Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Collier County Man Sentenced to Six Years in Connection with Sunshine Pharmacy Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Adam Parrish (35, Naples) to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and improperly using a DEA Registration Number. He pleaded guilty on February 18, 2015.
According to his plea agreement, from February 2009 through July 2012, Adam Parrish conspired with Delmer Holmes Parrish and Patricia Parrish to defraud federal health care benefit programs out of approximately $351,358. All three, along with others, used Sunshine Pharmacy and Sunshine Solutions in Naples to further their unlawful scheme to defraud the government. The co-conspirators submitted and caused claims to be submitted for reimbursement from the Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE programs for prescriptions that had not been filled or provided to beneficiaries and recipients, including prescriptions for patients that had not been written or authorized by any duly licensed physician. In addition, they submitted and caused claims to be submitted for beneficiaries and recipients who were deceased. In carrying out the offenses, the conspirators also used the means of identification of individuals who were enrolled in the Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE programs without their knowledge or consent. As a result of the scheme, the government was defrauded out of approximately $351,358.
In addition, Adam Parrish admitted that he had unlawfully used the names of three federal health care beneficiaries to commit health care fraud. He also admitted that he had used two different physicians’ DEA Registration Numbers, on three occasions, to acquire or obtain controlled substances from pharmacies in Collier County.
Delmer Parrish and Patricia Parrish were sentenced for their role in the conspiracy in April 2014. Delmer Parrish, who was a licensed pharmacist and owner of Sunshine Pharmacy, surrendered his pharmacist license and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Patricia Parrish, Delmer Parrish’s mother, was sentenced to house arrest for 120 days, to be followed by three years of probation. In addition, Delmer and Patricia Parrish paid $351,358.14 in restitution to the United States at the time of their sentencing.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Naples Police Department; Collier County Sheriff's Office; and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.
Correctional Officer Sentenced to Prison for Identity Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy Corrigan today sentenced Harold Walbey, III to four years and three months in federal prison for identity theft and wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $110,756, the proceeds of the offenses. Walbey pleaded guilty on December 18, 2014.
According to court documents, beginning in 2010 and continuing through May 2012, Walbey, in his capacity as a correctional officer at the John E. Goode Pre-trial Detention Facility (PTDF), stole the personal identifying information of unknowing inmates that were housed at the facility. As a part of this scheme, Walbey maintained a notebook that contained 49 names, Social Security numbers, and dates of births of prisoners that were incarcerated at the PTDF. Once this information was stolen, fraudulent debit card accounts and W-2 forms were created in the inmates’ names, and fraudulent tax return were then electronically filed. From 2010 through 2012, Walbey filed tax returns in 38 different prisoners’ names, claiming more than $250,000 in fraudulent refunds. He received $110,756 in proceeds as a result of his involvement in this crime.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Malisa Chokshi.
Port Charlotte Man Sentenced to Life in Sexual Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Quinton Paul Handlon (44, Port Charlotte) to life in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography and for coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Handlon was found guilty by a jury on October 9, 2014.
According to evidence presented at trial, Handlon sexually abused a family member over an approximately four-year period, while she was between the ages of 11 and 15. He provided the girl with money and other items in exchange for sexual activity. Handlon took sexually explicit photographs of the child, filmed her engaged in sexual activity with him, and coerced her to take photographs and videos of herself for his sexual gratification. A search warrant executed at Handlon’s residence recovered the electronic devices containing the victim’s images and videos.
This case was investigated by the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tama Koss Caldarone and Stacie B. Harris.
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.
Jury Convicts South Florida Artist in $4 Million Counterfeit Currency ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Jean Phineas Losier (41, Wellington) guilty of conspiracy to deal in counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. He faces up to five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the trial testimony and court documents, Losier began manufacturing a specific United States counterfeit note (designated by the United States Secret Service as D23548 and D23548A) in 2008. Over the ensuing years, he engaged in a substantial counterfeit relationship with co-defendant Mercury Thompson, and others, to sell and pass the counterfeit $100 and $50 notes. Losier operated alone in the manufacturing process. Using laser printer and toner technology, and an elaborate bleaching and re-printing process, he stripped the ink from genuine $1 bills and then manufactured counterfeit $100 and $50 bills on the remaining paper.
On January 14, 2014, Secret Service agents executed search warrants at a Wellington apartment where Losier had manufactured the notes. The agents seized manufacturing devices and also located bleached genuine $1 Federal Reserve notes, chemicals and chemical residue, as well as other indicators of high volume bleaching. Detailed molds and templates, reflecting the image of genuine United States security watermarks, were located inside the residence. Losier, an artist, had etched the watermark molds.
Forensic analyses of the seized electronic media and counterfeit notes revealed Losier’s detailed manufacturing process, including images of the notes at virtually every stage of the manufacturing process. Investigators were able to forensically match the electronic devices to counterfeit $100 bills seized at various stores in the Jacksonville area during April and May 2010, including bills seized from the St. Johns Towns Center. The forensic comparison of the images also matched $4,200 of counterfeit $100 notes seized from a rental vehicle in which Thompson was present on July 12, 2012, and $10,000 in $100 counterfeit notes that another individual purchased from Losier on January 10, 2014.
According to Secret Service forensic examiners, the value of the known counterfeit notes (D23548 and D23548A) passed in the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida since late 2008 is more than $3.5 million. The known amount passed worldwide exceeds $4.3 million. After Losier’s arrest on January 14, 2014, the passing of these designated counterfeit notes ceased almost entirely.
Mercury Thompson (39, Delray Beach) previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case, and is currently awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Delray Beach Police Department, the Boynton Beach Police Department, and the Boca Raton Police Department. The United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida participated in this investigation and prosecution. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Coolican and A. Tysen Duva are prosecuting the Middle District of Florida case.
Losier also faces counterfeit manufacturing charges in the Southern District of Florida. After his sentencing in the Middle District of Florida, he will be transferred to the Southern District to face those charges.
Bunnell Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Theft of Employee Retirement FundsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Andrea Lynn McCarthy (63, Volusia County) has pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. She faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, McCarthy is an owner of Truss Systems, LLC, a truss manufacturing business in Flagler County. She embezzled all of the funds from the business’ corporate profit sharing plan and unlawfully used the pension funds to pay personal and other unrelated corporate expenses. She used some of the funds to pay personal investment obligations in another unrelated company she co-owns. The corporate profit sharing plan was a federally protected plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
In 2009, Truss Systems was having financial issues. In order to make the company’s payroll, pay vendors, satisfy the company’s mortgage payments, and pay financial obligations of her unrelated company, McCarthy made 15 separate and illegal electronic funds transfers from the company’s profit sharing plan’s account. This embezzlement, totaling $111,625.00, was accomplished by electronically transferring funds from the plan’s account to the company’s operating account. McCarthy then wrote checks from the operating account to cover personal and business obligations. She depleted the employees’ profit sharing account.
This case was investigated by United States Department of Labor. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Devereaux.
Palm Harbor Oncologist Indicted for Buying Unapproved Cancer Medications from Foreign Sources and Defrauding MedicareRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of a twenty-one count indictment charging Dr. Anda Norbergs (59, Palm Harbor) with nine counts of receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and twelve counts of health care fraud. If convicted, she faces up to three years in federal prison for each count of receiving misbranded drugs and up to ten years on each count of health care fraud. The indictment also notifies Dr. Norbergs that the United States is seeking a money judgment of at least $700,000, which is alleged to be proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, Dr. Norbergs, a licensed physician in Florida, was the head doctor, owner, and operator of East Lake Oncology (“ELO”), a cancer treatment clinic located in Palm Harbor. Beginning in at least June 2009, she ordered, and directed others at ELO to order, drugs from foreign distributors, including Quality Specialty Products (“QSP”). The drugs sold to ELO by QSP and the other foreign distributors included drugs from foreign establishments that had not been registered with or approved by the FDA. Many of the drugs were shipped directly to ELO from a location outside the United States, usually the United Kingdom or Canada. The packaging and documents shipped with the drugs showed that they were manufactured and packaged for distribution in foreign countries.
