Middle District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Zephyrhills Man Sentenced to 150 Years for Sexually Exploiting Multiple Young ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Edgar Johan Diaz-Colon (34, Zephyrhills) to 150 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children. Diaz-Colon had pleaded guilty on April 22, 2020.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in 2018 and 2019, Diaz-Colon sexually abused three young children. Two of the victims (who were then six and seven years old) lived near Diaz-Colon, and he lured them to the studio where he was staying. There, on multiple occasions, he repeatedly raped the children and forced them to perform sex acts on him. Diaz-Colon video-recorded some of those incidents. He also hit at least one of the children with a belt and taped her mouth shut when she cried for help. Diaz-Colon threatened to kill the child if she told her parents about his abuse.
The third victim was three years old when Diaz-Colon had abused her. In at least one instance, he video-recorded himself molesting the child.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. 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.
Operation Pocket Dial Results in Eleven Drug Traffickers Charged for Conspiring to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, announces several recent arrests in “Operation Pocket Dial” – a joint investigation targeting heroin and fentanyl distribution networks in Tampa and Kissimmee.
Three indictments were unsealed this week charging a total of 11 members of drug trafficking organizations with offenses related to the distribution of heroin and fentanyl. (See chart for details).
In December 2019, two additional defendants, Eric Manuel Robles Rivera (45/Orlando) and Eddie Quinones Santiago (38, Kissimmee), were charged as part of this investigation. Robles Rivera previously pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it and, in July 2020, he was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Quinones Santiago is scheduled for trial in October 2020.
According to the indictments just unsealed, between January 1, 2016, and continuing through August 27, 2020, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Middle District of Florida. The defendants distributed heroin and fentanyl on multiple occasions, and the use of the heroin and fentanyl resulted in death and serious bodily injury.
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 investigation is the result of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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 illegal drug supply.
Name
(Age, Residence)
Charges
Maximum Penalties
William Franqui,
a/k/a “Gordo”
(35, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting is serious bodily injury
Distribution of heroin (two counts)
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Mandatory minimum 20 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Marie Rodriguez
(39, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin (two counts)
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Kevin Darnell Diaz Tirado
(27, Clearwater)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin (two counts)
Mandatory minimum 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Edgardo Colon Rosado
(28, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin (two counts)
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Jose Miriel Morales Sanchez
(29, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Orlando Muniz Escalera
(26, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Leslie Pagan
(39, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death
Distribution of heroin and fentanyl (eight counts)
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Mandatory minimum of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison (per count)
Jackylin Bonifacio
(36, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death
Mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison
Mandatory minimum of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison
Steven Echevarria, a/k/a “Unca”
(34, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Mandatory minimum of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison
30 years in federal prison
Nathaniel Quiles, a/k/a “Chuleta”
(35, Kissimmee)
Conspiracy to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin
Distribution of heroin
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison
Kiara Marie Rivera Serrano
(29, Kissimmee)
Conspiracy to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin
Distribution of heroin
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison
20 years in federal prison
Multi-Convicted Felon with Stolen AR-15 Rifle Facing More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Christopher Maurice McCallum, Jr. (28, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. In a related case, McCallum also admitted to violations of his federal supervision for possessing the same firearm. He could receive an additional two years in federal prison for these violations. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on May 25, 2020, City of Ocala police officers responded to a shooting in a local neighborhood. The officers observed McCallum attempting to flee the area in a vehicle. McCallum was apprehended after a short pursuit after he abandoned the vehicle and tried to run on foot. Officers recovered a stolen AR-15 rifle, loaded with ammunition, from the driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle. McCallum, a multi-convicted felon, was on supervision for a federal weapons offense. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
On June 7, 2020, officers again arrested McCallum on several outstanding federal warrants relating to this conduct. At the time of his arrest, McCallum had barricaded himself inside an apartment. A subsequent search of the apartment revealed two more loaded firearms—a stolen handgun and another AR-15 rifle—along with illegal drugs and paraphernalia.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Home Health Company Agrees to Pay $300,000 to Resolve Allegations of Illegal Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Home Health Care of Florida, LLC has agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that it engaged in a kickback scheme related to the referral of Medicare patients for home health services.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that between August 1, 2013, and March 31, 2017, Home Health Care of Florida illegally paid its medical director in order to induce him to refer Medicare patients to Home Health Care of Florida for services that were billed to the United States. The medical director entered into a related settlement agreement in December of 2018. The United States alleged that these financial arrangements violated the physician self-referral law, commonly known as the “Stark Law,” and the Anti-Kickback Statute, giving rise to liability under the False Claims Act.
“Kickback arrangements have no place in federal healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to target improper payment schemes and advocate for the proper care of our senior citizens.”
The case was handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Investigative assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Breanna Peterson and Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Bloor coordinated the investigation.
The government’s action in this matter illustrates the emphasis on combating health care fraud, and one of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Fort Myers Business Owner Arrested and Charged with COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrest and unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Casey David Crowther (35, Fort Myers) with making a false statement to a lending institution. If convicted, Crowther faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the
complaint , Crowther sought and received more than $2 million in a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan through an application to an insured financial institution on behalf of his company, Target Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. Crowther submitted a loan application that included false and misleading statements concerning what the PPP funds would be used for, specifically that the PPP funds would only be used for business-related purposes, to retain workers, and maintain payroll or make mortgage payments, lease payments, and utilities payments.The complaint further alleges that within days of receiving the PPP funds, Crowther used a portion of the funds to purchase a 2020 40-foot catamaran boat for approximately $689,417, which he registered in his name.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 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.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
Jury Convicts Cocoa Man of Possessing A Firearm After Having Been Convicted of A FelonyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury today found Raymond Lee Kelly (52, Cocoa, FL) guilty of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Because of his extensive criminal record, which includes drug trafficking convictions, resisting arrest with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, Kelly is qualified as an Armed Career Criminal and faces a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Kelly was also on supervised release from a federal prison sentence when he committed the offense for which he was found guilty. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Kelly, a convicted felon, fled from a traffic stop in Cocoa Beach, Florida. First, he crashed his vehicle shortly after fleeing. He then he fled on foot toward the beach, leaving behind cannabis, a digital scale, a Ruger semi-automatic handgun and 16 rounds of ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cocoa Beach Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Members of Fraudulent Prescription Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison TermsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Patrice Jackson (37, Bradenton) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Jackson, one of four members of a fraudulent opiate prescription drug conspiracy, pleaded guilty on October 23, 2019.
According to court documents, between August 2015 and August 2016, Jackson and her co-conspirators agreed to dispense and distribute prescription opiates through a forged-prescription scheme. Lucretia Mullan and another staff member at a local pain management clinic, forged prescriptions and sold them to Jackson, who then took them to nearby HP pharmacy in Pinellas Park. For a fee, the pharmacy technician at HP, Jessica Evans, assisted the HP pharmacist, Hong Truong, in dispensing the prescription opiates to Jackson. Jackson then sold the opiates to others, mostly in the Sarasota area. In all, the conspirators were responsible for obtaining at least 54 fraudulent prescriptions or 8,500 opiate tablets.
Co-conspirators Lucretia Mullan and Jessica Evans were previously sentenced to 20 months’ and 25 months’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. Hong Truong’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Kelley Howard-Allen.
