Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe today announced the indictment of two people in a far-reaching conspiracy scheme to allegedly steal, defraud, and profiteer by cheating the state's educator testing, certification, and licensing process. The indictment says the couple and employees of their private company repeatedly took state-required exams in order to memorize the questions so they could then profit by selling them to prospective educators.

The indictment alleges that since January 2016, certified Florida teachers Kathleen M. Jasper, 42, and Jeremy M. Jasper, 40, both of Estero, Florida, stole content from the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) and the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE). They are alleged to have then included the stolen content in test preparation materials and services sold through their business, the indictment says. Passing these exams is required for certification in Florida, and the test content is owned by the Florida Department of Education and the State Board of Education.

“This alleged scheme represents an insult to the vast majority of Florida’s public school teachers and administrators who studied and worked hard the right way to become certified in their profession because it provided an illegal and unethical shortcut for others,” said Keefe, who is United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Floridians expect and deserve to know that the public schools to which they entrust their children to learn are being led by teachers and administrators who properly earned their way into the system. The profiteering scheme alleged in this indictment strikes at the very heart of public education by undermining the credibility of important licensing exams that help ensure the very best for our children.”

The indictment, issued by a federal grand jury on December 1, charges the Jaspers with racketeering conspiracy (RICO), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 108 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets, and three counts of theft of trade secrets. They face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and each wire fraud count, and up to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and for each theft of trade secrets count.

According to the indictment, the Jaspers owned and operated NavaEd, LLC, a company that offered tutoring and training to prepare prospective Florida educators to pass the FTCE and the FELE. NavaEd offered training publications for sale worldwide directly through its website and through third-party e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Shopify.

The indictment alleges that Kathleen and Jeremy Jasper each took the FTCE and FELE multiple times – after having already passed the exams – in order to see and memorize, or “harvest,” as many different exam questions as possible. According to the indictment, the Jaspers also directed NavaEd employees and independent contractors to take the exams for the same purpose.

As alleged in the indictment, the Jaspers and NavaEd customers shared the stolen FTCE and FELE test content with each other through email, phone, video conferencing, and messaging applications. The indictment also alleges that the Jaspers republished the stolen test content – verbatim and almost verbatim – into NavaEd publications that were written to prepare future Florida teachers and school administrators for the certification exams. These publications, as well as other NavaEd FTCE and FELE preparation materials, were disseminated and used during NavaEd training seminars and tutoring sessions.

“Today’s indictment alleges that these two so-called educators knowingly and willfully preyed on school districts and teachers, and taxpayer money. Together with our law enforcement partners, we were able to stop them,” said Kori Smith, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Regional Office. “As the office responsible for identifying fraud, abuse, and other criminal activity involving Department of Education funds and programs, ensuring that those who abuse these funds or game the system for their own selfish purposes are stopped and held accountable for their criminal actions is a big part of our mission.”

The Jaspers, in their capacity as the owners of NavaEd, conspired to conduct their business affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, which the indictment specifically alleges to consist of multiple acts of wire fraud. Wire fraud was committed when Kathleen and Jeremy Jasper, and employees and contractors working at their direction, falsely and fraudulently acknowledged and agreed to various testing rules and regulations, including a non-disclosure agreement, each time they registered to take the FTCE or FELE, the indictment says.

"These indictments are a powerful testament to the importance of cooperation between state and federal partners," said FDLE's Tallahassee Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez. "I am incredibly proud of the investigative resources our agents and analysts brought to this case, and tremendously grateful for our partners' diligent work ensuring that justice is done."

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Department of Education-Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Education, with investigative assistance by Pearson VUE, the company with whom the Florida Department of Education contracted to administer and provide test security for the FTCE and FELE. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.

An initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2020, at 1:30 p.m., before the Honorable Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Jasper

Indictment - Jasper

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – James Wilkerson, 43, of Citra, Florida, was sentenced on December 1, 2020, to a total of 19 and a half years in federal prison after a federal jury convicted him of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on July 24, 2020. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The threat posed to our communities by this violent career criminal has been eliminated,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “This sentence not only fits the defendant’s history of crime, but it is also key to protecting public safety. The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative continue to yield impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer.”

On October 30, 2018, in response to a number of violent crimes occurring in a vacant lot in northeast Gainesville, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) detectives were conducting follow-up investigation in relation to an unsolved homicide when they observed Wilkerson and another person sitting under a tent in the vacant lot. The detectives approached the tent and made contact with Wilkerson, who was clenching one of his hands, as if he was concealing something. The detectives also noticed the odor of marijuana as they approached the tent. Wilkerson refused to comply with lawful commands from the detectives and began to resist their attempts to detain him for further investigation. After a brief struggle, Wilkerson was detained and a small baggie of drugs was recovered. 

Detectives then searched the area where Wilkerson had been sitting and located a loaded .32 caliber pistol amongst some trash, which would have been immediately adjacent to Wilkerson’s feet. Wilkerson, a convicted felon, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

DNA forensic analysis conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab was instrumental in proving that the firearm belonged to Wilkerson.

Additional investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that Wilkerson had multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm, trafficking in cocaine, and possession of cocaine. Due to his criminal record, Wilkerson qualified as an Armed Career Criminal, which allowed for an enhanced sentence, including a fifteen year minimum mandatory term of imprisonment.

“As a felon, with several prior convictions for violent crimes, this sentence will remove this individual from our streets and put him in federal prison where he will serve a lengthy sentence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier. 

This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey. 

The GPD Detectives Division notes, “This sentence is another example of how the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative is benefiting our neighbors and making our City safer. As our Department continues to seek ways to curb gun violence in Gainesville, we are grateful for our local, state, and federal partners that work tirelessly to bring these violent criminals to justice.”

The Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI) was established in April, 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area. As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Wilkerson

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Gustavo Adolfo Pareja, 26, of Cali, Colombia, pled guilty today to conspiracy to import 50 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in the United States. Pareja was extradited from Colombia to the Northern District of Florida last month, following an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea.

“There is no better example of North Florida law enforcers uniting against drug traffickers than this case,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to investigate and prosecute all of the conspirators attempting to flood North Florida communities with large amounts of cocaine for personal profit. Pareja’s extradition and holding him accountable here in the United States sends a clear message that if you traffic drugs in our District, we will come for you no matter how far away you are.”

By pleading guilty to the two federal drug trafficking conspiracy charges, Pareja admits he was involved in an international conspiracy with co-defendants Daniel Gould and Henry Royer. Pareja awaited international extradition for over a year before Colombian authorities surrendered him to the United States Marshals Service in October 2020, to be returned to the United States to face the charges filed against him.  

Between January and August 2018, in the Northern District of Florida and in the country of Colombia, former Master Sergeant Daniel Gould of the United States Army and Henry Royer, formerly of the United States Army and Army National Guard, conspired to distribute large amounts of cocaine, knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

The conspiracy began in early 2018 when Gould and Royer initially imported 10 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Royer traveled to Colombia with U.S. currency to use as payment. Gould placed the cocaine in a gutted punching bag and had the package transported to Bogota to be placed on a United States military aircraft. A few days later, the cocaine-filled punching bag arrived at Duke Field, which is an auxiliary airfield of Eglin Air Force Base. Gould and Royer distributed the 10 kilograms of cocaine in Northwest Florida.

Gould and Royer then reinvested the money from the first load of cocaine into a second load of 40 kilograms of cocaine. Gould placed approximately $65,000 in cash on a United States military cargo aircraft destined for Colombia as funds for the next purchase. In early August 2018, Gould and Royer returned to Colombia and provided the money to Pareja, their supplier, in exchange for the 40 kilograms of cocaine. Gould and Royer loaded the cocaine into two gutted punching bags, and coordinated transport to the embassy before flying back to the United States. Suspicion was aroused at the embassy when packages were x-rayed, revealing cocaine within gutted out punching bags. 

On August 13, 2018, when the cocaine was seized at the embassy, Gould had already returned home and was awaiting its arrival. The 40 kilograms of cocaine would have an estimated value in excess of $1 million in the Northern District of Florida. Gould and Royer have also pled guilty to their involvement in the criminal activity and are serving sentences in federal prison.

DEA’s Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis was pleased with the development, adding, “Pareja’s admission of guilt is proof that the hard work done investigating his drug trafficking crimes by our national and international law enforcement partners was extremely successful.”

Pareja faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., before Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Colombia. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Pareja

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – David Wayne Aring, 49, formerly of Tallahassee, pled guilty on Monday, November 23, to a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea.

Between March 26, 2017, and December 2, 2019, from his former Tallahassee apartment, Aring used a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download digital images and videos depicting child pornography. A search warrant was executed on Aring’s apartment on January 7, 2020, and investigators located a USB storage device and a desktop computer. Investigators determined the USB device contained thousands of digital files that contained child pornography, including bestiality and bondage involving children under the age of 12 (most notably infants and toddlers).

“We make a priority of punishing crimes against children as among the most heinous kinds of offenses -- and that includes the egregious crime of child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Those who seek to view and maintain this illegal content facilitate the efforts of those who produce child pornography, which is robbing so many of our children of their innocence and their very childhood.”

Aring’s desktop computer was forensically analyzed and was found to contain thousands of digital images that depicted child pornography. Further, installed on the desktop computer was a peer-to-peer file sharing program that was used to search for terms germane to child pornography, and the file sharing program was found to have been used to download over 17,000 files since May 6, 2018.

This case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and Meredith Steer are prosecuting the case.

“One of our most important jobs is combatting crimes against our children, and FDLE agents continue to investigate and arrest criminals who want to harm our youth,” said FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez. “I appreciate our partnership with U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe and thank our agents for their work on this case.”

Aring faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  Further, Aring faces up to life on supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Aring’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 16, 2021, at the United States District Court in Tallahassee, before Judge Allen Winsor.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Aring

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, charging Nathaniel O. Cox, 29, of Dallas, Texas, with Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a Kel-Tec SUB-200 rifle during the commission of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan announced the indictment today.

“I applaud the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for partnering to conduct a swift, seamless and thorough investigation into this violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Cox wasn’t able to get far before he was apprehended, and now he will have to answer for his alleged crimes. Let this be a warning to any other individuals who may be thinking of engaging in criminal activities such as this: if you do, you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

The federal indictment alleges that on October 22, 2020, at approximately 8:35pm, Cox entered the Publix grocery store located at 5998 Mobile Highway in Pensacola. He confronted a store manager and another employee, warning that he was armed and there to rob the store. The charging documents allege Cox then instructed them to take him to the money room. Once inside, it is alleged that Cox brandished his weapon and instructed the two employees along with a third inside the room to gather the money and place it in his backpack. The employees were then ordered to lie on top of each other and to count out loud or otherwise be shot. It is alleged that Cox then fled the Publix with the stolen money. 

“It is an honor to partner with our federal brethren in identifying and arresting a violent felon,” said Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. “We applaud the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in their consistent approach in prosecuting these dangerous criminals.”

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was the first to respond to and investigate the crime scene.  Working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Sheriff’s Office was able to locate Cox at the Jacksonville International Airport and take him into custody without incident. Cox currently awaits transport by the United States Marshals Service from Jacksonville to Pensacola in order to answer to the charges.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said Craig W. Saier, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Tampa Field Division. “We will continue working jointly with our partners to make our communities safer”.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jenna H. Callahan.  This case falls within the purview of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to combat violent crime in the community.

