Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
North Fort Myers Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Timothy Crawley (66, North Fort Myers) to seven years in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Crawley was also sentenced to a 20-year term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Crawley had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022.
According to court documents, from March 8, 2014, through September 22, 2021, Crawley knowingly possessed child sex abuse images and videos that he searched for and downloaded from the internet. Crawley collected and stored these visual depictions involving prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on his laptop and various hard drives.
Between August 2021, through September 2021, the FBI connected to Crawley’s computer and viewed a list of files that Crawley had available for sharing using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program and downloaded files depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct from Crawley’s computer. On September 22, 2021, the FBI executed the search warrant for Crawley’s residence in North Fort Myers, Florida, and among the property seized were Crawley’s laptop and hard drives. During an interview with agents, Crawley admitted to downloading child sex abuse materials for approximately one year and provided some of the various search terms that he had used to search for child sex abuse materials over the internet and save it to his computer and external hard drive. A subsequent forensic analysis of the hard drives revealed in excess of 30,000 images and over 900 videos depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. 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 Attorney’s 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 Charged for Selling Firearm and HeroinRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Troy Nix (29, Mount Dora) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it. If convicted, Nix faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug offense.
According to court records, on or about June 3, 2022, Nix sold a 9mm firearm and heroin to an undercover ATF agent. Nix then fled on foot when agents attempted to arrest him. He was apprehended several hours later. Nix has at least eight prior state felony convictions, including battery on a person 65 years of age or older, sale of cocaine, and fleeing to elude police. Because of his prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mount Dora Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Pasco Man Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking, International Money Laundering, and Possession of an AR-15 Assault PistolRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Luis Mojica Rojas (45, Zephyrhills) with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, money laundering, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted on all counts, Mojica Rojas faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 40 years, and up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Mojica Rojas that the United States intends to forfeit $92,195, an AR-15 type pistol, and ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to the offenses.
According to court records, on May 9, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Mojica Rojas’s residence. Inside the master bedroom, agents seized an AR-15 assault pistol and a loaded drum magazine for an AR-15. Cocaine was also found in the master bathroom. Agents seized over 800 grams of suspected fentanyl in powdered form, and another 100 grams of counterfeit prescription drugs containing suspected fentanyl from a shed and camper in the backyard. The indictment further alleges that in August 2021, Mojica Rojas was part of a conspiracy to internationally launder drug proceeds to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the drug 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.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Plant City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
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.
Ocala Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ronrico Lionel Farmer (33, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Farmer faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Farmer had been indicted on September 28, 2021.
According to court documents, on or about April 17, 2021, an Ocala police officer conducted a traffic stop of an automobile being driven by Farmer for a traffic infraction. Farmer gave the officer a false name to conceal his suspended license. A subsequent search of the automobile revealed a substance (fentanyl) on the driver’s floorboard, which Farmer referred to as “children’s candy.” Also on the floorboard, the officer discovered a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine. The FBI conducted a DNA analysis of the recovered firearm and determined that Farmer’s DNA was on the weapon. As a multi-convicted felon, Farmer is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Kissimmee Man Surrenders on Federal COVID Relief Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Levelle Joseph Harris (36, Kissimmee) has surrendered pursuant to an indictment charging him with 14 counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Harris had been indicted on June 7, 2022.
According to the facts presented in court, between May 27, 2020, and June 2, 2021, Harris applied for 14 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act using false information. As part of his scheme, Harris made false representations on his PPP applications and electronically submitted the applications over the internet. The fraudulent loans were approved, and Harris received more than $1 million in internet wire transfers.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is being prosecuted as part the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis.
Dixie County Attorney Found Guilty of Extorting Former Client and Failing to Report Cash as RequiredRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Marion Michael O’Steen (43, Cross City) guilty of interfering with commerce by extortion and failing to timely file a Form 8300 reporting the receipt of more than $10,000 in currency. O’Steen faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and may be required to forfeit at least $60,000 in proceeds received. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 12, 2022.
According to evidence presented at trial, O’Steen was a criminal defense attorney who represented clients being prosecuted by former State Attorney Jeffrey Alan Siegmeister’s office in the Third Judicial Circuit. Siegmeister was previously charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use a facility of commerce for unlawful activity, conspiracy to commit extortion, wire fraud, and tax fraud. Testimony at trial established that O’Steen requested official acts from Siegmeister—including the favorable disposition of charges filed against his client, and the delay of official actions–in order to enable O’Steen to obtain additional “fees” from at least one of his clients. On August 17, 2018, O’Steen told his client that if the client paid him an additional $60,000 fee, O’Steen would use up a “favor” with the state attorney to make “everything go away,” representing that O’Steen had favors with Siegmeister for which people would pay him. O’Steen told his client he could “go to trial and fight em’ out, which I don’t think you can win.” He further advised his client that he would not get the same results from another attorney.
O’Steen received two payments of $30,000 each from his client. Evidence at trial established that O’Steen knew the reporting requirements but failed to timely file a Form 8300 with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Karase and David B. Mesrobian.
Convicted Felon with Ghost Gun Pleads Guilty to Federal Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marty Eugene Days, Jr. (33, Williston) has pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Days faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Days had been indicted on May 10, 2022.
According to court documents, on or about February 23, 2022, an Ocala police officer stopped an automobile driven by Days for erratic driving. Days, the sole occupant, did not have a valid license, and also admitted that he had been drinking and displayed an alcoholic beverage to the officer. After detaining Days, the officer located a bag on the ground adjacent to the automobile that contained Days’s Florida ID card, two of his credit cards, and a 9mm handgun. Video surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store showed Days tossing the bag out of the passenger-side window. The firearm—a “ghost gun” with no manufacturer serial number—was loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Days is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Cambrel Jamal Smart (28, Fort Lauderdale) with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Smart faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The indictment also notifies Smart that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on January 5, 2022, Smart was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Smart had previous felony convictions for robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, attempted murder in the second degree, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Smart is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reiching.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Two Florida Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Violently Attacking a Black Man While Shouting Racial SlursRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Ocala, Florida, has charged two Florida men with committing a hate crime. The indictment charging Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52, was unsealed today following the arrest of Robert Lashley.
The indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 17, 2021, the defendants, aiding and abetting one another, willfully caused bodily injury to the victim, a Black man, because of his actual and perceived race. According to the indictment, the defendants repeatedly called the victim racial slurs and repeatedly struck the victim with closed fists and an axe handle.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Florida Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Attacking a Black Man While Shouting Racial SlursRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL - A federal grand jury in Ocala, Florida has charged two Florida men with committing a hate crime. The indictment charging Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52 was unsealed today following the arrest of Robert Lashley.
The indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 17, 2021, the defendants, aiding and abetting one another, willfully caused bodily injury to the victim, a Black man, because of his actual and perceived race. According to the indictment, the defendants repeatedly called the victim racial slurs and repeatedly struck the victim with closed fists and an axe handle.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Malachi Deloch (23, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Deloch faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 7, 2022, Deloch, a convicted felon, possessed multiple firearms, including a Springfield XD 9mm with extended magazine. Deloch was seen openly carrying the firearm in a residential area of Tampa, he later fled from officers with the Tampa Police Department who had arrived on the scene.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
St. Petersburg Armed Career Criminal Found Guilty of Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Aunyis Cherry (27, St. Petersburg), an Armed Career Criminal, guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as convicted felon. Cherry faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Cherry had been indicted on May 27, 2021.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cherry drove a vehicle with a counterfeit license plate in the area of 14th Street South in St. Petersburg. A uniformed detective from the St. Petersburg Police Department arrived to conduct a stop. Cherry fled from the car but was apprehended. The vehicle’s owner couldn’t be determined, and an inventory search revealed a fully loaded FN Herstal pistol. The jury heard testimony that Cherry’s DNA was located in three places on the firearm, including the handle and trigger. As a previously convicted felon, Cherry is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Gordon and Craig Gestring. The trial was conducted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Beckman and Jim Preston.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Lake County Woman Convicted of Mail Fraud and Conspiracy in Connection with $2.94 Billion Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Joyce O. Isagba guilty of three counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiring to defraud the United States with respect to claims. She faces a maximum penalty of 70 years in federal prison. A grand jury had indicted Isagba and her husband, David, on May 27, 2020. David Isagba entered a guilty plea on March 29, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from 2009 through 2019, the Isagbas submitted 227 fraudulent tax returns to the IRS falsely claiming to be entitled to more than $2.94 billion in tax refunds on behalf of sham trusts. The Isagbas subsequently received a total of $5,815,723.65 from the IRS as a result of this fraudulent scheme. Joyce Isagba used her portion of the money to purchase a residence. She entered into a contract to purchase the home the day after she received a $462,000 fraudulently obtained refund check from the IRS. The Isagbas also purchased multiple luxury vehicles with fraud proceeds and used the money to fund a luxurious lifestyle.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah Nowalk.
Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Distributor Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Luis Raul Perez Rodriguez (50, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Perez Rodriguez had pleaded guilty on March 28, 2022.
According to court documents, on January 21, 2022, Perez Rodriguez had arranged to receive a shipment of three parcels containing 19 kilograms of cocaine, valued at an estimated $570,000, through a delivery service from an address in Puerto Rico to an apartment in Orlando. On January 19, 2022, security specialists at the delivery service company detected the cocaine shipment and reported the parcels to the Drug Enforcement Administration. On January 21, 2022, an undercover officer, working with the DEA posed as a delivery driver and delivered a fake package to the address listed on the shipment. Perez Rodriguez was in the parking lot of his apartment and identified himself with the fake name associated with the parcels and showed the delivery driver that he was tracking the progress of the shipment on his phone. Perez Rodriguez was apprehended as the driver loaded two of the three packages into Perez Rodriguez’s vehicle. Additional evidence linked Perez Rodriguez to seven suspected kilogram-quantity shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Orlando that were delivered as early as 2018.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for the Illegal Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida–United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a three-count indictment charging Michael Christopher Langston (37, Jacksonville) with illegally possessing 11 firearms and a firearm silencer. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Langston that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition traceable to the offense. Langston was arrested on June 15, 2022, in Jacksonville.
According to the indictment, on August 4, 2019, Langston knowingly possessed a machine gun, a firearm silencer, and a Glock .40 caliber firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device. The indictment further alleges that Langston possessed 11 firearms knowing that he was an unlawful user of marijuana and anabolic steroids. He is also charged with possessing firearms after he was committed to a mental institution.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Cannizzaro and Laura Cofer Taylor. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Cedric Durham, Jr. (21, Tampa) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Durham that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. Durham was arrested on June 13, 2022, in Tampa. He made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson the following day and was ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, on March 6, 2022, Durham was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Durham had a previous felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Durham is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and David Chee. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
California Man Known as “icloudripper4you” Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Nude Photographs and Images from Apple iCloud AccountsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Hao Kuo Chi (41, La Puente, California) to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy and computer fraud. Chi had pleaded guilty on October 15, 2021.
According to court documents, Chi operated for years on Anon-IB, a now defunct website. Anon-IB was notorious for posting explicit and intimate images of others shared without consent and with the intent to intimidate, harass, or embarrass—commonly known as “revenge porn.” Chi hacked into the Apple iCloud accounts of victims across the United States in search of nude photographs and videos of young women, which he referred to as “wins.” Using the online moniker “icloudripper4you,” he then shared and traded these images with persons he had met on Anon-IB.
Chi’s email accounts contained the iCloud credentials of approximately 4,700 victims. These accounts also revealed that he had sent content stolen from victims to conspirators on more than 300 occasions. Some of those conspirators subsequently released the images into the public sphere. Chi not only shared his “wins” with conspirators, but he also kept many of those images for his own personal collection. Specifically, Chi maintained approximately 3.5 terabytes of victim data on cloud and physical storage, containing content attributable to more than 500 victims.
“Chi victimized hundreds of women across the country, making them fear for their safety and reputations,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “This sentence reflects the resolve of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold cybercriminals responsible for their crimes.”
“This man led a terror campaign from his computer, causing fear and distress to hundreds of victims. The FBI is committed to protecting the American people by exposing these cybercriminals and bringing them to justice,” said David Walker, FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Lake County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Coercing, Engaging in Sexual Activity with A Child and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images over the InternetRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Eric Lance Reynolds (42, Mount Dora) to life in federal prison for coercing and enticing a child to engage in sexual activity and for distributing child sexual abuse material. Reynolds was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release, register as a sex offender, pay $24,797 in restitution to the victim of the offense, and forfeit the Apple iPhone that he used to commit these child sex offenses. Reynolds had pleaded guilty on March 22, 2022.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, over the course of several years, Reynolds repeatedly sexually abused a prepubescent child to whom Reynolds had access. Specifically, on November 29, 2019, Reynolds used the internet to communicate with a registered sex offender, Jonathan Boudreau. During these online communications, Reynolds offered to allow Boudreau to participate in the sexual abuse of this child, in exchange for money to purchase a video game for the child. On that date, and on at least six other occasions from approximately 2017 to 2020, Boudreau and Reynolds sexually abused the child together, and forced the child to wear a blindfold during the encounters. On one occasion, Reynolds allowed a third individual to participate in the sexual abuse of the child. In total, Reynolds sexually abused this child victim between 15 and 50 times.
A search of Reynolds’ iPhone revealed that Reynolds was also engaged in the distribution and trading of child sexual abuse material with other individuals online. The FBI conducted a forensic review of his devices and discovered six videos and 47 images depicting the sexual abuse of infants and prepubescent children.