Marion County Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Charlie Lee Wright, Jr. (52, Summerfield) to 17 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A federal jury had found Wright guilty in December 2019. Because of Wright’s extensive criminal record, he qualified as an Armed Career Criminal and was subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. In addition, five firearms—three rifles and two handguns—were also administratively forfeited.
According to court records, on January 16, 2019, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Wright’s home pursuant to an investigation into missing jewelry. During the search, detectives located numerous firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition inside the home and in a car registered in Wright’s name. Wright subsequently admitted to federal investigators that he had handled at least two of the recovered firearms.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Wright has 28 prior felony convictions in Florida. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Florida Man Sentenced for Racially-Motivated Interference with Election in Charlottesville, Virginia and for Cyberstalking in FloridaRead the Press Release
Daniel McMahon, 32, was sentenced today in federal court in the Western District of Virginia to 41 months of imprisonment for threatening an African-American Charlottesville City Council candidate because of his race and because he was running for office, and for cyberstalking a separate victim through Facebook messenger, the Justice Department announced today. Following his term of incarceration, McMahon will be placed on three years of supervised release, during which time he will be prohibited from using internet-capable devices without prior court approval.
“Americans have the right to run for office in this country without facing racially-bigoted threats of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Furthermore, no American should have to live with hateful threats of sexual violence for opposing white nationalism. The Justice Department will continue vigorously to prosecute anyone who attempts to infringe on these civil rights and thereby undermine our democracy.”
“The hallmark of our Nation’s democracy is the right to peacefully protest and engage in an effective exchange of ideas via the political process,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “When either of these rights are infringed, and individuals are targeted, intimidated, or threatened because of their race/ethnicity or beliefs, the cornerstone of our system is put at risk. Today’s sentence demonstrates our intent to work together to preserve our Nation’s founding principles and ensure that all citizens are protected under the law.”
“This defendant weaponized social media to threaten and intimidate his perceived political enemies and propagate a violent white-supremacist ideology,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen of the Western District of Virginia. “Because his online activity crossed the boundary between protected First Amendment expression and unlawful threats and harassment, he will spend considerable time in federal prison.”
“The FBI applauds the sentencing in this case and remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans,” said Special Agent in Charge David W. Archey of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “We also commend the courage of the victims who come forward to report these threats. We are grateful for our partners with the Department of Justice, the FBI Tampa Division and the U.S. Attorney's Offices in Virginia and Florida for their support during this investigation.”
On April 30, 2020, the defendant pled guilty to one count of racially-motivated threats to interfere with an election, and one count of cyberstalking. At the plea hearing, the defendant admitted that he uses the online pseudonyms “Jack Corbin,” “Pale Horse,” “Restore Silent Sam,” and “Dakota Stone,” to promote white supremacy and white nationalist ideology, and to express support for racially-motivated violence. The defendant admitted that in January 2019, upon learning that D.G., an African-American resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, planned to announce his candidacy for city council, the defendant used his Jack Corbin account on the social media platform Gab to threaten violence against D.G. because of D.G.’s race and because D.G. was running for office. The defendant admitted that his posts used racial slurs and invoked long-standing racial stereotypes, and that he intended for D.G. to understand his posts as threats to his safety.
In addition, the defendant admitted to using his “Restore Silent Sam” Facebook account to cyberstalk a person identified in court documents as Victim 2. In connection with this charge, the defendant admitted that he used Facebook to send Victim 2 numerous intimidating and threatening messages that placed Victim 2 in reasonable fear of harm to Victim 2’s minor child. The defendant acknowledged that Victim 2 has been active in countering white nationalist rallies in her community. The defendant admitted that, because of Victim 2’s activism, he began an online campaign to intimidate her and to extort information from her about her fellow activists. This included sending Victim 2 numerous messages over the course of twelve days in which he threatened to sexually assault Victim 2’s minor daughter, who has autism. The defendant admitted that, at around the same time that he sent these messages, he also used the internet to conduct searches relating to sexual contact with girls who have autism. The defendant admitted that his messages reasonably caused Victim 2 serious emotional distress and fear for Victim 2’s child’s safety.
This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen of the Western District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George of the Middle District of Florida; and Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Clay County Man Charged with Armed Robbery of Gas StationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Joshua Noah Sams (20, Orange Park) with interference of interstate commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a robbery. If convicted, Sams faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery offense and a 7-year minimum mandatory penalty, up to life imprisonment, for the firearm offense. The indictment also notifies Sams that the United States intends to forfeit the alleged proceeds of the robbery.
According to the indictment, on November 12, 2019, Sams robbed a 76 Gas station at gunpoint, obtaining cash from the employee on duty. Sams is currently in federal custody in the Northern District of Florida on unrelated robbery and firearm charges.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Jacksonville Pair Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft and FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Charles Cornelius Smith (35, Jacksonville) and Zipporan Carmel Peters (31, Jacksonville) with two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and one count of false representation of a Social Security number. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy to commit bank fraud, up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the false representation of a Social Security number, and a 2-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment on each aggravated identity theft count. Smith and Peters made their initial appearance in federal court today, and were detained until their arraignment hearing on September 1, 2020.
According to the indictment, Smith obtained the personal identification information of a victim, including the name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Using this information, Smith provided Peters with a counterfeit South Carolina driver license using the identity information of the victim, but with Peters’s photo on it. Smith then drove Peters to different branches of the Navy Federal Credit Union where Peters subsequently made various fraudulent transactions, using the victim’s identity.
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 United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange Park Police Department, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Three Family Members Plead Guilty in Connection with Defrauding Veterans Health Care in the VillagesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Miller Wilson, Jr. (50, Sparr), his daughter, Myoshi Wilson (26, Citra), and Erica Wilson (43, Ocala) have each pleaded guilty for their roles a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care benefits.
Miller Wilson, Jr. pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and solicitation and receipt of a health care kickback. He faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the kickback offense. On March 5, 2020, Erica Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. She faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. Myoshi Wilson had pleaded guilty on February 18, 2020, to making false statements to law enforcement. She faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. All three defendants will be sentenced on October 6, 2020.
According to court documents, Miller Wilson, Jr. was an employee at the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) Clinic located in The Villages, Florida. As part of his employment, he provided transportation arrangements for veterans needing medical treatment. From 2014 through 2016, Miller Wilson, Jr. obtained cash kickbacks from the transportation vendors in exchange for awarding them health care contracts from the VA. Thereafter, from 2016-2017, Miller Wilson, Jr. conspired with Erica and Myoshi Wilson to open and manage two different transportation companies to conduct similar schemes. Miller Wilson, Jr. used his official position at the VA to funnel health care contracts to the companies that he had formed with Erica and Myoshi Wilson. During a 17-month period, the two companies billed the federal government $305,673. Myoshi Wilson admitted to making false statements to a federal agent in 2019, to conceal the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Gang Members Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Drug-Related ShootingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Leon Williams (30, Tampa) to 17 years and 6 months in prison and Reginald Jones, Jr. (25, Tampa) to 15 years and 8 months in prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, and for discharging a firearm during and in relation to that conspiracy. A federal jury had found Williams and Jones guilty on November 15, 2019.
