Northern District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Inmate Sentenced for Assaulting a Correctional OfficerRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA –Kenneth Hobson, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for knowingly assaulting and injuring a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The jury convicted the defendant after the government presented evidence that, in July 2014, Hobson forcibly assaulted a corrections officer when the officer attempted to search him for possession of contraband. During the assault, Hobson delivered multiple punches to the officer’s face and body, punching and kicking the officer as he was rendered unconscious. The officer fell to the ground, and Hobson continued to punch and kick him. The officer sustained contusions to his face and jaw, a fractured cheek bone, and a loose tooth.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn D. Risinger.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Ten Charged in $11.1 Million Tax Refund Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment, unsealed today, charging 10 defendants with conspiracy, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The defendants are:
- Ja’Baree Vazquez Allen, 26, Tallahassee, Florida;
- Ronald Edward Brown, 27, Quincy, Florida;
- Anre’ Juardon Davis, 34, St. Petersburg, Florida;
- Addrain Montez McMillan, 29, Overland Park, Kansas;
- Rashard Lavonta McMillian, 26, Quincy, Florida
- Jasmine Junae Robinson, 25, Tallahassee, Florida;
- Daria Patrice Simmons, 33, Tampa, Florida;
- Jazzman Shabazz Simmons, 27, Tallahassee, Florida;
- John Walter Simmons, 34, Tampa, Florida; and
- Mercedes Shevon Sutton, 25, Tampa, Florida.
The indictment alleges that, between January 2011 and April 2014, the conspirators fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information of approximately 2,800 individuals from multiple sources, including the insurance provider AmeriGroup and the online death database, dobsearch.com. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators then prepared and electronically filed fraudulent federal income tax returns using the victims’ information and caused the Internal Revenue Service to issue tax refunds in the victims’ names. The tax refunds were allegedly loaded onto debit cards, issued in the form of U.S. Treasury checks, and deposited into bank accounts controlled by the conspirators. By this conduct, the conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain approximately $11.1 million in tax refunds. Additionally, John Walter Simmons is charged with knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The trial is scheduled for December 14, 2015, at 8:30 a.m.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody is prosecuting the case.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
Three People Sentenced in Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Jermaine Winters, 39, of Coleman, Florida, Senora Cotton, 24, of Chipley, Florida, and Rosetta Presley, 23, of Chipley, Florida, were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with the electronic filing of false federal income tax returns. Winters was sentenced to 108 months in prison, Cotton to 24 months and 1 day in prison, and Presley to 2 days in prison and 5 years’ probation. Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay $195,547 in restitution to the IRS. The sentences were announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During their guilty pleas, Winters, Cotton, and Presley admitted that, between July 2011 and July 2012, they conspired to file fraudulent tax returns using the stolen identities of assisted-living facility residents who lived at the Dogwood Inn in Bonifay, Florida, as well as clinical laboratory patients from the Sun Laboratory Services in the Tampa, Florida area, and others. The conspirators attempted to steal more than $276,000 from the United States Treasury through the fraud scheme. The refunds issued on the fraudulent returns were loaded onto prepaid debit cards and mailed to addresses in the Northern District of Florida. Winters and Presley pled guilty on April 16, 2015, and Cotton pled guilty on August 3, 2015.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chipley Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn D. Risinger and Gayle E. Littleton.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Nine Charged in Interstate Human Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned a 32-count indictment charging nine defendants, all residing in the United States illegally, in an interstate human trafficking case. The defendants were arrested yesterday in the Northern District of Florida and other locations. Their initial appearances in federal court took place yesterday and today. The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The defendants are:
- Edegardo Osorno Rodriguez, 37, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida;
- Antonio Flores-Esparza, 31, Pensacola, Florida;
- Jose Juan Ruiz Prudencio, 40, Montgomery, Alabama;
- Jose Alvaro Trujillo-Santiz, 45, Panama City Beach, Florida;
- Rosa Mirtha Cruz Vidal, 34, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida;
- Mauro Gonzalez-Lira, 24, McComb, Mississippi;
- Romon Tobon, 45, Starkville, Mississippi;
- Lazaro Juarez-Juarez, 33, Atlanta, Georgia; and
- Emerson Corvera, 30, Montgomery, Alabama.
The indictment alleges that, between July 2014 and August 2015, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to transport, harbor, and market female aliens for prostitution in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and thereafter, wired the prostitution proceeds outside the United States. In addition to the conspiracy, the defendants are also charged with: 13 counts of enticing individuals to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution; 4 counts of money laundering; 7 counts of transporting individuals in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution; 6 counts of harboring an alien for the purpose of prostitution; and illegal entry by a deported alien. The trial is scheduled for January 4, 2016, at 8:15 a.m.
As part of this investigation, federal agents executed six search warrants yesterday at the following locations: two in Pensacola, one in Santa Rosa Beach, one in Panama City Beach, one in Montgomery, Alabama, and one in Laurel, Mississippi.
This case resulted from a 15 month investigation into human trafficking activities in the Northern District of Florida by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-Panama City Resident Agent in Charge. It is a follow-up prosecution to a previous kidnapping case prosecuted in federal court in Panama City. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen M. Kunz and Kathryn D. Risinger.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Bronson Man Sentenced for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jamie Vincent Ward, 38, of Bronson, Florida, was sentenced late yesterday to 7 years in prison for two charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to documents filed in the case, Ward was previously convicted in Georgia for the felony offenses of Escape, Theft by Taking, First Degree Arson, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Ward was a fugitive from Georgia, having absconded from probation on the methamphetamine conviction before his arrest in the federal case.
Ward was the Grand Dragon (leader) of the Florida-Georgia Klavern (chapter) of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TAKKKK). On March 2, 2015, Ward asked his Grand Nighthawk (security officer) to convert a German Sports Gun .22 caliber rifle to a fully automatic weapon. On April 2, 2015, agents arrested Ward and served a search warrant at his Bronson residence. During that search, they seized a loaded Hi-Point nine millimeter pistol, as well as .22, 9 millimeter, and 12 gauge ammunition. Ward pled guilty on July 2, 2015.