If convicted, Cox faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the Hobbs Act robbery offense and up to life imprisonment for brandishing a firearm in commission of a crime of violence. Cox was previously convicted of a similar crime in the Middle District of Georgia in 2015.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - N. Cox

Indictment - N. Cox

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Lombardi, 62, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to serve an additional 33 years in federal prison at a hearing today at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee. The sentencing hearing was a result of Lombardi’s conviction in 2000 for planting and detonating two pipe bombs on the campus of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in August and September of 1999. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“Lawrence Lombardi’s criminal acts terrorized FAMU faculty, students, and their family members during the fall of 1999 and generated fear in our community that lingered on well past his arrest,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to doing everything legally possible to pursue, prosecute, and punish criminals like Lombardi, whose reckless acts are intended to injure or kill innocent citizens.”

In 1999-2000, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida prosecuted Lombardi for detonating two pipe bombs on the campus of the historically black university. Although no one was injured, the trial evidence left no doubt that the bombings were motivated by racial prejudice. The federal jury convicted Lombardi of six counts: two counts of maliciously damaging property, two counts of using a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of interfering with federally protected activities on the basis of race or color. Lombardi was subsequently sentenced to life plus 39 years in federal prison.

When Lombardi was sentenced in 2000, the two counts of using a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence were the most impactful because they carried significant mandatory sentencing requirements. Lombardi faced a mandatory consecutive term of 30 years’ imprisonment on the first count, and a mandatory consecutive term of life imprisonment on the second count. On the remaining four counts of the conviction, Lombardi was sentenced to concurrent terms of 108 months (or 9 years).

In 2019, the United States Supreme Court decided United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019), and held that part of the definition of a “crime of violence” is unconstitutionally vague. Citing Davis, Lombardi filed a collateral motion in the district court challenging his two convictions for using a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence. While the government opposed Lombardi’s motion, the district court concluded that those two convictions were invalid under Davis.

When the two convictions were vacated, along with the mandatory consecutive penalties accompanying them, Lombardi sought to have his sentence reduced to time served in a motion filed by his attorney in February, 2020. The government opposed the motion and the district court determined that a resentencing on the four remaining counts of the conviction was warranted.

The Honorable District Judge Robert E. Hinkle heard victim impact statements from survivors of the bombings at today’s hearing before imposing a combined total sentence of 54 years. Lombardi has already served approximately 21 years in prison. Assistant United States Attorney Jordane Learn represented the government.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - U.S. v. Lombardi

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – More than 170 total arrests have been made on charges ranging from solicitation of prostitution to human trafficking of a minor.  Nineteen defendants have been indicted on federal charges as a result of a two-year, multi-agency investigation led by the Tallahassee Police Department. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence E. Revell, and Lorena Bueno, Assistant State Attorney for the 2nd Judicial Court, made the announcement at a press conference in Tallahassee, Florida.

“The victims of sex-trafficking crimes need our help,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “As a society, we must all do our part to be there for them in any way that we can. For so long as I am the United States Attorney, I will do everything I can to contribute to multi-agency efforts, to make federal resources available, and to assist your State Attorney, your police department and your sheriff as they protect our children and guard this community.”

According to Chief Revell, the investigation began in November 2018 when investigators from Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) saw that images of a minor were being posted on a website advertising sex for money. The investigation, dubbed Operation Stolen Innocence, uncovered an enormous amount of electronic evidence that required months to evaluate. This electronic evidence allowed investigators to further develop the scope and extent of the case. As a result, 72 suspects were charged with misdemeanors and notices to appear while 106 suspects were charged with felonies. Of that 106, 19 defendants face federal felony charges.

“This investigation is a testament to how diligent our investigators work to enhance the quality of life for everyone in this community, especially our vulnerable population. They worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victim in this case and were able to make an unprecedented number of human trafficking related arrests,” Chief Revell said. “I could not be prouder of the steadfast efforts of our investigators and the joint effort with our partners to stop the illegal and dehumanizing practice of human trafficking.”

The federal charges in this case include enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in prostitution, production and/or receipt of child pornography, transfer of obscene material to a minor, sex trafficking a minor, and conspiracy to sex traffic a minor.

“It is difficult to comprehend the depravity of these criminals who prey on the most innocent in our society,” said Kevin Sibley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Field Office. “Thanks to the collective efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and HSI special agents, our local communities are significantly safer today as a result of this investigation.”

These cases resulted from investigations by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Operation Stolen Innocence

USA Keefe Remarks - Operation Stolen Innocence

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Pensacola has convicted Clark Downs, 71, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, on one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The guilty verdict, reached by the jury on Thursday at the conclusion of a 3-day trial, was announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Child exploitation is horrendous and affects the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our children from abuse by investigating and prosecuting criminals like Downs.”

In November 2014, Downs intentionally coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. In April 2018, Downs was found to be in possession of material containing child pornography. 

“The teamwork approach from all law enforcement agencies involved led to the successful conclusion of this case,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison.  “I am proud of their hard work and dedication.”

Downs’ sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 28, 2021, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.

“I commend the fervent efforts of our members and our law enforcement partners in working to protect Floridians, especially the most innocent and vulnerable among us,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Pensacola Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “Let this serve as a warning to those who would exploit and abuse children in our state: we will be relentless in bringing you to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Spaven and Aine Ahmed.

“The crimes this child predator has committed cannot be undone,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “We hope this guilty verdict provides another step in recovery for his victim.”

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - U.S. v. Downs

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FLORIDA – A total of 15 defendants have been indicted on federal drug-trafficking charges and an additional 29 co-conspirators face state drug-trafficking charges as a result of a multi-agency effort to bring down an organized drug trafficking operation in North Florida. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr., and Mike Dubet, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Jacksonville District Office, made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

In May 2019, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and the DEA Panama City Resident Office Task Force began investigating James Young and Shelley Johnson, a couple operating a methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) in Walton County, Florida.

Intelligence obtained during the investigation revealed Young routinely acquired multi-pound quantities of crystal methamphetamine and multi-ounce quantities of heroin and fentanyl from sources in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Young and Johnson distributed these controlled substances to other drug dealers and users in and around Walton County, Florida using Johnson’s waterfront residence in Freeport, Florida.

A variety of investigative techniques were utilized by investigators to identify the full scope of Johnson and Young's activities. These techniques included extensive physical surveillance, numerous purchases totaling more than 500 grams methamphetamine by a DEA undercover agent, and four federal wire intercepts of telephones used by Johnson, Young, and one of Johnson's local sources of supply for heroin, methamphetamine and diverted pharmaceutical pills.

On May 6, 2020, the wire intercepts lead investigators to information that Young and Johnson were returning to the Walton County area from Atlanta with a shipment of methamphetamine.

The DEA and WCSO coordinated a traffic stop of Young and Johnson shortly after they returned to Walton County, Florida. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of $25,049.00 in U.S. Currency, approximately three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, and over 500 grams of suspected GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate). Following this traffic stop, WCSO and DEA Task Force investigators executed search warrants at three different locations associated with Young, Johnson, and one of their DTO distributors, where more evidence of drug trafficking was discovered and seized, along with four firearms.

In June and October of 2020, a federal grand jury at the U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida, returned indictments charging Johnson, Young, and 13 co-conspirators with conspiracy to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute. Johnson and Young were also charged with possessing firearms as convicted felons. A copy of the indictment with more information about the federal defendants and the charges against them can be found at the bottom of this page.

State drug charges have been obtained in the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida in Walton County against 29 additional individuals in this investigation.

To date, this investigation and other accompanying investigations have resulted in the seizure of the following:

· Nearly 20 pounds of crystal methamphetamine

· 672 grams of heroin

· 162 grams of carfentanil

· 32 grams of suspected fentanyl

· 533 grams of suspected GHB

· 5 motor vehicles valued at approximately $91,515.00

· Freeport waterfront property valued at $1.3 million

· $27,572.00 U.S. Currency

· Four firearms

The indictment and arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a joint federal, state, and local cooperative. The OCDETF approach to combating drug trafficking is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt and dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize its assets.

These cases resulted from investigations by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Beach Police Department, the Panama City Police Department, the Springfield Police Department, the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the DeFuniak Springs Police Department. The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aine Ahmed.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Operation Mr. Clean

Indictment - Operation Mr. Clean

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced $2,870,008 in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

“Violence has absolutely no place in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting the public, and our office continues to partner with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to make our District safer for all of our citizens. I’m pleased to announce that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was awarded almost $3 million to improve the systems of record we rely upon to fully assess and appropriately address potentially violent situations.”

Of the more than $458 million awarded nationwide, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support a broad range of initiatives, including efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded more than $10 million across 24 jurisdictions to intervene in and suppress youth gang activity as well as $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to continue operating the National Gang Center. OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded $7.8 million to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics provided more than $69 million to strengthen the quality and accessibility of records within the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received funding for the following programs:

• National Criminal History Improvement Program - $668,501

• National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP) - $2,201,507

 

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at 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.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - DOJ Violent Crime Grants

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Kenneth A. Blanco hosted a virtual ceremony on October 29, 2020, to recognize the recipients of this year’s FinCEN Director’s Law Enforcement Awards which included a new category of honors, “Recognition of COVID-19 Efforts.” He also applauded the swift and tremendous efforts of law enforcement, prosecutors, financial institutions, and others to confront wide scale fraud and money laundering associated with COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Justin Keen and investigators from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General were applauded for their work in uncovering a far-reaching scheme to steal the identities of elderly Floridians for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining federal COVID-19 relief funds. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, made the announcement.

“I couldn’t be prouder of AUSA Keen and our partners at IRS-Criminal Investigations, the FBI and the SBA,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Protecting senior citizens from financial predators is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and this team used every tool available to ensure they left no stone unturned. We appreciate the work of the dedicated professionals at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for making this vital financial intelligence available to our investigators and prosecutors.”

The mission of the FinCEN is to safeguard the financial system from illicit use, combat money laundering and its related crimes including terrorism, and promote national security through the strategic use of financial authorities and the collection, analysis, and dissemination of financial intelligence. FinCEN serves the interests of the financial, law enforcement, and regulatory communities. FinCEN analysts provide case support to more than 165 federal, state, and local agencies, issuing approximately 6,500 intelligence reports each year. Using advanced technology and a variety of data sources, FinCEN links together various financial elements of the crime, helping federal, state and local law enforcement find the missing pieces to the criminal puzzle.

“Because of the secretive nature of many financial crime investigations, the general public may never know about all of our many successful cases; however, this award highlights the important work that we and our law enforcement partners do to thwart fraud and other crime that involves America’s financial system,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Keen. “Protecting our citizens – especially our seniors – from financial harm is an important part of our mission and would not be possible without the help of professionals at FinCEN and those who work at our local banks and credit unions.”

