Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced the award of grants to four law enforcement agencies in the district, with a combined total of $975,300. Department of Justice grants are awarded to help those agencies respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The grants – awarded to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, Panama
City Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office – are being provided under the
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. Numerous other communities within the Northern District of Florida are eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.

“Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of
COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the public are safe,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The resources of local agencies have been stretched thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they can continue protecting and serving our citizens.”
The grant awards announced include:     •    Escambia County Sheriff’s Office:     $370,107
    •    Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office:     $127,963
    •    Panama City Police Department:       $73,818
    •    Tallahassee Police Department:        $403,412

“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the
Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”

The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate medical needs.

Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant Program are candidates for receiving the emergency funding. Local units of government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.

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 Attorne  ’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Steven J. McLendon, 36, of Pensacola, was arrested this morning on federal charges related to the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.  McLendon is a registered sex offender in the state of Florida stemming from prior convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and child pornography in 2007. Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today after McLendon made his initial appearance in federal court in Pensacola.

The allegations against McLendon stem from a months long investigation by the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement in Pensacola. The charges allege that from February through June, 2020, McLendon was utilizing peer to peer software to distribute and receive child pornography in Pensacola. Upon the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Pensacola this week, law enforcement is alleged to have seized multiple pieces of digital evidence containing child pornography. This includes a device McLendon is alleged to have attempted to hide in his refrigerator.

“Protecting the children of our community against those who would do them harm is a difficult and serious task. My office is grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to rescue children from online sexual exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.

“FDLE’s Cyber Squad began this investigation in March and found child pornography involving young children being victimized,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “McLendon is already on
Florida’s Sex Offender Registry and I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our cyber squad agents.”

McLendon, because of his prior convictions, faces the following enhanced penalties if convicted:     • Distribution of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years        in prison;     • Receipt of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in        prison;     •  Possession of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in         prison; and
    •  Forfeiture of his all the electronics used to commit the offenses.

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security
Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the North
Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation 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 a, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Michael Williams, 34, of Perry, Florida, has been sentenced to serve
13½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple offenses related to armed drug trafficking. When he was arrested, Williams was found in possession of several firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia. The sentence was announced by
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Working together, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies have removed a serious and dangerous drug 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.”

Williams was arrested by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in state court. During this encounter with Williams and his girlfriend, deputies observed methamphetamine and a firearm. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies located over two ounces of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia used for the sale of methamphetamine including baggies and scales, and four firearms, including a TEC-DC9 with two high capacity magazines.

“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.”

“I am proud of the hard work and the thorough investigation conducted by the Lafayette County
Sheriff's Office,” said Sheriff Lamb. “I am also proud of our partnerships we have with our Federal
Partners. This combined effort has led to bringing this individual to justice. His days of peddling poison and possessing illegal firearms are over.”

Williams pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Williams had multiple prior convictions for weapons and drug charges. This sentencing followed a joint investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with laboratory assistance from the
Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.

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 – Jamilla Ciar Hall, 30, of Tallahassee, Florida, was arrested yesterday after a federal grand jury in Tallahassee returned an indictment charging Hall with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 5 counts of mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The offenses are alleged to have been committed in the Northern District of Florida. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that the Florida Prepaid College Board, which administers the Florida
Prepaid College Program (“Florida Prepaid”), contracted with Intuition College Savings Solutions
(“ICSS”) to provide customer service and records administration services for Florida Prepaid
College Program. The indictment further alleges that Hall was an employee of ICSS and that between on or about July 1, 2018, and on or about December 31, 2018, Hall accessed and viewed the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries, and then fraudulently changed mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses associated with existing
Florida Prepaid plans. The indictment further alleges that Hall fraudulently completed cancellation forms using the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries. In doing so, Hall fraudulently caused Florida Prepaid refund checks to be mailed and delivered by the United States Postal Service, which she personally cashed or which she gave to others to fraudulently cash. In total, it is alleged that Hall fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain approximately $42,000 in funds to which she was not entitled.

Hall faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, and a 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the
United States Secret Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.

The jury trial for Hall is scheduled for July 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. before the Honorable Judge
Alan Winsor 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 Attor  ey’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Florida, today announced that three local law enforcement agencies in the district will share in almost $2 million in federal grants to fund additional deputies and officers to keep their communities safe. The grants, through the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP), will provide additional personnel in
Jefferson and Walton counties and the City of Fort Walton Beach.

The three agencies are among 26 in Florida and 596 around the nation to receive funding awards, part of are a portion of $51 million in grants announced in May as part of the Department of
Justice’s Operation Relentless Pursuit.

“Sheriff’s offices and police departments across the Northern District of Florida are at the heart of keeping our communities safe, and these grants will make a meaningful difference in helping them protect and serve the good people of their cities and counties,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.

The grants announced by Keefe are: • $329,595 to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department to fund 3 law enforcement positions
•    $118,838 to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to fund 1 law enforcement position
• $1,500,000 to the Walton County Sheriff's Department to fund12 law enforcement positions

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

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

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

The complete list of awards can be found here. To learn more about the program, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp. 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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General William P. Barr has directed federal law enforcement actions aimed at apprehending and charging violent criminal agitators who have taken over peaceful protests and are engaging in violations of federal law. While to date, communities within the
Northern District of Florida have not encountered the level of unrest seen in other parts of the state and nation, United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) are employing the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to identify any criminal organizers and instigators, coordinate federal resources with state and local partners, and seek federal prosecutions.

“Citizens across the Northern District of Florida are exercising their right to protest guaranteed by the Constitution, and we will do everything possible to ensure that they are allowed to do so in a safe, secure environment,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “However, we cannot condone – and will not tolerate – agitators who attempt to hijack peaceful rallies in order to incite violence and criminal behavior. Working with our federal, state, and local partners, we will stop them, arrest them, and prosecute them whenever and wherever necessary.”

“A duty and privilege of the FBI is to protect citizens as they exercise their First Amendment rights," said Rachel Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "While we fully support the rights of peaceful protestors, when people abuse those rights to invoke violence, federal law will be enforced. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to apprehend and charge violent instigators, and coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s offices to address any federal violations. We advise individuals taking part in protest activities to remain aware of their immediate surroundings and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

Attorney General Barr’s May 31 statement is available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barrs-statement-riots-and-domestic-terrorism.

For more information on the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force, go to https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism/joint-terrorism-task-forces.

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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that grants were awarded to five additional law enforcement agencies in the district with a combined total of more than $500,000 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The grants, awarded to Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa
County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and Pensacola Police Department, were provided under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. These awards are among $1.3 million directed to 14
Florida counties and cities under the program, which also provided $31.8 million to the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement for use statewide. Numerous other communities within the Northern
District of Florida were eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.

“Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of
COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the public are safe,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The resources of local agencies have been stretched thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they can continue protecting and serving our citizens.”

The grant awards announced include - Gainesville Police Department: $213,171; Alachua County
Sheriff’s Office: $130,054; Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office: $52,441; Taylor County Sheriff’s
Office: $41,132; and the Pensacola Police Department: $81,254. Last month it was announced that Bay
County, Leon County, Madison County, and Walton County were awarded a combined total of over
$240,000 in Department of Justice grants.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”

The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate medical needs.

Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, and Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley announced today that a federal indictment has been unsealed against Tony M. Streeter, 46, and Betty J. Jackson (a/k/a Betty Joe Streeter), 50, both of
Fort Walton Beach. The indictment alleges that Streeter distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute, methamphetamine on multiple occasions in August 2019. The indictment also alleges that
Streeter, a multi-convicted drug trafficking felon as alleged in the indictment, possessed a firearm during the same time frame. It is alleged that these crimes led to conspiratorial acts at the vehicle impound lot of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on or about September 3, 2019, which resulted in the malicious burning of a vehicle related to Streeter within said lot.  Another defendant, William Sims, has already pled guilty to his role in the federal arson charges. These three defendants, who are charged with the planning and execution of the alleged arson conspiracy, are all now in federal custody.

“Individuals who feel enabled to attack a law enforcement agency present an extreme threat to our communities,” said Sheriff Ashley. “With the arrest of the suspects and the steadfast support of our federal partners and U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe, we are sending a clear message that these individuals will be pursued, apprehended, and ultimately held accountable.”

“When offenders attack a law enforcement agency, they attack the individuals who protect us and help maintain law and order in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The U.S. Attorney’s
Office will use all of the resources at its disposal to vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit these types of crimes.”

The defendants appeared in the United States District Court in Pensacola yesterday and a detention hearing for both has been scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at the Winston Arnow
Federal Courthouse in Pensacola. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

“These indictments highlight how strong law enforcement partnerships impact both violence and drug trafficking in our continued efforts to protect the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge
Daryl McCrary.

An indictment is merely an allegation 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.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Four residents of Alachua, Florida, have been arrested on federal criminal complaints alleging an armed, drug-trafficking conspiracy. The criminal complaints were announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants arrested are:

●    Lorenza Aaron Durr, Jr., 29, Alachua, Florida; ●    Elboric Quadarius Robinson, 29, Alachua, Florida; ●    Morris Robinson, 55, Alachua, Florida; and
●    Roddrae Antonio Williams, 28, Alachua, Florida

The charged defendants face penalties of up to life imprisonment and fines of up to $5,000,000.

The complaints and arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the FBI Jacksonville Violent
Gang Safe Streets Task Force with support from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF). This joint federal, state, and local cooperative targeted the “4K” drug trafficking organization that allegedly conspired to distribute various controlled substances including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. During the operation, over 80 agents, officers, and other law enforcement personnel successfully made arrests and executed 5 search warrants on properties allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Florida Police Department, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's
Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney James A. McCain.

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.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pensacola man for the possession of firearms, including a concealed firearm, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Joint Ambulatory
Care Clinic in Pensacola. The three-count indictment alleges that Pensacola resident Howell E.
Camp, 58, illegally possessed a 5.56 millimeter Del-Ton Incorporated rifle and a 9 millimeter Smith
& Wesson pistol at the federal facility. It is alleged that Camp possessed these firearms with the intent to commit a crime on May 6, 2020.