The parties agreed that Ward was aware of, but did not participate in, a plot by other TAKKKK members to murder a former state prison inmate. While the Court expressly noted Ward’s First Amendment right to associate with other TAKKKK members, the Court found that Ward’s association with persons engaged in acts of violence and his failure to discourage or report the murder plot weighed against him at the sentencing hearing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, whose joint investigation led to the convictions in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Local Businessmen Charged with Charity Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Gary R. Tomey II, 46, of Pace, and Eric T. Eakes, 29, of Milton, were arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging them with conspiracy and mail fraud. The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges between December 2008 and May 2012, Tomey and Eakes ran Children and Family Services Inc. (later called Children’s Charitable Services Inc.), a telemarketing company that fraudulently solicited charitable donations via telephone calls from an office in Milton. Tomey and Eakes are alleged to have instructed employees to fraudulently tell potential donors living in other states that the employees were volunteers and that all proceeds helped children in the state where the potential donor lived. The indictment further states that Tomey and Eakes intentionally used a charity name that was similar to a state agency and failed to disclose that their organizations had been previously sanctioned in other states for fraudulent solicitations. The indictment alleges that more than $1.2 million raised as charitable donations went to pay the defendants’ and employees’ salaries, business expenses, and Tomey’s personal expenses. The trial is scheduled for December 7, 2015.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Kim is prosecuting the case.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Madison County Man Charged with Sex and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joseph-Michael Elias McFarland, 21, of Madison, Florida, with sex trafficking of a minor and with drug trafficking. McFarland was arraigned today in the United States District Court in Tallahassee. The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, in September 2015, in the Northern District of Florida, McFarland knowingly enticed a person less than 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act, and that he knowingly distributed methylone. The trial is scheduled for December 14, 2015, at 8:15 a.m.
This case resulted from investigations by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Harwin.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Crestview Man Sentenced for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Paul R. Bloom, 32, of Crestview, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today for production and receipt of child pornography. Following his incarceration, he will serve life on supervised release, and he must also register as a sex offender. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea on June 23, 2015, Bloom admitted to using a publicly available peer-to-peer file sharing network to receive child pornography. During February and March 2015, undercover law enforcement agents downloaded sexually explicit video files that were traced to Bloom’s residence. Agents executed a federal search warrant at Bloom’s residence and seized multiple pieces of digital media, including laptops and external hard drives. An on-scene forensic review of the digital media revealed large amounts of child pornography. While interviewing Bloom and reviewing the seized evidence, law enforcement agents determined that Bloom produced child pornography in his own home. The child pornography produced by Bloom involved a nine-year-old female. A final forensic review of Bloom’s digital media revealed more than 850 videos and 2,000 images of child pornography that he had received and/or shared over the last few years.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Orlando Woman Convicted of Bank Fraud and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Yesterday, a federal trial jury convicted Tanzania Miller, 38, of Orlando, Florida, of conspiracy, four counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The verdict was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, between December 2013 and March 2014, Miller conspired with others to steal money from banks by depositing stolen checks and making withdrawals against them. In this scheme, Miller found people willing to sell their Facebook account to her. The Facebook user’s friends were then asked if they wanted to make money by providing a bank account number and a debit card. Stolen, forged checks were then deposited into the Facebook friend’s bank account, followed by quick cash withdrawals or purchases using the debit card. In all, the scheme resulted in more than $55,000 in forged check deposits and $35,000 in withdrawals.
Miller faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each bank fraud and conspiracy count and a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 18, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason S. Beaton.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]East Hill Man Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Kandel Markie Whiting, 35, of Pensacola, was sentenced to 90 months in prison today for receipt and distribution of child pornography. Following his incarceration, he will serve 10 years on supervised release, and he must also register as a sex offender. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea on May 28, 2015, Whiting admitted that, between October 2014 and January 2015, he used the social media applications Twitter and Kik to share images of minors engaged in sex acts. In January 2015, Whiting’s Twitter account was reported to law enforcement for containing images of child pornography. When agents executed a federal search warrant at Whiting’s residence and seized his cellular telephone, they quickly located the illicit material within his social media applications. Whiting then admitted to sharing child pornography online using Twitter and Kik. Additionally, a forensic review of Whiting’s digital media revealed numerous child pornographic images and videos.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Pensacola Police Department, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Bristol Man Sentenced for Domestic Violence ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Robert W. McCandless, 38, of Bristol, Florida, was sentenced to 151 months in prison today for interstate domestic violence and interstate violation of a protection order. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea on July 9, 2015, McCandless admitted to violating a protection order by unlawfully entering the victim’s residence on January 16, 2015. McCandless and the victim had lived together previously for approximately five years and had two children. After strangling the victim with a communications cord and assaulting the victim, McCandless forced her and their children to travel with him out of Florida. Approximately eight hours later, law enforcement agents arrested McCandless, rescuing the victim and her children on Interstate 95 in South Carolina. The victim received medical treatment for injuries consistent with strangulation.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Gainesville Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jack Lee Wright, 53, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for knowingly taking U.S. currency by force from a Gainesville bank. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea on June 23, 2015, Wright admitted that, on April 25, 2014, he handed a Wells Fargo Bank teller a note listing the monetary denominations he wanted. He told her that she had ten seconds to give him the money, that she should not alert anyone, and that he had a gun in his bag. As a result, the teller gave Wright $2,025. In June 2014, Wright was identified as the perpetrator of a bank robbery in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, through a surveillance video shown on the news. Wright was later located and arrested in Maryland, possessing $10,000 and a suitcase containing clothes worn in other robberies. Officers also found a toy gun under the seat of his truck.
The court ordered that Wright’s sentence be served consecutively to the 48-month federal prison sentence imposed in Colorado.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Thurmont, Maryland Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. McMahon.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
U.S. Department of Justice Awards Law Enforcement Hiring Grants to Help Build Trust, Reduce Violence, and Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the 2015 Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Hiring Program Awards, including a $1,875,000 grant to the Tallahassee Police Department in the Northern District of Florida to fund 15 law enforcement positions.
The COPS Hiring Program provides grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years. More than $107 million nationally and more than $7,000,000 in Florida will be awarded through this program.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
“Keeping our communities safe is the primary role of our criminal justice system, and grants such as this one help accomplish that goal,” said Christopher P. Canova, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “My office is committed to maintaining partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to help protect Tallahassee’s citizens and the communities within the Northern District of Florida.”
