Southern District of Florida

MIAMI – A Colombian national was extradited to the United States on Friday to face charges related to kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.

Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, of Bogotá, made her initial court appearance today in Miami, Florida, before Magistrate Judge Eduardo Sanchez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

According to court documents, Uribe Chiran and her co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá in order to rob them of their valuables.

Uribe Chiran is charged with kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person.

Uribe Chiran is the last of the three co-defendants to be extradited to the United States. Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Silva Ochoa was extradited in April from Chile to the United States and is currently scheduled for trial in November.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, and the U.S. Marshals Service escorted Uribe Chiran from Colombia to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Office of the Legal Attaché Santiago, and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Uribe Chiran. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.

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

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20474.

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A Colombian national was extradited to the United States on Friday to face charges related to kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.

Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, of Bogotá, made her initial court appearance today in Miami, Florida, before Magistrate Judge Eduardo Sanchez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

According to court documents, Uribe Chiran and her co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá in order to rob them of their valuables.

Uribe Chiran is charged with kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person.

Uribe Chiran is the last of the three co-defendants to be extradited to the United States. Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Silva Ochoa was extradited in April from Chile to the United States and is currently scheduled for trial in November.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, and the U.S. Marshals Service escorted Uribe Chiran from Colombia to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Office of the Legal Attaché Santiago, and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Uribe Chiran. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.

Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

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

MIAMI – A U.S. District Judge sentenced Xavier Latrell Smith, 34, to 360 months’ imprisonment and his co-defendant Jayla Denice Welch, 22, to 170 months’ imprisonment, for sex trafficking a minor from Texas to Louisiana to Florida.

In March, Smith and Welch, who are both from Texas, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor to engage in sexual activity, and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. In addition, Smith was convicted of two counts of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender.

Smith, a registered sex offender, and Welch lured the minor victim to engage in sexual acts with false promises of a better life. Smith and Welch then posted commercial sex ads of the minor victim online as they travelled with the victim from Texas to Louisiana to Florida, where she was trafficked and engaged in prostitution. Smith and Welch collected the money the victim received from the unlawful sexual acts.

The minor victim was rescued from a hotel room reserved and paid for by Smith and occupied by Welch and the minor victim. Smith’s cellular device rang when agents called the TextNow number associated with the minor victim’s commercial sex ads. After the minor victim was rescued, law enforcement reviewed Smith and Welch’s phones and recovered records of them photographing, posting and maintaining the commercial sex ads of the minor victim in six different cities. Welch and Smith both paid for and reserved hotel rooms that the minor victim used for the illegal sexual activity with the commercial sex customers.

Smith was sentenced on Aug. 23.  Welch was sentenced on June 21. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Smith on Sept. 27.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with MDPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, and the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman, Bertila Lilia Fernandez, and Arielle Klepach prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eloisa Fernandez is handling asset forfeiture.

To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org.  The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages.  The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously. To learn more about the hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. 

To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20122.

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MIAMI – On Sept. 5, the United States unsealed an indictment charging 27 defendants, including Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority employees, commercial charter boat operators, and a former City of Marathon employee, with federal drug and firearm offenses in and around the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County.

The thirteen count indictment charges John Robert Strama Jr., 42, of Marathon, Fla., Rusty John Stiglitz, 39, of Marathon, Fla., Daniel Fernando Ramirez, 43, of Key West, Fla., Daniel Delgado, 38, of Miami Springs, Fla., Orlando Rene Gonzalez, 29, of Hialeah, Fla., Alfred Michael Nunez, 34, of Marathon, Fla., Elvis Lazaro Ruiz, 31, of Marathon, Fla., Pedro Luis Lugo Jr., 36, of Marathon, Fla., Nyran Antonio Ross, 32, of Marathon, Fla., and Tyrell Lamar Williams, 36, of Marathon, Fla., with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties.

The indictment charges Louis Charles Arvelo, 38, of Boca Raton, Fla., Andrew Hamill Hunt, 36, of Marathon, Fla., Kevin Andrew Yeider, 46, of Marathon, Fla., Jose Enrique Olivo Sanchez, 34, of Marathon, Fla., Kenyatta Scott Jr., 32, of Key West, Fla., Macarthur Junior Sheppard, 36, of Marathon, Fla., Alberto Ravelo Jr., 34, of Hialeah, Fla., Allison Annmarie Thomas, 29, of Marathon, Fla., Kizmet Yatz Qualls, 51, of Marathon, Fla., James Dean Chatelain, 34, of Marathon, Fla., with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties.

The indictment further charges Michael David Corbosiero, 68, of Boca Raton, Fla., Michael Joseph Rodamer, 63, of Key Colony Beach, Fla., Robert Roy Taute Jr., 50, of Marathon, Fla., Bairon Aceituno Machado, 34, formerly of Marathon, Fla., Lazaro Jesus Hernandez, 35, formerly of Marathon, Fla., Anthony Velez Llanes, 38, of Little Torch Key, Fla., and Tyler Jameson Macmillan, 33, of Big Pine Key, Fla., with conspiring with each other, their co-defendants, and others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine in Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties. The indictment also specified various real estate properties, vessels, and vehicles are subject to criminal forfeiture.

Strama, a convicted felon, also faces additional federal charges for cocaine distribution, using a child under the age of 14 to engage in drug trafficking and avoid detection and apprehension, and possessing a firearm and ammunition after a previous felony conviction.

Stiglitz, Ramirez, Gonzalez, Nunez, Ross, Sheppard, and Chatelain face additional federal charges for cocaine distribution. Ross, Williams, Sheppard, and Scott also face additional federal charges for cocaine distribution within 1,000 feet of playgrounds in Florida City, Fla., and Marathon, Fla.

On Sept. 5, the defendants started to be taken into custody at various locations and began making their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, Strama, Stiglitz, Ramirez, Delgado, Gonzalez, Nunez, Ruiz, Lugo, Ross, and Williams face up to life imprisonment. Scott and Sheppard face up to 80 years in prison. Arvelo, Hunt, Yeider, Olivo, Ravelo, Thomas, Qualls, and Chatelain face up to 40 years in prison. Corbosiero, Rodamer, Taute, Machado, Hernandez, Llanes, and MacMillian face up to 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.

FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Homestead Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, FBI Detroit Field Office, and U.S. Probation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. McLaughlin is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Maranda is handling asset forfeiture.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20386.

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MIAMI – A couple from Lake Worth, Fla., pled guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a baby and for being felons in unlawful possession of firearms.

Today, Samantha Yi, 32, pled guilty to a superseding indictment charging Yi and her boyfriend Darnell Mendez with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Mendez, 31, pled guilty to the same offenses on July 25. Their guilty pleas follow a long-term joint investigation by the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after the death of a 10-month-old infant in Boynton Beach who ingested fentanyl.

On March 31, 2022, PBSO responded to a 911 call of an infant in distress. The infant was transported to Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Fla., with her mother. On April 1, 2022, the baby was transferred to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. On April 5, 2022, the baby died. An autopsy conducted by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner determined that the baby’s death was caused by fentanyl intoxication and that her manner of death was homicide. 

The BBPD conducted a homicide investigation during which law enforcement recovered fentanyl at the baby’s home. The investigation determined that the baby’s mother and father were addicts and had been abusing fentanyl regularly in the kitchen of their apartment. The investigation also determined that the baby was teething and ingested fentanyl on March 31, 2022, while in the care of her mother, and while her father was at work. The mother was arrested by the BBPD and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child by culpable negligence.

DEA joined the investigation to identify the drug dealers that were responsible for the distribution of the fentanyl that killed the baby. Through data and information retrieved from the mother’s cellphone, law enforcement was able to identify Yi as the drug dealer. The investigation uncovered months of electronic communications exchanged between Yi and the mother involving drug transactions in which the mother was the customer. The investigation further determined that Yi’s boyfriend, Mendez was also involved in the distribution of fentanyl. Investigators were able to determine that on March 30, 2022, the mother met with Yi in Boynton Beach to purchase fentanyl, and that fentanyl was ingested by the baby resulting in her death.

As part of the joint investigation, DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), BBPD, and PBSO conducted an operation involving two undercover officers who purchased fentanyl from Yi and Mendez. The undercover operation culminated in the arrests of Yi and Mendez on March 6, at their residence in Lake Worth, where law enforcement discovered 14 firearms. As part of their pleas, Yi and Mendez admitted being felons unlawfully in possession of firearms.

Both defendants face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years to a maximum sentence of life. A sentencing hearing for Mendez is set for Oct. 29. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled for Yi.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of DEA, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of ATF, Miami Field Division, Chief Joe DeGiulio of BBPD, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of PBSO announced the guilty pleas.

The Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit – Palm Beach County provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McMichael and Shannon O’Shea Darsch are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80041. 

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MIAMI - On Sept. 3, Patrick Ward, 39, of Saint Lucie County, Fla., was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl. 

The sentence comes after Ward previously pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl on three separate occasions. According to the court record, on July 6, July 13, and August 18, of 2022, Ward sold a total of 47 grams of fentanyl in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Acting Chief Richard R. Del Toro, Jr., of the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. 

DEA Miami Field Division and PSLPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted it.

According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Florida has seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.

For more information visit:  https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl. 

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-14001.

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MIAMI – On Aug. 29, Dorian Velasquez, 43, a convicted child molester, pled guilty to naturalization fraud for having unlawfully obtained United States citizenship.

According to court documents, Velasquez was born in Guatemala. On April 11, 2014, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On his application, and under penalty of perjury, Velasquez responded “No” to the question “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” On July 24, 2014, Velasquez was interviewed by a U.S.CIS officer and provided the same response to the question while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony, on July 25, 2015, Velasquez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen.       

In October 2019, Velasquez pled guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Velasquez committed the crimes over a period of four years, between July 19, 2011 and July 19, 2015. Velasquez was not arrested for these offenses until after he was naturalized.

Velasquez is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as well as the automatic revocation of his United States citizenship. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and District Director Brett R. Rinehart of USCIS Miami and Caribbean made the announcement.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Shaw for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case.  The case was presented by ICE’s ERO division in Miami as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.   

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. 

Rated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20202. 

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The Dassault Falcon 900EX Aircraft Was Illegally Exported from the United States and Used for the Benefit of Maduro and His Representatives

MIAMI - The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft owned and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros and persons affiliated with him in Venezuela. The aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the Southern District of Florida at the request of the United States based on violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

“This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States.”

“The United States’ seizure of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft illustrates our unrelenting commitment to enforcing U.S. export control laws and imposing U.S. sanctions for any violations,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “This successful seizure was the result of planning, coordination, and execution by the United States government, with invaluable assistance by the authorities in the Dominican Republic. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work to forfeit this plane and all other assets that circumvent the law.”

“Let this seizure send a clear message: aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off into the sunset,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce.  “It doesn’t matter how fancy the private jet or how powerful the officials – we will work relentlessly with our partners here and across the globe to identify and return any aircraft illegally smuggled outside of the United States.”

“The seizure of this aircraft is another significant action by Homeland Security Investigations working with our domestic and international partners against the illegal activities of the Maduro regime,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The efforts here highlight HSI’s global reach and our continued commitment to enforce US sanctions and stemming the flow of illicit proceeds being generated from high level foreign public corruption.”

In August 2019, the President issued Executive Order 13884, which prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with persons who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of, the Government of Venezuela, including as a member of the Maduro regime. To protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the Department of Commerce has also imposed export controls for items intended, entirely or in part, for a Venezuelan military or military-intelligence end user. 

According to the U.S. investigation, in late 2022 and early 2023, persons affiliated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft (which at the time was valued at approximately $13 million) from a company based in the Southern District of Florida.  The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023. Since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, has flown almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives, including to transport Maduro on visits to other countries.   

The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Dorado Task Force Miami.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Stratton and Ajay J. Alexander for the Southern District of Florida also provided assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI in Santo Domingo provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.

The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

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The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft owned and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros and persons affiliated with him in Venezuela. The aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the Southern District of Florida at the request of the United States based on violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

“This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States.”

“Let this seizure send a clear message: aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off into the sunset,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce.  “It doesn’t matter how fancy the private jet or how powerful the officials – we will work relentlessly with our partners here and across the globe to identify and return any aircraft illegally smuggled outside of the United States.”

