Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Jury Convicts North Port Man of Producing and Possessing Videos of Minors Engaged in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Raul Colon-Ocasio (32, North Port) guilty of producing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possessing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Colon-Ocasio faces a maximum penalty of up to 70 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2024. Raul Colon-Ocasio was indicted on April 5, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, in September 2022, a mother called the police to report her minor child was missing. While trying to locate the child, the police observed social media communications between Colon-Ocasio and the child that were sexual in nature. The child was located by the police and returned home. In October 2022, an FBI Task Force Officer assumed the social media account of the child and began communicating with Colon-Ocasio. On October 18, 2022, instead of Colon-Ocasio meeting with the child, he was instead met by the police and his cellphone was seized.
A subsequent forensic analysis of Colon-Ocasio’s cellphone revealed numerous videos that he had produced of two minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct that he had saved and collected on his cellphone.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office that assisted in this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Distribution of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Avery Jones-Neal (29, Dunedin) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine. Jones-Neal entered a guilty plea on February 21, 2024.
According to court documents, Jones-Neal sold cocaine to a confidential informant on July 25, July 26, and July 31, 2023. On July 26, 2023, Jones-Neal also sold a firearm, which he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon. A search warrant was executed on the residence where the sales took place and law enforcement located additional cocaine inside that residence. Jones-Neal was subject to enhanced sentencing penalties since he had two prior convictions for narcotics distribution.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Convicted Felon Arrested for Avionics Equipment TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mario Mercier Hernandez (59, New Port Richey) with five counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, Mercier faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Mercier that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture for proceeds obtained from the offense.
According to court documents, beginning around 2019, Mercier embarked on a string of thefts of avionics equipment from more than two dozen airports across the United States, including airports in Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Maryland, and South Carolina. Mercier entered each airport, broke into airplanes, and stole valuable electronics equipment from the planes. After each theft, Mercier transported the stolen equipment to the Middle District of Florida.
Mercier owned and operated JWG International and JWG Aviation in the Middle District of Florida. These companies purported to provide aid to impoverished children in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Mercier used these companies to sell the stolen avionics equipment on various websites to unsuspecting purchasers around the United States.
Mercier’s thefts continued until May 23, 2024, when he was arrested while stealing equipment from aircraft at the Caldwell Executive Airport in Caldwell, Idaho. In 2008, Mercier was convicted for transportation of stolen property in the Middle District of Florida, relating to a similar scheme to steal and resell avionics equipment.
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, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation Officer of Inspector General, St. Mary's Sheriff's Office (Lexington Park, Maryland), Canyon County Sheriff's Office and Caldwell Police Department (Caldwell, Idaho), Wilkes County Sheriff's Office (Wilkesboro, North Carolina), McClain County Sheriff's Office (Purcell, Oklahoma), Concord Police Department (Concord, North Carolina), Baxter County Sheriff’s Office (Mountain Home, Arkansas), Moore County Sheriff's Office (Carthage, North Carolina), Hillsborough Township Police Department (Hillsborough, New Jersey), Charleston County Aviation Authority Police Department (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina), Statesville Police Department (Statesville, North Carolina), Dorchester County Sheriff's Office (Summerville, South Carolina), Asheboro Police Department (Asheboro, North Carolina), Oconee County Sheriff's Office (Walhalla, South Carolina), Nashau Police Department (Nashau, New Hampshire), Citrus County Sherriff's Office (Inverness, Florida), Greenwood County Sheriff's Office (Greenwood, South Carolina), Lane County Sheriff's Office (Eugene, Oregon), Ontario County Sheriff's Office (Canandaigua, New York), Stow Police Department (Stow, Massachusetts), Burke County Sheriff's Office (Morganton, North Carolina), Iredell County Sheriff's Office (Mooresville, North Carolina), Charles County Sheriff's Office (Waldorf, Maryland), Thomasville Police Department (Thomasville, Georgia), Clarksville Police Department (Clarksville, Tennessee), Macon County Sheriff's Office (Franklin, North Carolina), Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (Lincolnton, North Carolina), McMinn County Sheriff's Office (Athens, Tennessee), Robertson County Sheriff's Office (Springfield, Tennessee), Lumberton Police Department (Lumberton, New Jersey), Bedminster Police Department (Bedminster, New Jersey), Spanish Fork Police Department (Spanish Fork, Utah), and Vancouver Police Department (Vancouver, Washington). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsey Schmidt and Karyna Valdes.
Chronic Disease Management Provider to Pay $14.9M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
Note: View the settlement here.
WASHINGTON – Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care facilities that were not provided in conformity with applicable Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE requirements.
“Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue health care providers that defraud the taxpayers by knowingly submitting inflated claims.”
The settlement resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019, Bluestone knowingly submitted claims for two E&M codes, the domiciliary rest home visit code for established patients (99337) and the chronic care management code (99490), that did not support the level of service provided. The federal government’s share of the settlement is $13,842,482 and $1,059,518 will be paid to the States of Florida and Minnesota.
“Fraudulent billing undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and diminishes legitimate services and resources for Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Healthcare companies that institute a practice of upcoding and unnecessary billing will be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”
“When health care providers submit false claims to taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, including inappropriately inflating claims to boost profits, the public’s trust in our nation’s medical providers and the integrity of federal health care programs are put at risk," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in conduct as alleged in this case are held accountable. Furthermore, the OIG’s five-year compliance agreement is designed to ensure that the alleged behavior will not be repeated.”
In connection with the settlement, Bluestone has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG, which requires Bluestone, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of Bluestone’s Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lisa Loscalzo, the former General Manager for Bluestone’s Florida market. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Loscalzo v. Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., Bluestone National, LLC et al., 20-cv-295-FtM-38NPM (M.D. Fla). The civil settlement also includes the resolution of related allegations investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Loscalzo will receive $2,831,380 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorneys Erin Colleran and Joanna Persio of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen E. Rau and Emily Peterson for the District of Minnesota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Chronic Disease Management Provider to Pay $14.9M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care facilities that were not provided in conformity with applicable Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE requirements.
“Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue health care providers that defraud the taxpayers by knowingly submitting inflated claims.”
The settlement resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019, Bluestone knowingly submitted claims for two E&M codes, the domiciliary rest home visit code for established patients (99337) and the chronic care management code (99490), that did not support the level of service provided. The federal government’s share of the settlement is $13,842,482 and $1,059,518 will be paid to the States of Florida and Minnesota.
“Fraudulent billing undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and diminishes legitimate services and resources for Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Healthcare companies that institute a practice of upcoding and unnecessary billing will be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”
“When health care providers submit false claims to taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, including inappropriately inflating claims to boost profits, the public’s trust in our nation’s medical providers and the integrity of federal health care programs are put at risk," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in conduct as alleged in this case are held accountable. Furthermore, the OIG’s five-year compliance agreement is designed to ensure that the alleged behavior will not be repeated.”
In connection with the settlement, Bluestone has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG, which requires Bluestone, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of Bluestone’s Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lisa Loscalzo, the former General Manager for Bluestone’s Florida market. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Loscalzo v. Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., Bluestone National, LLC et al., 20-cv-295-FtM-38NPM (M.D. Fla). The civil settlement also includes the resolution of related allegations investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Loscalzo will receive $2,831,380 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorneys Erin Colleran and Joanna Persio of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen E. Rau and Emily Peterson for the District of Minnesota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
SettlementTampa Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Possession and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Christian Perez-Seda (38, Tampa) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Perez-Seda pleaded guilty in March 2024.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2021, Perez Seda distributed 987 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in exchange for $7,000. Perez-Seda then also “fronted” approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine to an individual working as a confidential informant. Later that day, Perez Seda was driving to sell more methamphetamine to the undercover officer when he was stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement searched his vehicle and found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, $3,686 in cash, and a Phoenix Arms .22 pistol.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman and Charlie Connally. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Pinellas County Man Charged with Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Calvin Roy Dutton (60, St. Petersburg) with possession of child sexual abuse material. Dutton was arrested on May 31, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, Dutton mailed a hard drive to a company in Illinois for repairs. The hard drive contained more than 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material. When an employee began his work to recover data from the hard drive, he discovered the child sexual abuse material and contacted law enforcement. On May 31, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Dutton’s home. Dutton admitted that he owned the hard drive and that he had copied files from his laptop to it.