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing Final Report for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Former Navy Noncommissioned Officer Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes While Serving in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
A former Navy noncommissioned officer pleaded guilty today to accepting approximately $25,000 in cash bribes from vendors while he served in Afghanistan.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova of the Northern District of Florida, Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko, Director Frank Robey of the Major Procurement Fraud Unit of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (Army CID), Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Sternal of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office and Brigadier General Keith M. Givens of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (Air Force OSI).
Donald P. Bunch, 46, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of the Northern District of Florida to a one-count information charging him with accepting bribes. Sentencing is scheduled to take place on Dec. 8, 2015.
From February to August 2009, Bunch worked as an U.S. Navy E8 senior chief at the Humanitarian Assistance Yard (HA Yard) at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. The HA Yard purchased supplies from local Afghan vendors for use as part of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, which enabled U.S. military commanders to respond to urgent humanitarian relief requirements in Afghanistan.
Bunch was responsible for replenishing food and supplies such as rice, beans and clothing at the HA Yard, and for selecting vendors from a pre-determined list to provide the necessary items. In connection with his guilty plea, Bunch admitted that he had been instructed by his predecessor to rotate among the vendors.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, certain Afghan vendors offered, and Bunch accepted, money for the purpose of influencing his selection of vendors. Bunch admitted that he received a total of approximately $25,000 from the vendors and that, as a result, he secured on their behalf more frequent and lucrative contracts. Bunch also admitted that he sent greeting cards stuffed with proceeds of the bribes to his wife at their residence in Florida, and that they used the money to pay for the construction of a new home.
This case was investigated by the FBI, SIGAR, Army CID, DCIS and Air Force OSI. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel P. Butler of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg of the Northern District of Florida.
Former Navy Noncommissioned Officer Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes While Serving in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former Navy noncommissioned officer pleaded guilty today to accepting approximately $25,000 in cash bribes from vendors while he served in Afghanistan.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova of the Northern District of Florida, Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko, Director Frank Robey of the Major Procurement Fraud Unit of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (Army CID), Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Sternal of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office and Brigadier General Keith M. Givens of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (Air Force OSI).
Donald P. Bunch, 46, of Pace, Florida, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of the Northern District of Florida to a one-count information charging him with accepting bribes. Sentencing is scheduled to take place on Dec. 8, 2015.
From February to August 2009, Bunch worked as an U.S. Navy E8 senior chief at the Humanitarian Assistance Yard (HA Yard) at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. The HA Yard purchased supplies from local Afghan vendors for use as part of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, which enabled U.S. military commanders to respond to urgent humanitarian relief requirements in Afghanistan.
Bunch was responsible for replenishing food and supplies such as rice, beans and clothing at the HA Yard, and for selecting vendors from a pre-determined list to provide the necessary items. In connection with his guilty plea, Bunch admitted that he had been instructed by his predecessor to rotate among the vendors.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, certain Afghan vendors offered, and Bunch accepted, money for the purpose of influencing his selection of vendors. Bunch admitted that he received a total of approximately $25,000 from the vendors and that, as a result, he secured on their behalf more frequent and lucrative contracts. Bunch also admitted that he sent greeting cards stuffed with proceeds of the bribes to his wife at their residence in Florida, and that they used the money to pay for the construction of a new home.
This case was investigated by the FBI, SIGAR, Army CID, DCIS and Air Force OSI. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel P. Butler of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg of the Northern District of Florida.
15-1140
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.
Eglin Air Force Base Civilian Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – John Wesley Sirmans, 61, of Niceville, Florida, was sentenced to 84 months in prison today for receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Sirmans was a civilian contractor at Eglin Air Force Base, who accessed child pornography images through the internet using his work computer. During his guilty plea on March 31, 2015, Sirmans admitted that, between June and December 2014, he knowingly received child pornography images through the internet as charged in the Indictment. In total, Sirmans had more than 800 images of child pornography located in his office on Eglin Air Force Base, including many images of children under the age of 12.
The charges were the result of a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854,
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Shawn P. Caldwell, 36, a registered sex offender who resides in Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 240 months in prison yesterday for receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During an undercover operation, law enforcement officers discovered Caldwell was in possession of 76 child pornography files at his Pensacola residence. At his plea hearing on June 24, 2015, Caldwell admitted that, between April 2011 and April 2015, he received child pornography images and videos from the internet, which he downloaded from several peer-to-peer programs. A forensic review of Caldwell’s electronic devices revealed approximately 263 videos and more than 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854,
Pace Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy S. Faircloth, 44, a registered sex offender who resides in Pace, Florida, was sentenced to 180 months in prison yesterday for receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During an online investigation, federal agents discovered that, on 40 occasions between March 8, 2014, and January 27, 2015, Faircloth received or attempted to receive child pornography images and videos. At his plea hearing on June 17, 2015, Faircloth admitted that, between March 2014 and January 2015, he received child pornography images and videos from the internet as charged in the Indictment. A forensic review of Faircloth’s desktop and laptop computers revealed approximately 30 child pornography images, including images of children under the age of 12.
The charges were investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854,
Pace Doctor Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dr. Sheila Mohammed, 55, of Pace, Florida, was sentenced yesterday afternoon to 12 months and one day in prison for seven counts of submitting false tax returns, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $255,158 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Mohammed pled guilty on April 22, 2015, to the seven-count Indictment returned earlier this year. During her plea, Dr. Mohammed admitted she signed and caused to be filed, false personal tax returns that grossly underreported her total income for tax years 2010 through 2013. In addition, Dr. Mohammed admitted that, as president and owner of The Industrial Medicine Institute Inc., a medical practice in Pace, Florida, she signed and caused to be filed, false corporate tax returns for The Industrial Medicine Institute Inc., for the years 2010 through 2012.
