Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Samuel Friedman (47, Pasco County) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Friedman owned and operated a telemarketing operation known as SKF Enterprises, LLC. SKF targeted the Medicare-aged population to generate orders for durable medical equipment (“DME”) and cancer genetic (“CGx”) testing. SKF’s call center employees were trained to follow a script of triage questions designed to upsell DME and CGx testing to Medicare beneficiaries. SKF then packaged this information into the format of a prescription for doctors’ approval under the guise of “telemedicine,” but no proper telemedicine occurred. Rather, doctors’ signatures were secured in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. During the scheme, Friedman bribed numerous doctors, through fraudulent “telemedicine” companies, to sign and to approve thousands of DME and CGx-testing orders, regardless of medical necessity.

Once signed by doctors, Friedman sold the prescriptions to client-conspirators for submission to Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The conspirators attempted to conceal their illegal kickback relationships using sham boilerplate marketing agreements. For these illegal sales, conspirators paid SKF more than $3.4 million.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Fiore.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Jonathan Michael Rouffe (47, Boca Raton) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in 2018, Rouffe and his conspirators established a conglomerate of durable medical equipment (“DME”) supply companies. During the creation of the companies, they lied to Medicare to secure billing privileges. The scheme involved placing the companies in the names of straw owners. By concealing their true ownership, the conspirators secretly gained control of multiple companies, which Medicare prohibits. This enabled the conspirators to submit high volumes of illegal DME claims while attempting to evade law enforcement scrutiny. In one year, through the conglomerate, Rouffe and his conspirators submitted more than $20 million in illegal DME claims, resulting in over $10 million in payments from Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“CHAMPVA”).

To attain such high volumes of claims, the conspirators used bribes and kickbacks. Specifically, Rouffe and his conspirators illegally purchased thousands of DME claims from so-called “marketers.” The marketers, for their part, had generated the claims under the guise of “telemedicine,” but no telemedicine had actually occurred. Instead, the “marketers” had bribed doctors to sign the DME brace orders that supported the claims. Rouffe and his conspirators paid millions to secure the illegal DME claims for submission to Medicare and CHAMPVA.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Fiore.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Bobby Morlen (54, Deltona) to two years in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $131,457.16, the amount of proceeds from the offense, and ordered Morlen to pay restitution. A federal jury had found Morlen guilty on January 22, 2020.

According to evidence presented at trial, Morlen’s mother was receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Morlen’s mother died on August 18, 2014. Her death was not reported to the SSA or the VA, and the agencies continued to make benefit payments into her bank account. Morlen was a joint accountholder on the account into which his mother’s benefits were being deposited. He used the funds deposited after her death for his own personal expenses. In total, Morlen stole approximately $131,457.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Richard Stephen Terry (56) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. Terry also possessed child pornography and has agreed to pay restitution to the victims depicted. Terry had pleaded guilty on February 27, 2020.

According to court documents, Terry used the internet to entice adult women to allow him to engage in sexual activities with their minor children. Agents identified Terry in multiple online chat rooms designed for individuals who are interested in the sexual exploitation of children, and he used the chat rooms to meet and discuss their interests and tactics. Terry communicated online and via text message with multiple undercover law enforcement agents located in various parts of the country between 2015 and 2017.

Between November 2016 and April 2017, Terry communicated with a woman he believed to be a single mother of a 10-year-old girl.  In reality, he was talking to an undercover officer from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. In his conversations, Terry proposed meeting with the child and discussed, in graphic detail, the sex acts he wished to engage in with the child when they met. In order to add more credibility and persuade the undercover officer, Terry made up a story that he had been in an incestuous relationship with his two stepdaughters when they were minors and was looking to engage in a “fam life” sexual relationship with the single mom and her daughter. Terry stated that he ultimately did not travel to meet with the undercover officer because he was “scared it’s a set up.”

In June 2017, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Terry’s home and found him in possession of more than 400 images and videos of child sex abuse material depicting young children being subjected to sadistic abuse and bondage. To date, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has identified 54 victims depicted in the child sex abuse material.

“This predator tried to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Cochran. “Thanks to the investigative work of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, this criminal will now be behind bars.”

“Our top priority is protecting our children from those who would harm them,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and Homeland Security share this priority. Mr. Terry is not going to hurt any children while in prison. We are proud to have been a part of this investigation.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Ceveghnta Billvon Guyden, a/k/a “Chop,” (42, St. Petersburg) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine. He had pleaded guilty on March 24, 2020.

Guyden was one of eleven individuals charged with federal drug trafficking crimes. According to the indictment, between an unknown date, but no later than August 2018, and continuing through November 26, 2019, the individuals conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.

According to court documents, Guyden and a co-defendant worked in concert to purchase and sell cocaine on multiple occasions. In total, Guyden supplied or brokered approximately 6.5 kilograms of cocaine to a co-defendant.

These cases were investigated by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. Agencies involved in this OCDETF operation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.  

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Ophthalmic Consultants, P.A. (Sarasota, FL) and Dr. Robert K. Snyder– collectively, Ophthalmic Consultants – has agreed to pay $4.8 million to resolve allegations of healthcare fraud. Specifically, the government alleged that Ophthalmic Consultants had submitted false claims to Medicare, TRICARE, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for treatments using the drugs ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and aflipercept (Eylea®) to treat patients who had wet age-related macular generation or other diseases of the eye. Although each vial contains a moderate overfill, Lucentis and Eylea are single-use medications that are not designed for multiple uses. Notwithstanding the single-use nature of Lucentis and Eylea, Ophthalmic Consultants engaged in the practice of multi-dosing (using a single drug vial to provide doses to multiple patients) to obtain excessive reimbursements from Medicare, TRICARE, and FEHBP. 

“Anyone who seeks to exploit our healthcare system by submitting false claims to our federal health care programs will be held accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Today’s settlement makes clear that the protection of our nation’s health programs is a priority for our Office and the Department of Justice.”

“Health care providers seeking to enrich themselves by submitting false claims to government health care programs will be held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of HHS-OIG. “Our agents and attorneys, coordinating closely with our law enforcement and DOJ partners, will continue working hard to protect the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

“The Defense Criminal Investigation Service will continue to pursue unscrupulous companies focused on enriching themselves more than patient centric care and ethical conduct,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, DCIS, Southeast Field Office. “DCIS appreciates the U.S. Attorney's Office efforts in this investigation and for requiring Ophthalmic Consultants to remunerate TRICARE for billing single dose medications to multiple patients.”

Thomas W. South, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, OPM-OIG said, "I am very proud of the outstanding work from our investigators and law enforcement partners at the Department of Justice. When providers submit false claims, it undermines the healthcare system and increases costs for all taxpayers."

As part of the settlement, Ophthalmic Consultants, P.A. and Dr. Robert K. Snyder entered into an Integrity Agreement (IA) with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which promotes compliance with the statutes, regulations, program requirements, and written directives of Medicare and all other federal health care programs. The IA includes, among other things, routine inventory requirements as well as requirements focusing on proper billing and submission of reimbursement claims.  

This settlement is the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Office of Personnel Management – Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Emden handled the case.

The United States government places a high priority on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477). 