Unbeknownst to patients, these misbranded drugs were then administered at ELO. After administering these drugs to patients, ELO submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicare and other private health care benefit programs. In submitting those claims, Dr. Norbergs falsely represented that the FDA-approved versions of the drugs had been administered, when she knew that unapproved and misbranded versions of those drugs had been given to patients. In so doing, Dr. Norbergs generated profits from the difference between the Medicare reimbursement rates for the FDA-approved drugs and the discounted prices of the misbranded versions of those drugs purchased from foreign distributors.
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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Jackson.
Patients and/or family members of patients treated by Dr. Norbergs and East Lake Oncology who may have questions or concerns regarding medical treatment received should contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for more information. A dedicated email account has been established. Please contact the case agents at: [email protected].
Clay County Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Gregory Michael McCarty (46, Green Cove Springs) to five years in federal prison for receiving child pornography over the Internet. He was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervision following his release from prison, and to register as a sex offender. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, McCarty was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to await designation to a federal facility.
According to court documents, an agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Jacksonville began an undercover investigation to identify individuals in that area that had access to and/or were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. The agent determined that a computer in the northeast Florida area was hosting images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The agent was able to download several files from this computer. Further investigation traced the computer to McCarty’s residence in Green Cove Springs.
Law enforcement officers subsequently executed a federal search warrant at McCarty's residence and seized several computers and other electronic media. During an interview with agents, McCarty acknowledged that he had been receiving child pornography for about two years, stating that he had some on his external drives “for a long time.” He stated, “I fell into it and never got rid of it and never quit.” McCarty further stated, “I know it was wrong, I just didn’t get rid of it and didn’t, didn’t stop doing whatever I was doing.” The forensic analyses of the seized equipment revealed that McCarty’s computer media contained at least 18 images and at least 20 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was 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.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch Recognizes Middle District of Florida EmployeesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Assistant United States Attorney Ralph E. Hopkins and Legal Administrative Assistant Tyline Medina of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) were two of 160 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates, and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 31st Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.
The MDFL was one of 31 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In her prepared remarks, Attorney General Lynch told the awardees, “Our honorees include career executives and supervisors; Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys; appellate attorneys and law enforcement officials; administrators, paralegals, and public affairs officers. These individuals, and so many others, have faced daunting and sometimes dangerous challenges. They have dedicated their leadership and their expertise, their time and their energy, to the service of their mission. And they have remained devoted, at all times, to the high ideals and deeply-held values that animate our country and our cause."
Hopkins and Medina received one of the Department of Justice’s highest honors, the Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team, in recognition of their tremendous effort in litigating the Government’s claims in the civil health care fraud case styled United States ex rel. Baklid-Kunz v. Halifax Hospital Medical Ctr., et al., and for negotiating a landmark settlement in that case. The settlement -- reached on the morning of trial -- paid the United States $85 million to resolve claims that the defendant violated the Stark Act through illegal relationships with physician practice groups.
United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, who attended today’s ceremony, said, “It was my honor to nominate and witness Ralph, Tyline, and the litigation team receive this prestigious award today. I am thankful for their countless hours of hard work, and I know that future enforcement efforts will be greatly assisted by the achievements of this trial team.”
In addition to Hopkins and Medina, six other members of the litigation team were recognized today. Trial Attorneys Adam J. Schwartz and Kavitha J. Babu, Paralegal Specialist Jackeline M. Rosero, and Financial Analyst Eileen Zimmer from the DOJ Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant United States Attorney Patricia M. Fitzgerald from the Northern District of Ohio, and Special Agent Robert W. Murphy from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Investigations in Jacksonville each received the Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team for their roles in this case.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.
Third Man Pleads Guilty in Counterfeit Currency SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Timothy Larry Malden (44, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the passing of counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Christopher Jon Kirkland (41) and William Brinkley, Jr. (35), also of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to the same offenses on June 5, 2014. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in approximately August 2013, Kirkland began manufacturing counterfeit $20 and $100 Federal Reserve notes. Once he manufactured the notes, Brinkley and Malden drove Kirkland around to various businesses in Florida or Georgia to pass the counterfeit currency. They passed the notes to obtain merchandise and reloadable gift cards. They also returned fraudulently obtained merchandise in order to obtain genuine currency. From approximately August 2013, to December 2013, the three passed or attempted to pass approximately $32,600 in counterfeit currency throughout Florida and Georgia.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced in Child Pornography Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge John E. Steele today sentenced Warren Hamilton (59, Ft. Myers) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to pay a fine of $17,500, serve a life term of supervision, and register as a sex offender following his release from prison. He pleaded guilty on November 18, 2014.
According to court documents, Hamilton used Internet file sharing programs to distribute and receive child pornography. After a search warrant was executed at his residence, he was found to be in possession of approximately 345,000 child pornography images, including those of children involved in bondage. At the time of his arrest, Hamilton was employed as a computer technician in Ft. Myers.
"HSI continues to work relentlessly to protect the most vulnerable members of society, our children," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa.
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.
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.
United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Jacksonville-Based Compounding PharmacyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces today that the United States has settled allegations that a Jacksonville-based compounding pharmacy knowingly billed the government for compounding pain prescriptions that came from an improper referral source. The allegations resolved included liability under the False Claims Act (FCA).
The government has reached a settlement with the defendant, MediMix, and the top-referring physician – Dr. Ankit Desai. In reaching this settlement, the parties resolved allegations that, from January 1, 2009, until December 2014, Dr. Desai sent hundreds of prescriptions to MediMix. These prescriptions were not appropriately reimbursable because Dr. Desai was married to a Senior Vice President at MediMix. Healthcare providers are generally prohibited from referring business to entities where they have a financial interest. The government agreed to accept $3,775,458 to resolve these allegations.
Today’s settlement involved false claims submitted to the TRICARE program. This case was developed by proactively mining health care reimbursement data. In mining through this data, MediMix was identified as a top biller of compounding pain prescriptions.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting TRICARE and other federal health care programs from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Bentley. “By bringing FCA cases such as this, we recover funds obtained through fraud and deter others from attempting similar schemes.”
"This settlement highlights another step forward by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and its law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) health care program," said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office. "Fraud and abuse by pharmacies and medical providers which bill for compounded pain prescriptions is a significant threat to the DoD health care system. TRICARE beneficiaries must be made aware that any medications that are not individually prescribed or dispensed by a bona fide treating physician for a specific medical condition can be ineffective or unsafe."
"This settlement is demonstrative of our joint efforts to investigate allegations of health care fraud, and is a strong example of how collaborative efforts lead to success," stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lawrence Koleff with the FBI Jacksonville Division.
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 a total of more than $24 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $15.3 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
This case was investigated by Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Program Integrity Office at the Defense Health Agency, and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Mehta.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
South Carolina Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Nicodemus Darnell Jefferson (40, Jacksonville) to 16 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender after traveling to Florida from Maryland. He was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Jefferson pleaded guilty on March 27, 2015.
According to court documents, Jefferson was convicted in 1998 of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Charleston County, South Carolina. Subsequent to his conviction, and between March 17, 2014, and September 30, 2014, Jefferson traveled from Maryland to Florida, where he has since resided. He failed to register in Florida as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. On September 30, 2014, Jefferson was arrested at his residence. At the time of his arrest, he acknowledged that he had been living there since June 2014. Jefferson had obtained a Florida identification card on August 4, 2014, that referenced a different Jacksonville address as his residence.
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 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was 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.
