Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Luis Angel Lopez (25, Hillsborough County) to life in federal prison for the June 7, 2007, contract murder of Thomas Lee Sehorne of Lithia, Florida. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $1,043,517.99. This amount represents the life insurance policies paid after the death of Mr. Sehorne. Lopez was convicted by a federal jury on August 3, 2012.

According to court documents, Thomas Lee Sehorne was found shot to death outside his home in Eastern Hillsborough County, on the morning of June 7, 2007. Later that day his widow, Cristie Fay Sehorne, and their two minor children moved in with Jerry Bottorff. A short time later, Cristie Sehorne began attempting to collect on Mr. Sehorne’s life insurance policies. A settlement was ultimately reached regarding the insurance proceeds, and Cristie Sehorne and Jerry Bottorff were married in December 2008.

On May 23, 2011, the Bottorffs and Lopez were arrested. They were each charged in a three-count indictment with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and aiding and abetting the carrying of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death.

On July 9, 2012, Cristie and Jerry Bottorff pleaded guilty to the charges, and later testified at the trial of Luis Angel Lopez, the hitman. The Bottorffs testified that they solicited a friend, Mike Garcia, to find someone to murder Mr. Sehorne, with a promise to pay $60,000.00, once they obtained Mr. Sehorne’s life insurance proceeds. On October 22, 2012, Cristie Fay Bottorff and Jerry Alan Bottorff were each sentenced to life in federal prison.

Michael Garcia was arrested in 2008 and immediately cooperated regarding the murder. During Lopez’s trial, Garcia testified that, in the early morning hours of June 7, 2007, he and Lopez traveled to Mr. Sehorne’s residence on Lithia Pinecrest Road, where Lopez waited for Mr. Sehorne to return home. When Mr. Sehorne exited his automobile, Lopez approached him and killed him with a gunshot to the chest and head. Cristie Sehorne (Bottorff) contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office the following morning to report the murder.

Garcia previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney's Walter E. Furr and Thomas Palermo.

Orlando, Florida - Sergei Kusyakov (38, Davenport) today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and four counts of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. Kusyakov faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison. Sentencing has been set for March 25, 2013.

On December 27, 2012, another conspirator, Katrina Munroe (30, Winter Haven) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. She faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. Sentencing for her has been set for March 11, 2013.

A third conspirator, Dale Munroe II (35, Winter Haven), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information on October 22, 2012. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing has been set for January 14, 2013.

According to their plea agreements, in July 2006, Dale Munroe II was hired at the Celebration, Florida location of Florida Hospital. During his employment, he worked as a Registration Representative in the Emergency Department, where he would register patients as they came in the main emergency entrance. From January 2009 until his termination, in July 2011, Dale Munroe II used his position to obtain individually identifiable health information of Florida Hospital patients who had been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Munroe II would then disclose that information to Kusyakov, who was involved in the operation of two chiropractic clinics (Metro Chiropractic and Wellness Center and City Lights Medical Center). Kusyakov and other conspirators would then use the stolen information to solicit patients of Florida Hospital for chiropractic and legal services. Kusyakov would then pay Munroe for his role in providing the stolen information.

On July 12, 2011, Dale Munroe II was terminated by Florida Hospital for a patient data breach that was unrelated to the conspiracy described above. Starting about a week after her husband’s termination, Katrina Munroe, who was hired as an insurance representative by Florida Hospital in 2009, was recruited to take over her husband’s role of stealing patient data to be provided to Kusyakov. In August 2012, the data breach was discovered, and Florida Hospital terminated Katrina Munroe shortly after identifying her as a possible suspect. In total, Florida Hospital has identified more than 12,000 patients whose individually identifiable health information was illegally accessed as a part of the conspiracy.

These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Paul Henry Carlin (58, Tampa) with transportation and receipt of child pornography. If convicted, Carlin faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.

According to the indictment, between May 29, 2012, and December 5, 2012, Carlin transported and received files containing child pornography, using the Internet.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

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

Orlando, Florida - Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Roberto J. Irizarry-Colon (28, Chuluota) yesterday to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Irizarry-Colon to forfeit the computers and thumb drives that he used to possess the child pornography. As part of Irizarry-Colon’s sentence, the court also ordered him to serve a life term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Irizarry-Colon pleaded guilty on August 14, 2012.

According to court documents, Irizarry-Colon possessed and stored child pornography on his computers, thumb drives, and on several online storage servers. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement officers searched several thumb drives and two computers that Irizarry-Colon owned. The officers found thousands of pictures and 100 movies which recorded the sexual abuse of children less than 12 years old. During an interview, Irizarry-Colon admitted to possessing child pornography for the last ten years.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

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

Orlando, Florida - Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Donald G. Weiss (68, Orlando) yesterday to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Weiss to forfeit the computer and hard drives that he used to possess the child pornography. As part of his sentence, the court ordered him to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to register as a sex offender. Weiss pleaded guilty on July 30, 2012.

According to court documents, an employee of a computer repair store found child pornography while repairing Weiss's computer. The employee contacted law enforcement officers. After searching his computer, officers interviewed Weiss, who admitted to possessing child pornography since at least 1998. Law enforcement officers searched several hard drives that Weiss owned and found 698 pictures and 10 movies of child pornography involving children less than 12 years old.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

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

Tampa, FL - United States District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Clinton Duane Pancake (37, Lake Wales) to 97 months in federal for transportation and receipt of child pornography. He was sentenced to 15 years of supervised release, following his release from prison. The court also ordered Pancake to forfeit a laptop computer, which was used in the commission of the offense. Pancake pleaded guilty in October 2012.

According to court documents, in March 2012, Pancake distributed 14 files containing child pornography to an undercover agent via the Internet. In July 2012, Pancake admitted to downloading child pornography over the Internet, viewing it on his computer, and deleting it. A forensic review of his laptop revealed more than 600 files containing child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

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