“The security of our federal facilities and those who work within them remains a priority of this office and we, along with our law enforcement partners, are deeply committed to protecting such facilities,” said Keefe.

Camp is charged with possession of the firearms with the intent to commit a crime, for which he faces up to five years’ imprisonment. He is also charged with carrying a concealed firearm in violation of law, for which he faces up to three years’ imprisonment. An arraignment date has been set for Thursday, May 28, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., in Pensacola, Florida.

Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General - Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A Pensacola man has been sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug and weapons charges related to drug trafficking. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence given to Samuel Gomez, 30, who pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“Drugs remain a scourge on our communities, leaving ruined lives and too often a trail of violence in their wake,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “With the help of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue, prosecute, and punish those who spread these drugs in hometowns across Northern Florida.”

Law enforcement personnel executed a federal search warrant at Gomez’s Pensacola residence on
November 6, 2019. Inside the residence, officers seized a total of approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as other substances suspected to be cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Law enforcement also seized three firearms, two digital scales, baggies, and approximately
$6,000 in U.S. currency. The firearms seized were identified as a loaded Ruger pistol, a loaded
Smith and Wesson revolver, and a loaded MILTAC AR-15-style pistol. The firearms were located near the seized drugs and were being used by Gomez in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime.

“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the communities that we serve is a priority for ATF”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “We will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who commit violent firearms crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pensacola Police Department, the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, and investigators with the State Attorney’s Office.  Assistant
United States Attorney J. Ryan Love prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of
2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan-reduce-gun.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serves 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the
Northern District of Florida will join in recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The weeklong observation runs from Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16.

“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William
P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service; they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”

“We are blessed that no law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty within the
Northern District of Florida last year, but that does not diminish our heartache for those killed elsewhere and our immeasurable respect and appreciation for the brave men and women sworn to serve and protect every day,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Law enforcement is at the heart of our peaceful society, and we hold them in the highest regard, this week and every week.”

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

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

Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted
Program, a total of 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019.

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

The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law
Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil.
Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm (EDT). To register to view this free online event, please www.LawMemorial.org

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

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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that his office will use all the tools at its disposal to pursue landlords who attempt to use the COVID-19 crisis to sexually harass their tenants. Keefe urged anyone who faces such harassment while trying to defer housing payments to contact the Justice Department’s Sexual
Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178.

“The COVID-19 crisis has brought out the best in most Americans, but the worst in some. We will vigorously pursue anyone seeking to capitalize on the current crisis by sexually harassing people facing housing challenges,” Keefe said. “Such despicable and unscrupulous behavior is illegal in normal times, and it certainly will not be tolerated now.”

Keefe said his office will work with all appropriate federal, state, and local authorities on this issue. In addition to reporting to the Justice Department, individuals may report housing-related sexual harassment locally. The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office stand ready to take aggressive action against this misconduct whenever it occurs.

If you think you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or other person who has control over housing resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, contact: o Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178 o Email:  [email protected] o Local  authorities

For more information: www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative 

Spanish language webpage: www.justice.gov/crt-espanol/iniciativa-en-contra-del-acoso-sexual-en-la-vivienda 

More facts on how to report sexual harassment in housing: www.justice.gov/crt/page/file/1048341/download

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 Att rney’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, today announced that four counties in the district have been awarded a combined total of more than $240,000 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The grants, awarded to Bay, Leon, Madison, and Walton counties, were provided under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. These awards are among $1.3 million directed to 14 Florida counties and cities under the program, which also provided $31.8 million to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for use statewide. Numerous other communities within the Northern District of Florida were eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.

"Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the public are safe," U.S. Attorney Keefe said. "The resources of local agencies have been stretched thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they can continue protecting and serving our citizens."

The grant awards announced so far include: Bay County: $82,882; Leon County: $90,627; Madison County: $33,154; and Walton County: $38,577.

"The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks," said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. "These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe."

The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate medical needs.

Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.

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.

TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that communities across northern Florida are eligible to apply for a portion of nearly $60 million in Department of Justice grants nationwide that is available to help communities address public safety by supporting successful reentry of adult and juvenile offenders into their communities.

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

“Our law enforcement efforts do our communities little good if the offenders we send away come back only to resume their criminal activities,” added U.S. Attorney Keefe. “We must support programs that help released offenders find a positive way to live within our communities, and this grant program is an important tool to help produce that good result.”

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

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

       Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Reduction Strategies Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17104
       Total Available $7.2 million                                      Deadline 4/27/2020

       Improving Community Supervision Outcomes through Swift, Certain, and Fair Responses        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17096
       Total Available $3 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

       Improving Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/SCASUD20
       Total Available $13.2 million                                    Deadline 4/27/2020

       Innovations in Reentry Initiative: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce
       Recidivism        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17281
       Total Available $4 million                                         Deadline 5/4/2020

       Research and Evaluation on Promising Reentry Initiatives        https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17295
       Total Available $6 million                                         Deadline 5/5/2020

       Review and Validation of the First Step Act Risk Assessment Tool        https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-fsa
       Total Available: Determined after selection              Deadline 4/10/2020

       Second Chance Act Community-Based Reentry Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17110
       Total Available $13.5 million                                    Deadline 5/4/2020

       Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17680
       Total Available $4 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

       Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Program        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/media/document/ojjdp-2020-17350.pdf
       Total Available $7 million                                         Deadline 4/28/2020

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

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.

TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that communities across northern Florida are eligible to apply for a portion of more than $83 million in Department of Justice grants nationwide to help communities, including those across northern Florida, improve school security and protect students, teachers, and faculty from threats of violence.

“School violence is no longer an abstract threat but has become a tragic reality in too many of
America’s communities. Moving to meet this challenge is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

“Even here in Northern Florida, our children are not free from the threat of school violence. By seeking funding from this grant program, our communities can take bold steps forward to keep safe our children and the teachers and others who work every day to educate them in a safe, nourishing environment,” added U.S. Attorney Keefe.

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to tighten school security and improve the reporting of threats.

A number of funding opportunities for school safety are currently open, with another opening in the near future:        Research and Evaluation on School Safety        https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17308
       Total Available $5 million                                         Deaddline 4/13/2020

       STOP Act School Violence Program (FY20)        https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17308
       Total Available $71.4 million                                    Deadline 4/13/2020

       Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17926
       Total Available $7 million                                         Deadline 4/27/2020

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

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.

TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that communities across northern Florida are eligible to apply for a portion of more than $163 million in Department of Justice grants nationwide to help communities across
America address the nation’s addiction crisis.

“Our nation is facing the difficult challenge of curbing substance addiction, which threatens public safety and is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T.
Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
“The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

Added U.S. Attorney Keefe: “So much of the criminal activity in Northern Florida – from its urban centers to the most rural areas – can be traced back to addiction. From the addicts who commit crimes to support their habits to the dealers who keep them hooked, this is a scourge on every community, and the grants available to help can make a meaningful impact across the District.”

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to prevent overdose deaths and break the cycle of addiction and crime.

A number of funding opportunities that address the addiction crisis are currently open:

       Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17098
       Total Available $1.75 million                                    Deadline 5/14/2020

       Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/COSSAP20
       Total Available $27 million                                       Deadline 5/21/2020

       Enhancing Community Responses to America's Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims        https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-enhancing-community-response-to-drug-crisis.pdf
       Total Available: $19 million                                      Deadline: 5/4/2020

       Family Drug Court Program        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17090
       Total Available $18.2 million                                    Deadline 4/8/2020 (Extended)

       Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program        https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17754
       Total Available $28.1                                                  Deadline 5/5/2020

       Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17051
       Total Available $7.2 million                                      Deadline 4/13/2020 (Extended)

       Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-16930
       Total Available $48 million                                       Deadline 4/13/2020

       Opioid Affected Youth Initiative        https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17352
       Total Available $9 million                                         Deadline 4/20/2020

       Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime        https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17275
       Total Available $1 million                                         Deadline 4/20/2020

       Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners        https://bja.ojp.gov/RSAT20
       Total Available $4.5 million                                      Deadline 4/6/2020

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

 

                                               More than $18.5 million available across Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced that the Department of Justice is making $850 million available nationwide to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. Funding includes over $18.5 million for cities and counties in Florida.

The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state and local governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The Department of Justice is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.

"With so much of life’s routine disrupted in Florida, state and local first responder agencies have been asked to bear a heavy burden on the front lines of our defense against COVID-19," U.S. Attorney Keefe said. "Grant funds will do much to help ensure that the necessary resources are there so our law enforcement agencies can continue to keep citizens safe."

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

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

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

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

The 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.

 

                              Justin M. Keen Appointed as Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida urges the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address [email protected].

In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes.

"The global and domestic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families and businesses is unprecedented, and during these worrisome times, criminals are attempting to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes," said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is open for business and will aggressively stop anyone trying to profit from the fear and confusion caused by this worldwide pandemic."

Some examples of these schemes include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.

• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.

• Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.

• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.

In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The Northern District of Florida Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Justin M. Keen.

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

To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronaviruss.

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.

 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Florida’s three United States Attorneys today joined with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to warn scam artists that they will vigorously pursue anyone trying to capitalize on the coronavirus pandemic by cheating Florida consumers, especially the state’s vulnerable elders. The federal law enforcement team is now actively collaborating and cooperating with the state’s top prosecutor team in a concerted effort to stop the scams relating to coronavirus.

The state’s top prosecutors at the federal and state levels vowed that their offices are committed to remaining vigilant in preventing, pursuing, prosecuting, and punishing individuals and businesses that try to take advantage of the crisis for personal profit. They emphasized the importance of this effort in light of Florida’s large elderly population and reports of everything from bogus COVID-19 "cures" to phishing scams that purport to be official government health websites.