Three Men Indicted on Multiple Counts of Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Joe Eugene Loving (46) and John Thomas Humphreys (41), both of Conroe, Texas, and Paul Corbin Pennington, Jr. (27, Orange Park) with aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, false representation of a Social Security number, and manufacturing and passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Each faces up to 30 years in federal prison on the bank fraud charge, 20 years on the charges of manufacturing and passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, 5 years for false representation of a Social Security number, and a 2-year mandatory term of imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge.
According to the indictment, in January 2015, Loving, Humphreys, and Pennington obtained the personal identification information of various individuals from Texas and used the information to commit bank fraud in Florida. The three also manufactured and passed counterfeit Federal Reserve notes throughout Clay County.
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 Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Green Cove Springs Police Department, and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Theft of Government Property OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jarvos Leonard White (25, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction and theft of government property. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on December 15, 2014, a customer saw White drop a handgun on the floor at the Citrus Park Town Center shopping mall in Tampa. Shortly after, White was arrested as he attempted to leave the mall. In his back pocket, he had pistol with a round chambered. Ten days later, on Christmas morning, several vehicles were burglarized in the Boyette Springs subdivision in Riverview. One of the burglarized vehicles was an FBI vehicle. Among the items stolen were three firearms, ammunition, and body armor. A blood stain from within the vehicle was subsequently determined to match White’s DNA.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Three Jacksonville Men Indicted for Aggravated Identity Theft, Attempted Bank Fraud, and Possession of Counterfeit SecuritiesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Jacksonville residents Hezekiah Williams (59), Travis Jerome Ware (24), and David Lee Mitchell (53) with aggravated identity theft, attempted bank fraud, and possession of counterfeit business checks. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each attempted bank fraud charge, up to 10 years in prison for each counterfeit charge, and a 2-year, mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft offense. All three were arraigned on May 20, 2015, and are being detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, in November 2014, Williams, Ware, and Mitchell obtained genuine forms of identification, such as driver licenses, that contained the personal identification information of various victims. They also obtained 25 counterfeit business checks, some of which were made payable to names that corresponded to the forms of identification in their possession. They then attempted to cash the checks at financial institutions.
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 Florida Highway Patrol and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Thirteen Individuals, Including A JSO Patrol Officer, Charged in Organized Crime InvestigationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of four indictments charging 13 individuals with various federal criminal offenses, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, failure to file an IRS Form 8300, structuring of currency transactions, conspiracy to transmit wagering information, and narcotics trafficking. Included in the indictments is a count charging Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) Patrol Officer Michael Rounsville (46, Jacksonville) with the unauthorized use of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Database. Also charged today are Hedar Khlaf, Manuel Rodriguez, Mollie Bass, Diane Harrison, Erick Estrada-Lopez, Bruce Childs, Christian Magliano, John Amell, Ilia Mato, Vladimir Adunts, Justin Downing, and Evanc Rajta.
According to court documents, between May 2012 and January 28, 2013, multiple individuals conspired to conduct financial transactions with proceeds represented by an undercover agent to be from the distribution of ecstasy. As part of the conspiracy, a vehicle was purchased without filing an IRS Form 8300, and wire transfers from bank accounts were structured to avoid triggering the filing of a Currency Transaction Report. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Rounsville exceeded his authorized access to the NCIC database by performing a criminal history check on the aforementioned undercover agent. The indictment also alleges that in January 2013, several of the individuals conspired to distribute marijuana. Amell, Mato, Adunts, and Downing have each been charged with conspiracy to transmit wagering information related to Internet gambling, and Rajta has been charged with laundering funds represented to be proceeds from the distribution of marihuana.
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; the United States Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; the Washoe County (Nevada) Sheriff’s Office; and the Nevada Highway Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diidri Robinson.
This investigation, dubbed Operation Thunderstruck, is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises.
Operation Thunderstruck Case Number Defendant (age) Charge Maximum Penalty 3:15-cr-70-J-34MCR Hedar Khlaf (32) Conspiracy to commit money laundering 20 years Manuel Rodriguez (31) Mollie Bass (31) Diane Harrison (57) Erick Estrada-Lopez (40)Michael Rounsville (46)
Unauthorized computer access5 years
Hedar Khlaf
Failure to file an IRS Form 8300 10 years Manuel Rodriguez Diane Harrison Structuring currency transactions 10 years Mollie Bass Bruce Childs (36) Manuel RodriguezConspiracy to distribute marihuana
20 years Mollie Bass Christian Magliano (26) 3:15-cr-71-J-39MCR John Amell (55)Conspiracy to transmit wagering information
5 years
Ilia Mato (54) 3:15-cr-72-J-39PDB Vladimir Adunts (26) Justin Downing (25) 3:15-cr-73-J-25MCR Evanc Rajta (28) Money laundering 20 yearsFort Myers Man Sentenced in Child Pornography Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge John A. Steele has sentenced Adam Moffett (32, Ft. Myers) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to serve a life term of supervision as a sexual offender. Moffett pleaded guilty on February 25, 2015.
According to court documents, Moffett utilized private Internet chat rooms to communicate with other individuals, distribute, and receive child pornography. After a search warrant was executed at his residence, Moffett was found to be in possession of over 600 child pornography images.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.
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.
Former VA Contractor Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Willie Streater (25, Tampa) to six years and nine months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the Court entered a money judgment in the amount of $25,206, which is a portion of the proceeds traceable to the offense. Streater was also ordered to pay restitution in excess of $1 million to the IRS. He pleaded guilty on March 19, 2015.
According to court documents, Streater is a former employee of a shredding company that had a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to shred documents at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa. Streater stole documents intended for shredding that contained the personal identifying information of U.S. veterans and sold them to multiple individuals engaged in filing fraudulent tax returns in order to steal tax refunds from the U.S. Treasury.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.
Former Minister Sentenced to More Than Eight Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Mark Daniel DeHaven (33, Winter Garden) to eight years and one month in federal prison for receiving child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, on April 8, 2014, the Winter Garden Police Department received a report from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office about a cyber-crime tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip concerned child pornography that was being sent or attempting to be sent over the Internet. Further investigation traced the information to DeHaven’s residence. On June 10, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at DeHaven’s residence and seized several computers and electronic media. Forensic analyses of the equipment revealed that DeHaven had received images depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
Former Bradenton Housing Authority Executive Director Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Wenston DeSue (44, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, from on or about January 1, 2006, until September 19, 2013, DeSue was employed as the Executive Director of the Bradenton Housing Authority (“BHA”). The BHA is a local housing authority agency of the City of Bradenton. Each year, the BHA receives $10,000 or more in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”).
An investigation by the HUD, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that between September 2010 and September 2013, DeSue was significantly absent from the BHA on a routine basis, engaged in non-BHA activities during work hours, and failed to take annual or sick leave for those absences. Despite being absent from the BHA much of the time, he accepted his regular salary. DeSue typically arrived at the BHA at least one and a half to three hours late each day, took extended multi-hour lunches, ran personal errands during the work day, and left early from the BHA – all without taking some form of leave. In addition, he spent personal time with the BHA Project Director, Stephany West, with whom he was romantically involved. On numerous occasions, the two spent personal time together during the workday when they should have been working or on some form of leave. On some days, DeSue failed to show up to work at all, yet he still collected payment from the BHA as if he had been at work.
During the period of September 2010 through September 2012, DeSue was absent and engaged in non-BHA activities at least 30 percent of the time. He engaged in the same behavior approximately 60 percent of the time from September 2012 through September 19, 2013. In total, DeSue stole and converted to his own use $204,756.43 from the BHA by taking salary, benefits, and bonuses that he had not earned and to which he was not entitled. He stole another $71,543.60 by cashing out unused annual and sick leave, which he should have otherwise used while spending work hours attending to personal affairs. Thus, DeSue’s actions caused a total loss to the BHA of approximately $276,300.03.