On December 21, 2021, Boudreau was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material as a registered sex offender.
“No amount of prison time can erase the horrors this man inflicted on an innocent child. But the community can be assured, he will never victimize another child again thanks to the exemplary work of our special agents and task force officers who work tirelessly investigating crimes against children,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
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.
Duval Felon Indicted for Attempting to Purchase FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Thomas Oliver Morrison (62, Jacksonville) with knowingly making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. If convicted, Morrison faces a maximum penalty of 5years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Morrison attempted to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearms dealer on April 20, 2022. Morrison falsely stated on the required ATF Form 4473 that he was not a felon, when in fact he had numerous prior felony convictions, including false imprisonment, battery – second offense, grand theft, possession of controlled substance and dealing in stolen property. Morrison also falsely stated that he was not subject to a final injunction for protection against domestic violence and that he had not been previously involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian.
This case is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
St. Petersburg Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Julius Arline (31, St. Petersburg) to 40 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for engaging in the sex trafficking of minor children. Arline was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to pay restitution to the victims. Arline had pleaded guilty on March 11, 2022.
According to court documents, Julius Arline and his co-defendant, Leslie Reio, obtained, enticed and housed two child victims in a St. Petersburg hotel room, forcing them to commit commercial sex acts between March 6, 2021, and March 14, 2021. The child victims (14 and 15 years old) were rescued after being forced to take sexually explicit photographs of themselves that were used as online advertisements for commercial sex with strangers. The two children were kept in the hotel room where they were provided illegal drugs and forced to participate in a number of sex dates over an 8-day period. After being forced to engage in the sex acts and receiving payment, the child victims were required to give money to Arline and Reio.
A sentencing hearing for Reio is scheduled for July 8, 2022.
“Child sex trafficking is happening every day, and this significant sentence exemplifies HSI’s commitment to protecting children from sex trafficking crimes and victimization,” said HSI Tampa acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Silliman. “HSI, alongside St. Petersburg Police Department, are committed to locating, and recovering child victims, as well as ensuring predators are held responsible for their heinous crimes.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, with substantial assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This case was brought as part of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, which is one of 13 task forces in the country to receive grant funding from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Task Force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. More information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/humantrafficking. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Justice Department Obtains Relief in Lawsuit Alleging Discriminatory Targeting of Hispanic HomeownersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has entered a consent order resolving the department’s Fair Housing Act claims against Advocate Law Groups of Florida P.A. (ALGF); Jon B. Lindeman Jr.; Ephigenia K. Lindeman; Summit Development Solutions USA LLC (SDS) and Haralampos “Bob” Kourouklis. The department’s lawsuit alleged that defendants discriminated on the basis of national origin when they targeted Hispanic homeowners for predatory mortgage loan modification services and interfered with those individuals’ ability to keep their homes.
The department alleged in its complaint that defendants targeted Hispanic homeowners with Spanish-language advertising that falsely promised to cut their mortgage payments in half. Defendants made the same representations to hundreds of Hispanic homeowners in person, promising lower payments in exchange for thousands of dollars of upfront fees and continuing monthly fees of as much as $550, which defendants claimed were “non-refundable.” Many of the targeted homeowners had limited English proficiency. The department’s complaint further alleged that defendants directed these homeowners not to communicate with their lenders and to stop making their monthly mortgage payments. According to the complaint, defendants did little or nothing to obtain the promised loan modifications for the homeowners, many of whom defaulted on their mortgage payments and ultimately lost their homes.
“Targeting homeowners with deceptive advertisements and predatory schemes because of their national origin and limited English proficiency is reprehensible and illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division. “Homeowners of color and other protected groups must be safeguarded from discriminatory targeting that can lead to grave financial loss, including loss of one’s home. We will continue to use our federal civil rights laws to protect the rights of homeowners.”
“This settlement, reached in partnership with the Civil Rights Division’s Housing Section, is a major achievement for our Civil Division and its Civil Rights Unit,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We are committed to using every legal tool available, including the Fair Housing Act, to ensure that our residents enjoy their right to housing without discriminatory practices of this kind.”
The Justice Department brought this suit after Lucía Hurtado, Noemí Román, Argentina Roque and members of their families filed complaints of discrimination with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After HUD investigated the complaints, it issued charges of discrimination and referred the matter to the Justice Department for litigation. Hurtado, Román and Roque later intervened as plaintiffs in the department’s lawsuit.
“It is outrageous that these defendants engaged in business practices that were not only illegal and discriminatory, but also resulted in hard-working homeowners defaulting on their mortgages and losing their homes due to foreclosure,” said Demetria McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD commends the Justice Department for its commitment to enforcing the Fair Housing Act and for protecting the fair housing rights of all who call America home.”
The consent order enters a judgment against defendants for $4,595,000 to compensate people who were harmed by defendants’ conduct. Of that amount, defendants must pay a total of $95,000 to the three intervenors, plus a civil penalty to the United States. Most of the monetary judgment is suspended based on evidence of defendants’ limited net worth, including financial statements signed by defendants under penalty of perjury. The consent order requires defendants to submit updated financial statements each year during the five-year term of the settlement. If the court determines that defendants made any material misrepresentations or omissions in their original financial statements or in the annual updates, the entire judgment will be reinstated, and defendants will be immediately liable for the full amount.
In addition to monetary relief, the consent order permanently enjoins defendants from providing any mortgage relief assistance services, such as loan modifications or foreclosure defense services, and imposes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for defendants’ other real-estate activities.
This case was litigated by attorneys in the department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Florida Man Known as “the Monkey Whisperer” Sentenced for Trafficking Protected PrimatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, aka “the Monkey Whisperer” (58, Parrish), to five years’ probation, to include eight months home confinement, for one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered Hammonds to pay a $90,000 fine to the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service Lacey Act Reward Fund. Hammonds had pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022.
According to court records, Hammonds owned and operated The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, a business engaged in the breeding and selling of wildlife. From September 2017 until February 2018, Hammonds conspired to sell a capuchin monkey to a celebrity client in California, even though that buyer could not lawfully possess a capuchin monkey in California. Hammonds facilitated the transportation of the capuchin monkey from Florida to California through individuals who were not permitted to possess a capuchin monkey in either state. The client paid over $12,000 for the animal. Law enforcement later seized that capuchin monkey from the client’s California residence.
In addition, Hammonds illegally sold cotton-top tamarins, which are primates listed as an endangered species, to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. To conceal his unlawful wildlife trafficking, Hammonds submitted false records to a law enforcement officer and attempted to persuade a witness to lie to a law enforcement officer by saying that they had purchased the cotton-top tamarins at a flea market. Hammonds had been previously convicted in Florida state court for similar conduct in 2012.