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Marquese Jerrodda Allen (43, St. Petersburg) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Allen was sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act, in light of his lengthy criminal history. He was found guilty following a bench trial on December 2, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at today’s sentencing hearing, Allen pulled a gun on a woman inside his motel room. He had his finger on the trigger, pointed the gun’s barrel at her chest, and threatened to murder her over a $100 debt that her fiancé had owed. The woman’s nine-year-old son was just outside the room when the incident occurred. 

Allen has 10 previous felony convictions. His record includes a domestic violence injunction, battery, two firearms-related convictions, and several drug-trafficking convictions.    

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory T. Nolan.

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.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of a 37-count indictment charging five individuals with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking a money judgment of $21,567,939 and forfeiture of approximately $167,008 seized from a bank account, which represents the proceeds of the offenses.

CHARGED DEFENDANTS

Name

Age, Residence

Counts

Hector Rodriguez Mendez

44, Tampa

Counts 1 through 37

Virginia Garcia Moreta

33, Tampa

Counts 1 through 37

Leo Pichardo

60, Tampa

Counts 1-7, 12, 16-20, 23, 25, 29, 31, and 33-35

Cleto Dominguez

38, Tampa

Counts 1, 8-11, 13-15, 24, 30, 37

Samuel Rivera

42, Tampa

Counts 1, 21-22, 26-28, 32

According to the indictment, the individuals used the cash proceeds of drug trafficking to purchase cashier’s checks in their individual capacities and through various businesses that they had created. These cashier’s checks were then remitted to various other individual and business accounts to receive, disguise, conceal, and distribute the drug trafficking proceeds.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.          

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, Florida — United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has upheld the convictions of Dr. David M. Pon on 20 counts of healthcare fraud. The Eleventh Circuit also rejected Pon’s challenges to his 121-month sentence.

According to evidence presented at his trial, Pon, an ophthalmologist, intentionally and fraudulently misdiagnosed hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries as suffering from wet macular degeneration, a degenerative and incurable eye disease. Pon then used his false diagnoses to bill the Medicare program for unnecessary diagnostic testing and unwarranted laser treatments. Several of the misdiagnosed patients testified and explained the significant emotional impact the false diagnosis had on their lives, including the fear of going blind as a result of the disease they supposedly had.

On appeal, Pon did not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence against him. He instead challenged the district court’s evidentiary rulings at trial. He argued that the district court should have allowed his expert to testify about a theoretical treatment method for wet macular degeneration. He also argued that the United States should not have been allowed to present rebuttal evidence showing that Pon had billed Medicare for performing services on a patient’s blind left eye, or, at a minimum, should have allowed him to respond more extensively to that evidence in surrebuttal.

The Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s ruling that Pon’s expert’s theory was unreliable, noting that even Pon’s expert recognized that his theory had not been scientifically tested and he had “not seen … clinical data” about it.

The Court of Appeals also ruled that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the United States to present rebuttal evidence and that any error in limiting Pon’s surrebuttal was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt given the “overwhelming proof of Pon’s guilt.” (One judge dissented on this issue, disagreeing with the Court’s assessment that any error was harmless.) The Court observed that the United States had “presented the testimony of not one, but a dozen doctors about the patients listed in the indictment,” and the doctors “collectively had more than 330 years of experience.” The majority observed that “[n]one of those doctors could find any evidence that any of the eleven patients identified in the indictment had [wet macular degeneration] when Pon diagnosed them with it, and they all concluded that the patients did not have the telltale scars associated with the laser photocoagulation treatment that Pon had billed Medicare for performing on each patient.” The Court also noted the “strong evidence” that Pon had “incorrectly diagnosed and improperly ‘treated’ not just the eleven patients listed in the indictment but also hundreds of other patients.”

The Court of Appeals also rejected Pon’s challenges to his 121-month sentence. Specifically, the Court found that the district court’s finding that Pon’s crimes had caused a loss of almost $7 million was based on “reliable and specific evidence,” including a spreadsheet showing how much Medicare had paid Pon for thousands of claims and the “extensive testimony” of a Medicare-fraud investigator.

This case was investigated by United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Thresher Taylor and David Rhodes represented the United States on appeal.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Ryan Perrin (34, Palm Harbor) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Perrin’s criminal history—including prior state felony convictions for selling cocaine and aggravated assault—qualified him for sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal. Perrin had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019.

According to court documents, in April 2017, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Perrin, a convicted felon, was trafficking in firearms in Pinellas County. An undercover ATF special agent arranged to meet with Perrin, and purchased firearms and ammunition from him on two occasions. In total, Perrin sold 7 firearms and 87 rounds of ammunition to the undercover agent.         

This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

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UPDATE

On March 21, 2023, a federal jury acquitted defendants Aaron Durall, Christian Fletcher, Neisha Zaffuto, and Aaron Alonzo of the charges alleged in the indictment described in the press release below.

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Ten individuals, including hospital managers, laboratory owners, billers and recruiters, were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their participation in an elaborate pass-through billing scheme using rural hospitals in several states as billing shells to submit fraudulent claims for laboratory testing.  The indictment alleges that from approximately November 2015 through February 2018, the conspirators billed private insurance companies approximately $1.4 billion for laboratory testing claims as part of this fraudulent scheme, and were paid approximately $400 million.

Jorge Perez, 60, of Miami-Dade County, Florida; Seth Guterman, 54, of Chicago, Illinois; Ricardo Perez, 57, of Miami-Dade County, Florida; Aaron Durall, 48, and Neisha Zaffuto, 44, each of Broward County, Florida; Christian Fletcher, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia; James Porter Jr., 49, of Marion County, Florida; Sean Porter, 52, of Citrus County, Florida; Aaron Alonzo, 44, and Nestor Rojas, 45, each of Miami-Dade County, Florida, were charged in an indictment filed in the Middle District of Florida. 

All defendants (except Sean Porter) were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.  In addition, Jorge Perez, Guterman, Ricardo Perez and Durall were each charged with five counts of substantive health care fraud; Durall and Zaffuto were charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering; Jorge Perez, Guterman, Ricardo Perez, Fletcher, James Porter and Sean Porter were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and the following defendants were charged with substantive money laundering: Durall (three counts); Zaffuto (one count); Jorge Perez (seven counts); Guterman (one count); Ricardo Perez (five counts); Fletcher (two counts); James Porter (12 counts) and Sean Porter (two counts).

Jorge Perez, Ricardo Perez, and Durall appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel B. Toomey of the Middle District of Florida.  Initial appearances for Zaffuto, Fletcher, James Porter Jr., Sean Porter, Aaron Alonzo, and Nestor Rojas are scheduled before Magistrate Judge Toomey on June 30 and July 1. 

“This was allegedly a massive, multi-state scheme to use small, rural hospitals as a hub for millions of dollars in fraudulent billings of private insurers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “The charges announced today make clear that the department is committed to dismantling fraud schemes that target our health care system, however complex or elaborate.”

“Trust and integrity undergird the confidence and reliability in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “Fraudulent and deceptive business practices undermine those values and erode the public’s trust in that system. We will continue to pursue those who set these tenets aside and compromise the care and safety of our citizens for profit.”

“The FBI views health care fraud as a severe crime problem that impacts every American,” said Special Agent in Charge Rachel L. Rojas of the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office. “Fraud and abuse take critical resources out of our health care system, and contribute to the rising cost of health care for everyone. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate these crimes and prosecute all those who are intent in defrauding the American public.”