According to evidence presented during the two-week trial, Williams and Jones are members of the Bird Gang, a violent street-level drug trafficking organization that has operated in Tampa Park for years, and is responsible for multiple homicides and shootings. The Bird Gang principally sold drugs at two locations, the Tampa Park housing complex and a nearby boarding house known as the “Blue House,” which the Bird Gang had essentially taken over. On May 29, 2018, in the middle of the afternoon, Williams and Jones acted as enforcers for the gang by shooting at people whom they believed had been communicating with law enforcement in an effort to stop the gang from selling drugs at the Blue House. Bullets fired by Williams, Jones, and their associates seriously injured one person, struck a car, and broke windows at a company located two blocks away, where almost 400 people were present at the time of the shooting.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the Bird Gang, so far resulting in charges against 30 defendants. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.
This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
United States Receives $1.1 Million to Settle Civil Claims with Defense Contractor Accused of FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that the United States has settled allegations that Islands Mechanical Contractor, Inc. (IMC) improperly submitted claims for standby or delay costs associated with construction contracts at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
IMC is a defense contractor that provides construction services at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. IMC agreed to construct a facility at Guantanamo Bay, but delays occurred. IMC submitted requests for equitable adjustment for additional stand-by and delay costs, but the United States alleges that IMC’s claims for equipment and labor costs were inflated and based on misrepresented, incomplete, and insufficient data. The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) determined that the claimed equipment was not needed for the relevant project, the actual age of the equipment did not match the claimed equipment age, and that the equipment was diverted to other projects instead of being placed on stand-by. Similarly, the DCAA found that the workers claimed to be on stand-by were reallocated to other projects, and the payroll records supporting their standby status were falsified.
“Protecting the integrity of services provided to our armed forces is a high priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We will work vigorously to ensure that defense contractors fulfill their contractual obligations and do not inflate claims for payments so that our military can accomplish its mission.”
NCIS Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office said, “Fraud is not a victimless crime, and puts our Sailors and Marines at greater risk. The American taxpayers are also victims as the blatant and wrongful misuse of American taxpayer dollars not only erodes the public trust but also diminishes the Department of Navy’s ability to obtain the best technology, services, and equipment for our brave military members.”
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and Assistant United States Attorney Shea Gibbons.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Sarasota Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Machine GunRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Max Chambers (21, Sarasota), a former University of Central Florida student, today pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on January 28, 2019, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Police Department received an anonymous crime line tip claiming that Chambers was in possession of three drop-in auto-sears (DIAS) – a device used to cause a semi-automatic firearm to fire fully automatic – on university grounds. After making contact with Chambers, law enforcement located a completed DIAS in his dorm room. A second DIAS and an AR-15 style rifle that Chambers had converted to fire fully automatic were found in Chambers’s vehicle, which was parked on UCF property. During interviews with law enforcement, Chambers admitted to making the DIAS, and altering the AR-15 with the goal of making it fire fully automatic.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University of Central Florida Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Mexican Citizen with Fraudulent U.S. Passport Sentenced to Two Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced a Mexican citizen, J. Refugio Medina-Zamarripa (40, Mascotte), to two years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. Medina-Zamarripa had pleaded guilty on January 13, 2020.
According to court records, Medina-Zamarripa had been living in the United States under a false identity for 15 years. During that time, he fraudulently acquired several state-issued identification cards and a United States passport. When Medina-Zamarripa attempted to renew the passport in 2017, U.S. Department of State investigators discovered that he was using the identity of an American citizen living in Texas, who had been the victim of identity theft.
Following his federal prison sentence, Medina-Zamarripa will be deported back to Mexico.
This case was investigated by U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, with support from the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Member of Sanford Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Antonio Chandler (40, Sanford) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Chandler had pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on June 4, 2020. His co-conspirators, Dondi Kentrail Freeney and Telvin Williams, pleaded guilty in June 2019. They were sentenced to seven years and six months and five years in federal prison, respectively. A fourth conspirator, Benjamin Robinson, was found guilty after a jury trial on August 9, 2019. He was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial and during court hearings, in January 2016, Chandler and his co-conspirators arranged for multiple shipments of cocaine to be sent through the United States Postal Service (USPS) from California. During the investigation, the FBI and USPS seized three of the packages, each containing two kilograms of cocaine hidden inside tubs of protein powder. Law enforcement was also identified four additional shipments that the conspirators had successfully shipped through the mail. In 2016, during the month of January Robinson and his co-conspirators were responsible for shipping 14 kilograms of cocaine through the mail, estimated to be worth a total $490,000.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Lake County Sherriff’s Office, and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Hillsborough County Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Enticement of A Minor and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Thomas Hill (41, Hillsborough County) to 19 years in federal prison for enticement of minor and production of child pornography. Hill had pleaded guilty on January 7, 2020.
According to court documents, starting in November 2018, Hill began communicating online with a 17-year-old girl in Georgia. At Hill’s direction, the girl produced pornographic images of herself and transmitted them to Hill in Tampa via Skype messenger. In online chats, Hill also instructed the victim to use various objects to penetrate herself, to refer to herself as his slave, and to address him as “master.” Hill and the victim made plans for Hill to take the victim from her home in Georgia so she could live with him and told the victim that he would physically and sexually abuse her and their future offspring.
In early December 2018, Hill drove to Georgia, picked up the victim without her parents’ knowledge or consent, and brought her back to Tampa to live with him. Once in Tampa, Hill forced the victim to engage in non-consensual sex acts. Hill also made the victim perform unpaid menial labor at his house and restricted her ability to leave the residence or communicate with outsiders. After living with Hill for several weeks, the victim fled Hill’s home and was discovered by local law enforcement running down the street, crying for help.
“The facts of this case are beyond disturbing. Mr. Hill forced his young victim to commit horrific and unspeakable acts,” said Michael F. McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Tampa Division. “These investigations are tough to work and I am proud of the dedicated special agents who do the job to protect our children from sexual predators.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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.
Labelle Felon Who Sold Firearm to ATF Agent Sentenced to More Than Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Alton Jackson (26, Labelle) to six years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court sentenced Jackson to a term of imprisonment above his federal sentencing guidelines range, citing his numerous encounters with law enforcement dating back to age 14 and his recidivism risk.
Jackson had pleaded guilty on May 8, 2020.
According to court documents, in January 2019, Jackson sold an AR-15 style rifle to an undercover ATF agent at a motel in Fort Myers. Following a months-long search, Jackson was arrested in North Carolina by the United States Marshals Service and transported to the Middle District of Florida.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Tampa, Florida, Towing Company for Unlawfully Selling Car Belonging to Deployed ServicememberRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Florida alleging that Target Recovery Towing Inc. and Target Recovery & Transport Inc. (together “Target”) violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), by failing to obtain a court order before auctioning off a car belonging to a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant who was deployed overseas.
The SCRA, which provides a wide variety of financial and housing protections to members of the military, prohibits towing companies from auctioning off servicemembers’ vehicles without a court order.
The law places the burden on towing companies and other lienholders to determine whether the property in their possession belongs to a servicemember. The complaint alleges that several facts should have put Target on notice that the owner of the vehicle was a servicemember, including that the Marine Corps Sergeant’s car had at least one military decal, military documents were in the car, her address of record was at a U.S. Marine Corps Base, and she obtained her vehicle loan through Navy Federal Credit Union.
“Imagine returning home after honorably serving your country only to find that your sole means of transportation and its contents are gone and lost to you forever as a result of a towing company’s callous disregard of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting the rights of the men and women in our Armed Forces, and putting a stop to these unlawful business practices.”