A complaint 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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.
Nine Sentenced in Interstate Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Spanning California, Arizona, and Central FloridaRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced nine individuals to federal prison for their respective roles in a multi-kilogram cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation. The multi-agency investigation lasted two years and spanned from Central Florida to Arizona and California. Each individual charged in the case was found guilty by a jury or pleaded guilty for their role in the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and related offenses, and were sentenced as follows:
Name
Offense(s)
Date of Conviction
Sentencing Date
Judgment
Luis Miguel Hernandez
(36, Phoenix, AZ)
500 grams methamphetamine; 5 kilograms cocaine
8/10/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/13/23
9 years, 1 month
Saul Sandoval
(41, Phoenix, AZ)
500 grams methamphetamine
12/27/23
(pleaded guilty)
5/31/24
10 years
Zara Mascarella
(20, Palm Coast, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine; 500 grams cocaine
9/12/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/19/23
5 years
Camarie Shavers
(24, Bunnell, FL)
500 grams cocaine
9/20/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/11/23
2 years, 6 months
Alfred L. Shavers
(50, Bunnell, FL)
cocaine; possession of a firearm by convicted felon
2/23/24 (jury trial)
6/3/24
16 years
Alfred L. Shavers Jr.
(26, Bunnell, FL)
50 grams methamphetamine
9/18/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/11/23
5 years
Jimmie Lee Bizzell
(53, Bunnell, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine
9/18/23
(pleaded guilty)
1/16/24
6 years
Wendell Ferreira
(42, Berlin, CT)
500 grams methamphetamine, 5 kilograms cocaine
1/31/24
(pleaded guilty)
5/13/24
2 years, 9 months
Tyrone Jones
(56, Palm Coast, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine (2 counts); 50 grams methamphetamine
2/23/24
(jury trial)
6/3/24
10 years
According to court records, during the investigation, federal agents and task force officers identified several members of the conspiracy and the methods used by the drug trafficking organization (DTO) to ship methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico across the United States to Central Florida using commercial trucks. Law enforcement tracked the drugs from Phoenix and Los Angeles gathering vital intelligence on the DTO. Bizzell and Ferreira were the commercial truck drivers who transported the drugs from California and Arizona to Florida.
On October 31, 2022, search warrants were executed at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach, Florida. As a result, 44.54 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2.72 kilograms of cocaine were seized. In addition, nine guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized from a location where Alfred Shavers resided. Jones, Mascarella, Alfred Shavers, Alfred Shavers, Jr., and Camarie Shavers were identified as drug traffickers in Central Florida.
Law enforcement determined that Sandoval and Hernandez were the sources of the methamphetamine and cocaine from Phoenix and Los Angeles. Agents learned they had brokered deals with co-conspirators in Mexico who were sending drugs across the border for Sandoval and Hernandez to sell. Authorities believe that since 2021, Sandoval and Hernandez distributed more than 300 kilograms of drugs that were shipped to Central Florida.
On April 25, 2023, Sandoval was arrested in Phoenix and a search warrant was executed at his residence. Inside his home, agents located 1,114 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 firearms, 4 firearm suppressors, and more than $5,000 in cash. The illegal firearms included fully automatic firearms, short-barreled firearms, and auto switches designed to be installed on Glock handgun slides to transform the handguns into machineguns. Hernandez was arrested in Los Angeles on the same day he was conducting a new drug trafficking deal for approximately 36 kilograms of methamphetamine. Both were returned to the Middle District of Florida for prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Daytona Beach Resident Agency, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sartoian and Matthew Del Mastro.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fernandina Beach Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice an 11-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced William Rand Paige, Jr. (50, Fernandina Beach) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Paige was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Paige was arrested on December 18, 2023, and has been detained since that time. Paige entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2024.
According to court documents, on November 29, 2023, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville was conducting an online undercover operation to identify individuals who were seeking to meet and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as a person with access to an 11-year-old child, the undercover agent was online in a social messaging app when he was contacted by an individual using the app user name “ah..904,” subsequently identified as Paige. After learning the age of the “child,” Paige asked the agent if he and the “child” would “like her to be touched all over.” In a series of online conversations on this app and emails from November 29 through December 11, 2023, Paige discussed in graphic detail his desire to meet the “child” and engage in sexual activity with “her.” When his account on the app was banned by the administrator, Paige later established a different account on the same app and used it to continue communicating with the agent. On December 4 and again on December 11, 2023, Paige sent the undercover agent three videos depicting young children being sexually abused.
On December 18, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Paige’s residence and arrested Paige. During an interview, Paige admitted that he had been on the app talking with “a guy” about meeting and “touching” an 11-year-old child. A review of Paige’s cellphone revealed it contained at least one photo and one video depicting the sexual abuse of a child, as well as the same email account used by Paige to communicate with the undercover agent about meeting the “child” for sex.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Arrested for Smuggling Machinegun Conversion Devices into the United States and Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, and SilencerRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Phillip Michael Valeriani (41, Plant City) with smuggling machinegun conversion devices into the United States, possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession of unregistered machineguns and a silencer. If convicted, Valeriani faces up to 20 years in federal prison for smuggling machinegun conversion devices, up to 15 years for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of an unregistered machinegun and silencer.
According to the complaint, in April 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a suspicious package shipped from Shenzhen, China and destined for a residence in Plant City. The package contained 63 machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” A Glock switch is an illegal conversion device that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Under the National Firearms Act, a Glock switch is classified as a machinegun.
(Pictured below: Glock Switches)
After confirming Valeriani was the intended recipient of the package containing the 63 Glock switch parts, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Valeriani’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized firearms, including a pistol with a foldable stock and Glock switch, ammunition, a silencer, narcotics, a tactical vest with ballistic plates, and FBI and DEA raid jackets.
A complaint 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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Plant City Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Tampa International Airport Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Clearwater Man Charged with Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Brett Michael Reichold (34, Clearwater) with production of child sexual abuse material. Reichold was arrested on May 28, 2024, and has been ordered detained pending trial.
According to court documents, Reichold coerced several minors to send sexually explicit photos of themselves via a mobile application in exchange for money. Reichold also went to one minor victim’s home four to five times and asked the victim to engage in sexual conduct.
A complaint 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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.
Clay County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Using the Internet to Distribute Videos of Young Children Being Sexually AbusedRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Carl Stephen Smith, Jr. (34, Green Cove Springs) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse materials using the internet. Smith was also ordered to serve a 20-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and pay $12,000 in restitution to victims. Smith was arrested on January 31, 2023, at his residence in Green Cove Springs and has been detained since that time.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTipline report in July 2022 from a popular online social media application (app) that three child sexual abuse videos had been uploaded on the app by a user named “daddysir142.” The Internet Protocol (IP) address used to upload these materials was traced to an internet service provider in Green Cove Springs, Florida.
On January 31, 2023, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), together with other law enforcement personnel, executed a federal search warrant at Smith’s residence. During an interview with law enforcement, Smith admitted that he communicated with purported minors on social media, that he used two different social media apps to search for child sexual abuse materials, and that he masturbated while viewing such materials.
During the search, HSI agents seized a cellular phone belonging to Smith. A forensic review of this device revealed that it contained at least 22 videos and 37 photos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The cellular phone contained online conversations between Smith and other users in which Smith distributed materials depicting the sexual abuse of young children.