“OPM OIG remains committed to investigating those who seek to defraud the federal health care system for their own personal gain,” said Deputy Assistant Inspector General Thomas W. South of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General (OPM OIG).  “Schemes that exploit rural hospitals are particularly egregious as they can undermine access to care in underserved communities.  We are extremely proud of our criminal investigators and law enforcement partners for their hard work uncovering this complex criminal fraud scheme.”

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of health care fraud in union benefit plans,” said Special Agent in Charge Rafiq Ahmad of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) Atlanta Region.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of labor unions and their benefit plans.”

“Our office, in partnership with our fellow investigative agencies, will continue to comprehensively investigate and bring to justice the people who perpetrate health care fraud,” said Kevin Winters, Amtrak’s Inspector General.  “Preventing health care fraud is particularly important to Amtrak because, as a self-insured company, the fraud adversely impacts its operating budget, which is dedicated to multiple critical requirements such as passenger safety.”

The indictment alleges that the conspirators would take over small, rural hospitals, often in financial trouble, using management companies they owned and operated.  The conspirators would then bill private insurance companies through those rural hospitals for millions of dollars of expensive urinalysis drug tests and blood tests, conducted mostly at outside laboratories they often controlled or were affiliated with, using billing companies that they also controlled.  While outside laboratories did most of these laboratory tests, the conspirators allegedly billed private insurance companies as if these laboratory tests were done at the rural hospitals.

According to the indictment, these rural hospitals had negotiated contractual rates with private insurers that provided for higher reimbursement than if the tests were billed through an outside laboratory.  Accordingly, the scheme used the hospitals as a shell to fraudulently bill for such tests.  Further, the indictment alleges that the lab tests were often not even medically necessary.  The conspirators allegedly would obtain urine specimens and other samples for testing through kickbacks paid to recruiters and health care providers, often sober homes and substance abuse treatment centers.  The indictment also alleges that the conspirators engaged in sophisticated money laundering to promote the scheme and to distribute the fraudulent proceeds. 

The rural hospitals involved in this case are: Cambellton-Graceville Hospital (CGH), a 25-bed rural hospital located in Graceville, Florida; Regional General Hospital of Williston, a 40-bed facility located in Williston, Florida; Chestatee Regional Hospital, a 49-bed rural hospital located in Dahlonega, Georgia; and Putnam County Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed rural hospital located in Unionville, Missouri. 

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, OPM OIG, DOL OIG and Amtrak OIG.  Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and James V. Hayes of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tysen Duva of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

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.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Jeffrey Saylor (48, St. Petersburg) to 30 months in federal prison for the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Saylor had pleaded guilty on February 11, 2020.

According to court documents, Saylor acquired oxycodone prescriptions at a local pain management clinic, filled the prescriptions at a pharmacy, and then sold the oxycodone tablets to an undercover law enforcement officer.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office, which focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.

Tampa, Florida – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has joined with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and other Florida Youth Justice Commission partners to launch the Florida Race Equity Challenge. The Florida Race Equity Challenge is a web-based, interactive experience that will provide juvenile justice stakeholders with the education and tools to identify and tackle issues related to race, equity, and inclusion (REI) within the juvenile justice system. The statewide, team-based project extends from June through December 2020.

Over the course of several months, teams will participate in live webinars, complete tasks, and ultimately submit proposals for systematic changes designed to create more equitable outcomes for youth. Topics to be covered include implicit bias, assessing race equity in policies, and utilizing data in decision-making. Teams include representatives from Florida’s schools, courts, law enforcement, community partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO-MDFL).

In 1997, the USAO-MDFL officially formed a Hate Crimes Working Group, in response to African American church arsons that were occurring across the southeastern United States. Since, the group has addressed a plethora of issues and concerns affecting protected classes. In May 2015, the group – renamed the “Civil Rights Working Group” – continued to expand its focus by collaborating with local, state, federal, and community stakeholders throughout the district to address broader issues and concerns, including criminal and civil matters, enhanced training for law enforcement/public safety personnel and educators, developing and facilitating opportunities for civil discourse, and providing tools, resources and best practices to advance civil and human rights protections.  

“The duty to protect and serve all citizens is paramount to our public mission,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “As we seek to improve the quality of life within our communities, we must entreat greater accountability and responsibility from everyone involved. Our team is proud to join with and support our state and local partners in this effort to gain a better understanding and improve equity among diverse groups and communities throughout the state of Florida. We look forward to participating in this Challenge and promoting justice for all.”

“Florida’s juvenile justice system has implemented significant reforms designed to better match youth with services and to prevent them from moving deeper into the system while still holding them accountable for their actions. While we’ve seen a downward trend in juvenile arrests across the state, we haven’t seen a similar trend in the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system,” said DJJ Secretary Simone Marstiller. “We have an obligation, as a system and community, to come together to address this important issue and affect meaningful change.”

The Florida Youth Justice Commission is a partnership established to promote continuous juvenile justice system improvement using the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) strategies. One of these strategies is improving racial and ethnic equity with a focus on eliminating bias and creating a level playing field for youth of color. Along with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, other Florida Youth Justice Commission partners include the Department of Children and Families, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, the Office of State Courts Administrator, Guardian Ad Litem, members of law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys. DJJ staff help to coordinate the efforts of the commission both at the local and state level and created the concept and programming for the Florida Race Equity Challenge.

Additional information about the Florida Race Equity Challenge can be found here and more information about JDAI and the Florida Youth Justice Commission can be found here.

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Michael Prime (40, formerly of Brandon) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for access device (credit card) fraud, identity theft, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Prime was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. He had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2019.

According to court documents, on September 29, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Prime’s residence in Tampa. Prime, a multiple-convicted felon, unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition. While searching Prime’s residence, law enforcement officers seized 1,774 counterfeit credit and debit cards; 1,490 blank cards, some of which contained magnetic stripes and credit or debit card chips; 37 counterfeit driver licenses and IDs; counterfeit Social Security card templates; sheets of holograms used for manufacturing credit cards, debit cards and IDs; counterfeit chips for credit and debit card manufacturing; and printers and engravers (including a credit card printing machine and 3D printers). A search of Prime’s electronic equipment resulted in the discovery of hundreds of additional credit and debit account numbers, images of approximately 32 driver licenses and ID cards, driving permits from approximately 12 different issuing states, a counterfeit United States Army ID card purportedly for a lieutenant colonel, 5 images of Canadian driver licenses, 2 Portuguese citizen identification cards and the image of a counterfeit Republic de Angola passport, 5 images of Social Security cards, and 4 images of a counterfeit $100 U.S. Federal Reserve note.

Investigators learned that Prime sold “ghost guns” (untraceable firearms) that he manufactured and advertised for $1,500 on the Dark Web, along with counterfeit credit cards and fake IDs. He also sold counterfeit credit cards on the website Republic of Lampeduza, which facilitated the commission of credit card fraud by hosting, receiving, and selling stolen credit and debit card account information resulting from online breaches. 

In total, investigators seized approximately 5,493 access (credit card) devices from Prime, including credit card account numbers, debit card account numbers, and Social Security numbers. As a previously convicted felon, Prime is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Brett Lawrence Rozenburgh (55, Tampa) to 13 months in federal prison for passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. The court also ordered Rozenburgh to pay restitution to the victims he defrauded. Rozenburgh had pleaded guilty on January 16, 2020.