“In a number of states, it is illegal to buy, sell and own exotic pets,” said Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement. “The illegal wildlife trade jeopardizes the future for many species, and we thank the U.S. Department of Justice, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their work on this case.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
Armed Career Criminal Indicted for Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jerome Miller, Jr. (38, Tampa) with possession of ammunition by an Armed Career Criminal. If convicted, Miller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The indictment also notifies Miller that the United States intends to forfeit the ammunition traceable to the offense.
The indictment alleges that on February 8, 2022, in Tampa, Miller was in possession of ammunition. At the time of the incident, Miller had three previous convictions for delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 City of Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
SSNDOB Marketplace, A Series of Websites That Listed More Than 20 Million Social Security Numbers for Sale, Seized and Dismantled in International OperationRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, along with Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon for the IRS - Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge David Walker for the FBI - Tampa Division, today announced the seizure of the SSNDOB Marketplace, a series of websites that operated for years and were used to sell personal information, including the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to individuals in the United States. The SSNDOB Marketplace has listed the personal information for approximately 24 million individuals in the United States, generating more than $19 million USD in sales revenue.
The SSNDOB administrators created advertisements on darkweb criminal forums for the Marketplace’s services, provided customer support functions, and regularly monitored the activities of the sites, including monitoring when purchasers deposited money into their accounts. The administrators also employed various techniques to protect their anonymity and to thwart detection of their activities, including using online monikers that were distinct from their true identities, strategically maintaining servers in various countries, and requiring buyers to use digital payment methods, such as bitcoin.
The international operation to dismantle and seize this infrastructure is the result of close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Cyprus and Latvia. On June 7, 2022, seizure orders were executed against the domain names of the SSNDOB Marketplace (ssndob[.]ws, ssndob[.]vip, ssndob[.]club, and blackjob[.]biz), effectively ceasing the website’s operation.
“I applaud the extensive work and cooperation by our domestic and international law enforcement partners in bringing a halt to this global scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “The theft and misuse of personal information is not only criminal but can have a catastrophic impact on individuals for years to come.”
“Identity theft can have a devastating impact on a victim’s long-term emotional and financial health. Taking down the SSNDOB website disrupted ID theft criminals and helped millions of Americans whose personal information was compromised,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon, IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Special agents with IRS-CI’s DC Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work with the U.S. and international law enforcement community to end these complex scams, regardless of where the money trail leads them.”
“These seizures demonstrate the FBI’s strong working relationship with our international partners in disrupting malicious cyber activity,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “Dismantling illicit marketplaces that threaten the privacy and security of the American public is a priority of the FBI.”
The U.S. investigation was led by the IRS - Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI – Tampa Division, with assistance from the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was also provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices responsible for Latvia and Cyprus, the Latvian Police, and the Cyprus Police.
The investigation is being overseen by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones and asset forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
St. Augustine Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Adam Taylor (32, St. Augustine) has pleaded guilty to illegally purchasing firearms. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. In addition, Taylor has agreed to forfeit the firearms traceable to the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Taylor was intercepted on a state wiretap discussing the purchase of firearms with a member of a suspected drug trafficking organization (DTO). On August 18, 2021, Taylor purchased two Century Arms Draco 7.62 x 39mm pistols from a gun dealer in St. Augustine. Taylor lied to the gun dealer when he completed paperwork claiming that he was buying the firearms for himself. Shortly after purchasing the firearms, Taylor delivered the pistols to the DTO member.
On September 9, 2021, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the DTO member’s residence in St. Augustine. As a result of the search, the located and seized the two Century Arms, Draco, 7.62 x 39mm pistols that Taylor had purchased.
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. The forfeiture of assets is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Charged with Using and Attempting to Use A Minor to Produce Sexually Explicit ImagesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment against Alejandro Carmona-Fonseca (47, Green Cove Springs) charging him with one count of using a minor child to produce sexually explicit images, two counts of attempting to use a minor child to produce sexually explicit images, and one count of attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. For each of the first three counts, Carmona-Fonseca faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and up to a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. For the fourth count, Carmona-Fonseca faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to a maximum of life in federal prison. In addition, he faces up to a $1 million fine and a potential life term of supervised release. Carmona made his initial appearance in federal court on June 2, 2022, and was ordered detained pending trial.
According to public records, Carmona-Fonseca is currently employed as an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
According to the indictment, between April 2021 and March 2022, Carmona-Fonseca used a minor to produce or attempt to produce sexually explicit images. The indictment also alleges that in March 2022, Carmona-Fonseca attempted to entice an individual he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, that is, to produce sexually explicit images.
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 Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Illinois Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice A Child to Engage in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Robert W. Rice (56, Westville, Illinois) to 10 years in federal prison for the attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse images. As a part of his sentence, Rice is also required to register as a sex offender. The Court also ordered Rice to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to forfeit his cellphone, which was used in the commission of the offense. Rice had pleaded guilty on March 7, 2022.
According to court documents, from approximately May 2020 through June 9, 2020, Rice used his cellphone to communicate on an online social media application with an individual whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl. In reality, Rice was communicating with an undercover agent. In his communications, Rice sent images and videos depicting children being sexually abused and further engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the purported “child” in an attempt to entice the “child” into engaging in sexually explicit conduct. During the communications, Rice repeatedly asked the “child” to send photos and videos to his email. Rice also sent the “child” pictures of his face, his genitalia, and videos of him masturbating and child sex abuse images and videos to further his attempt to entice the “child.”
“The internet makes it easier for these predators to target and attempt to exploit children,” said HSI Tampa Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Silliman. “We will absolutely investigate those who try victimize our most vulnerable.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
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.
Veteran Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding the VA in Connection with the Receipt of Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Barry Wayne Hoover (51, Tampa) to 27 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $429,568.09 in restitution for theft of government funds and false statement to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As part of his sentence, the court also entered a forfeiture money judgment against Hoover in the amount of $429,568.09, the proceeds of the offense. A federal jury had found Hoover guilty on December 3, 2021.
According to evidence presented at trial, Hoover, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, exaggerated the extent of his visual impairment in order to receive VA disability benefits to which he was not entitled. Specifically, Hoover manipulated the results of subjective tests of his peripheral vision to reflect that he had a 5-degree visual field and was legally blind. Hoover also made false statements to the VA regarding his ability to drive and perform other activities. Based upon the manipulated test results and false statements, the VA found Hoover 100% disabled and awarded him significant monetary benefits and other valuable services.
In stark contrast to Hoover’s representations to the VA, agents’ surveillance, video footage, social media posts, and other evidence showed Hoover driving a car, a three-wheeled motorcycle, an ATV, and a boat. Hoover was also captured mowing his lawn, operating power tools such as a chain saw, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and performing other tasks, including, but not limited to, shopping, without assistance. Expert testimony at trial established that an individual with a 5-degree visual field could not drive and would be reliant on a white cane to function in public. Hoover received approximately $429,568.09 in VA benefits to which he was not entitled as a result of his misrepresentations.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud the VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “VA’s disability programs are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG is committed to investigating those who would exploit these programs.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler and Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany Fields.