The Northern District of Florida case recognized by FinCEN at yesterday’s program is still being actively investigated, and is just one example of many cases that have been built with the help of financial intelligence. More information will be provided at the conclusion of the investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - NDFL Recognized By FinCEN.pdf

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – With the trial of three defendants last week and the sentencing of four defendants yesterday, federal prosecutors are close to finishing their work in bringing to justice dozens of current and former federal, state, and local officials and prominent business people all connected in a scheme to defraud the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the outcomes of the recent trial and sentencing hearings.

In November 2019, a federal grand jury returned a far-reaching indictment charging a County Executive Director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency with orchestrating a broad-based conspiracy to steal government drought assistance funds and hide the actions through identify theft, tax evasion, and other federal crimes. As a result of this crackdown by U.S. Attorney Keefe’s enhanced Public Trust Unit, 29 individuals were indicted; alleged to have defrauded the federal government, and taxpayers, of hundreds of thousands of dollars.   

Duane Edward Crawson, 43, of Bonifay, Florida, led the conspiracy that included a former Holmes County Clerk of Court and numerous other individuals who had served in positions of public trust. Between May and December of 2017, while employed as a County Executive Director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for Bay, Holmes, and Washington counties, Crawson devised a kickback scheme in which he and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained approximately $400,534 in taxpayer funds by submitting fraudulent drought assistance claims.

Crawson submitted fraudulent claims for livestock and farmland parcels that were not actually owned or leased by the conspirators, resulting in drought assistance funds being deposited into the conspirators’ bank accounts. The co-conspirators paid Crawson a portion of the fraud proceeds in the form of cash kickbacks.

On October 23, 2020, a federal trial jury found Danyel Witt guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. The same jury returned a not-guilty verdict as to Jeremiah Rolling and Justin Chopelas on charges of conspiracy and theft of government funds. Witt’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2021.

Each of the remaining 26 defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of government funds. Sentencing hearings were conducted yesterday for Crawson along with co-conspirators James Stacey Paul, Davey Eugene Mancill, and Ronald Ryan Roof. Sentences for all 26 are:

• Duane Edward Crawson, of Bonifay, Florida, 36 months in federal prison;
• Davey Eugene Mancill, of Westville, Florida, 24 months in federal prison;
• James Stacey Paul, of Bonifay, Florida, 18 months in federal prison;
• Jordan Ryan Hicks, of Ponce De Leon, Florida, 15 months in federal prison;
• Kyle Martin Hudson, of Westville, Florida, 12 months and 1day in federal prison;
• Dwayne Frazier White, of Bonifay, Florida, 12 days in federal prison, 4 years of probation;
• Ronald Ryan Roof, X, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Christopher Marion Ammons, of Ponce De Leon, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Sheryl Day Gillman, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Shyloe Rose Sachse, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Tillman Douglas Mears, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Dawn Marie Crutchfield, of Bonifay Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Megan Leann Roof, of Westville, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Billy Coal Bradshaw, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• James Erwin Mancill, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Joseph Matthew Crowder, of Caryville, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Audrey Lynn Smith, of Caryville, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Brian Anthony Ammons, of Ponce De Leon, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Taylor Ward Stripling, of Westville, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Dawn Marie Roof, of Chipley, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Daniel Olajuwon Boston, of Chipley, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Chassity Lynn Lee, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Jennifer Marie McCabe, of Bonifay, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Justina Rae Williams, of Caryville, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Joseph Bailey Alexander, of Chipley, Florida, 4 years of probation;
• Douglas Edward Mixon, of Westville, Florida, 2 years of probation

 

In addition to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of government funds, Crawson, Davey Mancill, and Paul pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Crawson also pled guilty to tax evasion, as well as obstruction of the internal revenue laws.

As a part of their sentence, each defendant has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of their fraudulent claims. To date the government has received in excess of $120,000 of the $400,534 fraudulently obtained as a part of the kickback scheme.

This case resulted from a 20-month investigation conducted by a partnership of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors at all levels of government, including the United States Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - USDA Farm Agency Fraud

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Anthony Hernandez, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to six months in federal prison after having pled guilty to making false statements relating to health care matters and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The financial losses to healthcare insurance companies resulting from these schemes are staggering,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “What’s more, mutual trust between patients and healthcare providers is a critical component of quality care. The actions of Hernandez, and criminals like him, erode that trust. We will continue working in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to see that the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable.”

Between June 2013 and October 2015, Hernandez defrauded multiple healthcare insurers by submitting false reimbursement claims for allergen immunotherapy treatments, or allergy shots, which were never provided. Hernandez, who holds no medical or chiropractic license, operated Gainesville Medical Centers, LLC, (GMC) in Gainesville, Florida. He recruited individuals, including students from various University of Florida (UF) organizations, to become patients of GMC in order to receive allergy testing.  In some cases, Hernandez offered financial compensation to charities, UF sports teams, and UF fraternities and sororities in exchange for its members to receive free allergy testing at GMC. In conjunction with the allergy testing that was actually provided, Hernandez directed his staff to submit false insurance claims for allergy shots which were never administered to GMC’s patients. Through these false claims, Hernandez personally received $810,292.47 from Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Health Care healthcare insurance companies.  Hernandez also conspired to launder the proceeds received from these false claims by transferring the money from the business bank accounts to personal bank accounts.

“The FBI views health care fraud as a major crime problem,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel L. Rojas. “Abuse within the health care system reduces the availability of critical resources, and contributes to the rising cost of healthcare for all.  The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to allocate expert resources to investigate these crimes and prosecute all those who defraud the American public for their own personal gain."

“We take great pride in our role to protect our nation’s economy by rooting out fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Mr. Hernandez’s actions did not simply affect the insurance companies he ripped off, but also the University of Florida students and other victims he took advantage of. Moreover, his actions tipped the playing field against all consumers. Working alongside FBI, we are keenly dedicated to maintaining a level field for all Americans.”

As part of his sentence, Hernandez was ordered to pay $810,292.47 in restitution to the victims in this case and a $75,000 fine.  In addition, after serving his term of imprisonment, Hernandez will begin a two-year term of federal supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Keen prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Hernandez

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Daniel LeBron, 47, of Cross City, Florida, was sentenced on October 26, 2020, to a total of 21 and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The sale and use of methamphetamines in our communities has devastating and wide-reaching effects and must be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “With the help of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, prosecute, and punish those who bring these drugs into hometowns across Northern Florida.”

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been working with deputies from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to investigate and prosecute individuals who are distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Dixie County area. On April 24, 2019, deputies from DCSO conducted a traffic stop on LeBron and arrested him after a search led to the discovery of two ounces of methamphetamine, pills, and more than $10,000 cash. The deputies also recovered the key to a safe from around LeBron’s neck. When DEA agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence, they used the key to open a safe found in his bedroom. Inside the safe, agents located an additional 7 ounces of methamphetamine, more pills, and drug paraphernalia. Agents also discovered two firearms in LeBron’s bedroom; an AR-15 and a loaded .22 caliber rifle. LeBron admitted that he had been dealing methamphetamine.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”

Further investigation by the DEA revealed that LeBron was involved with several others in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Dixie County area. Agents determined that over the course of the conspiracy, LeBron had trafficked over 7 kilograms of methamphetamine to individuals in Dixie County.

“LeBron is a dangerous methamphetamine trafficker who is now off the streets of Dixie County,” said DEA’s Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis.

LeBron will serve 16 and a half years on the methamphetamine charge followed by 5 years on the firearm in furtherance charge.  The Court also ordered 10 years of supervised release following LeBron’s prison term. LeBron is now a five-time convicted felon with prior convictions for 2nd Degree Murder and Escape.

This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - LeBron

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Isaleb Anofils, 31, of Vero Beach, pled guilty last Friday, October 16, and Donyell Garland, 32, of Tallahassee, plead guilty today to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 13 counts of bank fraud, and 1 count of aggravated identity theft. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea.

Between January 1, 2018, and April 9, 2018, Anofils and Garland conspired to defraud federally insured financial institutions. The defendants used a combination of a cell phone spoofing app and various Internet websites to obtain personally identifiable information of victims. Anofils and Garland then used that information to conduct 285 fraudulent ATM transactions at Tallahassee-area financial institutions. In total, Anofils and Garland stole or attempted to steal over $151,000 from 47 Wells Fargo customers.

Both men face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud counts, and an additional 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for the aggravated identity theft count.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.

Anofils’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 11, 2021, and Garland’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 10, 2021.  Both hearings will take place at the United States District Court in Tallahassee before Chief Judge Mark Walker.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Anofils and Garland

Statement of Facts - Anofils

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA –Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Andrew J. Grogan will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Grogan has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of Florida, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the right to vote exercise it if they choose. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Keefe stated that AUSA/DEO Grogan will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The public may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the following telephone numbers:

850-942-8430

850-216-3845

850-216-3829

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (904) 248-7000.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - 2020 Election Security

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awarded more than $536.7 million in Fiscal Year 2020 to increase law enforcement hiring and to improve school safety, combat opioids and methamphetamine, advance community policing efforts, provide training to the law enforcement field, and protect the health of our nation’s officers and deputies. A total of $4,695,126 was awarded within Florida’s Northern District, according to Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Community Oriented Policing Services grants are critical to our District’s ability to continue protecting the health and safety of our citizens and our law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “These programs provide support for a wide variety of initiatives such as school violence prevention, anti-narcotics programs, law enforcement mental health and wellness, and community policing development, just to name a few. It has been my pleasure to announce over $4.5 million in awards to North Florida recipients throughout fiscal year 2020.”    

COPS Office awards within Florida’s Northern District in fiscal year 2020 include:

COPS Hiring Program (CHP):  Nearly $400 million in CHP grant funding was awarded to 605 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which will allow those agencies to hire 2,761 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.  CHP provides funding for the hiring and rehiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Recipients in the Northern District of Florida:

- Fort Walton Beach Police Department: $329,595

- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office: $118,838

- Walton County Sheriff’s Office: $1,500,000

School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP):  Through SVPP, nearly $49 million was awarded to 160 states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies to be used to improve security at schools and on school grounds.  Awards included funding for coordination with local law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self; placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures providing significant improvements in security.

Washington County School District received $500,000. 

Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program:  More than $29.7 million in AHTF grant funding was awarded to 14 state law enforcement agencies with multijurisdictional reach and interdisciplinary team (e.g., task force) structures in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other opioids.  This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received $2,208,052.

Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA):  Through LEMHWA, 41 awards were announced totaling $4.5 million to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness, and suicide prevention programs.

The City of Gainesville received $38,641.

“Building on the successes in reducing violent crime in 2017, 2018, and 2019, these Department of Justice grants for 2020 help to fight violent crime and deadly narcotics, to improve public safety, and to support the officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen.  “Strong partnerships of federal, state, and local law enforcement can produce better results for the public we all serve.”

“Supporting the men and women of law enforcement as they serve their communities is of paramount importance to the COPS Office,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith.  “Now more than ever, it is critical that we continue to provide state, local and tribal agencies the resources they desperately need to continue to advance public safety, which they are so committed to doing.  We are all the beneficiaries of that work.”