“The United States’ seizure of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft illustrates our unrelenting commitment to enforcing U.S. export control laws and imposing U.S. sanctions for any violations,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “This successful seizure was the result of planning, coordination, and execution by the United States government, with invaluable assistance by the authorities in the Dominican Republic. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work to forfeit this plane and all other assets that circumvent the law.”

“The seizure of this aircraft is another significant action by Homeland Security Investigations working with our domestic and international partners against the illegal activities of the Maduro regime,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The efforts here highlight HSI’s global reach and our continued commitment to enforce US sanctions and stemming the flow of illicit proceeds being generated from high level foreign public corruption.”

In August 2019, the President issued Executive Order 13884, which prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with persons who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of, the Government of Venezuela, including as a member of the Maduro regime. To protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the Department of Commerce has also imposed export controls for items intended, entirely or in part, for a Venezuelan military or military-intelligence end user. 

According to the U.S. investigation, in late 2022 and early 2023, persons affiliated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft (which at the time was valued at approximately $13 million) from a company based in the Southern District of Florida.  The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023. Since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, has flown almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives, including to transport Maduro on visits to other countries.   

The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Dorado Task Force Miami.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Stratton and Ajay J. Alexander for the Southern District of Florida also provided assistance.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI in Santo Domingo provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.

The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

MIAMI – Two West Palm Beach residents pled guilty to being felons in possession of firearms following a shooting at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall (The Gardens Mall) on Valentine’s Day.

Yesterday, Kamarcio Mitchell, 29, pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

On Aug. 1, Devon Jamal Graham, 29, pled guilty to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On Feb. 14, both Mitchell and Graham were at The Gardens Mall in possession of a firearm. Mitchell was on the second level of The Gardens Mall near a retail store. Mitchell followed Graham onto the escalator and was manipulating an object under his shirt. Mitchell was then fired upon by Graham and shot. Mitchell fled the mall to the parking lot, leaving a trail of blood. A loaded firearm that had been disassembled was found in the parking lot by police, near the blood trail. Mitchell was later treated for his injury at a local hospital. Upon his later arrest on a federal warrant, authorities discovered Mitchell in possession of a distribution quantity of fentanyl after he unsuccessfully tried to toss the drugs.

Two firearms were recovered from the vehicle Graham traveled in to the mall, along with a bag containing 35 capsules with a mixture containing fentanyl and a pill bottle with approximately 16 grams of cocaine.

The recovered firearms had previously travelled in interstate commerce.

Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to a maximum sentence of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Graham on Oct. 29, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Cannon. Graham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years to a maximum sentence of life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service, Chief Dominick Pape of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced the guilty pleas.

The Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit – Palm Beach County provided invaluable assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys John McMillan and Shannon O’Shea Darsch are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80022.

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MIAMI – Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Fla., had his initial appearance yesterday on an indictment charging him with one count of seaman’s manslaughter, one count of making false statements, and three counts of wire fraud.

As alleged in the indictment, McCabe purchased a 48-foot vessel named the Southern Comfort in March 2020 and falsely claimed to the U.S. Coast Guard that he had purchased it for recreational purposes when, in truth and in fact, he purchased it to conduct paid scuba charters. In furtherance of those charters, McCabe refitted the Southern Comfort in ways that included removing the vessel’s main deck engine controls. He then operated the vessel as a passenger vessel by conducting paid scuba divers on March 28 and March 29, 2020, without authorization. The indictment further alleges that on March 29, 2020, McCabe’s negligent operation of the Southern Comfort caused someone’s death, which led to his formal suspension from being able to provide paid services with the vessel.

The indictment further alleges that after McCabe lost the ability to operate his vessel for pay, he then used the business he operated under, Florida Scuba Charters, Inc., to engage in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud by applying for two loans that he fraudulently obtained and/or had forgiven.

McCabe was arrested by the Coast Guard’s Investigative Service (CGIS) Special Agents.

If convicted of seaman’s manslaughter, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted of making false statements and wire fraud, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of five years and 20 years, respectively. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of the CGIS Southeast Field Office made the announcement.

CGIS Southeast Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Lake Worth and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of Law Enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller and Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl are prosecuting this case.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-CR-80103.

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MIAMI – On Aug. 28, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, a citizen of the Philippines, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Damian to 30 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to producing child pornography.  

On Feb. 25, a guest aboard the Symphony of the Seas cruise ship, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, discovered a hidden camera affixed to the counter under the sink in the guest’s bathroom. The guest reported the camera to ship security.

Mirasol, a stateroom attendant who serviced passenger cabins, was detained until the cruise ship docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Once the ship docked, on March 3, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel boarded the ship and began their investigation. Mirasol’s electronics were seized and searched. Law enforcement discovered that Mirasol’s electronics contained numerous videos of children in various stages of undress.  The focus of the videos was on the children’s genital areas. One video showed Mirasol himself installing a camera in a guest’s bathroom. HSI agents were able to identify children depicted in the videos, ranging from 2 to 17 years of age.

According to the agreed upon factual proffer, Mirasol had been placing cameras in passenger cabins since December of 2023. Mirasol would enter the guests’ rooms while they were showering and hide under their beds so he could secretly record them exiting the shower.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI, Miami, and Carlos Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations, made the announcement.

 
HSI Fort Lauderdale investigated the case with invaluable assistance from CBP.  Royal Caribbean Group security also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Koontz prosecuted the case.

Anyone with information regarding suspected crimes which may have occurred on cruise ships, to include, sexual abuse and the offenses related to child pornography, is encouraged to contact the HSI tip line at 1-866-347-2423.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60046.

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MIAMI – Today, U.S. Senior District Judge sentenced Alexandra Acosta, a Broward deputy sheriff and SWAT team member, to 4 months’ imprisonment after a jury convicted her of one count of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), two counts of false statements to the SBA, and one count of wire fraud, all in relation to her COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

In 2021, Acosta, 38, of Tamarac, Fla., conspired with her tax preparer, Vilsaint St. Louis, to apply for and receive a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for herself as a sole proprietor doing business as a realtor based upon materially false information about her average monthly income in 2019, including two falsified IRS tax forms submitted with the application. Acosta also sought and received forgiveness of the fraudulently obtained PPP loan, which totaled over $20,000 in principal and interest. During the period of the scheme, Acosta was employed as a deputy sheriff and SWAT team member with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).

In addition to the term of incarceration, Acosta was also ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. Acosta previously repaid the fraudulently obtained loan funds.

St. Louis pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and was sentenced for his involvement in the scheme. 

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker of the Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG); Sheriff Gregory Tony of BSO; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

FRB-OIG, BSO, and FBI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Jones and Adam Love prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove is handling asset forfeiture.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud.  The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.

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

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60170.

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MIAMI – Jason James Atha, 50, a dentist from Broomfield, Colo., was indicted yesterday in the Southern District of Florida for attempted enticement of a minor and transportation of child pornography.

According to allegations in the court record, to include the indictment and previously filed criminal complaint, beginning on Oct. 3, 2023, Atha used a social networking application on his phone in Colorado to solicit sex with an 8-year-old child through conversations with the child’s mother in the Southern District of Florida. The child’s purported “mother” was in fact an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. Atha’s communications detailed the sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the child. On Aug. 9, Atha flew to Palm Beach International Airport, in the Southern District of Florida, to consummate the sexual act and was arrested at the airport. A search of Atha’s devices revealed child pornography videos.

Atha had his initial appearance in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Aug. 12.  An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26, at 10:00 a.m. before a U. S. Magistrate Judge in West Palm Beach. If convicted of the charged offenses, Atha faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison for attempted enticement of a minor and 20 years in prison for transportation of child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami made the announcement.

HSI West Palm Beach investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting it.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/project-safe-childhood.

Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse is encouraged to call (877) 4-HSI-TIP [(877) 447-4847].

A criminal complaint and indictment contain mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80102.

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MIAMI – A Texas man was charged with kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint and forcing the driver to travel to South Florida.

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, a rideshare driver working in Arlington, Texas, picked up Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 23, on Aug. 16 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Pastran Hernandez had ordered a ride to a closed gas station. When they arrived at the gas station, Pastran Hernandez pulled out a gun and the victim heard a round being chambered in the firearm. Pastran Hernandez threatened to tie up and put the driver in the back of the vehicle. Pastran Hernandez then ordered the victim to drive to Florida, through multiple states. When they arrived in south Florida, Pastran Hernandez discussed his plan to kidnap another victim for ransom. On Aug. 19, Pastran Hernandez made the victim drive to a store in Hialeah to buy supplies for the second kidnapping.  While at the store, the victim fled from Pastran Hernandez who was later arrested and found in possession of a bag containing a loaded firearm.

During his appearance in Miami federal court on Aug. 20, on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Pastran Hernandez was ordered detained.  A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26.  An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges.

FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

A criminal complaint contains allegations.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-mj-3751.

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MIAMI – On Aug. 20, Charles Grim Rudolph, 32, of Riviera Beach, Fla., a 23-time convicted felon, was sentenced to 114 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra after having been convicted at trial for being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

After 9:30 p.m., July 26, 2023, a West Palm Beach Police officer spotted a car with illegal tint pull out of a motel parking lot and conducted a traffic stop on the car, driven by Rudolph. Rudolph did not have a valid license, and after the officer saw two baggies of drugs in plain view near the gear shifter, conducted a search of the car. Rudolph’s girlfriend, the passenger, had a purse inside the car by her seat. Inside the purse was a loaded .38 special revolver. A DNA test identified Rudolph’s DNA on the gun.

The guilty verdict in this case resulted in Rudolph’s fifth conviction for being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm. Rudolph was on probation for the same offense at the time of his arrest in this matter.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and West Palm Beach Police Chief Frank Adderley announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF and West Palm Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Walters and Adam McMichael prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-80002.

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MIAMI – A man who sent letters from state prison expressing a desire to kill federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and federal prosecutors was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison. 

During a hearing in Miami, on Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno sentenced Michael Dean Drew, 51, to 240 months in federal prison, a term of incarceration above the guideline range, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Drew had previously been sentenced, five times, for sending threatening letters to federal judges, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement officers.

“The public officials who work to keep our country safe and uphold the rule of law should not have to fear for their lives or the lives of their families,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence should make clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for violence or threats of violence against public servants.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate heinous threats of violence that target prosecutors, the judiciary, and our partners in law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As evidenced in the case against Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate threats against public servants and aggressively seek penalties against those who engage in such abhorrent crimes. We must protect our dedicated government employees, so that they may carry out their jobs without fear and ensure the functions of our democracy.”

“Law enforcement officers, judges, and prosecutors work every day to keep us safe against an ever-growing list of threats,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Threatening them for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe strikes at the very heart of our society. This long sentence sends a strong message that we will take all measures to protect the public servants who dedicate their lives to ensure our public safety.”

"Threats against officers of the court strike at the very heart of our judicial system,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “The dedicated agents and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute criminal activity and the judges who impartially operate our court system must be unburdened by intimidation. This is fundamental to the rule of law. The FBI will relentlessly investigate and bring to justice those individuals who attempt to tip the scales of justice through fear and threats.”

"The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to protecting our justice system and those who serve it," said Gadyaces Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the District of Southern Florida. "We will not tolerate threats against prosecutors, judges, or law enforcement. Just as we did in the case of Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public servants. Protecting those who enforce the law is crucial to maintaining our democracy and keeping our communities safe."

According to the court record, in May 2023, Drew mailed a letter to a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida threating that the judge would die a violent death for presiding over a particular criminal case. In August of 2023, Drew mailed two letters to the federal courthouse in Miami, in which he threatened another federal judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In each of the letters, Drew described how he was recruiting other people to violently murder the judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In September of 2023, Drew mailed letters from his place of incarceration in Florida to Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Virginia and Georgia stating that he had recruited gang members and members of the Aryan Nation to carry out the violent murder of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and their family members. In all the letters, Drew expressed his sincere intent to carry out the threats and described in detail how each of the victims would die.  

In one letter, Drew said he would “take great pleasure in knowing you will suffer and die” and that the judge’s body would be “discarded as a piece of trash, thrown in a ditch.” In the letter addressed to the U.S. Marshals Service, Drew said he was “recruiting” as many fellow inmates as possible into the Aryan Nation gang and that “[o]ur first objective is to murder as many U.S. Marshals as possible… I and my fellow comrades have taken a blood oath to kill, harass, terrorize and destroy federal agents.” In each of the letters, Drew explained how the victim’s death would be in retaliation for their role in the judicial system.

