Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – Yolanda Herrera (41, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. She faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between October 24, 2018, and March 18, 2019, Herrera organized and coordinated the shipment of numerous containers of methamphetamine and heroin aboard the cargo ship Leticia, which repeatedly traveled from Altamira, Mexico, to the Port of Tampa.

On or about March 11, 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the Port of Tampa inspected a container onboard the Leticia that, according to the ship’s manifest, contained stone blocks typically used for the building of stone fountains. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) imaged the blocks and observed that several of them contained anomalies. After breaching the blocks, the agents uncovered 14 large packages that had been shrink-wrapped with black carbon paper, which contained more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of heroin.

On March 15, 2019, HSI agents observed the blocks being loaded into a yellow rental truck. They then followed the truck as it exited the Port of Tampa and continued to Atlanta, Georgia. On March 16, 2019, at approximately 10:00 a.m., agents arrested two Mexican nationals, Nestor Vazquez-Morales and Adan Martinez-Onofre, as they attempted to offload the truck outside a residential home.

Agents searched Vazquez-Morales’s residence in Georgia and seized approximately two kilograms of heroin, three firearms (including a rifle), $12,725 in U.S. currency, and one stone block that was identical to the blocks discovered in the Port of Tampa. Next to the stone block, agents found some clear plastic wrapping that contained a square white sticker with black letters displaying the message “Hecho en Mexico” (Made in Mexico). This same sticker was also found on the narcotics from March 11, 2019.

Cellphones obtained from the individuals showed that Herrera, who flew from Tampa to Atlanta after the shipment had arrived in Tampa, was actively planning and coordinating the pickup of the narcotics from the port to their eventual destination.

Between October 2018 and March 2019, Herrera rented six other trucks. During that time, Herrera’s co-conspirators completed seven shipments on the Leticia, all of which departed from Mexico, arrived in Tampa, and were identified as stone fountains in the cargo manifest. GPS data obtained from the rental trucks showed that the trucks were all rented in Tampa, and dropped off in Atlanta, with stops at the same Atlanta residence.

On September 18, 2019, Herrera was arrested in Atlanta. During an interview, she admitted that she had been hired and paid to coordinate, supervise, and organize the transportation of narcotics sent from Mexico to Tampa, and to deliver them to Georgia. Federal agents searched Herrera’s home and found a stone block in her backyard. That stone block contained the same “Hecho en Mexico” sticker as the stone blocks shipped on the Leticia.

Vazquez-Morales and Martinez-Onofre both previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. Vazquez-Morales is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2020, and Martinez-Onofre is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2020.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Thomas Herbert Lewis, Jr. (41, Plant City) with robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of robbery, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.  If convicted, Lewis faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years, up to life, in federal prison.         

According to court documents, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 30, 2020, Lewis entered a Circle K store on Bloomingdale Avenue in Riverview and pointed a firearm at the clerk. He demanded money and told the clerk, “I know you have a family,” and “don’t make me kill you.” Lewis was later arrested and had a rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition in his possession. As a previously convicted felon, Lewis 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.

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.

Four Florida men were charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday for their alleged participation in a compound pharmacy kickback scheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Michael F. McPherson of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Omar Aybar Perez of the U.S. Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Southeast Field Office, made the announcement.

James Wesley Moss, 57, of Zephyrhills, Florida, Edward Christopher White, 38, of Panama City Beach, Florida, David Byron Copeland, 52, of Tallahassee, Florida, and Michael Alton Gordon, 56, of Ft. Myers, Florida, were each charged in an indictment filed in the Middle District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay or receive health care kickbacks.

In addition, Moss was charged with six counts of offering or paying health care kickbacks and one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, ketamine; White was charged with four counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks; Copeland  was charged with two counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks and three counts of offering or paying health care kickbacks; and Gordon was charged with three counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks.  The defendants will be arraigned in the Middle District of Florida at a later date. 

The allegations stem from the defendants’ participation in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to defraud TRICARE, a federal health care benefit program.  TRICARE is the health care benefit program of the U.S. Department of Defense that provides health care coverage for active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families and survivors.  The indictment alleges that Moss and others owned and operated Florida Pharmacy Solutions Inc. (FPS) for the purpose of targeting TRICARE beneficiaries and causing the submission to TRICARE of claims for expensive prescription compounded drugs that were not legitimately prescribed because they were induced and procured by the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes.  The indictment alleges that between approximately November 2012 and September 2015, the defendants caused the submission to TRICARE of more than $54 million in claims for prescription compounded drugs and that TRICARE paid approximately $41 million to FPS on those claims. 

The indictment further alleges that Moss paid more than $20 million in health care kickbacks to White, Copeland and Gordon in return for their procuring and referring prescriptions for compounded drugs for TRICARE beneficiaries to be filled by FPS.  FPS allegedly submitted claims for payment to TRICARE for providing prescription compounded drugs to TRICARE beneficiaries living in approximately 30 states and several foreign countries. 

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

This case was investigated by the DCIS Tampa Resident Agency, assisted by the FBI, the HHS/OIG and the VA/OIG.  Trial Attorney John A. Michelich of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, National Health Care Fraud Strike Force, is prosecuting the case.

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in 12 cities across the country, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Charles Jon David (57, Jacksonville) with three counts of wire fraud and four counts of tax fraud. If convicted, David faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 3 years’ imprisonment for each tax fraud count. The indictment also notifies David that the United States intends to forfeit at least $273,500, as well as to two parcels of real property, which are alleged to be the proceeds of the wire fraud.

According to the

indictment , from at least May 2012 and continuing through late 2018, David was employed as the Director of Construction of Business Operations for a Jacksonville religious organization that provided services to more than 140,000 members through numerous churches in the Northeast Florida area. The organization owned many parcels of real property, some of which David was tasked with selling on behalf of the organization

Despite his fiduciary duties to work in the best financial interests of the religious organization, David, along with three other individuals, engaged in a scheme to defraud the organization in connection with the sales by offering two of the individuals exclusive opportunities to purchase the religious organization’s property at below market-value prices. In exchange, the two individuals agreed to pay kickbacks to David. The kickbacks (totaling at least $204,500) were paid to David by check, from one of the two individuals, on at least five occasions.

The indictment further alleges that the scheme also included a transaction with a third individual in which David fraudulently represented to the religious organization that the third individual was a bona fide purchaser of the organization’s property. In fact, at the time the religious organization sold the piece of property to the third individual, David had also arranged for a second purchaser to buy the real property from the third individual at a higher price, with the two sales closing on the same day. After the two sales closed, David received a check for $44,000 from the third individual.

David did not include kickback payments from the first two individuals, or money he received from the third individual, as income on his federal income tax returns for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2018. Additionally, David falsely underreported his income on his tax year 2013 return.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Surrodrick McCobb (45, Sarasota) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered McCobb to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.

McCobb had pleaded guilty on January 24, 2020.

According to court documents, on November 9, 2018, deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at McCobb’s home and recovered a loaded firearm and a box of ammunition from a drawer in the master bedroom. A fingerprint analyst matched McCobb’s fingerprint to a fingerprint that a crime scene technician had lifted from the box of ammunition. At the time, McCobb had previously been convicted of several felonies and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, FL – Rodney Allen, 43, of Beaufort, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court in Jacksonville, Florida, to one count of intimidating and interfering with the employees of an abortion clinic by making a bomb threat and one count of making false statements to a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“People should be able to go to work and seek medical care without fear of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband.  “The Civil Rights Division will continue to enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to protect patients and health care providers against threats of force.”

“Healthcare facilities, and those who receive their services, should be able to operate free from fear of threats or harm,” said United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez from the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our public safety partners to ensure that no one is prohibited from exercising their right to work or access to care.”

According to court documents, on August 29, 2019, Allen called the clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and said that someone was coming to blow it up.  Allen made several other calls to the clinic that day in an attempt to interfere with its ability to provide services.  Employees recognized Allen’s voice and were concerned that he would do something desperate, so they enlisted the help of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer to search the property.  The FBI obtained toll records and subscriber information for the number used to make the bomb threat to the clinic and positively identified Allen as the caller.  In a voluntary and surreptitiously recorded interview with the FBI, Allen falsely denied calling the clinic and stating that someone was coming to blow it up. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Columbia and Jacksonville Divisions.  Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Sanjay Patel and Anna Gotfryd of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced $20,875,000 in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). These funds have been awarded to 14 law enforcement agencies throughout the Middle District of Florida and will allow for the hiring of 167 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

“Community policing is an effective tool in reducing crime in our neighborhoods, building relationships of mutual trust and accountability, and implementing successful prevention and intervention strategies,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We are eager to continue working with our partner agencies, our community, and our citizens in this collective problem solving strategy to improve public safety.”