"The real threat of this pandemic is bad enough on its own – but we are going to have zero tolerance for the added risk created by lowlife scammers who would prey on Floridians at a time when their focus needs to be on protecting their own health and well-being," said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. "We will be vigilant and aggressive in our efforts to find and stop anyone trying to make even one dirty dollar off the backs of anxious Floridians."

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said the risk of scams is particularly high in her district, which is home to a large portion of Florida elders and has seen many of the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases. "As communities across our nation confront the COVID-19 pandemic, know that my office will not waver in its commitment to protecting South Floridians, including our vulnerable seniors. We are focused on COVID-19 scams and will prioritize prosecuting fraudsters who try to capitalize on this health crisis," Fajardo Orshan said.

Added United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Maria Chapa Lopez: "Unfortunately, there are those who seek to exploit others in times of crisis, without regard to who they harm or the damage they cause. Those criminals should know that we will combine our resources, at every level, to investigate and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

Earlier this week, Florida Attorney General Moody issued a strong consumer alert urging the public to beware of potential coronavirus scams when researching information about COVID-19.

"Floridians are eager for any meaningful guidance they can find about coronavirus, but they must be careful not to believe everything they hear," said Attorney General Moody. "Scammers are expert at taking advantage of such emotions, but we cannot and will not let them succeed."

The prosecutors’ warning comes on the heels of U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s directive on Monday for all United States Attorneys around the country to place a high priority on stopping scam artists trying to take advantage of the coronavirus situation. In a memo to the U.S. Attorneys, Barr wrote, "The pandemic is dangerous enough without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated."

Some common scams being reporting around the nation include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online;

• Phishing emails sent from entities posing as the World Health Organization ("WHO") or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"); and

• Malware being inserted onto mobile phones by apps pretending to track the spread of the virus.

The officials advised the public to remain vigilant during this time. Citizens should not click on computer links from sources they don’t know and be aware when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. No one should allow themselves to be rushed by another person into making a donation, and if someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.

The three U.S. Attorneys said their offices are working with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, Fraud Section, and Antitrust Division to coordinate efforts to stop scammers preying on concerned Floridians. Citizens are asked to report potential scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. In addition, the public can contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida’s Public Trust Unit at [email protected] or by phone at (850) 216-3873.

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.

 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John Jean-Gilles, 34, of Midway, Florida, was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of aiding in preparing false tax returns, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Jean-Gilles was also ordered to pay $1,984,357 in restitution. The sentence was announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Between 2012 and 2016, Jean-Gilles, the sole managing member and owner of USA Tax and Multi-Services, LLC, a tax preparation business in Tallahassee, prepared and filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various individuals. Jean-Gilles falsely represented the taxpayers’ income, withholdings, credits, and the refund due.

"The integrity of our system of taxation lies at the heart of what we do as a nation, and those who try to defraud the system will pay the price," Keefe said. "The trust of the American people relies on fair administration of our tax laws, and this defendant violated that trust and will now face the consequences."

Assistant United States Attorney Gary Milligan is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.

"Tax return preparers are trusted by their clients to accurately and correctly file tax returns to the IRS each year – part of every American’s responsibility. However, the filing of false claims with the government, claiming more than $2 million in false tax refunds, makes every taxpaying citizen a victim," stated Mary Hammond, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. "IRS and its Special Agents will work diligently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to insure that, as we come upon tax filing season, the public can rest assured fraudulent tax filings will not go unpunished in 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 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.

 

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Pensacola has convicted Andrew E. Fisher, 34, of Gulf Breeze, of conspiring to use his pharmacy to defraud more than $4.8 million from TRICARE, a federal health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families, and then laundering the money generated by the fraud. The guilty verdict, reached by the jury on Monday, was announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

"This conspiracy stole from taxpayers at the expense of the health and well-being of heroes who willingly served our nation or supported loved ones as they did so," said U.S. Attorney Keefe. "This is a flagrant and shocking violation of the public trust, and this conviction proves we will not allow such actions to continue."

Fisher, the owner and operator of Physician Specialty Pharmacy (PSP) in Pensacola, was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Evidence at trial established that between October 2014 and December 2015, Fisher conspired with sales representative Michael Scott Burton and others to defraud TRICARE out of more than $4.8 million in fraudulent claims for prescription compounded pain cream, scar cream, and wellness vitamins. Fisher agreed to fill prescriptions at PSP from a doctor’s office in Georgia whose beneficiary information was provided by Burton and individuals working for him, knowing that these particular beneficiaries had never seen that doctor and the prescriptions were not based on a legitimate doctor-patient relationship. In exchange for recruiting TRICARE beneficiaries to receive the prescriptions, Burton received approximately 50% of the amount paid to Fisher in insurance reimbursements. Those commission payments were laundered in the form of large wire transfers and direct deposits into Burton’s bank account in Georgia.

"I am pleased by the results of the investigative team and the U.S. Attorney's office to bring justice to these individuals," said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southeast Field Office. "The defendant in this case conspired to deprive the DoD of precious resources needed for the healthcare of DoD Families."

Evidence at trial also established that as part of the scheme, Fisher, who is not a licensed pharmacist, directed his pharmacist employees to use ingredient formulations for the drugs that would maximize the amount his pharmacy could bill to TRICARE – which was upwards of $10,000 to $17,000 per medication at the time – and other insurance companies without considering what was best for patient care. Fisher also directed Burton and his employees to tell beneficiaries not to worry about co-payments, in order to ensure that the beneficiaries would not decline receiving the medications over out-of-pocket cost. Because PSP was not a TRICARE network pharmacy, Fisher paid Burklow Pharmacy in Pace a commission of approximately 15% to allow PSP to bill TRICARE using Burklow’s network provider contract for prescriptions received, filled, and shipped at PSP, including ones Fisher knew were fraudulent. During the conspiracy, Fisher also purchased Jay Pharmacy in Jay, Florida, and used its existing insurance contracts with TRICARE and others to bill for fraudulent PSP prescriptions.

Five co-conspirators named in the indictment, including Burton, previously pled guilty in two related cases. Burton was sentenced to 96 months in prison, Bradley D. Pounds was sentenced to 21 months in prison, and Marie Ann Smith and Heather E. Pounds were sentenced to probation. Brad T. Hodgson is still awaiting sentencing. Fisher’s sentencing has been set for May 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the case following a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Financial Services-Bureau of Insurance Fraud, Florida Department of Health, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Army Criminal Investigative Command.

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.

 

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, convicted Shane Patrick Sprague, 35, of Pensacola, Florida, of felony conspiracy to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Co-defendants James "Tommy" Peek, 67, and Haley Cook Murph, 24, both of Milton, Florida, and David Lee Moser, 36, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, had previously pleaded guilty to seven federal felonies for their involvement with Sprague and others in a dogfighting operation centered in Pensacola. The jury acquitted co-defendant Derek Jedidiah Golson, 38, also of Pensacola.

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

Murph pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, traveling to Steele, Alabama, to purchase a fighting dog from a known dogfighter, and possessing that dog for purposes of using the dog in an animal fighting venture. Peek pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, delivering a dog to defendant 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. Moser pleaded guilty to conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Each of the eight counts of conviction in the case carries a maximum of five years in prison and a criminal fine of up to $250,000.

Peek was one of the sources of supply of fighting dogs to C Wood Kennels. He admitted to having sold dogs to Sprague, believing that the dogs would be used for fighting purposes. He also admitted to having sold a dog to an undercover agent after making representations about the fighting "bloodlines" as well as prior and upcoming dogfights of some of the dogs on his yard.

Murph’s role was that of a makeshift "veterinarian" for C Wood Kennels. 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, including by treating dogs injured in a dogfight and by surgically removing dogs’ ears, including for the purpose of dogfighting. Two dogs in her "care" died from their fighting injuries. Murph also admitted to supplying a "bait" animal to test the fighting abilities of one of the co-defendant’s dogs. Finally, Murph admitted to traveling to Alabama on two occasions to receive dogs from a known dogfighter, and to keeping one of the dogs for herself for the purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture.

"These barbaric acts of animal cruelty have no place in a civilized society, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law," said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida. "Societies are measured in part by how well they treat their domestic animals, and these defendants failed that test miserably – and now will pay the consequences."

"The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity involving drugs, firearms and gambling," said Special Agent-in-Charge Jason M. Williams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. "Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures."

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

The U.S. 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.

 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.

This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country, and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately 30 individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.

"Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled."

"With the largest per-capita population of seniors in the country, Florida puts a premium on caring for nursing homes residents," U.S. Attorney Keefe said. "This state has some of the finest nursing homes in the country, but the Department of Justice is targeting those operators whose disregard for the health and well-being of their residents puts our most vulnerable citizens at risk."

The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the

bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays, and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing, and rodents are found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions the department intends to pursue.

The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative https://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 Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

                          Four Defendants Charged in Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, joined Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale today in announcing the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.

In the Northern District of Florida, four individuals were charged with criminal offenses. All were prosecuted as part of the Department’s Elder Fraud sweep.

"Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors."

"With its large elder population, Florida experiences far too many instances of fraud against unsuspecting, vulnerable seniors," U.S. Attorney Keefe said. "This nationwide sweep against the predators who perpetrate such fraud will send a loud signal across the Northern District of Florida that we will pursue then, we will prosecute them, and we will punish them to the fullest extent of the law."

This interactive map provides information on the elder fraud cases highlighted by today’s sweep announcement.

Elder Fraud Hotline

Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule network that facilitates foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a "money mule" to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal districts participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.

These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.

The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Three Tampa Bay-area men entered guilty pleas yesterday to defrauding elderly Northwest Florida homeowners whose homes suffered damage from Hurricane Michael. The
Florida men – Edward Newton, 45, of Lutz, Christopher Mayes, 29, of Tarpon Springs, and Christian
Pantazonis, 31, of Largo – pled guilty to charges of fraudulently contracting to make home repairs in the Panama City area but instead, stole approximately $319,000 in down payments. The guilty pleas were announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida

The Indictment charged that a 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.