On December 30, 2022, Smith messaged another user, “Well, id love to send you cp at least.” On January 6, 2023, Smith distributed a video to this same user that depicted a prepubescent child wearing an animal costume while being sexually abused by an adult male.
“This sentencing reflects the severity of this predator’s reprehensible actions and the harm inflicted upon innocent victims by possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “United in purpose, the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force law enforcement partners stand in the gap to intercept and erase this vile content from existence.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Winter Haven Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Fraud and Sexually Exploiting A 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Billie Harold McDuffie, Jr. (37, Winter Haven) to 18 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, possession of device making equipment, possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered McDuffie to forfeit a cellphone, two black card encoders, and two desktop computers, which McDuffie used to commit the offenses in this case. McDuffie entered a guilty plea on February 15, 2024.
According to court documents, McDuffie met a 15-year-old child victim online and enticed her to engage in sexually explicit conversations via cellphone and social media. For five months, McDuffie repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with the child victim, even after she confirmed that she was a minor. An online tipster notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation of McDuffie’s sexual misconduct with the child.
On July 21, 2022, a search warrant was executed at McDuffie’s residence, where agents found McDuffie and the child victim. Agents returned the child to her family and arrested McDuffie.
During their search of McDuffie’s residence, agents also found evidence of fraud committed by McDuffie. Evidence included blank check paper, packets of stolen identities, multiple fraudulent debit and credit cards, fraudulent driver licenses, card encoders, and printers.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lake City Couple Indicted for Fraudulently Stealing Almost Three Million DollarsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a thirteen-count indictment charging Treashonna P. Graham (40, Lake City) and Joey L. Williams (39, Lake City) with multiple offenses, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for each conspiracy and wire fraud offense, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment, for each money laundering offense. Graham and Williams were arrested on May 31, 2024.
According to the indictment Graham and Williams created a company called “Grant Bae,” which was designed to assist minority business owners obtain government grants. These government grants ranged from $25,000 to $250,000. Graham and Williams would charge a fee for their services and would advise clients that they were in the process of obtaining grant money on their behalf. However, during their fraudulent scheme, Graham and Williams allegedly stole approximately $2,904,667 of their clients’ grant funds and used those funds to live an extravagant lifestyle. The two purchased vehicles, jewelry, clothing, and other personal property. They also gambled away some of the proceeds.
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
Former Soldier Turned Foreign Fighter Extradited to Face Charges in April 2018 Double Homicide and Armed Robbery of Brooksville CoupleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the extradition of Craig Austin Lang (34, Surprise, Arizona) from Ukraine to the United States to stand trial for six federal offenses. Lang, along with his co-defendant Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (27, Bloomer, Wisconsin), was charged in 2019 in a conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering in commerce, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which resulted in the death of a couple from Brooksville, Florida. Lang is also charged with conspiring to kill, kidnap, or maim persons in a foreign country and a violation of the Neutrality Act. If convicted on all counts, Lang faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Zwiefelhofer was convicted as charged at trial on March 8, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2024.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Zwiefelhofer and Lang were identified as the individuals who were believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery of the $3,000 the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Zwiefelhofer and Lang formed and pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund their travel to Venezuela for that purpose. Both Lang and Zwiefelhofer were formerly in the U.S. military before traveling overseas to Ukraine to engage in fighting, where they met. They then traveled to Kenya to fight in South Sudan before they were arrested and deported back to the United States. After being in the United States for a short time, both Lang and Zwiefelhofer planned to travel to Venezuela to fight alongside others. Lang and Zwiefelhofer met in Florida in April 2018, where they allegedly planned to take a boat to Venezuela, but their plan fell through.
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 and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman.
Lang’s extradition from Ukraine occurred after the European Court of Human Rights recently rejected his claim challenging extradition from Ukraine under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The FBI escorted Lang from Ukraine to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Tampa Field Office Fort Myers Resident Agency provided significant assistance in securing the arrest, extradition, and removal of Lang to the United States. The United States also thanks Ukrainian authorities for their valuable assistance.
Fleming Island Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Matthew Doyle (37, Fleming Island) has pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine. Doyle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, in January and February 2023, Doyle sold cocaine on two occasions to a confidential source working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as to an undercover agent.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Kilogram Cocaine OffenseRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jackie Jamal Hines (46, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Hines faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on December 6, 2023, a traffic stop was attempted on a vehicle being driven by Hines after he left his storage unit in Melbourne, Florida. Hines exited his vehicle and fled on foot from law enforcement. Once he was detained, officers located a bag containing over 300 grams of cocaine and two digital scales on his person. Hines was also in possession of a key to his storage unit. A search warrant was then obtained for the storage unit, where agents located a safe with five pressed bricks containing about a kilogram of cocaine each.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Melbourne Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
Tampa Serial Robber ConvictedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Johnny Flores (45, Tampa) guilty of three counts of Hobbs Act robbery. Flores faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, between February 13 and February 25, 2022, Flores entered three Tampa businesses wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering. He brandished and threatened the victims with a weapon and removed cash from the registers. Flores verbally and physically assaulted the victims during the course of the three robberies.
Flores was initially identified through video surveillance recordings that showed him leaving two of the robberies in a vehicle that was traced back to an individual. That individual identified Flores but died prior to the trial. A second individual had dropped Flores off near the remaining robbery. Although he testified that he didn’t know that Flores had committed a robbery, the individual testified that he had driven Flores to a location near the robbery. Additional video surveillance recordings showed Flores at a clinic prior to the robberies with similar clothing. He was subsequently identified by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Orlando Jury Convicts Deerfield Beach Man for Bank Robbery and Brandishing Firearm During A Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Johnson Saint-Louis (39, Deerfield) guilty of bank robbery using a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Saint-Louis faces up to 25 years in prison for the armed bank robbery, followed by a mandatory consecutive sentence of between 7 years, up to life, imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during the offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2024. Saint-Louis was indicted on December 14, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Saint-Louis was a former ATM technician who traveled around the southeast tampering with ATMs serviced by his former employer. On February 16, 2021, Saint-Louis robbed an ATM technician who was sent out to fix an ATM malfunction caused by Saint-Louis at a bank in Longwood. Saint-Louis was previously convicted of a similar robbery in Tallahassee that took place in September 2021. In addition, during the trial, the government introduced evidence of similar robberies committed by Saint-Louis in Boca Raton in November 2019, and in Raleigh, North Carolina in August 2021.
As part of the FBI’s investigation into the bank robberies, Saint-Louis was surveilled by deputies from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on November 4, 2021, who observed Saint-Louis traveling to various bank locations in Seminole County. Deputies eventually stopped Saint-Louis, and during that traffic stop, they observed that Saint-Louis had a firearm inside his car with black tape covering its serial numbers, as well as several pieces of paper listing the branch locations in Jacksonville. The listed bank branches were annotated with whether the ATM at each location was manufactured by Saint-Louis’s former employer or by another company, as well as notes like “too open,” “not enough exit route,” and “two man job.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tallahassee Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel S. Lyons and Chauncey A. Bratt.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Child Sexual Abuse Material OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Robert Boyan Carra (44, Clearwater) to 7 years and 3 months in federal prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Carra to pay $15,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense. Carra entered a guilty plea on January 12, 2024.
According to court documents, in April 2023, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Carra’s residence and discovered more than 300 videos and images of child sexual abuse material on several electronic devices belonging to Carra. Federal agents arrested Carra in June 2023 at Tampa International Airport and seized his cellphone. A forensic search revealed more than 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
“This sentencing for the receipt, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material reaffirms HSI’s unwavering commitment to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to seek out those who exploit our children’s innocence,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations – Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Pinellas Park Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Arcadia Man and Eight Co-Conspirators Sentenced for Committing Multiple Armed Robberies, Home Invasions, Shootings While Dressed as Police OfficersRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle today sentenced Darius Hudson (44, Arcadia) to 39 years and 2 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three separate Hobbs Act robberies, and brandishing and discharging a firearm during the commission of those robberies. On January 22, 2024, a federal found Hudson guilty as charged. He is the last of his co-conspirators to be sentenced in the conspiracy.