Stephany West pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds on March 20, 2015, and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bradenton Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Simon A. Gaugush.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Ten Years for Possession of Ammunition in Connection with 2010 Lakeland HomicideRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL– U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Matthew Anillo Mango (32, Lakeland) to 10 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. This charge stemmed from the 2010 homicide of Lakeland resident Amanda Peterson. Mango pleaded guilty on June 24, 2014.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2010, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to a shooting at Peterson’s residence, where she was discovered on the living room floor with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Peterson was transported to the hospital, but died as a result of her injuries. Peterson’s death was the result of an unintentional discharge of a firearm, which occurred during an argument between Mango and another individual. After Peterson was shot, Mango and other witnesses fled the scene. Although the firearm that killed Peterson was not recovered, law enforcement linked the spent shell casing and a loaded magazine containing matching ammunition to Mango through fingerprints and other evidence. At the time of the shooting, Mango was a multi-convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case is another example of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime in our communities. It was investigated by ATF and the Lakeland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas prosecuted the case.
Collier County Man Sentenced for Possessing Unauthorized Access Devices and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Rafael Angel Reyes Menjivar (23, Naples) to three years in prison for possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices and for aggravated identity theft. Reyes Menjivar pleaded guilty on February 25, 2015.
According to his plea agreement, on February 5, 2013, during the execution of a search warrant by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Reyes Menjivar was found to be in possession of 101 unauthorized access devices, namely Social Security Numbers (SSN) of other individuals. He possessed these SSNs with the intent to file fraudulent income tax returns. Approximately 16 income tax returns were electronically filed with the IRS using the personal identification information of others without lawful authority. The total amount of the requested tax refunds was $64,547. Each of the tax refunds was stopped at the service center.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
Citrus County Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of 138 Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges today sentenced Michael Paul Watkins (41, Citrus Springs) to six years and six months in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a previously convicted felon. Watkins pleaded guilty on February 26, 2015.
According to court documents, Watkins had been previously convicted in state court on felony offenses of handling and fondling a child under the age of 16, and two escapes. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. However, in early October 2014, law enforcement received information that Watkins had been using a third party to illegally purchase firearms and ammunition on his behalf. Federal agents obtained search warrants for Watkins’s home, business, and a nearby property. Upon executing the warrants, agents recovered 138 firearms, including many AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition inside his fortified home. They also discovered several fully assembled pipe bombs, along with the components to manufacture pipe bombs.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It was 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. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violent crime in communities.
Attempted Purchase of Cocaine Leads to 10-Year Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges today sentenced Bryant Dewayne Simmons (30, Lake County) to 10 years in federal prison for the attempted possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In a separate proceeding, Simmons previously forfeited approximately $150,000, two trucks, and a handgun that were involved in the crime. He pleaded guilty on October 16, 2014. His co-defendant, William Foy Robinson, has also entered a guilty plea and is awaiting sentencing.
According to court documents, Simmons unwittingly met with an undercover federal agent in July 2014 to arrange a drug transaction. Simmons believed that the agent was a drug supplier and had asked to purchase multiple kilograms of cocaine from him. Simmons promised to buy a total of 8 kilograms of cocaine for $33,000 each.
On July 17, 2014, Simmons and Robinson met the undercover agent in a parking lot in Lake County to complete the purchase. While Robinson served as a lookout, the agent showed Simmons five kilograms of cocaine and promised to deliver an additional three kilograms on credit. After Simmons retrieved approximately $150,000 in cash that he had concealed inside of two trucks, agents placed both men under arrest.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Law Enforcement and Community Partners Unite to Combat Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III and representatives of several federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are continuing the observance of National Missing Children's Day (May 25th) by convening in Tampa today to announce an expanded national child safety campaign. Originally created in 2007 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) as a campaign among federal, state, and local agencies to prevent, enforce, and prosecute crimes of exploitation against children, “Take 25” urged parents to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about Internet safety, prevention, and abduction. Beginning May 21, 2015, NCMEC’s expanded initiative, "Be Here for Kids,” encourages the public to get involved in the mission to find and protect children.
“Child predators are using more cunning and persuasive techniques and technologies to lure and exploit innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. “As a community, we must educate ourselves and others to raise awareness on how to best protect our children against these threats.”
The Department of Justice is committed to the safety and well-being of our children and has placed a high priority on protecting and combating the sexual exploitation of minors. In 2006, Project Safe Childhood was launched by the Department of Justice as a unified and comprehensive strategy to combat child exploitation by combining law enforcement efforts, community action, and public awareness. It marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to reduce the sexual exploitation of children.
From October 1, 2013, through April 30, 2015, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, with the close assistance of numerous federal, state, and local agencies, brought 204 Project Safe Childhood cases against 209 individuals. The charges in those cases vary by defendant, but they include conspiring to travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct, production of child pornography, distribution and receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. In addition, the MDFL has prosecuted numerous cases involving human trafficking, where individuals, including minors, were forced to commit commercial sex acts. These cases were brought by each of the five division offices of the Middle District of Florida.
Children of all ages are victimized through child pornography, from as young as infants and toddlers, to adolescents. About half of the victims are younger than 12 years old. NCMEC reports that 24 percent of identified victims were pubescent, and 76 percent were prepubescent. To learn more about the Be Here for Kids Campaign, visit www.BeHereForKids.org.
Law enforcement agencies participating in today’s event included representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police Department, and the Clearwater Police Department (Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force Against Human Trafficking).
Significant MDFL Cases
October 2013 through April 2015
Tampa Division
United States vs. Matthew William McLean. On March 23, 2014, a 14-year-old juvenile was reported missing to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement investigators learned that the juvenile had been involved in online communications (e.g. Kik messenger, Skype) with the defendant, a 25-year-old registered sex offender from Minneapolis, Minnesota. A few days earlier, McLean had purchased a Greyhound bus ticket from Minneapolis to Tampa, and on March 23rd, he purchased two bus tickets from Tampa to Brownsville, Texas, with a stop in Tallahassee. Law enforcement responded to the bus station, recovered the minor, and arrested McLean. During the trip to Tallahassee, McLean engaged in sex acts with the minor. He was sentenced to 31 years and 6 months in prison in March 2015.
United States vs. Benjamin Cuadrado. Between July 26, 2012, and March 25, 2014, Cuadrado produced, transported, received, and possessed child pornography. He used his cellular phone to produce at least 70 videos of him sexually assaulting an infant and a toddler in his care. He transported the child pornography over the Internet using his email account and an Internet messaging program. A forensic review of Cuadrado’s cellular phone revealed 250 videos and more than 4,000 images of child pornography, including files depicting pre-pubescent children and sadomasochistic conduct. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison in March 2015.
United States vs. Melvin Barber Bridgers, III. From at least December 2012, through his arrest on May 1, 2014, Bridgers used multiple Facebook accounts to pose as a young teenage girl and befriend other girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years old. After befriending the minors, he engaged in online chats with them and used manipulation, coercion, threats, and extortion to compel the minors to send him sexually graphic photographs through Facebook. Bridgers then threatened the minor victims with exposing the sexually graphic photos to their parents, or to other Internet users, in order to extort more sexually graphic photographs and videos from them. On May 1, 2014, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Bridgers’s residence and obtained computer media containing numerous chat logs with the minor victims, as well as over 28,000 images and videos containing child pornography. Law enforcement agents estimate that over a two-year period, Bridgers attempted to make contact with and sexually extort, or “sextort,” thousands of young girls on Facebook. To date, approximately 129 of Bridgers’s victims have been positively identified, making this one of the largest online child “sextortion” cases prosecuted in the United States. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison in April 2015.
United States vs. Michael C. Vella. A 16-year-old female reported to law enforcement that Vella had been forcing her to have sex with him since the middle of 2012. She also disclosed that Vella had, on at least one occasion, used his laptop computer to record their encounter. The video was recorded in a hotel room when he transported the victim to the Orlando area. At the time the arrest warrant was issued, Vella was deployed to Afghanistan as a Department of Defense contractor. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in November 2014.