Full lists of all announced COPS Office awards are available here.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - COPS Grants FY20

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Gustavo Adolfo Pareja, 26, of Cali, Colombia, was extradited by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida last week as a result of an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Pareja is charged with two federal drug trafficking conspiracy charges involving large amounts of cocaine that are alleged to have been imported into northern Florida. He made his initial appearance today at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola. The extradition and charges were announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“This extradition clearly demonstrates that North Florida law enforcers stand united against drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We have strong partnerships with our local, state and federal partners, and together we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those that prey on our communities. If you are trafficking drugs in our District, you will be held accountable.”

It has been alleged that between January and August 2018, in the Northern District of Florida and in the country of Colombia, former Master Sergeant Daniel Gould of the United States Army and Henry Royer, formerly of the United States Army and Army National Guard, conspired to distribute large amounts of cocaine, knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States. 

Pareja is alleged to be the source of supply of the cocaine in Bogota, Colombia.  He has been awaiting international extradition proceedings for over a year.  Last week, the United States Marshals Service flew from northern Florida to Bogota, wherein the Colombian authorities relinquished Pareja to American law enforcement in order for him to stand trial in Pensacola, Florida.

The conspiracy is alleged to have begun in early 2018 when Gould and Royer initially imported 10 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Royer traveled to Colombia with U.S. currency to use as payment. Gould placed the cocaine in a gutted punching bag and had the package transported to Bogota to be placed on a United States military aircraft. A few days later, the cocaine-filled punching bag arrived at Duke Field, which is an auxiliary airfield of Eglin Air Force Base. Gould and Royer distributed the 10 kilograms of cocaine in Northwest Florida.

Gould and Royer then reinvested the money from the first load of cocaine into a second load of 40 kilograms of cocaine.  Gould placed approximately $65,000 in cash on a United States military cargo aircraft destined for Colombia as funds for the next purchase.

In early August 2018, Gould and Royer returned to Colombia and provided money for the 40 kilograms to Pareja, their alleged cocaine supplier.  Gould and Royer received the cocaine, loaded the 40 kilograms into two gutted punching bags, and coordinated transport to the embassy before flying back to the United States. Suspicion was aroused at the embassy when packages were x-rayed, revealing cocaine within gutted out punching bags. 

On August 13, 2018, when the cocaine was seized at the embassy, Gould had already returned home and was awaiting its arrival. The 40 kilograms of cocaine would have an estimated value in excess of $1 million in the Northern District of Florida. Gould and Royer have pled guilty to their involvement in the criminal activity and are serving sentences in federal prison.

“An apparent source of supply for cocaine into Pensacola has been knocked out,” said DEA Miami Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. “Pareja is alleged to have participated in a highly brazen criminal scheme to open a pipeline into Northern Florida for illicit distribution that was shut down. Now, like others he conspired with, he will face serious federal narcotics trafficking charges as a result of his actions.”  

If convicted, Pareja faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in federal prison. A trial date will be set before Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson in Pensacola.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.  Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Pareja Extradition

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced $1,754,128 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.

“Although we are making progress, too many lives are still being destroyed due to the opioid addiction crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting public health and safety, and these grants provide needed funds to do just that. I’m pleased to announce that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was awarded more than $1.7 million to help develop and implement residential substance abuse treatment programs within our state and local correctional facilities.”

Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.

“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”

Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received $1,754,128 through the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program. The Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded a total of $28 million to support this program, which helps states develop and implement residential substance abuse treatment programs within state and local correctional facilities.

“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at 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.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - DOJ Opioid Grants

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced $3,908,850 in Department of Justice grants to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.

“I’m pleased to announce that close to $4 million dollars will be distributed throughout the state by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to increase laboratory capacity for processing DNA evidence, and to hire and train forensic experts,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We rely heavily on the investigative and technical skills of our law enforcement partners to ensure we can successfully prosecute criminals in Northern Florida, and these grant dollars will help us to do just that. More importantly, these funds will enable victims to get answers and see justice done more quickly.”   

Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.

“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received the following funding:

• DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Production Program - $2,750,432
• Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants - $1,158,418

 

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - DOJ Forensic Grants

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Today, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.

The 14,200 cases charged include a number of significant cases presented throughout the Northern District of Florida, announced United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe.

“Combatting gun violence continues to be a priority throughout the Northern Florida District,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “From Pensacola, through Tallahassee and down to Gainesville, we are partnering with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to protect our communities by prosecuting criminals who contribute to the epidemic of gun violence. It’s important to understand that we aren’t just focusing on those that pull the triggers. If you buy, sell or even possess a firearm illegally, we are coming after you, too.”    

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime.  It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. 

“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.  The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”

“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo.  “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions.  ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”

The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.     

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Gun Violence

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Howard Baxter Osgood, 78, of Gainesville, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 30, to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography. As a part of his sentence, Osgood was fined $35,000 and was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the victim. In addition, after serving his term of imprisonment, Osgood will begin a lifetime term of supervised release. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“This sentence sends a strong message to those who exploit children and cause severe and lasting trauma for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “With the dedicated help of our law enforcement partners, we will bring every investigative and prosecutorial resource to bear in order to protect our children from sexual predators like Osgood.”

The undisputed facts demonstrated that Osgood had a continuing relationship with a 14 year old girl beginning in June 2011, and created sexually explicit images of her, including an image when she was 17.  Osgood was a prominent jeweler in the Gainesville area. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Osgood

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Seeking to build on the success of a multi-agency effort to stanch the distribution of methamphetamine and related violent crime in Franklin County, Florida, United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida hosted Timothy Shea, Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), for a law enforcement roundtable discussion with sheriffs from throughout the District to identify additional partnership opportunities. The Honorable Ashley Moody, Florida Attorney General, and Keith Weis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Miami Division, also participated in the event.

“The United States Attorney’s Office was honored to host Acting Administrator Shea for a substantive discussion with sheriffs from throughout the Northern District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “He rolled up his sleeves, along with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, and got into trenches with these sheriffs who were elected by the people of their counties. Together, we worked to create new strategies in our ongoing effort to disrupt the distribution of methamphetamine and related violent crime in Northern Florida, using our recent success in Franklin County as a model.”

The closed roundtable focused on the impact of Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations in the Northern Florida.  Dialogue between Sheriffs from Franklin, Bay, Taylor, Calhoun, Lafayette, Jefferson, Gilchrist and Leon Counties and DEA leadership focused on intelligence sharing and identifying further opportunities for local, state, and federal law enforcement to work together to reduce meth trafficking, use, and associated violent crime. Officials from the Florida Sheriff’s Association, leaders from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jacksonville Division and the U.S. Marshal Service’s Northern District and State Attorney Jack Campbell of Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit participated in the talks. 

Following the closed roundtable, U.S. Attorney Keefe, A.J. “Tony” Smith, Sheriff of Franklin County, and DEA Acting Administrator Shea spoke to the media.   Sheriff Smith spoke about the significant impact that the support of the DEA has made in reducing the trafficking, sale, and use of methamphetamine in Franklin County. DEA Acting Administrator Shea then shared information about nation-wide DEA efforts to combat methamphetamine trafficking and emphasized the importance of partnerships with state and local law enforcement.

“Those who say drug trafficking is not a violent crime couldn’t be more wrong,” said Acting Administrator Shea. “Drug trafficking affects the safety and security of all of us. The criminals who engage in drug trafficking fuel the epidemic of addiction in our country – and profit from it – while feeding the violence that it plaguing so many communities.” 

U.S. Attorney Keefe concluded the press conference by discussing the topics and outcomes of the closed law enforcement roundtable.  

For additional information, footage and/or photography requests, please contact the News Service of Florida (Mr. Tom Urban, [email protected], or Mr. Jim Turner, [email protected]) or the Tallahassee Democrat (Mr. Karl Etters [email protected], or Ms. Tori Schneider [email protected]).

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. Attorney Keefe Hosts Law Enforcement Roundtable With Top Drug Enforcement Administration Officials Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Timothy Shea, Acting Administrator of the DEA, Keith Weis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA's Miami Division, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody conduct a law enforcement roundtable with sheriffs from throughout the District, creating new strategies to stanch the distribution of meth and reduce related violent crime in Northern Florida.

 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced $2,662,713 in Department of Justice grants to area programs to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities after confinement. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of more than $92 million in funding to support reentry efforts throughout the United States.

These awards represent the Justice Department’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.

“I am proud that we are able to make more than $2.6 million available within Northern Florida to help offenders fully reintegrate into their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The key to reducing crime is preventing offenders from committing further crimes, and the best way we can do that is by helping them succeed as they return to their communities and establish law-abiding lives.”

The reentry and recidivism reduction grant awards will help communities develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism; support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18; and support research and evaluation programs to advance understanding about reoffending.

“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help them get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation.”

The following organizations received funding in the Northern District of Florida:

• DISC Village, Incorporated - $899,995

- Improving Reentry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders Program

• Florida Department of Corrections - $500,000

- Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program

• Florida Department of Juvenile Justice - $750,000

- Second Chance Act, Youth Offender Reentry Program

• Florida State University - $512,718

- Research on Juvenile Reoffending Program

For a complete national list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/reentryfactsheet.pdf

Additional information about FY 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data Webpage.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - DOJ Reentry Grants

 

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Robert Lester Odom, 47, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced on Friday, September 25, to 40 months in federal prison after having pled guilty to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.  The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“This vicious attack was made even more serious due to the vessel’s location, so far away from help,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Reducing violent crime is a top priority for the Justice Department and our District, and as federal prosecutors we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these criminals accountable for their actions.”

The facts introduced at the sentencing hearing revealed that on September 27, 2019, Odom, a crew member on a commercial fishing boat, attacked and wounded the vessel’s captain with a pellet rifle and a long-blade knife. At the time of the offense, the vessel was at sea approximately 20-26 nautical miles south-southeast of Perdido Pass, with a captain and two crew members. While fishing shortly before 9:30 pm, Odom shot the captain in the chest with a pellet rifle and then, after a struggle, stabbed the captain twice, causing immediate, profuse bleeding. United States Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded to a call for help, and United States Coast Guard personnel administered first aid to the captain. The captain was then flown by helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

"The Coast Guard's commitment to protecting life at sea, and upholding our nation's laws, are our highest priorities," said Rear Admiral John Nadeau, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District. “I’m proud of our dedicated men and women who responded to save the victim in this case, and worked with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice was served.”

As part of his sentence, Odom was ordered to pay $12,180 in restitution to the victim.  In addition, after serving his term of imprisonment, Odom will begin a three year term of federal supervised release.

This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Love prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Robert Odom

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Former financial planner James A. Young III, 50, of Milton, was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison after having pled guilty to wire fraud and failure to file tax returns. The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The fact that so many of his victims were elderly and vulnerable makes Young’s actions particularly appalling,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and do everything within our power to combat elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors.”

Between 2010 and 2014, while working as a financial planner, Young solicited his clients and others to invest money in false “side investments,” including real estate investments for property he did not own and investments in an oil and gas company with which he had no relationship. Young presented false documents to potential investors and falsely claimed that he was personally invested in order to convince them to invest. Almost all of Young’s victims were between the ages of 55 and 90. For those who agreed to invest, Young simply pocketed their money, which totaled over half a million dollars, for his own personal use. In some instances, Young used money obtained from investors to pay back other investors. He fraudulently claimed the funds represented returns or interest on their investments in order to keep the scheme going. Young also failed to file his federal tax returns for 2012, 2013, and 2014.