Name
(Age, City of residence)
Sentence Imposed
Reginald Roberts, Jr.
a/k/a “Rudy”
(24, Lakeland)
41 years
Darius Hudson
a/k/a “Toot”
(44, Arcadia)
39 years, 2 months
Nathaniel Keith Carr
a/k/a “Nate”
(24, Avon Park)
26 years, 6 months
Daniel Jackson
a/k/a “D-Jack”
(31, Winter Haven)
22 years, 11 months
Chrishawn Butler
a/k/a “Baby”
(24, Bartow)
20 years, 6 months
Jeremy Bernard Hazelton
“Presto”
(28, Bartow)
15 years, 8 months
O’Marie Danyell Hudson
a/k/a “Mari”
(26, Orlando)
11 years, 3 months
Jasmine Weber
(30, Deltona)
5 years
Elyana Bazail
a/k/a Cuban
(25, Lakeland)
5 years
According to evidence introduced during the trial, between December 2020 and April 2021, a group of individuals conspired with each other to commit armed robberies throughout Pasco, Polk, Lee, and Hillsborough counties, as well as Georgia and Arizona. Members of this conspiracy, including Hudson, impersonated law enforcement officers by wearing black clothing, gloves, and masks, often with law enforcement insignia, or vests with “Sheriff” affixed. They drove a black SUV equipped with lights, and often handcuffed their victims. During these robberies, victims and their family members were awoken in the middle of the night at home, beaten, pistol whipped, threatened, and, on several occasions, shot. Hudson was identified as the individual who brought a white backpack to his robberies, which he used to store zip ties that he would later use on his victims.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bartow Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, the Dade City Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Arcadia Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Naval Commander Sentenced for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Gregory Edward McLean, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced today to 160 months for distributing child sexual abuse material and 120 months for unlawfully retaining classified national defense information. The sentences will be served concurrently.
According to court documents, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the executive officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
The forensic review also identified a flash drive which had been recovered from McLean’s kitchen counter that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a top-secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, court documents identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch and Special Agent in Charge Barbara Jackson of the NCIS Southeast Field Office made the announcement made the announcement.
The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Naval Commander Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced Gregory Edward McLean (40, Jacksonville) today to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and 10 years’ imprisonment for unlawfully retaining classified national defense information. The sentences are to be served concurrently. McLean entered a guilty plea on December 6, 2023.
According to court documents, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the Executive Officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
The forensic review also identified a flash drive – which had been recovered from McLean’s kitchen counter – that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the Secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the Confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a Top-Secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, court documents identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States.
“Protecting our children from abuse and safeguarding our national security interests are of paramount importance to my office,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “The cooperation and diligent investigation by our law enforcement partners in this case ensured that both of those priorities were upheld through the successful federal prosecution of this case.”
“The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is dedicated to combatting the exploitation of the vulnerable members of our community and protecting the integrity of classified national security information,” said Special Agent in Charge Barbara Jackson, NCIS Southeast Field Office. "This sentencing serves as an example that such behavior will not be tolerated within the Navy ranks.”
“Gregory McLean’s retention of classified national defense information documents in an unauthorized location posed a significant risk to our country and military,” said Coult Markovsky, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Let this sentence serve as a pledge to all Americans that the FBI and our partners will doggedly pursue those who exploit their position of trust and risk our national security. In addition, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold those accountable who also pose a danger to the most vulnerable members of our society.”
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Rhode Island State Police, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike and Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Peter Fajardo (52, Clearwater) to 12 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Fajardo to pay restitution to the victims of the offense. Fajardo entered a guilty plea on January 4, 2024.
According to court documents, on seven occasions in 2022, FBI agents downloaded multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material associated with a computer in Fajardo’s home. A search warrant executed at Fajardo’s home in 2023 revealed more than 2,500 images and over 100 videos of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, agents found multiple videos filmed by Fajardo where he rubbed and played with the feet of a 10-year-old girl. Fajardo explained to agents that he has a “foot fetish” and a “sexual fascination” with feet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Orlando Resident Agency with assistance from the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle today sentenced Roger Lee Caldwell, Jr. (41, Bradenton) to life in prison for producing child sexual abuse material, transporting minors with intent to engage in sexual activity, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Caldwell was found guilty by a federal jury on February 8, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Caldwell sexually abused two minor victims over a period of six years and produced an image of one of the minor victims while forcing the victim to engage in a sex act. The image, recovered from Caldwell’s cell phone, depicted Caldwell wearing a uniquely designed belt, the same belt worn by Caldwell at the time of his arrest.
In March 2022, Caldwell travelled alone with both victims, out of state, where he repeatedly sexually abused them. Upon their return to Florida, both victims disclosed the sexual abuse to family members and law enforcement.
Caldwell’s sexual interest in children was confirmed upon law enforcement’s discovery of his collection of child sexual abuse material on a computer located during a search of the family’s home.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris, Courtney Derry, Abigail King, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Lisa Thelwell.
Volusia County Man Indicted for Attempting to Entice A 13-Year-Old to Produce Child Sexual Abuse PhotosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Shane Christopher Abrams (36, Deland) with attempting to entice a 13-year-old to produce and send him photos depicting child sexual abuse. If convicted, Abrams faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. He also faces a potential lifetime of supervised release. On May 20, 2024, Abrams was arrested by FBI agents at his place of employment in South Daytona.
According to court documents, on April 3, 2024, an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old child engaged in text conversation on a particular online social media application with a user named “Malicious_Malediction,” who was subsequently identified as Abrams. During this conversation, the “child” advised that “she” was 13 years old, and Abrams asked “her” questions about her body and discussed masturbation. The next day, Abrams provided the “child” with his cellphone number, and their conversation continued by text messaging. Between April 4 and April 20, 2024, Abrams and the “child” exchanged numerous text messages, and Abrams sent the “child” several explicit photos that he claimed were of himself. On several occasions during their text conversation, Abrams asked the “child” to produce and send him by text message explicit photos of “herself.” Abrams also gave the “child” specific and sexually explicit instructions regarding exactly how to comply with his request.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
It is another 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, 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.
Orange County Man Charged with Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Joshua Grant Cobb (33, Orlando) with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on both counts, Cobb faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cobb that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition which are alleged to have facilitated the offenses.
According to the indictment, on April 30, 2024, Cobb possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cobb is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug offense.
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 and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Lehigh Acres Man Sentenced to 110 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Videos and ImagesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Luis Daniel Fuentes (47, Lehigh Acres) to 110 years in federal prison for producing and possessing videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Fuentes was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Fuentes entered a guilty plea on February 8, 2024.
According to court documents, between approximately August 28 and September 27, 2020, Fuentes used three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He used his cellphone to produce videos of the minors being sexually abused. Fuentes stored the child sexual abuse images and videos on seven SD cards.
Fuentes’s cellphone and SD cards were turned over to law enforcement. A subsequent search of his devices, pursuant to a search warrant, revealed 24 videos that Fuentes had produced of him sexually abusing three children – ages 2, 5, and 6 years old at the time. Additionally, the SD cards and cellphone contained more than 5,000 images and 17 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children that Fuentes had downloaded from the internet and kept for his collection.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that assisted in this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Leonel Bautista Solis (29, Georgia) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Bautista entered a guilty plea on February 28, 2024.