At Mohammed’s sentencing hearing, the government showed that, between February 2010 and June 2014, Mohammed used the money she failed to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service, totaling approximately $1,166,632, to purchase vehicles and properties located in Pensacola, Pace, and Destin, Florida, and Hawaii and New Mexico.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854,
Federal Charges Brought in Tallahassee Cyberstalking CaseRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Michael Daniel Rubens, 30, formerly of Tallahassee, with seven counts of cyberstalking, five counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Rubens was arraigned yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee. The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The 13-count indictment alleges that, between January 2012 and January 2015, in the Northern District of Florida, Rubens used interactive computer services, such as social media accounts, to engage in conduct causing emotional distress to multiple women. Rubens is also charged with hacking into various online accounts of multiple women to obtain information about them. The trial is scheduled for November 16, 2015.
This case resulted from investigations by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida State University Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason S. Beaton.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854,
Gainesville Man Charged in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jonathan Marshall Taylor, 46, of Gainesville, Florida with sex trafficking of a minor. Taylor was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in Gainesville. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, on June 13, 2015, Taylor solicited a person, and that he did so knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the person was less than 18 years of age and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. The trial is scheduled for October 27, 2015, at 8:30 a.m.
This case resulted from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Pensacola Businessman Indicted on Multiple Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Herdeypal Singh Bhatti, 41, of Pensacola, was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola after a federal grand jury returned two separate indictments charging him with unlawfully attempting to procure naturalization and with wire and mail fraud. The indictments were announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The naturalization indictment alleges that, in November 2011, Bhatti knowingly and falsely indicated on his naturalization application that he never failed to file a required federal income tax return and that he did not owe overdue federal taxes. The trial is scheduled for September 21, 2015.
The fraud indictment alleges that, in 2010 and 2011, Bhatti committed wire and mail fraud by knowingly submitting fraudulent claims and supporting documentation to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility ("GCCF") in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The indictment alleges that Bhatti falsely claimed to be a hotel manager seeking payment for his lost earnings from the spill. The trial is scheduled for October 5, 2015.
These cases resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the State Attorney's Office for the 1st Judicial Circuit. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the cases.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Jackson County Man Convicted of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – A federal trial jury convicted Charles Heath Stewart, 42, of Grand Ridge, Florida, of producing and possessing child pornography. The verdict was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, on three occasions, in September, October, and November 2013, Stewart knowingly enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction. Additionally, evidence presented at trial showed that Stewart knowingly possessed child pornographic images. Law enforcement officers discovered the sexually explicit images when they executed state and federal search warrants on Stewart’s phone in 2014.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2015, at 12:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse, 30 West Government Street, Panama City, Florida. For each count of production of child pornography, Stewart faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison, life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. For the possession of child pornography, Stewart faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the conviction in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn D. Risinger.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
U.S. Attorney Pamela Cothran Marsh Announces ResignationRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Pamela Cothran Marsh announced her resignation today as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, effective September 4, 2015. Since 2010, U.S. Attorney Marsh has served as the leading federal prosecutor for Florida’s 23 panhandle counties, from Alachua to Escambia, overseeing offices in Gainesville, Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola.
“For more than five years as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Pamela Cothran Marsh has worked tirelessly to protect and empower the people of her community,” said Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “The skills, integrity, and passion that Pam has brought to the job each and every day have advanced the cause of justice on a variety of important fronts, from human trafficking to public corruption to law enforcement officer safety. Pam’s remarkable record of service reflects her immense talent as an advocate, her consummate professionalism as a leader, and her unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice. From our earliest days together on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, I have always admired Pam’s dedication to the mission of this Department, to the high ideals of public service, and to the timeless principles that make our nation exceptional. I thank her for her extraordinary work as United States Attorney, and I look forward to all that she will continue to achieve in the next phase of her already distinguished career.”
“It was a tremendous honor to be appointed by President Barack Obama as United States Attorney, and it has been my great privilege to lead this office for the last five and a half years,” said U.S. Attorney Marsh. “I have loved working for Justice since my first day on the job. The lawyers and staff are incredibly talented and work hard every day in the name of justice, fairness, and equality. I would like to express my deep thanks to the President, the two wonderful Attorneys General with whom I worked – Eric H. Holder, Jr., and Loretta Lynch – and to Senators Nelson and Rubio for the confidence they placed in me. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have had as United States Attorney to protect our communities in the Northern District of Florida.”
On June 25, 2010, following President Obama’s nomination and the U.S. Senate’s confirmation, U.S. Attorney Marsh became the district’s 40th U.S. Attorney, and the first woman to serve in this position for the Northern District of Florida
Over the past five years, the Northern District of Florida has prosecuted a variety of cases related to tax and BP oil spill fraud, drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, health care fraud, mortgage fraud, and civil rights violations, including:
- In 2012, seven individuals were sentenced in Tallahassee for conspiring to file more than 350 fraudulent income tax returns, seeking more than $2.4 million in tax refunds.
- In 2012 and 2013, as part of “Operation See Change”, nine individuals were sentenced in Tallahassee after a six-month undercover investigation targeting street-level drug distribution along Tallahassee’s Alabama Street corridor.
- In 2013, as part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a Georgia man was sentenced in Gainesville to 235 months in prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor via the Internet.
- In 2014, nine individuals were sentenced in Pensacola for filing fraudulent BP oil spill claims.
- In 2014, a California woman was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for her role in a $16 million mortgage fraud scheme involving properties in Navarre, Santa Rosa Beach, and Panama City. She was ordered to pay over $10 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud.
- In 2014, a Freeport physician was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges that included health care fraud violations and illegally distributing controlled substances.
- In 2015, a former Gadsden County Deputy Sheriff’s Captain was sentenced in Tallahassee to 30 months in prison for violating the civil rights of an arrestee.
During her tenure, in addition to criminal prosecution, U.S. Attorney Marsh’s priorities have included outreach in human trafficking, reentry, violent crime prevention, and law enforcement officer safety.
U.S. Attorney Marsh created and chaired the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which has contributed to an increase in both human trafficking awareness and prosecutions. In a 2014 Panama City case, a human trafficker received life in prison for kidnapping and transporting a victim to Mississippi for prostitution.
Through the Big Bend After Reentry Coalition, U.S. Attorney Marsh’s office has joined other government agencies and non-profit groups in North Florida to assist offenders upon their release from incarceration, by providing support during their transitions into our communities.
U.S. Attorney Marsh has hosted law enforcement training sessions and recently co-produced an officer safety training video for officers responding to violent encounters.