On June 6, Drew pled guilty to five counts of mailing threatening communications.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service made the announcement.

FBI Miami and the U.S. Marshals Service Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Funk and Zachary A. Keller prosecuted the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 24-CR-20039.

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MIAMI – Austin Michael Taylor, 40, was the founder of cryptocurrency project CluCoin and owner of CLU LLC, a company incorporated and headquartered in Miami-Dade County Fla., that handed CluCoin’s operations. On Aug. 15, Taylor pled guilty to wire fraud for a scheme involving the transfer of $1,140,000 of CluCoin investor funds to Taylor’s personal account.

According to court records, Taylor leveraged his sizable social media following to generate interest in a digital token he called “CLU.” Taylor generated interest in CLU’s initial coin offering (“ICO”), which is a capital raising event in which an entity offers investors a unique digital token in exchange for a more established cryptocurrency or fiat currency. Taylor created a “white paper” for CluCoin, which was meant to educate and entice investors to participate in the ICO, which promised to have a charitable focus. After raising investor funds, Taylor successfully launch CluCoin’s ICO on May 19, 2021. Taylor then shifted CluCoin’s focus to other projects he devised: the minting of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”), the development of a computer game, and a metaverse platform.

According to court records, Taylor organized and paid for an event called “NFTCon: Into the Metaverse,” which took place in a hotel in Miami on April 4 and 5, 2022 to drive interest and investment in CLU, CluCoin, and related projects. Shortly after the conference, in May 2022, Taylor gained the ability to make withdrawals from the cryptocurrency address he controlled into which a portion of the CLU investor funds automatically flowed. From May 2022 and continuing through December 2022, Taylor sent approximately $1.14 million in investor funds to his personal account at a virtual currency exchange and then used the funds at multiple online casinos, where he lost these investor funds to gambling.

Taylor’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31, at 10:00 A.M., before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra.  Taylor faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction. Judge Becerra will determine Taylor’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI Miami, made the announcement.

FBI Miami and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Manolo Reboso is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.

Identified victims will be notified via NFT. If you invested in CLU, believe you are a victim, and/or received an NFT, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/CluCoinInvestors to provide relevant information to the FBI.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20308. 

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MIAMI – On Aug. 19, Ramon Fuertes, a/k/a “Raymond Cortez,” of West Palm Beach, Fla. was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of four counts of failure of a sex offender to properly register, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a).

According to evidence introduced during the trial, Fuertes had been convicted in 2009 in federal court for sex trafficking of a minor and enticement of a minor. In 2018, upon completion of his federal prison sentence, Fuentes registered as a sex offender. In January and May 2023, Fuertes created and used two email addresses and a social networking account. Fuertes did not properly register these internet identifiers with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) as required by the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Moreover, on June 2, 2023, Fuertes vacated his West Palm Beach residence and flew to Georgia to live without notifying the proper authorities in the Southern District of Florida that he was terminating his residence in that jurisdiction and commencing his residence in another jurisdiction.

As the evidence at trial showed, while in Georgia, Fuertes did not properly register as a sex offender and by late July 2023, stopped communicating with law enforcement in Georgia and Florida about his whereabouts.  An arrest warrant was issued for Fuertes shortly thereafter. He was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force on Oct. 24, 2023. 

In April 2024, a West Palm Beach jury convicted Fuertes after a six-day trial. On July 18, 2024, U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian sentenced Fuertes to 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 60 months’ supervised release. In imposing the sentence, Judge Damian noted that Fuertes “has a history of noncompliance with rules.”

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the USMS made the announcement.

USMS Miami investigated this matter, with assistance from PBSO, FBI, and Georgia Bureau of Investigations, as well as the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, and Gwinnett County Police Department, all in Georgia.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller prosecuted the case.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-CR-80208.

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Defendant Conspired to Unlawfully Export Millions of Dollars’ Worth of Aircraft Parts from the United States to Venezuela’s State-Owned Oil Company Through Costa Rica and Spain

MIAMI - George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 60, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company.

“Today, George Semerene Quintero admitted that he conspired to circumvent economic sanctions and export controls to aid Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela in obtaining critical aircraft parts from the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Together with the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions are preserved. Semerene’s guilty plea reflects our steadfast commitment to holding those who violate sanctions accountable and to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect our nation’s security.”

“This defendant admitted to participating in an illicit scheme to procure millions in aviation equipment for the Maduro regime,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s conviction demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to hold accountable those who seek to evade export controls and sanctions to prop up rogue authoritarians.”

“By lying to U.S. suppliers, falsifying customs forms and creating fake invoices, Semerene helped PDVSA evade U.S. sanctions,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce. “But, as today’s guilty plea makes clear, what he couldn’t evade are the consequences of breaking U.S. law.”

According to court documents, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PDVSA, Semerene and his co-conspirators devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including bearings, rudder parts, joint slide flexes and actuators, from the United States to service PDVSA’s aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. Semerene, who was an employee in PDVSA’s procurement department, and his co-conspirators concealed from U.S. companies that the requested parts were destined for Venezuela and PDVSA and utilized freight forwarders and shipping companies located in the Southern District of Florida to move the parts. Semerene and his co-conspirators carried out this scheme by (1) lying to U.S. parts suppliers; (2) making false declarations on customs forms and shipping documents; (3) fabricating supplier invoices; and (4) providing false end-user certificates. Semerene and his co-conspirators further utilized third parties in other countries, including Novax Group SA (Novax), a Costa Rican Aerofalcon SL (Aerofalcon), a Spanish company, to serve as the purported purchasers and end users for the aircraft parts ultimately destined for PDVSA.

The indictment charging Semerene and nine co-defendants, including three other individuals associated with PDVSA, was unsealed in April, following Semerene’s arrest upon his arrival in the United States.

Semerene is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

BIS is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) are prosecuting the case. CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation. 

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-CR-20589.

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George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 60, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company.

“This defendant admitted to participating in an illicit scheme to procure millions in aviation equipment for the Maduro regime,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s conviction demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to hold accountable those who seek to evade export controls and sanctions to prop up rogue authoritarians.”

“By lying to U.S. suppliers, falsifying customs forms and creating fake invoices, Semerene helped PDVSA evade U.S. sanctions,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “But, as today’s guilty plea makes clear, what he couldn’t evade are the consequences of breaking U.S. law.”

“Today, George Semerene Quintero admitted that he conspired to circumvent economic sanctions and export controls to aid Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela in obtaining critical aircraft parts from the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Together with the BIS and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions are preserved. Semerene’s guilty plea reflects our steadfast commitment to holding those who violate sanctions accountable and to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect our nation’s security.”

According to court documents, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PDVSA, Semerene and his co-conspirators devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including bearings, rudder parts, joint slide flexes and actuators, from the United States to service PDVSA’s aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. Semerene, who was an employee in PDVSA’s procurement department, and his co-conspirators concealed from U.S. companies that the requested parts were destined for Venezuela and PDVSA, and they utilized freight forwarders and shipping companies located in the Southern District of Florida to move the parts. Semerene and his co-conspirators carried out this scheme by (1) lying to U.S. parts suppliers; (2) making false declarations on customs forms and shipping documents; (3) fabricating supplier invoices; and (4) providing false end-user certificates. Semerene and his co-conspirators further utilized third parties in other countries, including Novax Group SA, a Costa Rican company, Aerofalcon SL, a Spanish company, to serve as the purported purchasers and end users for the aircraft parts ultimately destined for PDVSA.

The indictment charging Semerene and nine co-defendants, including three other individuals associated with PDVSA, was unsealed in April, following Semerene’s arrest upon his arrival in the United States.

Semerene is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

BIS is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) are prosecuting the case. CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation.

MIAMI- A St. Lucie County man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for production of visual depictions of sexual exploitation of a minor, after pleading guilty in May 2024.

Between November 2022 and January 2023, Luis Escoto, 28, of Port St. Lucie, engaged in sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old when he was about 26 or 27 years old in St. Lucie and Martin counties. Escoto recorded the sexual interactions with the minor victim using his cellphone and convinced the victim to send him sexually explicit pictures through text messages and communication platforms. In February 2023, Martin County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Escoto, when he showed up, thinking he was going to have sex, after texting with an undercover detective who had been posing as the minor.

U.S. District Judge David S. Liebowitz, sitting in Fort Pierce, sentenced Escoto to prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Sheriff William D. Snyder of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentence.

HSI Fort Pierce and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger prosecuted it.

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

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-14024.

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MIAMI - Last month, Jordan Denzel Lewis, 24, was sentenced to 336 months in federal prison for conspiring to rob and robbing several people who had various types of Apple products for sale on the online marketplace application OfferUp. His co-defendants Tyrell Brion Bouie, Anthony Christopher Diggs Jr., and Johntaevious Henry Johnson were sentenced to 126, 108, and 47 months, respectively, in federal prison. Each defendant previously pled guilty for his respective involvement in the conspiracy and was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following the prison sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.

From September to October 2022, Lewis, Bouie, Diggs, and Johnson contacted victims who had posted electronics for sale online through OfferUp. After contacting the victims and pretending to be interested in purchasing the electronics, Lewis and his co-defendants would meet the victims at an agreed public location such as a parking lot or restaurant, and instead of purchasing the items, Lewis, Bouie, Diggs, and Johnson would rob the victims. On some occasions, they brandished guns or used violence during the robberies.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief W. Howard Harrison of the Plantation Police Department made the announcement.

FBI Miami and Plantation Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deric Zacca and Vanessa Bonhomme prosecuted it.

This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60138.

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MIAMI - Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Bruce Murley, Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) San Francisco/Portland Field Office announced that the United States has resolved a civil qui tam lawsuit in which the United States intervened for settlement purposes against Alexis, LLC, a womenswear company, for underpaying customs duties on imported apparel. In connection with the resolution, the United States filed a Complaint in Intervention against Alexis, LLC. The settlement, which is not an admission of liability by Alexis, LLC, resolves claims that between Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2022, Alexis, LLC violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by materially misreporting to CBP the value of imported apparel and thereby avoided paying the full amount of customs duties and fees owed on the imported merchandise.

Alexis, LLC paid a total of $7,691,999.63 to the United States to resolve this matter. Alexis, LLC, and its senior management fully cooperated with the United States’ investigation. Among other things, Alexis, LLC voluntarily and timely submitted information and records to the United States through which Alexis, LLC disclosed facts and evidence relevant to the government’s investigation that was not in the possession of the United States. These submissions assisted the United States in determining the losses caused by the underreporting of customs duties on the imported apparel during the relevant time period. Moreover, Alexis, LLC and its senior management implemented compliance procedures and employee training to preclude future issues.

The case was initiated when a whistleblower filed a complaint, Case No. 1:22-cv-21412-FAM (S.D. Fla.), in federal court in Miami. Alexis, LLC, and the settling parties disputed the whistleblower’s allegations. The Court entered, on Aug. 8, 2024, an Order of Dismissal Pursuant to the Agreed Motion to Dismiss that the United States and the Relator filed upon Alexis, LLC’s settlement payment.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and CBP are the agencies responsible for enforcing U.S. laws related to the importation of merchandise into the United States, including the collection of duties. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) provides the applicable classifications and duty rates for all merchandise imported into the United States. As part of the importation process, an importer must accurately classify imported merchandise pursuant to the HTSUS and correctly calculate its value. This and other information must be provided to CBP so that it can properly assess duties, collect accurate statistics, and determine whether all other applicable legal requirements have been met.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe said, “As this settlement demonstrates, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, along with our CBP partners, will, while continuing to hold accountable entities that engage in improper trade practices and deny our government vital revenues, work to resolve such matters in the interests of justice.” He thanked CBP and HSI for their significant assistance and support with this matter.

“CBP’s Apparel, Footwear & Textile Center of Excellence and Expertise worked in collaboration with CBP’s Office of Chief Counsel and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida to review thousands of documents, hundreds of entry summaries, and analyzed financial reports provided by Alexis, LLC as relevant to the undervaluation and underpayment of duties,” said Acting Director of Field Operations, Bruce Murley, of the CBP San Francisco Field Office. “CBP is proud of the investigative work and analysis done by its employees on this case and will continue to work collaboratively with inter-agency stakeholders to safeguard our nation’s economic security.” HSI in Miami provided significant assistance with this matter.