The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers. In addition to providing financial support for hiring, CHP provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement to enhance local community policing strategies and tactics. In a changing economic climate, CHP funding helps law enforcement agencies maintain sufficient sworn personnel levels to promote safe communities. Funding through this program had been on hold since the spring of 2018 due to a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this year.

The Attorney General previously announced funding awards to 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. The awards are inclusive of the $51 million announced in May as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit. 

“The Department of Justice is committed to providing the police chiefs and sheriffs of our great nation with needed resources, tools, and support. The funding announced today will bolster their ranks and contribute to expanding community policing efforts nationwide,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “A law enforcement agency’s most valuable assets are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting and serving their communities.”

CHP applicants were required to identify a specific crime and disorder problem focus area and explain how the funding will be used to implement community policing approaches to that problem focus area. 43 percent of the awards announced today will focus on violent crime, while the remainder of the awards will focus on a variety of issues including school-based policing to fund school resource officer positions, building trust and respect, and opioid education, prevention, and intervention.  The COPS Office received nearly 1,100 applications requesting more than 4,000 law enforcement positions. 

The complete list of awards can be found here. To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp . For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.

Middle District of Florida Law Enforcement Agency

Officers

Award Amount

Bradenton Police Department

3

$375,000

Cape Coral Police Department

4

$500,000

Clay County Sheriff's Department

5

$625,000

Collier County Sheriff's Department

4

$500,000

Ft. Myers, City of

10

$1,250,000

Jacksonville, City of

40

$5,000,000

Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

4

$500,000

Orange County Sheriff's Office

20

$2,500,000

Orlando, City of

10

$1,250,000

Palm Bay, City of

6

$750,000

Pasco County Sheriff's Department

30

$3,750,000

St. Cloud Police Department

4

$500,000

St. Petersburg Police Department

25

$3,125,000

Starke, City of

2

$250,000

 

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging John Wesley Mobley, Jr. (36, Orlando) with false impersonation of a federal officer. If convicted, Mobley faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. 

According to the

complaint , on May 31, 2020, during a protest in Orlando, Florida, Mobley was forced to stop his vehicle because of passing protestors. Mobley got out of the vehicle, walked towards the protestors, pulled out what appeared to be a law enforcement badge, waved it at the protestors, and stated something to the effect of “Do you want to get arrested? Do you want to go to jail?” In response, a protestor responded, “He’s a Marshal!” 

Later, members of the Orlando Police Department (OPD) who had been observing the protest received information that Mobley was in a crowd of protestors with a firearm in his waistband causing a disturbance.

As a result of the disturbance, two OPD officers approached Mobley in the crowd. One of the officers secured Mobley by the arm and removed him from the group for the safety of the public. Upon further examination, it was later determined that Mobley had possessed a BB gun replica of a Glock pistol, which is not a firearm. Mobley was also found in possession of a silver set of metal handcuffs and a silver badge with the words “United States Marshal” written on the front. Mobley has two prior convictions for impersonating a member of law enforcement.   

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 United States Marshals Service and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Rodney Allen, 43, of Beaufort, South Carolina, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Jacksonville, Florida, to one count of intimidating and interfering with the employees of an abortion clinic by making a bomb threat and one count of making false statements to a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“Federal law makes it illegal to threaten to blow up people and to lie to the FBI about bomb threats,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband.  “The Civil Rights Division will continue to enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to protect all people in our nation from the kind of cowardly threat and lies that led to this case.”

“Healthcare facilities, and those who receive their services, should be able to operate free from fear of threats or harm,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez from the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our public safety partners to ensure that no one is prohibited from exercising their right to work or access to care.”

According to court documents, on August 29, 2019, Allen called the clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and said that someone was coming to blow it up. Allen made several other calls to the clinic that day in an attempt to interfere with its ability to provide services. Employees recognized Allen’s voice and were concerned that he would do something desperate, so they enlisted the help of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer to search the property. The FBI obtained toll records and subscriber information for the number used to make the bomb threat to the clinic and positively identified Allen as the caller. In a voluntary and surreptitiously recorded interview with the FBI, Allen falsely denied calling the clinic and stating that someone was coming to blow it up. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Columbia and Jacksonville Divisions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Sanjay Patel and Anna Gotfryd of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Alison Marie Sheppard, a/k/a “Aiisha Abdullah,” (35, Punta Gorda) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The court also sentenced Sheppard to a term of 15 years supervised release.

Sheppard had pleaded guilty on May 17, 2019.

According to court documents, from approximately January 2017 until July 18, 2017, Sheppard knowingly attempted to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, by purchasing and shipping 10 cellphones that she intended for ISIS to use to detonate improvised explosive devices.

Beginning in early 2016, Sheppard used Facebook and social media applications to network and find like-minded individuals who supported a Salafi jihadist mindset and ISIS, and she posted videos that she had created to her YouTube channel to instruct her online friends. Sheppard also posted the videos on social media sites in support of her beliefs. Many of these videos broadcasted the teachings of Islamist extremists who supported violent jihad. Among her postings supporting ISIS in social media accounts, Sheppard published screenshots of an online ISIS magazine that contained articles glorifying terrorist acts committed by ISIS members.

 Sheppard also used social media applications to engage in encrypted communications with individuals she believed were supporters of ISIS. One of those individuals was someone Sheppard believed had later traveled to the Middle East to join ISIS. Sheppard sent that person an ISIS e-book detailing how ISIS members travel in and out of Syria, including operational security measures to assist foreign fighters in evading detection in their pursuit to join ISIS. That individual was later apprehended by the FBI and began cooperating with federal law enforcement. Sheppard also began communicating with two other individuals who she believed were ISIS supporters, but who were, in fact, undercover law enforcement officers. During one of those conversations, Sheppard told the undercover officer that she had sworn allegiance to Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the now-deceased former leader of ISIS.

In June 2017, while engaging in online social media conversations with the cooperating individual and the two undercover law enforcement officers, Sheppard offered to purchase and ship cellphones that ISIS could use to detonate improvised explosive devices. Later, in July 2017, Sheppard purchased 10 cellphones from five stores in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and Rotonda West, Florida. She arranged to have the phones mailed to one of the undercover officers, believing that they would be forwarded to the Middle East and that ISIS would use them as timers for “pressure cooker” bombs.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Police Department Intelligence Section. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland, Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas, and Trial Attorney David C. Smith of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of six indictments and one arrest pursuant to a criminal complaint charging 13 individuals for their roles in six fatal opioid overdoses. The indictments also notify the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are alleged to be traceable proceeds of the offense. The indictments were returned on May 20 and 27, 2020. The arrest pursuant to the criminal complaint took place on March 30, 2020.        

INDICTMENT 1

Name

Age, Residence

Charges and Maximum Penalties

Jared Collins

26, Wesley Chapel

Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death; possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the conduct resulting in death; and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the other offense.

INDICTMENT 2

Kimberly Fleer

27, Seffner

Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the conduct resulting in death; and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the other counts.

INDICTMENT 3

Justin Lebarron

27, New Port Richey

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death; possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl; maintaining a drug premise.

Mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the counts alleging death and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the remaining counts.

Brittney Smith

29, New Port Richey

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine resulting in death; maintaining a drug premise.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the counts alleging death and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the remaining count.

Vincent Sanchez

34, New Port Richey

One count of being an accessory after the fact to a drug conspiracy and drug distribution resulting in death.

Maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

Michael Phelps

44, Port Richey

One count of being an accessory after the fact to a drug conspiracy and drug distribution resulting in death.

Maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

Krystin Horner

31, Port Richey

One count of being an accessory after the fact to a drug conspiracy and drug distribution resulting in death.

Maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

INDICTMENT 4

Thomas Lynch

57, Riverview

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the conspiracy; and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the other counts.

Shawn Ryno

31, Riverview

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for both counts.

Christina O’Brien

36, Riverview

Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for both counts.

INDICTMENT 5

Isaiah Reed

31, Tampa

Distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.

Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison.

INDICTMENT 6

Jarran Riley

 

34, Clearwater

 

Distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in death; possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine.

Minimum mandatory term of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison for the conduct resulting in death; and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the other counts.

ARRESTED BY CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Jack Rice

35, St. Petersburg

Possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison.

           

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

The cases against Collins (Indictment 1), Lebarron et al (Indictment 3), Rice (Criminal Complaint), and Riley (Indictment 6) were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Secret Service, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, the Pinellas Park Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department 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.

The cases against Fleer (Indictment 2), Lynch et al (Indictment 4), and Reed (Indictment 5) were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.

All cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Diego Novaes.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Two Albemarle residents and a Mount Gilead resident were all sentenced within the past two weeks by United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. following investigations conducted by law enforcement in Albemarle, North Carolina, announced Matthew G.T. Martin, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

WILLIAM WEBSTER CAGLE, 27, a resident of Albemarle, pled guilty on January 9, 2020, to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On May 18, 2020, CAGLE was sentenced by Judge Osteen to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, including 1 year of home detention.

KAUNDRE TYREE CHARLES MCKILLIAN, 26, a resident of Albemarle, pled guilty on January 9, 2020, to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On May 26, 2020, MCKILLIAN was sentenced by Judge Osteen to 44 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, including 90 days with a curfew and location monitoring.

On March 27, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Stanly County Narcotic Task Force met and executed a search warrant at CAGLE’s residence on Leonard Avenue in Albemarle, North Carolina. CAGLE and MCKILLIAN were located within the home during the search and each was found in possession of a handgun. CAGLE possessed a Springfield Armory, model XD9, 9mm handgun, which had been reported stolen out of Denver, North Carolina, as well as approximately 10 grams of marijuana. MCKILLIAN also possessed a separate Springfield Armory, model XD9, 9mm handgun. Both CAGLE and MCKILLIAN had previously been convicted of felony offenses. CAGLE was convicted of Felony Possession of Cocaine in Stanly County Superior Court on June 9, 2016, and had also been convicted in Stanly County of Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana on August 3, 2009 and Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Ecstasy on September 13, 2010. MCKILLIAN was convicted of Felony Conspiracy to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Common Law Robbery on July 18, 2012, and Felony Larceny on January 21, 2016, in Stanly County Superior Court.

RAKEEM JOHNTA’ BALDWIN, 23, a resident of Mount Gilead, pleaded guilty on January 9, 2020, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On May 28, 2020, BALDWIN was sentenced by Judge Osteen to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

On April 11, 2019, detectives with the Albemarle Police Department, using a confidential informant, conducted a “buy-bust” operation on BALDWIN for two ounces of methamphetamine (approximately 56.7 grams). Officers with the Stanly County Narcotics Task Force assisted by providing surveillance around an ABC Store in Albemarle, North Carolina where the drug transaction was to occur. BALDWIN arrived in a Nissan passenger car and was identified by the confidential informant. Officers closed in on BALDWIN and he attempted to run from the car. He was seen throwing a baggie containing approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine to the ground and was apprehended shortly after. In the Nissan, officers located a large bag containing approximately 475 grams of methamphetamine and digital scales. An iPhone and $1,281 in United States currency was also seized from BALDWIN. Laboratory analysis confirmed that BALDWIN possessed 515.32 grams of methamphetamine of approximately 99-100 percent purity.

These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Albemarle Police Department, and the Stanly County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig M. Principe for the Middle District of North Carolina.

###

The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari, 23, of Tampa, Florida, with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).  If convicted, Al-Azhari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

“We are grateful for the quick work of our partners at the FBI to apprehend Al-Azhari before he could carry out his attack,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to stand vigilant against the threat of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.” 

“We are grateful for the hard work and swift action by our law enforcement partners and concerned citizens during this investigation,” stated U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida.  “Their coordination and cooperation in this matter allowed us to interrupt a serious threat, without harm to anyone.”

“From Mr. Al-Azhari’s attempt to acquire firearms through unlawful channels to his desire to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, it was clear Mr. Al-Azhari’s intention was to carry out an act of violence,” said Assistant Director Jill Sanborn of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.  “The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country will continue to use all of their legal authorities to prevent a potential act of terrorism in the United States, and elsewhere.”

“The primary mission of the FBI is to protect the American public from a terrorist attack.  Today’s announcement of the arrest of Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azahari is proof we are committed to that pledge.  I commend the 18 federal, state, and local member agencies who comprise FBI Tampa’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for working day and night to prevent the loss of life in the Tampa Bay community,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson.  “We were also fortunate to gain the cooperation of multiple citizens who willingly and bravely provided their assistance during this investigation.  This strong bond between law enforcement and the public allowed us to disrupt this threat.” 

According to the complaint, Al-Azhari was an ISIS supporter who planned and attempted to carry out an attack on behalf of that terrorist organization.  Al-Azhari, who has a criminal history that includes prior terrorism charges in Saudi Arabia, attempted to purchase multiple firearms over the course of the investigation, before acquiring a Glock pistol and a silencer.  He also expressed admiration for Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen and spoke of his desire to carry out a similar mass casualty shooting.  Additionally, Al-Azhari researched and scouted potential targets in the Tampa area, including Honeymoon Island.  He also rehearsed portions of an attack and the 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 to be used in an attack.

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

This case was investigated by 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 U.S. Attorney Patrick Scruggs with assistance from Trial Attorney Ranganath Mathripragada of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Tampa, Florida – The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a criminal complaint 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). If convicted, Al-Azhari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

“We are grateful for the hard work and swift action by our law enforcement partners and concerned citizens during this investigation,” stated U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “Their coordination and cooperation in this matter allowed us to interrupt a serious threat, without harm to anyone.”

“We are grateful for the quick work of our partners at the FBI to apprehend Al-Azhari before he could carry out his attack,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to stand vigilant against the threat of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.” 

 “The primary mission of the FBI is to protect the American public from a terrorist attack. Today’s announcement of the arrest of Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azahari is proof we are committed to that pledge. I commend the 18 federal, state, and local member agencies who comprise FBI Tampa’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for working day and night to prevent the loss of life in the Tampa Bay community,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson. “We were also fortunate to gain the cooperation of multiple citizens who willingly and bravely provided their assistance during this investigation. This strong bond between law enforcement and the public allowed us to disrupt this threat.” 

According to the

complaint , Al-Azhari was an ISIS supporter who planned and attempted to carry out an attack on behalf of that terrorist organization. Al-Azhari, who has a criminal history that includes prior terrorism charges in Saudi Arabia, attempted to purchase multiple firearms over the course of the investigation, before acquiring a Glock pistol and a silencer. He also expressed admiration for Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen and spoke of his desire to carry out a similar mass casualty shooting. Additionally, Al-Azhari researched and scouted potential targets in the Tampa area, including Honeymoon Island. He also rehearsed portions of an attack and the 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 to be used in an attack.

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

This case was investigated by 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 – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging James Lee Clark (59, Wilton Manors) with one count of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, seven counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of making a falsification of records in a bankruptcy proceeding, and eight counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Clark faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the falsification of records count and for each wire fraud count. He faces up to 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and for each bankruptcy fraud count. The indictment also notifies Clark that the United States is seeking a money judgment of $1.3 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

According to the indictment, from January 2010 through February 2017, Clark conspired with his paralegal, Eric Liebman, to defraud mortgage creditors and guarantors, such as Fannie Mae, who were holding mortgage notes on properties that were in foreclosure. The indictment further charges that Clark and Liebman falsely and fraudulently represented to the distressed homeowners facing foreclosure that, in exchange for executing quitclaim or warranty deeds for their properties to an entity controlled by Liebman, they would negotiate with the mortgage creditors to prevent foreclosures. Clark and Liebman convinced the distressed homeowners to pay them rent, or agree to put their houses up for sale. In order to continue to collect ill-gotten rents, or profit from the sale of the properties, Clark allegedly filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in the names of the homeowners to prevent the mortgage creditors from lawfully foreclosing and taking title to the property. In some instances, Clark filed multiple fraudulent petitions in the names of distressed homeowners.

Additionally, it is further alleged that, from January 2012 to February 2017, Clark, who was a licensed attorney, defrauded his clients out of approximately $1.3 million. As part of his practice, Clark would act as a trustee for his clients and also hold their money in various bank accounts depending on the purpose of trust.  Instead of using the funds for the purpose intended by his clients, Clark would divert the money into his law firm’s bank accounts and pay for personal expenses, such as gambling, travel, and automobiles. 

Liebman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud on September 24, 2019. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2021.

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. The Office of United States Trustee for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division provided substantial investigative assistance. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.

Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Darlene Nanette Rodriguez (46, Fruitland Park) to one year and one day in federal prison for theft of government property. The court also ordered Rodriguez to forfeit $173,619.40, which are proceeds of the offense. She had pleaded guilty on March 12, 2020.

According to court documents, over a period of approximately 15 years, Rodriguez collected disability benefits while concealing her full-time employment from the Social Security Administration. This concealment included forging pay stubs, letters, and other documentation and sending it to the Social Security Administration so she could continue to receive benefits. These forged documents falsely claimed that Rodriguez was ill, had only worked for short periods of time, or underreported her actual income. Rodriguez ultimately collected $173,619.40 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the detention and indictment of Travis Ryan Pritchard (36, Green Cove Springs). Pritchard was initially charged by criminal complaint and, on May 15, 2020, was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial. On May 20, 2020, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Pritchard with online enticement of a minor and attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Pritchard faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to two life terms, in federal prison.  