According to the court documents, on March 23, 2023, Solis traveled from Georgia to Jacksonville to sell fentanyl. When Bautista was arrested by federal agents, they recovered 1,600 pressed fentanyl pills, cocaine packaged for sale, and six firearms inside his vehicle. Solis admitted that he had purchased the drugs in Atlanta and was bringing the fentanyl to Jacksonville. He also admitted that he would be delivering the firearms along with the narcotics.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Eight Members of Webster-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Arrested on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging seven individuals with drug trafficking offenses. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit a purple Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol and assorted ammunition. An eighth individual was charged by criminal complaint.
Indictment: United States v. Clarence Ford, et al.
Name (Age, Residence)
Charges
Maximum Penalties
Clarence Ford, Jr.
(46, Webster)
Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine
Distribution of 50 grams of methamphetamine (4 counts)
Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
Willie Ford, III
(35, Webster)
Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine
Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
Justin Demon Lowery
(41, Webster)
Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a detectable amount of fentanyl
Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a detectable amount of fentanyl
Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
Matthew Stanley Simmons, III
(25, New Port Richey)
Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl
Distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl
Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
Antwan D. Williams
(44, Webster)
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
20 years in federal prison
William Cody Ferguson
(30, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl
Distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl (2 counts)
Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 15 years, in federal prison
Johnny Leanda Harris
(56, Webster)
Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
Criminal Complaint
Theron Mathews
(36, New Port Richey)
Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
According to court filings and information presented during the detention hearings, Clarence Ford, Jr. served as a main source of supply for methamphetamine in the Webster area. His drug trafficking organization stretched into Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, and Pinellas counties. Ford supplied drugs to Willie Ford, Matthew Simmons, Justin Lowery, Antwan Williams, and Johnny Harris. These individuals are allegedly responsible for distributing more than 2,970 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 129 grams of fentanyl and conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine during the conspiracy.
On May 14, 2024, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the seven individuals charged by indictment. During a search warrant executed at Simmons’s residence, agents located fentanyl, scales, blenders, and firearms. As a result, Simmons’s roommate, Theron Mathews, was arrested and charged via a criminal complaint.
In total, the agents seized 11 firearms, approximately 800 grams of fentanyl, approximately 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, 2 kilogram press machines, a pill press machine, and $40,000 in cash from members of the organization during arrest operations.
An indictment and a complaint are merely formal charges 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture.
Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Alfred Harris (62, Cape Canaveral) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Harris faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in January 2023, the FBI identified Harris as a target based on being a recipient or downloader of CSAM on a file-sharing platform. In May 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Harris’s residence and seized Harris’s laptop. A forensic examination of the computer revealed CSAM, three file wipers, and encryption software.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Businessman Daniel Hurt to Pay over $27 Million for Medicare Fraud in Connection with Cancer Genomic TestsRead the Press Release
Daniel Hurt, who owned and/or operated Fountain Health Services LLC, Verify Health, Landmark Diagnostics LLC, First Choice Laboratory LLC and Sonoran Desert Pathology Associates LLC, has agreed to pay over $27 million to resolve allegations that he and his companies conspired with others to violate the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting false claims to, and receiving payments from, Medicare for cancer genomic (CGx) tests that were not medically necessary and were procured through illegal kickbacks. Hurt, Fountain Health, Verify Health, Landmark Diagnostics, First Choice and Sonoran Desert Pathology also agreed to be excluded by the Department of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) from Medicare, Medicaid and all other Federal health care programs. Hurt previously pleaded guilty to criminal healthcare fraud for these offenses. The civil settlement is based on Hurt’s ability to pay.
The United States alleged that Hurt, his companies and others conspired to knowingly submit false claims for CGx tests that were not medically necessary to treat or diagnose a condition, and that Hurt received and paid kickbacks in exchange for Medicare referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). In particular, the United States alleged that, from January 2019 to November 2021, Hurt conspired with telemarketing agents to solicit Medicare beneficiaries for “free” CGx tests; with telemedicine providers to “prescribe” CGx tests that were not medically necessary; with reference laboratories to conduct the CGx tests and with billing laboratories and a hospital to submit claims for payment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“We will not tolerate those who prey on older Americans to defraud Medicare,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement reflects, we will use our available resources to protect federal health care programs and the beneficiaries they serve.”
“Unnecessary medical services and false claims for medical services threaten patients and our public health programs,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This civil settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting patients from unnecessary testing and our healthcare institutions from fraudulent billing.”
“Our office is committed to pursuing those who threaten our government healthcare programs by submitting false claims for medically unnecessary services that are tainted by unlawful payments to marketers,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As these schemes become more complex and cross district lines, we will continue to work and coordinate with our law enforcement partners and other districts to ensure vigorous enforcement of the law.”
“Medicare and Medicaid are two vitally important health care programs that provide critical services to millions of Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Schemes that seek to siphon money from these programs with unnecessary medical tests are especially egregious. We will do everything we can to protect the public and the services they need, and to hold accountable those who try to bilk the system.”
“Submitting false claims for medically unnecessary services to Medicare and Medicaid jeopardizes the integrity of vital health care programs, and we, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to make sure those who attempt to do so are held accountable,” stated Deputy Inspector General of Investigations Christian J. Schrank of HHS-OIG. “This substantial settlement underscores our steadfast dedication to safeguarding federal health care programs.”
This settlement includes the resolution of allegations brought in three cases filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA, including an action filed by Robert Gerstein, a minority owner of Sonoran Desert Pathology, where he worked for Hurt, running the billing operations for CGx tests. Under the FCA, private parties can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Under today’s resolution, Relator Gerstein will receive up to $4.7 million or 17% of the government’s recovery.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, Corporate/Financial Litigation Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Samson Asiyanbi of the Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Augustus Curtis and Andrew Warner of the Corporate/Financial Litigation Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Bloor for the Middle District of Florida, Rosaline Chan for the Southern District of Florida and David Dauenheimer for the District of New Jersey and the Miami Regional Office of HHS-OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
SettlementFederal Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of CellmateRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced a federal inmate, David Lee Bishop (50, Ocala), to life in prison based upon his conviction for second degree murder. Bishop pleaded guilty on April 5, 2024, three days before his federal jury trial was scheduled to begin.
According to court documents, on February 3, 2019, Bishop strangled his cellmate to death at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex using a torn bedsheet. Bishop called his mother shortly after the murder, telling her that he had “messed up.” When his mother asked if there had been an accident, Bishop responded that “it was totally and utterly on purpose” and that he was “just waiting on them to find ‘it.’” When prison guards discovered his cellmate’s body, Bishop immediately admitted to the murder. At the time of the offense, Bishop was already serving a life sentence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Belkis H. Crockett, Tyrie K. Boyer, Robert E. Bodnar, Jr., and Michael P. Felicetta.
Pinellas Man Sentenced to 18 Years’ Imprisonment for Selling Fentanyl Linked to Two Fatal OverdosesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Corey Gaddy (31, St. Petersburg) to 18 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Gaddy was found guilty following a trial on November 3, 2023. A co-conspirator in the case, Shawn Rodriguez, was sentenced on February 7, 2024, to 12 years and 7 months’ imprisonment.
According to testimony, evidence presented at trial, and court records Gaddy was a supplier of opioids in Pinellas County since 2017. One of his dealers, Shawn Rodriguez, was at various times during the conspiracy a distributor of opioids in the Madeira Beach area. In February 2019, the Largo Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Gaddy and discovered heroin concealed in his pants. While on bond for that offense, Gaddy distributed fentanyl to Rodriguez on November 6, 2019, who then supplied the same to K.E. In the early morning hours of the next day, K.E. died of fentanyl toxicity. Gaddy learned that K.E. had died but continued distributing opioids. In April 2020, while still on bond for his pending state case, Gaddy again distributed opioids to J.P. and another person. Two days later, J.P. was found dead on a fishing boat.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Largo Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Lauren Stoia.