“To anyone who endured the devastation of Hurricane Michael, it is almost inconceivable that anyone could stoop so low as to prey on the storm’s victims in such a craven way,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “These men took advantage of trusting people in their time of greatest need, and I am pleased that our office has brought these thieves to justice.”

Each defendant pled guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum of
20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for July 2, 2020, at
1:00pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

The case resulted from an investigation by a partnership of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors at all levels of government, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Panama
City Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Aine
Ahmed is prosecuting the case.

The prosecution is part of the Office’s wider efforts to combat crimes against seniors. The initiative has enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop and coordinate further its prosecution of these cases and enhance its overall support of older or vulnerable victims.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Michael C. Greutman, 59, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to thirteen counts of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion stemming from his embezzlement of funds from his employer. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Florida, announced the guilty plea.

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 to pay his 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 income tax returns.

Greutman faces the following penalties: •   Wire Fraud: a maximum of 20 years in prison
•   Filing a false tax return: a maximum of 3 years in prison

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 12, 2020, at 10:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.

Deputy United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp is prosecuting 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dennis A. Toomer, 37, of Valparaiso, Florida, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after having previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern
District of Florida.

“We will vigorously prosecute those whose actions recklessly endanger the public,” U.S. Attorney
Keefe said. “This convicted felon chose to arm himself with a firearm and now will pay the heavy consequences for his actions.”

In the early morning hours of May 8, 2019, Toomer was arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s
Office after battering his pregnant girlfriend and threatening her and her two juvenile brothers with a loaded handgun. Toomer was prohibited from having a firearm because he had been previously convicted of 15 felony offenses, including five battery convictions, four drug- related convictions, and a conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Because Toomer had at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, he was subject to enhanced penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Forbes prosecuted the case after a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the communities that we serve is a priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “We will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who commit violent firearms crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of
2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating  and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant
Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners, the Pensacola Police
Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan-reduce-gun.

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.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA –Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencings of Erik M. Schabert, 48, a physician, and his ex-wife, Mika Kamissa Harris, 49, both of Gainesville, Florida. A jury found both guilty on health care fraud and money laundering charges involving more than $8 million.

While owning and operating Reliant Family Practice in Gainesville, Harris and Schabert attempted to defraud health care benefit programs of more than $8 million by submitting fraudulent claims. 
Between January 2013 and July 2016, Reliant Family Practice received over
$4.4 million from Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield for fraudulent claims for chemical peels and dermabrasions relating to false diagnoses of rosacea and actinic keratosis.

Harris was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care or wire fraud, and 48 counts of health care fraud. Additionally, she was convicted of 41 counts of money laundering as a result of spending the fraudulently obtained proceeds on such things as paying off her home mortgage, adding a swimming pool and other home improvements, obtaining plastic surgery, purchasing commercial property, and funding an annuity for herself. Harris was sentenced to 90 months prison, followed by
3 years supervised release.

Schabert was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care or wire fraud, and 24 counts of health care fraud. Schabert was sentenced to 42 months prison, followed by 3 years supervised release.

“Society places a large measure of trust in the hands of licensed physicians, and it is profoundly disturbing when a respected professional abuses that trust by falsely billing for treatments that were not medically necessary or which were never actually provided,”  U.S. Attorney Keefe said.
“In addition, this doctor’s actions undermined the trust placed in him by his patients.”

"Fraudsters like Dr. Schabert should pay a hefty price for violating both the Hippocratic Oath and his standing as a trusted Medicare provider”, said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "Our watchdog agency and network of partners will continue to aggressively investigate physicians and other health care providers who bill Medicare for unnecessary services just to boost their own profits.”

In addition to receiving sentences of imprisonment and supervised release, Harris and Schabert were jointly ordered to pay $4,471,572.52 in restitution to Blue Cross Blue Shield. The government has already forfeited Harris’ residence, the commercial property, and over $260,000 in an annuity account.

"Health care fraud costs our country tens of billions of dollars a year, and rooting out these schemes is central to the well-being of our citizens and the overall economy," said Rachel L.
Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating and bringing to justice those who undermine our health care system."

Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and Frank T. Williams prosecuted the case, which was jointly investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector
General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service– Criminal
Investigation.

"Special Agents of the IRS will continue to bring our financial expertise to assist our law enforcement partners in combatting large-scale healthcare fraud, “stated Ronald A. Loecker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office.”  Fraud of this magnitude must be countered through robust investigation of these trusted professionals.”

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Michael T. Harris, 45, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, entered a guilty plea to the charges of acquiring controlled substances by fraud, and using a means of identification of another person in connection to the offense of acquiring controlled substances by fraud. The guilty plea was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Documents introduced at the time of the guilty plea allege that between November 4, 2015, and
August 11, 2016, on at least 24 separate occasions, Harris presented fraudulent prescriptions to various pharmacies in the Santa Rosa County area to obtain methadone, morphine sulfate, oxycodone, and alprazolam. During that time, Harris worked as a physician at a medical facility in Gulf Breeze and shared office space with other physicians. Harris forged another physician’s signature or used the physician’s pre-signed prescriptions without the physician’s authorization. On each occasion, Harris used a means of identification of the physician without the physician’s authorization, namely, the physician’s specifically assigned Drug Enforcement Administration Registration number, to acquire methadone, morphine sulfate, oxycodone, and alprazolam. In total, between the above-mentioned dates, Harris used fraudulent prescriptions to acquire approximately 1622 methadone pills, approximately 570 morphine sulfate pills, approximately 120 oxycodone pills, and approximately 40 alprazolam pills using fraudulent prescriptions.

Harris faces up to four years’ imprisonment for the charge of acquiring controlled substances by fraud, and up to twenty years’ imprisonment for the charge of using a means of identification of another person in connection to the offense of acquiring controlled substances by fraud. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2020.

“Society places a large measure of trust in the hands of licensed physicians, and it’s profoundly disturbing when a respected professional abuses that trust to illegally obtain controlled substances,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “In addition, this doctor’s actions undermined the trust placed in him by his fellow physicians, pharmacists, and others in the medical profession.”

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Santa Rosa
County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gulf Breeze Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney J.
Ryan Love is prosecuting the case.

“The DEA Miami Field Division is committed to bringing to justice any medical professional who violates the law and the trust placed in them by society,” said Kevin W. Carter, Acting Special
Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, today announced that Pensacola business owner James P. Meharg, 60, was sentenced to 40 months in prison on federal charges of conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran, and concealing the scheme, as well as having payments routed to Meharg via a foreign country. Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, in Pensacola, conspired with citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran to export a large turbine and parts from the
United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions
Regulations as well as federal criminal law.

Meharg, a U.S. citizen, conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, 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. Evidence revealed that on April 25, 2018, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of
$124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, at least one of which was routed through a company in
Dubai. In total, Meharg received approximately $250,000 in funds laundered through foreign accounts as payment for having the turbine sent to Iran. Law enforcement authorities, however, were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran. That end user, a conspirator in Iran, is linked to an Iranian energy company. Meharg also falsified documents used to lawfully export items from the United States.

“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited by law in order to protect the national security interests of the United States of America, and this defendant chose to put his own self-interest and greed above such interests,” Keefe said. “Federal imprisonment should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when one of its citizens endangers the safety of our nation.”

“Today’s sentence sends a strong message that trade with Iran in violation of U.S. export control laws and regulations will not be tolerated,’ said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export
Enforcement, Douglas Hassebrock. ‘The Bureau of Industry and Security will vigorously pursue parties that seek to profit from illegally supplying materials to Iran.’

Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg, who is a National Security Cyber Specialist, 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.

“This case serves as a reminder to anyone who acts as an agent of the Iranian government in the
United States, that American law enforcement is relentless in our efforts to protect the national security of this country and the freedoms of our citizens,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in
Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI was proud to support our partners at the
Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security in this case, and we are committed to disrupting any similar actions by individuals on behalf of Iran in the future.”

Meharg’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of federal supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit a monetary judgment in the amount of $250,000.00.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Guyland W. Thompson, a former mayor of Milton, Florida, and ex-executive director of the United Way of Santa Rose County, today was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion. Thompson, 65, of Milton, was ordered to forfeit $221,868.28 seized from his bank accounts and pay an additional money judgment of
$430,132.33. Restitution will be decided at a later hearing. The sentence was announced today by
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Thompson pled guilty last May to 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion stemming from his embezzlement of funds from United Way of Santa Rosa County while he ran the organization.
Between at least 2011 and 2018, Thompson embezzled over $650,000 from the charity. He used his position and access to the charity’s records and bank accounts to steal money from the charity for years by conducting a series of complicated financial transactions to cover his tracks. He also made false representations to board members, employees, bank tellers, and United Way Worldwide to keep his fraud undetected for so long. Thompson then failed to report to the Internal Revenue
Service the extra income from his embezzlement scheme.

“These crimes affected not only an outstanding charitable organization, but also the many individuals who depended on multiple nonprofits to help them deal with day-to-day challenges. This defendant violated the trust of all these innocent victims, and this sentence reflects the harm he did to so many,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.

As a result of Thompson’s crimes, United Way of Santa Rosa County lost its charter with the international organization and was forced to close. The restitution Thompson was ordered to pay will be divided between United Way of Santa Rosa County and 15 local charities that previously had been supported by it.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue
Service-Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Alicia H. Forbes.

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.

This marks the 150th anniversary of the Department o  Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A Pensacola man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The 76-month sentence handed down to Charleston Pierre Wiggins, 32, of Pensacola, was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

On April 29, 2019, Pensacola Police Department (PPD) responded to a shots fired report in
Pensacola, Florida. As a result of its investigation, PPD learned that Wiggins, a convicted felon, and another individual with whom he had a dispute, exchanged gunfire. During the exchange, Wiggins was shot in the leg. The PPD officers who located Wiggins followed a blood trail that led them to the pistol witnesses saw Wiggins carrying as he attempted to flee the area. The officers determined that the firearm, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was stolen.