As a part of the settlement, Alexis, LLC admitted and acknowledged errors and omissions with respect to imported women’s apparel, and occasionally accessories, during the 2015 through 2022 period. Alexis, LLC admitted and acknowledged that it: (i) failed to apportion the value of “Assists,” in the form of fabric and garment trims, to the customs value of the imported merchandise, and that the value of certain “Assists” should have been included in the customs value; (ii) found, and thereafter corrected and reported to CBP other entry documentation issues including certain discrepancies between customs forms and the associated sales-related documentation; (iii) identified instances involving classification errors relating to sections of the textile chapters of the HTSUS; and (iv) identified entries with incorrect port of entry codes. As the Importer of Record, Alexis, LLC acknowledged and accepted responsibility for these errors. Alexis, LLC’s senior management worked with their expert trade counsel to implement a robust set of internal and external procedures and corrective actions to prevent any future violations, ensure accurate reporting moving forward, and apply rigorous discipline to its import protocols. As part of the settlement, Alexis, LLC, and its senior management represented that they seek the highest level of import compliance as a corporate goal.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Weinkle, the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, handled this case.

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MIAMI - Today, Kenneth Pinkney, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. was sentenced to 37 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman, after having previously pled guilty for his assault on a federal employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) and (b) which included a hate crime enhancement. The victim was employed as a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker at the time of her assault. The victim was a Muslim woman who wore a hijab, including when she delivered the mail from her postal truck. 

“Hate crimes represent vicious attacks on the very fabric of our diverse communities. No one should live in fear of being targeted because of their religious beliefs,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davis for the Southern District of Florida. “Everyone, including federal employees, have the right to carry out their duties safely. Justice was served today, with the 3-year prison sentence imposed on Kenneth Pinkney for his brutal assault on a Muslim postal employee. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and our law enforcement partners implore the public to continue to report hate crimes and assaults on federal employees to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

"Targeting people based on their religion has no place in South Florida and America," said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Miami Field Office. "The defendant verbally and physically attacked the victim based on her religious beliefs as she was simply trying to fulfill her civic duty to the community. The FBI is unwavering in our efforts to protect those who are targeted based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability status. We will continue to bring those to justice who commit hate crimes. I want to thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI's Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which also investigates civil rights violations."

“One of the core missions of the Postal Inspection Service is the protection of postal employees and the result of this investigation is a testament to the dedicated work Postal Inspectors and our federal and state law enforcement partners will commit to in order to ensure that those that cause them harm will be pursued and brought to justice for their crimes,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division.

According to the Court record, to include a factual proffer in support of the plea, on or about Oct. 9, 2023, just two days after Hamas’ attack on Israel, the victim was wearing her hijab while delivering mail. She was visible to the public as she drove the postal vehicle along her route. On this day, the victim saw Pinkney looking at her in what she interpreted as an aggressive manner as she drove by him in her USPS vehicle.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 24, 2023, the victim was on her postal route, stopped the USPS truck, and got out of the vehicle with mail to deliver. Pinkney approached on a bicycle and began to pass the victim. While still cycling, Pinkney made a hand gesture towards the victim in the shape of a firearm using two fingers to represent the barrel of a gun. Pinkney then turned his bicycle around and made the firearm gesture toward the victim more assertively. Pinkney rode his bicycle directly towards the victim, then got off the bicycle and walked toward the victim. Pinkney called the victim a “b----” and said, “If I had a gun,” and “go back to your country.” All this time, Pinkney continued to make the same menacing hand gesture, simulating a firearm. At a point, the victim turned and faced the USPS truck and heard Pinkney say, “go back to your country” multiple times while tapping the victim on the back of her head with two fingers.

The victim entered the USPS truck and sat in the driver’s seat. Pinkney continued to call the victim a “b----” and say “go back to your country.” Pinkney also spit on the image of the eagle of the side of the USPS truck, and then spit on the victim. The victim was nervous and scared. Pinkney reached into the truck and pulled at the victim’s ankle and leg in an unsuccessful attempt to yank her from the USPS truck. Pinkney then entered the truck and grabbed at the victim’s neck with one hand and placed his other hand on her hijab. While in the vehicle, Pinkney tried to remove the hijab off the victim by pulling it down her face. She physically resisted. Unable to remove the hijab in this fashion, Pinkney then lifted the hijab up past the victim’s face toward the back of her head. Pinkney succeeded in removing the hijab and revealing the victim’s hair. Pinkney and the victim struggled over the hijab inside the vehicle. Pinkney eventually released the victim’s hijab, but then started pulling at her USPS apron. The victim put her hijab back on her head.  The victim felt trapped, so she exited the vehicle.  Pinkney followed suit.

Once the victim and Pinkney were out of the vehicle, Pinkney said, “F-- Islam” and “You are a terrorist.” Pinkney and the victim continued to struggle, during which time the victim grabbed onto the collar of Pinkney’s shirt. Pinkney’s shirt ripped as they separated. Pinkney fled the scene and was later arrested.

The victim sustained scratches on her face as a result of the assault. 

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davis for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Chief of Police William Schultz of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD), and Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement.

FBI Miami, FLPD and USPIS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gilfarb prosecuted it. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-60014.

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MIAMI – On August 5, a federal jury found Luis Ramirez Gonzalez, 37, of Miami, guilty of two counts of armed bank robbery. 

The evidence during the six-day trial revealed that Ramirez Gonzalez committed two armed bank robberies within ten days — one at Interamerican Bank’s Kendall branch on Nov. 29, 2023 and a second at a Palmetto Bay TD Bank on Dec. 9, 2023.

According to the evidence admitted at trial, Ramirez Gonzalez entered Interamerican Bank wearing an Amazon vest and a Halloween-style mask, with an aged face, on Nov. 29, 2023. He marched straight to the nearest teller, pointing a gun at the teller and taking cash from the teller’s drawer before turning his attention to access the bank’s vault. When bank employees told him they could not access it, he moved to the next teller drawer and took the cash from there before leaving in a vehicle.

The evidence admitted at trial further showed Ramirez Gonzalez’s face on surveillance footage in the early hours of Dec. 9, 2023, peering through the glass door of the TD Bank. Just a few hours later, Ramirez Gonzalez returned to the same TD Bank, but this time wore a porcelain doll Halloween-style mask with the word “God” written on the forehead. He then drew a dark gun from a black bag and pointed it at the nearest teller’s pregnant midsection before taking the cash from the first teller drawer. When he wanted to access the vault, bank employees told him they were unable to provide him access and he again proceeded to the second teller drawer, emptying it of cash before departing the bank.

The evidence admitted at trial revealed that the Ramirez Gonzalez had also stolen two stacks of cash containing GPS trackers from the teller drawers, which law enforcement followed before he led them on a brief high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood ending with Ramirez Gonzalez crashing the car. He then bailed from the wreckage and fled on foot through residential backyards for almost two hours before being arrested by law enforcement. From the canal that lined the backyards and approximately where a homeowner saw an individual jumping into the canal following the crash, law enforcement recovered a black bag containing the “God” mask, the dark gun, and the exact amount of stolen cash—including the GPS trackers—all used during the TD Bank robbery.

The dark gun recovered from the canal was revealed to be a BB gun that Ramirez Gonzalez had purchased as a rush order two days prior to the TD Bank robbery, according to the evidence admitted at trial.

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom is scheduled to sentence Ramirez Gonzalez on Oct. 25.  He is facing a total statutory maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment as to each count of armed bank robbery. Judge Bloom will determine Ramirez Garcia’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the convictions.

FBI investigated this case with substantial assistance from the Miami-Dade Police Department. Coral Gables Police Department’s Underwater Recovery Unit also assisted in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra D. Comolli and Sterling M. Paulson are prosecuting the case. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr- 20490.

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MIAMI – A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment today charging three executives of an election voting machine and service provider company and a former Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Republic of the Philippines for their roles in an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme to retain and obtain business related to the 2016 Philippine elections.

According to the indictment, between 2015 and 2018, Roger Alejandro Pinate Martinez, 49, a Venezuelan citizen and resident of Boca Raton, Florida, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of Davie, Florida, together with others, allegedly caused at least $1 million in bribes to be paid to Juan Andres Donato Bautista, 60, the former Chairman of COMELEC. These bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business related to providing voting machines and election services for the 2016 Philippine elections and to secure payments on the contracts, including the release of value added tax payments.

The co-conspirators allegedly funded the bribes through a slush fund that was created by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine for the 2016 Philippine elections. To conceal and disguise the nature and purpose of the corrupt payments, the co-conspirators used coded language to refer to the slush fund and caused the creation of fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements to justify transfers. The co-conspirators then allegedly laundered funds related to the bribery scheme through bank accounts located in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including in the Southern District of Florida.

Pinate and Vasquez are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one substantive violation of the FCPA. Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 44, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments. If convicted, Pinate and Vasquez each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts. Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) Miami made the announcement.

HSI’s El Dorado Task Force Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from IRS CI Miami.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Michael DiLorenzo and Connor Mullin and Assistant Chief Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Philippine Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman provided substantial assistance.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

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

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A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment today charging three executives of an election voting machine and service provider company and a former Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of the Republic of the Philippines for their roles in an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme to retain and obtain business related to the 2016 Philippine elections.

According to the indictment, between 2015 and 2018, Roger Alejandro Pinate Martinez, 49, a Venezuelan citizen and resident of Boca Raton, Florida, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of Davie, Florida, together with others, allegedly caused at least $1 million in bribes to be paid to Juan Andres Donato Bautista, 60, the former Chairman of COMELEC. These bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business related to providing voting machines and election services for the 2016 Philippine elections and to secure payments on the contracts, including the release of value added tax payments.

The co-conspirators allegedly funded the bribes through a slush fund that was created by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine for the 2016 Philippine elections. To conceal and disguise the nature and purpose of the corrupt payments, the co-conspirators used coded language to refer to the slush fund and caused the creation of fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements to justify transfers. The co-conspirators then allegedly laundered funds related to the bribery scheme through bank accounts located in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including in the Southern District of Florida.

Pinate and Vasquez are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one substantive violation of the FCPA. Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 44, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments. If convicted, Pinate and Vasquez each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts. Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) Miami made the announcement.

HSI’s El Dorado Task Force Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from IRS CI Miami.

Trial Attorneys Michael DiLorenzo and Connor Mullin and Assistant Chief Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Emery for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Philippine Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman provided substantial assistance.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

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

MIAMI – On July 29, Jordan Curry, 42, an Australian national from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to launder money and import cocaine from South America through the United States to Australia.

According to the agreed upon factual proffer, from 2019 to 2021, Curry led an international drug trafficking and money laundering organization.  While based in Dubai, Curry partnered with other conspirators, to launder drug proceeds and traffic in ton-size quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from South America and Mexico, to Australia and Europe. Further, Curry, his co-defendant, and other conspirators in Australia formed a commission of high-level drug traffickers to keep drug prices up. Once the cocaine arrived in Sydney, they distributed it to Melbourne. Curry discussed having full control of drug trafficking in Australia since it was their organization who controlled the trade in-country.

On June 28, 2019, Curry coordinated two separate cash drops in Greater Sydney, Australia. The total amount delivered by Curry, via his couriers, was $1,000,200 Australian Dollars (AUD) ($692,628.50 U.S. dollars (USD)). The money was sent to various U.S. based bank accounts. Curry created a group chat on July 8, 2019, which included a co-conspirator in Colombia, to coordinate the delivery of the pesos in Bogota, Colombia. Between July 10 and July 25, 2019, there were six separate payouts in Bogota totaling $1,885,161,000 Colombian pesos, all of which were given to couriers at the direction of Curry. Each time, either Curry or his co-conspirator, or both, confirmed the payments were received. On July 23, 2019, Curry stated that he wanted to finalize laundering as quickly as possible to “get my job over the line” (to get a cocaine load released into the country).

Starting in 2020, during an undercover operation, Curry negotiated for a load of cocaine to be sent from Colombia through Mexico to the U.S., specifically Los Angeles, and from there to Australia. Curry said he wanted “powder please bricks.” On April 8, 2021, Curry was to receive 50 kilograms of cocaine for the first delivery. In order to obtain the cocaine, Curry was going to send a courier in Australia with the cash payment. Curry set up a group chat that included his money courier. In the group chat, the courier sent photos of three duffle bags all full of Australian dollars that were neatly bundled in rubber bands and sealed in cellophane wrap. Australian law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the courier’s vehicle and discovered the three bags containing a total of $2,996,610 AUD (approximately $2,284,876 USD). 