According to court documents, Pritchard was employed as a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the alleged offense, he was assigned to the DUI unit. From December 2019 through May 2, 2020, Pritchard used an online chat application to communicate with a 15-year-old girl with whom he had engaged in sexual activity on a weekly basis. Beginning on April 29, 2020, an undercover detective from the Green Cove Springs Police Department assumed the child’s identity and continued chatting with Pritchard using the online chat application. Late in the night of May 1, 2020, and into the early morning hours of the next day, Pritchard encouraged the “child” to sneak out of her home to meet with him for a “quickie.” In anticipation of their meeting, he sent the “child” a photograph of himself from the waist down, wearing only boxer shorts. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 2, 2020, Pritchard arrived near the child’s home to pick her up in his patrol vehicle. He sent the “child” a message saying, “I’m here.” A short time later, Pritchard was arrested by officers from the Green Cove Springs Police Department.

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 Green Cove Springs Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

Any person who has additional information or knows of someone who may have been a victim is urged to contact the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Eric James Templeton (31, St. Petersburg) with attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Templeton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release.      

According to the

complaint , from May 19 through May 21, 2020, Templeton engaged in chats, through an online site and through text messaging, with an individual he believed to be the mother of a five-year-old female child. On multiple occasions during those conversations, Templeton indicated to the “mother,” actually an undercover Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent, his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor “child.” On May 21, 2020, Templeton asked to meet the “mother,” and her five-year-old “child” for that purpose. Templeton arrived at the agreed upon time and location and was subsequently arrested. A search of Templeton’s person uncovered a bottle of personal lubricant and two lollipops.

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 Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.

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

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an eight-count indictment charging Mawdo Malick Sallah (33, Clearwater, FL) and Kirk Douglas Johnson (34, Anderson, SC) with one count of conspiring to commit arson, three counts of arson, two counts of using a fire or explosive to commit a federal felony, and two counts of bank larceny. If convicted on all counts, Sallah and Johnson each face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any funds traceable to proceeds of the offenses.

According to court documents, between November 2019 and March 2020, Sallah and Johnson used fires and explosives in an effort to steal cash from four ATMs. Three of the ATMs were located in the Tampa Bay area and the fourth was in Watkinsville, Georgia. The pair was able to retrieve cash from two of the ATMs, taking a total of nearly $70,000.

“ATF is responsible for enforcing the criminal laws pertaining to explosives and arson,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “These types of violent crimes destroy property and negatively impact communities.”

“This investigation is proof of the strength and tenacity of the FBI and its law enforcement partners in eliminating such brazen acts of violence which threaten the communities we serve,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson. 

“The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will never tolerate someone making our community feel unsafe while doing a simple act such as going to the ATM,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The actions of these individuals could have led to innocent people being seriously hurt or killed. They were thinking solely of their gain and not the dangerous impact it would have on others. These arrests are an example of the strength of our partnerships. Multiple agencies worked hand-in-hand to ensure these individuals were off the street, and our communities are all safer because of this teamwork.”

 “The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is pleased with the grand jury’s work to return an indictment against Sallah and Johnson for the ATM explosions,” said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. “This was made possible due to good investigative work and a coordinated effort between multiple agencies. It is partnerships like these that allow us to work together to protect our communities and put the bad guys where they belong.”

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina), the Jefferson City Police Department (Georgia), the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia), the Athens Safe Streets Task Force (Georgia), and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia). Assistant United States Attorney Gregory T. Nolan is prosecuting the case.

This case is being 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.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Brent O’Neal McCray (36, Coleman) with five counts of distributing methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, McCray faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to court documents, on five separate occasions during February and March 2020, McCray sold approximately 7 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant and an undercover officer. Surveillance images captured by the undercover officer showed McCray selling the drugs from a rental vehicle. On at least one occasion, McCray had small children inside the vehicle during the drug sale.

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 Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.     

 

Tampa, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging James Jamal Curry (31, St. Petersburg) with perpetrating a biological weapon hoax. If convicted, Curry faces up to 5 years in federal prison. Curry had been initially charged by criminal complaint on April 7, 2020.  

According to court documents, on March 27, 2020, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to a domestic violence call involving Curry. During Curry’s arrest, he turned to an officer, declared that he was infected with the Coronavirus, and coughed on the officer’s arm. The following day, Curry bonded out of the Pinellas County Jail.

On the evening of March 28, 2020, police were again called to the same residence where they had previously encountered Curry and arrested him a second time. During his arrest, Curry spit on an arresting officer multiple times—hitting the officer in the face, nose, and inside her mouth with blood-filled saliva. Curry again claimed to have the Coronavirus, laughed, and announced that he was spreading the virus around. Law enforcement subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant to test Curry for COVID-19. Curry tested negative. Individuals close to Curry and jail personnel reported that Curry had not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.

A 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Florida Department of Health, the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and the Pinellas County Jail. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

 

Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging David Stephen Shaw (36, Ocala) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Shaw faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Shaw that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and 129 rounds of ammunition.

According to the indictment, on December 5, 2019, Shaw was in possession of a firearm and numerous rounds of ammunition. He has eight prior state felony convictions, including burglary of a dwelling, introduction of contraband into a detention facility, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and trafficking in methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, 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 FBI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

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 – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kayden James Billings (22, Oxford) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Billings faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, in February 2020, Billings was released from state following three separate convictions. On April 11, 2020, a female companion drove Billings to an Ocala gas station. She ran inside to ask the clerk to summon police because Billings had been battering her and threatening her with a firearm. Two officers from the Ocala Police Department quickly responded and Billings fled from the gas station on foot. As he ran across Pine Avenue, Billings discarded a loaded .45 caliber handgun, along with his driver license. Billings surrendered after the pursuing officer caught up with him and threated to deploy a Taser. The firearm, which had been previously reported stolen in Marion County, was identified by the victim as the same one Billings had used to threaten and batter her. 

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

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

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. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.  

Tampa, Florida –U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Luis David Huerta-Carranza (age 40) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for illegal reentry after removal. On March 5, 2020, Huerta-Carranza was found guilty following a stipulated bench trial.

According to court documents, since 1998, Huerta-Carranza has been removed from the United States to Mexico five times. In 2017, he was charged and convicted for illegal reentry and served two years in federal prison. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement most recently encountered Huerta-Carranza on December 13, 2019, following his arrest for not having a valid driver license and for driving under the influence.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Entry and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.

Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Curtis Duncan (30, Ocala) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Duncan faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Duncan that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.

According to the indictment, on March 30, 2020, Duncan was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. With two prior state convictions for armed home invasion robbery and a principal to armed home invasion robbery, Duncan was 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 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 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.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Premier Medical Associates (PMA), a medical practice located in The Villages, Florida, has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act. As part of the settlement, the United States contends that it has certain civil claims against PMA related to PMA’s billing of federal healthcare programs for services that were not medically necessary and reasonable.

Specifically, the government alleges that PMA knowingly billed for higher and more expensive levels of medical services than were actually performed and also billed for certain claims using “modifier 25,” indicating that a separate evaluation and management service was performed, even when there was no such separate service.

“This settlement reflects our continuing efforts to protect patients and taxpayers by ensuring that the care provided to beneficiaries of government-funded healthcare programs is dictated by patient needs, not a provider’s financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We will continue to hold health care providers accountable when they misrepresent the services billed to our federal healthcare programs and their patients.”

The resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. It was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Keefe.

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

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Stacey Lavette Hendricks (49, Leesburg) to 48 months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. Hendricks had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2020.

According to court records, Hendricks worked administrative jobs at several Florida medical clinics. She used these jobs to gain access to medical records and patients’ birthdates and Social Security numbers. She then sold the stolen identities to others for cash, or used them herself to defraud businesses. In May 2019, Hendricks unwittingly sold stolen patient identities to an undercover law enforcement officer. When agents searched her home and car, they located 113 distinct sets of stolen identities from clinic patients.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

A Georgia woman was arrested today for her alleged role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare, a federally funded health care benefit program, by submitting false and fraudulent claims for cancer genetic (CGX) testing, as well as her role in conspiring to submit fraudulent claims related to COVID-19 and other tests.

Ashley Hoobler Parris, aka Ashley Hoobler and Ashley Parris, 32, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is charged by complaint with conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and conspiring to commit health care fraud.  Hoobler was arrested this morning and is scheduled to have her initial court appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand of the Northern District of Georgia.

“The defendant allegedly sought to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries for expensive genetic screening tests and COVID-19 tests,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “The department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from those who defraud our government health care programs, especially those who exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain.”

“Fraud related to COVID-19 is particularly disturbing as it exploits a national crisis for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners remain focused on investigating and prosecuting individuals seeking to defraud federal government programs for personal profit,  especially during this pandemic.”