“The law is clear and unequivocal,” said Maria Chapa Lopez, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. “We owe it to all military servicemembers to vigorously protect their rights while they are deployed protecting our rights and our freedom.”
In addition to seeking damages for the servicemember, including the value of the auctioned vehicle and its contents, the Justice Department is seeking to enjoin Target from illegally auctioning off servicemembers’ vehicles in the future in violation of the SCRA. The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties against the defendants.
This lawsuit resulted from a referral to the Justice Department from the United States Marine Corps. Servicemembers and their dependents who believe their SCRA rights have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/. The department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the department has obtained over $474 million in monetary relief for over 120,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. Additional information on the Justice Department’s enforcement of the SCRA and other laws protecting servicemembers is available at www.servicemembers.gov.
Jamaican Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Lottery SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Darryl Cleon Forbes (27, Jamaica) to five year and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The court also ordered Forbes to forfeit $2.4 million, and pay $1,122,957 in restitution.
Forbes had pleaded guilty on November 18, 2019.
According to court documents, from early 2015 until December 2017, Forbes and others operated a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme in Jamaica, the Middle District of Florida, and elsewhere. Forbes and his co-conspirators, posing as government officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Treasury, falsely informed victims in the United States that they had won a prize in a sweepstakes and had to send money via wire transfers or other methods to pay various fees and taxes necessary to retrieve their prize. Forbes and his co-conspirators often targeted victims who were elderly and more susceptible to fraud. After Forbes and his co-conspirators had successfully induced a victim to send money, they telephoned the victim again, repeatedly, to “reload” him or her, making further false and fraudulent misrepresentations in an effort to induce the victim to send more money. The conspirators would often tell the victims that they had to send additional fees and taxes to ensure the safe delivery of the prize. This practice would continue as long as the victim continued to send money. No victim of the conspiracy ever received a promised prize. Forbes and his co-conspirators kept all of the funds for their own personal benefit.
Forbes and his co-conspirators also recruited residents in the United States to open bank accounts to deposit and transfer the fraudulently obtained funds. To facilitate the scheme, Forbes and his co-conspirators obtained personal identifying information of victims and then transferred, or directed others to transfer, victim funds to co-conspirators in Jamaica and elsewhere for the purpose of making ATM withdrawals.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay Taylor and Ashley Washington.
Plant City Fentanyl Distributors Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Alfonso Lorenzo Boyd (36, Tampa) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison and Victor Jason Valentin (28, Mulberry) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Boyd and Valentin had pleaded guilty in October 2019.
According to court documents, in November 2017, law enforcement began an investigation into narcotics trafficking at an apartment complex in Plant City, after a resident of the complex had died from a drug overdose. The investigation revealed that Boyd and Valentin had been selling drugs from an apartment they shared in the complex. Witnesses described seeing large numbers of people coming and going from their apartment, some of them clearly intoxicated. The overdose victim was a neighbor who had purchased heroin and fentanyl from Boyd and Valentin.
Boyd, a career offender, obtained, mixed, packaged, and sold the heroin and fentanyl, calling it “feny dope.” Valentin facilitated sales to residents of the apartment complex.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Former CEO Charged with Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Jason Cory (47, Jacksonville) with three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the money laundering offense. The indictment also notifies Cory that the United States is seeking a money judgment of at least $558,701.40, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the
indictment , Cory was the Chief Executive Officer of an information technology services company. From approximately March 2017 through March 2019, Cory embezzled $547,071.10 from the company by authorizing and directing wire transfers out of its corporate accounts to an entity named Gambit Matrix LLC (Gambit). Cory informed employees that Gambit had performed consulting services for the company, when in reality, Gambit was a shell company controlled by Cory. Cory also controlled the Gambit bank account into which the embezzled funds were transferred, and used them for his personal expenses, including the purchase of a Rolex watch costing $11,630.30. Cory attempted to conceal his embezzlement by lying to employees and board members about his control over Gambit, attempting to persuade people to portray fictitious owners of Gambit, creating social media profiles and email addresses for those fictitious owners, and falsifying documents to substantiate the fictitious work being performed by Gambit.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. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Eight Robles Park Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an
indictment charging eight members of a drug trafficking organization with offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin. (See chart for details).According to court records, this investigation targeted illegal drug traffickers operating an open-air drug market in the Robles Park Housing Community in Tampa. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $52,000.
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 investigation is the result of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by the Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
SUMMARY CHART
Name
(Age, Residence)
Charges
Penalties
Darron Dexter Matthew McNeal
(30, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine and 100g or more of heroin
Distribution of cocaine (3 counts)
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Up to 20 years in federal prison per count
Jose Angel Andujar, a/k/a “Zay”
(43, Orlando)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine
Possession of 500 g or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute
Minimum mandatory term of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years in federal prison
Tywon Jamarquise Spann
(24, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine
Distribution of cocaine (3 counts)
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Up to 20 years in federal prison per count
Antonio A. Diaz, Jr.
(29, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Up to 20 years in federal prison
James Edward Moore, a/k/a “Doc”
(44, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine
Distribution of cocaine (2 counts)
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Up to 20 years in federal prison per count
Zarron Dexter McNeal
(56, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 g or more of heroin
Distribution of fentanyl and heroin
Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
Up to 20 years in federal prison
Omar Rashada Bacon
(33, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 g or more of heroin
Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
Juan Manuel Corrales
(30, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 g or more of heroin
Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
Plant City Man Indicted for Murder Committed in Park Next to Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an
indictment charging Wilmer Rosales (22, Plant City), a/k/a “DoubleU,” and Joel Sierra (25, Plant City), a/k/a “Jojo,” with conspiring to traffic in controlled substances, conspiring to commit robbery, and robbery. The indictment charges Rosales with using a firearm and murdering an individual (G.U.) during the drug conspiracy, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm and ammunition in a school zone. If convicted on all counts, Rosales faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, or the death penalty. Sierra faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison.According to court documents, Rosales and Sierra planned to rob G.U. Under the guise of making a drug purchase, Rosales and Sierra lured G.U. to a park located next to an elementary school, where armed co-conspirators waited nearby. Sierra then stole the drugs from G.U. and ran. When G.U. attempted to chase Sierra, Rosales shot G.U. repeatedly with an AK-47 from behind, and Rosales and Sierra left the scene. While others gathered around G.U., who lay bleeding, Rosales returned to the scene and again fired his AK-47 at G.U. Another person attempted to cover G.U.’s body with her own.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Justice Department Acts to Shut Down Fraudulent Websites Exploiting the COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – The United States Department of Justice announced today that it has obtained a Temporary Restraining Order in federal court to combat fraud related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The enforcement action, filed in Tampa, Florida, is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts prioritizing the detection, investigation, and prosecution of illegal conduct related to the pandemic. The action was brought based on an investigation conducted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security.
“The Department of Justice is committed to preventing fraudsters from exploiting this pandemic for personal gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ethan P. Davis of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will use every resource at the government’s disposal to pursue scammers who are stealing money from citizens amidst the ongoing public health crisis.”
“This action affirms our commitment to Attorney General Barr’s directive to prioritize fraud schemes arising out of the coronavirus pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and shut down these scams that attempt to take advantage of our fellow American citizens, who are trying to keep their families safe and healthy during these very trying times.”