Orlando Division
United States vs. Matthew C. Graziotti. Graziotti distributed 141 images and 6 videos depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children to an undercover FBI agent. During the execution of a search warrant, agents located thousands of child pornography images on Graziotti’s computer involving children under the age of 12. One computer folder, named “personally known,” contained sexually explicit photographs and videos of 29 children that Graziotti had sexually abused when they were under the age of 12. Graziotti stored the sexually explicit images that he produced in subfolders bearing each child’s name. He produced these images from 2010 through 2014, during which he taught elementary school in South Daytona and was the director of the school’s summer day camp program. He also coached youth sports. He was sentenced to 210 years in prison on January 26, 2015.
United States vs. Xavier Francisco Villanueva, et al. Between January 17, 2013 and January 25, 2013, Orange County gang members agreed to recruit and entice a 14-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts. The defendants were part of the “Nine Trey Billy Bad Ass” gang, which is affiliated with the “Bloods” street gang. Over a period of nine days, they used drugs, intimidation, and physical restraint to cause the minor to engage in prostitution with customers they solicited through the Internet. On January 25, 2013, the minor escaped from the house where she was being held captive. Xavier Francisco Villanueva a/k/a “X,” (25, Orlando) was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison; Jose Carmona, a/k/a “Hood,” (21, Orlando) was sentenced to a term of 12 years and 6 months; Ashley Nicole Barnett, a/k/a “Snow,” (25, Orlando) was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment; and Keith E. Romby, II, a/k/a “PJ,” (23, Orlando) was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison.
United States vs. Michael Glenn Glascock. From October 11, 2012, through October 11, 2013, Glascock used a three-year-old victim to produce visual depictions of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In the fall of 2013, an undercover agent with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to an online advertisement that Glascock had posted on Craigslist. The agent communicated with Glascock over the Internet and by cell phone. During these conversations, Glascock described his sexual abuse of the minor victim and expressed an interest in meeting the agent and the agent’s fictitious minor daughter. Glascock further expressed a desire to meet and engage in illegal sexual activity with the fictitious child, and he offered to allow the agent to engage in sexual activity with the minor victim. After finalizing plans to meet, agents went to Glascock’s home, where they met him and located the minor victim. The victim was taken to a medical facility and examined for sexual assault. Subsequent laboratory tests revealed the presence of Glascock’s semen on the child’s body, as well as in the child’s diaper. Glascock admitted to producing pornographic images of the minor victim, to sexually abusing the minor as depicted in some of the images, and to distributing and receiving images of child pornography over the Internet. Agents executed a search warrant at Glascock’s home and recovered his cell phones, SD cards, and the digital camera that he had used to produce some of the explicit images involving the minor victim. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that there were 24 images depicting explicit sexual conduct involving the minor victim on one of the SD cards. He was sentenced to life in prison on February 6, 2015.
United States vs. Jonathan Tyler Prive. In September and October 2013, an undercover agent with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation into an individual identified as Michael Glenn Glascock. The undercover investigation revealed that Glascock was sexually abusing a three-year-old minor victim, producing child pornography images of the minor victim, and distributing some of these images to others. Law enforcement agents eventually arrested Glascock at his residence in Brevard County, located the minor victim, and executed a search warrant at Glascock’s residence. A forensic examination of Glascock’s electronic devices and a review of his email accounts revealed emails between Prive and Glascock. In these emails, the two discussed a prior incident where Prive had sexually abused the minor victim at Glascock’s home, while Glascock was present. After discovering these emails, the undercover agent used Glascock’s email account to initiate online communications with Prive. He later communicated with the undercover agent via the Internet and arranged to meet the agent (posing as Glascock) for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual activity with the minor victim for a second time. Prive traveled to the street where this residence was located and was arrested. In his possession was a packet of lubricant that he had brought for his planned meeting with the minor victim. He was sentenced to 30 years and 5 months in prison in April 2015.
Jacksonville Division
United States vs. Christopher Richard Cloonan. In March 2014, an undercover officer (UC) in Washington, D.C. posted an advertisement on an online website frequented by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. Cloonan responded to the ad and expressed interest and experience in sexual activity with a child. Later, Cloonan sent the UC an email indicating that he was alone with an infant child. Attached to the email were two images that Cloonan had produced depicting an infant engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Cloonan later sent the UC an email containing two additional images that depicted the same infant. In several subsequent emails, Cloonan discussed his fantasies about sex with children. A search warrant was later executed at Cloonan’s residence, where a forensic analysis of his phone revealed that it contained at least 85 images of child pornography, most depicting infants and toddlers. Two of the images of the infant that were taken by Cloonan and sent to the UC were also present on the smart phone. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 27, 2015.
United States vs. Lucas Michael Chansler. From 2007 through January 2010, Chansler transmitted threatening communications to hundreds of girls over the Internet. He transmitted these threats with the intent to extort photographs and webcam videos showing the victims exposing themselves and engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Chansler pretended to be a friend, acquaintance, or admirer of the victims on various social networking websites. After gaining some measure of trust from a particular child, Chansler would invite her to engage in a live video chat and later would ask her to expose herself. Unbeknownst to the child, he was recording the video session. Chansler often enticed his victims to expose themselves by showing a streaming video of a minor male exposing himself or engaging in masturbation. If a victim did expose herself, he recorded it and then later sent it to her over the Internet. Chansler would then demand additional and more graphic images or webcam videos. He would inform the child that if she did not comply, he would post the images and videos online, or send them to her family and friends. He was sentenced to 105 years in prison in November 2014.
United States vs. Charles Hudson. On January 6, 2014, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence in response to a call regarding allegations of sexual battery on a minor child. Subsequently, detectives from the JSO Sex Crimes Unit interviewed the child, who indicated that she had been sexually abused by Hudson. Two days later, detectives obtained a search warrant for Hudson’s residence. During the execution of the warrant, officers discovered numerous items of digital media, including several computers, cameras, SD cards, CDs, and DVDs. In the attic, officers recovered a backpack containing cameras, sex devices and restraints, and several pill bottles bearing Hudson’s name. Five SD cards were found inside one of the pill bottles. Subsequent forensic analyses of the five SD cards revealed approximately 90 video and image files depicting sexually explicit conduct involving Hudson. At least two of these videos, which had been produced by Hudson, depicted him and a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison in March 2015.
Fort Myers
United States vs. William Graydon Roberts. Roberts began communicating with a 9-year-old girl via Skype, requesting that she send sexually explicit photos to his private email account. He also sent the minor text messages instructing her on how to upload videos to YouTube. Subsequent search warrants of Internet Service Providers revealed images of the minor by Roberts on his electronic devices. Following his arrest, he pleaded guilty to receiving pornographic images of the minor, at his request. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in March 2015.
United States vs. David Edward Judd. An FBI task force investigation into the sharing of child pornography over the Internet revealed a Fort Myers residence registered to Judd. Further investigation revealed that Judd had been downloading child pornography for years, with a preference for teenage girls. Seized computer items at the residence contained at least 8,831 images of child pornography on Judd’s computer hard drive. He subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 72 months in prison in April 2015.
Lake City Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years for Receiving Child Pornography over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Samuel Franklin Crews (32, Lake City) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for knowingly receiving images and videos of child pornography over the Internet. He has been in custody since his arrest on December 31, 2013.
According to court documents, an FBI agent in Jacksonville began an undercover investigation to identify individuals in that area that had access to and/or were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. The agent determined that a computer in the Lake City area was hosting images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The agent was able to download several videos depicting child pornography from this computer. The subscriber information was traced to Crews’s Lake City residence.
