Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to ISISRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – A Florida man pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization since 2014.
According to court documents, Romeo Xavier Langhorne, 31, of St. Augustine, pledged his allegiance to ISIS at some point in 2014, knowing that ISIS was a designated foreign terrorist organization and that they engaged in acts of terrorism.
If convicted, Langhorne faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, Langhorne reaffirmed his support for ISIS on various social media accounts, as well as posted ISIS-produced videos to his YouTube account and participated in online chat rooms with like-minded individuals. In December 2018 and January 2019, Langhorne expressed in one of those chat rooms an interest in creating a video that would improve on existing videos demonstrating the making and use of a deadly explosive – triacetone triperoxide, also known as TATP.
In Feb. 2019, Langhorne began communicating with an undercover employee (UCE) with the FBI who was posing as someone working on behalf of ISIS. Langhorne told the UCE about his plans to create and disseminate an instructional video on making a TATP and sought the UCE’s assistance in creating the video. Langhorne told the UCE that, in order to ensure that the video was not removed from the internet by service providers, the video should include disclaimers advising that it was intended for educational purposes. However, Langhorne informed the UCE that his true purpose in making and distributing the video was to arm ISIS adherents and others with knowledge of how to make TATP and use it for terrorism-related purposes in support of ISIS.
The FBI produced a video in accordance with Langhorne’s instructions, but – unbeknownst to Langhorne – it featured an inert chemical formula for TATP that would not produce an explosion. In Nov. 2019, the UCE provided versions of the TATP video to Langhorne, and Langhorne distributed the video by uploading it to a video-sharing website.
Langhorne was arrested at his residence in Roanoke, Virginia, on Nov. 15, 2019, pursuant to a criminal complaint, and ordered detained pending trial. While in custody, Langhorne admitted that he had “probably at some point” pledged allegiance to ISIS and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was the leader of ISIS from 2014 until his death on Oct. 26, 2019. Langhorne admitted that he was the person who had communicated with the UCE and admitted that he had uploaded the TATP video to the internet.
The FBI Jacksonville Division and Northeast Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating the case, with support from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Andrew D. Sigler for the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Residents of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina Indicted for Promoting Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – A federal grand jury in Orlando, Florida, returned an indictment April 21, 2021, charging residents of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina with promoting a tax fraud scheme.
According to the indictment, from 2013 to 2017, Iran Backstrom of Milledgeville, Georgia; Mehef Bey of Charlotte, North Carolina; Yomarie Febres of Atlanta, Georgia; and Aaron Aqueron of Clermont, Florida, allegedly conspired together and with others to promote a tax fraud scheme to more than 200 individuals in 12 states. The indictment alleges that the defendants recruited clients by falsely representing that the clients’ mortgages and other debts entitled them to tax refunds. To execute the scheme, the defendants and their conspirators allegedly prepared and caused clients to file tax returns that falsely claimed large amounts of income taxes had been withheld from the clients and paid over to the IRS, entitling the clients to tax refunds. According to the indictment, the defendants typically charged each client fees ranging from approximately $10,000 to $15,000 and did not report on their own tax returns any income generated from the scheme.
The indictment further alleges that when the IRS discovered the fraud and attempted to recover the fraudulently obtained tax refunds, Aqueron encouraged clients to provide the IRS with false information and remove funds from their bank accounts in order to thwart the IRS’s collection efforts. As a result of the scheme, the defendants allegedly filed, and caused to be filed, with the IRS approximately $40 million in fraudulent claims for tax refunds
Backstrom, Bey, Febres and Aqueron are charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. Aqueron is also charged with corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the due administration of the internal revenue laws.
Backstrom, Febres and Aqueron are scheduled for their initial court appearances today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Bey will make an initial appearance at a later date. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and three years of prison on each count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. Aqueron also faces a maximum of three years in prison on the obstruction charge. In addition, the defendants face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. 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 Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Lauren Archer, Kavitha Bondada and Alexander Effendi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gable of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
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 Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl, Causing DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Joamary Rosario (30, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing a substance containing a mixture of heroin, acetyl fentanyl, and fentanyl to an individual who died as a result of using the substance. Rosario faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on November 6, 2018, G.S. contacted Rosario, his regular drug dealer, and ordered 10 bags of heroin. Rosario agreed and a few hours later, she and her supplier delivered to G.S. at his hotel 10 bags of a mixture of heroin, acetyl fentanyl, and fentanyl. That night, G.S. used one bag of the drug mixture and died by overdose. The next day, G.S.’s friend discovered his body and called 911.
Law enforcement officers found the unused bags of drugs in G.S.’s hotel room, along with his cellphones. The officers discovered G.S.’s drug-related text messages with Rosario on one of the phones. Posing as G.S., the officers ordered more of the same drugs from Rosario. A few hours later, Rosario arrived at the hotel as planned and was arrested. Rosario had in her possession several bags of drugs, each containing heroin, acetyl fentanyl, and fentanyl mixed in the exact same proportions as the bags of drugs that Rosario had sold to G.S. the night before.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.
Former School Teacher Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Christopher Ted Duluk (32, Fort Myers) to seven years in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Duluk was also sentenced to a 15-year term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender.
Duluk was found guilty after a bench trial on December 2, 2020.
According to court documents, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) began an investigation into Duluk for unlawfully impersonating a law enforcement officer and for using a government license plate. On December 10, 2019, deputies from the LCSO executed a search warrant on Duluk’s home and car and seized Duluk’s vehicle bearing a state tag, and a thumb drive that was in the trunk. During the subsequent search of the thumb drive, LCSO observed an image depicting child sexual abuse. A forensic analysis of the thumb drive revealed approximately 150 images and 150 videos depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
On March 10, 2020, a search warrant was executed at Duluk’s residence. Law enforcement officers seized Duluk’s laptop computer and later identified approximately 90 videos of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Fentanyl Dealers Charged with Distributing Narcotics Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the return of a superseding indictment charging Marvin “MJ” Mitchell (36, St. Peterburg) and Christopher Hughes (43, Pinellas Park) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, which caused an individual’s death, as well as possession with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. If convicted on all counts, Mitchell and Hughes each face a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to the
indictment , Mitchell and his co-conspirators, including Hughes, sold heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. In June 2019, members of this conspiracy distributed narcotics to an individual who died. The Medical Examiner’s Office for Pasco and Pinellas Counties determined that the individual’s cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiners’ Offices. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Orlando Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Scheme to Evade Payroll Taxes and Workers’ Compensation Requirements in Construction IndustryRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Gregorio Jose Fuentes-Zelaya (27, Orlando) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. The court also ordered Fuentes-Zelaya to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $5,766,286 and to an insurance company in the amount of $68,073. In addition, the court ordered Fuentes-Zelaya to forfeit his interest in $230,764 that was seized from two bank accounts. The court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $1,367,625, representing the proceeds of the wire fraud.