Woman Indicted for Prescribing Medically Unnecessary Medical Equipment in $8.8 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A Georgia woman was arrested yesterday in Hampton, Georgia, on criminal charges related to her alleged scheme to defraud Medicare by prescribing medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), which was then billed to Medicare.
According to the indictment, Kateline Lavache, 53, of Hampton, allegedly prescribed medically unnecessary DME for Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for kickbacks and bribes from her co-conspirators. Lavache allegedly prescribed DME without conducting proper consultations with the beneficiaries. Lavache had no prior relationship with the beneficiaries, was not treating them, and failed to even conduct telemedicine consultations with them. As a result of the prescriptions, Lavache’s co-conspirators submitted to Medicare approximately $8.8 million in false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary DME, of which Medicare paid more than $4 million. Lavache was paid more than $123,000 in kickbacks and bribes for her participation in the scheme.
Lavache is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as four counts of health care fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years in prison for each health care fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge David Walker of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Alejandro J. Salicrup of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Woman Indicted for Prescribing Medically Unnecessary Medical Equipment in $8.8 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Georgia woman was arrested yesterday in Hampton, Georgia, on criminal charges related to her alleged scheme to defraud Medicare by prescribing medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), which was then billed to Medicare.
According to the indictment, Kateline Lavache, 53, of Hampton, allegedly prescribed medically unnecessary DME for Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for kickbacks and bribes from her co-conspirators. Lavache allegedly prescribed DME without conducting proper consultations with the beneficiaries. Lavache had no prior relationship with the beneficiaries, was not treating them, and failed to even conduct telemedicine consultations with them. As a result of the prescriptions, Lavache’s co-conspirators submitted to Medicare approximately $8.8 million in false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary DME, of which Medicare paid more than $4 million. Lavache was paid more than $123,000 in kickbacks and bribes for her participation in the scheme.
Lavache is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as four counts of health care fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years in prison for each health care fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge David Walker of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Alejandro J. Salicrup of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Bay Medical Biller Sentenced for Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Joshua Maywalt (42, Tampa) to five years and five months in federal prison for healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, filing a false income tax return, and failing to file an income tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order forfeiting $2,257,029.86 and real property located at 5346 Northdale Boulevard in Tampa, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Maywalt had pleaded guilty on December 1, 2021.
According to court documents, Maywalt worked as a medical biller at a company in Clearwater that provided credentialing and medical billing services for its medical provider clients. In this capacity, Maywalt had access to the company’s financial, medical provider, and patient information. Maywalt was assigned to a Tampa Bay area physician’s account (“Physician #1”) and was responsible for submitting claims to Florida Medicaid Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) for services rendered by Physician #1 to Medicaid recipients.
Maywalt abused his role as a medical biller by wrongfully accessing and utilizing the company’s patient information and Physician #1’s name and identification number to submit false and fraudulent claims to a Florida Medicaid HMO for medical services purportedly rendered by Physician #1, which were not actually rendered. Maywalt also altered the “pay to” information associated with the HMO’s payment processor so that the payments for the non-rendered medical services were sent to bank accounts under Maywalt’s control.
Maywalt knowingly signed and filed a false federal income tax return for tax year 2019 which substantially understated his income and reported only his employment wages, and not the substantial amount of money he was depositing into his bank accounts as a result of his fraudulent activities. In addition, Maywalt failed to file federal income tax returns for 2017 and 2018, as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
“Health care industry professionals are required to follow Medicaid rules and accurately bill for services that are actually provided. Fraudulently billing Medicaid for personal gain cheats millions of people who fund the program and contributes to the soaring cost of health care,” stated Omar Perez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue those who exploit government health care programs.”
“Joshua Maywalt had no concern for anyone except himself. He exploited the personal information of medical patients, fraudulently billed services on behalf of a local physician and then cheated the U.S. tax system for his own personal gain,” said Brian Payne, special agent in charge of the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office. “In the end, committing fraud doesn’t pay. In this case, it resulted in a five-year prison sentence and a multimillion dollar forfeiture order.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services -Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of the Florida Attorney General, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and Suzanne Nebesky.
Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen MailRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Aleia Deborah Green (20, Brooksville) today pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail. Green faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Green had been indicted on February 15, 2022.
According to court records, Green worked as a contract mail carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS) delivering mail for the Crystal River Post Office. On October 13, 2021, the USPS – Office of Inspector General (OIG) received complaints of mail theft from Green’s route. On October 19, 2021, special agents from the USPS OIG conducted surveillance at a neighborhood cluster box on Green’s route. The agents put a piece of mail containing United States currency in the outgoing mail, and within an hour-and-a-half, Green had opened the mail and taken the money. When confronted by the agents, Green admitted to opening the mail and taking the money. Green advised that she has been opening mail along her route since August 2021, and that she had opened approximately 100 pieces of mail.
This case was investigated by the U.S. States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Participating in Nationwide Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – A Florida woman pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return with the IRS, whereby she obtained a refund she was not entitled to receive.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rebecca Cyphers, 65, of Winter Springs, participated in and helped facilitate a nationwide tax fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, individuals prepared and assisted in the filing of tax returns for scheme participants, such as Cyphers, falsely claiming banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of income tax from the participants that entitled them to a refund. In reality, the financial institutions had not paid any income to or withheld any taxes from these individuals.
As part of her plea, Cyphers admitted she filed a false 2013 amended income tax return claiming a refund she was not entitled to receive. As a result, the IRS issued her a refund of approximately $240,000. Cyphers then obstructed the IRS’s efforts to recover this ill-gotten refund by transferring funds into a trust, making a large cash withdrawal from the refund deposit and sending frivolous correspondence to the IRS. Cyphers also admitted to helping others promote the tax fraud scheme and recruit additional participants, even though she knew the scheme was illegal.
In March, the main promoter of the fraud scheme, Iran Backstrom, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison, and Backstrom’s second-in-command, Mehef Bey, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Another individual, Aaron Aqueron, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for recruiting clients to the scheme and providing information to another co-conspirator for use in the preparation of false tax returns.
Cyphers is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 24 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for filing a false tax return. She also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Isaiah Boyd III of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Former X-Ray Technologist Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Videos over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that George Thomas Griffiths, Jr. (42, Ponte Vedra Beach) has pleaded guilty to distributing videos depicting young children being sexually abused. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to, 20 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, an FBI task force officer began an undercover online investigation using a particular social media application (app) to identify individuals attempting to sexually exploit children using the internet. From February 3, 2020, through February 20, 2020, an individual user named “ban_me_again,” who was subsequently identified as Griffiths, uploaded to a chat room on the app several videos that featured children, including an infant child, being sexually abused. Meanwhile, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that the same app had reported that this same user had uploaded videos depicting child sexual abuse materials during this same time period. Further investigation revealed that Griffiths had distributed these contraband videos over the internet from his residence in Ponte Vedra Beach and from his place of employment. At that time, Griffiths worked at a health care facility in Jacksonville as an x-ray technologist.