Also, in a unique case, U.S. Attorney Marsh personally led a successful civil case to return a renaissance painting taken from the rightful owners, a Jewish family living in France, during World War II. The painting, known as the Cristo Portacroce by Romanino, was seized from an exhibit of paintings on loan from the Italian state museum in Milan, Italy.
After U.S. Attorney Marsh’s departure, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Canova will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney 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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Two Charged in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Michael Alexander Hayes and Ranell Carter Jr., both 24, of Gainesville, Florida, with sex trafficking of a minor. Carter was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in Gainesville, and Hayes was arraigned on August 6, 2015. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, between May and June 2015, Hayes and Carter knowingly enticed a person less than 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act. Carter was charged in a separate indictment in June 2015 with sex trafficking of a minor. The trial is scheduled for September 22, 2015.
This case resulted from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Federal Inmate Convicted of Assaulting a Correctional OfficerRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Late yesterday, a federal trial jury convicted Kenneth Hobson, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee, of knowingly assaulting and injuring a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna. The verdict was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, in July 2014, Hobson forcibly assaulted a corrections officer after the officer attempted to search him for possession of contraband. During the assault, Hobson delivered multiple punches to the officer’s face and body, punching and kicking the officer as he was rendered unconscious. The officer fell to the ground, and Hobson continued to punch and kick him. The officer sustained contusions to his face and jaw, a fractured cheek bone, and a loose tooth.
Hobson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 10, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Panama City, Florida. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn D. Risinger.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Panama City Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA –Sammie Lee Underwood III, 22, of Panama City, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a loaded .380 caliber pistol. The sentence was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, in May 2014, Panama City police officers were on patrol in the Glenwood neighborhood when Underwood, driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe, ran a stop sign. He then led the officers on a chase through the neighborhood. As officers finally approached Underwood’s still-moving vehicle, he jumped out and fled on foot. The driverless vehicle then collided with a residence on East 13th Court. Under the Tahoe’s driver seat, officers found the loaded firearm and baggies of crack cocaine, bath salts, and marijuana. Testimony from Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Laboratory analysts showed that DNA recovered from the firearm matched Underwood. Underwood was convicted in March 2015.
The case was investigated by the Panama City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gayle E. Littleton and Katy D. Risinger.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Two Sentenced in Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dorothy Jean Bailey, 52, and Phillip Walker III, 24, of Tampa, Florida, were sentenced to 110 months and 48 months in prison respectively today for conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft in connection with the filing of false federal income tax returns. They were also ordered to pay $475,402.01 in restitution. Bailey and Walker were the last of five defendants to be sentenced in the case. The sentences were announced by Pamela C. Marsh, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During their guilty pleas in November and December 2014, the defendants admitted that, between 2011 and 2014, they conspired with co-defendants Darren Christopher Royal, 22, Cedric William Page, 25, and Gabriela Gloria Huerta, 23, each of Tallahassee, to file approximately 335 fraudulent federal income tax returns seeking more than $3.4 million in tax refunds. To prepare these returns, the conspirators used personal identification information (PII) stolen from approximately 662 individuals. The group obtained the PII from criminal court records in Texas, from tenant records maintained by apartment complexes in Tallahassee, and from deceased victims. Bailey, Walker, and Royal also filed fraudulent returns in their own names.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Coody.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Crestview Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – William M. Goode, 48, of Crestview, Florida, was sentenced today to 10.5 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervision, for attempting to entice a minor for sex and for receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea on April 1, 2015, Goode admitted to posting an online advertisement to solicit sex with a minor, which an undercover law enforcement officer answered in November 2014. Goode’s online communications with the undercover officer were an attempt to entice sexual activity with the undercover officer’s purported 12-year-old daughter. Goode arranged to meet the undercover officer in Pensacola but was taken into custody after traveling more than 50 miles for the sexual encounter. A subsequent forensic review of Goode’s digital media revealed several dozen images of child pornography and numerous online communications with people who offered to allow Goode to engage in sexual acts with minors.
United States Attorney Marsh praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Former IRS Employee and Three Others Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Mail FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Four Pensacola residents, including a former IRS tax examiner, have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to file false claims for payment in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The sentences were announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
On June 30, 2015, Rosa M. Bonner, 52, and Ariyanna S. Lampley, 33, were sentenced to 27 months and 48 months in prison respectively. Both pled guilty on April 8, 2015. On July 16, 2015, Jimmie A. McCorvey, 41, and Marcia D. McCorvey, 42, were sentenced to 72 months and 12 months and one day in prison respectively. Jimmie McCorvey pled guilty on April 30, 2015, and Marcia McCorvey pled guilty on May 7, 2015.
During their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted their participation in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The conspiracy involved the filing of false claims with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (“GCCF”) alleging lost income as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Between 2010 and 2012, the defendants agreed to have Jimmie McCorvey file false GCCF claims in their names and other names provided by Lampley, seeking more than $327,000 in payments for alleged lost earnings and profits as a result of the spill. Jimmie McCorvey fraudulently used Pensacola addresses to indicate that all claimants lived and worked in Pensacola. As a result of these false claims, GCCF paid $95,200 to the defendants.
Jimmie McCorvey, who was an IRS employee at the time, also admitted to conspiring with Lampley and others to prepare and file approximately 25 fraudulent federal income tax returns between 2009 and 2011, resulting in the issuance of more than $62,000 in tax refund checks. The fraudulently obtained tax refund checks were deposited in bank accounts controlled by Lampley, who paid Jimmie McCorvey a portion of each check. Jimmie McCorvey also pled guilty to aggravated identity theft for fraudulently using other people’s identities in both schemes.