“Unfortunately the Global Pandemic has given criminals and criminal organizations a new opportunity to take advantage of our communities by targeting vulnerable populations through financial fraud schemes, the importation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and illicit websites defrauding consumers which continue to compromise legitimate trade and financial systems,” said HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Sibley. “Through our investigations under Operation Stolen Promise, HSI will continue to disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks as well as those who are exploiting the pandemic for their own financial gain.”
As detailed in the civil complaint and accompanying court papers filed on Monday, August 3, 2020, Defendants Thu Phan Dinh, Tran Khanh, and Nguyen Duy Toan, all residents of Vietnam, are alleged to have engaged in a wire fraud scheme seeking to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the complaint, Defendants operated more than 300 websites that fraudulently purported to sell products that became scarce during the pandemic, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Thousands of victims in all fifty states attempted to purchase these items from Defendants’ websites. Victims paid for items supposedly sold through the websites but never received the purchased products. The complaint alleges that Defendants set up hundreds of email accounts and accounts with a U.S.-based payment processor to effectuate the scheme and keep it hidden from law enforcement. Defendants are also alleged to have listed fraudulent contact addresses and phone numbers on the websites, causing unaffiliated individuals and businesses in the United States to receive numerous complaint calls from victims who had been defrauded by the scheme. In response to the Department’s request for injunctive relief, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell issued an emergency ex parte temporary restraining order requiring that the registrar and registries of Defendants’ fraudulent websites take immediate action to disable them.
The United States obtained the restraining order to shutter Defendants’ websites immediately while an investigation of Defendants’ scheme continues. In so doing, the government is employing a federal statute that permits federal courts to issue injunctions to prevent harm to potential victims of fraudulent schemes. In response to information provided by HSI, Vietnamese authorities have also conducted their own investigation and arrested the Defendants.
The Department of Justice recommends that Americans take the following precautionary measures to protect themselves from known and emerging scams related to COVID-19:
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Independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19.
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Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products, or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often employ addresses that differ only slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating. For example, they might use “cdc.com” or “cdc.org” instead of “cdc.gov.”
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Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies, or treatment for COVID-19 or requesting your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health authorities will not contact the general public this way.
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Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device.
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Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is operating and up to date.
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Ignore offers from suspicious sources for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure, or treatment. Remember, if a vaccine becomes available, you won’t hear about it for the first time through an email, online ad, or unsolicited sales pitch.
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Check online reviews of any company offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid companies whose customers have complained about not receiving items.
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Research any charities or crowdfunding sites soliciting donations in connection with COVID-19 before giving any donation. Remember, an organization may not be legitimate even if it uses words like “CDC” or “government” in its name or has reputable looking seals or logos on its materials. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.
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Be wary of any business, charity, or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card, or through the mail. Don’t send money through any of these channels.
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Be cautious of “investment opportunities” tied to COVID-19, especially those based on claims that a small company’s products or services can help stop the virus. If you decide to invest, carefully research the investment beforehand. For information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, consumers may visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites. The public is urged to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline by phone at (1-866-720-5721) or via an online reporting form available at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The enforcement action taken today is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn B. Tapie of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Kathryn A. Schmidt of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. HSI’s Tampa office is conducting the investigation.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove to receive a permanent injunction against the defendants.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, visit its website at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl. For information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to stop COVID-19 fraud, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
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Polk County Man, Previously Convicted for Domestic Violence, Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement in Attempt to Acquire A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Daniel John Ferrer (29, Davenport) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement while attempting to purchase a firearm. Ferrer faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Ferrer had previously been convicted of domestic violence battery and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Ferrer subsequently pawned three firearms at a pawnshop. When he attempted to repurchase one of those firearms, he was required to complete paperwork related to his criminal history. Ferrer falsely stated that he had never been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Colin P. McDonell.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
International Fugitive Extradited from Italy Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Nelson Pablo Yester-Garrido (62, of Cuba) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a large amount of high-grade marijuana in the Middle District of Florida. Yester-Garrido faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Sentencing is set for October 22, 2020.
According to court documents, from the late 1980s through early 1997, Yester-Garrido was part of a group involved in importing kilogram amounts of cocaine and other narcotics into the United States, including by negotiating the purchase of a Russian diesel submarine for Colombian drug suppliers. Around 1997, Yester-Garrido fled to South Africa to escape prosecution related to charges that had been filed in the Southern District of Florida (which have since been dismissed).
Yester-Garrido then conspired with Juan Almeida, Andrew Cassara, and others to possess with the intent to distribute a large amount of marijuana in the Middle District of Florida.
In January 2015, the DEA began investigating the conspiracy, and in January 2017, an indictment was returned in the Middle District of Florida charging three of Yester-Garrido’s co-conspirators, Almeida, Cassara, and Wade Jones, Jr. (All three were sentenced in 2018 to varying terms of imprisonment.)
In October 2017, Yester-Garrido himself was indicted in the Middle District of Florida for conspiracy, from February 2012 through February 2015, to distribute marijuana and on related gun charges. Yester-Garrido was arrested in October 2017 by Italian authorities on a provisional arrest request at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. In July 2019, the Italian judicial authorities and the Ministry of Justice granted the request for Yester-Garrido’s extradition to the United States, and he was brought to the Middle District of Florida to answer the indictment against him.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Italy. The U.S. Marshals Service also provided critical assistance in the extradition to the Middle District of Florida. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.
Frostproof Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Mario Alberto Rivas (50, Frostproof) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring with others to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Rivas had pleaded guilty on February 18, 2020.
According to court documents, Rivas traveled from Florida to Houston, Texas to pick up approximately four kilograms of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator. After picking up the methamphetamine, Rivas traveled back to Florida to deliver the drugs to additional co-conspirators in the Polk County area. While Rivas was on the way to deliver the drugs, law enforcement officers stopped his vehicle and seized the methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lake Wales Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
Mexican National Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti today sentenced Jose Alfredo Carbajal-Espinosa (34, Mexico) to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Carbajal-Espinosa had pleaded guilty on May 26, 2020.
According to court documents, Carbajal-Espinosa was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on seven occasions. On April 8, 2013, he was convicted of illegal reentry after deportation, a federal felony offense. Following his conviction, Carbajal-Espinosa illegally reentered the United States.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft Related to Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung today sentenced Allan Ferrari (64, Tampa) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft related to passport fraud. Ferrari had pleaded guilty on September 23, 2019.
According to court documents, Ferrari began using his and another person’s identity, R.S.S., approximately 20 years ago. Ferrari used his own identity when he was arrested for various crimes – including grand theft, domestic battery, and other offenses – but used the R.S.S. identity (a clean identity without a criminal history) to obtain a drivers license and a job. Ultimately, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service discovered Ferrari’s double life when he applied for passports, just weeks apart, in both his own name and R.S.S.’s name. When agents arrested Ferrari and searched his home, they found identification documents in Ferrari’s name, R.S.S.’s name, and in the names of approximately seven other individuals.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel George.
Canadian Citizen Sentenced for Role in Complex International Fraud and Money Laundering RingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Brooks Thomas Nesbitt (37, Ontario, Canada) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The court also ordered Nesbitt to forfeit various assets, and entered a money judgment of $500,000, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. In addition, Nesbitt was ordered to pay $14,511,754.05 in restitution to the victims.
Nesbitt had pleaded guilty in February 2020.