“We take seriously our charge to investigate tax crimes and financial fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “But we get a little added motivation when a crook’s victims are among the most vulnerable. Fraudsters beware: if you target our seniors, your plunders will only last so long before you attract the full force of federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to bring you to justice.”

“The significance of this fraud case, magnified by the sheer volume of victims, underscores once again the strength and effectiveness of our crime-fighting partnerships and shared mission to hold people responsible for financial rip-off schemes,” said Larry Ashley, Okaloosa County Sheriff.

As part of his sentence, Young was ordered to pay $402,207.71 in restitution to two dozen victims and $125,107.33 in restitution for unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. As a result of his crimes, the Securities and Exchange Commission barred Young from being involved in the securities industry, including associating with any broker, dealer, investment advisor, or transfer agent and participating in any offering of a penny stock.

Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the case following a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which combats elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors and is a key priority of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Young

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that the Florida Center for Children and Youth, of Tallahassee, Florida, received $499,353 from the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking Program. Nationally, the Department of Justice awarded nearly $101 million in funding to combat human trafficking and provide vital services to trafficking victims throughout the United States.

“I am pleased that the Florida Center for Children and Youth will be able to use this funding to provide housing assistance to victims of human trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to combat these horrendous crimes in Northern Florida, but victims’ struggles do not end when they break free of the criminals who exploit them. With the assistance of these grants, communities throughout our District can continue to provide them with the critical support that they need.”

The Department of Justice announced Monday that the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded over $97.4 million to state, local and tribal jurisdictions, service providers and task forces all over the country, while the department’s Office of Justice Program’s National Institute of Justice awarded the remaining $3.5 million to support research and evaluation on human trafficking. 

The Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking Program provides six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants also provide funding to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment and receive occupational training and counseling.

“Human trafficking is a massive global enterprise with roots in cities and communities here in America and across the world,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is using all the resources at its disposal to help our state, local and tribal partners uncover and eradicate trafficking operations and help victims open the door to a new life.”

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ovchumantraffickingfactsheet.pdf

More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - Human Trafficking Grant Announcement

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that the Washington County, Florida, School District received $500,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.

“We are pleased that so many children within our District will benefit from the Justice Department’s School Violence Prevention Program,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Even here in Northern Florida, we are not free from the threat of school violence. I’m confident Washington County will use these funds to take impactful steps to improve safety for our children, and the teachers and others who work every day to educate them in a safe, nourishing environment.”

“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith.  “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”   

The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs.  The $500,000 award announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security.  The full list of SVPP awards can be found here:

https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.

In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.

The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide.  Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. 

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - School Safety Award Washington County

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced at a press conference yesterday that charges have now been filed against the 50th defendant, nation-wide, accused of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP consists of loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Tiara Walker of Miami, Florida, was arrested on September 9, 2020, on charges of Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud. The complaint alleges that from May to July, 2020, Walker and her co-conspirators prepared at least 90 fraudulent PPP loan applications worth more than $24 million dollars. Forty-two of those loans were approved and funded for a total of approximately $17.4 million dollars. In Columbia, South Carolina, seven individuals were indicted yesterday for laundering over $750,000 of fraudulently obtained funds including over $390,000 from a PPP loan. The South Carolina indictment marks the 50th PPP-fraud case to date across the country. Prosecutors in the Northern District of Florida are also committed to cracking down on those who would steal money meant for those who have been among the hardest-hit during the COVID-19 crisis.

“For the past few months, our prosecutors have been working tirelessly with our federal law enforcement partners, including the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigations, FBI, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General, to detect and investigate fraudulent PPP loans,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Though many of these investigations are ongoing and the details of them are not yet publically known, the Northern District of Florida is devoting significant resources to prosecute offenders who divert the limited COVID-19 relief funds away from legitimate small business owners.”

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020.  It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP.  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The CARES Act also authorizes the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses experiencing financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent.  Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities.  The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.

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

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Press Release - 50th Paycheck Protection Plan Defendant Charged

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, today announced that Michaelo Moore of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release, after pleading guilty on June 25, 2020, to conspiracy to commit mail theft and mail theft. The Panama City Police Department arrested Moore on February 19, 2019, after receiving reports that he had attempted to recruit several members of the city’s transient population to help him cash fraudulent checks.   

“This individual not only stole from the citizens of our District who were still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, he then exploited desperate and displaced individuals to help him complete his criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Our prosecutors worked hand in hand with our federal and local law enforcement partners to ensure Mr. Moore was held duly accountable for his crimes, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to prey on the good people of Northern Florida.” 

Moore, 45, was found in possession of three stolen checks when he was stopped by officers of the Panama City Police Department in February 2019. One of the passengers in the vehicle told authorities that Moore and another passenger, Maurice Senior, were in the area for the purpose of stealing checks from the mail and asking transient individuals to cash those checks. The third passenger in the vehicle was a transient individual who admitted he had agreed to cash checks for Moore and his co-conspirator in exchange for money. Senior, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, whose fingerprints were later discovered on the stolen checks, received a prison sentence of 10 months for mail theft on April 21, 2020. 

“The Postal Inspection Service is committed to securing the nation’s mail system, it’s customers, and making sure those responsible with violating the Sanctity of the Seal answer for their crimes,” said Antonio Gomez, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Aine Ahmed prosecuted this case following a joint investigation by the United States United States Postal Inspection Service, the Panama City Police Department, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Beach Police Department.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Michaelo Moore

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Burgess Green, 41, of Ocala, Florida, was sentenced on September 1, 2020, to a total of 9 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on September 19, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Green is now a fourteen-time convicted felon with prior convictions for sale of cocaine and possession with intent to sell cocaine and cannabis, evidence tampering, fleeing/eluding law enforcement, and possession of cocaine. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“The sale and use of methamphetamines in our communities has devastating and wide-reaching effects and must be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “With the help of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, prosecute, and punish those who bring these drugs into hometowns across Northern Florida.”

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been working with deputies from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to investigate and prosecute individuals who are distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Dixie County area.  On June 5, 2019, agents learned that Green was in Dixie County to deliver methamphetamine. As he was leaving Dixie County, DCSO deputies alerted the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). LCSO deputies identified the vehicle Green was traveling in and conducted a traffic stop. During the search that followed, deputies found that Green was in possession of more than $2,000 cash. They also located a loaded pistol in the vehicle. Green admitted that he had just delivered methamphetamine to individuals in Dixie County and that the cash was proceeds from those sales. Green also admitted the firearm was his.

“Those who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities endanger lives,” said Keith Weis, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Miami Field Division. “The DEA Miami Field Division will continue our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at all levels to investigate and stop violent drug trafficking in Florida.”

Further investigation by the DEA revealed that Green was involved with several others in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Dixie County area.  Agents determined that over the course of the conspiracy, Green had supplied over 5 kilograms worth of methamphetamine to individuals in Dixie County.

Green will serve 7 years on the conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine charge followed by 2 years on the firearm charge.  The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following Green’s prison term. This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release U.S. vs Burgess Green

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, today announced that Colin Fisher, a citizen of the United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and attempted smuggling in relation to exporting power generating equipment to Iran. Fisher was arrested by federal agents when he arrived in Pensacola from the United Arab Emirates earlier this month to consummate the illegal transaction and get equipment for a buyer in Iran. 

Fisher, 45, admitted in United States District Court in Pensacola that from October 1, 2017, to August 7, 2020, he worked to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States for delivery to an end user in Iran. This included participating in fraudulent invoicing and using coded language with conspirators to communicate about the illegal transactions. Despite these efforts, law enforcement authorities discovered the plan and were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran, a conspirator in Iran who is linked to an Iranian energy company. The intercepted turbine, which was valued at half a million dollars, could be used to provide needed energy to the oil fields of Iran.

“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited for a very good reason, yet this defendant chose to put his own self-interest above global and national security,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “This case should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when persons endanger the safety of our nation and its people. We will enforce these laws, which are vital to our national security, against those both within the United States and abroad.”

James Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, in Pensacola, was previously convicted of conspiring with Fisher to export a large turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.  Meharg is currently serving a 40-month sentence in federal prison.

 “The commitment of the Bureau of Industry and Security to protect our nation’s security against terrorist procurement networks in State Sponsors of Terrorism countries such as Iran remains unwavering,” said P. Lee Smith, Performing the Non-exclusive Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement in the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. “These continued efforts to bring all conspirators to justice are demonstrated in this most recent guilty plea.”

Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg has prosecuted the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Fisher faces up to 20 years imprisonment for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and up to 10 years imprisonment for attempted smuggling. A sentencing date has been set for November 10, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Factual Basis For Guilty Plea C. Fisher

Press Release - Colin Fisher

The last of four defendants to be convicted for their roles in a dog fighting conspiracy was sentenced today in federal court in Pensacola, Florida.

David Lee Moser, 37, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison.  Moser pleaded guilty to conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

The other three defendants include:

• James “Tommy” Peek, 68, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced on Aug. 10, 2020, to serve 15 months in prison.  Peek had pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, delivering a dog to co-defendant Shane Sprague for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture, and possessing a dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture.
   
• Haley Cook Murph, 25, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced on Aug. 12, 2020, to serve eight months in prison.  Murph had pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, traveling to Alabama to purchase a fighting dog from a known dog fighter, and possessing that dog for purposes of using the dog in an animal fighting venture.
   
• Shane Patrick Sprague, 36, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced on Aug. 13, 2020, to serve 18 months in prison.  A jury had convicted Sprague of felony conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson in the Northern District of Florida imposed the sentences.

“Our division continues to aggressively pursue those who engage in the cruel and brutal practice of dog fighting, which is often linked with many other forms of violent and organized criminal activity,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “Today’s sentencing, along with the prior sentencings of other defendants in this case, sends a strong message that we are bringing to justice those who engage in illegal dog fighting and trafficking of fighting dogs.  Anyone who engages in this conduct does so at the risk of significant jail time.”      

“Federal prison sentences are absolutely appropriate for these criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe for the Northern District of Florida.  “Each one of them knowingly contributed to the immeasurable fear, suffering and pain these helpless dogs experienced. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue and prosecute those who violate the Animal Welfare Act to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The cruel and inhumane practice of dog fighting has no place in a civilized society and is against federal law,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Williams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG).  “The outstanding work of the USDA-OIG agents who investigated this case made it possible to bring these operators of a major animal fighting venture and breeders who participate in such activities to justice.  We will continue to vigorously investigate individuals who attend, facilitate, or profit from the misery inflicted upon animals during these barbaric fights.”

Evidence at trial, along with admissions made by the pleading defendants in conjunction with their plea agreements, established that Sprague arranged dog fights and trafficked in fighting dogs with Moser and others.  Moser admitted that he and Sprague agreed to fight their dogs against one another and to prepare a dog for a dog fight, and had discussed concealing evidence that one of Moser’s dogs had killed another dog.