This case resulted from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Kim.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Tallahassee Woman Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Christine Thurman, 29, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 126 months in prison yesterday, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to transport a minor for prostitution. The sentence was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During her guilty plea on January 15, 2015, Thurman admitted that, between November 2013 and May 2014, she knowingly conspired with others to transport an individual less than 18 years of age for prostitution. This sex trafficking organization posted online advertisements offering underage girls as escorts. Upon discovering the advertisements in January 2014, an undercover investigator attempted to arrange a meeting at a local motel with a girl featured in one of the online ads. While surveilling the motel, investigators observed Thurman leave a motel room adjacent to the room where the undercover investigator had arranged to meet the minor. Investigators then obtained documentation indicating that Thurman had been involved in the payment for both motel rooms. When investigators obtained access to the rooms, they found evidence of prostitution, Thurman’s and the victim’s personal belongings, and an online advertisement offering escort services under Thurman’s alias. Investigators were also able to establish that Thurman was connected to prepaid debit cards that had been used to pay for online advertisements offering minors as escorts. In May 2014, investigators discovered another online advertisement featuring another underage victim, whom Thurman had transported from Georgia to Tallahassee, and Thurman was arrested.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
“The safety and well-being of our children is a top priority for this U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Marsh. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to protect the community and children, who are our most innocent victims. Great praise is deserved by all of our law enforcement partners who contributed to the success of this investigation.”
“HSI remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of society, our youth,” said Susan L. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Tampa. “This sentencing is the result of the hard work of HSI, FBI, Tallahassee Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, working together to make our communities safer.”
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Local Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Ralph Jason Miller, 32, of Woodville, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison after convictions for using a minor in the production of child pornography and for committing these offenses while required to register as a sex offender. The sentence was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Upon Miller’s release from prison, he will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for the remainder of his life.
Miller was convicted at a jury trial held April 20-22, 2015. During the trial, the government presented evidence that, in January, April, and July 2012, Miller caused a minor female to engage in sexual intercourse and in graphic sexual displays for the purpose of making visual depictions of these activities. The victim was 14 and 15 at the time of these offenses.
Sheriff’s detectives discovered the child pornography when they executed a search warrant on Miller’s residence on December 4, 2013. The search warrant was based upon reports that Miller had engaged in sexual acts with other minor females.
United States Attorney Marsh praised the work of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, whose joint investigation led to this successful prosecution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Third Defendant Arraigned in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Ranell Carter Jr., 24, the last of three defendants charged in a federal sex trafficking indictment, was arraigned yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Gainesville. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, between August and December 2014, Carter, Hal Bernard Black, 20, and Tawanda LaKaye Burkett, 39, all of Gainesville, Florida, knowingly enticed a person less than 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act and that they financially benefited from a sex trafficking venture. Carter was arrested on Saturday as a result of a traffic stop, and Black and Burkett were arrested in June.
This case resulted from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gainesville Police Department, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Bristol Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Robert W. McCandless, 38, of Bristol, Florida, pled guilty today to interstate domestic violence and interstate violation of a protection order. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his plea, McCandless admitted to violating a protection order by unlawfully entering the victim’s residence on January 16, 2015. McCandless and the victim had lived together for approximately five years and had two children. After attempting to strangle the victim with a communications cord, McCandless forced her and their children to leave Liberty County with him in the victim’s vehicle. Approximately eight hours later, law enforcement agents pulled over the victim’s vehicle in South Carolina and arrested McCandless. The victim received medical treatment for injuries consistent with strangulation. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for the victim’s residence and found evidence of an assault. The communications cord was also analyzed and found to have the victim’s blood and DNA on it.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 1, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. McCandless faces a maximum of ten years’ imprisonment on each separate count of conviction.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Pensacola Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kevin D. Webster, 44, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for wire fraud. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $144,229.07. The sentence was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea in February 2015, Webster admitted that, between 2008 and 2012, as an insurance agent registered in Florida and other states, he knowingly defrauded NFL and NBA player clients by falsely representing that he had used the clients’ money to obtain umbrella insurance policies, with coverage amounts ranging from $5 million to $1 million, from United States Liability Insurance Group. Instead, Webster stole approximately $140,000 in client payments meant for policy premiums.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Kim.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Bronson Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jamie Vincent Ward, 38, of Bronson, Florida, pled guilty today to two charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to documents filed in the case, Ward was convicted in Georgia for the felony offenses of Escape, Theft by Taking, First Degree Arson, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Ward is the leader or “Grand Dragon” of the Florida-Georgia chapter (“Klavern”) of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TAKKKK). In 2014 and 2015, Ward discussed his possession of firearms with another member of the TAKKKK. On March 2, 2015, Ward transferred a German Sports Gun .22 caliber rifle to that person, asking that it be converted to a fully automatic weapon.
Law enforcement agents served search and arrest warrants at Ward’s Bronson residence on April 2, 2015. Ward was arrested as he attempted to flee. A loaded Hi-Point nine-millimeter pistol and an assortment of ammunition were found within his residence.
Ward is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. in Gainesville. He faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, whose joint investigation led to the convictions in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Convicted Felon Sentenced to 14.5 Years for Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Darius D. Williams, 24, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison late yesterday for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and for possession of a stolen firearm. The sentence was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his guilty plea in February 2015, Williams admitted to knowingly possessing a stolen firearm, after prior convictions for felony offenses. In the early morning hours of September 14, 2014, a person was shot in the head outside a Pensacola bar. A responding law enforcement officer pursued a suspicious vehicle that was fleeing the scene of the shooting at a high rate of speed. When the vehicle stopped, Williams jumped from the rear seat, holding a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and continued his flight on foot. Williams was ultimately apprehended, and the arresting officer recovered the firearm that Williams had discarded during his flight. Forensic tests revealed gunshot residue on Williams’s hands and clothes. Williams’s DNA was also found on the firearm. The victim of the shooting survived.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Pensacola Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Thomas Victor Sway, 25, of Pensacola, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, between November 2012 and May 2013, Sway received and possessed child pornography, including videos depicting images of minors less than 12 years of age engaged in sex acts. Undercover law enforcement officers discovered and downloaded the pornographic files from a public file sharing network that could be traced to Sway’s computer. After agents executed a search warrant at Sway’s residence, a forensic analysis of his hard drive revealed at least 140 video files containing images of child pornography. Additionally, the system file history indicated a pattern of Sway using dozens of distinct search terms to locate child pornography on the internet. Sway was convicted on April 15, 2015.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.
“This sentence is just one example of the hard work of our district’s prosecutors and law enforcement professionals to combat child exploitation crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Marsh. “These cases illustrate how dangerous the internet can be, and we will continue to investigate and charge those who target children.”