“Let this arrest be a warning that our agents remain vigilant in our fight against healthcare fraud and improper billing of federal healthcare programs,” said Omar Pérez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who attempt to enrich themselves at the government’s expense.”

The complaint alleges that, starting in or around October of 2018, and continuing through the present, Hoobler solicited and received illegal kickback payments from the owners and operators of a diagnostic testing laboratory in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries to this laboratory.  The complaint further alleges that the owners and operators of the laboratory then submitted claims to Medicare for cancer genetic testing for the beneficiaries referred by Hoobler that were not eligible for reimbursement. The laboratory paid Hoobler a percentage of the paid claims as kickbacks.

Initially, the scheme related to Hoobler’s receipt of kickbacks for submitting CGX tests to diagnostic testing facilities.  CGX testing is a type of test that uses DNA sequencing to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers in the future.  CGX testing is not a method of diagnosing whether an individual presently has cancer.  Generally, in order to have CGX tests conducted, an individual must complete a buccal or nasopharyngeal swab, or a respiratory sample, to collect a specimen, which specimen can then be transmitted to a laboratory for testing.  Medicare rules and regulations provide that CGX testing is only reimbursable under certain specific circumstances, and tests not ordered by the physician who is treating the Medicare beneficiary are not considered reasonable and necessary.

The complaint alleges that Hoobler and her co-conspirators would obtain Medicare patient information and swabs by having Medicare beneficiaries complete genetic test kits, without regard to their medical necessity.  Hoobler and her co-conspirators would obtain doctors’ orders for CGX testing for those beneficiaries by paying illegal kickbacks to co-conspirators at telemedicine companies.  Hoobler also received illegal kickbacks in exchange for sending the completed CGX swabs and doctors’ orders to a laboratory.  The laboratory would then submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.

Starting in or around February 2020, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to be felt in the United States.  According to the allegations in the complaint, as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate, certain laboratory owners and operators have been willing to pay illegal kickbacks in exchange for completed COVID-19 and Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP) tests, which reimburse at a much higher rate than the COVID-19 tests.

The complaint further alleges that Hoobler agreed with others to be paid kickbacks on a per-test basis for COVID-19 tests, provided that those tests were bundled with more expensive RPP tests.  Medicare’s reimbursement rates for the RPP tests are approximately four times higher than the reimbursement rates for the COVID-19 test.

HHS-OIG’s Miami Regional Office investigated the case with assistance from the Atlanta Regional Office and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.  Trial Attorney Alejandro J. Salicrup is prosecuting the case. 

A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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, FL – A Georgia woman was arrested today for her alleged role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare, a federally funded health care benefit program, by submitting false and fraudulent claims for cancer genetic (CGX) testing, as well as her role in conspiring to submit fraudulent claims related to COVID-19 and other tests.

Ashley Hoobler Parris, aka Ashley Hoobler and Ashley Parris, 32, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is charged by

complaint with conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute and conspiring to commit health care fraud.  Hoobler was arrested this morning and is scheduled to have her initial court appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand of the Northern District of Georgia.

“The defendant allegedly sought to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries for expensive genetic screening tests and COVID-19 tests,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “The department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from those who defraud our government health care programs, especially those who exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain.”

“Fraud related to COVID-19 is particularly disturbing as it exploits a national crisis for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners remain focused on investigating and prosecuting individuals seeking to defraud federal government programs for personal profit,  especially during this pandemic.”

“Let this arrest be a warning that our agents remain vigilant in our fight against healthcare fraud and improper billing of federal healthcare programs,” said Omar Pérez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who attempt to enrich themselves at the government’s expense.”

The complaint alleges that, starting in or around October of 2018, and continuing through the present, Hoobler solicited and received illegal kickback payments from the owners and operators of a diagnostic testing laboratory in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries to this 

laboratory.  The complaint further alleges that the owners and operators of the laboratory then submitted claims to Medicare for cancer genetic testing for the beneficiaries referred by Hoobler that were not eligible for reimbursement. The laboratory paid Hoobler a percentage of of the paid claims as kickbacks.

Initially, the scheme related to Hoobler’s receipt of kickbacks for submitting CGX tests to diagnostic testing facilities.  CGX testing is a type of test that uses DNA sequencing to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers in the future.  CGX testing is not a method of diagnosing whether an individual presently has cancer.  Generally, in order to have CGX tests conducted, an individual must complete a buccal or nasopharyngeal swab, or a respiratory sample, to collect a specimen, which specimen can then be transmitted to a laboratory for testing.  Medicare rules and regulations provide that CGX testing is only reimbursable under certain specific circumstances, and tests not ordered by the physician who is treating the Medicare beneficiary are not considered reasonable and necessary.

The complaint alleges that Hoobler and her co-conspirators would obtain Medicare patient information and swabs by having Medicare beneficiaries complete genetic test kits, without regard to their medical necessity.  Hoobler and her co-conspirators would obtain doctors’ orders for CGX testing for those beneficiaries by paying illegal kickbacks to co-conspirators at telemedicine companies.  Hoobler also received illegal kickbacks in exchange for sending the completed CGX swabs and doctors’ orders to a laboratory.  The laboratory would then submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.

Starting in or around February 2020, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to be felt in the United States.  According to the allegations in the complaint, as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate, certain laboratory owners and operators have been willing to pay illegal kickbacks in exchange for completed COVID-19 and Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP) tests, which reimburse at a much higher rate than the COVID-19 tests.

The complaint further alleges that Hoobler agreed with others to be paid kickbacks on a per-test basis for COVID-19 tests, provided that those tests were bundled with more expensive RPP tests.  Medicare’s reimbursement rates for the RPP tests are approximately four times higher than the reimbursement rates for the COVID-19 test.

HHS-OIG’s Miami Regional Office investigated the case with assistance from the Atlanta Regional Office and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.  Trial Attorney Alejandro J. Salicrup is prosecuting the case. 

A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Travis Ryan Pritchard (36, Green Cove Springs) with online enticement of a minor and attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Pritchard faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to a life, in federal prison.

According to the

complaint , Pritchard was employed as a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the alleged offense, he was assigned to the DUI unit. From December 2019 through May 2, 2020, Pritchard used an online chat application to communicate with a 15-year-old girl with whom he had engaged in sexual activity on a weekly basis. Beginning on April 29, 2020, an undercover detective from the Green Cove Springs Police Department assumed the child’s identity and continued chatting with Pritchard using the online chat application. Late in the night of May 1, 2020, and into the early morning hours of the next day, Pritchard encouraged the “child” to sneak out of her home to meet with him for a “quickie.” In anticipation of their meeting, he sent the “child” a photograph of himself from the waist down, wearing only boxer shorts. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 2, 2020, Pritchard arrived near the child’s home to pick her up in his patrol vehicle, and sent the “child” a message saying, “I’m here.” A short time later, Pritchard was arrested by officers from the Green Cove Springs Police Department.

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 Green Cove Springs Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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

Tampa, Florida - In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez joins the Department of Justice in recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This year’s observance will take place from Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020. During this time, communities throughout the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) will pause to honor fallen officers and show support for their families. In addition, multiple agencies will engage in virtual events and campaigns to strengthen their connections and commitments between officers and citizens. The MDFL is home to more than 160 law enforcement agencies.

“Our law enforcement officers here in the Middle District of Florida are among the finest and first to respond to crises on a daily basis,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “Because of their unwavering commitment, dedication, and courage, our communities are poised to face and overcome any challenge – no matter how great or small. Today, this week and every day, we say thank you for your service and sacrifice to protect and keep us safe. ”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which falls on May 15 every year, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. 

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they have sworn to protect and serve.

Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including three officers here in the Middle District of Florida – Lieutenant Daniel Duane Hinton (Florida Highway Patrol, Fort Myers), Officer Anthony Neri (Sanibel Police Department, Sanibel), and Sergeant Tracy Leslie Vickers (Florida Highway Patrol, Orlando).

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.

The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm (EDT). The online event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.

To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Jason Wayne Lovett (45, Tampa) to 18 months in federal prison for passing counterfeit currency. Lovett had pleaded guilty on January 21, 2020.

According to court documents, between April and August 2019, Lovett and his co-conspirators passed and attempted to pass $17,000 in counterfeit $100 bills at locations throughout Hillsborough County. Each of the counterfeit $100 bills had the same serial number. Officers with the Seminole Police Department apprehended Lovett after he attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. After Lovett’s arrest, he attempted to obstruct the investigation by trying to destroy his cellphone, which contained evidence related to his crimes.     