Pasco Man Found Guilty of Witness Tampering, Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, and Obstructing Justice Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Javier Monserrate Vazquez (47, Wesley Chapel) to 27 years in federal prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy against the United States, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, suborning perjury, and contempt of court. Monserrate Vazquez was also ordered to forfeit $250,000. A federal jury found Monserrate Vazquez guilty on October 16, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, Monserrate Vazquez was a supplier of cocaine in Pasco County. The drugs were received through the mail from Puerto Rico. Co-conspirators received the packages for further distribution. In October 2018, agents discovered a package containing two kilograms of cocaine addressed to one of Monserrate Vazquez’s co-conspirators. In a controlled delivery, a third co-conspirator retrieved the package. A search of his cellphone showed that Monserrate Vazquez had coordinated the pickup. Monserrate also delivered more than $171,000 in cash to an undercover agent in June 2018 for the purpose of laundering the funds to Colombia through the Black-Market Peso Exchange.
In the summer of 2018, agents obtained evidence of Monserrate Vazquez threatening to kill an associate over an unpaid drug debt. The threats included claims that he would burn the associate alive, cut off his head, and chop off his hands. In the spring of 2020, Monserrate Vazquez induced two people – including the person he threatened to kill – to sign affidavits claiming that Monserrate Vazquez had no involvement in drug trafficking. In court filings seeking to exclude evidence, Monserrate Vazquez relied on one of the affidavits to accuse the federal agents investigating him of misconduct and to potentially end their careers. Monserrate Vazquez kept in contact with potential witnesses against him through an encrypted phone application and a contraband prison cellphone, as well as aided a witness in leaving Tampa while trial was pending to avoid a subpoena to testify. He also paid as much as $10,000 for his co-defendant’s attorney in exchange for his co-defendant’s silence.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department and the Largo Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Diego Novaes.
Ocala Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Justin Lewis (41, Ocala) to 10 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material. This sentence must be served after another 5 and a half-year federal sentence Lewis is currently serving for wire fraud. A jury had previously found Lewis guilty of the child sexual abuse material offense on June 27, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, federal agents executed a search warrant at Lewis’s Ocala residence on February 7, 2018, looking for evidence in the wire fraud investigation. During the search, agents found two external hard drives on Lewis’s desk that contained video files depicting child sexual abuse material. The same hard drives also contained numerous files and documents attributed to Lewis, including his personal photographs, a copy of his high school diploma, emails, text messages, and assorted business records. One of the hard drives was also encrypted with the same password that Lewis used for many of his personal accounts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
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.
Georgia Felon Who Assaulted Clearwater Police Officer During Traffic Stop Convicted at Trial for Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Cleveland Sanders (41, Covington, Georgia) was found guilty of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon following a bench trial before United States District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle. Sanders faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, on January 3, 2023, an officer with the Clearwater Police Department stopped Sanders for multiple traffic infractions near North Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Grant Street in Clearwater, Florida. During the stop, the officer noticed a large handgun in the driver’s side doorjamb. After being ordered to remain in the vehicle, Sanders instead got out and punched the officer several times in the face and dislodged the officer’s body camera. Sanders then fled the scene but was later arrested.
The firearm was recovered from the doorjamb of the vehicle. At the time of the offense, Sanders had a prior felony conviction and had served 15 years in a Florida prison for aggravated battery with great bodily harm. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and David Sullivan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Five-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Reginald Dugger Jr. (42, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dugger faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on February 29, 2024, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Dugger’s residence. During the search, agents discovered a currency counter, drugs, and two loaded firearms in plain view and accessible to Dugger. At the time of the offense, Dugger had previously been convicted of several felony offenses. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
DeBary Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Brandon Eugene Brooke (30, DeBary) has pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license. Brooke faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between April 14 and October 10, 2022, Brooke purchased 69 firearms. Many of the firearms were identical and were purchased together or close in time to one another. On October 13, 2022, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) questioned Brooke regarding his repeated purchases of identical firearms from federal firearms license dealers (FFLs). A search of Brooke’s phone revealed evidence of firearms dealing.
Following the interview, ATF agents served Brooke with a “Warning Notice of Unlicensed Firearms Dealing in Violation of Federal Law.” In the Notice, Brooke was advised that his firearm transfers constituted dealing in firearms without a license. Brooke signed the Notice, acknowledging receipt, and was given a copy to retain. Following his acknowledgment of the Notice, Brooke continued to purchase and sell firearms to third parties, in violation of federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Noah P. Dorman.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
“Sovereign Citizen” Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for $3.4 Million Tax Fraud Scheme, Filing A False Lien, and Absconding While on BondRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker today sentenced Judy Grace Sellers to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to submit false tax returns and defraud the U.S. Treasury, substantive counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, and filing a false lien against the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, followed by a consecutive four-year sentence for failure to appear. Sellers was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,264.08, representing the unrecovered loss from the tax counts. Sellers originally was indicted in December 2014. Her indictment was superseded to add a charge for absconding while on bond in February 2024. She was convicted on all counts by a federal jury on March 1, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, in 2008 and 2009, Sellers operated a website called commercialredemption.com on which she promoted the use of IRS Form 1099-OID to commit tax fraud. Sellers identified as a “sovereign citizen” and perpetuated the false premise that the U.S. Treasury maintains secret accounts attributed to every U.S. citizen that can be drawn on by filing a series of bogus documents with the Treasury and other government entities.
As part of this fraud scheme, Sellers also promoted the use of IRS Form 1099-OID to fraudulently report to the IRS debts – including mortgages, student loans, credit card debts, and court judgments – as income, along with 100% withholdings of that “income” in informational returns to overcome the IRS’s internal controls and induce the IRS to issue refunds that were not owed. The proper use of the 1099-OID form is for companies such as brokers to report to the IRS income received by the purchaser of a discounted security. Sellers personally created and submitted to the IRS 1099-OID forms that were fraudulent on their face. After submitting the fraudulent 1099-OID forms, Sellers’s co-conspirators prepared and submitted fraudulent returns seeking massive refunds, in one case exceeding half a million dollars on a single return. All these refunds were based on non-existent 1099-OID “income” and withholdings. The conspiracy resulted in the submission of at least 22 returns requesting fraudulent refunds totaling at least $3.4 million from the IRS.
In 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida filed a civil action to enjoin Sellers from promoting her fraudulent scheme on her commercialredemption.com website. In retaliation, Sellers filed a false lien against the then-U.S. Attorney and a Department of Justice tax attorney who was leading the civil action.
In 2014, Sellers was indicted and arrested on charges of tax fraud and filing a false lien. In January 2015, she was placed on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor pending trial. In May 2015, Sellers was granted permission by her probation officer to leave her home to get her hair done in preparation for her pretrial hearing a few days later. The next day, Sellers cut off her GPS ankle monitor, flung it on the side of the highway, and absconded.
The cut GPS ankle monitor
Sellers was located more than eight and a half years later in New Mexico. Prior to this, Sellers had pleaded guilty to failing to appear for her sentencing in her previous federal counterfeiting case in 2002. In her previous case, Sellers was apprehended living under a false name in Mississippi.
“Today's sentencing emphasizes our resolve in pursuing those who attempt to corrupt our nation's tax system,” said Lani Rosado-Espinal, Acting Special Agent in Charge, CI Tampa Field Office. “No one is above the law in this great nation. Our law enforcement partners are just as committed as we are to ensuring that those seeking to live above the law are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly Milliron.
Winter Garden Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Michael Barrington Douglas (52, Winter Garden) to two years and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. As part of his sentence, Douglas also must pay restitution to the Florida Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Douglas entered a guilty plea on January 17, 2024.
According to court documents, Douglas was born in Jamaica and entered the United States on an immigrant visa in 1991. In 1999, an immigration judge ordered Douglas removed from the United States after he was convicted of felony firearm and drug offenses. Douglas, however, never departed the United States. Instead, he assumed the identity of J.M., a U.S. citizen, and remained in the United States.