“We will vigorously prosecute those whose actions recklessly endanger the public,” U.S. Attorney
Keefe said. “This convicted felon chose to arm himself with a firearm and now he will pay the heavy consequences for his actions.”

The case resulted from the investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney J. Ryan Love.

“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the communities that we serve is a priority for ATF”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “we will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who commit violent crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of
2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan-reduce-gun.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Former U.S. Postal Service employee Elizabeth Shante Brown, 29, of Panama
City, Florida, was sentenced last week to serve 25 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing and using debit cards and checks from postal customers, as well as cash from Post
Offices. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence following Brown’s guilty plea to charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of United States mail.

While working for the Postal Service at locations in Okaloosa, Walton, and Holmes counties in
Florida, Brown stole postal customers’ individual and business bank checks and debit cards from the mail between March 1 and May 31, 2017. She used the stolen debit cards to purchase or attempt to purchase items of value and used the stolen checks to obtain or attempt to obtain cash. Brown was arrested after she attempted to cash one of the stolen checks at a bank in Panama City. As part of her sentence, Brown was ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

“Public servants have an obligation to treat the public with respect and integrity, but this defendant tried to use her position of public trust for personal enrichment without regard to how it would hurt her innocent victims,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “This kind of flagrant violation of that trust will not be tolerated, and the result will be prison time for someone who thought she could get away with it.”

The case resulted from an investigation by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector
General and the Panama City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney J. Ryan Love.

“The sentencing serves as a strong deterrent to those attempting to abuse the Postal Service and a clear reminder that the government is vigilant, and these crimes will not be tolerated," said
Special Agent in Charge Christopher Cave, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General
Southern Area Field Office. “The USPS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously investigate these types of cases in order to continue to protect the sanctity of the
Postal Service.”

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 Attor  ey’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – With the sentencing of the last of 25 defendants, federal prosecutors this week wrapped up a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization operating primarily within
Taylor and Madison counties in Florida, and Colquitt County, Georgia. The final defendant, Patrick
Lemuel Bass of Taylor County, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his part in the conspiracy. The convictions and sentences in the conspiracy were announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

During the fall of 2017, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force began investigating the distribution of methamphetamine — commonly referred to as “ice”— within Taylor and Madison counties. A total of 25 defendants were charged in a series of indictments returned in 2017 and
2018. The defendants were convicted and sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute varying amounts of methamphetamine. The investigation also involved numerous undercover controlled purchases by law enforcement during the trafficking conspiracy.

The defendants and their sentences are:

•          Robert Shane Willis, Taylor County, Florida, 108 months in prison; •          Robert Edward Lee, Madison County, Florida, 102 months in prison; •          Takayla Rene Sanders, Colquitt County, Georgia, 96 months in prison; •          Patrick Lemuel Bass, Taylor County, Florida, 96 months in prison; •          Robert Wayne Cornwell, Taylor County, Florida, 96 months in prison; •          Joseph Brian Stafford, Taylor County, Florida, 96 months in prison; •           James Antony Farrill, Taylor County, Florida, 84 months in prison; •          Keith Eric Sadowski, Taylor County, Florida, 78 months in prison; •          Christopher Keith Irvin, Taylor County, Florida, 72 months in prison; •          Jessica Rae Mauldin, Madison County, Florida, 72 month in prison; •          Kevin Wayne Knippel, Colquitt County, Georgia, 72 months in prison; •          Eric Jason Gilbreath, Taylor County, Florida, 72 months in prison;

•          Bryan Heath Willis, Taylor County, Florida, 66 months in prison; •           John Wayne Dixon, Taylor County, Florida, 60 months in prison; •          Christopher Castleberry, Colquitt County, Georgia, 60 months in prison; •          Marlo Howard, Madison County, Florida, 48 months in prison; •          Travis Ryan Crosby, Madison County, Florida, 48 months in prison; •          Joshua Lynn Gilbreath, Taylor County, Florida, 48 months in prison; •          Brandon Douglas Hall, Colquitt County, Georgia, 42 months in prison; •          Lisa Marie Ezell, Taylor County, Florida, 39 months in prison; •          Jerry Franklin Sapp, Madison County, Florida, 36 months in prison; •          Raymond Cody Williams, Madison County, Florida, 366 days in prison; •          Samantha Agner Crouse, Taylor County, Florida, 12 months in prison; •          Jamie Lynn Baumgardner, Taylor County, Florida, 8 years of supervised release; and
•          Miranda Marie Stafford, Taylor County, Florida, 5 years of supervised release.

This case resulted from an investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Taylor
County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, and Monticello
Police Department in Florida; the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office and Thomas County Sheriff’s
Office in Georgia; and the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida National Guard. Assistant United
States Attorneys Christopher J. Thielemann, Eric K. Mountin, James A. McCain, and Jason R. Coody prosecuted the cases.

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.

PANAMA CITY, 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. The sentences were announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The three men pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of mail fraud. Jevaughn Williams was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, while Walters and Delroy
Williams were sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

“It is hard to fathom how some deceitful criminals have no problem preying on innocent victims, especially those they consider most vulnerable because they are elderly. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a message for these criminals: We will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you away,” Keefe said.

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.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to pursue justice on behalf of our elderly customers by thoroughly investigating lottery scams and those involved with victimizing U.S.
Citizens,” stated Miami Division Inspector in Charge Tony Gomez.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Harwin and Michelle Daffin prosecuted the case following a joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Lynn Haven 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 United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Joseph Donald Roberts, 43, of Branford, Florida, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for possession, receipt, and production of child pornography, some involving prepubescent children. The sentence, imposed in federal court on Monday, was announced by Lawrence
Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The more we hold offenders accountable and do our part to prevent sexual violence and support survivors, the further we will go in ending the blight of child sexual abuse,” Keefe said. “The
U.S. Attorney’s Office is wholly committed to this effort and will continue to do everything in its power to bring these vile offenders to justice.”

On May 18, 2018, investigators identified a subject using the internet within Florida to distribute and receive images and videos of child pornography. Further investigation led to the seizure of numerous computers and electronic storage devices from Roberts’ residence in Branford. A forensic examination of the devices revealed that Roberts had hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including prepubescent children. Further examination determined that Roberts had also used his cell phone in an attempt to create sexually explicit videos depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

“This strong sentencing represents the severity of this crime,” said Micah McCombs, Homeland
Security Investigations’ Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “Thanks to our HSI special agents, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, this child predator is off our streets and is being held accountable for the tremendous harm he has done.”

Child pornography is a brutal crime because each image or movie represents an assault on an innocent child who has been sexually abused,” said FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Mark
Perez.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to address these heinous acts.”

Roberts was indicted by a grand jury and later convicted in a two-day jury trial. The trial jury made a special finding that the images possessed by Roberts included children younger than 12.

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security
Investigations. The case was prosecuted by the Northern District of Florida’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Coordinator, Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams.

The U.S. 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced awards of more than $8,742,871 to help public safety and public health professionals in the Northern
District of Florida combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses, part of $333 million awarded nationwide to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. The awards were announced by OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan.

“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” Sullivan said. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”

With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump
Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities— from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services, and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.

“Winning the fight against opioid addiction will require not just effective law enforcement, but also a comprehensive and coordinated approach from community organizations and service providers at the local level,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“These grants will go a long way to support the efforts of those combatting this plague in hometowns and neighborhoods across the Northern District of Florida.”

The awards announced support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts.  Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs, and support opioid-related research.

Awards were made to three organizations in the Northern District of Florida:

Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator $1,492,871

Institute for Intergovernmental Research            $6,000,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America                       $1,250,000

Information about the programs and awards announced is available here. For more information about
OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine
T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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, of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced the sentencing of Michael Gilbert Brown, 40, of Minnesota, after he pled guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and
Notification Act (SORNA). Brown was sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison by the U.S. District
Court in Tallahassee.

Brown, who was convicted in 2012 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 14-year- old teen, entered a halfway house after he was released from a Minnesota prison in 2018. Within a month of his release, Brown fled from the halfway house and was considered a fugitive. Brown was subsequently located in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was arrested in July 2018. An investigation revealed that Brown left Minnesota with his girlfriend and her child using a bus ticket issued under a false name. It was also determined that Brown knowingly failed to notify the State of
Minnesota of his intent to relocate to Florida, and that he failed to register as a sex offender with the State of Florida upon his arrival in Tallahassee.

In addition to the sentence of 30 months of incarceration in federal prison, Brown was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and to participate in and successfully complete a sex offender treatment program.

Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the
United States Marshals Service with assistance from Ramsey County (Minnesota) Community
Corrections, Predatory Offender Unit. Don Ladner, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Florida, stated “the U.S. Marshals are deeply committed to protecting our society from sex offenders who fail to register as required by law.”

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 – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging three men – including a Federal Bureau of Prisons employee – with 51 counts of federal dogfighting offenses. The charges stem from an investigation into drug trafficking and a large- scale illegal dogfighting operation involving over 100 dogs. The superseding indictment was announced by Lawrence
Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Most of the dogs used by the defendants were recovered by the United States Marshals Service and have been placed with appropriate foster organizations.
The defendants named in this indictment are:

●    Jermaine Terrell Hadley, 31, Quincy, Florida; ●    Leonard Safford, 37, Gretna, Florida; ●    Decarlise Chapman, 46, Marianna, Florida.
The superseding indictment adds Chapman, who is an employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a defendant in the case. Hadley and Stafford, among several other individuals, were named in the June
4, 2019, indictment in this case, but the other defendants have entered guilty pleas and therefore are not included the superseding indictment.

“From the beginning, this case has shocked the sensibilities of decent, law-abiding people throughout the Northern District of Florida – and it’s even more shocking when an individual in a position of public trust has been added to those charged with these shameful activities,” U.S.
Attorney Keefe said.