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Seminole Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

Tampa, Florida – Marcus Anderson (34, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, in April 2011, Anderson opened a treatment facility that offered counseling services in St. Petersburg, Florida. Beginning in or about May 2015, and continuing through April 2018, Anderson stole and misused the billing credentials of doctors to submit more than $1.2 million in false and fraudulent claims to the Florida Medicaid program and related managed care organizations. Anderson sought payment for these fraudulent claims long after the rendering providers had left his employment. The bogus claims also included services that patients had never even received. Anderson falsely claimed that some patients had received counseling and related services at his treatment facility, when he knew the patients were not there. Some patients were hospitalized or in residential living facilities when Anderson falsely claiming they were in his care. The treatment facility was shuttered in 2018.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Florida Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Fiore.

 

Tampa, FL — The Attorney General has directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the nation to investigate reports of sexual harassment in housing as the nation mounts its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez reaffirms her commitment to combat these predatory practices throughout the Middle District of Florida. Sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, and others may violate the federal Fair Housing Act. The Department of Justice remains unwavering in the enforcement of this vital statute.       

“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal and infringes upon one’s right to fair housing,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Individuals should not be forced to relinquish their dignity and submit to threats, coercion, or harassment in order to stay safe within their homes during this global pandemic. This appalling behavior is illegal and will not be tolerated.” 

As a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis, many citizens have found themselves furloughed, unemployed, or otherwise in dire financial straits. This has led many to seek abatements, suspensions of their rent payments, or find other accommodations during this time. While many landlords and housing providers have positively responded with understanding and assistance, sadly, others may seek an opportunity to exploit the financially vulnerable through demands for sexual favors and other acts of unwelcome sexual misconduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready to investigate and prosecute complaints of sexual harassment in housing and work with our partners to enforce the law and prosecute anyone who engages in this behavior.

If you, or anyone you know, believes they are the victim of sexual harassment by a landlord, or other individual who has control over housing, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, please submit a complaint through the U.S. Attorney’s Office at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights or email any questions to [email protected]. For further information on sexual harassment in housing, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Terrell Javon Jones (28, Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jones had pleaded guilty on November 15, 2018.

According to court documents, on June 12, 2018, at about 11:20 p.m., a team of five officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were working in the 800 block of Edgewood Avenue in Jacksonville. One of the officers observed Jones drive into the parking lot of a gas station, park his vehicle, and exit the car with a firearm in his hand. Jones then threw the gun on the back seat of the car and went over to talk to another person who was sitting in a nearby parked car.    

Additional officers arrived on the scene and Jones was detained. The officers observed the gun on the backseat of the car and seized it. The gun was later determined to be a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol.

At the time of his arrest, Jones had six prior felony convictions for distribution of cocaine and one for possession of cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

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.

WASHINGTON – Daniel McMahon, 31, pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Western District of Virginia to one count of threatening an African-American Charlottesville City Council candidate identified by the initials D.G. because of his race and because he was running for office, and to one count of cyberstalking a separate victim through Facebook messenger. 

“Racially motivated threats of violence have no place in our society and will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The defendant in this case violated the civil rights of his victims through intimidation and we are grateful for all the work and collaboration our partners have done on this case.”

“Although the First Amendment protects, without qualification, an individual’s right to hold and express abhorrent political views, it does not license threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen for the Western District of Virginia. “The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who weaponize social media to harm others.” 

"Peaceable protest is a core American value protected by law,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “This defendant violated the law by threatening violence against an African-American individual who planned to announce his candidacy for City Council and an autistic child merely because the child’s mother opposes his extreme racially motivated views. This collaborative prosecution demonstrates that the Department of Justice as a whole will not tolerate these types of threats and intimidation.”

“This investigation underscores the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces and the US Attorney’s Offices continued commitment to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals engaging in racially-motivated threats and violent extremist activities. It also exemplifies the seamless information sharing between FBI Divisions in eliminating potential threats to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson.

“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans is a high priority for the FBI and is a mission to which we are fully committed. In this case, the defendant used racially-motivated threats of violence to disrupt an election,” said David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “In addition, he used a social media account to stalk and terrorize another victim and a minor child. We will continue to prioritize and aggressively investigate violations of these kinds. We are grateful for the partnership and efforts of FBI Tampa Division, the United States Attorney Offices in Virginia and Florida, and the Department of Justice, and for their assistance on this case.”

At the plea hearing, the defendant admitted that he uses the online pseudonyms “Jack Corbin,” “Pale Horse,” “Restore Silent Sam,” and “Dakota Stone,” to promote white supremacy and white nationalist ideology, and to express support for racially-motivated violence. The defendant admitted that in January 2019, upon learning that D.G., an African-American resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, planned to announce his candidacy for City Council, the defendant used his Jack Corbin account on the social media platform Gab to threaten violence against D.G. because of D.G.’s race and because D.G. was running for office. The defendant admitted that his posts used racial slurs and invoked long-standing racial stereotypes, and that he intended for D.G. to understand his posts as threats to his safety. 

In addition to this, the defendant also admitted to cyberstalking Victim 2 using his “Restore Silent Sam” Facebook account. In connection with this charge, the defendant admitted that he used Facebook to send Victim 2 numerous intimidating and threatening messages that placed Victim 2 in reasonable fear of harm to Victim 2’s minor child. The defendant acknowledged that Victim 2 has been active in countering white nationalist rallies in her community. The defendant admitted that, because of Victim 2’s activism, he began an online campaign to intimidate her and to extort information from her about her fellow activists. This included sending Victim 2 numerous messages over the course of twelve days in which he threatened to sexually assault Victim 2’s minor daughter, who has autism. The defendant admitted that, at around the same time that he sent these messages, he also used the internet to conduct searches relating to sexual contact with girls who have autism. The defendant admitted that his messages reasonably caused Victim 2 serious emotional distress and fear for Victim 2’s child’s safety.

McMahon will be sentenced on July 23, 2020. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison for threatening D.G. and five years in prison for cyberstalking Victim 2.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen of the Western District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George of the Middle District of Florida; and Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

Tampa, Florida – Hong Truong (54, Dunedin) has pleaded guilty to the unlawful distribution of oxycodone outside the scope of professional practice. Truong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. She has agreed to a money judgment in the amount of $766,819 to the United States, representing the proceeds of her illegal drug distribution.

According to the

plea agreement , Truong was a licensed pharmacist who owned and operated HP Pharmacy located in Pinellas Park, Florida. Under federal regulations, pharmacists registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration, such as Truong, were responsible for the proper prescribing and dispensing of controlled substance prescriptions. At HP Pharmacy, Truong filled Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions for oxycodone and hydromorphone that were outside the usual course of professional practice and not issued for a legitimate medical purpose. In connection with these prescriptions, Truong ignored and failed to resolve red flags, in violation of her responsibility as a pharmacist. For example, in return for filling 30 mg oxycodone and 8 mg hydromorphone prescriptions, Truong charged and only accepted in cash, a higher-than-market-per-pill price – usually $5-6 per pill. Truong ordered a much higher volume of opiates for HP Pharmacy inventory than average in comparison to other Florida pharmacies and those across the United States. Further, Truong and the pharmacy tech she employed, Jessica Evans, falsely noted on the back of many prescriptions that the prescriptions had been verified with the prescriber’s office, when they had not. Evans has also pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing.

Truong also filled prescriptions for “opiate naïve” patients (those who had never been previously prescribed opiates) without consulting with the prescribing physician or the patient as to the diagnosis and need for the prescription. Many of Truong’s opiate patients were young, healthy-looking, and had traveled far distances to Truong’s small pharmacy in Pinellas Park, usually after visiting a prescribing physician located in Tampa.    

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office’s Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit. The OFAD Unit focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelley Howard-Allen and Greg Pizzo.

Tampa, Florida – Romney Christopher Ellis (55, Indianapolis, IN) has pleaded guilty to making threats and mailing a dead animal using the U.S. Mail. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 30, 2020.

According to court documents, for the past four years, Ellis has engaged in a campaign of harassment against a victim residing in Hillsborough County through text messages, photographs, videos, and mailings. He threatened to decapitate and set the victim on fire, and he routinely made racially and sexually charged statements in the text messages, including sending sexually explicit images of himself. At times, Ellis sent text messages stating that he had traveled from Indiana to Florida to see the victim. Ellis also used the U.S. Mail to harass the victim and the victim’s friends and family. On one occasion, Ellis mailed a package to the victim’s home containing a dead rat and black rose.

On February 13, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ellis’s home in Indianapolis and recovered a handwritten note containing the names and addresses of the victim and the victim’s family and friends.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Daniel George.

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services throughout the week.  This year’s observance takes place April 19-25 and features the theme, “Seek Justice| Ensure Victims' Rights | Inspire Hope.”

“Every year, millions of Americans suffer the shock and trauma of criminal victimization, affecting their well-being and sense of security and dignity,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “To these victims, we affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting them in their hour of need. We also commend the thousands of victim advocates and public safety professionals who labor tirelessly to secure victims’ rights and support survivors.”