"Protecting children is a top priority for HSI, and we will continue to work in partnership with other agencies, like the Pensacola Police Department and the Northwest Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to stop the exploitation of our children," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “It is imperative for law enforcement to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Former Chairman of International Credit Union Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Samuel J. Cusumano Jr., 65, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon to wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent solicitation of more than $17 million from 400 investors of the Swedish-registered Storehouse Credit Union. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Pamela C. Marsh for the Northern District of Florida.
During his plea, Cusumano admitted that between 2007 and 2009, as the chairman of the board of Storehouse, he promoted the international credit union as a high yield investment opportunity through intentionally misleading presentations and materials. Cusumano fraudulently induced investors to transfer monies to investment accounts under Cusumano’s control by misrepresenting the rates of return being generated by the business. He falsely claimed that Storehouse used professional currency traders when, in fact, Cusumano personally executed all trades from his home, investing primarily in the Foreign Currency Exchange Market. Although the business was actually losing money, Cusumano created fraudulent financial statements to convince investors that Storehouse was reaching or exceeding the high rates of return that Cusumano had promised them. When investors discovered that they were unable to withdraw their funds due to trading losses, a financial audit was conducted. The audit revealed that investor funds had been depleted, that earnings had been overstated and that Cusumano had used a large portion of the investors’ funds to pay personal expenses. Investors resided in the United States, including in the Northern District of Florida, Canada, Great Britain and Australia.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 22, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida. Cusumano faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
The charges result from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory P. McMahon.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
Former Chairman of International Credit Union Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Samuel J. Cusumano Jr., 65, of Orlando, Florida, pled guilty yesterday afternoon to wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent solicitation of more than $17,000,000 from 400 investors of the Swedish-registered Storehouse Credit Union. The guilty plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his plea, Cusumano admitted that, between 2007 and 2009, as the chairman of the board of Storehouse, he promoted the international credit union as a high yield investment opportunity through intentionally misleading presentations and materials. Cusumano fraudulently induced investors to transfer monies to investment accounts under Cusumano’s control by misrepresenting the rates of return being generated by the business. He falsely claimed that Storehouse used professional currency traders when, in fact, Cusumano personally executed all trades from his home, investing primarily in the Foreign Currency Exchange Market. Although the business was actually losing money, Cusumano created fraudulent financial statements to convince investors that Storehouse was reaching or exceeding the high rates of return that Cusumano had promised them. When investors discovered that they were unable to withdraw their funds due to trading losses, a financial audit was conducted. The audit revealed that investor funds had been depleted, that earnings had been overstated, and that Cusumano had used a large portion of the investors’ funds to pay personal expenses. Investors resided in the United States, including in the Northern District of Florida, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville. Cusumano faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
The charges result from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. McMahon.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Crestview Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Paul R. Bloom, 31, of Crestview, pled guilty today to production and receipt of child pornography. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his plea, Bloom admitted to using a publicly available peer-to-peer file sharing network to receive child pornography. During February and March 2015, undercover law enforcement agents downloaded sexually explicit video files that were traced to Bloom’s residence. Agents executed a federal search warrant at Bloom residence and seized multiple pieces of digital media, including laptops and external hard drives. An on-scene forensic review of the digital media revealed large amounts of child pornography. While interviewing Bloom and reviewing the seized evidence, law enforcement agents determined that Bloom produced child pornography in his own home. The child pornography produced by Bloom involved a nine-year-old female. A final forensic review of Bloom’s digital media revealed more than 850 videos and 2,000 images of child pornography that he had received and/or shared over the last few years.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2015, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. For the production of child pornography, Bloom faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison, life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. For the receipt of child pornography, Bloom faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Gulf Breeze Attorney Indicted for Bank Fraud and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Richard Michael Colbert, 54, of Pensacola Beach, was charged by a federal grand jury with 15 felony counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and/or mail fraud affecting a financial institution, four counts of false statement to a federally insured financial institution, one count of theft, embezzlement or misapplication by a person connected with a financial institution, and nine counts of money laundering. The indictment, unsealed today, was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that Colbert, while the manager of Beach Title Services, a subsidiary of Beach Community Bank, participated in a scheme to defraud and obtain money and/or property by fraudulent means from federally insured financial institutions. As a part of the scheme, Colbert allegedly signed and submitted false settlement statements to Bank of America and Beach Community Bank. The indictment also alleges that Colbert signed and submitted a false settlement statement to the now defunct GulfSouth Private Bank, so former builder Lawrence Wright could obtain a loan. The indictment further alleges that Colbert, while acting as an escrow agent for Beach Community Bank, embezzled and misapplied funds being held at Beach Community Bank. Thereafter, Colbert allegedly conducted a series of financial transactions thereby laundering the embezzled funds.
Colbert was arrested this morning, and his initial appearance was this afternoon at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial will be scheduled at Colbert’s arraignment next Wednesday, June 24.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Office
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Pensacola Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes (Robertson)Read the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Pensacola resident John W. Robertson, 68, with attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, in May 2015, Robertson knowingly attempted to entice an individual less than 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity, and that he possessed sexualized images and videos involving minors less than 12 years of age.
Robertson originally appeared in federal court last month upon being arrested on a federal criminal complaint. He will be arraigned on the indictment at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, and is being held in federal custody at the Santa Rosa County Jail, pending further proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Office
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Pensacola Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes (Grafton)Read the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Pensacola resident Robert M. Grafton Jr., 29, with attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, in May 2015, Grafton knowingly attempted to entice an individual less than 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity, and that he possessed sexualized images and videos involving minors less than 12 years of age.
Grafton originally appeared in federal court last month upon being arrested on a federal criminal complaint. He will be arraigned on the indictment at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, and is being held in federal custody at the Santa Rosa County Jail, pending further proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Office
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Correctional Officers Charged with Conspiracy to Violate Civil RightsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging that correctional officers William J. Ray, 40, of Carrabelle, Florida, and Corry B. Fletcher, 43, of Bristol, Florida, conspired to violate the civil rights of a state inmate and deprived the inmate of constitutional rights at the Franklin Correctional Institution, a state prison in the Northern District of Florida. Fletcher was additionally charged with obstruction of justice. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, in July 2014, Ray and Fletcher, while acting as state correctional officers, conspired to intimidate a state prison inmate in the free exercise and enjoyment of the constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by correctional officers. The indictment further charges that Ray and Fletcher physically assaulted an inmate at the Franklin Correctional Institution without justification and caused the inmate bodily injury. The indictment finally charges that, in April 2015, Fletcher obstructed justice by intentionally misleading FBI and FDLE agents through false statements.