Peek was one of the suppliers of fighting dogs to the conspiracy.  He used his reputation as a prominent dog fighter to sell fighting dogs to others around the country.  A dog fighting book commonly seized as evidence in dog fighting investigations has a chapter devoted to Peek, which Peek would autograph and sell to customers.  He admitted to having delivered a dog to Sprague, believing that the dog would be used for fighting purposes.  He also admitted to selling a dog to an undercover agent after making representations about the fighting “bloodlines” and prior and upcoming dog fights scheduled for some of the dogs on his yard.

Murph’s role was that of a makeshift “veterinarian.”  Although Murph at no time possessed a veterinary license, she admitted to offering and performing veterinary and surgical procedures on dogs belonging to members of the conspiracy, treating dogs injured in a dog fight, and surgically removing dogs’ ears, including for the purpose of dog fighting.  Two dogs she treated died from their fighting injuries.  Murph also admitted to supplying a “bait” animal to test the fighting abilities of one of the dogs of a co-defendant. Finally, Murph admitted to traveling to Alabama to receive a dog from a known dog fighter, and to keeping that dog for the purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture.

Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Love prosecuted the case.  The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, today announced that Pensacola business owner Gerald Mandel, 52, was sentenced to three years’ probation on federal charges of theft of government money and submitting false claims for overpayment to the United States. Mandel, owner and operator of DLUX Printing, in Pensacola, filed approximately 9 fraudulent invoices to the Government Publishing Office (GPO), an agency of the United States, resulting in over $47,000 of fraudulent payments.  In addition to probation Mandel was ordered to pay full restitution as well as a $25,000 fine, for a total of $72,255.48.

“Gerald Mandel took advantage of the control he had over the direct mail services process to steal almost 50,000 taxpayer dollars from the federal government,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “His sentencing today sends a message that we expect, and demand, our government employees and contractors act with integrity and follow the law. Greed will not go unchecked in the Northern District of Florida.”

Mandel submitted approximately 115 invoices to GPO for payment between January 1, 2013, and May 15, 2018. According to the GPO’s Office of Inspector General, 33 of those invoices were submitted for direct mail services. Contracts for direct mail services require the contractor to print items for a government agency and then mail the majority of those items directly to individual consumers. Mandel schemed to receive overpayment for direct mail contracts by printing only about half the number of items ordered by the consumer. Mandel then falsified shipping documents to reflect that the orders were actually complete so that he would receive full payment from the GPO. Investigators identified 11 shipments containing falsified mailing documents which Mandel used to file 9 fraudulent invoices.

“The Government Publishing Office, Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the integrity of GPO contracts and financial expenditures,” said Inspector General Michael P. Leary.  “We take allegations of false claims, overbilling and theft of government funds very seriously and will aggressively investigate these matters to ensure efficiency and effectiveness throughout GPO programs. We appreciate the efforts of the DOJ in pursuing these allegations and will continue our collaboration with the DOJ to investigative those who seek to defraud agency programs.”

Deputy United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp prosecuted the case after an investigation by the Government Publishing Office, Office of Inspector General.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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.

Mandel Statement of Facts

Press Release - U.S. v. Mandel

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Michael C. Greutman, 59, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to 42 months in federal prison on charges of wire fraud and tax evasion stemming from his embezzlement of funds from his employer. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing.

“Thanks to the effective teamwork of federal and local authorities, a seven-year scheme to rip off a family-owned business will end in a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “This criminal thought he would use a position of trust to steal from good people, but instead he will be paying a heavy price for his actions.”

Between 2009 and 2016, Greutman embezzled over $825,000 from his employer, a family-owned business in Shalimar, Florida. Greutman worked as the Chief Financial Officer and stole money by making unauthorized online payments on his personal credit cards with employer funds, using corporate credit cards for unauthorized personal purchases, and transferring company funds to his personal bank accounts. He used his position to create false documentation and manipulate accounting records to cover up his scheme. Greutman also failed to report the embezzled money as income on his federal income tax returns.

“If left unchecked, greed can be a powerful and dangerous motivator,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Financial crimes cause serious harm, not just in the pocket books, but in the emotional wellbeing of its victims.  Our joint task force with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office aims to continue to protect and improve our community by holding accountable those who perpetrate these devastating crimes.”

“Despite the defendant’s extensive and sophisticated attempts to conceal his embezzlement, it was not enough to escape the focused scrutiny and meticulous approach of Investigator Les Wolthers,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley. “His investigation grew into a unified effort with our federal partners and we are proud of the successful outcome these relationships produced.”

Deputy United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp prosecuted the case after a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation as part of the Emerald Coast Financial Crimes Task Force.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html. 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.

Press Release U.S. v. Greutman

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Lynn Haven City’s Mayor and Attorney are the subjects of a 64-count indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Panama City, Florida.  Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson, 65, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Lynn Haven City Attorney Joseph Adam Albritton, 33, of Lynn Haven, Florida, have been indicted for conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, substantive counts of wire fraud, honest services fraud, and theft concerning federal programs. Anderson is also charged with making false statements to FBI agents. Albritton is charged with submitting a false invoice to an insurance company for hurricane debris removal from his residence.

United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jacksonville Division, and Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford made the announcement at a press conference held today.

“This indictment serves as a powerful message to all public officials and any other citizen who serves in a position of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Our Public Trust Unit, working alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, are committed to investigating and prosecuting anyone who illegally abuses a position of trust for personal gain. The integrity of those who run our government is essential to our democracy.”  

Anderson was arrested by FBI agents this morning at her Jacksonville, Florida, residence. Her initial appearance is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST today at the United States Courthouse in Jacksonville. Albritton was arrested by deputies of the Bay County Sherriff’s Office this morning in Lynn Haven, Florida. His initial appearance is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST today at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

"This case is an example of what happens when public servants becomes complicit in corrupt behavior rather than standing up to it," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  "Anyone who puts personal greed above their responsibility to protect the public should be held accountable, and that is why rooting out corrupt public officials remains the FBI’s number one criminal investigative priority."

Following Hurricane Michael, on October 16, 2018, the City of Lynn Haven adopted a local state of emergency for post-disaster relief and planning. The City also approved a resolution waiving the procedures that are normally required under Florida law so that timely action could be taken to ensure the safety, welfare, and health of the citizens of Lynn Haven. The resolution delegated emergency powers to Mayor Anderson or her designee, meaning they could independently enter into contracts and spend public funds. Although the emergency declaration was ended by Lynn Haven two weeks later, the city entered into an emergency agreement with David White, owner of Erosion Control Specialists (ECS) to perform hurricane clean-up services. 

The indictment returned yesterday alleges ECS was paid for services that were not authorized under the emergency contract. According to the indictment, unauthorized work valued at over $48,000 was performed at the private residences of Anderson, her mother, and a neighbor, and an additional $25,000 worth of unauthorized work was performed at the private residences of Albritton and his girlfriend. The indictment alleges that ECS invoices falsely claimed this work was provided to Lynn Haven public areas. After the unauthorized work was performed, Albritton went on to file a fraudulent claim with St. John’s Insurance Company that his residence had been damaged by Hurricane Michael, according to the indictment. Albritton is charged with providing the insurance company with a false invoice from ECS indicating he had paid for tree removal, debris removal, and installation of a tarp to his residence totaling $9,600.

Anderson and Albritton are also charged with devising a scheme to defraud Lynn Haven and its citizens of their right to honest services of Anderson, as Mayor, and Albritton, as City Attorney.  The indictment alleges that both Anderson and Albritton solicited and received bribes or kickbacks from City projects that they approved.

After the initial emergency declaration by Lynn Haven expired, the indictment alleges Albritton conspired with then-City Manager Michael White to award a trash pick-up project to ECS. Although Lynn Haven waste trucks had the ability to perform the same work at no additional cost to the city, ECS was paid $300 per hour, per crew for this task. The indictment charges Albritton with demanding, and receiving, $10,000 in cash for each weeks of trash services billed to Lynn Haven by ECS from mid-October 2018 through January 2019.  The city of Lynn Haven was ultimately billed $1.8 million for unnecessary trash pick-up according to the indictment.  

The indictment alleges that Anderson halted progress on plans to permit a city-owned site for disposal of vegetative debris, even though using the city-owned site would have saved Lynn Haven millions of dollars in disposal fees. Instead, the indictment alleges Anderson told the City Manager to use a privately owned company (Company B) for vegetative debris disposal. According to the indictment, the city of Lynn Haven paid disposal fees in excess of $2 million to Company B. Additionally, the indictment charges that between 2015 and the present date, Anderson helped Company B win multiple other multi-million dollar contracts with the city of Lynn Haven. In return, the indictment charges Anderson with accepting things of value from the owner of Company B, including travel in a private airplane, lodging aboard a private yacht, meals and entertainment. According to the indictment, Anderson and her husband also received a $106,000 motorhome from Company B in February 2018. 

During the time periods when the alleged crimes were being committed, neither Anderson nor Albritton filed required quarterly gift reports documenting that they received gifts in excess of $100 according to the indictment.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.

“I am proud of the efforts of the senior criminal investigators and analysts from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and at the expertise of the team assembled by U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe and Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas,” said Tommy Ford, Bay County Sheriff. “Through this partnership we will work to root out corruption and hold those responsible for taking advantage of us during our most vulnerable time. This investigation remains very active and ongoing.”

If convicted, both Anderson and Albritton face prison terms of up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, substantive wire fraud and honest services fraud, and mail fraud, and 10 years for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.  Anderson could be sentenced to an additional 5 year term if convicted for making false statements to federal agents and Albritton faces a maximum of 20 years for submitting a false invoice to an insurance company.

This indictment is a follow-up to the indictment returned in November 2019 of five defendants, including former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White, former Lynn Haven Community Services Director David Horton, and Erosion Control Specialists owner David White, for conspiring to commit wire fraud, substantive counts of wire fraud and honest services fraud, relating to post-Hurricane Michael clean-up activities in Lynn Haven. All five of the defendants indicted in November have pled guilty to charges from the first indictment, and are awaiting sentencing.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Anderson and Albritton Anderson Albritton Indictment

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, yesterday announced that Pensacola resident Howell E. Camp, 58, pled guilty to carrying a concealed firearm and possession of firearms on federal property, stemming from a May 6 incident at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic in Pensacola. Camp admitted that he illegally possessed a 5.56 millimeter Del-Ton Incorporated rifle and a 9 millimeter Smith & Wesson pistol while at the federal facility. 

Camp admitted that he became agitated while waiting for a prescription to be filled by the clinic, and left the federal facility to retrieve multiple firearms from his residence. When he returned, Camp approached the clinic doors armed with his rifle, which was loaded with 20 rounds, including one in the chamber.  He was stopped at gunpoint by Veterans Affairs Police officers and taken into custody. The officers found a concealed Smith & Wesson pistol in Camp’s waistband.

“Tragedy was averted thanks to the diligence and professionalism of the VA Police officers on duty that day,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We and our law enforcement partners are deeply committed to stopping gun violence and protecting federal facilities and the people who work and visit them. Veterans clinics are there to serve the brave men and women who have given so much to serve our nation, and those officers were truly heroes that day.”

Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG) joined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

 “The VA Police officers on scene deserve the highest praise.  They showed tremendous restraint, protected the public, and even protected Howard Camp. Because of their actions, lives were saved,” said Jack Massey, FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge.  “FDLE will continue working closely with our federal partners doing all we can to protect our community.”