“We salute the many victim advocates, service providers, and professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that victims’ rights are restored and justice is served,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The courage exhibited by those harmed and the dedication and commitment by those who assist them in restoring their lives is laudable. Because of their sacrifice, hard work, and ingenuity – individuals, families, and communities are able to heal and move forward.”

“While we have made tremendous progress driving down crime and violence across the country, far too many Americans continue to suffer the pain and loss of criminal victimization,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs, which oversees OVC. “This week, we stand by these survivors and their families, and we pledge our ongoing support to the countless men and women who serve them with such extraordinary skill and compassion.”

Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims. President Trump and his administration have implemented historic levels of support for victim assistance and victim compensation.

Some 3.3 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime in 2018, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures.

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local and tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services.  This year, many communities are organizing virtual gatherings and online public awareness campaigns.

This year’s commemoration began yesterday, 25 years to the day when a truck bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, taking the lives of 168 people, including 19 children, as well as injuring hundreds of others. The mass murder remains the worst act of domestic terrorism in our nation’s history and led to the establishment of the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which is administered by OVC, and has been used to provide direct services to hundreds of victims of mass violence and terrorism.

“Crime victims deserve to know that they have the encouragement and support of the American people,” said OVC Director Jessica E. Hart. “I hope that citizens throughout the nation will take the opportunity this week to remember all victims of crime and their heroic stories of survival. I encourage everyone to also find meaningful ways to express their appreciation to the many committed and compassionate service providers across the country who work tirelessly supporting these survivors.”

This year, the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony will be postponed until a time when we can honor this year’s award recipients in person.  During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims. The awardees will be selected from public nominations in 11 categories, including federal service, special courage, public policy, and victim services. Visit www.ovc.gov/gallery to learn more about past recipients.

For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2020/overview.html.

Logan Laboratories Inc. (Logan Labs), a reference laboratory in Tampa, Florida; Tampa Pain Relief Centers Inc. (Tampa Pain), a pain clinic also based in Tampa Florida, and; two of their former executives, Michael T. Doyle and Christopher Utz Toepke (collectively, Defendants) have agreed to pay a total of $41 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for billing Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary Urine Drug Testing (UDT), the Department of Justice announced today.  Both Logan Labs and Tampa Pain are subsidiaries of Surgery Partners Inc.  Doyle is the former CEO of Surgery Partners and Logan Labs.  Toepke is the former Group President for Ancillary Services at Surgery Partners, with oversight of Logan Labs, and a former Vice President at Tampa Pain.

The government alleged that Defendants knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to federal health care programs for presumptive and definitive UDT, in circumstances where such testing was not medically reasonable or necessary.  Presumptive UDT are tests that screen for the presence of drugs, and definitive UDT are tests that identify the amounts of those drugs in a patient’s system.  The government alleged that Defendants developed and implemented a policy and practice of automatically ordering both presumptive and definitive UDT for all patients at every visit, without any physician making an individualized determination that either test was medically necessary for the particular patients for whom the tests were ordered.  According to the government’s allegations, the medically unreasonable and unnecessary definitive UDT was performed at Logan Labs, the medically unreasonable and unnecessary presumptive UDT was performed at Tampa Pain, and the respective resulting false claims were submitted by both Tampa Pain and Logan Labs to federal health care programs, from Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2017.   

“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that federally-funded laboratory tests are ordered based on each patient’s medical needs and not for the purpose of increasing laboratory profits,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.  “We do not tolerate practices that are not based on patient medial needs and that lead to unnecessary costs for federal health care programs.”

“Medical providers seeking profits at the expense of individualized patient care will be held accountable in our district,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida.  “We will protect our district’s residents from providers whose concern for their bottom line overrides medical decision making.”

“The indiscriminate and unnecessary testing alleged here increased medical costs to the government without serving patients’ real medical needs,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  “A laboratory that promotes and knowingly conducts medically unnecessary drug testing – prioritizing profits over objective medical decision-making – operates unlawfully and wastes limited federal health care resources.  That is unfair to both patients and taxpayers and is the type of conduct that must be rooted out of our health care system.”

Contemporaneous with the False Claims Act settlement, Logan Labs entered into an “Integrity Agreement” and Tampa Pain entered into a “Corporate Integrity Agreement” with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

“Increasing the profits of a sister-company by referring patients for testing services that are not medically reasonable and necessary and then having that sister-company submit claims to government health insurance programs for those needless services drains resources from legitimate patient care,” said Omar Pérez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.  “Those scheming to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayer-funded programs must be held accountable for their actions.”

“It’s offensive when medical providers choose to bilk our healthcare billing system for personal enrichment,” said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office.  “DCIS and our investigative partners are dedicated to fully investigate and bring to justice those who deprive the Department of Defense of limited resources needed for the healthcare of our military, veterans, and their families.”

“The Department of Labor appreciates the efforts of the OIG community and the Department of Justice in identifying and pursuing cases where unnecessary testing has resulted in excessive charges to our federal workers’ compensation program,” said Antonio Rios, Director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation.  “Healthcare fraud detection efforts are a high priority for us.”

The allegations that are the subject of today’s settlement were originally alleged in two cases filed under the whistleblower, or qui tam, provision of the False Claims Act.  The act permits private parties to sue for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery.  The act also permits the government to intervene in such actions, as the government previously did in the two whistleblower cases.  The whistleblowers will receive approximately $7.79 million of the settlement.    

The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477). 

This matter is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Florida, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The two lawsuits are captioned United States ex rel. Ashton v. Logan Laboratories, LLC, et al., Case No. 16-4583 (E.D. Pa.) and United States ex rel. Cho v. Surgery Partners Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-983 (M.D. Fla.).    

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

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 – Logan Laboratories Inc. (Logan Labs), a reference laboratory in Tampa, Florida; Tampa Pain Relief Centers Inc. (Tampa Pain), a pain clinic also based in Tampa Florida, and; two of their former executives, Michael T. Doyle and Christopher Utz Toepke (collectively, Defendants) have agreed to pay a total of $41 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for billing Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary Urine Drug Testing (UDT), the Department of Justice announced today. Both Logan Labs and Tampa Pain are subsidiaries of Surgery Partners Inc.; Doyle is the former CEO of Surgery Partners and Logan Labs, and; Toepke is the former Group President for Ancillary Services at Surgery Partners, with oversight of Logan Labs, and a former Vice President at Tampa Pain.

The government alleged that Defendants knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to federal health care programs for presumptive and definitive UDT, in circumstances where such testing was not medically reasonable or necessary. Presumptive UDT are tests that screen for the presence of drugs, and definitive UDT are tests that identify the amounts of those drugs in a patient’s system. The government alleged that Defendants developed and implemented a policy and practice of automatically ordering both presumptive and definitive UDT for all patients at every visit, without any physician making an individualized determination that either test was medically necessary for the particular patients for whom the tests were ordered. According to the government’s allegations, the medically unreasonable and unnecessary definitive UDT was performed at Logan Labs, the medically unreasonable and unnecessary presumptive UDT was performed at Tampa Pain, and the respective resulting false claims were submitted by both Tampa Pain and Logan Labs to federal health care programs, from Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2017.   

“Medical providers seeking profits at the expense of individualized patient care will be held accountable in our district,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Maria Chapa Lopez. “We will protect our district’s residents from providers whose concern for their bottom line overrides medical decision making.”

“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that federally-funded laboratory tests are ordered based on each patient’s medical needs and not for the purpose of increasing laboratory profits,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We do not tolerate practices that are not based on patient medial needs and that lead to unnecessary costs for federal health care programs.”

“The indiscriminate and unnecessary testing alleged here increased medical costs to the government without serving patients’ real medical needs,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “A laboratory that promotes and knowingly conducts medically unnecessary drug testing – prioritizing profits over objective medical decision-making – operates unlawfully and wastes limited federal health care resources. That is unfair to both patients and taxpayers and is the type of conduct that must be rooted out of our health care system.” 

Contemporaneous with the False Claims Act settlement, Logan Labs entered into an “Integrity Agreement” and Tampa Pain entered into a “Corporate Integrity Agreement” with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

“Increasing the profits of a sister-company by referring patients for testing services that are not medically reasonable and necessary and then having that sister-company submit claims to government health insurance programs for those needless services drains resources from legitimate patient care,” said Omar Pérez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. “Those scheming to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayer-funded programs must be held accountable for their actions.”

“It’s offensive when medical providers choose to bilk our healthcare billing system for personal enrichment,” said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and our investigative partners are dedicated to fully investigate and bring to justice those who deprive the Department of Defense of limited resources needed for the healthcare of our military, veterans, and their families.”