Law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Crews=s residence and seized his computer. Crews told the agents, among other things, that he had come across child pornography using a file sharing program on the Internet and became “curious,” he had searched for and downloaded more child pornography using certain search terms, and he knew that viewing such material is harmful to children. Subsequent analysis of Crews’s computer revealed that it contained 124 images and 10 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 More Than Twelve Years for Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Stacy Lynn Ivey (38, Bradenton) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. The court also ordered him to forfeit the electronic media on which the images and videos of child pornography had been found. Ivey pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015.
According to court documents, on July 25, 2014, an FBI Task Force Agent determined that someone using a computer with a specific Internet Protocol (IP) address was sharing suspected child pornography through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Further investigation revealed that the computer was located at a residence in Bradenton. Agents subsequently executed a federal search warrant at that house, finding it to be Ivey’s friend’s house. The friend ultimately led the agents to Ivey’s home, where they found computers and other storage devices. In addition, a child pornography video file was paused on his laptop. During an interview with agents, Ivey admitted that he had downloaded child pornography, and that he had moved child pornography from his laptop computer to CDs due to storage issues. A forensic examination of the computers and storage devices revealed 175 images and more than 200 videos of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Unit and the Bradenton Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam M. Saltzman.
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.
Three Orlando Residents Charged with Identity Theft and Tax Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Shantrell Sharae Stephenson, Lori Ann Dilworth, and Richard Damarick Mitchell with conspiracy, submitting false claims to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each conspiracy and theft of government property count, 5 years’ imprisonment for each false claims count, and a mandatory minimum term of 2 years in prison for the aggravated identity theft count. Trial is scheduled for the July 2015 trial term.
According to the indictment, Dilworth worked at the Orange County Jail. Mitchell solicited Dilworth to steal the personal identification information of jail inmates for the purpose of providing that information to be used by Stephenson and other co-conspirators in filing false tax returns. In total, the conspirators used stolen personal information to submit over $200,000 in fraudulent tax returns to the IRS.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Media Advisory: Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Highlight Child Protection Efforts and Announce National Missing Children CampaignRead the Press Release
WHO:
A. Lee Bentley, III
United States Attorney
Middle District of FloridaDavid Gee
Sheriff
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s OfficeMicah McCombs
Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge
ICE/Homeland Security InvestigationsRick Ramirez
Special Agent in Charge
Florida Department of Law EnforcementDaniel Slaughter
Chief of Police
Clearwater Police Department
Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force Against Human TraffickingAssistant Chief Brian Dugan
Tampa Police DepartmentWHAT: Press Conference
Enforcement and protection agencies to highlight combined efforts against child sexual predators and other predatory practices. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will recognize National Missing Children’s Day by announcing a new national child safety campaign.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015
10:00 A.M. ESTWHERE: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
700 N. Florida Avenue
(Meeting Room 1, Second Floor)
Tampa, FL 33602OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license). Media may begin arriving at 9:15 A.M. EST.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years for Bank Robbing SpreeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Todd Michael Vincent (48, Tampa) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for armed bank robbery. Vincent pleaded guilty to the charges on January 28, 2015.
According to court documents, between August and October 2014, Vincent robbed several bank branches, including Synovus Bank (Tampa), BB&T Bank (Seffner), and US Ameribank (Tampa). He also attempted to rob a Bank of America branch in Riverview. During several of the robberies, Vincent presented bank tellers with a note stating, “I have a gun.” On at least one occasion, he entered the bank, pointed a gun at the teller and said, “I want all of your money…I will shoot you.”
On September 11, 2014, law enforcement received a tip identifying Vincent from bank security photos, along with his possible location. After a brief chase by law enforcement, Vincent was apprehended. In his pocket was $1777.79. Along his flight path, officers recovered a bag containing $9100.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Hirt Adams and Megan Kistler.
Tampa Coin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Mark Yaffe (55, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Yaffe was vice-president and principal of National Gold, Exchange, Inc. (“NGE”), a Tampa-based company in the business of warehousing, retailing, and trading rare coins. NGE entered into a series of loan agreements with Sovereign Bank (“Sovereign”), whereby Sovereign agreed to lend up to approximately $35 million to NGE, secured by NGE’s assets. Yaffe The loan agreements limited the amount of the $35 million NGE could borrow at any given time, using a formula that considered the value of NGE’s assets, which served as collateral for the loans. To make calculation of the formula possible, NGE was required to submit a monthly “borrowing base report,” along with back-up documents, regarding the value of its assets. The loan agreements also gave Sovereign the right to perform unannounced audits of NGE to verify that NGE had sufficient collateral.
On July 10, 2009, NGE began an unannounced audit at NGE. In connection with the audit, on July 11, 2009, Yaffe provided members of Sovereign’s audit team with a false and fraudulent borrowing base report, falsely inflating the value of NGE’s assets. In this report, he included fictitious sales to entities that he knew did not exist: $2,221,975 in false sales to Rifkin Management, Inc., (“Rifkin”) and $2,623,308 in false sales to Tudor Trust. Yaffe also submitted false invoices to Sovereign claiming to prove these fictitious sales and provided to Sovereign contact information for Rifkin and Tudor Trust that was false. An NGE employee reports that Yaffe instructed the employee to lie to Sovereign officials about the fictitious customers and sales. Yaffe then caused approximately $3,049,581 to be transferred out of two NGE bank accounts that were part of Sovereign’s collateral. Under the plea agreement, Yaffe has agreed to forfeit this amount.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Timothy Loper and Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.
Pasco County Man Federally Charged with Advertising for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Russell Lee Orr (39, Trinity) has been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with eight counts of advertising for child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervision. Orr was arrested on May 21, 2015, at his residence in Trinity, Florida. Following his initial court appearance and a detention hearing later that same day, he was ordered detained.
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 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.
Orlando Woman Charged in Multi-Count Indictment for Fraudulent SchemesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Lashunda Veneice Redd (35, Orlando) with one count of theft of government money, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and nine counts of making, uttering, and possessing counterfeit and forged securities. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the theft of government money, a mandatory minimum of 2 years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity theft charge, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the counterfeit and forged securities charges.
According to court documents, between December 2014 and April 2015, across at least four Central Florida counties, Redd stole money from the Social Security Administration. Following up on a lead from the Bureau of Fiscal Services, investigators learned that Redd’s mother had requested several replacement checks for her Social Security benefits. These checks were then altered to be made payable to different individuals, including Redd, for larger dollar amounts. On January 22, 2015, Redd cashed a check originally made payable to her mother that had been altered to name her (Redd) as the payee. The amount of money payable on the check had also been altered from $640 to $1,940, resulting in a loss of $1,300 to the government.
On December 3 and 24, 2014, Redd unlawfully used two other individuals’ means of identification to commit bank fraud in relation to her fraudulently altered United States Treasury check scheme.
The investigation also revealed that Redd had made, uttered, and possessed counterfeit and forged checks, which she had used at Publix stores in Orange, Brevard, and Seminole counties from January to March 2015, resulting in a loss of thousands of dollars to Publix.
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 Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.
Telemarketer Sentenced for Role in Marketing Non-FDA Approved Drugs in United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Naresh Kumar Chintala (33, India) to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to dispense prescription drugs without a prescription. He pleaded guilty on February 23, 2015.
According to court documents, Chintala worked for an India-based company that marketed drugs, both prescription and otherwise, to customers in the United States by means of telemarketing. The representations made by the marketers about these drugs claimed that the drugs were made in the United States and FDA-approved. In reality, the drugs were neither. In some instances, the drugs sold through this marketing scheme were prescription medications, but the company required no medical prescription for the sale. The medications ordered by the customers were shipped to them from India, in parcels bearing false labels as to the nature of their contents. Chintala traveled to the United States in late 2014 on company business and was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida.
This case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay L. Hoffer and Mark Bini.
