-year-old boy, and made plans to meet the “child” for sex. He also discussed various sex acts that he wanted to perform on the child. On June 21, 2015, Bryan arrived at the prearranged location to meet the “dad” and to have sex with the “child.” During that meeting, he shared a video that he had produced while babysitting that contained explicit images of a young boy.
This case was investigated by the Bradenton Police Department, which is a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force in Fort Myers. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.
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.
Two Orlando Men Involved in the Carjacking of A Federal Officer Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Dante Askins (18) and Gregory McDonald (18) have pleaded guilty to carjacking and using a firearm while committing that offense. They each face a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison for the carjacking conviction and a mandatory 7-year consecutive term of imprisonment for the firearm conviction. The sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 25, 2016.
According to court documents, on August 12, 2015, Askins and McDonald committed an armed carjacking of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a hotel in Orlando. The victim, who was on vacation with his family, had gone down to his SUV in the hotel parking lot to preload his GPS for a trip to Destin the next morning. Askins ran up to the victim and stuck a long-barreled .22 caliber revolver in his face. He, along with McDonald, and two minors, then forced the victim into the backseat of his vehicle at gunpoint. McDonald pistol whipped the victim three times in the back of the head. The carjackers held the victim for approximately two hours. When OnStar location services contacted the vehicle, the carjackers fled and the victim escaped.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany L. Cummins.
Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Investment FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Chawalit Wongkhiao (29, Jacksonville) and Joshua Gilliland (31, Chattanooga, TN, formerly of Jacksonville) for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wongkhiao was sentenced to a term of four years and seven months and Gilliland was sentenced to one year and three months’ imprisonment. The Court also entered a money judgment against Wongkhiao and Gilliland in the amount of $1,120,831.00, the proceeds of the fraud.
Wongkhiao pleaded guilty on August 25, 2015, and Gilliland pleaded guilty on September 25, 2015.
According to court documents, Gilliland and Wongkhiao, doing business as Allied Markets LLC, solicited money for purported investments in foreign currency exchange (“forex”) transactions. Between March 2012 and July 2014, based on their representations, investors gave them substantial amounts of money. Contrary to their representations, Gilliland and Wongkhiao invested only a small portion the total investors’ funds in forex transactions, which resulted in a loss. A large portion of the funds were used for personal expenses, including cash withdrawals, rent, furnishings, clothing, travel, food, and entertainment. They also used some of the funds received from later investors to pay off earlier investors
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Naples Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit StructuringRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Sydney Jackson Williams, Jr. to one year and a day in federal prison for structuring financial transactions. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $332,500.00, the proceeds traceable to the offense. Williams will be jointly and severally liable for the amount of the money judgment, along with his wife and co-defendant, Lorie Ann Williams, who was sentenced last week.
According to court documents, subsequent to two civil lawsuits being brought against him, Williams transferred more than $3 million in joint marital assets into an account in his wife’s name. Soon thereafter, Williams and his wife began withdrawing funds from the account in structured cash withdrawals. Between March 3, 2010, and April 22, 2010, $332,500 was withdrawn from the account in 35 separate withdrawals of $9,500 each.
Ultimately, on September 30, 2010, Sydney Jackson Williams, Jr. filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of Florida.
Pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, financial institutions are required to file a "Currency Transaction Report" with the United States Treasury Department for each financial transaction that involves United States currency in excess of $10,000. These transactions include deposits, withdrawals, check cashing, or other transactions involving the physical transfer of currency from one person to another.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande G. Viacava and Charles D. Schmitz.
Jordanian Weapons Smuggler Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Mahmoud Abdel-Ghani Mohammad Assaf (47, Amman, Jordan) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiring to export firearms and attempting to export firearms without a license, in violation of federal export control and firearms laws. The Court also ordered Assaf to forfeit the firearms and vehicles that had been involved in the offenses. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2015.
According to court documents, Assaf was part of a network of individuals involved in smuggling firearms from the United States to the Middle East. The firearms were concealed in vehicles that had been purchased at used car auctions in Central Florida. The vehicles were then scheduled for export to Jordan.
Two of Assaf’s co-conspirators, Eyad Farah (Barrington, TX) and Yasser Ahmad Obeid (St. Petersburg, FL and Lebanon), previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Farah was sentenced to 37 months and Obeid was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Josephine W. Thomas and Adam M. Saltzman.
"HSI, with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, is dedicated to making communities safer by bringing criminals to justice and seizing firearms before they fall into the hands of transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Attempted Online Enticement, Attempted Production, and Advertising for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of a superseding indictment charging Jon Christopher Stoune (44, Jacksonville) with attempted online enticement of an individual he believed to be a minor child, advertising for child pornography, and attempted production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on the attempted enticement charge. The advertising and attempted production charges each carry a penalty of at least 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. Stoune has been in custody since his arrest on April 21, 2015.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 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.
Charlotte County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Daniel Edward Palmer (38, Port Charlotte) to 15 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, to be followed by a life term of supervision. The Court also ordered him to forfeit his computer and hard drive, which had been used to commit the offense. Palmer pleaded guilty on September 14, 2015.
According to court documents, between March 31, 2014, and July 8, 2014, an undercover FBI task force agent was able to download several child pornography files from Palmer’s computer using a file sharing program. During the execution of a federal search warrant at Palmer’s residence, agents located Palmer in his bedroom with his computer running. He admitted to the agents that he was the only person in the home who had used the computer. Forensic analyses of the computer revealed hundreds of videos depicting child pornography.
This case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
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.
Virginia Man Arrested at Jacksonville Airport for Assault on Flight CrewRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of a federal criminal complaint charging Joseph Michael Sharkey (36, Reston, VA) with assault or intimidation of a flight crew. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint, on Sunday, January 31, 2016, Sharkey was a passenger on Jet Blue Flight 715 from Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC to Jacksonville International Airport (JIA). During the flight, Sharkey verbally assaulted another passenger and then placed that passenger in a headlock. When ordered by a flight attendant to return to his seat, Sharkey at first complied but then assaulted the flight attendant and made an effort exit the airplane through an exit door. Sharkey was stopped by another flight attendant, but then fought with him, kneeing him in the groin. The flight attendants enlisted the help of volunteers and subdued Sharkey, placing him in flex cuffs for the remainder of the flight. The airplane landed safely at JIA and Sharkey was removed from the flight by airport police.
Sharkey made his initial appearance in Jacksonville earlier today. He was temporarily ordered detained until his formal detention hearing, which has been scheduled for February 3, 2016.
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 was investigated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Police Department and the Jacksonville Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dale Campion.