Fuentes-Zelaya had pleaded guilty on September 11, 2020. His co-defendant, Dennis Alexander Barahona, had pleaded guilty on March 29, 2021. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 6, 2021.
According to court documents, Fuentes-Zelaya established shell companies that purported to be involved in the construction industry. He or his co-conspirators obtained workers’ compensation insurance policies in the name of the shell companies to cover a minimal payroll for a few purported employees. The conspirators then “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance to work crews who had obtained subcontracts with construction contractors on projects in various Florida counties. Fuentes-Zelaya or his co-conspirators sent the contractors a certificate as “proof” that the work crews had workers’ compensation insurance, as required by Florida law. By sending the certificate, the conspirators falsely represented that the work crews worked for their companies. Over the course of the scheme, Fuentes-Zelaya and his co-conspirators “rented” the certificates to hundreds of work crews.
The contractors issued payroll checks for the workers’ wages to the shell companies and the conspirators cashed these checks, then distributed the cash to the work crews after deducting their fee, which was typically about 6% of the payroll. During the period of the scheme, the conspirators cashed payroll checks totaling approximately $22,793,748, with their fees totaling approximately $1,367,625. Neither the shell companies nor the contractors reported to government authorities the wages that were paid to the workers, nor did they pay either the employees’ or the employers’ portion of payroll taxes – including Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax. According to the IRS, the amount of payroll taxes due on wages totaling $22,793,748 was $5,766,286.
The scheme also facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for the hundreds of workers on the work crews to whom Fuentes-Zelaya and his co-conspirators “rented” the workers’ compensation insurance. Had workers’ compensation insurance policies been purchased for a payroll totaling $22,793,748, the policy premiums would have totaled about $3,684,057. The policies that Fuentes-Zelaya and his co-conspirators purchased, and then “rented” out, were for estimated payrolls of $80,800 to $100,800. The insurance company issued those policies for premiums ranging from $15,206 to $31,268.
“This criminal stealthily concealed his business transactions behind numerous illegitimate companies, facilitating over $22.7 million in unlawful payroll payments, all while defrauding the U.S. insurance industry,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Thanks to the diligent work of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners, he will not be able to take advantage of the significant criminal proceeds derived from these crimes.”
“Today’s sentencing of Gregorio Jose Fuentes-Zelaya is a reminder that payment of both individual and business taxes is an obligation, not a choice,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “We recognize the detrimental consequences of evasion of employment tax. It results in the loss of tax revenue to the United States government, the loss of future social security and Medicare benefits for the employees, and it creates an uneven playing field among competing businesses. As our system of taxation depends on everybody paying their fair share, employment tax fraud will remain a top priority for the Special Agents of IRS-CI.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Arcadia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Attempting to Purchase One Kilogram of “Ice”Read the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Michael Torres (41, Arcadia) to 14 years in federal prison for distribution and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court also ordered Torres to forfeit $16,000 that was used in the offense.
Torres had pleaded guilty on September 22, 2020.
According to court documents, in December 2019, Torres sold an undercover law enforcement officer in Arcadia two ounces of 100% pure methamphetamine for $950. However, when the coronavirus pandemic began, Torres’ typical sources of supply in the area dried up, and he looked elsewhere to secure a kilogram of methamphetamine. Ultimately, Torres agreed to buy one kilogram of “Ice,” a particularly pure form of the drug, from law enforcement.
On June 2, 2020, Torres met with the officer inside a restaurant in Punta Gorda and brought $16,000 in cash with him. As the two walked outside to complete the deal, Torres was arrested.
This case was investigated by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman. Assistant United States James Muench handled the forfeiture.
Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann Recognizes Law Enforcement Service During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL— In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”
“The Middle District of Florida joins the entire nation in honoring law enforcement officers across the country for their service and sacrifice in keeping our communities safe,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann. “We recognize the commitment of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners who often place themselves in harm’s way to protect us at all times. They, and their families, have our untiring support.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the Middle District of Florida, seven officers died in the line of duty.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.
Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Wesley Chapel Man Indicted for Enticing A Minor Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the return of an indictment charging Clayton Everett Colborn (29, Wesley Chapel), also known as Jason Rich, with enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Colborn faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. The indictment also notifies Colborn that the United States intends to forfeit his electronic devices and his Chevrolet Corvette, items that Colborn had used in the commission of this offense.
According to the indictment, in or around January 2020 and continuing through February 3, 2020, Colborn knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced an individual under the age of 16 year to engage in sexual activity.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ocoee Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
Anyone with information regarding Clayton Everett Colborn, also known as “Jason Rich,” should contact the Tampa Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 813-253-1000.
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.
Orange Park Senior Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Images and Videos of Child Sex AbuseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Robert Lee Martin (66, Orange Park) to 27 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Martin had pleaded guilty on February 6, 2020.
According to court documents, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a federal search warrant at Martin’s home in November 2018, after receiving a cyber tip that an image depicting child sexual abuse had been uploaded over the internet from the residence. Martin was at the home and told the HSI agents that he has a problem and that he has been “fighting it forever.” Martin explained that he keeps a laptop computer at his friend’s house that he uses to “look at the stuff,” referring to child exploitation materials. Subsequent seizure and forensic examination of this computer revealed that it contained more than 700 images and 8 videos depicting minors being sexually abused, including very young children.
“This child predator is now securely behind bars and our community is safer as a result thanks to the law enforcement partnership between HSI Jacksonville and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Owner of Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment Company Pleads Guilty to Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Daniel Summers (68, St. Augustine) has pleaded guilty to mail fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The United States is also seeking forfeiture in the amount of $744,910, the proceeds Summers obtained as a result of the fraud. The amount of restitution due to victims will be determined at a later date.
According to court documents, Summers owned a Jacksonville-based company called Realty E Vest, a/k/a IHT Realty Group, which operated an internet crowdfunding investment platform for real estate development projects. Summers also owned E Vest Technology, which sought to develop and license the Realty E Vest crowdfunding platform to others seeking to manage their own crowdfunding efforts. Individuals invested in projects by wiring funds to Realty E Vest, where the funds were supposed to be held in escrow until the project met its crowdfunding goal. If a project failed to meet its goal, Summers promised to return the investors’ funds.
When several Realty E Vest crowdfunding projects failed to fully fund, Summers intentionally kept the investors’ money and misappropriated it to fund the ongoing operations of his companies, including paying employee salaries. Summers gave these victims the illusion that they had successfully invested in these projects by paying investors purported investment returns for the failed projects via mailed checks or wire transfers. Summers also repaid the investments of some victims who had complained after learning the crowdfunding projects had actually failed to fund. However, the money funding these payments was not derived from the real estate developers or any legitimate investment activity; instead, it was derived from victims’ principal investments in other crowdfunding ventures and equity investments Summers solicited in E Vest Technology.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Ricardo Silva De Oliveira (33, Orlando) to 31 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. In addition, De Oliveira was ordered to pay $190,530 in restitution.