The superseding indictment and arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the Organized
Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a joint federal, state, and local cooperative, which targeted a drug trafficking organization that also allegedly organized and conducted a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation throughout the Northern District of Florida between 2014 and 2019.
During the investigation, undercover operations were conducted to infiltrate the ring; execute multiple search warrants on properties allegedly involved in training, housing, and conducting illegal dogfights; and successfully raid a dogfight in progress.

If convicted, the charged defendants face penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000, per count. Trial is set for February 3, 2020, at 8:15 a.m., at the United States
Courthouse in Tallahassee.

Participating in the investigation of the cases were the Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Chattahoochee Police
Department, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun County
Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Air National Guard
Counterdrug Program. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric
Mountin.

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.

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 for the Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy J. Smith, 42, of Mobile, Alabama, was found guilty by a federal jury late Tuesday evening in the United States District Court in Pensacola of charges of theft of trade secrets and interstate extortionate communications. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Florida, announced the verdict today.

During trial, the 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 fishing coordinates. During this entire time frame, the victims did not even know who
Smith was or why he was trying to harm them.

U.S. Attorney Keefe said: “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. 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.”

The maximum penalties Smith now faces are up to 10 years in prison for the theft of trade secrets, and up to 2 years in prison for interstate extortionate communications.  The sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2020, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.

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 is prosecuting the case as he is the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property
Coordinator and National Security Cyber Specialist 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 United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

                Over $13.3 Million Will Support Crime-Fighting Efforts in the Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – The Department of Justice announced that it has awarded more than $376 million in grant funding to enhance state, local, and tribal law enforcement operations and to reinforce public safety efforts in jurisdictions across the United States. The awards, made by the
Department’s Office of Justice Programs, include $13,363,425 to support public safety activities the Northern District of Florida.

“Crime and violence hold families, friends, and neighborhoods hostage, and they rip communities apart,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These programs help restore the health and safety of crime-ravaged communities by supporting prevention activities, aiding in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and adjudication, and providing communities and their residents the means for recovery and healing.”

The awards announced support an array of crime-fighting initiatives, including the quarter- billion-dollar Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program, which funds public safety efforts in
929 state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. Funding also supports sex offender registration and notification, law enforcement-based victim services, the testing of sexual assault kits, and programs designed to address youth with sexual behavioral problems. Other awards will focus on wrongful convictions, intellectual property enforcement, innovative prosecution strategies and the safety and effectiveness of corrections systems.

“The vast majority of law enforcement in our country is conducted at the local level, strongly supported by federal partners. This is especially true in the Northern District of Florida, where we have forged strong partnerships will local agencies, and these grants will strengthen efforts to protect law-abiding citizens across the district,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The following awards were made to organizations in the Northern District of Florida:

Bay County Commission - $25,724

City of Gainesville - $106,527

City of Panama City - $22,911

City of Pensacola - $25,219

City of Tallahassee - $153,335

Escambia County - $114,870

Escambia County Commissioners - $168,516

Florida Department of Law Enforcement - 10,551,399

Institute for Intergovernmental Research, Tallahassee - $500,000 and $1,607,819

Okaloosa County - $39,716

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office - $16,276

Wakulla County Sheriff's Office - $19,140

Walton County Sheriff's Office - $11,973

For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine
T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Robert Patrick Jensen, 49, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, entered a guilty plea last
Friday to the charges of acquiring controlled substances by fraud, and using a means of identification of another person in connection to the offense of acquiring controlled substances by fraud. The guilty plea was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern
District of Florida.

Documents introduced at the time of the guilty plea allege that between December 3, 2014, and July
7, 2016, on at least 35 separate occasions, Jensen presented fraudulent prescriptions to various pharmacies in the Santa Rosa County area to obtain tramadol and dextroamphetamine. During that time, Jensen worked as a physician at a medical facility in Gulf Breeze and shared office space with other physicians. Jensen forged another physician’s signature or used the physician’s pre-signed prescriptions without the physician’s authorization. On each occasion, Jensen used a means of identification of the physician without the physician’s authorization, namely, the physician’s specifically assigned Drug Enforcement Administration Registration number, to acquire tramadol and dextroamphetamine. In total, between the above-mentioned dates, Jensen used fraudulent prescriptions to acquire approximately 8,820 tramadol pills of varying strengths and approximately
180 dextroaphmetamine 30 mg pills.

Jensen faces up to four years’ imprisonment for the charge of acquiring controlled substances by fraud, and up to twenty years’ imprisonment for the charge of using a means of identification of another person in connection to the offense of acquiring controlled substances by fraud.  Jensen is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2020.

“Society places a large measure of trust in the hands of licensed physicians, and it’s profoundly disturbing when a respected professional abuses that trust to illegally obtain controlled substances," U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “In addition, this doctor’s actions undermined the trust placed in him by his fellow physicians, pharmacists, and others in the medical profession.”

This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Santa Rosa
County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gulf Breeze Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney J.
Ryan Love 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.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Two former ranking City of Lynn Haven officials, including the city manager, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring with three local business executives to process some $5 million in fraudulent invoices for Hurricane Michael cleanup work that was not performed. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the indictments of former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael Edward White, 46; Lynn Haven Community
Services Director David Wayne Horton, 55; Erosion Control Specialists (ECS) owner David Mitchelle
White, 38; Greenleaf Lawn Care of Bay County owner Joshua Daniel Anderson, 43; and Shannon Delores
Rodriguez, a/k/a Shannon Delores Harris, 37, all of Panama City.

The 35-count indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to commit wire fraud, substantive counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Michael White and Horton are also charged with substantive counts of theft concerning programs receiving Federal funds and honest services fraud. Michael White and David White are also charged with filing false claims to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Horton is also charged with mail fraud concerning the defrauding of an insurance company.

“The greatest cost of public corruption is the potential widespread loss of public trust in our government. It is a dangerous virus that threatens to infect public service and public trust in it, and we are committed to stop the spread of that virus of corruption,” said Keefe, who last week announced indictments in an unrelated public corruption case. “Preventing, pursuing, prosecuting and punishing public corruption is among our highest priorities. The common thread in today’s case and in last week’s case is simply this: an egregious abuse of power and position by people in public service who betrayed their sacred duties – and those who sought to illegally scheme and conspire with them – to breach the public’s trust.”

“Abusing one's position for personal gain – especially in a time of crisis – is a blatant disregard to the oath that every government official takes,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  “Federal assistance programs are established to help  individuals, families, and businesses that have suffered tremendous loss, and abusing these programs is egregious.  The FBI is committed to protecting these programs from fraud to ensure that honest citizens can receive the assistance they deserve when they need a helping hand the most."

“The Bay County Sheriff's Office will stand firm against corruption, and will continue to work with our partners in the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those who would tarnish the reputation of Bay County accountable for their actions," Sheriff Tommy Ford said. "As Sheriff of
Bay County, I remain unwavering in my commitment to dedicate the resources needed to continue this fight against corruption."

The five defendants were arrested by agents and deputies of the Bay County Sherriff’s Office this morning. Michael White was arrested in Albertville, Alabama. The remaining defendants were arrested in Bay County.

The indictment alleges that after Hurricane Michael, on October 16, 2018, the City of Lynn Haven adopted a local state of emergency for post-disaster relief and planning and approved a resolution waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required under Florida law to take action to ensure the safety, welfare, and health of the citizens of Lynn Haven. This included entering into contracts, incurring obligations, and expending public funds. The resolution delegated emergency powers to the mayor of Lynn Haven, or her designee City Manager Michael White, to discharge the duties and exercise powers for the post-hurricane activities. The emergency declaration was ended by Lynn Haven two weeks later. City Manager White entered into an emergency agreement with David
White and ECS to perform services for Lynn Haven related to post-hurricane assistance, with the understanding that invoices submitted for payment to Lynn Haven would be submitted to FEMA for reimbursement.

The indictment alleges that David White used ECS and Anderson used Greenleaf as a means to fraudulently obtain money from Lynn Haven by submitting invoices requesting payment for services allegedly provided by ECS and Greenleaf to the city, but which were false and fraudulent as to a number of material matters. City Manager White approved all ECS and Greenleaf invoices and directed city employees to immediately pay ECS and Greenleaf for those invoices. Horton also approved payment of these invoices and approved timesheets of employees that were submitted in support of
ECS and Greenleaf invoices to Lynn Haven and were then provided to FEMA. Horton also falsely verified the attendance of ECS employees at various claimed work locations in Lynn Haven. Lynn
Haven was defrauded of approximately $5 million.

The indictment also alleges that when ECS invoices were being assembled for submission to FEMA by
Lynn Haven for reimbursement, it was discovered that most of the ECS invoices that had been paid provided no details in support of the requested payments. When directed to provide supporting documentation for the monies requested and already paid, David White submitted false time sheets prepared by Rodriguez. The time sheets were false and fraudulent in that they included names of individuals who had not worked at the claimed location(s), were off that day, worked at other projects outside Lynn Haven, or had never worked for ECS at the time of the timesheet.
Additionally, in many invoices, the specific Lynn Haven locations of work claimed to have been done by ECS were false. Horton approved and falsely verified the timesheets claiming attendance of ECS workers at various Lynn Haven locations.

The indictment also alleges that David White billed Lynn Haven for clean-up activities by individuals  who  were  Greenleaf  employees,  working  out  of  ECS.  Anderson simultaneously submitted a false invoice to Lynn Haven for $50,004 for alleged debris cleanup at the same Lynn Haven locations. Michael White approved the payment to Anderson and issued a handwritten Lynn Haven check to Greenleaf totaling $66,402.58, which included $16,398.58 for alleged lawn services provided by Greenleaf after the hurricane.