On November 19, 2020, SJSO detectives and agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Griffiths’ residence and seized an Apple iPhone used by Griffiths. During an interview with law enforcement, Griffiths stated that he used the particular app to talk to people over the internet. He also stated that it was “possible” that he exchanged pictures and videos on the app, and that these materials “possibly” included “bestiality” involving both adults and children. When asked how many times he had distributed child sexual abuse materials, Griffiths first responded, “I don’t know” and then clarified, “more than one or two.”
Subsequent examination of Griffiths’ iPhone revealed that it contained at least 2,000 images and at least 10 videos depicting children being sexually abused, including infants and toddler-aged children.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to Seventeen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle today sentenced Samuel Storey (43, Sarasota) to 17 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The court also ordered Storey to forfeit a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard semi-automatic firearm and seven rounds of ammunition related to the offense. Storey had pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021.
According to court documents, on August 22, 2020, Storey got into altercation with a customer at a convenience store in Sarasota County, during which Storey pointed a firearm at the customer. Storey left the store shortly after the altercation and officers from the Sarasota Police Department responded to the store. Storey returned to the store as the officers were beginning the investigation. One of the officers detained Storey and found a loaded Smith & Wesson firearm in Storey’s pocket during a pat down search. Storey was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and selling and possessing with the intent to deliver cocaine. He is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Tampa Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced James Williams, III (29, Tampa) to nine years and two months in federal prison following conviction for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearm and serve three years of supervised release. Williams had pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022.
According to facts presented in court, on May 5, 2021, Tampa Police Department (TPD) Officers were conducting an undercover narcotics operation. While conducting surveillance, police observed Williams drive up to the target house in a black BMW, with expired registration, and go inside. Officers had prior contact with Williams and knew that his drivers’ license had been suspended. Shortly thereafter, the officers saw Williams leave the residence and get back in the BMW and drive away. He was the sole occupant of the car. TPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the BMW and arrested Williams for driving while his license was suspended.
During the initial contact, police immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside Williams’ vehicle. Officers also observed a leafy substance on and around the driver’s seat and the center console of the car. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a small plastic baggie with marijuana inside Williams’ front, left pants pocket, and a fabric backpack on the front passenger seat of the vehicle, next to where Williams had been sitting. Inside of the backpack was a brown jar containing marijuana, a larger clear plastic baggie filled with a large quantity of marijuana, a half-filled box of unused clear sandwich sized baggies, and a black and stainless-steel digital scale with marijuana residue on it. The marijuana weighed in at approximately 220.8 grams.
In addition, police also located a black semi-automatic FN Herstal model Five-Seven 5.7x28mm caliber pistol on the floor, at the base of the driver’s seat. The pistol, which was easily accessible to Williams, was loaded with 19 rounds in the magazine, and 1 live round in the chamber. Forensic analysis later confirmed that DNA obtained from Williams matched DNA found on the firearm. Subsequent investigation revealed photos of Williams posing with the firearm on his social media accounts. The firearm had been reported stolen eight months prior to being recovered from Williams. At the time of the incident, Williams had been convicted of multiple felonies, including resisting an officer with violence, possession of forged credit cards, possession of marijuana, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Gestring.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Multi-Kilogram Drug Trafficker Convicted at Trial, After Spending More Than Four Years on the LamRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Derrick Samuel Lewis (51, Sarasota) guilty of conspiracy, possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Lewis faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 24, 2022. Lewis had been charged by way of a superseding indictment on June 28, 2017.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, Lewis was involved with a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that specialized in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana. On behalf of the DTO, Lewis coordinated the shipment of kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Arizona to Florida, hidden among innocuous items such as unassembled office furniture. On February 24, 2017, investigators seized an incoming shipment containing 25 kilograms of cocaine and 444 kilograms of marijuana in Tampa, which had a wholesale value at that time of more than $3 million.
On June 7, 2017, investigators arrested Lewis. When taken into custody, he was in possession of $50,000 in bulk cash currency. On June 30, 2017, the court set conditions of pre-trial release for Lewis. A short time later, he absconded and became a fugitive from justice, leaving his wife and family. While on the run, Lewis at times resided in Mexico. On August 31, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service rearrested Lewis in Arizona, and returned him to the Middle District of Florida to stand trial.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tampa Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and Distributing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Edrick D. Jackson (28, Lake City) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and three counts of distribution of cocaine base (also known as “crack” cocaine). Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each drug offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions, Jackson sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement. The sales took place at Jackson’s home in Lake City. After obtaining a federal search warrant, investigators searched Jackson’s home and located crack cocaine, two digital scales, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol that had previously been reported stolen, and a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Jackson had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and therefore is prohibited law from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Michael J. Coolican.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Convicted Felon Who Brandished Glock Pistol on Instagram Video Pleads Guilty to Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Devontae D. Hunter (25, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hunter faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Hunter brandished a Glock pistol in a video he had uploaded to his Instagram account on September 11, 2021. Two days later, during a traffic stop, Hunter fled from law enforcement officers on foot and dropped the same Glock pistol he had displayed in the Instagram video, which was configured with an extended magazine and loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Hunter had previously been convicted of several felony offenses, including a conviction for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, robbery, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Callan Albritton.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Winter Park Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Distributing Sexually Explicit Photos of Young ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger today sentenced Kelly Brown (41, Winter Park) to 25 years in federal prison for producing sexually explicit images of children and distributing these images over the internet. The court also ordered Brown to serve a life term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and forfeit electronic devices that were used to commit his criminal offenses. Brown had pleaded guilty on October 19, 2021.
According to court documents, between June and July 2021, Brown produced several sexually explicit images depicting two young children. On July 19, 2021, Brown distributed some of these images over the internet using a web-based chat application. The next day, FBI agents approached Brown near his residence. During an interview with agents, Brown admitted that he had taken the contraband images of the two children using his smart phone at his residence during June and July 2021, and further, that he distributed them over the internet. Subsequent forensic analysis of Brown’s smart phone and data card revealed that it contained 151 videos and 67 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.
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.