De Oliveira had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2021.
According to court documents, De Oliveira and others installed approximately 80 credit card skimmers and multiple pinhole cameras on ATMs at various SunTrust Bank locations in Florida and Georgia. Those devices captured, among other things, customers’ account numbers and personal identification numbers. De Oliveira and his co-conspirators would then retrieve those devices and use the information from the skimmers and cameras to make unauthorized access devices (cloned cards). De Oliveira used those cloned cards causing the Bank and/or customers to lose a total of $190,530.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terry B. Livanos and Roger B. Handberg.
Kissimmee Heroin Trafficker Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Eddie Quinones Santiago (38, Kissimmee) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, possession of 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Quinones Santiago had pleaded guilty on December 29, 2020.
According to court documents, Quinones Santiago was part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that sold heroin in the Central Florida area. Federal, state, and local law enforcement conducted a joint investigation into the DTO. Statements by coconspirators and recorded conversations identified Quinones Santiago as a member of the DTO who was responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin in Orlando and Tampa. As part of the investigation, law enforcement obtained search warrants and conducted searches of storage units, a residence, and a vehicle connected to Quinones Santiago. The searches revealed approximately 406 grams of heroin and 427 grams of cocaine in storage facilities controlled by Quinones Santiago and a coconspirator. Investigators also seized proceeds from Quinones Santiago’s drug trafficking, including approximately $332,000 in cash and $63,000 worth of jewelry.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Tampa Police Department, and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Duval Felon Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Tony Deshawn McFadden (29, Jacksonville) to nine years in federal prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
McFadden had pleaded guilty on January 15, 2021.
According to court documents, on August 18, 2018, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) were patrolling the area of Woodbine Street and Springfield Boulevard in Brentwood, as a result of a recent shooting near that location. JSO officers observed McFadden involved in what appeared to be drug activity. As the officers approached to investigate, McFadden ran and ignored instructions to stop. The officers chased McFadden into a convenience store where he threw down a Glock .40 caliber pistol and 3.3 grams of crack cocaine before they took him into custody.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Beatriz Gonzalez, Laura Cofer Taylor, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce Federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the Fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of Federal, State, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Ponciana Woman Sentenced for Making False Statements to the Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today ordered Isis Baldwin (39, Ponciana) to pay $11,754.76 in restitution for making false statements to a federal agency. In addition, the court also sentenced Baldwin to three years’ probation and required her to perform 45 days of work duty at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Work Farm.
Baldwin had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2021.
According to court documents, Baldwin, a Social Security Administration (SSA) employee, applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on behalf of her minor child. The application was approved by SSA, and Baldwin was appointed as the representative payee for her child’s benefits. In April 2019, SSA initiated a redetermination of continuing eligibility to determine whether Baldwin’s child remained eligible for benefits. During the redetermination inquiry, Baldwin made false statements to SSA. Specifically, Baldwin made material misrepresentations regarding her child’s living arrangements during an interview with an SSA employee. Baldwin subsequently submitted a statement to SSA in which she falsely represented that her child had moved to a different address. Baldwin also provided a falsified lease agreement in support of her false claim regarding her child’s new living arrangements.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.
Jury Convicts Palm Bay Man of Transporting and Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Xzavier Scholtens (20, Palm Bay) guilty of one count of transporting and one count of possessing child sex abuse material. Scholtens faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for each offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2021.
Scholtens had been indicted on May 27, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, this case arose from an online undercover operation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents in McAllen, Texas. The operation targeted individuals who were using a particular online social media platform to trade or distribute child sex abuse images.
On November 19, 2019, Scholtens sent an online message to one of the undercover agents and offered to “trade.” After a brief discussion, Scholtens sent a hyperlink that led to a cloud storage folder containing 12 videos. These videos depicted the sexual abuse of children, ranging from infants to pubescent teenagers.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in McAllen, Texas and Rockledge, Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
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.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Photos of Himself as He Sexually Assaulted an 11-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Columbus Donavan Jeffrey (44, Jacksonville) to 60 years in federal prison for photographing his sexual assaults of a child and distributing those pictures to others using the internet. Jeffrey was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and pay $24,000 in restitution to child victims.
Jeffrey had pleaded guilty on December 10, 2020.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from a company that hosts an online social messaging application (app). Specifically, on May 3, 2019, a user named “hideme1977,” subsequently identified as Jeffrey, used the app to upload several photos to the internet. These photos, taken by Jeffrey, depicted him sexually abusing an 11-year-old child. NCMEC referred this matter to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for investigation.
On October 3, 2019, JSO detectives and other officers executed a search warrant at Jeffrey’s residence, where he admitted he had used the “hideme1977” user name on the app. JSO detectives were also able to identify and locate the child shown in the photos, who stated that Jeffrey had sexually abused the child on at least three separate occasions in 2019.
JSO conducted a forensic examination of Jeffrey’s cellphone which revealed: images of the same child being sexually abused by Jeffrey on two other dates in 2019; online messages showing Jeffrey used the internet to share the sexual assault photos with others; and that Jeffrey maintained a collection of 635 images and 57 videos depicting the sexual abuse of other minors, including several depicting the rape of infants and toddlers.
“Predators who exploit innocent children are among the most evil criminals in society, and the acts committed by this defendant are among the most egregious that we have investigated.” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “This case proves that the FBI Jacksonville Division is fully committed to holding child predators accountable for their actions, and we remain dedicated to ensuring that criminals like him cannot bring harm to the most vulnerable members of our communities ever again. We are thankful for the partnership of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in the relentless effort to seek justice for these victims. Be assured our work will not end here.”
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Kelly S. Karase.
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.
Fort Myers Woman Pleads Guilty to Financial Aid Fraud and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Elaine M. Levidow (60, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of fraud involving Department of Education Financial Aid. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the financial aid fraud. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in approximately July 2017 and continuing through April 2019, Levidow devised and perpetrated a scheme to defraud the United States Department of Education of more than $90,000 in Title IV Federal Student Assistance (FSA), the primary federal loan and grant funds available to students attending college and career schools. The United States Department of Education requires that the Title IV funds be applied only to specific allowable charges, which include: tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board contracted by the participating institutions of higher education.
As the owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Training Domain, Inc., located in Fort Myers, Levidow used a website to market her company as offering business software application courses to make individuals more employable. As a part of the scheme, Levidow knowingly enrolled students that did not have a high school diploma or GED certificate, making them ineligible to receive FSA funds, and she assisted them in applying for FSA funds. In one instance, Levidow knowingly enrolled a student who was a felon serving a life term in a Florida State prison, assisting him in obtaining FSA funds even though he was ineligible.