Curry is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. He faces up to life in prison. Judge Altonaga will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division announced the plea.

DEA Miami Field Division conducted this investigation with the DEA Sydney Resident Office and the Athens County Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA would like to thank international law enforcement partners including Queensland Police Service, New South Wales Police Force, Western Australia Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Hellenic Police, and the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Justice, as well as Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their crucial assistance in this investigation.

The indictment is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the US, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force carried out this case and prosecution. HIDTA was established in 1990. This program, which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, fosters intra-agency cooperation among law enforcement agencies in South Florida and involves them in developing a strategy to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety, as with the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the cocaine threat to our nation. South Florida HIDTA uses the funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, that sponsors a variety of law enforcement initiatives that target the region's illicit drug and violent crime threats to our community.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 21-cr-20270.

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MIAMI – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz sentenced Michael Shapiro, 73, to 24 months in prison during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for leaving three voicemail messages threatening to kill a member of Congress and the Congressperson’s children.   

According to court records, on Dec. 19, 2023, Shapiro called and left five voicemail messages at a U.S. Congressional Office in Washington, D.C. from his residence in Greenacres, Fla. In three of the messages, Shapiro threatened to kill the Congressperson and the Congressperson’s children. Specifically, Shapiro stated, “I'm gonna come after you and kill you [expletive]." In another call, Shapiro stated, “I'm gonna come and kill your children you mother-[expletive]. I'm gonna kill your children.”

Shapiro was arrested at his home on Jan. 3. On May 17, Shapiro pled guilty to the indictment charging him with transmitting threatening communications.

Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), announced the sentence.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto prosecuted the case.  

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80007.

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MIAMI - A Florida woman pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns with the IRS to fraudulently obtain tax refunds.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2018 and 2020, surgical technologist Yolanda Samantha Dewar, of Sunrise, created a trust and sought fraudulent refunds from the IRS. Dewar filed four false tax returns on behalf of the trust she created to seek nearly $2 million in tax refunds. Dewar continued filing such returns even after the IRS notified her that her claims were frivolous and had no basis in law. In total, the IRS issued nearly $500,000 to the trust in response to Dewar’s false claims. According to the indictment, Dewar allegedly used a portion of those tax refunds to purchase a car for a family member, get plastic surgery and renovate her home.

Dewar is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 24. She faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Deric Zacca for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Kavitha Bondada of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60051. 

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Justice Department Leadership Participate in Events Across the Country

MIAMI– Since last Friday, staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office have taken part in National Night Out (NNO) events in the Southern District of Florida. Tonight, and throughout the week, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office hope to continue to engage with the local community in support of NNO. This evening, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, and other senior Justice Department officials will also participate in NNO events across the country as part of a Department-wide effort to bring attention to efforts to build stronger police-community partnerships.

The Attorney General will attend a NNO event in Urbandale, Iowa. The Deputy Attorney General will attend NNO events in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Acting Associate Attorney General will attend NNO events in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Established in 1984 from a Justice Department Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. NNO is a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together through engaging activities and positive circumstances.

This year, NNO takes place as violent crime continues to decline nationwide, following an uptick during the pandemic in 2020. FBI data shows a decrease in violent crime in communities across the country in 2023 compared to the previous year, including an over 13% reduction in homicides. That is the steepest yearly decline in homicides in over 50 years. Early data from 2024 indicates that this trend is continuing.

NNO highlights federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships that have played key roles in the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, which focuses federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. 

For information on National Night Out events in your community, visit www.natw.org.

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MIAMI – Former British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams after having been convicted at trial of cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies for agreeing to facilitate the safe passage of tons of Colombian cocaine through BVI ports headed to Miami. In exchange for his assistance Fahie would make millions, which would be funneled through different businesses or smuggled back to the BVI to hide the money’s source.

According to evidence introduced at trial, during March and April 2022, Fahie, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Pickering Maynard (O. Maynard), and the Port Director’s son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard (K. Maynard) participated in a series of meetings with the purported Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker to broker the arrangement. Fahie and O. Maynard agreed to secure licenses, shield the cocaine-filled boats while in BVI’s ports, and grease the palms of BVI government officials and employees. They discussed bringing 3,000 kilograms of cocaine through a BVI port as a test run, followed by 3,000 kilograms once or twice a month for four months. Fahie and O. Maynard would get a percentage of the millions of dollars in cocaine sales.   

In April 2022, Fahie and O. Maynard were arrested in Miami as they prepared to pick up a $700,000 cash advance on their deal. K. Maynard was arrested in St. Thomas.

O. Maynard and K. Maynard previously pled guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and were sentenced by Judge Williams to 112 months and 57 months in prison, respectively. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, announced the sentence.

DEA Miami Field Division investigated this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gerarde and Sean McLaughlin prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.

Members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force carried out this case and prosecution. HIDTA was established in 1990. This program, which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, fosters intra-agency cooperation among law enforcement agencies in South Florida and involves them in developing a strategy to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety, as with the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the cocaine threat to our nation. South Florida HIDTA uses funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and sponsors a variety of law enforcement initiatives that target the region's illicit drug and violent crime threats to our community.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-CR-20191.

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MIAMI – Seven residents of Florida were charged in a 23-count indictment for their respective involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, fentanyl and oxycodone. An eighth defendant was charged with being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm. 

Michael Donaldson, 37, of Clearview, Leo Gilbert 35, of Miami Gardens, Jamare Andre Gardner, a/k/a “Maury,” 25, of Miami Gardens, Deshun Richard James, 36, Jose Albert Ruiz, 34, of Miami, Kim Whitehurst, a/k/a “A-Boy,” 31, of Miami, and Hasani Nesbitt, a/k/a "Get Right,” 45, of Miami Gardens, were charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. The indictment charges that cocaine, oxycodone and methamphetamine were distributed within 1,000 feet of south Florida schools.  Donte Ike Gosha, 37, of Miami Gardens, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

On July 29, Donaldson, Gosha, Whitehurst, Gardner, and Gilbert were arrested in Miami-Dade County, Fla.  On July 30, Donaldson, Gosha, Whitehurst, Gardner, and Gilbert had their initial appearances on the indictment.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Chief Delma Noel-Pratt of the Miami Gardens Police Department, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.

The FBI, Miami Gardens Police Department, and ATF investigated the case.  The Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force (SSVGTF), to include participants from the U.S. Secret Service, City of Miami Police Department, and Miami-Dade Police Department, provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Chattah is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This investigation was carried out by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.  The South Florida HIDTA, established in 1990, is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who, cooperatively, target the region’s drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations.  The South Florida HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which sponsors a variety of initiatives focused on the nation’s illicit drug trafficking threats.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20282.

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MIAMI – A superseding indictment was returned today charging Florida residents Bayron Bennett, 33, of Miami, Fausto Villar, a/k/a “Cuba,” 42, of Miami, Avery Bivins, 36, of Miami Gardens, Clementa Johnson, 47, of Tallahassee, Vernon Green, 53, of Miami, Diori Barnard, 47, of Miami, Jerren Keith Howard, a/k/a “Blood,” a/k/a “Omerta Bloody,” 38, of Miami, Michael Jose Dulfo, a/k/a “Mike Dulfo,” a/k/a “Mike D,” 42, of Miami, and Edner Etienne 27, of Miami, for their respective involvement  in a campaign to stalk, torment and attempt to kill a victim.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to the court record to include the superseding indictment, since roughly 2022, the victim was subjected to a protracted stalking and attempted murder campaign involving criminal acts to include, multiple arsons, poisonings, an automobile crash, and an instance where contract criminals brandished a firearm in furtherance of a plot to kill the victim. As part of this investigation, law enforcement learned that the scheme against the targeted victim was accompanied by efforts to obstruct justice.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division; Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of the Miami Police Department (MPD); Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD); Special Agent in Charge Felipe Williams of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); Bureau Chief Darrell Wilson Sr. of the Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations; Sheriff Michelle Cook of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler of the FBI, Jacksonville Field Office, and Chief of Police Jason Cohen of the Pinecrest Police Department, made the announcement.  

U.S. Attorney Lapointe commended the law enforcement agencies involved with this investigation for their efforts and assistance.

This is an ongoing investigation.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or file a report at tips.fbi.gov.

Special Prosecutions Section Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman, Brian Dobbins, and Ignacio J. Vázquez, Jr. are prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case involves acts of alleged domestic violence. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger because of domestic violence, call 911. For additional assistance and resources call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence.

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

This investigation was carried out by members of the FBI’s South Florida Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force.  The Task Force is made up of federal and local law enforcement agencies who cooperatively target the region’s perpetrators of violent criminal offenses and fugitives from justice.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20110. 

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MIAMI – A Peruvian national pleaded guilty today for his participation in a transnational mail and wire fraud conspiracy. 

According to court documents, Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, 40, of Lima, Peru, was the operator of a Peruvian call center that defrauded and extorted Spanish-speaking U.S. residents by falsely threatening them with arrest, court proceedings and immigration consequences. Zuñiga was extradited from Peru in March to face charges related to the scheme.

Zuñiga is the 12th defendant to be convicted in connection with a $15 million transnational fraud scheme that defrauded and threatened Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers, claiming they would suffer legal consequences if they did not pay for English-language learning products they never requested. The scheme was responsible for defrauding more than 30,000 Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. Many of the victims were recent immigrants who had expressed interest in learning English.   

The 12 defendants include eight Peruvian call center owner-operators and four distribution center owner-operators who processed payments, distributed products and facilitated the fraud in the United States. Many of the defendants shared strategies on how to defraud Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. 

“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to use fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is dedicated to protecting vulnerable U.S. consumers from fraudsters, including those who reside beyond our borders,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Individuals who defraud our immigrant communities will be brought to justice and held accountable in U.S. courts.” 

“This investigation attests that justice will be pursued relentlessly to protect U.S. consumers,” said Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Field Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked steadfastly to uphold the integrity of our legal system and the postal system. Today’s 12th conviction should send a strong message to those who exploit the mail for criminal use. You will be brought to justice.”

According to court documents, Zuñiga owned and operated a call center in Lima that placed unsolicited calls to Spanish-speaking consumers in the United States and falsely claimed that they had won or qualified for free products, including computer tablets and English language courses. On later calls, Zuñiga and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that victims were contractually obligated to pay large sums to receive the products. Zuñiga and his co-conspirators impersonated lawyers, court officials, police officers and representatives of a supposed “minor crimes court” to intimidate victims and force them to send payments. Zuñiga and his co-conspirators threatened victims with court proceedings, arrest and immigration consequences if they did not pay. 

Victims who paid were later re-victimized by Zuñiga and his co-conspirators with a related restitution scheme. According to court documents, the defendant and his co-conspirators placed additional calls to victims who had already paid and, while posing as lawyers for a U.S. court, falsely represented that victims were entitled to restitution payments and would receive their money back if they paid the lawyer who purportedly brought the case on their behalf. In reality, there was no lawyer, no restitution order and no funds returned to the victims who made those additional payments. Instead, Zuñiga kept those additional victim payments for himself. 

On June 13, Zuniga pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10. Zuniga faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zuñiga is the eighth defendant to be extradited from Peru and plead guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud related to Peruvian call centers. In 2021 and 2022, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. sentenced Henrry Milla, Carlos Espinoza, Jerson Renteria, Fernan Huerta, Omar Cuzcano, Evelyng Milla and Josmell Espinoza to sentences ranging from 88 to 110 months in prison. Additionally, four other co-conspirators who facilitated the operations of these call centers have also been sentenced. Most recently, in March 2023, U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz sentenced Luis Rendon, the operator of a U.S. distribution center that facilitated a substantial part of the fraud scheme, to 65 months in prison.  

USPIS and the Consumer Protection Branch investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office and Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance. 

The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the United States.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-CR-20552.

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A Peruvian national pleaded guilty today for his participation in a transnational mail and wire fraud conspiracy. 

According to court documents, Jose Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, 40, of Lima, Peru, was the operator of a Peruvian call center that defrauded and extorted Spanish-speaking U.S. residents by falsely threatening them with arrest, court proceedings and immigration consequences. Zuñiga was extradited from Peru in March to face charges related to the scheme.