The indictment alleges that ECS invoices were submitted to Lynn Haven for payment of services that were not authorized under the emergency contract and were for personal residences of some Lynn
Haven officials. These officials included Michael White and Horton. The performance of ECS post-hurricane debris removal and repairs at the residences of some Lynn Haven officials was concealed and not disclosed in the ECS invoices submitted by David White and approved by Michael
White, who caused Lynn Haven to pay the invoices.

The indictment also alleges that Michael White and Horton located numerous projects for ECS to handle that were outside the activities described in the Emergency Agreement. City Manager White and Horton had ECS employees wrap Christmas gifts, prepare locations for a Halloween party, and other miscellaneous acts that were not authorized under any agreement with Lynn Haven. Then, David
White submitted invoices that did not describe the actual activities performed, but instead falsely claimed the work was debris removal or cleaning activities in Lynn Haven. David White billed Lynn
Haven for a minimum of $35.00 per hour for ECS employees plus an ECS supervisor at $90 per hour for these unauthorized activities. Michael White approved these false invoices.

According to the charges, after the initial declaration of an emergency by Lynn Haven had been revoked and expired, Michael White and Horton sought to locate additional Lynn Haven projects that could provide money to David White and Anderson. One project was for ECS to conduct trash pickup, using a pickup truck and a trailer, at a cost of $300 per hour per crew throughout Lynn Haven. This action was implemented despite the ability of Lynn Haven waste trucks to pick up large amounts of household trash and deposit large amounts of trash at the dump at no increased cost to Lynn Haven.
False invoices were submitted by ECS for claimed trash pickup. For example, the indictment charges that a false invoice for hurricane cleanup in the amount of $332,387.76 was submitted to Lynn Haven by David White that falsely claimed trash pickup was conducted by ECS during a 14-day period starting on October 18, 2018. No documentation was submitted in support of this invoice. The claimed trash pickup did not occur, and there was no record of any trash being dumped at the Bay
County refuse location, City Manager White had not obtained approval from Bay County for ECS to use the account of Lynn Haven to dump items at the Bay County facility until at least October 31, 2018.

Another example of the fraud concerning trash pickups charged in the indictment came three months after Hurricane Michael, when a false invoice for hurricane cleanup in the amount of
$479,020.68 was submitted to Lynn Haven by David White that falsely claimed trash pickup was conducted by ECS during a 13-day period starting the day after New Year’s Day. The invoice also falsely claimed that between 11 and 13 crews were used to collect trash daily. The invoice falsely claimed trash pickup during this period totaling $32,278.68 per day for five days, $38,878.44 per day for seven days, and $45,478.20 for the last day. City Manager White approved and caused the payment of this invoice.

The indictment further alleges that while David White and ECS were providing services to Lynn
Haven, Michael White received things of value from David White, including repairs to, and debris removal from, the City Manager’s residence in Lynn Haven and his farm located outside Lynn Haven in
Bay County, and $300,000 for the purchase of Michael White’s farm and an automobile.  The repairs to, and debris removal from, the residence and farm of Michael White were billed to Lynn Haven with false invoices submitted by David White to Lynn Haven that falsely stated the work had been performed at locations in Lynn Haven. Michael White directed City employees to pay the invoices. Also, during the sale of Michael White’s farm to David White, Michael White solicited David White to provide bids for projects at specific prices for work at City parks, and to provide additional false bids, which David White did.

Similarly, the indictment alleges that while David White and ECS were providing services to Lynn
Haven, Horton received things of value from David White, including repairs to, and debris removal from, Horton’s residence in Lynn Haven. Additionally, Horton accepted payment of some of his travel, lodging, meals, entertainment, and food from David White on multiple occasions while David
White was providing services to Lynn Haven, and Horton was approving the invoices for payment and falsely verifying ECS timesheets claiming attendance of workers at City locations. Additionally, Horton sent a text message to David White requesting an invoice from ECS for work done at Horton’s residence after the hurricane, and instructed the invoice to be at least $3,500, if not more. David
White then provided to Horton an ECS invoice for $9,600 that was falsely marked, “Paid in Full.”
Horton submitted this invoice to an insurance company in support of his insurance claim for $9,600.
Horton had not paid ECS or David White any money at the time that Horton submitted the invoice as proof of his claim to an insurance company. The City had unwittingly paid ECS for the work on
Horton’s house through a false invoice.

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

The maximum terms of imprisonment for the offenses are as follows: -     Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, Honest Services Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Conspiracy to
       Commit Money Laundering: 20 years
-     Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds: 10 years
-     Filing False Claims To Agency of the United States: 5 years

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.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury in Tallahassee has returned a far-reaching indictment that unveils a criminal network of 29 people who actively worked to defraud the federal government and taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the helm of the scheme, a County Executive
Director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is charged 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 with a criminal network of more than two dozen other people.

The indictment, announced today by Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of
Florida as part of a crackdown by his office’s enhanced Public Trust Unit, produced a sweeping roundup of 29 current and former federal, state, and local officials and local business people all connected in the scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The indictment alleges that Farm Service Agency director Duane Edward Crawson, 43, 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 and others in a variety of occupations.
Charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, income tax evasion, and obstruction of Internal Revenue laws.

“These individuals betrayed their duty as public servants and as citizens in a shallow but breathtakingly bold effort to lie, cheat, and steal from their fellow citizens and our federal government,” said Keefe. “This pattern of shameless criminality strikes at the very heart of our system of self-government and undermines public trust in the integrity of our basic institutions.
The United States Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners will be relentless in pursuing and prosecuting all such violations of public trust.”

The indictment alleges that between May and December 2017, Crawson -- while employed as the County
Executive Director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for Bay, Holmes, and Washington counties in
Florida -- devised a kickback scheme in which he and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained approximately $373,483 in taxpayer funds by submitting fraudulent drought assistance claims.

Crawson is alleged to have 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 are alleged to have paid
Crawson a portion of the fraud proceeds in the form of cash kickbacks.

The defendants’ trial is scheduled for January 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. at the United States
Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida.

Each defendant faces the following potential penalties: - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud: a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
-     Theft of Government Funds: a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Besides Crawson, the defendants are:

•    Jeremiah Joe Rolling, 43, of Westville, Florida;       Investigator – Office of the State Public Defender

•    Jordan Ryan Hicks, 36, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;       Former Florida Department of Corrections Officer

•    Davey Eugene Mancill, 44, of Westville, Florida;       Mancill Masonry, LLC

•    James Stacey Paul, 46, of Bonifay, Florida;       Public Works - City of Bonifay, Florida

•    Kyle Martin Hudson, 39, of Westville, Florida;       Former Holmes County Clerk of Court

•    Christopher Marion Ammons, 31, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;       Heavy Equipment Operator

•    Danyel Michelle Witt, 44, of Bonifay, Florida;       Clerk – United States Postal Service

•    Sheryl Day Gillman, 52, of Bonifay, Florida;       Secretary - Florida Farm Bureau

•    Shyloe Rose Sachse, 40, of Bonifay, Florida;       Former Corrections Officer

•    Tillman Douglas Mears, 30, of Bonifay, Florida;       Public Works - City of Bonifay, Florida

•    Dawn Marie Crutchfield, 48, of Bonifay, Florida;       Medical Assitant

•    Justin Mikel Chopelas, 21, of Fayetteville, North Carolina;       Construction

•    Ronald Ryan Roof, 23, of Westville, Florida;       Specialist – Army National Guard

•    Megan Leann Roof, 22, of Caryville, Florida;       Hotel Clerk

•    Billy Coal Bradshaw, 35, of Bonifay, Florida;       Auto Parts Employee

•    James Erwin Mancill, 48, of Bonifay, Florida;       Auto Parts Employee

•    Joseph Matthew Crowder, 47, of Caryville, Florida;       Brick Mason – Mancill Masonry, LLC

•    Audrey Lynn Smith, 32, of Caryville, Florida;       Convenience Store Clerk

•    Brian Anthony Ammons, 44, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;       Heavy Equipment Operator

•    Taylor Ward Stripling, 28, of Westville, Florida;       Farm Laborer

•    Dawn Marie Roof, 44, of Chipley, Florida;       Licensed Practical Nurse

•    Daniel Olajuwon Boston, 33, of Chipley, Florida;       Brick Mason – Mancill Masonry, LLC

•    Chassity Lynn Lee, 31, of Bonifay, Florida;       Auto Parts Employee

•    Jennifer Marie McCabe, 30, of Bonifay, Florida;       Holmes County Council on Aging

•    Justina Rae Williams, 30, of Caryville, Florida;       Unemployed

•    Joseph Bailey Alexander, 22, of Chipley, Florida;       Poker Dealer

•    Douglas Edward Mixon, 60, of Westville, Florida;       Farmer

•    Dwayne Frazier White, 49, of Bonifay, Florida
      Former City of Bonifay Police Officer

Duane Crawson, Davey Mancill, James Paul, and Danyel Witt face an additional charge of aggravated identity theft, which carries a penalty of a minimum 2 years imprisonment consecutive to any other term of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Crawson also faces charges of income tax evasion, carrying a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine; and obstruction of Internal Revenue laws, carrying a maximum of 3 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

“The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) was created to help stabilize the U.S. livestock industry and support producers whose grazing lands were significantly damaged by drought.
Those involved in fraud and abuse of USDA farm programs will be investigated by our office to the fullest extent. This is particularly applicable for USDA employees who violate the trust vested in them by American taxpayers,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General
Special Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins. “In this joint investigation with the Internal Revenue
Service-Criminal Investigation, we worked together to identify those who sought to profit from the
LFP through illegal schemes. The USDA Office of Inspector General will continue to dedicate investigative resources and work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of these programs and bring to justice those who commit fraud.”

The indictment culminates 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.

“Those who violate their oaths and abuse positions of trust in our community do so out of greed.
IRS Special Agents are uniquely skilled to follow the money trail and bring to light financial transactions conducted in such ways as to stay undetected,” stated Ron Loecker, Assistant Special
Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “IRS is a committed partner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit and we stand ready to ensure our public officials work honestly in communities throughout northern Florida.”