In other instances, Levidow applied for FSA loans on behalf of students without telling them, then caused those FSA funds to be wired to Training Domain even though it was not entitled to them.
Levidow admitted to agents that she knew many if not all the students did not have a high school diploma or a GED, but she enrolled them anyway. Further, she admitted that she staged a fictitious class, during an accreditation visit, with students who did not attend class and whom she paid to be there to make it appear she was actually holding classes.
Further, although Levidow’s business, Training Domain, was represented to be an educational institution, she did not use FSA funds to pay for students’ tuitions since her business did not actually hold required classes. Instead, Levidow used the FSA funds to pay for her own personal expenses.
This case was investigated by The United States Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
Federal Jury Convicts Jacksonville Man of Tax Fraud for Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Paul Berkins Moise guilty of 14 counts of filing false returns on behalf of (unknowing) clients and 3 counts of filing false tax returns on behalf of himself. Moise faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison for each count. The United States will also seek restitution for the tax losses arising out of the fraud. Moise’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 9, 2021.
Moise had been indicted on February 6, 2019.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Moise owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jacksonville. Between February 2013 and March 2017, Moise defrauded the IRS by filing returns for his clients in which he grossly inflated deductions for state and local sales taxes, unreimbursed employee expenses, and gifts to charity by cash or check.
For example, on one tax return, Moise claimed a sales tax deduction of $5,883 for a client who had a gross income of $43,476. In order for that client to claim a sales tax deduction that large, the client would have had to have made taxable purchases totaling $89,926 (including the tax) -- or more than twice the client’s claimed gross income.
Trial evidence also showed that Moise grossly underreported his own income on tax returns he filed for himself for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015. On his 2013 return, Moise reported $10,160 in income when he actually earned at least $83,848 that year. On his 2014 return, Moise reported $2,695 in income when he actually earned $252,652 that year. On his 2015 return, Moise reported $10,255 in income when he actually earned $234,936 that year.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Daytona Beach Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Leaders Sentenced to 30 and 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Maxwell Garvice Johnson (29, Ormond Beach) to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy. The court also sentenced Robert Lee Hamilton, Jr. (36, Daytona Beach) to 20 years’ imprisonment. Johnson had pleaded guilty in February 2021. Hamilton had pleaded guilty in December 2020.
According to court documents, from April 3 through July 30, 2020, Johnson, Hamilton, and their conspirators worked to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl-laced heroin, and cocaine in the Daytona Beach area. During the investigation, and in a series of searches and arrests, on July 30, 2020, law enforcement officers recovered and identified more than 2 kilograms of fentanyl-laced heroin, over 500 grams of cocaine, and at least 155 grams of methamphetamine that was being distributed by members of Johnson’s organization, as well as loaded firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds. The court ruled that both Hamilton and Johnson’s sentences reflected their leadership and managerial roles in the drug trafficking organization, their maintenance of multiple stash houses for drug distribution, and their possession of firearms.
Eight of nine of the conspirators have pleaded guilty; seven have been sentenced as follows:
Defendant
Federal Prison Term
Maxwell Garvice Johnson
30 years
Robert Lee Hamilton, Jr.
20 years
Jeniver Sebastian Scott, Jr.
10 years
Dawnte Dequine Benjamin Davis
7 years, 8 months
Sharodd Solomon Favors
7 years
Jeremy Rashan Tarrand
5 years, 10 months
Felicia Mae Riley
1 year, 3 months
The court has delayed the sentencing of Shakia Flagler, who pleaded guilty on January 13, 2021. A final defendant, Gena Marie Walker, is scheduled for trial in July 2021.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
United States Recovers $8.4 Million in Fraudulent COVID Relief Funds from FamilyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces that the United States has obtained a final civil judgment ordering the forfeiture of $8,417,261.38 in proceeds from bank fraud and money laundering offenses related to COVID Relief Fraud.
According to court documents, it is alleged that in April 2020, Joshua Edwards, Joy Edwards, Evan Edwards, and Mary Jane Edwards defrauded the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) out of millions of dollars in coronavirus relief funds. Specifically, Joshua Edwards, on behalf of ASLAN International Ministry, Inc., submitted a false and fraudulent loan application seeking funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Once the PPP loan was obtained, members of the Edwards family misused the funds by attempting to purchase a $3.7 million luxury home in the Four Seasons Private Residence community at Walt Disney World Resort. The remaining funds were transferred among multiple bank accounts held by the conspirators in an attempt to hide and conceal their whereabouts. Law enforcement was able to seize all of the fraudulently obtained funds before they were dissipated. A request will be made to the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Section to remit the forfeited funds back to the SBA.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
Texas Man Arrested and Charged with Sex Trafficking of A MinorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Jamel Muldrew (32, Houston, TX) with sex trafficking of a minor, interstate transportation of a person to engage in prostitution, and enticement of a person to travel interstate for prostitution. If convicted on all counts, Muldrew faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the complaint, on or about April 9, 2021, law enforcement coordinated an operation in Tampa to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking, and to identify and arrest their traffickers. As part of this operation, an undercover officer arranged to engage in prostitution with a minor victim at a local hotel in exchange for $800. A male, later identified as Muldrew, then drove the minor victim to the hotel, dropped her off, and drove to nearby mall parking lot to wait. After being dropped off, the minor victim entered the hotel room where she was met by detectives. Law enforcement officers arrested Muldrew at the mall parking lot and searched him, recovering multiple fictious identity documents for both himself and the minor victim.
Subsequent investigation revealed that, from February until April 2021, Muldrew had trafficked the minor victim across the country to engage in prostitution, including in Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and ultimately Florida, where he was arrested.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Houston (Texas) Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Anyone who is or who knows a potential victim in this or any other case of sex trafficking or human trafficking, or who has any information regarding this or any other investigation, should contact Homeland Security Investigations toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or by completing its online tip form found at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
This case was brought as part of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, one of 13 such 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.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Making and Passing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Simon Keith Angaran (50, Tampa) to five years and four months in federal prison for conspiracy to make and pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes and for making counterfeit Federal Reserve notes.
Angaran had pleaded guilty on January 28, 2021.
According to court documents, from at least December 2016 through February 2020, Angaran was the ringleader of a conspiracy that made and passed counterfeit currency at locations across Tampa Bay. Law enforcement first identified the conspiracy in June 2019 after a co-conspirator had passed a counterfeit bill at a thrift shop in Tampa. In total, the conspirators passed counterfeit bills more than 1,000 times for a total loss of $135,010.
In February 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Angaran’s residence and discovered that he was making and printing the counterfeit bills there. Angaran later admitted that he had taught his conspirators how to make and pass counterfeit bills.
On February 18, 2021, Judge Merryday sentenced Christina Shante Perez, one of Angaran’s co-conspirators, to three years’ imprisonment for making and passing counterfeit bills.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Tampa Police Department, and the Seminole Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Tiffany E. Fields.
Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty to Distributing Narcotics Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Jared Collins (27, Wesley Chapel) has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl to an individual, resulting in that individual’s death. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, on December 16, 2019, Collins distributed narcotics to an individual in Wesley Chapel who injected the narcotics and then died. Family members found the individual and immediately called 911. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and located a hypodermic syringe and a plastic bag, both of which tested positive for fentanyl. Law enforcement also recovered a cellphone, which showed Collins had supplied the individual with the narcotics earlier that day. The Medical Examiner’s Office for Pasco and Pinellas County determined that the individual died from fentanyl toxicity.
The following day, December 17, 2019, Collins was arrested as he was attempting to distribute narcotics. Following his arrest, law enforcement officers found two syringes in his car, and two hypodermic syringes and a spoon with residue in his pocket, all of which tested positive for fentanyl. Law enforcement officers also executed a federal search warrant at Collins’s residence, recovering numerous items of drug paraphernalia, empty capsules containing traces of fentanyl, assorted spoons, straws, clear baggies, and approximately 20 syringes, all of which were found in Collins’ bedroom.
On March 26, 2020, after bonding out of state custody, Collins again distributed fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes. This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.
South Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Henry Willian Carabeo Boned (29, Miami) to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit credit card fraud. As part of his sentence, Carabeo Boned was ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offense.
Carabeo Boned had pleaded guilty in November 2020.
According to court documents, in early 2019, Carabeo Boned and his co-defendants, Duani Garcia and Raiquel Monteagudo Torres, visited Wal-Mart stores throughout Clay County and used credit and debit cards that had been re-encoded with stolen account numbers to purchase phone cards and gift cards. In February 2019, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office detained Carabeo Boned and Torres at the self-checkout area of a Wal-Mart as they were in the process of attempting to complete a fraudulent transaction. The deputies also detained Garcia as he walked out of the store. During a search of the three individuals, deputies located 40 gift and credit cards that had been re-encoded with stolen credit card information. Further investigation by the United States Secret Service resulted in the seizure of computer media and tools used for skimming credit and debit card account numbers from gas pumps. A forensic examination of the computer media located an additional 253 stolen credit card account numbers.
On March 16, 2020, Duani Garcia was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and was ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offense. Raiquel Monteagudo Torres is a fugitive from law enforcement.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office) and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Cape Coral Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti today sentenced Montonio Moore, aka “Trigga Slim” (40, Cape Coral), to 10 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. Moore was sentenced to an enhanced term of imprisonment because of his prior serious drug offense convictions. He had pleaded guilty on January 27, 2021.
According to court documents, Moore sold more than $5,000 in fentanyl to the Drug Enforcement Administration during two undercover transactions in June 2020.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cape Coral Police Department, and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years for Possessing Images and Videos Depicting the Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Terry George Zimmerman (73, Lady Lake) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing materials depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Zimmerman was also sentenced to a life term of supervision, ordered to register as a sex offender, and must pay $21,000 in restitution to identified child victims.
A federal jury had found Zimmerman guilty on November 19, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, officers from the Lady Lake Police Department executed a search warrant at Zimmerman’s residence and seized several of his computers and other electronic devices. During a subsequent forensic examination of the devices, agents from Homeland Security Investigations recovered from Zimmerman’s 2 computers and 12 USB drives nearly 2,400 images and over 300 videos depicting young children being sexually abused and tortured.
Prior to this offense, in 1995, Zimmerman was convicted as a sex offender in federal court in New York for possessing child pornography.
“It is a travesty when a previously convicted federal sex offender commits the same crime,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “But thanks to our HSI special agents, the Lady Lake Police Department, and the Ocala Police Department, he will now return to prison, making our local communities a safer place.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lady Lake Police Department, and the City of Ocala Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Tyrie K. Boyer.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Possessing Pictures and Movies Depicting the Sexual Abuse of Children and for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Michael John Jordan (39, Jacksonville) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse images and videos and for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The court also ordered Jordan to serve a lifetime term of supervised release and forfeit 22 electronic devices, a shotgun, and ammunition. He must also to register as a sex offender. As part of his sentence, Jordan was ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution to several child victims.
Jordan had pleaded guilty on February 19, 2020.
According to court documents, the investigation began in September 2018 through CyberTip reports sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving the upload of illegal content received from several electronic service providers. Further investigation revealed that Jordan was the source of the uploads referenced in the CyberTip reports, and that he had used multiple different platforms to share material depicting the abuse of children. On February 20, 2019, agents from Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Jordan’s home and seized several dozen electronic devices. Forensic analysis of these devices revealed more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted the sexual assault of infants and toddlers. Jordan had used sophisticated encryption techniques to conceal his internet trafficking of child sexual abuse material, including layered security measures and elaborate password protection.
During the search of Jordan’s residence, agents recovered a loaded 12-gauge pistol-grip firearm. In 2014, Jordan was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
“This convicted felon obviously did not learn his lesson the first time,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “thanks to HSI special agents, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, he will be returning to prison for a second time, this time for possession of child pornography and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
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.
Jury Convicts Pasco Man of Trafficking Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A federal jury has found Justin Case Lebarron (28, Pasco County) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and maintaining a drug premises. Due to a prior felony drug conviction, Lebarron faces a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 17, 2021.
Lebarron had been indicted on May 20, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Lebarron and others operated a drug house in New Port Richey where they sold fentanyl and methamphetamine. They also allowed addicts to use narcotics and sleep there. On the night of January 7, 2020, a fatal overdose occurred in the house. Lebarron ordered three people to carry the victim’s body outside and dump it in an empty lot as he fled the area. A few hours later, Lebarron resumed distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine and continued to do so until his arrest on March 5, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
Former Hillsborough County Elementary School Head Custodian Indicted for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the return of an indictment charging Charles Mark Currie (64, Tampa) with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Currie faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. Currie was previously employed by the School District of Hillsborough County as a Head Custodian for West Shore Elementary School until he resigned in January of 2021.
According to the indictment, on September 5, 2020, Currie knowingly distributed over the internet visual depictions of children being sexually abused. On January 26, 2021, Currie also knowingly possessed multiple electronic devices, including a desktop computer, that contained visual depictions of children under the age of 12 being sexually abused.
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 Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Homeland Security Investigations through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or by completing its online tip form.
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.
Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing the 40th observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services throughout the week. This year’s observance takes place April 18-24 and features the theme, “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.”
“Every day, we bear witness to stirring acts of heroism on the part of compassionate and courageous advocates – and crime victims themselves,” said Attorney General Garland. “One of our responsibilities is to ensure that victims are informed, have a voice, and are supported in the healing process. To the exceptional men and women we honor today – thank you for your service to crime victims, for your commitment to the safety of your communities, and for working to make America a more just and more compassionate place.”