Zuñiga is the 12th defendant to be convicted in connection with a $15 million transnational fraud scheme that defrauded and threatened Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers, claiming they would suffer legal consequences if they did not pay for English-language learning products they never requested. The scheme was responsible for defrauding more than 30,000 Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. Many of the victims were recent immigrants who had expressed interest in learning English.    

The 12 defendants include eight Peruvian call center owner-operators and four distribution center owner-operators who processed payments, distributed products and facilitated the fraud in the United States. Many of the defendants shared strategies on how to defraud Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. 

“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is dedicated to protecting vulnerable U.S. consumers from fraudsters, including those who reside beyond our borders,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Individuals who defraud our immigrant communities will be brought to justice and held accountable in U.S. courts.” 

“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to use fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

“This investigation attests that justice will be pursued relentlessly to protect U.S. consumers,” said Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Field Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked steadfastly to uphold the integrity of our legal system and the postal system. Today’s 12th conviction should send a strong message to those who exploit the mail for criminal use. You will be brought to justice.”

According to court documents, Zuñiga owned and operated a call center in Lima that placed unsolicited calls to Spanish-speaking consumers in the United States and falsely claimed that they had won or qualified for free products, including computer tablets and English language courses. On later calls, Zuñiga and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that victims were contractually obligated to pay large sums to receive the products. Zuñiga and his co-conspirators impersonated lawyers, court officials, police officers and representatives of a supposed “minor crimes court” to intimidate victims and force them to send payments. Zuñiga and his co-conspirators threatened victims with court proceedings, arrest and immigration consequences if they did not pay. 

Victims who paid were later re-victimized by Zuñiga and his co-conspirators with a related restitution scheme. According to court documents, the defendant and his co-conspirators placed additional calls to victims who had already paid and, while posing as lawyers for a U.S. court, falsely represented that victims were entitled to restitution payments and would receive their money back if they paid the lawyer who purportedly brought the case on their behalf. In reality, there was no lawyer, no restitution order and no funds returned to the victims who made those additional payments. Instead, Zuñiga kept those additional victim payments for himself. 

Today, Zuñiga pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10. Zuñiga faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zuñiga is the eighth defendant to be extradited from Peru and plead guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud related to Peruvian call centers. In 2021 and 2022, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. sentenced Henrry Milla, Carlos Espinoza, Jerson Renteria, Fernan Huerta, Omar Cuzcano, Evelyng Milla and Josmell Espinoza to sentences ranging from 88 to 110 months in prison. Additionally, four other co-conspirators who facilitated the operations of these call centers have also been sentenced. Most recently, in March 2023, U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz sentenced Luis Rendon, the operator of a U.S. distribution center that facilitated a substantial part of the fraud scheme, to 65 months in prison.   

USPIS and the Consumer Protection Branch investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office and Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance. 

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Zuñiga from Peru.

The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the United States.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

Un ciudadano peruano se declaró culpable hoy por su participación en una conspiración de fraude transnacional por correo postal y electrónico. 

De acuerdo con lo que establecen los documentos judiciales, José Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, 40 años, de Lima, Perú, era operador de un centro de atención telefónica peruano que defraudó y extorsionó a residentes hispanoparlantes de los Estados Unidos mediante amenazas falsas de arresto, procesos judiciales y consecuencias migratorias. Zuñiga fue extraditado de Perú en marzo para enfrentar las acusaciones relacionadas con la organización.

Zuñiga es el duodécimo acusado con relación a una organización de fraude transnacional por 15 millones de dólares que defraudó y amenazó a consumidores hispanoparlantes de los Estados Unidos diciéndoles que sufrirían consecuencias legales si no pagaban por productos para aprender inglés que nunca habían solicitado. La organización fue responsable de defraudar a más de 30.000 residentes hispanoparlantes de los Estados Unidos. Muchas de las víctimas eran inmigrantes recién llegados que habían expresado su interés en aprender inglés.

Entre los 12 acusados se encuentran ocho operadores y propietarios peruanos del centro de atención telefónica y cuatro operadores y propietarios del centro de distribución que procesaban los pagos, distribuían los productos y propiciaban el fraude en los Estados Unidos. Muchos de los acusados compartían estrategias sobre cómo defraudar a los residentes hispanoparlantes de los Estados Unidos. 

«La División de Protección del Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia se ocupa de proteger a los consumidores estadounidenses vulnerables frente a los estafadores, incluidos los que residen más allá de nuestras fronteras», manifestó el viceministro de justicia, Brian M. Boynton, jefe de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Las personas que estafan a nuestras comunidades de inmigrantes serán llevadas a la justicia y condenadas en los tribunales de los Estados Unidos».

«El amplio alcance del sistema judicial estadounidense no tiene límites cuando se trata de atrapar estafadores que se aprovechan de las poblaciones más vulnerables de nuestro país, como las personas mayores y los nuevos inmigrantes», expresó el fiscal federal de los Estados Unidos, Markenzy Lapointe para el distrito sur de Florida. «No permitiremos que los criminales transnacionales utilicen tácticas de miedo e intimidación para robar dinero del público para quien trabajamos. Las personas que defraudan a los consumidores estadounidenses serán juzgadas en cualquier lugar donde se encuentren».

«Esta investigación demuestra que se hará justicia de manera implacable para proteger a los consumidores estadounidenses», afirmó el inspector a cargo, Juan A. Vargas, de la división Miami del Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos. «El Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos, la División de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia y la fiscalía general de los Estados Unidos han trabajado incansablemente para defender la integridad de nuestro sistema judicial y del sistema de correo postal. La condena número doce que tuvo lugar en el día de hoy envía un claro mensaje a quienes explotan el correo postal con fines criminales: Sepan que serán juzgados».

De acuerdo con lo que establecen los documentos judiciales, Zuñiga era propietario y operador de un centro de atención telefónica en Lima, Perú, que hacía llamadas no solicitadas a consumidores hispanoparlantes en los Estados Unidos y sostenía falsamente que habían ganado o que reunían los requisitos para recibir productos gratuitos, como tabletas electrónicas y cursos de idioma inglés. En sucesivas llamadas, Zuñiga y sus cómplices sostenían falsamente que las víctimas estaban obligadas por contrato a pagar importantes sumas de dinero para recibir los productos. Zuñiga y sus cómplices fingían ser abogados, funcionarios judiciales, agentes de policía y representantes de un supuesto «juzgado de delitos menores» para intimidar a las víctimas y obligarlas a enviar los pagos. Zuñiga y sus cómplices amenazaban a las víctimas con acciones legales en su contra, detenciones y consecuencias migratorias si no pagaban.

Las víctimas que realizaban los pagos eran luego revictimizadas por Zuñiga y sus cómplices con un esquema de supuesta restitución de esos pagos. De acuerdo con lo establecido en los documentos judiciales, el acusado y sus cómplices llamaban nuevamente a las víctimas que ya habían pagado, fingían ser abogados de un tribunal de los Estados Unidos y explicaban falsamente a las víctimas que tenían derecho a la restitución de los pagos realizados y que para recibir el dinero primero debían pagar los honorarios al abogado que supuestamente había llevado el caso en su nombre. En realidad, no existía ningún abogado, ni orden de restitución, ni devolución de fondos a las víctimas que realizaron esos pagos adicionales. Por el contrario, Zuñiga se quedaba con esos pagos adicionales de las víctimas.

Hoy, Zuñiga se declaró culpable de conspiración para cometer fraude por correo postal y electrónico. La jueza de distrito de los Estados Unidos, Kathleen M. Williams, dictará sentencia contra Zuñiga el 10 de octubre. Zuñiga enfrenta una condena máxima de 20 años de prisión.

Zuñiga es el octavo acusado en ser extraditado de Perú y en declararse culpable ante un tribunal federal de conspiración para cometer fraude por correo postal y electrónico relacionado con centros de atención telefónica peruanos. En 2021 y en 2022, el juez de distrito de los Estados Unidos, Robert N. Scola (hijo), condenó a Henrry Milla, Carlos Espinoza, Jerson Rentería, Fernán Huerta, Omar Cuzcano, Evelyng Milla y Josmell Espinoza a penas de entre 88 y 110 meses de prisión. Además, también fueron condenados otros cuatro cómplices de conspiración que propiciaron las operaciones de estos centros de atención telefónica. Recientemente, en marzo de 2023, la jueza de distrito de los Estados Unidos, Patricia A. Seitz, condenó a 65 meses de prisión a Luis Rendón, operador de un centro de distribución de los Estados Unidos que propició una parte significativa de la organización fraudulenta.  

La investigación del caso estuvo a cargo del Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos (USPIS) y la División de Protección al Consumidor.

Los fiscales a cargo del caso son Phil Toomajian, abogado litigante sénior y coordinador de litigios penales transnacionales, y Carolyn Rice, abogada litigante de la División de Protección de los Consumidores. La fiscal federal adjunta es Annika Miranda, quien se ocupa de la confiscación de los bienes. Prestaron valiosa colaboración la Comisión Federal de Comercio, la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, la Fiscalía del Distrito Sur de Florida, el Servicio de Seguridad Diplomática del Departamento de Estado, el Servicio de Alguaciles de los Estados Unidos, la Fiscalía Nacional del Perú y la Policía Nacional del Perú.

El Departamento de Justicia continúa investigando y presentando acusaciones en otros asuntos similares que incluyen amenazas contra residentes hispanoparlantes de los Estados Unidos.

Si usted o alguien a quien conoce es mayor de 60 y ha sido víctima de fraude financiero, debe saber que cuenta con la ayuda de especialistas profesionales en la línea nacional directa contra el fraude a personas mayores: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Esta línea directa del Departamento de Justicia, administrada por la Oficina de Asistencia a las Víctimas de Delitos, puede brindar ayuda personalizada a quienes llaman mediante la evaluación de las necesidades de la víctima y la identificación de los próximos pasos a seguir. Los administradores de casos identifican los organismos de denuncia apropiados, brindan información a quienes llaman para ayudarlos a denunciar, los comunican directamente con las agencias competentes y les ofrecen recursos y derivaciones en función de cada caso. La denuncia es el primer paso. Denunciar puede ayudar a las autoridades a identificar a quienes cometen fraude y la denuncia inmediata de pérdidas financieras por fraude puede aumentar la probabilidad de recuperar lo perdido. La línea directa está disponible de lunes a viernes de 10:00 a. m. a 6:00 p. m. hora del este de los Estados Unidos. La línea está disponible en inglés, español y otros idiomas.

Para más información sobre las medidas adoptadas por el departamento para ayudar a las personas mayores de los Estados Unidos, consulte la página web de la Iniciativa de Justicia para Adultos Mayores. Para más información sobre la Subdivisión de Protección de los Consumidores y sus medidas para hacer cumplir la ley, visite www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Las demandas de fraude a personas mayores pueden presentarse ante la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC, por sus siglas en inglés) en https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ o telefónicamente llamando al 877-FTC-HELP. El Departamento de Justicia ofrece varios recursos relacionados con la victimización por fraude de personas mayores mediante su Oficina de Asistencia a las Víctimas de Delitos, a la que puede acceder en www.ovc.gov.

Puede encontrar más información acerca de la División de Protección al Consumidor y sus medidas de lucha contra el fraude en www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

MIAMI – Johanna Michely Garcia, 41, from Broward County, Fla., was the former Chief Executive Officer of MJ Capital Funding, LLC. On July 16, Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349, 1343, and 1341. The conspiracy involved Garcia leading others, including Pavel Ramon Ruiz Hernandez, in an investment Ponzi fraud scheme totaling approximately $190,700,000.

According to court records, Garcia’s MJ Capital Funding was purportedly engaged in providing merchant cash advances, or MCAs, a type of short-term financing typically used by small businesses. Beginning in October 2020, and continuing through August 2021, Garcia conspired with others to fraudulently solicit money from investors to fund MJ Capital Funding’s MCAs. Garcia and her co-conspirators recruited other people to solicit investors for MJ Capital Funding’s investment offering and paid those recruiters commissions.

Court records state that Garcia and her co-conspirators, directly and indirectly, made false statements and fraudulent representations to investors concerning the nature of the MJ Capital Funding investment and the use of investor funds. Garcia and others falsely told investors that their money would be used to fund MCAs and that investor returns would be paid from the profits of MJ Capital Funding’s MCA business. However, the company made few loans and failed to earn anywhere near the profits it needed to pay the investors the promised returns. As a result, Garcia paid investors by running a large Ponzi fraud scheme, paying existing investors using new investor funds while misappropriating millions of dollars for her own personal benefit. Of the nearly $200 million raised, investors lost nearly $90 million.