According to court documents, Rozenburgh was part of a group of individuals passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. The group traveled throughout Florida, stopping at various shopping centers in order to pass counterfeit $100 bills. In March 2019, Rozenburgh and others, including his co-defendant, Charles Alexander Coriaty III, traveled to north Florida to commit fraud. On March 26, 2019, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle that Rozenburgh, Coriaty, and others were riding in. During a search of the vehicle, the officers recovered multiple counterfeit $100 bills and a large amount of merchandise that had previously been purchased by Rozenburgh and Coriaty, using counterfeit $100 bills.

On February 24, 2020, Coriaty (27, New Port Richey) was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for his part in the scheme.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office) and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return by a federal grand jury of an indictment charging Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari (23, Tampa) with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”), and with violations of the National Firearms Act. If convicted on all counts, Al-Azhari faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, Al-Azhari was an ISIS supporter who planned and attempted to carry out an attack on behalf of that terrorist organization. Since at least 2019, Al-Azhari has consumed ISIS propaganda and spoken favorably about ISIS. Al-Azhari, who has a criminal history that includes prior terrorism charges in Saudi Arabia, acquired multiple firearms, including a Glock pistol and silencer. Al-Azhari also expressed admiration for Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen and spoke of his desire to carry out a similar mass shooting. Additionally, Al-Azhari researched and scouted potential targets in the Tampa area, including beaches and the FBI Tampa Field Office. He also rehearsed portions of an attack and statements that he would make during or in connection with such an attack.

FBI agents arrested Al-Azhari on May 24, 2020, after he took possession of weapons, including a Glock handgun and silencer, to be used in an attack.

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 FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Tampa Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs, with assistance from Trial Attorney Ranganath Mathripragada of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Antonie Latimore (36, Winter Haven) to 10 years and 10 months years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine base. Latimore had pleaded guilty on March 6, 2020.

According to court documents, the FBI received information that Latimore and others were distributing narcotics in Polk County. Between March 2 and July 20, 2019, Latimore sold crack cocaine to a confidential source multiple times. Latimore also negotiated to sell methamphetamine to the confidential source.

On August 10, 2019, the Florida Highway Patrol arrested Latimore for driving with a suspended license and found crack cocaine and other drugs in his car.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Joshua Eugene Burton (34, Arnold, Missouri) to 25 years in federal prison for enticing and coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity, and for being a registered sex offender who committed another sex offense involving a minor. Burton is currently serving a 10 year federal prison sentence for related charges stemming from the Eastern District of Missouri. Today, the court ordered that part of Burton’s 25 year sentence run consecutive to his Missouri conviction; thereby effectively ordering Burton to serve at least 29 years in federal prison.

Burton had pleaded guilty on March 3, 2020.

According to court documents, in September and October 2016, Burton portrayed himself as a teenage girl from California and engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a 14-year-old child ("Victim 1"). During his conversations, Burton persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Victim 1 to produce and distribute sexually explicit images and videos of herself. Burton also coerced Victim 1 into performing oral sex on a 16-year-old child ("Victim 2") by threatening to publicly post to the internet the photos and sexually explicit videos Victim 1 had previously sent to Burton, if Victim 1 did not produce the sexually explicit material and send it to him. In order to add more credibility to his threat, Burton specifically referenced the schools that Victim 1 and Victim 2 attended. Victim 1 sent Burton approximately 10 sexually explicit videos depicting Victims 1 and 2, and over 20 sexually explicit photographs to Burton.

The FBI obtained a search warrant for Burton’s residence in Arnold, Missouri. Upon their arrival, Burton refused to open the door and announced that he was armed with a firearm. Burton then barricaded himself inside his bedroom and engaged in a 12-hour armed standoff with law enforcement officers. Eventually, the FBI took Burton into custody. During a search of his residence, agents located and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic analysis of his devices revealed that Burton had been in possession of child pornography and had deleted evidence of his communications with Victim 1 from his device. Burton pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of child pornography in the Eastern District of Missouri and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

Burton is a former U.S. Marine who was convicted of distribution and possession of child pornography in 2008 during the time he served in the United States Marine Corps. As part of his conviction, Burton was required to register as a sex offender and was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps.

“The facts of this case are despicable and heart wrenching,” said Michael McPherson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI-Tampa Field Division. “Mr. Burton threatened and blackmailed his young victim into committing the unthinkable. These investigations are tough to work and I am proud of the dedicated special agents who do the job so that we have a safer community in which to raise our children.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Candace Garcia Rich.

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

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Phillip Roy Wasserman (63, Sarasota) and Kenneth Murry Rossman (62, Bradenton) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as substantive counts of wire fraud and mail fraud. If convicted on all counts, Wasserman and Rossman each face a maximum penalty of 20 years on each of the six counts charged in the indictment. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking a money judgment of at least $6.3 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

According to the

indictment , Wasserman, a former lawyer and licensed insurance agent, and Rossman, a Florida certified public accountant and licensed insurance agent, made false and fraudulent misrepresentations and concealed material information in order to convince elderly victim-investors to put their money into Wasserman’s new insurance venture, “FastLife.” Some victims were persuaded to liquidate traditional investments, such as annuities, and/or to borrow funds against existing life insurance policies to generate cash to invest in the venture. These victims were not told about surrender fees and other costs associated with the liquidations and, Rossman prepared income tax returns for victim-investors in a manner designed to conceal negative personal tax consequences that resulted from the liquidations from both the victim-investors and the Internal Revenue Service. Wasserman paid Rossman a percentage of the victim-investors’ money as compensation for his role in the conspiracy. Wasserman also used victim-investors’ money to make payments to earlier victim-investors in the FastLife venture, as well to as victim-investors in his earlier hedge fund and real estate fund ventures. Wasserman spent a significant amount of the victim-investors’ money to finance a lavish lifestyle that included luxury residences, high-end vehicles, jet skis, jewelry,  entertainment, gambling, retail shopping, home improvements, personal insurance, and many other expenses for his personal benefit and the benefit of family members.      

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 Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.

 

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Gregory Clive Burke (57, Mims) to 18 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Burke, a registered sex offender who was on state probation after a previous conviction for possession of child pornography, was indicted by a grand jury on December 20, 2018. He had pleaded guilty on November 21, 2019. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Burke initially came to the attention of law enforcement when his state probation officer found that he was in possession of a cellphone with internet access, which was a violation of the terms of his probation. A forensic review of Burke’s cellphone revealed that he was posing as a 10-year-old girl, “Emma Dixon,” and had posted a profile on Snapchat and YouTube. In addition, the forensic review revealed that “Emma Dixon” was communicating with several 12 to 13-year-old boys and girls online.

One of the children that Burke had been communicating with was a 12-year-old boy who lived in another state. During the communications, the child sent Burke images and videos of himself, including videos of his genitalia, and videos depicting him masturbating. 

“This investigation is another example of the FBI’s efforts in safeguarding children from sexual predators,” said Michael McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-Tampa Field Office. “We share this commitment with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners so that together we can identify and rescue victims and ensure their abusers are brought to justice.”

Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated, "I applaud this partnership and the agencies involved who are devoted to protecting children from these very dangerous sexual predators. Through their outstanding efforts, an individual who actively participated in the exploitation of our children has been removed from our communities.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn P. Napier and Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Norman Nicholson (57, Largo) to 24 months in federal prison for depriving an individual of his Fourth Amendment right to a reasonable search and seizure under color of law and one count of knowingly making false entries in a report with the intent to obstruct an investigation within the jurisdiction of a federal agency.

Nicholson had pleaded guilty on March 24, 2020.

According to court documents, while employed as a police officer with Veterans Affairs in Bay Pines, Florida, Nicholson instructed an Army veteran to leave the premises, and the veteran complied. Nicholson then followed the veteran outside and arrested him. In doing so, Nicholson swung the veteran around, and placed both of the veteran’s hands behind his back. The veteran did not resist the arrest and moved his left arm behind his back on his own. After the veteran was already handcuffed and in custody, Nicholson rammed the veteran’s head on the fence. Nicholson then used his right hand to pull the veteran’s legs apart, causing the veteran to fall face first into the fence and then to the ground. Nicholson then forcefully grabbed the veteran from the ground, and lifted him up. While lifting him up, Nicholson used his right hand to grab the veteran from his face and nose.

Nicholson then authored two arrest affidavits and a police report in which he made numerous false statements regarding the incident. Specifically, Nicholson stated that the veteran “refused to leave the property…became resistant…pulled away…raised his hand in an aggressive posture…did not obey commands to stop resisting…resisted on the ground…and buckled his knees in an attempt to make himself dead weight.” Those statements were clearly false, and were made with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence a matter that was within the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

As a result of this arrest, the veteran spent several days in custody at the Pinellas County jail.

“The right of individuals to be safe and secure against unreasonable searches and seizures is at the very cornerstone of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Officers who violate their oath to uphold that Constitutional right, and falsify facts to impede or obstruct an investigation will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge, VA-Office of Inspector General, stated, “Nicholson’s sentence today demonstrates VA-OIG’s commitment to ensuring that VA’s law enforcement officers are held to the highest standards and that all veterans are afforded their constitutional rights. Veterans should never be subjected to excessive force and false statements by sworn law enforcement officers, whose mission is to safeguard veterans, VA employees and facilities.

"Mr. Nicholson's actions not only violated the victim's civil rights, but created public distrust and doubt toward the law enforcement community. We are pleased with today's sentencing which illustrates the FBI's commitment to take all allegations of civil rights violations seriously," said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Joel Micah Greenberg (35, Lake Mary) with stalking and unlawful use of a means of identification of another person. If convicted on both counts, Greenberg faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

According to the

indictment , Greenberg, who is the elected Seminole County Tax Collector, engaged in a course of conduct that caused and attempted to cause substantial emotional distress to a political opponent who worked at a school located in the Middle District of Florida. As part of that course of conduct, Greenberg caused letters to be sent to the school where the employee worked. The letters falsely represented that they had been sent by an anonymous “very concerned student” of the school who had information that the school employee had engaged in sexual misconduct with a particular student, which Greenberg knew was false.

Greenberg also caused a Facebook account to be set up that claimed to belong to a “very concerned teacher” at the school where the school employee had worked. Greenberg caused postings to be made using that account that falsely alleged that the school employee had engaged in sexual misconduct with a student. Greenberg also caused an imposter Twitter account to be set up using the name and photograph of the school employee, without that person’s knowledge, consent, or authorization. Greenberg caused postings to be made using that account that falsely represented that the school employee was a segregationist and in favor of white supremacy.

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. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Rhiannon Rader (34, St. Marys, Georgia) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam (Xanax). Rader had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2019.

According to court documents, as an employee of a Jacksonville Beach physician’s office, Rader had access to her employer’s prescription pad. Without her employer’s knowledge, Rader sold fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Xanax, to drug dealers. She also filled fraudulent prescriptions for drugs in her own name.

Pharmacy records show that between March and September 2016, in Duval County and Nassau County, 44 different pharmacies filled approximately 116 fraudulent prescriptions for 46 individuals who were not actually patients of Rader’s employer. Records from multiple pharmacies show that on certain occasions, when pharmacy employees called the physician’s office to confirm whether such prescriptions were genuine, Rader falsely represented that the prescriptions were legitimate. As part of her guilty plea, Rader admitted that her actions resulted in the illegal distribution of nearly 7,000 doses of controlled substances.

Rader is the eleventh member of this drug distribution ring to be sentenced in federal court. Sandra Arnold (35, Nolensville, Tennessee) was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment; Christopher John Bates (27, Jacksonville) was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment; Christopher Lee Calhoun Jr. (25, Fernandina Beach) was sentenced to three years’ probation, including six months of home detention; Jon’quill Holmes (31, Jacksonville) was sentenced to three years’ probation; Otis Kirkland (33, Jacksonville) was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment; LaRhonda Lukes (32, Jacksonville) was sentenced to three years’ probation, including two months of home detention; Christopher Oquendo Martinez (28, Baldwin, Georgia) was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment; Reginald Ray (34, Jacksonville) was sentenced to time served or approximately 19 months’ imprisonment; Carleigh Wilson (25, Jacksonville) was sentenced to time served or approximately four months’ imprisonment; and Sarah Yocom (30, Kingsland, Georgia) was sentenced to one year of probation.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Kelly Villalobos (49, Ponte Vedra) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Villalobos faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on January 26, 2010, Villalobos was convicted of two counts of stealing mail matter by a postal employee and sentenced to 3 years’ probation. On November 26, 2019, Villalobos entered Shooters of Jacksonville, a federally licensed firearms dealer, and attempted to purchase a firearm. Villalobos falsely stated on the ATF paperwork that she had never been convicted of a felony offense (as a convicted felon, she is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law).

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.

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.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

 

Ocala, FL – Roy Jones (58, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Jones was indicted on February 5, 2020.

According to court documents, on January 5, 2020, City of Ocala police officers stopped Jones in his vehicle for a traffic infraction. After a police K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, a search revealed several rock-like substances that tested positive for cocaine and MDMA. A loaded .22 caliber firearm with additional loose ammunition was also located in a bag in the back of the vehicle. After waiving his rights, Jones admitted that the loaded firearm belonged to him. 

Jones has prior state felony convictions for a drug purchase, drug possession, and the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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 Tyrie Boyer.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Jonathan Cruz Carino (28, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Carino faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Carino was indicted on January 8, 2020.

According to court documents, on May 10, 2019, City of Ocala police officers responded to a call concerning a potential shooting. When the officers arrived, they located Carino and a juvenile in a wooded area adjacent to a boat. A search of the boat revealed two loaded handguns concealed under a tarp. The juvenile told authorities that Carino had been trying to sell the firearms. An FBI laboratory subsequently confirmed the presence of Carino’s DNA on one of the firearms. 

Carino has previous state felony convictions, including drug possession and the sale of drugs near a place of worship, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

This case was jointly investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Jose Rivera, Jr. (49, Kissimmee) to nine years in federal prison for distributing child sex abuse images over the internet. The court also ordered Rivera to forfeit a Samsung tablet, which he had used to distribute the images. 

Rivera had pleaded guilty on February 12, 2020.