“Camp’s dangerous actions risked the safety and well-being of veterans and VA employees,” said David Spilker, VA OIG Special Agent in Charge. “VA OIG is steadfast in ensuring that VA facilities remain a safe environment for veterans and their families to seek healthcare services and we will work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who attempts to commit acts of violence or intimidation at VA facilities.  I commend the swift and heroic actions of the VA Police officers, who prevented a potentially deadly outcome in this case."

Camp faces up to six years’ imprisonment following his guilty plea. As a convicted felon, he will be prohibited from possessing firearms in the future. His sentencing has been scheduled for October 29, 2020 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Howard Camp

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 7, 2020, charging two men with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 13 counts of bank fraud, and 1 count of aggravated identity theft. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment charges Isaleb Anofils, 31, of Vero Beach, and Donyell Garland, 32, of Tallahassee. It alleges that Anofils and Garland conspired to defraud federally insured financial institutions between January 1, 2018, and April 9, 2018. Specifically, the indictment alleges that the two men used a combination of cell phone apps and various internet websites to obtain personally identifiable information on nine individuals. Anofils and Garland then allegedly used that information to make fraudulent cash withdrawals from ATMs at their victims’ financial institutions. In total, it is alleged that Anofils and Garland fraudulently obtained or attempted to obtain approximately $151,000 in funds to which they were not entitled.

Both men face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud counts, and an additional 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for the aggravated identity theft count.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.

A jury trial for Garland is scheduled for August 24, 2020, and Anofil’s jury trial is scheduled for September 28, 2020.  Each defendant will be tried before the Honorable Chief United States District Judge Mark E. Walker at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Anofil and Garland

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA –A Tallahassee man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on July 23, 2020, after his conviction on sex trafficking charges. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that Dishay Henderson, 36, was sentenced last week following a January jury verdict finding him guilty of Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Prostitution and two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor.

“Sex trafficking of minors has absolutely no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “It is a shameful, despicable practice, and the United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to pursue justice on behalf of the victims of this heinous crime.”

Henderson used his Tallahassee residence in early 2018 as a location for commercial sex trafficking and drug activity. He specifically harbored and solicited a 16-year-old girl, prostituting her to others for personal and financial gain. At times, his methods were violent and aggressive. In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Mark E. Walker noted that the sentence was, in part, aimed to deter others from “preying on the most vulnerable among us.” 

Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted the case, which was jointly investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“I continue to be amazed by the outstanding work of TPD’s Special Victims Unit, specifically Investigator Beth Bascom. Once again, her tireless dedication to defend some of our most vulnerable citizens has resulted in a predator being taken off the streets. We appreciate the support and cooperation of HSI and our partner agencies,” TPD Chief Lawrence Revell said.

“This predator used sex trafficking to profit from the sexual abuse of young girls,” said Micah McCombs, acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge for HSI in Tampa. “The sentencing he received highlights the gravity of this crime, and we are proud the Tallahassee Police Department and our HSI special agents stopped him from doing more harm to young children.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Three Alachua County men, each with multiple prior felony convictions, were sentenced in late June, 2020, to federal prison terms ranging from 5 to 17 years followed by supervised release for firearm and drug offenses. United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentences. 

These federal convictions result from the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that form the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI).  The Gainesville GVI was established in April, 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.   

“The Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative gets results. There is still more work to be done, but I am confident that we will continue to remove violent felons from the streets and make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “My staff and I remain committed to supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and I applaud the dedicated professionals who brought these men to justice.”

Darris Orr, (33), of Gainesville, Florida, received concurrent federal prison sentences of 10 and 17 years on June 29, 2020, after pleading guilty on January 28, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Eutylone (a synthetic cathinone, more commonly known as “bath salts”), and Marijuana. During a traffic stop on May 14, 2019, officers of the Gainesville Police Department searched a vehicle Orr was a passenger in and discovered a loaded 9 millimeter (9mm) pistol in the glove box. Orr admitted owning the gun and was arrested for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was indicted on August 6, 2019. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation and a federal warrant was issued for Orr’s arrest. When Orr was later apprehended on September 5, 2019, he was in possession of 77 grams of Eutylone (more commonly known as “bath salts”), approximately 150 pills containing Methamphetamine, and approximately half a pound of Marijuana. Orr had prior felony convictions including drug possession with the intent to sell, felony battery, burglary, and victim/witness tampering.

"This is a result of excellent cooperation between local and federal authorities to address gun violence on the streets of Gainesville," said Chief Tony Jones of the Gainesville Police Department.

Curtis Lee Woods Jr., (29), also of Gainesville, was sentenced on June 30, 2020, after pleading guilty on January 28, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. On July 29, 2019, Woods ran from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office warrant investigators as they attempted to apprehend him on an outstanding arrest warrant for Attempted Murder. As investigators caught up with Woods, they saw him throw something over the 15 foot wall that boxed him in.  Once Woods was in custody, sheriff’s deputies located and recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from the other side of the wall. Forensics experts from the sheriff’s office recovered Woods’ fingerprint from the slide of the pistol. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation. Woods had prior felony convictions including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and false imprisonment.

“I applaud the hard work of everyone involved in the successful completion of this case,” said Alachua County Sheriff, Sadie Darnell. “Make no mistake, violent crime involving guns and drugs will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue to work with all our partners to make sure that those who choose to resort to violence with firearms are dealt with accordingly.”

Fermon Green III, (39), of Hawthorne, Florida, was sentenced on June 30, 2020, after pleading guilty on March 3, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. On September 28, 2019, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a female who said Green threatened her with a firearm inside her own home, and that he was still on the porch outside her residence. When deputies arrived and questioned him, Green denied he had a firearm but a search revealed that he was in possession of a 9mm pistol that had previously been reported stolen. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation. Green had prior felony convictions including child abuse, battery on a law enforcement officer, felony battery, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Daryl McCrary, “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey prosecuted the cases, which were investigated by the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, all member agencies of the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – The last remaining defendant indicted in a $5 million fraud against the City of Lynn Haven has pled guilty to a charge stemming from the Hurricane Michael-related scheme. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that David Wayne Horton, who was the city’s Community Services Director at the time of the fraud, entered a guilty plea to wire fraud. The charge stemmed from a 35-count federal indictment that included the former Lynn Haven city manager.

The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury, alleged that in the wake of Hurricane Michael, the City of Lynn Haven entered into contracts for debris removal. The indictment alleged that ECS and Greenleaf submitted invoices that were false and fraudulent, but then-City Manager Michael White approved them and directed city employees to immediately pay ECS and Greenleaf for those invoices. The other defendants took various actions to advance the conspiracy, which defrauded Lynn Haven of approximately $5 million. 

In entering his guilty plea, Horton admitted to signing and certifying fraudulent time sheets that purported to show how various individuals had performed hurricane cleanup work for the city.  According to a Statement of Facts entered with Horton’s plea, when he was interviewed by federal agents in 2018, Horton made false statements to agents claiming that he had signed and certified the time sheets and that the number of workers on the time sheets had actually provided the services represented.

“With today’s guilty plea, everyone who has been indicted thus far has admitted to their role in a shameless scheme to defraud the taxpayers. These individuals violated the public trust, and now they will pay the consequences. The plea closes this chapter of our ongoing investigation, but our Public Trust Unit will continue to pursue those involved in similar conduct within Bay County and throughout the Northern District,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.

Four of the five defendants named in the indictment last November had previously pled guilty. They are former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael Edward White, ECS owner David Mitchelle White, Shannon Delores Rodriguez, a/k/a Shannon Delores Harris, and Joshua Daniel Anderson, owner of Greenleaf Lawn Care of Bay County, all of Panama City.

"The citizens of Florida are entitled to decisions based on the best interests of the public, not the best interests of corrupt public officials and the individuals who pay them bribes," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "The FBI is committed to aggressively pursuing those who violate the trust placed in them by the public, and holding them accountable for their actions."

As a result of his guilty plea, Horton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special monetary assessment to be paid prior to sentencing. He also agreed to pay full restitution to his victims and to forfeit all property derived from the proceeds of the fraud or used to facilitate it.  Sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2020, at 3:00pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

"I am pleased that those that took advantage of us in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael will be held accountable," Sheriff Tommy Ford said. "I look forward to our continuing investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. The case has been prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - David Horton

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 7, 2020, charging three defendants with federal drug trafficking offenses. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants are:

• Kammra Witt, 52, Silver Springs, Florida;
• Rebecca Newmeyer, 55, Perry, Florida; and
• Connie Sullivan, 50, Perry, Florida
   

The indictment and arrests resulted from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation which targeted a drug trafficking organization alleged to be responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine throughout northern Florida since the beginning of 2019. 

The charged defendants face penalties ranging up to 40 years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000,000. 

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration Tallahassee Resident Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Williston Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Gary Milligan is prosecuting the case.

The prosecution, part of an extensive investigation by the OCDETF, is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking. OCDETF is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to take down criminal organizations and seize assets.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Witt

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury in Tallahassee returned an indictment on July 7, 2020, charging Phillip Golightly, 38, of Quincy, Florida, with two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Ward. Golightly, a U.S. Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer at Federal Correctional Institution Marianna, is charged with sexually assaulting an inmate while on temporary duty at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that in November 2019, while on-duty as a Correctional Officer, Golightly sexually assaulted a female inmate at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee, while the inmate was under Golightly’s custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority.

The jury trial for Golightly is scheduled for August 24, 2020, at 8:15 a.m. before the Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee. If convicted, Golightly faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison per count.

Assistant United States Attorney Lazaro P. Fields is prosecuting the case, which resulted from an investigation by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Golightly

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Dustin Lee Norman, 23, of Trenton, Florida, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on March 3, 2020, to Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Possessing Child Pornography, and Sending Interstate Transmissions of Extortionate Communications. The Court also ordered lifetime-supervised release following Norman’s prison term and that he register as a sex offender upon his release. United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“The Justice Department is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The community plays a critical role in protecting our loved ones as well. We ask that you vigilantly monitor your children’s cell phones and computer activity as well as their social media accounts, and report any suspected offenses to law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to do everything within the scope its authority to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as we investigate and prosecute these offenders.” 

Beginning in September 2018 through October 2018, Norman persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. Norman contacted the minor female, who resided in the state of Washington, through a social media site and engaged her in conversations of a sexual nature, during which sexually explicit photographs were sent to him. During the same time, Norman knowingly used his cell phone and the internet to extort the minor female by threatening to post the photographs she had already provided, along with information which would identify her, on Facebook unless she sent him additional, and even more explicit, photographs and videos of herself. 

“The heinous acts of this defendant will have an impact on his victim for the rest of her life,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  “He not only abused and exploited a vulnerable child, but he re-victimized her over and over again through the online circulation of her image.  The FBI will continue to do everything in its power to find justice for innocent victims like her, but we must also work to stop child exploitation.  I encourage parents and guardians to set aside time to teach their kids how to identify potential online predators and report them to law enforcement.  Together, we can prevent other innocent children from being victimized.”    