According to Court records, after the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) effectively shut down MJ Capital Funding, in the fall of 2021, Garcia, Ruiz Hernandez, and others began operating a new Ponzi scheme that was identical to the MJ Capital Funding criminal enterprise. Garcia led this new scheme from its inception, up until her arrest, and after, while in Bureau of Prisons custody. The entities utilized by Garcia and her co-conspirators for the new fraud scheme included New Beginning Global Funding LLC, New Beginning Capital Funding LLC, Lion Heart Capital Group L.L.C., GMR Remodeling LLC, and Group Management LLC.  Similar to the MJ Capital Funding fraud, Garcia and her partners told victims that their money would be used to fund commercial loans. In truth, the money raised was used to pay off previous investors, and fund Garcia and her coconspirators' lifestyles.

Garcia’s sentencing hearing is currently set for Sept. 20, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez will determine Garcia's sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Ruiz Hernandez was charged in August 2022, pled guilty in April 2023, and was sentenced in September 2023 to 110 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI Miami, made the announcement.

FBI Miami investigated this case. SEC’s Miami Regional Office and Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20350.

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MIAMI – On July 17, Terronce Morris, 42, the leader of a two-man fraud scheme, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison on conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges.  

Morris, of Missouri City, Tex., pled guilty on Feb. 13 to conspiring with Blake Kelly, 37, of Los Angeles, Calif., in a fraud scheme involving bogus music concerts with famous artists, including J.B., B.E., and P.M. Kelly had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy, on Jan. 9. Morris and Kelly also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft for forging the signature and using the identity of music artist J.B. on false and fraudulent concert contracts.

According to the factual proffer and other court documents, between December 2019 and March 2020, Morris and Kelly fraudulently obtained approximately $1,350,000 from victim J.R. Morris and Kelly persuaded the victim to give them the money for the purportedly production of a music festival, featuring J.B., P.M., B.E., and other music recording artists. Morris and Kelly created several false and fraudulent concert performance contracts forging the signatures of the music recording artists. Morris also created false and fraudulent email accounts that he used to pose as if the music recording artists themselves had sent the signed contracts to Kelly and himself. Additionally, during a video call with the victim, Morris and Kelly had an accomplice pose as J.B. to trick the victim into believing that J.B. had agreed to perform at the concert series.

Morris continued his fraud scheme after receiving several cease and desist letters from the recording artists' attorneys. Just a few months after stealing victim J.R.’s $1,350,000, in October 2020, Morris used more fake and forged J.B. contracts that he created to trick another victim, A.M., out of $500,000. On Nov. 19, 2020, Morris sent victim A.M. a false, fake, and fraudulent B.E. contract from his email account. Relying on these bogus contracts, victim A.M. sent Morris a $250,000 check for the anticipated performance, and Morris quickly deposited those funds and as in the case of victim J.R., Morris used those funds on himself and not for a concert featuring musical artists.  

After stealing victim A.M.'s money, in May 2021, to as late as December 2023 (post-arrest), Morris stole an additional $850,000 from two more victims, W.P. and S.H. On July 27, 2021, Morris sent victim W.P. an email with another forged and bogus J.B. contract, this time claiming that Morris secured the musical artist's signature in person.  Morris wrote in the email, "I told you I was going to get it done!!!!" And just like victim J.R., victim W.P., drawing upon his and victim S.H.'s money, sent Morris a check made payable to "J.B.," in the amount of $250,000. Morris, without any authority, signed the back of the check, deposited it in his own checking account, and spent it on himself.  

Morris, free on bond, met with victim W.P. in December 2023 (post-arrest) and promised him that the J.B. concert would go on someday in the near future. In yet another separate, yet related instance, in November 2021, Morris met with victim M.P and received a $350,000 cashier’s check in the name of J.B on behalf of victims N.V. and J. F.  Morris again claimed that he represented artist J.B. and that the $350,000 was to procure his performance on a live streaming event during the Covid-19 pandemic. Morris then committed the aggravated identity theft of a second J.B., in that in December 2021, he opened a bank account in Texas, using the personal identifying information of a victim named J.B., who shares the same name as the musical artist, J.B. 

The total fraud loss from Morris’ musical artist fraud scheme is close to $3,000,000. Morris and Kelly used the fraudulently obtained money to enrich themselves and finance a lavish lifestyle for themselves and their accomplices, which included traveling, purchasing luxury goods, paying for luxurious services, and dining at high-priced restaurants.

On March 13, Kelly was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Cruz and Joan Silverstein prosecuted it.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60118.

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MIAMI – Kisean Anderson a/k/a “Sean Kingston,” 34, and Janice Turner, 61, both from Southwest Ranches, FL, made their first appearance in federal court to face conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges stemming from their involvement in a scheme to defraud victim sellers of high-end specialty vehicles, jewelry, and other goods purchased by the defendants through the use of fraudulent documents.

A grand jury sitting in Miami, Florida charged Anderson and Turner each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and five counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison on each count.

According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants unjustly enriched themselves by falsely representing that they had executed bank wire or other monetary payment transfers as payment for vehicles, jewelry, and other goods purchased by the defendants, when in fact no such bank wire or other monetary payment transfers had been executed by the purported banks, and thereafter the defendants retained or attempted to retain the vehicles, jewelry and other goods despite non-payment. Through the execution of this scheme, the defendants obtained in excess of $1 million in property. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros, United States Secret Service, Miami Field Office; and Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.

The United States Secret Service and the Broward Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton and Trevor Jones.

An indictment and criminal complaint contain mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60126.

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MIAMI – On July 18, 2024, the United States charged Courtney Mallory, 44 years of age, from Coconut Creek, Florida with the commission of two bank robberies:  one occurring on June 5, 2024, at a Boca Raton Truist bank; and another occurring on July 12, 2024, at a Delray Beach Bank of America. 

According to allegations in the filed criminal complaint, on June 5, 2024, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Mallory is alleged to have entered the Truist Bank on State Road 441, Boca Raton, Florida, brandishing what appeared to be a firearm and wearing a mask. Mallory demanded money from the bank employees, forcing bank tellers to take him to the vault.  Mallory fled with thousands of dollars of U.S. currency, in a dark blue Nissan.

On July 12, 2024, Mallory is alleged to have committed a second bank robbery.  On this date, Mallory entered the Bank of America on Jog Road in Delray Beach, Florida. Once again, Mallory was wearing a mask and brandishing what appeared to be a firearm.  Mallory once again escaped with thousands of dollars in US currency again in a dark blue Nissan. 

On July 17, 2024, FBI agents arrested Mallory at his Coconut Creek residence. At that location, and during a separate search of his dark blue Nissan, agents recovered the clothing and backpack Mallory wore during the robbery, a black pellet gun, and thousands of dollars in US currency, some of which were wrapped in Truist Bank and Bank of America bank bands.

Mallory appeared in West Palm Beach Federal Court on Thursday, July 18, 2024, for his initial hearing. He is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on July 25, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. before a United States Magistrate Judge in West Palm Beach, Florida.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-mj-8347.

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MIAMI – On July 11, Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, Fla., was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl resulting in death. 

According to the court record, on Nov. 5, 2021, Lewis distributed fentanyl to a man in the parking lot of a restaurant in Vero Beach, Fla.. The next day, the man’s wife found him dead on the kitchen floor of their residence. After law enforcement discovered the victim’s body, they used the victim’s cellphone to order more fentanyl from Lewis, unbeknownst to Lewis that law enforcement was posing as the victim. On Nov. 7, 2021, Lewis showed up at the victim’s residence with more fentanyl, at which point he was arrested by deputies with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO). 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and IRCSO Sheriff Eric Flowers made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce, Fla. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter. 

According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation.  Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl.  In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.

For more information visit:  https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR-14030.

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MIAMI – On July 11, the United States unsealed an indictment charging eight defendants, including five members of the Almighty Latin King gang (“Latin Kings”), with federal drug and firearm offenses. 

The twenty-six count indictment charges Dayana Garcia, 34, Eduardo Monteagudo, 41, and Armando Rodriguez, Jr., 38, all of Miami, Fla., with conspiring with Bernardo Olvera, a/k/a “King Handsome,” 35, also of Miami, to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine in Miami-Dade County.

According to allegations in the court record, to include previously filed criminal complaints, Olvera is a known member of the Latin Kings gang, as are codefendants Jerry Rodriguez, a/k/a “King Suave,” 30, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Blas Barrios, a/k/a “King Blasito,” 44, of Miami, Joshua De Paula, a/k/a “King Vision,” 28, of West Palm Beach, and Ricky Mourin, a/k/a “King Rick,” 33, of Naranja, Fla. Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin engaged in the illegal sale of narcotics and/or firearms on multiple occasions between January and June 2024. The indictment charges Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin with conspiring to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 28 grams of cocaine base throughout South Florida. 

Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, and De Paula also face federal charges for criminal conduct involving firearms. Olvera and Rodriguez, both convicted felons, are charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Rodriguez, Barrios, and De Paula, were also charged with firearms trafficking and possessing firearms after felony convictions, with Rodriguez facing an additional charge for unlawfully transferring a machine gun.

Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin were taken into custody on June 27, at locations across South Florida. They each made their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida on June 28. If convicted, Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin each face up to life in prison. They are all currently detained.

On July 11, Garcia and Monteagudo were taken into custody in Miami and had their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida. Garcia and Monteagudo are currently detained. Rodriguez, Jr. is pending arrest. If convicted, Garcia, Rodriguez, Jr. and Monteagudo each face up to 40 years in prison. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD); Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami; and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) made the announcement.

ATF Miami Field Office, MDPD, HSI Miami and USMS Miami investigated the case and executed the arrest warrants. The Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica K. Castro is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.

An indictment and criminal complaint contain mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) was used to ascertain historical information regarding firearms. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This investigation was carried out by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.  The South Florida HIDTA, established in 1990, is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who, cooperatively, target the region’s drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations.  The South Florida HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which sponsors a variety of initiatives focused the nation’s illicit drug trafficking threats. For more information regarding HIDTA visit https://www.dea.gov/operations/hidta.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20289.

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MIAMI – Robert Zildjian Mondragon, 31, of Margate, Fla., was sentenced to 33 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, after being convicted of making a false statement during a firearm purchase and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Mondragon was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale. 

According to the specific findings of fact issued by the Court, on April 9, 2024, Mondragon stated in a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Transaction Record, specifically ATF Form 4473, on June 18, 2019, that he was not an unlawful user of marijuana. Mondragon made the false statement in connection with the attempted purchase of a Radical Arms rifle in Miami with the intent to deceive the licensed firearm dealer and that false statement was material to the lawfulness of the sale. The Firearms Transaction Record, Form 4473, had in bold print a warning that the use or possession of marijuana remains a federal violation and it is unlawful even if marijuana had been legalized or decriminalized for medical purposes in the applicant’s state. Prior to that attempted purchase, Mondragon had established a years-long pattern of unlawful marijuana use.

On Nov. 14, 2021, Mondragon was photographed with another firearm. The year before, his phone contained references to weed on seventy-one days.

The sentencing hearing and related court filings referenced additional information regarding Mondragon’s conduct and background. As was addressed in court, since 2013, Mondragon has made multiple threats to commit a mass shooting. In 2018, the Florida Legislature enacted the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which allowed members of law enforcement to seek a court order restricting firearm and ammunition possession by a person who poses a danger to themselves or others, and on March 29, 2018, City of Corals Springs officers sought a temporary risk protection order against Mondragon which was granted after a hearing. That order remains in place and was in effect when he attempted to purchase a firearm in June 2019.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the ATF, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.

ATF and BSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anita White and Ajay Alexander prosecuted it.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.

This prosecution is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through the PSN program, a broad spectrum of law enforcement and community stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to reduce violence crime and gun violence, and to make our local neighborhoods safer for everyone.

If you have information about a possible threat and/or the unlawful possession of a firearm, contact your local law enforcement agency (911). 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60196.

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MIAMI – On July 9, Alphonso Coleman, Jr., 41, of Indian River County, Fla., was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and cocaine. 