“We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office join our colleagues throughout the Department in recognizing throughout this week our fundamental mission – to prevent all members of our communities from being victimized by federal criminal conduct, and to respect and care for those who are harmed by federal crimes. We also honor all those, in the Middle District of Florida and beyond, who work to ensure the administration of justice for crime victims. Through their tireless efforts, expertise, advocacy, and care, these dedicated individuals, agencies, and organizations allow victims to enter the path of recovery and begin the restoration of their lives.”
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
The Office for Victims of Crime, a component of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW).
“We come together each year during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to show that we are united in our commitment to making sure all crime victims feel heard, respected and remembered,” said Office of Justice Programs Acting Assistant Attorney General Maureen A. Henneberg. “We honor these outstanding public safety professionals and advocates who work so hard to support crime victims as they walk the path from trauma to healing.”
According to the Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1.2 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime, excluding simple assault, in 2019, down from 1.4 million in 2018. An estimated 12.8 million U.S. households experienced one or more property victimizations. OVC supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures.
“It is important for us as a country to set aside time during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to honor victims and to recognize those who advocate for resources and policies designed to meet the many serious challenges victims face,” said Office for Victims of Crime Acting Director Katherine Darke Schmitt. “Few people expect to be a victim, and no one deserves the pain and injustice that burden every crime survivor. We should take it upon ourselves this week, and every week, to show our unity with and compassion for those who have experienced the pain of victimization.”
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local and tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. This year, many communities are organizing virtual gatherings and online public awareness campaigns. For more information, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview.
Brooksville Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced James Carnley (58, Brooksville) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for selling methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense. The court also ordered Carnley to forfeit three firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and $812, which had all been used by Carnley to facilitate his drug activities.
Carnley had pleaded guilty on March 6, 2020.
According to evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, Carnley had been selling ounce and kilogram quantities of methamphetamine out of his mobile home in Pasco County for years. On two dates in July 2018, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) used a confidential informant to make quarter-ounce purchases of methamphetamine from Carnley. In August 2018, the PSO executed a search warrant at Carnley’s residence and seized approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, three firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and assorted paraphernalia used to package drugs for sale and consumption. At the time of Carnley’s arrest, he had been selling approximately a kilogram of methamphetamine per week.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.
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, Acting U.S. Attorney Karin Hoppmann coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Florida Man Who “Tweeted” Child Sexual Abuse Images Pleads Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Marchaun Browning (24, Gibsonton) has pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to 70 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in June 2017, Browning created several Twitter accounts. On several different occasions, he posted child sex abuse images and tagged other Twitter accounts associated with public officials, media outlets, and public figures. Browning’s tweets also contained messages directed at the intended and tagged recipients.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Browning’s residence in Gibsonton and seized electronic devices that contained more than 160 images and one video depicting the sexual abuse of children, including some as young as toddlers.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bradenton Man Convicted of Possessing Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –A federal jury has found Larome D. Waiters (31, Bradenton) guilty of possession of fentanyl and heroin with the intent to distribute and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Waiters faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2021.
Waiters had been indicted on October 1, 2019.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in August 2019, officers arrested Waiters, based on an active arrest warrant, as he was coming out of an apartment wearing a fanny pack. Inside the fanny pack, Waiters had almost 17 grams of a fentanyl/heroin mixture packaged for sale. Inside the apartment, investigators found two guns. During an interview with law enforcement, after his arrest, Waiters told officers that he was planning to sell the fentanyl and that he owned the guns. As a previously convicted felon, Waiters is prohibited from possessing a firearm of ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bradenton Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled “Hot Batch.” 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.
Nebraska Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Howard D. Farley, Jr. (72, Weirsdale) has pleaded guilty to passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and operating as a pilot without a legitimate airman’s certificate. Farley faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. As part of the agreement, Farley also agreed to forfeit a firearm and ammunition in his home, as well as an aircraft that was seized by the Department of Homeland Security.
According to the plea agreement, Farley admitted to using the identity of a deceased person to obtain a United States passport and an Airman’s Certificate (pilot’s license). Farley admitted to operating as an airman using the fraudulently obtained certificate between January 4, 2016, until his arrest by federal authorities on November 28, 2020.
Other court documents established that Farley used the identity of a deceased infant for over 35 years to avoid apprehension in the District of Nebraska where, in 1985, he had been indicted with a narcotics conspiracy. Those charges were dismissed in 2014.
This case was investigated by the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, and with support from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Leesburg Men Indicted on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the return of an indictment charging Kenneth Wayne Pea, Jr. (39) and Travis Ramone Williams (37), both of Leesburg, with possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Pea is also charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, Pea and Williams face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to the indictment and other court documents, Pea sold approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on March 31, 2021, at a business in Belleview, Florida. Thereafter, on April 14, 2021, officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Williams. After a high-speed chase, Williams and Pea fled from the car on foot and discarded three bags containing 2 pounds of methamphetamine along with scales, baggies, and several bags of cocaine and heroin.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
The case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Jacksonville Navy Airman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images and Video over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida - Evan Andrew Bubbers (21, Bettendorf, IA) today pleaded guilty to distributing materials depicting the sexual abuse of children over the internet. Bubbers faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison. Bubbers was arrested on March 30, 2021, at Naval Air Station - Jacksonville. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, on March 17, 2021, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in Jacksonville about an investigative tip, known as a “CyberTip,” that had been received by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC reported that a particular social media application (app) had filed a CyberTip indicating that videos depicting child sexual abuse had been uploaded over the internet and shared with other users on this app. A JSO investigation determined that the distribution of these videos was connected to Bubbers through the internet service for his barracks residence at Naval Air Station - Jacksonville. During an interview on March 30, 2021, Bubbers admitted to uploading and sharing material depicting the sexual abuse of children using the app, including the video from the Cybertip. This same video was also located during a search of Bubbers’s cell phone.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Member of Narcotics Conspiracy Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Kris Ralf Salvi (27, Tampa) to three years and four months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
Salvi had pleaded guilty on January 21, 2021. In September 2020, Salvi and nine others were charged in this case. The remaining cases are pending.
According to court documents, between April 14 and May 27, 2020, Salvi purchased two ounces of fentanyl from one of his co-defendants across a series of four transactions.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Jacksonville Man of Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Ronnie Jerome Jones (39, Jacksonville) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, Jones qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2021.
Jones had been indicted on March 11, 2020.
According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Jones, a previously convicted felon sold a .45 caliber handgun to a pawn shop in Jacksonville. Jones has been convicted of numerous violent narcotics felony offenses and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. At the time of this offense, Jones had been out of prison for less than nine months.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian and Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Wesley Chapel Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Robert Dayon Dumas (26, Wesley Chapel) to 25 years in federal prison for robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. The Court also ordered Dumas to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the robberies, and to make restitution to the victims.