On April 8, 2021, Douglas obtained a Florida driver license in J.M.’s name and date of birth. To obtain the driver license, Douglas falsely claimed he was a U.S. citizen and presented J.M.’s birth certificate and Social Security card.
Because Douglas was not authorized to work in the United States following his removal order, he used J.M.’s identity to apply for and obtain employment. Douglas worked at a hotel in Lake Buena Vista from 2012 to 2023. He was furloughed for a period during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he applied for and received unemployment insurance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits using J.M.’s identity.
Douglas also used J.M’s identity to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which he received and spent at various locations in the Middle District of Florida.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro and Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.
Tampa Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit COVID-Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Mehdi Tazi (29, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and a substantive count of aggravated identity theft. Tazi entered a guilty plea on February 2, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Tazi to pay $1,070,647 in restitution, jointly with his co-conspirators who were previously sentenced for the below listed offenses.
Name (Age, City)
Charges
Sentence Imposed
Steve Aloysius Moodie Jr.
(36, Tampa)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft
5 years, 10 months
Tyree Wingfield
(26, Dade City)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and aggravated identity theft 5 years, 10 monthsMelinda Sue Hernandez
(35, Sun City Center)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and aggravated identity theft 3 years, 6 monthsAccording to court documents, from approximately June 2020 through April 2021, the conspirators obtained personal identifying information (PII) of others without their knowledge. Hernandez was employed as a medical assistant at a Tampa Bay area hospital and gained access to patient PII, which she shared with Moodie. Thereafter, Tazi, Moodie, and Wingfield used that PII and that of others to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to various state workforce agencies to obtain UI benefits. These UI benefits were then transferred to bank accounts or loaded onto debit cards issued in the names of others. Tazi, Moodie, Wingfield, and Hernandez then used the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs and for other personal items. Law enforcement calculated the total intended loss caused by the fraudulent UI claims to be between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Ringleader and Company Insider Plead Guilty to Defrauding Biochemical Company and Diverting Products to China Using Falsified Export DocumentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that Pen Yu, also known as Ben Yu, 51, of Gibsonton, Florida, and Gregory Muñoz, 45, of Minneola, Florida, have each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently procure deeply discounted products from Massachusetts biochemical company Sigma-Aldrich Inc., doing business as MilliporeSigma, and export them to China using falsified export documents.
In addition, the Justice Department announced that it has declined the prosecution of MilliporeSigma after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The NSD Enforcement Policy creates a presumption that companies that (1) voluntarily self-disclose to NSD potentially criminal violations arising out of or relating to the enforcement of export control or sanctions laws, (2) fully cooperate, and (3) timely and appropriately remediate will generally receive a non-prosecution agreement, unless aggravating factors are present. This is the first time that NSD has declined the prosecution of a company under the NSD Enforcement Policy.
“When a business uncovers criminal wrongdoing within its ranks, the company is far better off reporting the violation than waiting for the Justice Department to discover it,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly what MilliporeSigma did in the first-ever corporate declination under our National Security Division’s voluntary self-disclosure program. Because of MilliporeSigma’s timely disclosure and exceptional cooperation, a rogue company insider and his accomplice pled guilty to fraudulently diverting millions of dollars worth of biochemicals to China, and the company will not be prosecuted. As national security and corporate crime increasingly intersect, companies that step up and own up under the Department’s voluntary self-disclosure programs can help themselves and our nation.”
“When MilliporeSigma found evidence that one of its employees was diverting biochemical products to an unauthorized purchaser in China, they did not sweep the misconduct under the rug. Instead, the company made the early decision to cooperate with the Justice Department, resulting in the convictions of responsible individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcement reflects the value for companies like MilliporeSigma to quickly self-disclose potential criminal activity and reaffirms our commitment to work in partnership with the private sector to root out conduct that violates the law and jeopardizes our national security.”
“When company and university insiders abuse the trust that their institutions place in them, they will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Here, Millipore Sigma’s prompt disclosures led to the uncovering of this multimillion- dollar criminal enterprise, and enabled law enforcement to disrupt the scheme and stop further illegal exports to China. These disclosures led to the seizure of multiple illegal shipments to China and the conviction of two of the most culpable participants in the scheme. Millipore Sigma’s prompt and full cooperation was essential in obtaining this result.”
“Faking an affiliation with an academic research lab to obtain controlled biochemical materials, and then sending those materials to China, is not only wrong, but illegal,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Today’s announcement provides yet another fact pattern for universities to beware of — the misuse of academic institutions by outsiders who seek to obscure the actual customer of controlled items.”
According to court documents, beginning in at least July 2016 and continuing through at least May 2023, Yu ordered biochemical products from MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of multinational science and technology company Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, with help from Muñoz, a MilliporeSigma salesperson, by falsely representing that Yu was affiliated with a biology research lab at a large Florida university. This fictitious affiliation led MilliporeSigma to provide Yu over $4.9 million worth of discounts and other benefits, such as free overnight shipping, not available to the public. Yu gave Muñoz thousands of dollars in gift cards for facilitating these fraudulent discounted orders. When the products arrived at the university stockroom, a stockroom employee diverted the products to Yu, who repackaged them and shipped them to China. To avoid scrutiny, Yu made false statements about the value and contents of these shipments in export documents.
This scheme continued until MilliporeSigma compliance personnel identified certain orders as suspicious, prompting the company to retain outside counsel who voluntarily disclosed the misconduct to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division only a week later. MilliporeSigma made the disclosure well before its counsel had completed their investigation and understood the full nature and extent of the scheme. MilliporeSigma offered exceptional cooperation to the prosecution team, including by proactively identifying and producing documents to the Department that established probable cause to search residences and electronic devices of culpable individuals. MilliporeSigma’s cooperation allowed investigators to quickly identify the individuals responsible for the scheme, including Yu and Muñoz, and secure their felony guilty pleas. As a result of MilliporeSigma’s timely self-disclosure and extraordinary cooperation, MilliporeSigma will not be charged, despite the criminal wrongdoing committed by Muñoz, a MilliporeSigma employee.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases.
Note: View the information and plea agreement for Yu.
View the information and plea agreement for Muñoz.View the declination letter here.
Ringleader and Company Insider Plead Guilty to Defrauding Biochemical Company and Diverting Products to China Using Falsified Export DocumentsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that Pen Yu, also known as Ben Yu, 51, of Gibsonton, Florida, and Gregory Muñoz, 45, of Minneola, Florida, have each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently procure deeply discounted products from Massachusetts biochemical company Sigma-Aldrich Inc., doing business as MilliporeSigma, and export them to China using falsified export documents.
In addition, the Justice Department announced that it has declined the prosecution of MilliporeSigma after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The NSD Enforcement Policy creates a presumption that companies that (1) voluntarily self-disclose to NSD potentially criminal violations arising out of or relating to the enforcement of export control or sanctions laws, (2) fully cooperate, and (3) timely and appropriately remediate will generally receive a non-prosecution agreement, unless aggravating factors are present. This is the first time that NSD has declined the prosecution of a company under the NSD Enforcement Policy.
“When a business uncovers criminal wrongdoing within its ranks, the company is far better off reporting the violation than waiting for the Justice Department to discover it,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly what MilliporeSigma did in the first-ever corporate declination under our National Security Division’s voluntary self-disclosure program. Because of MilliporeSigma’s timely disclosure and exceptional cooperation, a rogue company insider and his accomplice pled guilty to fraudulently diverting millions of dollars worth of biochemicals to China, and the company will not be prosecuted. As national security and corporate crime increasingly intersect, companies that step up and own up under the Department’s voluntary self-disclosure programs can help themselves and our nation.”
“When MilliporeSigma found evidence that one of its employees was diverting biochemical products to an unauthorized purchaser in China, they did not sweep the misconduct under the rug. Instead, the company made the early decision to cooperate with the Justice Department, resulting in the convictions of responsible individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcement reflects the value for companies like MilliporeSigma to quickly self-disclose potential criminal activity and reaffirms our commitment to work in partnership with the private sector to root out conduct that violates the law and jeopardizes our national security.”