Lake City Man Indicted for Manufacturing and Passing Counterfeit Federal Reserve NotesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging James Steven Hall (47, Lake City) with manufacturing and passing counterfeit currency. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Hall was arraigned on May 19, 2015, and released on bond. He is scheduled for trial during the July 2015 trial term.
According to the indictment, Hall began manufacturing and passing counterfeit currency beginning at least in February 2015 through March 2015, in Columbia County, Florida.
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 Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Government Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Florida Neurologist for $150,000Read the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – Dr. Sean Orr of Jacksonville, Florida, has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by providing medically unnecessary services and drugs to federal health care program beneficiaries, the Department of Justice announced today. Dr. Orr is a neurologist formerly employed by Baptist Neurology Inc. and Baptist Medical Center-Jacksonville.
“The public relies on doctors to treat their patients with integrity and not waste taxpayer dollars,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable physicians who make false diagnoses or otherwise provide medically unnecessary treatment.”
This settlement resolves allegations that, from September 2009 to April 2012, Orr knowingly misdiagnosed certain patients with various neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), which caused federal health care programs to be billed for medically unnecessary services and drugs. The alleged misconduct affected beneficiaries in the Medicare, TRICARE and the Federal Employees Health Benefits programs. The settlement is based on Orr’s ability to pay.
“Our office will relentlessly pursue physicians who misdiagnose and harm patients to satisfy their financial greed,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida. “We expect physicians to act honestly, with integrity, and in accordance with the approved standards of medical care. When they do not, we all suffer.”
“Physicians who knowingly misdiagnose serious illnesses and provide unnecessary services in order to bill federal healthcare programs violate the trust their patients and the taxpayers have in the medical profession,” said Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency will continue to thoroughly investigate health care professionals involved in such duplicity and waste.”
In 2014, the government settled related allegations against Baptist Health System Inc. – Orr’s former employer and the parent company for Baptist Neurology Inc. and Baptist Medical Center-Jacksonville – for $2.5 million.
“Dr. Orr violated the trust placed in him by his patients,” said Inspector General Patrick E. McFarland of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). “Federal employees deserve health care providers who meet the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior. Today’s settlement reminds all providers that they must observe those standards, and reflects the commitment of federal law enforcement organizations to pursue improper and illegal conduct that puts the health and wellbeing of their patients at risk.”
The government’s investigation was initiated by a qui tam, or whistleblower, lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by Verchetta Wells, a former Baptist Neurology Inc. employee. The act allows private citizens to file suit for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in the government’s recovery. Wells will receive $26,250 from the settlement with Orr.
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 a total of more than $24 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $15.3 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
This settlement is the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Florida, HHS-OIG, the Defense Health Agency’s Program Integrity Office, and OPM’s Office of Inspector General.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The lawsuit against Orr was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is captioned United States ex rel. Wells v. Sean Orr, M.D. et al.
Woman Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft Connected to Fraudulent Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Makaeia Demps to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered her to make restitution to the IRS in the amount of $13,441. Demps pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015.
According to court documents, in December 2011, Demps was arrested by officers from the Clearwater Police Department. In her possession, they found two debit cards in the names of other individuals. An investigation revealed that the debit cards contained funds that had been obtained as the result of fraudulently filed income tax returns. Further investigation linked Demps to the receipt of refunds generated by the filing of additional fraudulent income tax returns.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Lakeland Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Wayne “Bam Bam” Broderick (39, Lakeland) to 20 years in federal prison for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty on February 24, 2015.
According to court documents, on February 21, 2014, the Lakeland Police Department (LPD) searched Broderick’s apartment in Lakeland and recovered crack cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia consistent with cooking, packaging, and selling crack cocaine, loaded firearms, including a Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol, a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver, a Browning 9mm pistol, approximately $881 in cash, other ammunition, and evidence of stolen identity refund fraud, including a ledger of stolen personal identifying information.
Again, on June 27, 2014, LPD conducted a search of Broderick’s residence after observing him selling narcotics from his doorway, and found him to be in possession of ammunition, marijuana, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded Springfield Armory M1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol. Broderick had numerous prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses, and at least one crime of violence that qualified him as a career offender.
This case was investigated by the Lakeland Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.
Clermont Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Child Pornography over the InternetRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces today that Aaron Michael Murray (22, Clermont) has pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography over the Internet. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 23, 2015, in Orlando.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Texas executed a search warrant at a residence and discovered child pornography on a computer that was used by a minor child. Further investigation revealed that the child had received images depicting child pornography from an individual in Florida. This individual, who was subsequently identified as Murray, had portrayed himself to be a minor during online conversations with the child in Texas.
A search warrant was executed at Murray’s home, and a laptop computer and iPod Touch were analyzed by the FBI. Online chat messages sent by Murray, posing as a child, were recovered, along with at least 250 images and videos depicting child pornography. Evidence obtained from his email account showed that Murray had sent at least 246 images of child pornography to other users, including several that depicted young boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, and the Carrollton (Texas) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown and Assistant United States Attorney Bryon R. Aven.
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.
Two Polk County Men Charged for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Isarael Sanchez-Pineda, a/k/a “El Cuñado” (47, Frostproof), and Margarito Garcia (47, Frostproof) with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Each faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the conspiracy charge. The possession charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years’ imprisonment. The indictment also notifies both individuals that the United States intends to forfeit any traceable proceeds of the offense and any property used to facilitate the crimes.
According to court documents, Sanchez-Pineda and Garcia conspired with each other and others to distribute methamphetamine. They allegedly sold more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential source and, prior to his arrest, Sanchez-Pineda had also agreed to sell an additional pound of methamphetamine.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration Meth Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
Owner of Financial Services Firm Sentenced for Cashing Fraudulent Tax Refund ChecksRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway has sentenced Wilson Benjamin to three years and ten months in federal prison for theft of government property. The Court also ordered him to forfeit three real estate properties, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. In addition, a money judgment was entered in the amount of $4 million, the proceeds of the fraud. Benjamin pleaded guilty on January 7, 2015.
According to court documents, Benjamin owned and operated a financial services company, Benjamin Financial Services, which included a tax preparation business and a check cashing service. Between March 2011 and December 2011, he used his check cashing operation to cash approximately $17.8 million in fraudulent federal tax refund checks. The checks were brought to Benjamin by individuals who had filed fraudulent tax returns in other peoples’ names in order to obtain the refund checks.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.
Hillsborough County Resident Indicted on Bankruptcy Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging David W. Griffin (44, Lutz) with one count of mail fraud, nine counts of bankruptcy fraud, two counts of making a false statement under oath during a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud charge, and up to five years on each of the bankruptcy fraud and false statement charges. A mandatory term of two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge would run consecutive to the other penalties imposed.
According to the indictment, Griffin operated a foreclosure rescue scheme through his companies, Bay2Bay Area Holding, LLC and Business Development Consultants, LLC. The purpose of the scheme was to obtain quitclaim or warranty deeds from distressed homeowners facing foreclosure in return for false promises to rescue their homes from foreclosure by negotiating with creditors, renting the property back to the homeowner to obtain rental income, and falsely promising that the homeowner could repurchase the property from Griffin. To maximize his rental income, it was also a purpose of the scheme to prevent creditors and guarantors, including the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration, from pursuing lawful foreclosure and eviction actions against homeowners who had defaulted on their mortgages. This was accomplished by filing, or causing to be filed, fraudulent bankruptcies in the names of the homeowners without their knowledge or consent. These fraudulent bankruptcies generated mailings sent from the bankruptcy court to the victim homeowner via the U.S. Postal Service.