Dumas had been found guilty on January 25, 2021, following a bench trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during a one-week span in February 2018, Dumas used a gun to rob five Wesley Chapel businesses, including a gas station, a hotel, and a cell phone store. During the robberies, Dumas held victims at gunpoint, including a woman and her two-year-old granddaughter. He also threatened to shoot victims if they did not do what he said, at one point firing his gun above a victim’s head and stating, “the next one goes in your head!” In total, the robbery spree netted just over $2,000.
This case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Patient Recruiter Sentenced to Prison for $3.3 Million Cancer Genetic Testing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme that resulted in the submission of approximately $3.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for genetic testing.
Ivan Andre Scott, 36, of Kissimmee, was convicted by a federal jury on Jan. 8, 2021, of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, three counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive unlawful health care kickbacks, and three counts of receiving unlawful kickbacks. According to court documents, Scott was the owner of Scott Global, a telemarketing call center located in Orlando. The evidence showed that Scott targeted Medicare beneficiaries with telemarketing phone calls falsely stating that Medicare covered expensive cancer screening genetic testing, or “CGx” tests. Each test cost as much as $6,000. After beneficiaries agreed to take the test, the evidence showed Scott paid unlawful bribes and kickbacks to telemedicine companies to obtain doctor’s orders authorizing the tests.
The evidence at trial showed that the telemedicine doctors approved the expensive testing even though they were not treating the beneficiary for cancer or symptoms of cancer, and often without even speaking with the beneficiary. According to the evidence presented at trial, Scott then sold the genetic tests and doctor’s orders to laboratories in exchange for illegal kickbacks. To conceal the illegal kickbacks, Scott submitted invoices to the laboratories and other marketers making it appear as though he were being paid for hourly marketing services, rather than per referral.
Between November 2018 and May 2019, labs submitted more than $3.3 million in claims to Medicare for genetic tests that Scott had referred to them, of which Medicare paid over $1.3 million. In that timeframe, Scott personally received approximately $194,000 for his role in the scheme.
“The defendant used telemarketing and telemedicine to defraud Medicare of more than a million dollars for unnecessary genetic screening tests,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The department will continue working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who seek to use new technologies to plunder our government health care programs.”
“Fraudsters who steal from taxpayer-funded federal health care programs and engage in predatory telemarketing calls are a threat to our country’s health care system and its most vulnerable beneficiaries,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agents will continue to aggressively investigate health care fraud and hold criminals responsible for their actions.”
“The unscrupulous tactics used in this scheme to steal from taxpayers is what drives our investigators to combat healthcare fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. “The FBI’s mission to protect the American people includes protecting them from fraudsters who cheat our nation’s federally funded healthcare systems.”
The case was investigated by HHS-OIG and the FBI and was brought as part of Operation Double Helix, a federal law enforcement action led by the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, focused on fraudulent genetic cancer testing and the use of telemedicine that has resulted in charges against dozens of defendants associated with telemedicine companies and cancer genetic testing laboratories for their alleged participation in one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever charged.
Trial Attorneys Alejandro Salicrup and Jamie de Boer of the Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Credit Card Fraud at Theme ParksRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Fredrick Bernard Lewis (32, Ft. Lauderdale) to 37 months in federal prison for using unauthorized access devices at theme parks in Orlando.
Lewis had pleaded guilty on January 6, 2021.
According to court documents, between March 2018 and June 2020, Lewis used stolen credit card numbers belonging to 36 different victims to purchase theme park and hotel packages from Universal Orlando Resort valued at approximately $62,300. Lewis called the Universal call center or visited the Universal website to make the fraudulent purchases, each time using a different stolen credit card number. Most of the reservations were made via phone and, to avoid detection, Lewis utilized more than 20 different telephone numbers when calling in to make the reservations. After making a fraudulent purchase, Lewis and his associates would either use the ticket and hotel packages and/or have Universal convert the packages to Universal gift cards.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Three Auburndale Men Each Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Brandishing Firearms During Convenience Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Eddrick Wright (25, Auburndale), Kaylob Davis (23, Auburndale), and Amere Benjamin (22, Auburndale) each to 14 years in federal prison for brandishing firearms while they were robbing convenience stores in Lutz and New Port Richey. The court also ordered the defendants to forfeit the firearms and make restitution to the victims.
Wright, Davis, and Benjamin each had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a robbery.
According to court documents, during the early morning of December 14, 2019, Wright, Davis, and Benjamin robbed two convenience stores, about an hour apart. In each case, they entered the store, pointed firearms at the clerks, ordered them to open the registers, and took cash. They also took products from the stores and personal property from the store employees. During the robberies, the defendants wore masks, including a Darth Vader mask.
Approximately two hours after the second robbery, Florida Highway Patrol pulled over a vehicle that Wright was driving and in which Davis and Benjamin were passengers. During a search of the vehicle, the FHP trooper found firearms, a Darth Vader mask, credit cards, and a driver license belonging to the convenience store employees.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
New York Man Convicted of Conspiracy and Attempt to Engage in Sex Trafficking of A MinorRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – A federal jury has found Michael Davis (37, Jamaica, NY) guilty of conspiring and attempting to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor. He faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2021.
Davis had been indicted on August 13, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, in August 2017, Davis began using a social networking website to recruit young women to engage in commercial sex. In December 2017, Davis used the website to send a message to an individual whom he believed was a 17-year-old girl living in Denver, Colorado. Unbeknownst to Davis, however, he was communicating with an undercover agent who specialized in child sex trafficking investigations.
Over the course of several weeks, Davis conspired with another individual to attempt to recruit, entice, transport, and obtain the purported child to travel to the Tampa Bay area so that he could cause her to engage in commercial sex. In an effort to persuade the child, Davis talked about the lavish lifestyle she would have and sent photos of large amounts of cash and marijuana. Davis orchestrated the purchase of a one-way bus ticket for the child and promised to pick her up from the bus station. The day before the child was expected to arrive in Tampa, federal agents coordinated with local law enforcement officers to detain Davis, who admitted he had communicated with the child and purchased a bus ticket for her.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau Investigation, with assistance from the Largo Police Department and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
This case resulted from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute coercive human trafficking in the Tampa area. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, transnational sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Flagler County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of A MinorRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Sean Patrick Farrelly (49, Palm Coast) to 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a minor. Farrelly was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. He has been in custody since his arrest on March 21, 2019.
Farrelly had pleaded guilty on June 19, 2019.
According to court documents, between March 2018 and February 2019, Farrelly recruited, enticed, and solicited a 16-year-old child to engage in commercial sex acts, by texting the victim, sending her pictures of money, and providing her with alcohol or marijuana. Farrelly paid the child victim $30 to $40 each time that they engaged in sexual intercourse. During several recorded phone calls between Farrelly and the victim, Farrelly admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim and stated that he was worried the calls were being recorded and he was going to go to jail.