“The Department of Labor appreciates the efforts of the OIG community and the Department of Justice in identifying and pursuing cases where unnecessary testing has resulted in excessive charges to our federal workers’ compensation program,” said Antonio Rios, Director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation. “Healthcare fraud detection efforts are a high priority for us.” 

The allegations that are the subject of today’s settlement were originally alleged in two cases filed under the whistleblower, or qui tam, provision of the False Claims Act. The act permits private parties to sue for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The act also permits the government to intervene in such actions, as the government previously did in the two whistleblower cases. The whistleblowers will receive approximately $7.79 million of the settlement.   

The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477). 

This matter is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Florida, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The two lawsuits are captioned United States ex rel. Ashton v. Logan Laboratories, LLC, et al., Case No. 16-4583 (E.D. Pa.) and United States ex rel. Cho v. Surgery Partners Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-983 (M.D. Fla.). Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle S. Cohen handled the case in the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from U.S. Attorneys David A. Degnan and Viveca D. Parker in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, auditor Denis Cooke, and Jake Shields and Augustine Ripa of the Civil Fraud Section of the Department of Justice.      

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

Tampa, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging James Jamal Curry (31, St. Petersburg) with perpetrating a biological weapons hoax. If convicted, Curry faces up to five years in federal prison.  

According to the

complaint , on March 27, 2020, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to a domestic violence call involving Curry. During Curry’s arrest, he turned to an officer, declared that he was infected with the Coronavirus, and coughed on the officer’s arm.

The next day, Curry bonded out of the Pinellas County Jail. On the evening of March 28, 2020, police were again called to the same residence where they encountered Curry and arrested him a second time. During his arrest, Curry spit on an arresting officer multiple times—hitting the officer’s face, nose, and inside her mouth with blood-filled saliva. Curry again claimed to have the Coronavirus, laughed, and announced that he was spreading the virus around.

Law enforcement officers subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant to test Curry for COVID-19. Curry tested negative. Individuals close to Curry and jail personnel reported that Curry had not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.  

A criminal complaint is merely a 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Florida Department of Health, the State Attorney’s Office (Sixth Judicial Circuit), and the Pinellas County Jail. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

Tampa, FL - The Department of Justice today announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.

“Our public safety officers and medical personnel have not wavered in their mission of protecting our citizens during this national crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The funding announced today will further assist them in their commitment of keeping our citizens safe.”

“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”

The solicitation, posted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will remain open for at least 60 days and be extended as necessary. OJP will fund successful applicants as a top priority on a rolling basis as applications are received. Funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities. Grant funds may be applied retroactively to Jan. 20, 2020, subject to federal supplanting rules.

Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for this emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations.

For more information about the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553. For more information about the Office of Justice Programs, please visit https://www.ojp.gov/.

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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Jason Arise Smith (45, Indialantic) to 20 months in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud. The court also ordered Smith to pay $3,400 in restitution to victim C.S., who was his spouse at the time of the offenses. 

Smith had pleaded guilty on January 6, 2020.

According to court records, in September 2016, Smith had a bankruptcy attorney file a fraudulent bankruptcy petition in the name of C.S., in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division. Smith had this petition filed without C.S.’s knowledge or consent, in order to delay foreclosure proceedings on their home and to hide the fact that Smith had not been making payments on their mortgage. To enable the filing of this petition without C.S.’s knowledge, Smith falsely represented to the bankruptcy attorney that C.S. was hospitalized with terminal brain cancer. After this first bankruptcy case was dismissed by the bankruptcy court, Smith forged C.S.’s signature on paperwork and caused a second bankruptcy petition to be filed with the court in his and C.S.’s names, again without C.S.’s knowledge, to further delay foreclosure proceedings.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced that, in response to the increased threat of fraud presented by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have joined together to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force. The mission of the task force is to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. As part of the joint effort, the Department of Justice, and its various components will be coordinating information and resources with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the Middle District of Florida.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to fulfill its critical mission to the public, and remains open for business,” stated U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “During this national crisis, we will prioritize the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the COVID-19.”

To ensure that prompt attention is given to these crimes, U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez has designated a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Perry, to work with law enforcement partners, thereby increasing efforts to protect the public from scammers and fraudsters attempting to prey upon the public’s fears during this national crisis. Law enforcement, public safety and health personnel, and first responders have been encouraged to report related suspicious or suspected illegal activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

Some examples of these fraudulent schemes include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
• Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.      

The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. From there, complaints will be coordinated among at least 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filling of a criminal complaint charging Jack Bradley Rice (35, Pinellas Park) with possessing with the intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Rice faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to the complaint, between January and March 2020, Rice, who is a convicted felon, distributed narcotics from a motel in Pinellas Park. On March 28, 2020, Rice was observed leaving the motel and placing several bags and a backpack inside his vehicle. A search of his car later revealed two firearms, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Later that night, agents executed a search warrant at Rice’s house. From inside a bedroom wall, they recovered an AR-15 rifle and a one-hundred round drum, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. The agents also recovered a bulletproof vest, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia, including a hydraulic press.

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.

The case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.  

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint and arrest charging Kimberly Fleer (26, Tampa) with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing heroin and fentanyl. If convicted, Fleer faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to the

criminal complaint , on November 2, 2019, Fleer sold a victim a controlled substance that contained fentanyl. The victim injected the substance, and died. The victim’s daughter found the victim unresponsive in their residence. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone intoxication.

Between November 6, and November 8, 2019, after learning of the victim’s death, Fleer continued to distribute heroin, and fentanyl throughout the Middle District of Florida. 

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.

The case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. It was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.         

 

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced that nearly $60 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address public safety by supporting successful reentry of adult and juvenile offenders into their communities.

“Our nation is facing difficult public safety challenges that demand strong and immediate action. The high rate of recidivism poses a dire threat to community safety and is being met with a robust response by this Administration,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this persistent challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

“For more than a decade, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has collaborated with communities, courts, law enforcement, service providers and others, to combat recidivism,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “While a large part of our job involves the prosecution of individuals who break the law, justice requires that we balance the debt paid on past offenses with opportunities to succeed in the future.”

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including adult and juvenile reentry initiatives and research projects designed to improve our knowledge of what works in reentry programming. 

A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future. 

 

Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Reduction Strategies Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17104

Total Available $7.2 million                                      Deadline 4/27/2020

 

Improving Community Supervision Outcomes Through Swift, Certain, and Fair Responses

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17096

Total Available $3 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

 

Improving Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/SCASUD20

Total Available $13.2 million                                    Deadline 4/27/2020   

 

Innovations in Reentry Initiative: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce Recidivism

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17281

Total Available $4 million                                         Deadline 5/4/2020

 

Research and Evaluation on Promising Reentry Initiatives           

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17295

Total Available $6 million                                         Deadline 5/5/2020     

 

Review and Validation of the First Step Act Risk Assessment Tool            

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-fsa

Total Available: Determined after selection              Deadline 4/10/2020

 

Second Chance Act Community-Based Reentry Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17110

Total Available $13.5 million                                    Deadline 5/4/2020

 

Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17680

Total Available $4 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

 

Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Program

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/media/document/ojjdp-2020-17350.pdf

Total Available $7 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

 

 

For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities

 

 

 

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations.

“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

The funding opportunities announced today will strengthen our capacity, together with our partners, to prevent and combat human trafficking in our district. In addition, it will assist our partners in the recovery and restoration of victims of this horrendous crime,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.  

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors. 

A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future. 

 

Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17351

Total Available $1.8 million                                      Deadline 4/6/2020 (Extended)

 

Multidisciplinary Task Force Program to Combat Human Trafficking

https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-ecm-task-force-to-combat-human-trafficking.pdf

Total Available $22 million                                       Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Preventing Trafficking of Girls

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-18135

Total Available $1.7 million                                     Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons           

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17324

Total Available $2.5 million                                      Deadline 4/20/2020  

 

Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-services-for-victims-of-human-trafficking.pdf

Total Available $16.5 million                                    Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking

https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-services-for-minor-victims-of-sex-trafficking.pdf

Total Available $8 million                                    Opens week of 4/15/2020

 

Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking                                                                                                                      

Total Available $2 million                                        Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17135

Total Available $5 million                                         Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking           

Total Available $6 million                                         Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking

Total Available $8 million                                         Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

 

For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities

 

 

 

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Ronde Yarrell (43, Bradenton) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for distributing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. 

Yarrell had pleaded guilty on August 1, 2019.

According to court documents, between November 13, 2018, and January 4, 2019, Yarrell—a ten-time convicted felon—sold heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine to undercover officers on five different occasions. During the last drug sale, Yarrell sold an undercover officer six grams of heroin for $840. As a repeat offender, with prior convictions for bank robbery and possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, Yarrell qualified as a career offender and was subject to enhanced penalties under federal law.   

The case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.