“When company and university insiders abuse the trust that their institutions place in them, they will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Here, Millipore Sigma’s prompt disclosures led to the uncovering of this multimillion- dollar criminal enterprise, and enabled law enforcement to disrupt the scheme and stop further illegal exports to China. These disclosures led to the seizure of multiple illegal shipments to China and the conviction of two of the most culpable participants in the scheme. Millipore Sigma’s prompt and full cooperation was essential in obtaining this result.”
“Faking an affiliation with an academic research lab to obtain controlled biochemical materials, and then sending those materials to China, is not only wrong, but illegal,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Today’s announcement provides yet another fact pattern for universities to beware of — the misuse of academic institutions by outsiders who seek to obscure the actual customer of controlled items.”
According to court documents, beginning in at least July 2016 and continuing through at least May 2023, Yu ordered biochemical products from MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of multinational science and technology company Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, with help from Muñoz, a MilliporeSigma salesperson, by falsely representing that Yu was affiliated with a biology research lab at a large Florida university. This fictitious affiliation led MilliporeSigma to provide Yu over $4.9 million worth of discounts and other benefits, such as free overnight shipping, not available to the public. Yu gave Muñoz thousands of dollars in gift cards for facilitating these fraudulent discounted orders. When the products arrived at the university stockroom, a stockroom employee diverted the products to Yu, who repackaged them and shipped them to China. To avoid scrutiny, Yu made false statements about the value and contents of these shipments in export documents.
This scheme continued until MilliporeSigma compliance personnel identified certain orders as suspicious, prompting the company to retain outside counsel who voluntarily disclosed the misconduct to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division only a week later. MilliporeSigma made the disclosure well before its counsel had completed their investigation and understood the full nature and extent of the scheme. MilliporeSigma offered exceptional cooperation to the prosecution team, including by proactively identifying and producing documents to the Department that established probable cause to search residences and electronic devices of culpable individuals. MilliporeSigma’s cooperation allowed investigators to quickly identify the individuals responsible for the scheme, including Yu and Muñoz, and secure their felony guilty pleas. As a result of MilliporeSigma’s timely self-disclosure and extraordinary cooperation, MilliporeSigma will not be charged, despite the criminal wrongdoing committed by Muñoz, a MilliporeSigma employee.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the cases.
Declination letter Yu information Yu plea agreement Munoz information Munoz plea agreementLake County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Scott Fogg (37, Altoona) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Fogg faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court records, Fogg has been convicted of eight felonies since 2008, including burglary, grand theft, and illegal drug possession. On August 28, 2023, Fogg approached his girlfriend who was seated in a truck with her minor children. Fogg entered the truck, took his girlfriend’s pistol out of the center console, pulled back the slide, and told her that was going to shoot all of them. Responding deputies subsequently took Fogg into custody and recovered the loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Fogg is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Making A False Statement in an Attempt to Buy A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Donald Plemmons (45, Clyo, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement and representation to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Plemmons faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the court records, in March 2023, Plemmons completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. On the form, Plemmons indicated that he was not subject to a protective order retraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening a child or an intimate partner or child of such partner. That statement was false in that, in January 2023, Plemmons was subject to a court order from the Superior Court for the County of Effingham, Georgia, which restrained him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or their family.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Veterinary Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Obtain Hydrocodone by FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Crystal Windham (41, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to an information charging her with attempting to obtain a controlled substance (hydrocodone) by fraud. Windham faces a maximum penalty of four years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court documents, between July 2020 and May 2023, Windham purchased more than 21,000 hydrocodone tablets from a pharmacy in Summerfield, Florida. Windham, a former practice manager for a veterinary clinic in Ocala, used forged prescriptions from two veterinarians to acquire the drugs. Many of the prescriptions were for deceased pets or for animals that had never been prescribed hydrocodone by the veterinary practice. On May 9, 2023, Windham went to the pharmacy and again attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. She was stopped before doing so. When subsequently interviewed by law enforcement, Windham admitted the scheme by which she had fraudulently obtained the hydrocodone tablets.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
Columbia County Man Indicted for Forcibly Assaulting and Threatening to Kill Two United States Secret Service AgentsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Eric Evan Brown (57, White Springs) with interstate transmission of a threat to injure, threatening a United States Secret Service Protectee, two counts of forcibly assaulting a federal officer without use of a deadly weapon, and two counts of threatening a federal official. If convicted, Brown faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of threatening a federal official, up to 8 years in prison for each count of forcibly assaulting a federal officer, and up to 5 years in prison for the transmission of a threat and threat against a U.S. Secret Service Protectee. Brown made his appearance in federal court on May 20, 2024, and was ordered detained.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2024, Brown posted on X/Twitter a threatening communication to kill the spouse of a former president of the United States. On May 9, 2024, while two U.S. Secret Service agents were conducting a follow up investigation regarding the threat against the Protectee, Brown threatened to assault and murder both agents.
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. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office, with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
St. Cloud Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Prison for Enticement of A Child to Engage in Sexual Activity and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Joshua Douglas Dodson (41, St. Cloud) to 24 years and 5 months in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and possessing images and videos of children being sexually exploited. Dodson entered a guilty plea on November 13, 2023.
According to court documents, in November 2021, investigators received a cyber tip that Dodson had received child sexual abuse material on a social media platform. When the investigation became public knowledge, a child victim (“CV1”) came forward and told investigators that Dodson asked her to sit on his lap and attempted to touch her by putting his hands down her pants. CV1 stated that these events occurred in March 2020.
CV1 and her mother gave investigators authority to take over CV1’s phone and pose as CV1. During conversations with the investigators posing as CV1, Dodson sent multiple pictures of himself nude and a video of him masturbating. The conversation continued with Dodson asking for “naughty pics” of CV1’s private parts in exchange. The conversation then turned to a meeting to have sex on a day that CV1 was supposed to be in school. Dodson joked that CV1 had him “...talking and feeling like I’m 15 again.” In their text exchanges, Dodson warned CV1 to be cautious and delete their communications.
A meeting was agreed to between Dodson and the law enforcement officer posing as CV1 for November 7, 2022. When Dodson arrived as scheduled, an arrest team swarmed his truck and seized his cellphone. The phone contained child sex abuse images that appeared to have been taken using a hidden camera.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman
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.
Ponte Vedra Beach Man Indicted for Fraud Scheme Involving COVID-19 Personal Protective EquipmentRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging James Elliott Davis II (35, Ponte Vedra Beach) with 16 counts of bank fraud, 12 counts of wire fraud, and 1 count of money laundering and theft of mail. If convicted, Davis faces up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud, up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering count, up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the theft of mail count, and payment of restitution to the victims he defrauded.
According to court documents, from March 2018 through 2022, Davis ran a purported medical supply company named Medisale, Inc. By using false representations, Davis enticed individuals and business entities to invest over $7 million in Medisale. He falsely represented to victim-investors that Medisale was making significant profits on the sale of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). He claimed to have contact with CEOs at various hospitals and that Medisale had contracts with hospitals to sell large volumes of N95 masks and other PPE. As part of his sale’s pitch, Davis showed bank statement with large balances, claiming the money was from the sale of PPE.
In reality, Medisale had no such contracts and had no true revenue from the sale of PPE. Davis kited checks and conducted fraudulent ACH/wire transfers between multiple financial institutions to artificially inflate the apparent balances on his bank accounts. Utilizing victim-investor money, Davis paid off previous debts, paid other investors purported profits from the sale of PPE, and paid for personal expenses. This included Davis using victim-investor money to purchase a membership at a luxury club in Ponte Vedra Beach and spending more than $27,000 on custom clothing.
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 Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of Inspector General, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.