This case was investigated by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Phony Immigration Attorney Who Filed Hundreds of Fraudulent Asylum Applications Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Elvis Harold Reyes (56, Brandon, Florida) to 20 years and 9 months in federal prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme where he posed as an immigration attorney and filed hundreds of fraudulent asylum applications. The Court deferred consideration of victim restitution to a later date.
Reyes had pleaded guilty on December 15, 2020.
According to court documents, Reyes, who owned and operated EHR Ministries Inc., portrayed himself as an immigration attorney. He is not and has never been a licensed attorney. Reyes targeted undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries who were seeking Florida driver licenses and work authorization. Reyes gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to victims in order to induce them to retain his services and those of EHR Ministries.
Victims retained and paid Reyes to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other agencies. Reyes filed fraudulent immigration applications in the victims’ names, seeking asylum relief and withholding-of-removal protections provided for under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. In doing so, Reyes falsified answers to questions in the asylum applications—fabricating stories about threats, persecution, and the applicants’ fear of returning to their native countries. Reyes did not inform the victims of the answers that he had provided on their behalf. He also did not inform the victims about the legal, administrative, and other immigration-related consequences that might follow from filing for asylum relief or for Convention Against Torture protection.
Reyes filed more than 225 fraudulent applications, intending to cause victim loss of more than $1 million. His victims’ actual losses exceeded $411,000. Reyes spent the criminal proceeds on, among other things, travel, luxury shopping, spas, jewelry, beautification/anti-aging procedures, and an allowance for his girlfriend.
Reyes threatened aggrieved victims who confronted him by claiming that he could have them deported. And, when investigative reporting revealed Reyes’s scheme, he attempted to obstruct justice by having a friend wipe his computers.
“Posing as an immigration attorney, Reyes targeted hundreds of vulnerable people in the Tampa community with his immigration scam,” said USCIS Tampa District Director Michael Borgen. “USCIS is committed to finding and stopping those who want to cheat the immigration system, and preserving it for those who qualify for immigration benefits.”
“This criminal defrauded hundreds of victims who thought they were starting a path to legal citizenship,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special in Charge Michael Cochran. “Identity and benefit fraud are crimes that threaten the national security and public safety of the U.S. by creating vulnerabilities to our legal immigration system. Thanks to HSI special agents, and our partners with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, he will now be held accountable for his crimes.”
“It is appalling that Elvis Reyes was preying on vulnerable individuals living in fear within our county,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am proud of our detectives, who thoroughly investigated claims made by each victim, and our diligent efforts to reach undocumented members of our community through both English and Spanish PSAs, encouraging them to come forward if they were taken advantage of by Mr. Reyes. I am confident that these efforts ultimately helped lead to a conviction.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
Heroin and Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Drug Conspiracy Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Irving Cepeda-Chico (39, Kissimmee) to 14 years in federal prison for 12 counts of distribution of controlled substances and 1 count of conspiracy to distribute such substances. Cepeda-Chico had pleaded guilty on November 20, 2020.
According to court documents, Cepeda-Chico was involved in obtaining and distributing heroin and fentanyl-laced heroin in Orlando and elsewhere in central and northern Florida. Audio and video recordings showed Cepeda-Chico selling thousands of dollars of fentanyl-laced heroin on multiple occasions. The audio recordings captured Cepeda-Chico discussing distribution plans, discussing the quality of his product with an international supplier, offloading bad fentanyl and heroin on another distributor, and arranging to pay his supplier through money orders.
During the sentencing hearing, the court found that on one occasion Cepeda-Chico had distributed fentanyl-laced heroin to an individual, M.D., causing M.D.’s fatal overdose in the overnight hours of July 19, 2019. As a result, the court adjusted Cepeda-Chico’s sentence upward to hold him accountable for M.D.’s death.
This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sherriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lakeland Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and the Medical Examiner’s Office for Districts 9 and 25. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Florida Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Four Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced John Armstrong (32, North Fort Myers) to 35 years in federal prison for two bank robberies, an attempted bank robbery, a Hobbs Act robbery, and three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Armstrong had pleaded guilty on September 22, 2020. Armstrong’s co-defendants, Tanya Legg (45, North Fort Myers) and Daniel Zirk (24, Spring Hill), also previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced in December 2020 for their roles in this.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2019, Armstrong used a firearm to rob a 7-Eleven convenience store in North Fort Myers. During this robbery, Armstrong struck one of the store employees in the face with his firearm. On July 31, 2019, Armstrong used a firearm to rob a Bank OZK in Punta Gorda, stealing more than $151,000 from the bank’s vault.
On September 25, 2019, Armstrong and Zirk attempted to commit an armed robbery of a PNC Bank in Davenport. Zirk carjacked two vehicles earlier that morning, holding the victims at gunpoint. Armstrong and Zirk later used one of the carjacked vehicles as a getaway car following the attempted PNC Bank robbery. The robbery failed after the bank’s alarm went off. The following day, Armstrong, Zirk, and Legg robbed a BB&T Bank in Altamonte Springs, during which Armstrong and Zirk threatened to kill the bank employees and used firearms to force the employees to open the bank’s vault. They then stole approximately $22,000 in cash from the vault. Legg helped plan and purchase supplies for the BB&T Bank robbery and the attempted PNC Bank robbery. She also served as the getaway driver for these two robberies.
On December 9, 2020, Legg was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for her role in this case. Zirk was sentenced on December 16, 2020, to 22 years and 4 months in prison for his role in the case.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Altamonte Springs Police Department, the Fort Myers Police Department, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Punta Gorda Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chauncey A. Bratt and Amanda Daniels.
Cocoa Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Using an 11-Year-Old Child to Produce Sex Abuse VideosRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Edgar John Dawson, Jr. (47, Cocoa) to 50 years in federal prison for five counts of using a minor child to produce sexual abuse videos and two counts of distributing child sex abuse images over the internet. Dawson was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to forfeit his phone. He has been in custody since his arrest on May 7, 2020.
Dawson had pleaded guilty to the distribution counts on November 17, 2020. He was subsequently found guilty of the production offenses on December 8, 2020, following a bench trial.
According to court documents, on five different occasions in March 2020 and May 2020, Dawson produced videos of himself using an 11-year-old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He then distributed these videos to others in internet chat rooms where persons with a sexual interest in children are known to gather. Dawson also shared images depicting the sexual abuse of numerous young children through an online messaging application in order to obtain similar images in return.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Orlando and Jacksonville), the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington D.C.), and the Cocoa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
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.
Lee County Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Selling DrugsRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Francis Medina (42, Lehigh Acres) to six years and five months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing cocaine and methamphetamine.
Medina had pleaded guilty on August 5, 2020.
According to court documents, in November 2019, Medina sold cocaine and methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. When authorities later searched Medina’s home, they discovered a variety of drugs and a loaded gun in his bedroom.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.