Former Sarasota Pain Doctor and Former Insys Sales Representative Convicted in Health Care Fraud Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Dr. Steven Chun (59, Sarasota) and Daniel Tondre (52, Tampa). Both were found guilty for conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks and bribes, in the form of speaker fees, in return for prescribing the fentanyl spray Subsys. They were both also convicted on five separate counts of paying and receiving kickbacks on specific dates. Tondre was also convicted of two counts of identification fraud in connection with the sham speaker events. Each faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, and up to 10 years in prison for each substantive kickback violation. Tondre also faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on each identification fraud count. The United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of the proceeds of the kickbacks. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Chun was a doctor who owned and operated a pain management medical practice in Sarasota where he prescribed a large volume of Subsys, an expensive form of liquid fentanyl designed to be applied under the tongue (sublingual spray), allowing it to rapidly enter the bloodstream. Tondre was employed as a sales representative in Chun’s territory by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., the company that manufactured and sold Subsys.
Insys, through its sales representative, Tondre, actively marketed Subsys to Chun by holding bogus and sham speaker events, and paid Chun $2,400 to $3,000 per speaker event in return for writing more and higher dosages of Subsys prescriptions. The sham speaker programs were often only attended by Chun’s family and friends or repeat attendees and included many falsified or forged signatures of attendees. Insys also bribed Chun, a large Subsys-prescriber, by hiring his then-girlfriend to work as an Insys liaison to facilitate the approval of insurance forms for Subsys, including those submitted for Medicare patients. The sham speaker programs were designed to conceal and disguise kickbacks and bribes paid to Chun to induce him to prescribe Subsys.
According to evidence presented during the 10-day trial, Chun was paid more than $278,000 in illegal kickbacks and bribes from Insys in connection with the sham speaker programs over a period of less than three years. Chun was also employed as a consultant by a local pharmacy where he referred his patients to fill Subsys and other medications. Tondre earned more than $737,000 in in salary and sales commissions over a period of two and half years. Medicare Part D paid more than $4.5 million for Subsys prescriptions written Chun.
Insys Therapeutics and other executives of Insys Therapeutics were convicted in the District of Massachusetts in United States v. Gurry et al., with the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirming their convictions.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office, which focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelley C. Howard-Allen and Jennifer Peresie.
North Port Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Larry Alan Goldman (64, North Port) to one year and a day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license. As part of his sentence, Goldman will also pay a fine of $25,000.
According to court documents, between February 2020 and August 2021, undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a confidential informant purchased approximately 14 firearms from Goldman’s vendor booth at a flea market in North Fort Myers. During this period, Goldman did not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL) authorizing him to lawfully engage in the business of dealing in firearms. In September 2021, ATF agents visited Goldman at his home and served him with a Notice of Unlicensed Firearms Dealing Violation, and Goldman agreed to stop selling firearms.
Following ATF’s meeting with Goldman, undercover ATF agents purchased two additional firearms from Goldman at the flea market in September and October 2021. On October 19, 2021, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant of Goldman’s residence, as well as a truck and trailer Goldman used to facilitate the sale of firearms. Agents seized approximately 29 firearms and approximately $36,828 in cash. A search of multiple sale firearm purchases made by Goldman between January 2020 and September 2021 revealed that Goldman had purchased approximately 313 firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mortgage Loan Officer Charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Evelisse Hernandez (40, Kissimmee) with four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison on each bank fraud count and a mandatory consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft counts. The indictment also notifies Hernandez that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $130,000, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, Hernandez, in her capacity as a licensed mortgage loan officer, created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting the financial institution where she worked. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers were approved for mortgage loans, Hernandez falsified the borrower’s income through completely fabricated or inflated monthly child support payments on mortgage loan applications that she signed and certified to the financial institution’s underwriting department. In furtherance of her scheme, Hernandez created fictitious Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage showing the borrowers were entitled to receive non-existent monthly child support payments. Hernandez then used the names of Judges from the Circuit Court of the Ninth District of Florida and forged their signatures on the fabricated Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage. Hernandez then created bogus Florida Department of Revenue Statements showing the party purportedly paying monthly child support payments to the borrowers and manufactured phony prepaid debit card statements showing the borrowers purportedly withdrawing the non-existent monthly child support payments. In most cases, the borrowers did not have the children listed or had never been married. Hernandez submitted bogus paperwork to the financial institution to support the false monthly income on the loan applications. Based on Hernandez’s misrepresentations, the financial institution approved and funded the mortgage loans.
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 Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Lehigh Acres Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Danzavieran Durand Thurman. (35, Lehigh Acres) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Court also ordered Thurman to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.
According to court documents, on October 16, 2020, deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to a hotel in Fort Myers after locating a car in the hotel’s parking lot that had been used in an armed home invasion. Law enforcement had identified Thurman as one of the suspects involved in the armed home invasion. Deputies obtained a search warrant to search the hotel room Thurman was occupying. During a search of the hotel room, LSCO deputies discovered a loaded firearm hidden in a mattress box spring frame. Subsequent forensic analysis of the firearm linked it to Thurman. As a previously convicted felon, Thurman is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Former Postal Worker Sentenced for Defrauding Department of Labor of $732,000 in Disability PaymentsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced George Utley (56, Oklahoma City) to 30 months in federal prison for receiving stolen government property, specifically, Department of Labor (DOL) Disability Benefit Payments. Utley was also ordered to make full restitution to the DOL and to forfeit $732,459.46, representing the value of the stolen funds. Utley had pleaded guilty on February 14, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Utley is a former mail handler for the United States Postal Service (USPS). In January 2009, Utley falsely claimed a job-related back injury to receive workers’ compensation disability benefits through the Department of Labor – Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP). The monthly payments ranged from approximately $2,600 (2011), to upwards of $3,300 (2019). These payments were the product of theft because Utley failed to truthfully report his prior accidents/injuries, his other sources of income and employment, and any improvements to his purported injury.
An investigation by the USPS – Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed that Utley had falsely testified in a 2011 DOL deposition that he never had suffered a previous back injury or been in an automobile accident. Despite Utley’s allegations of tremendous, debilitating back pain, he only had received $14 worth of prescription pain medication during the 10-year benefit period. Utley also failed to report his other sources of income and employment—he had incorporated and operated a rubbish removal business for many years and had received monthly government housing assistance payments of $1,412 as the landlord for a property in Pennsylvania. Recorded video surveillance captured Utley doing yard work at his Florida home, repeatedly lifting and carrying heavy items, working on a race car, and hitching a flatbed car carrier, box trailer, and fifth-wheel RV to his truck. A search of Utley’s email account and Facebook postings revealed photographs of Utley’s vacations (Key West and the Grand Canyon) and extensive physical activity (weightlifting, bicycling, deep-sea fishing, etc.). Utley’s fraudulent activity resulted in him receiving $732,459.46 in disability benefit payments to which he was not entitled.
“Taking taxpayer dollars to which you are not entitled is theft—period,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Our agents at HSI Orlando, working alongside the USPS OIG, are committed to finding those who aim to abuse programs meant to lend a helping hand and bring them to justice.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Correctional Officer Sentenced for Attempting to Smuggle Drugs into Fort Myers FacilityRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Leslie Spencer (49, Port Charlotte) to 30 months in federal prison for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Spencer had pleaded guilty on September 21, 2021.