The indictment also alleges that Griffin lied under oath in sworn testimony before the Office of the United States Trustee and the bankruptcy trustee. Under penalty of perjury, Griffin stated that he had no knowledge of a bankruptcy petition filed in the name of his company, Bay2Bay Area Holding Group, when in fact, he prepared the petition and directed an individual to sign his name and file the petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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, the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
“Buju Banton” Case ResolvedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that the case involving Mark Myrie, aka “Buju Banton,” has been resolved. Myrie was previously granted a new trial for a firearms charge after a finding by the District Court that a juror had committed misconduct in regard to that charge during Myrie’s trial. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently dismissed Myrie’s appeal, sending the matter back to the District Court for the firearms trial. An agreement between the United States and Myrie, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for his cocaine conspiracy conviction, calls for the United States to dismiss the remaining firearms charge in exchange for Myrie’s waiver of all future appeals. The agreement has been accepted by the District Court, and the firearms charge has been dismissed. Myrie is presently scheduled to be released from federal prison in January 2019, at which time he will be deported to his native Jamaica.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston.
Palm Coast Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Pornography over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Timothy Edward McDermott (61, Palm Coast) has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography over the Internet. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5, up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervision. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, an FBI agent began an undercover investigation to identify individuals that were trading child pornography over the Internet. The agent determined that McDermott was hosting and trading images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. A subsequent search warrant was executed at McDermott’s residence and his computer was seized. During an interview, McDermott admitted that he had downloaded child pornography from a file sharing website. Forensic analysis of McDermott’s computer revealed that it contained 310 images and 68 videos depicting child pornography, including babies being sexually exploited by adults.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Dallas (Texas), Daytona Beach, and Jacksonville, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheaton (Illinois) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 Indicted for Check-Kiting Scheme and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Roger Eugene Hagood (43, Fort Myers) with 13 counts of bank fraud and two counts of obstruction of justice. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each obstruction of justice count. The indictment also notifies Hagood that the United States is seeking a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,592,121.00, the proceeds of the bank fraud offenses.
According to the indictment, Hagood operated Coral Palm Auto Sales, a used car dealership. Coral Palm Autos 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 allegedly engaged in a check-kiting scheme by writing 13 checks 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, based on Hagood’s worthless checks. According to the indictment, Hagood’s scheme caused federally insured financial institutions to suffer significant financial losses.
The indictment also alleges that on March 29, 2015, Hagood concealed and attempted to destroy documents and records in an effort to obstruct an official proceeding and federal investigation.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.
World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman) Forfeits More Than $2.7 Million in Lottery ProceedsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that the World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman) has agreed to forfeit $2,761,910 in lottery proceeds to the United States government. According to a sworn complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Ironman illegally charged athletes for a chance to win the opportunity to compete in the “Ironman World Championship,” held each October in Hawaii.
According to the complaint, Ironman, the company that organizes, promotes, and licenses “Ironman” triathlons around the world, has agreed to forfeit to the United States lottery proceeds that it has earned since October 24, 2012. Ironman charged athletes, who did not otherwise qualify, $50 to enter lotteries for the chance to compete in the Ironman World Championship. Thousands of athletes purchased multiple entries. Ironman would have been permitted to give away the opportunity to compete in the race, but violated the law when it charged athletes money for the chance to win.
Ironman cooperated fully in the investigation and voluntarily provided all information necessary to allow the parties to promptly resolve the matter.
The case was investigated by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. Muench and Natalie Hirt Adams, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States Reaches $22 Million Settlement Agreement with CVS for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces today that CVS Health has agreed to pay $22 million to resolve allegations that two of its retail stores in the City of Sanford distributed controlled substances based on prescriptions that had not been issued for legitimate medical purposes by a health care provider acting in the usual course of professional practice. CVS acknowledged that its retail pharmacies had a responsibility to dispense only those prescriptions that were issued based on legitimate medical need. CVS further acknowledged that certain of its retail stores dispensed certain controlled substances in a manner not fully consistent with their compliance obligations under the Controlled Substances Act and the related regulations.
The Controlled Substances Act authorizes the United States to seek civil penalties for a pharmacy’s failure to fulfill its corresponding responsibility to dispense only those prescriptions that have been issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a health care provider acting in the usual course of professional practice. Knowingly filling an illegitimate prescription subjects a pharmacy to civil penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
This settlement caps off an investigation that began as part of DEA’s crackdown on pill mills in Florida. Prescription drug addicts were travelling to Florida, known as the nation’s epicenter for the illegal distribution of prescription drugs, for access to physicians who were prescribing pain medication without regard to medical need and to pharmacies that were filling the prescriptions despite red flags that they were illegitimate. The investigation led to DEA’s execution of administrative inspection warrants at two CVS stores in Sanford. As a result, the DEA licenses of both stores were revoked in June 2012.
“Prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem in Florida and throughout the country,” said U.S. Attorney Bentley. “We are using all of the tools at our disposal to combat this problem, including civil penalties for pharmacies that fail to comply with the Controlled Substances Act.”
This settlement illustrates the United States Attorney’s Office efforts to address the wrongdoing that occurred at the height of Florida’s pill mill crisis.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Group in Orlando. It was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Ho.
Tax Preparer Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. sentenced Aaron Valley yesterday to 30 months in federal prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to pay $265,000 in restitution to the IRS. Valley pleaded guilty on February 19, 2015.
According to his plea agreement, Valley prepared tax returns from his home for clients for tax years 2009 and 2010. As part of his scheme, Valley did not identify himself as the paid preparer on any of the tax returns. He was able to generate large refunds for his clients by preparing tax returns that claimed false filing status, fraudulent W-2 earnings, false Schedule C business expenses, and losses to maximize the earned income tax credit allowed to certain taxpayers. He charged up to $1,000 to prepare the tax returns. To ensure that he could collect his fees, Valley had the refunds deposited into a number of different bank accounts that he controlled or was able to access.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Arnold Bernard Conrad, Jr. (52, Jacksonville) to four years and four months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to serve a five-year term of supervision following his release, register as sex offender, forfeit his computer media, and pay $9,000 in restitution to three victims. Conrad pleaded guilty on November 12, 2014.
According to court documents, a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office began an undercover investigation to identify individuals that were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. The detective determined that a particular computer in Jacksonville was hosting and trading images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The subscriber information for the computer was traced back to Conrad’s Jacksonville residence, where a search warrant was subsequently executed, and his computer media was seized. During an interview with agents, Conrad admitted to having used two different programs to download child pornography from the Internet, saving it to external hard drives, and that he had been doing so for almost two years. A forensic analysis of Conrad’s computer media revealed that it contained 504 images and 145 videos depicting child pornography, including at least one video depicting a nude toddler being sexually assaulted.
“Working with strong law enforcement partners, like the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, allows our HSI special agents to remove criminals like this from our communities,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was 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.
Embezzler Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James Moody has sentenced John Yates (42, Ruskin) to three years and five months in federal prison for mail fraud and access device fraud. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $286,279.50, which are the proceeds traceable to his criminal conduct. Yates pleaded guilty on January 29, 2015.
According to court documents, in January 2009, Yates was employed by Federal Marine Terminals (FMT) as the manager of the Port Tampa Bay office. As manager, he would oversee the movement of inbound import shipping containers that had been identified for inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He would then bill customers for FMT’s services in the form of invoices. Yates was responsible for preparing, mailing, and faxing the invoices. Customers were directed to mail payments FMT’s facility in Port Manatee.
In December 2011, while Yates was on vacation, another FMT employee discovered five invoices that looked like FMT invoices, but directed payments to “THW,” in Tampa. A subsequent investigation revealed that the THW payments were deposited into a bank account controlled by Yates. Eighty-nine companies remitted payments to Yates totaling $270,279.50. He was subsequently fired from his position.
After being fired from FMT, Yates was hired as a dispatcher by JRC Transportation, Inc., a large trucking company. There, Yates entered phantom loads into JRC’s system and diverted the related payments back to him. Yates embezzled approximately $30,000 from JRC.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.