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release U.S. v. Dustin Lee Norman

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging seven defendants with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 17 counts of bank fraud, and 8 counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants named in this indictment are:

• Kh’lajuwon Amari Murat, 21, Miramar, Florida;
• Kadeem Wysler Joseph Telfort, 22, Miramar, Florida;
• Jada Tisean Barton, 22, Titusville, Florida;
• Ariel Apperlyn Smith, 22, Coral Springs, Florida;
• Deshauan Antwaniece Sanders, 22, Miami, Florida; and

• Voshon Howard, 22, Miramar, Florida

The indictment alleges that Telfort, a student and football player at the University of Florida, and the other defendants who were all students at Florida State University (“FSU”) in the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (“C.A.R.E.”), conspired to defraud federally insured financial institutions between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2017. The indictment further alleges that Murat and Telfort used the Internet and text messaging to unlawfully obtain credit card and debit card account numbers belonging to third parties, and that they used those account numbers to fraudulently deposit funds into the student accounts of FSU students, including accounts belonging to Barton, Smith, Sanders, and Howard. The indictment also alleges that the group communicated by cell phone and text messaging to plan the execution of the scheme. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Murat requested the student account numbers from FSU students and also requested that the FSU students purchase merchandise from the FSU Bookstore using funds that he and Telfort had fraudulently deposited or would later fraudulently deposit into those students’ accounts. It is alleged that the FSU students gave the purchased merchandise to Murat and others, and were permitted to keep any remaining balance of the funds that Murat and Telfort fraudulently deposited into their student accounts for their own personal use. In total, it is alleged that the group fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain approximately $53,000 in funds to which they were not entitled.

All defendants face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud count, and Murat faces an additional 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each aggravated identity theft count.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida State University Police Department and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.

The jury trial is scheduled for August 17, 2020, at 8:15 a.m. before the Honorable Judge Robert Hinkle at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release Murat, et al.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – The Department of Justice‘s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS Office) Tuesday announced nearly $42 million in funding to support state-level law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and prescription opioids.

In the Northern District of Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will receive
$2,208,052.00 million in funding to support investigations into trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

“The award of this funding to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is a tangible demonstration of the Justice Department and U.S Attorneys’ commitment to our partnerships with law enforcement agencies at all levels. We will continue to implement every tool at our disposal to combat the national epidemic of opioid abuse and misuse,” said Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The scourge of opioid and methamphetamine use continues to take a devastating toll on our nation’s communities,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “By providing these resources to law enforcement to help combat the further spread, the COPS Office is demonstrating our commitment to this Administration’s priority of reducing drug use and protecting our citizens from this public health and safety crisis.”

Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States. Deaths from drug overdose are up among both men and women, all races, and adults of nearly all ages, with more than three out of five drug overdose deaths involving an opioid. More than 130 people die every day in the United States after overdosing on opioids, while methamphetamine continues to be one of the most commonly misused stimulant drugs in the world and is the drug that most contributes to violent crime.

The COPS Office is awarding more than $29.7 million in grant funding to 14 state law enforcement agency task forces through the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF). AHTF provides three years of funding directly to state-level law enforcement agencies with multijurisdictional reach and interdisciplinary team (e.g., task force) structures, in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other opioids. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.

Through the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP), the COPS Office is also awarding
$12 million to 12 state law enforcement agencies. These state agencies have demonstrated numerous seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. State agencies are being awarded three years of funding through CAMP to support the location or investigation of illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, including precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine trafficking.

The AHTF and CAMP funding has a tremendous impact on state investigative and seizure work. During the five month period between October 2019 and February 2020, current AHTF grantees reported the seizure of over $4 million in cash and 1,213 firearms.  Similarly, for CAMP, grantees reported seizures of more than $7 million in cash and 1,577 firearms.

The complete list of Anti-Heroin Task Force Program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/ahtf

The complete list of COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/camp

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since
1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 135,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.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.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy J. Smith, 43, of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment late Wednesday afternoon in the United States District Court in Pensacola on charges of theft of trade secrets and interstate extortionate communications. Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencing today.

During the trial, a jury received evidence that Smith was a software engineer in Mobile, Alabama.
StrikeLines, the victim in the case, is a Pensacola based company that uses commercial side scan sonar equipment to locate fishing reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and sells the coordinates using an interactive map on their website. StrikeLines also provides public coordinates for free to those interested in finding valuable spots to fish in the Gulf.

The evidence showed that between April and November 2018, Smith obtained private information valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars from the local company by using sophisticated cyber techniques in order to gain the trade secrets and decrypt information of the company from its website. After hearing how Smith stole private sonar coordinates of reefs, the jury received testimony and exhibits showing how Smith then tried to extort the two owners of StrikeLines for more valuable information. During this entire time, the victims did not know Smith’s identity or why he was trying to harm them. Federal and state law enforcement were able to trace all the criminal acts back to Smith in Mobile where he committed the cyber theft against the Pensacola company.

At sentencing, United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers announced that she thought Smith’s acts were based upon “spite” and “arrogance.” In addition to his term of imprisonment, Judge
Rodgers sentenced Smith to a one-year term of supervision once released from custody. Smith was also ordered to forfeit all the electronic devices he utilized to commit his crimes.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes very seriously cyber crimes of all kinds, ranging from protecting our national security to the secrets of private companies,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “In our increasingly online society, cyber security is vital to all of us as we conduct Internet transactions and conversations so that we can be confident our identities and personal information are protected. Our office is pleased that the jury held the defendant to account for victimizing a small local business.”

“This is the first time we’ve investigated a case like this and it most likely won’t be the last,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “I applaud our FDLE agents and the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for always working to stay at the forefront of technology and one step ahead of the bad guys.”

This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney
David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.

"Trade secrets are the cornerstone of American innovation and a driver of the nation's economy," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "When a corporation invests in developing new products and processes, the theft of those developments is a clear threat to that company's future. The FBI will continue to work vigorously alongside our partners at FDLE and the U.S. Attorney's Office to combat intellectual property theft and bring those responsible to justice."

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe today encouraged residents across the Northern District of Florida to utilize a new Department of Justice online portal to report potential violations of individuals’ civil rights. The nationwide Civil Rights Reporting Portal, unveiled this week, will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations by eliminating confusion over how Americans should report violations.

“Until now, there have been more than 30 different pathways for citizens to report suspected civil rights violations, and this new tool will ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe, who oversees activities in the 23 counties of the
Northern District of Florida. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding the civil rights of every person, and making it easier for the public to report suspected violations will in turn make it easier for us to pursue cases.”

The Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at civilrights.justice.gov – will dramatically ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel for civil rights violations. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.

Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. When appropriate, the
Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.

The Department of Justice has an entire division dedicated to defending civil rights   nd pursuing violations, and Keefe’s office has attorneys working with the Civil Rights Division.

Individuals who believe they are a victim of criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorne  ’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing of Willie Powell, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida. Powell has been sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison after being convicted at a jury trial of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Powell qualified for sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act because of multiple prior convictions for drug distribution charges, including prior federal convictions from 2012.

Powell was initially stopped by the Tallahassee Police Department for traffic infractions and officers learned that Powell did not have a valid license. Following a positive canine alert, indicating the presence of drugs in the car, officers discovered PIHP (a substituted cathinone, sometimes referred to as “bath salts”), drug paraphernalia including baggies, sifters, and a scale, a stolen laptop, and a stolen firearm with an extended magazine.

“Working together, the Tallahassee Police Department and federal agencies have removed a dangerous criminal from the streets of the community,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Our agencies are committed to using our resources in partnership with local law enforcement to assist them however we can to enhance public safety.”

Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain prosecuted the case, which was jointly investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, with laboratory assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Daryl McCrary. “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”

United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States At orney’s Office, Northern District of
Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, joins Attorney General William P. Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15th
Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

“The Northern District of Florida is home to more than 300,000 residents age 65 and older, and they have earned the loving support of all our communities,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The sad truth is that some people see these elders as a prime target, someone they can take advantage of, and we are committed to stopping them and pursuing justice for our older neighbors.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our country and the world, but among those most severely affected by the threat of the coronavirus are our senior citizens. During this time when seniors are most vulnerable and often isolated from their families and loved ones by social distancing and quarantine restrictions, bad actors have jumped in to exploit this international tragedy by preying on the elderly through a host of scams and fraud schemes. As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of
Justice remains relentlessly committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud against America’s seniors.

The Department will aggressively prosecute fraudsters exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic and targeting seniors through such ploys as offering them fake testing kits and fake help in obtaining stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program Funds. On this day dedicated to recognizing our seniors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice are sending a strong message that they continue the fight to keep seniors safe as a top priority.

Earlier this year Attorney General Barr declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder
Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Justice Department’s four top priorities.

Major strides have already been made to that end:

    •  National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11
        Earlier this year Attorney General Barr launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline. Staffed by         experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist         elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing         appropriate services.

    • Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March of this year, the Attorney General announced the largest        coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in department history. The Department, together with every
       U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through        fraud schemes that largely affected seniors. In the Northern District of Florida, three Tampa
       Bay-area men – Edward Newton, 45, of Lutz, Christopher Mayes, 29, of Tarpon Springs, and Christian
       Pantazonis, 31, of Largo – pled guilty to charges of defrauding elderly Northwest Florida        homeowners whose homes suffered damage from Hurricane Michael. The men fraudulently        contracted to make home repairs in the Panama City area but instead, stole approximately
       $319,000 in down payments. The Tampa Bay-area company owned by Newton hired Mayes and 
       Pantazonis in November 2018 to go door to door in Bay County soliciting home repair contracts.
       They promised that the repair work would begin immediately, telling homeowners they required a        down payment to obtain building materials and permits or to “place the homeowner at the front of the        line” for repairs. As part of the fraud, they occasionally sent workers to complete small projects, such        as removing damaged drywall or replacing shingles, in order to lead the homeowners to believe the        major repairs were underway. When homeowners began to complain about the lack of work, Newton        told them in writing or by phone that he would return the money he collected for the work never        performed. However, on May 25, 2019, he sent each homeowner a letter stating that he did not intend        to complete any of the contracted work and would not return any money.

    • Money Mule Initiative: In October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a        concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute        money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens.
       In 2019, actions were taken to halt the conduct of more than 600 domestic money mules, exceeding a        similar effort against approximately 400 mules in the previous year. In the Northern District of
       Florida, three Bay County men – Delroy Williams, 52, of Lynn Haven, Vivian Walters, 33, of Lynn
       Haven, and Jevaughn Williams, 22, of Panama City Beach – were sentenced on federal fraud charges        stemming from activities meant to induce elderly victims with false promises of sweepstakes prizes.
       Since the late 1990s, telemarketers in Jamaica have been engaging in a scam in which they contact        victims in the United States and falsely claim their targets have won large sweepstakes prizes.
       Victims, who are primarily elderly, are induced to send cash or cash equivalents in order to        release their supposed prizes. The victims’ funds are often transported by wire transfers and
       United States Postal Service packages. Between 2014 and 2017, the defendants conspired together to        receive wire transfers and packages mailed by victims. They then took a percentage of the funds for        themselves before forwarding the remainder to co-conspirators in Jamaica. Multiple victims have        been identified through wire transfer records and searches of the defendants’ electronic devices.

For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorne  ’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.