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 in a court of law.

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.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, of the Northern District of Florida, announced today that David C. Williams, 41, a Pensacola massage parlor business operator, pled guilty to charges of using interstate facilities for purposes of racketeering, transporting females for purposes of prostitution, harboring illegal aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and being involved in a money laundering conspiracy.

Williams was arrested by the FBI in August of this year in connection with his operation of multiple Asian massage parlors in Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Along with the arrest of
Williams on these federal charges, over a dozen search warrants were executed at massage parlors linked to Williams in these three states. This included multiple federal search warrants in
Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Gainesville, all of which are located in the Northern District of
Florida. Over half a dozen seizure warrants were also executed on bank accounts linked to Williams.

“Human trafficking is high on the list of the most heinous crimes because its perpetrators treat people as property to be abused and monetized. Consequently, this office, and all of our law enforcement partners, will be vigilant and diligent in the prevention, pursuit, prosecution, and punishment of human trafficking,” stated United States Attorney Keefe.

During his guilty plea, Williams admitted operating Asian massage parlors that maintained Chinese females illegally present in the United States who were offering sexual acts at the parlors in return for money. The investigation revealed that Williams was using the now defunct website
“Backpage.com” to run tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of advertisements for his illicit businesses. Records obtained from financial institutions and airlines also confirmed that
Williams paid for the travel of the Chinese females throughout the United States and, particularly, to locations where he maintained illicit massage parlors. The records from financial institutions also revealed that Williams and his conspirators laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars through bank accounts that were opened in nominee names in an effort to distance Williams from the illegal activity.

“Human trafficking is a crime that happens all around us, often in plain sight, impacting the safety of our neighborhoods and our quality of life,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “When human beings are treated as commodities, they are not only being abused physically, but emotionally and financially as well. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to collaborate at every level to disrupt and dismantle organizations responsible for this illegal activity."

“Tracing money obtained as the result of criminal acts is the specialty of IRS Criminal
Investigation agents, and to be able to do so in the aid of victims of human trafficking is additionally rewarding,” stated Mary Hammond, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal
Investigation’s Tamp Field Office. “Criminal enterprises such as this one are a blight in the communities in which they operate.”

“This criminal was profiting off human lives,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in
Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Human trafficking is a complicated, intricate crime and HSI has made it a priority to work with all our law enforcement partners to identify these perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal
Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the
Pennsylvania State Police, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s
Office, the Gainesville Police Department, the Clearwater Police Department, the Florida State
Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Pennsylvania.

Williams faces up to ten years’ imprisonment on charges related to transporting females for purposes of prostitution and harboring them for financial gain. He also faces up to five years’ imprisonment for racketeering conduct and up to twenty additional years’ imprisonment for engaging in a money laundering conspiracy. As part of his guilty plea, Williams will also forfeit over
$125,000 in currency that was seized from his massage parlor locations and related bank accounts.
Sentencing has been set for February 7, 2020, at 1:00 pm 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.

 Initiative emphasizes enforcing gun prohibitions based on domestic violence convictions and mental health denials                             

Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.

Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the
“Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe
Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.

“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America.
Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”

“The most effective way to reduce gun violence is through partnerships – federal, state, and local agencies working together to effectively enforce the laws,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “This strategy has been successful in this area, including such cooperative initiatives as ALLinLEON and Protect Pensacola, which are making a meaningful difference to reduce gun violence in those communities. Project Guardian will go even further to enhance public safety.”

“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting
Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance
ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”

     Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:

1) Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.

2) Enforcing the Background Check System. United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special
Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.

Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.

3) Improved Information Sharing. On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.

4) Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials. Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.

Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental- health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.

5) Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination. Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers
(CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.

Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide.
Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.

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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Lawrence Keefe today announced the extradition of Adedeji Adeniran, a national of Nigeria, to the Northern
District Florida.

On Nov. 2, 2019, Nigeria extradited Adeniran, age 56, to the Northern District of Florida. He arrived in the United States on Nov. 3. Adeniran was the leader of a criminal group that committed a large bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud conspiracy that involved a loss of $4.1 million and involved 42 victim financial institutions. Between 2002 and 2004, members of the criminal group fraudulently obtained the identities of others and opened numerous bank accounts in the United
States. The group members deposited counterfeited or forged checks into those accounts and then wired the proceeds of the fraud to Hong Kong, Turkey, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates. The criminal group consisted of three cells, one in New York City, one in Chicago, and one in South
Florida. Adeniran is alleged to be the leader of the South Florida cell and coordinated the opening of fraudulent bank accounts, the deposit of forged or counterfeit checks into the accounts, the issuance of fraudulent checks and debit card withdrawals from the fraudulent accounts, and the transfer of monies to other accounts within and outside the United States. On May 2, 2005, a grand jury in the Northern District of Florida returned a 27-count indictment charging eight defendants with conspiracy to commit bank, mail, and wire fraud, and 26 counts of bank fraud. Adeniran is charged in 20 counts of the indictment. Adeniran fled the United States in 2005 and has remained a fugitive until this year. Based upon an extradition request of the United States, a Nigerian court issued a warrant for Adeniran’s arrest on Oct. 23, 2018. Adeniran was arrested by Nigerian authorities on March 21, 2019, and bail was denied.
Adeniran was found extraditable on May 21, 2019.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice issued a final surrender order on
Oct. 17, 2019, and Nigeria surrendered Adeniran to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Adeniran was arraigned in federal court on Nov. 4, 2019, at the U.S. Courthouse in
Tallahassee.

Adeniran is set for trial on Jan. 6, 2020, at 8:15 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee.

Adeniran faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years’ supervised release, on each of the 20 charged counts.

On March 30, 2006, while Adeniran was a fugitive outside the United States, the United States obtained the forfeiture of Adeniran’s residence in Miramar, Florida.

Five co-conspirators named in the indictment have previously pleaded guilty:

• Daphnee Philias pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Sept. 7, 2005.
• Stephen Adetona pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud on
Sept. 13, 2005.
• Adeyinka Olushola Cheese pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Nov. 10, 2005.
• Fatai Taiwo pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Feb. 27, 2006.
• Anthony Goldman pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on April 13, 2006.

Two other defendants remain fugitives.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kunz is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal
Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Nigeria.

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 – Mary E. Forehand, 40, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to serve
15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Working together, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies removed a serious and dangerous drug criminal from the streets of the community,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Our agencies are committed to using our resources to assist local law enforcement however we can to enhance public safety.”

The charges arose from a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the United
States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who were investigating methamphetamine distribution in Northeast Tallahassee. Forehand was a target of the investigation based on prior information that she had been selling methamphetamine in the area for a considerable length of time. Law enforcement officers observed several purchases at a residence and obtained a warrant last November. A search of the residence turned up several ounces of methamphetamine, drug-trafficking paraphernalia, and two loaded firearms near the front door – a .22-caliber rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.

“This sentencing is another example of how strong law enforcement partnerships impacted both violence and drug trafficking in our continued efforts to protect the public”, said ATF Special
Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “Our strong law enforcement partnerships continue to mitigate nefarious individuals from committing further acts of violence in communities”

Sheriff Walt McNeil said, “It’s partnerships like these that our community needs to help root out the drug problem in Leon County. Your local, state, and federal law enforcement are going All In to get those who continue to do harm in our community off the streets.”

Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Grogan prosecuted the case, which resulted in a guilty plea by Forehand. She was sentenced on October 28.

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 Attor  ey’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    BLAST (Building Lasting Relationships Between Police and Community) Program
Brings Law Enforcement and Communities Together

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Four of the region’s top law enforcement officials will speak with students at Rickards High School this Wednesday, November 6, as part of the police- community BLAST Program.
United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, Tallahassee Police Chief
Steve Outlaw, and State Attorney Jack Campbell all will participate in the BLAST event that offers students an opportunity to meet representatives of the criminal justice community to ask questions, share their perceptions of law enforcement, and positively interact in a familiar setting.

During the four-hour program at Rickards, law enforcement officers will provide students with their perspective on responding to dangerous or uncertain circumstances and the importance of remaining calm and following the officers’ directions in these situations. Members of the media are welcome to attend and photograph/video most demonstrations of the BLAST (Building Lasting Relationships
Between Police and Community) Program demonstrations.

“This laudable program encourages productive interactions between citizens and officers to improve our community,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, who will be one of the participants in the Tallahassee program. “Public safety is significantly enhanced when residents and law enforcement work as partners, and the BLAST Program is an excellent way to replace misgivings and apprehension with familiarity and trust.”

Agencies participating in the program include the ATF, DEA, FBI, United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police
Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Event:                         BLAST Program

Location:            James S. Rickards High School 3013 Jim Lee Road Tallahassee, FL 32301

Date:                           Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Time:                          9:15 am – 1:30 pm EST

Media:                       Please RSVP to [email protected] if you plan to attend.

The BLAST Program schedule will include the following discussion sessions, during which students will have a chance to participate in role-play with law enforcement officers. (Students with media permissions will be identified.)

• Federal Crimes Scenario: Students will evaluate video scenarios and learn about each phase of a federal criminal case, including investigation, prosecution, and sentencing. This session is open to the media, and videography and photography are permitted.

•  Domestic Violence Response / K-9 Demonstration: Students will participate in a scenario in which law enforcement officers respond to a domestic disturbance. Discussion includes the challenges officers’ face, rights of witnesses and suspects, and benefits of providing information to law enforcement.
This session is open to the media, and videography and photography are permitted.

• Traffic Stop Simulation: Students and officers engage, alternating the roles of civilians and officers, conducting a traffic stop. Discussion includes de-escalation and the uncertainty officers and vehicle occupants face during a traffic stop.
This session is open to the media, and videography and photography are permitted.

•  Use of Force: Facilitators and students will discuss when law enforcement officers may  use force and an officer’s reaction time when confronted with a life-threatening situation. This session is closed to the media. Reporters may try the simulator equipment after the event ends.

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, Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.