According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation, after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone, later determined to be Rivera, had uploaded and shared child sex abuse images on MeWe.com. On December 3, 2019, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Rivera’s home. During an interview, Rivera admitted that he used multiple online chat applications to receive and distribute images and videos of child sexual abuse. Forensic analysis of Rivera’s devices revealed that they contained 2,358 images and 224 videos depicting children being sexually abused.

“This case is another reminder of the child predators that prowl in the online environment,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “Our HSI special agents, working with our partners at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, have taken another criminal off our streets, and out of the digital domain.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.

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.

Orlando, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging James Lapin (34, Ormond Beach) with threatening to assault and murder an elected member of the United States House of Representatives. If convicted, Lapin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.         

According to the indictment, on or about December 20, 2019, Lapin threatened to assault and murder an elected Representative of the United States House of Representatives (“Member of Congress”) by sending a communication to the Member of Congress’s District of Columbia office. The communication contained a threat to injure the congressional member, specifically indicating that the individual needed to wear a “bullet proof [vest]” and that the Member of Congress would be “dead.”

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 United States Capitol Police, with assistance from the Ormond Beach Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Carl Farey (55, Kissimmee) to 10 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting visa fraud. The court also ordered Farey removed from the United States, pursuant to an agreed-upon judicial removal order.

According to court documents, from 2013 through 2020, agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Document and Benefits Fraud Task Force identified more than 115 E-2 and L-1A employment-based nonimmigrant visa petitions associated with Farey and his two companies, of which he is the sole employee. Like many business visa petitions, these petitions require supporting documentation to establish that the beneficiary meets the minimum requirements to be approved for an L-1A/E-2 nonimmigrant visa or visa extension.

Farey’s services included completing immigration benefits application forms for the aliens by inputting false and fraudulent information into the application forms. Farey also altered and manipulated documents he had received from the aliens, and attached the resulting false and fraudulent documents as supporting evidence to immigration benefits applications. In order to distance himself from the fraudulent applications, Farey did not list his name as preparer on the applications and did not submit the applications himself. Instead, Farey provided completed immigration benefits applications to his clients, and instructed them to place those immigration benefits applications, along with the fraudulently altered, manipulated, created, and forged documents attached to those immigration benefits applications, in the mail and send them to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services processing centers in Vermont, California, and Texas.

“Immigration document and benefit fraud can have serious national security, public safety, and economic consequences,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “The HSI Orlando Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) will continue to work with partners like the U.S. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Fraud Detection and National Security to protect the integrity of our lawful immigration system.”

This case was the culmination of the combined investigative efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Criminal Enforcement Unit, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Fraud Detection and National Security. These agencies comprise HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, which was created to combat visa fraud and other similar crimes. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Steven Michael Smith (35, Jacksonville) with possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun and an unregistered short-barreled weapon made from a shotgun. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison for possessing the shotgun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the firearms possession offenses. The indictment also notifies Smith that the United States intends to forfeit four firearms, which are alleged to have been involved in the offenses. 

According to the

indictment , on April 30, 2020, Smith possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute. In furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, Smith possessed a Winchester 16-gauge shotgun with a barrel measuring less than 18 inches in length. The short-barreled shotgun, as well as a Mossberg 12-gauge weapon (made from a shotgun), also with a barrel measuring less than 18 inches in length, were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required.

Smith had been previously convicted of at least four felonies. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law.   

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

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, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced that Aaron Kirk Woolman (58, Hagerman, Idaho) has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a 9-year-old child to engage in sexual activity and produce pornographic images of herself. Woolman faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Woolman was arrested by FBI agents at his home in Idaho on December 11, 2019, and transported to Jacksonville, where he remains in custody pending sentencing.      

According to court documents, on August 7, 2019, an undercover FBI agent from Jacksonville, posing as a parent of a 9-year-old child, made contact with Woolman in an online chat application. During several chat sessions, Woolman solicited the “parent” to send him pornographic images of the child. Woolman also engaged in conversations via text messaging with an undercover FBI agent posing as the 9-year-old child. During these conversations, Woolman solicited the “child” to engage in sexual activity, produce explicit images of herself, and send these images to Woolman. Woolman tried to convince the “child” to comply with his requests by sending the “child” explicit images of himself and adult pornography.          

On December 13, 2019, FBI agents and other law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at Woolman’s home, where he was arrested. Woolman admitted to communicating with the “dad” and the 9-year-old “girl” for a couple of weeks. He also admitted that he had sent the “girl” a picture of his penis and acknowledged that he had asked the “girl” for a picture of her in the shower, and for other explicit pictures of her.

A search of Woolman’s online cloud storage account revealed several images and videos depicting young children engaged in sexual acts with adults. Woolman’s smart phone also contained child sex abuse images. FBI agents also recovered a loaded handgun in the drawer of Woolman’s nightstand, stored together with a quantity of marijuana, baggies, and a digital scale. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Jacksonville and Boise, Idaho), as well as the Gooding County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office and the Twin Falls (Idaho) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Ocala, Florida – Tommy Lee Holt (26, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device in the form of an incendiary bomb. Holt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Holt was indicted on February 26, 2020.

According to the plea agreement, on November 5, 2019, Holt manufactured eight incendiary bombs (Molotov cocktails) using glass bottles filled with gasoline. After illegally manufacturing the devices, Holt brought them to a branch of the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families in Marion County. Once there, he lit the wicks on the destructive devices and unsuccessfully attempted to throw one at the building. When apprehended by police, Holt had a lighter clenched in his right hand and his clothing wreaked of gasoline.   

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocala Police Department. 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.

Ocala, Florida – Duvale Lamar Van Dyke (31, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Van Dyke faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Van Dyke was indicted on January 22, 2020.

According to the plea agreement, on January 1, 2020, City of Ocala police officers stopped Van Dyke in his vehicle pursuant to an active warrant for his arrest. A search of the car revealed a loaded firearm, a jar of marijuana, and body armor designed to protect against armor-piercing rifle rounds. The officers also located a .223 rifle round in Van Dyke’s pants pocket. Van Dyke admitted that all of these items belonged to him.

As a previously convicted felon, Van Dyke 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 Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian. 

           

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jonathan Marmol (41, Odessa) to 15 months in federal prison and Mordechai Boaziz (67, Miami Beach) to 90 days in federal prison for conspiracy to make false statements to financial institutions. 

Marmol and Boaziz had pleaded guilty to the offenses in November 2019.

According to court documents, beginning around the summer of 2006, and continuing through August 2008, Boaziz and Marmol conspired with others to execute a scheme to influence the credit decisions of financial institutions in connection with the sale of condominium units at The Preserve at Temple Terrace, a 392-unit condominium complex located in Temple Terrace, Florida. Boaziz was a real estate developer converting The Preserve from an apartment complex into a condominium complex. Boaziz, the leader and organizer of the fraud scheme, hired Marmol to market the condominium units at the complex.

In order to recruit and entice otherwise unqualified buyers to purchase units at The Preserve, the conspirators offered to pay the prospective buyers’ down payments (“cash-to-close”). The conspirators then intentionally concealed the cash-to-close payments from the financial institutions that originated and funded the related mortgage loans.

In particular, the HUD-1 Settlement Statements submitted to the financial institutions falsely stated that the buyers brought their own cash-to-close funds to purchase the units, which influenced the financial institutions’ mortgage loan approval decisions. In reality, Boaziz funded the buyers’ cash-to-close and routed the payments through Marmol and others. Boaziz caused approximately $5.36 million in losses, and Marmol caused approximately $330,000 in losses to the victim financial institutions who financed the units at The Preserve.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor and Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Rossonno Borders, Jr. (22, Tampa) with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Borders faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Borders that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. 