Ray and Fletcher were arrested this morning and arraigned in federal court today. The trial is scheduled for July 13, 2015, in Tallahassee.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with the assistance of the Florida Department of Corrections – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
Correctional Officers Charged with Conspiracy to Violate Civil RightsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging that correctional officers William J. Ray, 40, of Carrabelle, Florida, and Corry B. Fletcher, 43, of Bristol, Florida, conspired to violate the civil rights of a state inmate and deprived the inmate of constitutional rights at the Franklin Correctional Institution, a state prison in the Northern District of Florida. Fletcher was additionally charged with obstruction of justice. The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The indictment alleges that, in July 2014, Ray and Fletcher, while acting as state correctional officers, conspired to intimidate a state prison inmate in the free exercise and enjoyment of the constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by correctional officers. The indictment further charges that Ray and Fletcher physically assaulted an inmate at the Franklin Correctional Institution without justification and caused the inmate bodily injury. The indictment finally charges that, in April 2015, Fletcher obstructed justice by intentionally misleading FBI and FDLE agents through false statements.
Ray and Fletcher were arrested this morning and arraigned in federal court today. The trial is scheduled for July 13, 2015, in Tallahassee.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with the assistance of the Florida Department of Corrections – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Office
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]
Three Sentenced in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – John Matthew Love, 36, and Bryant Anthony Kreis, 32, of the Panama City area, and Carmen Theresa Silva, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Love was sentenced to 84 months in prison, Kreis to 48 months in prison, and Silva to 42 months in prison. Love was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The sentences were announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Co-defendants Mabrye Joseph Bettinger, 41, and Dusti Nicole Broxson, 26, both of the Panama City area, were previously sentenced on February 4, 2015, to 94 months and 151 months in prison respectively. Co-defendant Anastacio Mendoza, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5th at 9:30 a.m.
In September 2014, law enforcement officers arrested Love outside a Panama City Beach apartment building carrying a handgun and five plastic containers filled with methamphetamine. The total weight of the containers and methamphetamine was approximately 4 kilograms. Love admitted to transporting approximately two to four kilograms of methamphetamine from Atlanta to Panama City Beach on approximately 10 separate occasions during the summer and fall of 2014. Love then sold the methamphetamine to mid-level dealers, including Bettinger, Kreis, and Broxson.
Later on the day of Love’s arrest, Bettinger, Kreis, and Broxson showed up at Love’s apartment carrying cash in amounts ranging from approximately $4,000 to $13,900, for the purchase of methamphetamine from Love. Kreis and Bettinger admitted that they had purchased methamphetamine from Love on at least five different occasions. Several days after Love’s arrest, Mendoza and Silva were arrested while transporting an additional 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, intended for Love, from Atlanta, Georgia.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Panama City, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Panama City Police Department, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn Risinger and Edwin Knight prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
Three Sentenced in Methampetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – John Matthew Love, 36, and Bryant Anthony Kreis, 32, of the Panama City area, and Carmen Theresa Silva, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Love was sentenced to 84 months in prison, Kreis to 48 months in prison, and Silva to 42 months in prison. Love was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The sentences were announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Co-defendants Mabrye Joseph Bettinger, 41, and Dusti Nicole Broxson, 26, both of the Panama City area, were previously sentenced on February 4, 2015, to 94 months and 151 months in prison respectively. Co-defendant Anastacio Mendoza, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5th at 9:30 a.m.
In September 2014, law enforcement officers arrested Love outside a Panama City Beach apartment building carrying a handgun and five plastic containers filled with methamphetamine. The total weight of the containers and methamphetamine was approximately 4 kilograms. Love admitted to transporting approximately two to four kilograms of methamphetamine from Atlanta to Panama City Beach on approximately 10 separate occasions during the summer and fall of 2014. Love then sold the methamphetamine to mid-level dealers, including Bettinger, Kreis, and Broxson.
Later on the day of Love’s arrest, Bettinger, Kreis, and Broxson showed up at Love’s apartment carrying cash in amounts ranging from approximately $4,000 to $13,900, for the purchase of methamphetamine from Love. Kreis and Bettinger admitted that they had purchased methamphetamine from Love on at least five different occasions. Several days after Love’s arrest, Mendoza and Silva were arrested while transporting an additional 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, intended for Love, from Atlanta, Georgia.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Panama City, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Panama City Police Department, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn Risinger and Edwin Knight prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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 Man Sentenced to Prison for Use of Bogus Court OrderRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Frank William Johannissohn, 67, of Tallahassee, was sentenced late yesterday by United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle to 25 months in federal prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In July 2013, Johannissohn mailed a fraudulent “Redress of Alimony” order bearing the forged signatures of a Wakulla County circuit court judge and a deputy clerk of the court to the United States Office of Personnel Management. The fraudulent “Redress of Alimony” purported to order the termination of Johannissohn’s obligations to provide health insurance, survivor benefits, and alimony for his former spouse. Johannissohn mailed the fraudulent document in an attempt to remove his former spouse as the surviving beneficiary of his federal retirement annuity.
The case was investigated by the United States Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General with the assistance of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Beaton.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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.
East Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Distibuting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Kandel Markie Whiting, 35, of Pensacola, pled guilty yesterday to receipt and distribution of child pornography. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During his plea, Whiting admitted that, between October 2014 and January 2015, he used the social media applications Twitter and Kik to share images of minors engaged in sex acts. In January 2015, Whiting’s Twitter account was reported to law enforcement for containing images of child pornography. When agents executed a federal search warrant at Whiting’s residence and seized his cellular phone, they quickly located the illicit material within his social media applications. Whiting then admitted to sharing child pornography online using Twitter and Kik. Additionally, a forensic review of Whiting’s digital media revealed numerous child pornographic images and videos.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2015, before Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Whiting faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and maximums of 20 years in prison, life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Pensacola Police Department, and the other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
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. The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States. 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
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]