According to court documents, Nesbitt was a member of a large, international fraud and money-laundering ring, led by Mary Kathryn Marr. Between at least 2014 and 2019, Nesbitt operated boiler rooms located outside of the United States. He set up the boiler rooms, recruited their sales agents and other employees, and oversaw their operations. Nesbitt contracted with Marr so that, for a set percentage, she and her network could launder the fraud proceeds that his boiler rooms had obtained from victims. Marr also worked with Nesbitt to directly contact and defraud certain victims. Once the victims’ funds had been laundered through Marr’s network of bank accounts in the United States, Marr would arrange for most of the funds to be sent back to Nesbitt and his boiler room employees overseas.
Mary Kathryn Marr was charged separately, along with her co-conspirator, Michel Marc Chateau. Both Marr and Chateau contracted with various international boiler rooms to launder fraud proceeds that they had obtained from foreign victims, primarily by selling worthless investments. Marr and her co-conspirators employed a mass marketing scam in which high-pressure sales techniques originating out of so-called “boiler rooms” were used to defraud individuals who believed that they were investing substantial amounts of money in regulated financial products or markets, particularly shares of stocks. In reality, however, the investments were a sham and the victims received nothing. The majority of the victims that Marr and her co-conspirators targeted were located in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and countries in Asia.
Marr and Chateau operated a network of funnel bank accounts in the United States in the names of shell companies, into which the boiler room agents instructed victims to send their money. The victims’ funds were then laundered through more bank accounts and sent overseas, with the launderers receiving a percentage of funds that they moved. Marr and Chateau recruited various individuals to open and operate funnel bank accounts in Florida and other states.
In total, Nesbitt, Marr, and their co-conspirators unlawfully obtained approximately $14.5 million from victims through various boiler room fraud schemes. On January 30, 2019, Thai authorities provisionally arrested Nesbitt at his residence in Hua Hin, Thailand. Nesbitt was subsequently extradited to the United States for prosecution.
“This international fugitive thought he could hide from justice,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. “Because of the unique international investigative authorities of HSI, along with our partners at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, he will now be held accountable for his crimes.”
"With Homeland Security and IRS Special Agents working together, this unique investigation showcases the power of combined federal agencies to topple a global financial fraud. Foreign victims and the American public can rest a little easier tonight,” stated Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “When crooks endeavor to rip off just one victim, they also damage the consumer confidence of us all. We take our role as the world’s finest financial investigators very seriously because we realize prosecuting financial crime is vital to maintaining trust in our economy.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance provided by the Royal Thai Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Thailand. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Orange City Man Who “Sextorted” Multiple Minors Sentenced to 60 YearsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Justin Richard Testani (30, Orange City) to 60 years in federal prison for child sexual exploitation. Testani had pleaded guilty on February 6, 2020.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, for more than a year, Testani contacted multiple young girls (usually between the ages of 10 and 13) through Instagram and Snapchat. Testani frequently posed as a young, teenage girl who modeled for a prominent teen lingerie brand. Using that disguise, Testani convinced numerous victims to send him revealing photographs of themselves. After the victims sent such photographs, Testani often threatened to disseminate the photos or publicly humiliate the victims. At other times, Testani threatened to kidnap, rape, and/or kill the victims and their family members. He issued these threats to coerce victims into creating and sending him more images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Testani also used threats to coerce certain victims into giving him the passwords to their social media accounts. After gaining those passwords, Testani often took over the accounts and used those platforms to contact and exploit the victims’ friends. The investigation revealed that Testani reached out to hundreds of young girls across the United States between December 2017 and January 2019.
"This case is a prime example of how a child can be victimized even in the safety of their own home," said Michael McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. "Parents, please talk to your children about the dangers of the internet and social media and make it clear to them they are not to blame if they fall victim to a predator. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners are dedicated to ensuring children are protected from online predators. The 60-year sentence in this case is proof of that commitment."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, and the Trussville (Alabama) 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.
Tampa Felon, Previously Convicted of Attempted Murder, Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced DeShawn Torrell Salley (40, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Salley had pleaded guilty on February 6, 2020.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, between 1999 and 2004, Salley was convicted of six felony offenses, including attempted murder in the first degree. On eight occasions, between April and June 2019, Salley sold methamphetamine and heroin in Tampa. On July 31, 2019, federal agents arrested Salley and searched his apartment pursuant to a federal search warrant. The agents recovered a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol, a bulletproof vest, heroin, and marijuana. As a previously convicted felon, Salley is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Orlando Resident Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Identity Theft and Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Christopher Keith Held (37, Orlando) to six years and nine months in federal prison for conspiring to commit access device (credit card) fraud, producing counterfeit access devices, possessing 15 or more counterfeit access devices, possessing device-making equipment, and committing aggravated identity theft. Held had pleaded guilty on May 13, 2020. Held’s co-defendant, Bonnie Brooke Vogt (25, Orlando), pleaded guilty to several fraud-related charges on June 23, 2020. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2020.
According to court documents, sometime prior to 2018, Held and Vogt conspired to steal the identities of approximately 2,900 individuals from the Orlando chapter of a labor union where Vogt had been employed. Between 2018 and 2019, Held and Vogt used many of these stolen identities to obtain loans, lines of credit, and credit cards in victims’ names. Held and Vogt then used the fraudulently-obtained funds and stolen identities to purchase four vehicles and to pay other personal expenses, including staying at various hotels in central Florida and renting a new Mercedes. In January 2019, when officers from the Orlando Police Department searched the Mercedes, they found more than 100 counterfeit driver licenses displaying Held or Vogt’s photos, but with the personal information of the identity theft victims, as well as numerous debit and credit cards that had been opened in victims’ names. Officers also located two card printers and a card encoder in the vehicle. Held and Vogt were later found in possession of additional stolen and counterfeit access devices, in September 2019 and October 2019.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Middle District of Florida Receives Nearly $1 Million to Provide Housing to Human Trafficking VictimsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced that the Middle District of Florida received $998,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
“Our Office is committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those who commit these heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We are equally determined to the rescue, recovery, and assistance of those who have been traumatized by these unspeakable experiences. The awards announced today will provide our partners with much needed resources that will place trafficking victims on the road to restoration and hope.
The grant, awarded to the United Way of Pasco County, Inc. and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. will provide 6 to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. The above grant recipients are among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
International Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Vladimir Volgaev (69, Sarasota) to two years and nine months in federal prison for theft of government property and smuggling goods from the United States, in violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The court also ordered Volgaev to forfeit $6,835, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense.
Volgaev had pleaded guilty on August 19, 2019.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, between 2011 and 2018, Volgaev shipped more than 1,600 firearm components—including barrels, slides, receivers, and frames—from the United States to Ukraine. These components were used to construct fully functional firearms, including handguns and rifles. While engaged in this conduct, Volgaev lived in housing subsidized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). In periodic renewal applications, Volgaev lied to HUD about his personal finances, including the income he had gained from illicit firearm trafficking.
“Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) special agents are committed to combating the illegal smuggling of firearm parts that fuel violence both domestically and abroad,” said HSI Tampa acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Nine Individuals Charged for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in Daytona Beach AreaRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of two indictments charging nine individuals involved with drug trafficking organizations operating in Daytona Beach. The first indictment charges Matthew Zachariah Humphrey (25, Daytona Beach) and Janee Reve Najee Kelly (31, Daytona Beach) with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and with possessing firearms in furtherance of that offense. The second indictment charges Maxwell Garvice Johnson (29, Ormond Beach), Jeremy Rashan Tarrand (39, Mascotte), Robert Lee Hamilton, Jr. (36, Daytona Beach), Dawnte Dequite Benjamin Davis (22, Daytona Beach), Felicia Mae Riley (35, Edgewater), Jeniver Sebastian Scott, Jr. (32, Daytona Beach), and Sharrod Solomon Favors (29, Daytona Beach) with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. If convicted, each faces a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison for each count. Humphrey and Kelly each face an additional 5 years’ imprisonment for possessing firearms in furtherance of the offense. The indictment also notifies each defendant that the United States intends to forfeit traceable proceeds of the offense.
According to the first indictment, beginning on an unknown date, but no later than December 6, 2019, and continuing through July 29, 2020, Humphrey and Kelly conspired with each other and others to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl. According to the second indictment, beginning on an unknown date, but no later than April 3, 2020, and continuing through July 29, 2020, Johnson, Tarrand, Hamilton, Davis, Riley, Scott, and Favors conspired to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and 500 grams of cocaine.
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 Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana Hill.
Florida Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced to 36 months in prison today for corruptly obstructing the due administration of the internal revenue laws, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida.
According to evidence presented at trial, since 1999, Dennis J. Nagle, 67, refused to voluntarily pay federal income taxes. As a result, by 2014, he had an outstanding tax balance of more than $400,000. When the IRS attempted to collect Nagle’s unpaid taxes by filing liens and levying his paychecks and pension, Nagle obstructed the IRS’s collection efforts. Nagle submitted false forms to his employer claiming he was exempt from federal tax withholding, attempted to pay off his tax debts with checks written on a closed bank account, and threatened to file criminal complaints against IRS collection officers. In total, Nagle sent the IRS at least 15 worthless payments, purportedly totaling more than $1.9 million dollars.
A jury convicted Nagle on Jan. 30, 2020.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron ordered Nagle to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $221,502 in restitution to the United States.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Lauren Archer of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gable, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the Division’s website.
Father and Son Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug DealingRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Christopher Gloster, Sr. (57, Fort Myers), aka “OG,” to seven years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine. Gloster’s son, Christopher Gloster, Jr. (30, Fort Myers), aka “Jitt,” was sentenced to five years in federal prison earlier this year for the same offense.
According to court documents, in April 2019, the Glosters approached a woman with a plan to establish a residence in Lee County from which she could use to sell their crack cocaine. Gloster, Jr. advised the woman on suitable locations and how to run the “trap house.” Over the course of the next month, the father-and-son team supplied the woman with approximately $7,000 in crack cocaine, often meeting her in busy parking lots, where they also gave her pointers on generating more business and avoiding law enforcement. The plan collapsed within a month.
Gloster, Sr. was arrested on May 15, 2019, during a search of his apartment. His son quickly confessed. In total, law enforcement seized nearly one pound of the duo’s drugs.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Eleven Individuals Charged with Social Security Fraud in Operation Dead RingerRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of federal charges against 12 individuals in Operation Dead Ringer. The individuals are charged in 11 separate cases, with cumulatively stealing more than $700,000 in benefits paid by the Social Security Administration on behalf of beneficiaries who were actually deceased. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count.
Operation Dead Ringer, initiated in the Middle District of Florida, aggressively targets individuals who steal Social Security benefits inadvertently paid to deceased beneficiaries. According to an information and the respective indictments:
Donald Stevenson (51, Orlando) was charged with theft of government funds. According to his plea agreement, from June 2016 through April 2019, Stevenson fraudulently collected approximately $48,750 in Social Security benefits and $3,501 in benefits from the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation following his mother’s death on June 17, 2016.
Jacque Rathburn (64, Punta Gorda) was charged with theft of government funds. Between February 2013 and June 2019, Rathburn fraudulently collected approximately $78,164 of her mother’s Social Security benefits following her mother’s death on February 18, 2013.
Glenn Frank (70, Largo) was charged with theft of government funds. From September 2016 through February 2019, Frank fraudulently collected approximately $28,895 of his mother’s Social Security benefits following her death on September 17, 2016.
Louis Rozzero (62, Clearwater) was charged with theft of government funds. Between October 2014 and April 2019, Rozzero fraudulently collected approximately $57,332 of his partner’s Social Security benefits following his partner’s death on October 21, 2014.
Scott Eads (56, Indianapolis) was charged with theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. From February 2016 through April 2018, Eads fraudulently collected approximately $30,547 in Social Security benefits following the death of a Social Security beneficiary on February 6, 2016.
Ronald Harshman (53, St. Cloud) was charged with theft of government funds. From August 2013 through May 2019, Harshman fraudulently collected approximately $62,341 of his father’s Social Security benefits following his father’s death on August 11, 2013.
Sandra Polder (79, Orlando) was charged with theft of government funds and false statement to a federal agency. From January 2013 through May 2019, Polder fraudulently collected approximately $49,299 of her son’s Social Security benefits following his death on January 15, 2013.
Rosemary Freeman (75, Summerfield) was charged with theft of government funds. From January 2013 through April 2019, Freeman fraudulently collected approximately $83,488 of her boyfriend’s Social Security benefits following his death in January 2013.
Bruce Griffin (58, Dunnellon) was charged with theft of government funds. From June 2013 through July 2019, Griffin fraudulently collected approximately $50,963 of his wife’s Social Security benefits following her death in May 2013.
Madelin Caridad Ifrim (61, Fort Myers) and Marian Ifrim (53, Fort Myers) have been charged with theft of government funds. From April 2013 through February 2019 Madelin Caridad Ifrim and Marian Ifrim fraudulently collected approximately $100,762 in Social Security benefits following the death of a Social Security beneficiary in May 2013.
Robert Lee West Jr. (71, Fort Myers) was charged with theft of government funds. From November 1995 through February 2019, West fraudulently collected approximately $118,186 in Social Security benefits following the death of a Social Security beneficiary in November 1995.
“As these charges demonstrate, stealing from SSA on behalf of a deceased beneficiary is a federal crime. We work closely with SSA and other government agencies to identify Social Security fraud and stop improper payments,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security. “I thank the United States Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Huyler for their continuing support of our investigations, and our law enforcement partners for their vital assistance in bringing these individuals to justice.”
An information and an indictment are merely formal charges that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
The cases are being investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from other federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation – Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler is coordinating the Operation. She, along with Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande Viacava and Tyrie Boyer, will be prosecuting the above cases.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 60 Years for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Todd Joseph Simmerman (30, Titusville) to 60 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two minors and committing the offenses while required to register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Simmerman to forfeit the electronic device he had used to commit the offenses.
Simmerman had pleaded guilty on January 27, 2020.
According to court documents, in 2013, Simmerman pleaded guilty to traveling to meet a child to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, after using a computer to lure a child, in violation of Florida law. As part of his sentence, he was required to register as a sex offender. Six months after completing his state sentence, Simmerman met a 15-year-old on Snapchat and enticed the child to engage in sexual activity. The child victim introduced Simmerman to a 15-year-old friend and Simmerman also preyed upon that child. Simmerman used his cellphone to record his sexually abusive encounters with both victims, which occurred over a period of about five months, until his arrest.
“This repeated child predator will spend the rest of his natural life in prison, thanks to HSI special agents and our partners at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “While we cannot undo the damage of his horrible crimes, we hope that this sentence helps with the healing process for his victim.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.