According to the

indictment , on or about February 5, 2020, in the Middle District of Florida, Borders knowingly possessed a firearm and five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Borders had been previously convicted of grand theft, a third-degree felony, on or about June 1, 2017. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.           

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

This investigation is also 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.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Angelo Salvarezza (38, Port Richey) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. 

Salvarezza had pleaded guilty on February 12, 2020.

According to court documents, Salvarezza was an illegal narcotics dealer in a residential neighborhood in Port Richey, Florida. From his own residence, Salvarezza sold a confidential source (CS) methamphetamine on three different occasions. In total, Salvarezza sold the CS 4 ounces of methamphetamine for $2,400.

On February 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Salvarezza’s residence. During that search, they located approximately 152.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, three handguns, various ammunition, and $6,367, all in Salvarezza’s bedroom.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.

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, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced three individuals for possessing device-making equipment used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards. Cassandra S. Ulysse (28, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, Wilson Sidney Joseph Ash (31, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, and Herly Pierre Ulysse (25, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison. All three individuals had pleaded guilty in February 2020. A fourth co-defendant, Dwight R. Cunningham (35, Palm Bay), who was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2019, for possession of device-making equipment, possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices, and aggravated identity theft, is a fugitive and has not yet been arrested.

According to court documents, on April 7, 2018, officers from the Palm Bay Police Department obtained a search warrant to search a residence in Palm Bay, where Cassandra S. Ulysse, Herly Pierre Ulysse and Ash had been living. While searching the residence, officers located a credit card printer, a card embosser, several credit card skimming and encoding devices, several counterfeit Florida ID cards, and a number of counterfeit credit cards. The counterfeit credit cards were manufactured using stolen identities and stolen credit card numbers.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Palm Bay Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Charles Poole (47, Hudson) with one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted on all counts, Poole faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Poole that the United States intends to forfeit two cellphones possessed by Poole and alleged to have been used in the commission of these offenses.          

According to the

indictment , between October 2019 and January 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported several CyberTips involving the receipt and distribution of child pornography over Facebook, between user “charlie.poole.14” and another unidentified user. Using IP addresses provided by Facebook, as well as account information for “charlie.poole.14,” law enforcement identified the user as Poole.

On April 29, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Poole’s residence and discovered hundreds of images of child pornography on his devices, including an image he had produced. Law enforcement determined that the image depicted an approximately 12-year-old girl known to Poole.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.

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

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States Judge John Antoon II today sentenced Jose Manuel DeJesus-Mujica (41, Ocala) to 17 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry into the United States. DeJesus-Mujica had pleaded guilty on February 28, 2020.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at sentencing, DeJesus-Mujica was convicted of trafficking in cocaine with a firearm in Kentucky on February 21, 2003. He was deported from the United States on October 8, 2004.  DeJesus-Mujica then illegally re-entered the United States at an unknown date, but no later than 2010, and continued to live in the United States until he was arrested on December 17, 2019.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Ocala, Florida –Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II today sentenced Shane Lamar Harris (41, Dunnellon) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Harris had pleaded guilty on January 23, 2020.

According to court documents, City of Ocala police officers stopped Harris in his car for several traffic infractions on January 27, 2018. During a search of the car, the officers recovered small bags of cocaine and marijuana, a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat, and a stolen shotgun in the back of the automobile. A subsequent laboratory analysis conclusively showed Harris’s DNA on the firearms. Harris’s previous convictions, including numerous drug sales, qualified him for a sentencing enhancement as an Armed Career Criminal. As a convicted felon, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ATF. 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.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Robert Miller (54, Brandon) to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $75,984, the proceeds from the offense, and ordered Miller to pay restitution.

Miller had pleaded guilty on January 28, 2020.

According to court documents, Miller’s mother, S.M., was receiving Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits. On December 9, 2009, S.M. passed away and her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Consequently, the SSA continued to make the benefit payments. From December 2009 through June 2019, Miller accessed the funds meant for S.M. and used them for his own personal expenses. In total, Miller knowingly and willfully stole approximately $75,984 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Glenn Hoyt Harrison (71, Hudson) to three years and five months in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $363,344.10, the proceeds from the offense, and ordered Harrison to pay restitution.

Harrison had pleaded guilty on August 29, 2019.

According to court documents, Harrison’s mother, L.S., was receiving Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits. L.S. passed away in November 1994, and her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Consequently, the SSA continued to make the benefit payments. From November 1994, through December 2017, Harrison accessed the funds meant for L.S. and used them for his own personal expenses. In total, Harrison knowingly and willfully stole approximately $363,344.10 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.

Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Malcolm Jerome Straughter (34, Ocala) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Straughter faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Federal agents arrested Straughter yesterday.

According to court records, on March 19, 2020, officers from the City of Ocala Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Straughter’s vehicle, during which officers found Straughter in possession of a loaded 9mm firearm and multiple small bags of marijuana. The firearm had an obliterated serial number and was later confirmed to be stolen.

Straughter has prior state felony convictions for possession of cocaine, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, and robbery with a firearm. Because of his prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.  

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Ghasan Awad (58, Safety Harbor); Ahmad Al Saleh (56, Tampa); and Bassam Al Saleh (63, Tampa) with conspiracy to defraud the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) and making false statements to the USDA regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). The indictment also charges Awad alone with three counts of wire fraud and three counts of obtaining SNAP benefits in violation of federal law and USDA regulations, and Ahmad Al Saleh and Bassam Al Saleh each with three counts of making certain false statements to the USDA. If convicted, each individual faces up to 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offenses. Awad also faces up to 5 years in prison for each of the charged SNAP benefits violations, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each wire fraud count, and Ahmad Al Saleh and Bassam Al Saleh each face a maximum of 5 years in prison for each false statement count. The indictment notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking a money judgment as to the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

According to the

indictment , Awad was the former owner of Express Meat Market, a grocery store in St. Petersburg, Florida that accepted SNAP benefits. After his disqualification from SNAP, Awad conspired with the other defendants to fraudulently transfer ownership of the store to Ahmad Al Saleh, so that Awad could conceal his ongoing, active role in the store’s operations. The indictment further alleges that, after the fraudulent transfer, Awad unlawfully violated SNAP by paying cash to store customers in exchange for their SNAP benefits, in violation of federal statutes and the USDA regulations governing SNAP. The indictment also includes allegations that the conspirators made a number of false and fraudulent statements to the USDA to effect the fraudulent transfer of the store’s ownership.

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 USDA-Office of Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

 

Jacksonville, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Ivan Jacob Zecher (27, Jacksonville) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted, Zecher faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count. At a hearing on June 10, 2020, U.S. Zecher was ordered detained pending trial.   