According to court records, Spencer worked as a correctional officer at the Charlotte Correctional Institution’s offsite work camp located in Fort Myers. The FBI learned that Spencer was accepting payments from prisoners in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison, including drugs and cellphones.
In March 2021, Spencer agreed to smuggle three ounces of methamphetamine, three ounces of MDMA, and two cellphones into the prison for an inmate working as an FBI confidential source. Spencer told the confidential source to make sure the items were packaged in a way that they could be discreetly brought into the prison. Spencer also told the source of additional steps that he would take to avoid security measures implemented at the prison to prevent employees from smuggling in contraband.
After the deal had been agreed to, Spencer met with an undercover FBI special agent posing as a supplier of drugs. The two met in the parking lot of a Fort Myers retail store, where the undercover agent provided Spencer with sham methamphetamine and MDMA, cellphones, and payment for the smuggling operation. Upon leaving the retail store, Spencer was arrested by federal agents.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Investor and Organizer of Cocaine Smuggling Operations via Semi-Submersible Vessels Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Oscar Adriano Quintero Rengifo, a/k/a “Guatala,” (34) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Quintero Rengifo faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. He was arrested in Colombia on January 29, 2021, and extradited to the United States on January 26, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Quintero Rengifo was part of a transnational criminal organization that smuggled cocaine from South America to Central America for ultimate importation into the United States. The organization primarily sent vessels such as self-propelled semi-submersible vessels to Guatemala, where the cocaine was then smuggled over the Guatemala/Mexican border and then into the United States. A former mayor in Guatemala, who controlled drug routes in northern Guatemala into Mexico, oversaw the smuggling of cocaine to Mexican cartel members. Quintero Rengifo progressed within the group from organizing smuggling operations to ultimately investing in shipments and securing investors.
From at least as early as January 2015 through September 2019, the United States Coast Guard interdicted at least four vessels, including two semi-submersible vessels, directly linked to the Quintero Rengifo’s organization and involving more than 13,000 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs substantially assisted in the extradition of the defendant to the United States. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
Hillsborough County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Materials and Ordered to Pay Victims over $100,000 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Andres Ivan Leyva Sabina (51, Tampa) to 17 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing images and videos depicting children being sexually abused. The court also ordered Sabina to pay more than $100,000 in restitution to child victims, serve a 10-year term of supervised release, and register as a sex offender. Sabina had pleaded guilty on January 12, 2022.
According to court documents, on several occasions in September 2018, Sabina used a social media application and the internet to distribute images depicting children being forced to engage in sexually explicit conduct. In July 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Sabina’s residence. Several electronic devices used by Sabina were seized and officers discovered more than 4,000 images and videos depicting children being sexually abused contained in these devices.
“This predator possessed thousands of depictions of child pornography involving more than 150 victims that he collected and distributed on the dark web,” said HSI Tampa acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Silliman. “HSI special agents and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers worked jointly to shut down this monstrous creature from leaving more child victims in his wake.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Criminal Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jacksonville Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Samuel Christopher Templeman (47, Jacksonville) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiring to sex traffic a child. Deborah Lynn Templeman (51, Jacksonville) was sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered the defendants to serve 10-year terms of supervise release, register as sex offenders, and forfeit several cellphones that were used in the offenses. The Templemans had pleaded guilty on June 21, 2021.
According to court documents, the Templemans had custodial rights over the child victim from the time of her birth until July 2019. The child victim had begun using heroin in 2018. Samuel Templeman had a long-term addiction to opioid pills, and the child victim and Samuel Templeman began regularly using heroin and crack cocaine together. The child victim also began engaging in sex acts for drugs at the direction of a pimp.
In July 2019, the Templemans’ custodial rights were terminated and they were court-ordered not to have contact with the child victim. The child victim was placed into foster care, but ran away. Around late August 2019, Samuel Templeman received an inheritance of approximately $26,000. The child victim thereafter agreed to live with the Templemans. Ultimately, the Templemans and the child victim spent the $26,000 inheritance by the middle of October 2019, primarily on illegal drugs for Samuel Templeman and the child victim.
After the inheritance money was exhausted, the only legitimate income for the Templemans and the child victim was Deborah Templeman’s bi-weekly salary, which would be spent 1-2 days after receipt. During the remaining 12-13 days of each two-week period, the only income that the Templemans and the child victim generated was derived from the child victim engaging in sex acts for money and occasional panhandling. The majority of the money the child victim made by engaging in commercial sex acts was then spent on illegal drugs, with a portion of the money going toward food, hotel rooms, and other basic expenses.
On December 11, 2019, a detective from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office traveled to Deborah Templeman’s place of employment to attempt to recover the child victim. The detective waited for several hours for the child victim to return. While the detective was there, she overheard phone conversations in which Samuel Templeman informed Deborah Templeman that he was taking the child victim to a “date” – a common slang term for an appointment for the child to have sex for money – and that he would then come pick up Deborah Templeman from work. When Samuel Templeman returned to Deborah Templeman’s workplace at the end of the day, he was arrested, and the child victim was rescued. Deborah Templeman was also subsequently arrested.
A review of the cellphones used by the Templemans and the child victim during the timeframe of these events revealed that Deborah Templeman’s cellphone contained visual depictions of the child victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Deborah Templeman admitted that she was aware these visual depictions were stored on her phone.
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery and even more troubling when it involves a child victim. This was an incredibly disturbing investigation that demonstrates how devastating human trafficking can be in our communities,” said Sherri Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “In this instance, the child victim was exploited and placed in grave danger by those who had custodial control and should have been providing care and protection. This case demonstrates the commitment by the FBI, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney's Office to never rest while individuals like this continue to exploit innocent children.”
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin Wolfson. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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.
Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown Pleads Guilty to Corrupt Obstruction of the Administration of the Internal Revenue LawsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Corrine Brown (75, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to engaging in a corrupt endeavor to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws. After accepting her guilty plea, Chief Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced Brown to the time that she had already served in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, specifically two years, eight months, and nine days. Brown was also ordered to pay $62,650.99 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to the plea agreement, between October 15, 2009, and October 15, 2015, Brown caused her certified public accountant to file individual income tax returns for tax years 2008 through 2014 that did not include income associated with cash deposits into her bank accounts. During the same period, Brown also over-reported her charitable giving by inflating total gifts to charitable organizations and non-profit entities. Brown signed each referenced tax return under penalty of perjury, knowing that each one contained false information. In addition, Brown caused two Jacksonville non-profit entities to create letters that did not accurately reflect her donations so that Brown could use those letters during an IRS audit.
Brown was previously convicted by a federal jury for various offenses; after Brown’s appeal, her earlier conviction was vacated.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Tysen Duva and Michael J. Coolican of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Michelle Parikh and former Deputy Chief Eric G. Olshan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.