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.
Orange County Heroin Dealer Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell today sentenced Eric Manuel Robles Rivera (45, Orlando) to 33 months in federal prison for possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it. Robles Rivera had pleaded guilty on April 23, 2020.
According to court documents, Robles Rivera was part of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that was distributing heroin and other controlled substances in Orange County. During its investigation of the DTO, the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that Robles Rivera kept heroin at a storage unit in a facility in Kissimmee, and that he had accessed the storage unit almost daily between June 2016 and March 2017. On March 9, 2017, investigators executed search warrants at locations associated with members of the DTO. Inside the storage unit that had been rented by Robles Rivera, investigators found more than 60 grams of heroin packaged in dozens of baggies.
This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
Justice Department Secures $150,000 in Lost Wages and Damages for Victim of Racial Discrimination in Case Against Brevard County, FloridaRead the Press Release
Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement with Brevard County, Florida, resolving its race discrimination lawsuit against the county.
The suit alleged that the county violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it fired Deidre Jackson, an African-American communications specialist in its Space Coast Tourism Office. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.
“No one should suffer the indignity of losing her job because of the color of her skin. To that end, the Department of Justice will vigorously enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so that state and local governments do not close the doors of equal employment opportunity to anyone because of race,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Eric S. Dreiband. “The Justice Department was established 150 years ago with a founding charge to protect civil rights and this settlement reinforces our continuing commitment to eradicate the scourge of racial discrimination in the government.”
“Racial discrimination, in the workplace or elsewhere, is unacceptable and undermines the very tenets and ideals of a civilized, modern society,” stated the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Maria Chapa Lopez. “Our nation’s greatest achievements have been because of our diversity, not in spite of it.”
According to the department’s complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jackson had an excellent work history including positive evaluations and no disciplinary actions throughout her eight years of employment with the county. According to the allegations contained in the complaint, however, shortly after a new director was appointed as manager of the office in 2014, Jackson’s work came under unjustified scrutiny not applied to other co-workers performing similar duties. That director fired Jackson in April 2015, six months after he was hired.
The director never expressed any concern about Jackson’s work performance prior to terminating her employment. As the complaint alleges, he told Jackson that she did not fit his vision of the office without further explanation. After her firing, the director replaced Jackson with two white employees. Around that same time, the complaint alleges, the only other minority employee in the tourism office was forced to resign. The departure of the two minority employees resulted in an all-white tourism office.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the county will pay Jackson $150,000 for lost wages and compensatory damages. The settlement agreement also requires the county to provide its supervisors and managers with training on its anti-discrimination policies and on the types of conduct in the workplace that constitute unlawful employment practice under Title VII.
The Tampa Field Office, which is part of the Miami District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), investigated and attempted to resolve Jackson’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Department of Justice as an enforcement action. More information about the EEOC’s jurisdiction is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the jurisdiction of the Employment Litigation Section is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt/ and https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Sunday, July 26, 2020, marked the 30thAnniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is proud to play a critical role in the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is proud to play a critical role in the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Our office remains committed to investigating and remedying violations wherever found, and protecting the rights of all of our citizens.”
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ or email the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected]. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Rural King Robber Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Carlos Eduardo Hampton (23, Cocoa) to eight years and one month in federal prison for robbery and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hampton had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2020.
According to court documents, on July 26 and August 16, 2019, Hampton and three others used a sledgehammer to break into two Rural King locations in Ocala and Zephyrhills. The men then used the sledgehammer to smash open display cases and steal a total of 28 firearms. Employees inside the stores fled in fear during each of the robberies. Some of the stolen firearms have been recovered at crime scenes in South Florida and Indiana.
Hampton and the other men were apprehended as they fled from the second Rural King location in Pasco County. When arrested, Hampton was wearing sneakers embedded with shards of glass from the broken display cabinets. His clothing also matched images from the store’s surveillance cameras, showing him using the sledgehammer to steal 16 firearms. Hampton was previously convicted of a firearms offense in Indiana and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Ocala Police Department, and the Zephyrhills Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Armed Felon Sentenced to over Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Jeron Cantrell Martin (38, Belleview) to three years and eight months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Martin to forfeit the semi-automatic pistol and ammunition used to commit the offense.
Martin had pleaded guilty on February 28, 2020.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2019, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office discovered Martin inside a vehicle with a fresh bullet hole in the trunk. After verifying an outstanding warrant for Martin’s arrest, deputies searched him and located small amounts of illegal drugs (marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin). They also recovered a loaded pistol from Martin’s pants pocket. Further investigation revealed that Martin had five prior felony convictions in Florida, including numerous drug possession offenses. These convictions prohibit him from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
“The FBI Jacksonville Division is always proud to partner with the Marion County Sheriff's Office to stop gun violence and drug-fueled crimes in our neighborhoods," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "We will continue to combine our intelligence and tools to ensure that people who bring violence to the streets of Ocala are punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington has sentenced Luis Michael Quercia (54, Bradenton) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Quercia to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
Quercia had pleaded guilty on January 23, 2020.
According to court documents, on June 2, 2019, a Sarasota Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a Jeep with an improper paper tag that had failed to stop at a stop sign. The officer made contact with Quercia, who was driving the Jeep. Quercia informed the officer that he did not have a drivers license, and, when the officer informed Quiercia that he was going to arrest him, Querica attempted to stuff a small clear plastic baggie between the center console and driver’s seat as the officer removed him from the vehicle. The officer then searched the vehicle and found the baggie containing a white powdery substance. The officer also found a loaded firearm in a plastic bag under the driver’s seat. Quercia later admitted to possessing the firearm to an ATF agent. A forensic examiner also matched Quercia’s fingerprints to a fingerprint that was discovered on the plastic bag that contained the firearm.
Because Quercia was previously convicted of several felonies, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Richard Earl Jenkins, Jr. (43, Jacksonville) with three counts of production of child pornography. If convicted, Jenkins faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years, and up to 30 years, in federal prison for each count.
According to the indictment, between October 2015 and March 2019, Jenkins produced child pornography.
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 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
Yulee Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracies to Commit Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Richard Everett Camp, Jr. has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud offense and for the conspiracy to commit mail fraud offense. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy to commit money laundering offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. As part of the agreement, the court has ordered restitution to Swisher International, Inc., and the forfeiture of three pieces of real property, two vehicles, and more than $250,000.
According to the plea agreement, Camp and his co-conspirators stole approximately $5.7 million from Swisher International, Inc. and its sister company, E-Alternative Solutions (EAS), which are both headquartered in Jacksonville. Camp and his co-conspirators used two different schemes to acquire the funds. In a wire fraud scheme, the co-conspirators diverted to Camp’s personal bank accounts federal tobacco excise tax refunds that were owed to Swisher. In the mail fraud scheme, the conspirators caused fraudulent invoices to be submitted to Swisher and EAS for services that were never rendered. One of the co-conspirators was an employee of Swisher at the time and vouched for the accuracy of the invoices and payments to be made.
During the money laundering scheme, Camp and a co-conspirator engaged in monetary transactions of criminal proceeds from the mail fraud scheme. They deposited funds into accounts of one of the companies claiming to have rendered services, and then transferred the funds to Camp’s personal accounts from which he purchased real property and numerous other items, including vehicles and jewelry.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Special Prosecution Division, State Attorney’s Office, Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Talbot and Bonnie Glober.