According to court documents, during a protest in downtown Jacksonville that was related to the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Zecher was part of a group of protesters blocking traffic and throwing items such as water bottles and rocks at police officers and cars. After refusing orders to disperse, Zecher was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for unlawful assembly. An officer removed Zecher’s backpack to place him in flexcuffs and noticed a liquid leaking from it. A search of the backpack revealed a liquor bottle that smelled strongly of gasoline, a lighter, and a hatchet. Zecher admitted that he was holding the bottle in his backpack for an associate, and that he knew the bottle contained gasoline. Special Agents from the FBI were on the scene and responded immediately. Preliminary analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the bottle – which contained gasoline (a flammable liquid) and polystyrene (a flammable gel), and the cork to which was coated with polystyrene – constituted a “Molotov cocktail,” which is an incendiary bomb and destructive device, and therefore considered a firearm under federal law. As a previously convicted felon, Zecher is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

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, the FBI-Jacksonville Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.

 

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Courtney Michaelis (37, Clearwater) and Nicholas Ham (21, Clearwater) with distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury to an individual. Michaelis is also charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin, as well as possessing a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin with the intent to distribute it. If convicted on all counts, Michaelis and Ham each face a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Michaelis and Ham that the United States intends to forfeit any property either used to facilitate the offenses or obtained as a result of them.

According to the

indictment , from at least September 18 through November 21, 2019, Michaelis engaged in a conspiracy with others to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl and heroin. On September 18, 2019, Michaelis and Ham worked together to distribute fentanyl to an individual. When the individual used the fentanyl, the individual overdosed, suffering a serious bodily injury. On November 21, 2019, Michaelis was found in possession of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin, which she had intended to distribute.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Ancelot Similien to 22 months in federal prison for preparing and filing false federal income tax returns. The court ordered Similien to pay $103,393 to the IRS in restitution. Similien had pleaded guilty on March 5, 2020.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Similien was the owner and operator of D’Lux Tax Inc. (“DTI”), a tax preparation business located in Naples, Florida. For the tax years 2013 through 2016, Similien prepared and filed false and fraudulent Forms 1040 (Individual U.S. Income Tax Returns) for his clients. The tax returns contained material falsities, including false Schedule C business losses and false Schedule A itemized deductions. As a result, Similien caused larger income tax refunds to be issued to his clients than what they were entitled.

Similien continued to prepare and file false returns, even after suspension of his Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), by using an EFIN assigned to another individual. Similien prepared a double set of returns, one for the IRS, and one for his clients that did not show the false items reported on the returns filed with the IRS. Similien “skimmed” some of the refunds issued to the taxpayers by retaining portions of the fraudulent refunds for his own personal use, in addition to charging the taxpayers tax return preparation fees.

“As most Americans are aware, the tax filing season was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean crime takes a break or that the wheels of justice stop,” stated Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “The sentencing today of Mr. Similien should send a warning to fraudulent return preparers to beware that we are still watching. Moreover, taxpayers must practice due diligence in selecting a reputable and qualified tax return preparer.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has upheld the convictions of Priscilla Ann Ellis (Killeen, Texas) and Perry Don Cortese (Little River, Texas) on charges that they had participated in an extensive mail and wire fraud conspiracy and an international money laundering conspiracy. The court also affirmed Ellis’s statutory maximum 40-year sentence and Cortese’s 25-year sentence. (Last year, the court upheld Ellis’s 65-year sentence in a separate, related case, in which she was convicted of murder-for-hire, witness retaliation, and securities counterfeiting.)

Ellis and Cortese were charged in a superseding indictment in 2015. According to the evidence presented at their trial, both were members of an international criminal organization that defrauded dozens of victims across the United States and then laundered the proceeds/profits, sending much of the money overseas. The fraud schemes took several forms. 

Many victims were law firms that were solicited online to perform legal work, were sent counterfeit cashier’s checks for deposit into the firms’ trust accounts, and were then directed to wire transfer money to third-party shell businesses controlled by the conspirators. Other victims were title companies defrauded in phony real-estate transactions. Still other victims were targeted and defrauded by fake suitors on dating websites. The conspirators also employed hackers who compromised both individual and corporate e-mail accounts, ordering wire transfers from brokerage and business accounts to shell accounts that the conspirators controlled.

Victims were instructed to wire transfer money into bank accounts held by conspirators, known as “money mules.” The funds were then quickly moved to other accounts in the United States and around the world, before the victims could discover the fraud. Bank records presented at trial showed that, from 2012 to 2015, several million dollars’ worth of wires were received in accounts to be laundered.  Conspirators in Canada, Nigeria, South Korea, Senegal, and elsewhere helped coordinate the fraud and money-laundering activity from abroad.

Both Ellis and Cortese challenged their convictions and sentences on appeal. But the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that “the evidence presented at trial showed that Ellis was deeply involved in the operation of the scheme.” A coconspirator had “sent her information about counterfeit checks to be created,” she had worked with other coconspirators “to create and print the counterfeit checks used by the conspiracy,” and she had brought others into the scheme. In addition, “[m]illions of dollars of fraudulent proceeds were routed through the bank account of a corporation she controlled.”

Cortese, who was a licensed attorney in Texas at the time, worked for the conspirators by laundering victims’ money through his law firm’s trust accounts. The Eleventh Circuit determined that Cortese had “intervene[d] when necessary to ‘unfreeze’ accounts that had been locked by banks because of suspicious transactions” and had “worked closely with Ellis,” with “funds from many of the scams Ellis was involved in flow[ing] through his law firm trust account.”

The court of appeals also upheld the district court’s finding at sentencing that Ellis and Cortese were each accountable for an intended loss of $15 million. That finding, the court said, was “firmly supported by the evidence.” And, the court affirmed the district court’s determination at sentencing that Cortese had used his special skills as a lawyer when committing the offenses. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from federal and local law enforcement partners throughout the country, including the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Toronto Police Service in Ontario, Canada. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs. Assistant United States Attorneys Linda Julin McNamara and David P. Rhodes represented the United States on appeal.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Theodore Hall (42, Tampa) with possessing firearms and ammunition, after having been convicted of 18 felony offenses. If convicted, Hall faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison.       

According to court documents, Hall fought with another man inside a Family Dollar Store, then chased the man in his vehicle, and fired three shots at the man, who was on foot in a residential area. Prior to the incident, Hall had 18 prior felony convictions, including six relating to cocaine, five relating to assault or battery, and one relating to opposing a law enforcement officer with violence.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Adams.

This case is a part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes.

Jacksonville, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Ivan Jacob Zecher (27, Jacksonville) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted, Zecher faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count.  

“The cooperation and expertise of our local, state, and federal partners in this case has led to a swift arrest without further incident,” said United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to ensure that the rights of all individuals are protected during these protests and beyond.”

According to the complaint, on May 31, 2020, during a protest in downtown Jacksonville that was related to the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Zecher was part of a group of protesters blocking traffic and throwing items such as water bottles and rocks at police officers and cars. After refusing orders to disperse, Zecher was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for unlawful assembly. An officer removed Zecher’s backpack to place him in flexcuffs and noticed a liquid leaking from it. A search of the backpack revealed a liquor bottle that smelled strongly of gasoline, a lighter, and a hatchet.  Zecher admitted that he was holding the bottle in his backpack for an associate, and that he knew the bottle contained gasoline. Preliminary analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the bottle – which contained gasoline (a flammable liquid) and polystyrene (a flammable gel), and the cork to which was coated with polystyrene – constituted a “Molotov cocktail,” which is an incendiary bomb and destructive device, and therefore considered a firearm under federal law. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the FBI-Jacksonville Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.