According to the court record, between March 14, 2023, and May 2, 2023, Coleman distributed over four ounces of fentanyl and an ounce of cocaine. On April 4, 2024, Coleman pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and cocaine. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce, Fla. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter. 

According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly.  Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.

For more information visit:  https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and

https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR- 14035.

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MIAMI – Malaina Chapman, 37, of Hialeah, Fla. has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud.  She had her initial appearance in Miami federal court today.

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, Chapman was employed as a Disaster Relief Specialist with the Small Business Administration (SBA) from Sept. 28, 2020, through her resignation on March 18, 2021. While employed by the SBA, Chapman became involved in multiple schemes to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, as well as to defraud local credit unions and local and state programs designed to assist those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic pay their rent. 

“Disaster relief was intended for people in need, namely functioning businesses, corporate forms, and sole proprietorships facing uphill prospects during the pandemic, not for those who sought to pad their pockets and defraud the government by making up entities or overstating their payroll and revenues to qualify for the relief," stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to hold anyone accountable who exploits and defrauds financial institutions and the government’s pandemic response to enrich themselves at the expense of struggling businesses, employees, and local tenants. While the COVID-19 relief programs have ended, our commitment to identifying and prosecuting those who defrauded them has not.”

“Today’s charges highlight our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of SBA programs,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Exploiting relief efforts for personal gain undermines public trust and deprives legitimate businesses of essential assistance. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to ensuring that those who engage in fraudulent schemes are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

On Feb. 10, 2021, Chapman, while employed by the SBA, submitted, via interstate wire communication, a loan application in the name of Upscale Credit Lounge to Lender 3.  In support of her application, Chapman submitted a purported tax year 2020 Schedule C form that reported gross revenues of $103,674 and a tentative profit of $81,860. Lender 3 relied upon the representations in Chapman’s application and on Feb. 11, 2021, approved a loan in the amount of $17,052.50.  Further investigation revealed that the Schedule C, attached to Chapman’s application was false and fraudulent. 

On Feb. 19, 2021, Chapman, again while still employed by the SBA, submitted, via interstate wire communication, a PPP loan application with Lender 3 on behalf of DA TRAP. In her application, Chapman claimed that she had four employees and an average monthly payroll of $14,191. In support of her application, Chapman submitted four IRS Employers Quarterly Tax Return forms (Form 941), which purportedly documented the wages paid by DA TRAP. Lender 3 relied upon the representations in the application and on Feb. 26, 2021, approved a loan in the amount of $35,477.50. Further investigation revealed that the multiple IRS Forms 941 attached to Chapman’s application were false and fraudulent.

Chapman also conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf. Six defendants were charged in Case No. 24-CR-20079 and in that case defendant Raisha Kelly was the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy and prepared and caused the preparation of numerous false and fraudulent loan applications to be submitted to SBA-approved PPP lenders.  Chapman aided and abetted this conspiracy by creating false and fraudulent IRS documents and sending them to Kelly, who in turn used them to submit false and fraudulent applications for PPP loans.

In addition to defrauding the PPP program, Chapman is also charged with taking advantage of the State of Florida and the City of Miami’s Covid-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs. Specifically, on Oct. 13, 2021, Chapman began the process of applying for benefits under the State of Florida’s Emergency Rental Assistance program. Chapman was purportedly a tenant at a residence in Miami. Chapman submitted required information and documents through an online portal set up to distribute benefits under the program. On Jan. 20, 2022, Chapman submitted a written document titled “3-day notice to pay rent or quit.” These documents were dated Dec. 7, 2021, and purportedly signed by Individual 2, the defendant’s mother. Individual 2 died on May 25, 2020. The State of Florida accepted the representations in Chapman’s application and approved payments totaling $15,000. These payments were made into bank accounts controlled by Chapman. 

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG); Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Investigations Division’s Eastern Region; and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Southeast Region, made the announcement.

USPS OIG, SBA OIG and DOL-OIG handled the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bernstein.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.   

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud.  The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.

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

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-mj-03358.

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MIAMI – On July 1, two tax preparers were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a scheme to file false tax returns.

Napoleon Tabot, 60, of Chandler, Ariz., was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and co-defendant Lovet Ayuk-Ako, 40, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman following their convictions for conspiracy to commit tax fraud.  Upon release from custody, Tabot and Ayuk-Ako must serve three years of supervised release and pay $397,818.00 in restitution to the U.S. government.

As outlined in court documents, Tabot recruited individual tax return clients (co-workers at an employer located in Hollywood, Fla.) for Ayuk-Ako’s tax preparation business, Money Back Tax, LLC, located in Maryland. The Money Back Tax business had clients in Florida, Maryland, and Washington, DC.  After Tabot had collected personal identifying information (PII) and tax information from his client victims, he would provide it to co-conspirators Ayuk-Ako and Arnold Zio for tax return preparation at Money Back Tax.  Thereafter, Ayuk-Ako and Zio filed and caused to be filed false tax returns which claimed inflated refunds and directed all or part of the refunds to be deposited into bank accounts under their control, without the taxpayer’s knowledge or consent.  As a result of the fraudulent scheme, the United States suffered a tax loss in excess of $500,000.

Co-conspirator Zio remains a fugitive. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentences imposed.

IRS-CI Miami investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton prosecuted it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60077.

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MIAMI – The former vice president of a Miami Aerospace company and his co-conspirator were sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution for their respective involvement in a mail, wire and honest services fraud conspiracy.

According to court filings, from August 2008, and continuing through October 2018, Mario Rene De La Torre, 54, of Fort Collins, Colo., used his position as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Miami-based Summit Aerospace, Inc. (Summit), to fraudulently embezzle over $2.1 million of Summit’s funds, which he split with his co-defendant, Joe Lewis McHomes 71, of Perry, Ga. Moreover, De La Torre evaded the payment of income tax on his ill-gotten gains, by laundering the fraud proceeds and filing false and fraudulent income tax returns.

To perpetrate the fraud scheme, De La Torre enlisted McHomes to pose as a sales consultant, who supposedly obtained aircraft part repair work for Summit, from Al-Raha Group for Technical Services (RGTS) in Saudi Arabia. De La Torre created fake invoices purportedly issued by McHomes’ fictitious consulting firm, J-CONN Solutions (J-CONN), for commissions McHomes purportedly earned for selling Summit’s services to RGTS. In fact, McHomes did not obtain the repair work that Summit performed for RGTS and was not entitled to any compensation from Summit. De La Torre submitted the fake J-CONN invoices to Summit’s accounts payable department, which would then issue the checks payable to J-CONN.  Significantly, De La Torre would create J-CONN invoices in amounts below $10,000 and cause Summit to issue a separate check for each invoice.  Summit would then send a set of checks to Joe McHomes through the mail system. When McHomes received a set of Summit checks, he would cash them at a check cashing store rather than a bank; and he would structure his cashing so that he didn’t cash more than $10,000 worth of checks on the same day in order to avoid the store’s filing of a cash transaction report (CTR) with the Treasury Department. McHomes would then kick-back fifty percent of the cash proceeds to De La Torre, again structured to avoid generating a CTR.

Mario De La Torre used the fraud proceeds to pay family expenses, including, among other things, his wife’s credit card bills and his daughter’s university education.

On June 27, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams sentenced De La Torre to one year and one day’s imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  De la Torre previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and honest services fraud, and making and subscribing a false tax return. On June 27, Judge Williams sentenced McHomes to five months in a Residential Reentry Center, to be followed by three years of supervised release, the first five months of which will be home detention. McHomes previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud.  In addition, the Court ordered both defendants to pay restitution in the amount of $2,129,392.35.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman, U.S. Airforce, Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud; Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line, of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office announced the sentences.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne E. Williams prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 20-cr-20185.

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MIAMI – Frenel Cenat, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat previously pled guilty to attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges arose from the use of his police position and authority, and his unmarked MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms of cocaine from the drivers.

“The vast majority of the law enforcement officers in this district and throughout this country perform their very difficult jobs with respect for their communities and in compliance with the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.  “Former police officer Frenel Cenat tarnished his badge when he abused his position and authority.  His actions do not speak for the larger law enforcement community.  Rather, today’s sentencing is a reminder that no one is above the law. I would like to thank our partners at the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and MPD, in particular the FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and the Miami Area Corruption Task Force, for their unwavering commitment to the communities we serve and the pursuit of justice.” 

“Former police officer Frenel Cenat disgraced himself by his inexcusable actions that damaged the public’s trust in law enforcement,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “I want to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Miami Police Department and our U.S. Attorney’s Office for their ironclad commitment throughout this complex investigation. Every day, thousands of dedicated, able, and honorable law enforcement officers take to the streets to protect communities throughout South Florida. It is on the behalf of these professionals that we seek to root out wrongdoing to ensure the high standards expected of our police are met and maintained. Our citizens deserve no less. We encourage anyone who may have information about corruption to come forward and report it. This information is vital to protecting our community.”

“Cenat used his badge to cover his illegal activities, thereby tarnishing the reputations of all the good men and women who protect our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division. “Law enforcement partnerships were key to bringing this disgraced officer to justice.”

“The reputation of the Miami Police Department is paramount. The community we are sworn to protect must trust our ability to police ourselves. The arrest of Mr. Cenat sent a strong message that I will not tolerate any member to tarnish the brand of our Miami Police Department,” said MPD Chief Manny Morales. “I am grateful for the assistance and partnership of the FBI, DEA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office; their professionalism and dedication made this investigation tremendously successful and resulted in the arrest of a person unfit to wear the badge.” 

Cenat, 41, who at the time of the crimes had been a police officer with the MPD since 2008, was using an MPD unmarked SUV as a “take home” vehicle. As an MPD police officer, Cenat was prohibited from engaging in any act of extortion or unlawful means of obtaining anything of value using his official position. In addition, Cenat was required to uphold the laws of the State of Florida and the United States, and he was not permitted to allow, facilitate, or assist individuals in breaking those laws, nor was he authorized to accept payments or things of value in exchange for allowing, facilitating, or assisting them in breaking state or federal laws.

A confidential human source (CHS) stated to law enforcement that they had been told by a mutual friend that Cenat had previously conducted traffic stops of individuals known to have engaged in drug transactions for the purpose of stealing the drugs and/or money those individuals were transporting. On Oct. 16, 2023, the friend introduced Cenat to the CHS at a meeting in Broward County, during which the three of them discussed an opportunity for Cenat to use his police officer position to stop an individual immediately following a drug transaction and steal approximately $50,000 in drug proceeds that the individual would have in their vehicle. Cenat indicated that he conducts the traffic stops outside of his jurisdiction and while off duty.

On Nov. 1, 2023, the friend, the CHS and Cenat planned for a traffic stop rip-off for Nov. 3, 2023. They discussed that the driver to be stopped would have approximately $50,000 in cash from the purported drug transaction, and Cenat requested the time and location of the deal, as well as detailed information about the driver. Cenat stated he would use this information when he conducted the traffic stop to scare the individual into believing they had been under investigation  and surveillance for some time so that the driver would be more likely to comply with his request for the money. 

On Nov. 2 and 3, 2023, Cenat and the CHS engaged in numerous communications leading up to the traffic stop. On November 3, at a hotel parking lot in Miami Gardens, Florida, Cenat initiated these communications directly with the CHS. Cenat, in his MPD-issued unmarked vehicle, observed two drivers engage in a staged drug transaction in a parking lot. These drivers were actually FBI undercover employees. One of the drivers was given a backpack containing $52,000 in cash. Cenat followed that driver out of the parking lot and turned on his lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop. During this stop, Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, and had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” and told one of the drivers that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat gave the driver the choice of giving up the backpack containing the cash or going to jail. The driver gave Cenat the backpack containing the cash and then the driver was allowed to leave the scene in his vehicle without being arrested. Cenat met with the CHS immediately thereafter and gave him $13,000 of the money stolen from the driver, keeping the remaining $39,000.

On Nov. 7, 2023, Cenat called the CHS and asked if he knew of a deal where Cenat could do another stop and get something like seven or ten kilograms of cocaine. Following up on the Cenat’s request, on Nov. 12, 2023, the CHS called Cenat about an upcoming deal in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Nov. 16, 2023. The CHS told Cenat that the driver he would be stopping would have approximately six or seven kilograms of cocaine and at least $30,000 USD from a purported drug transaction.  During their discussions, Cenat speculated that the cocaine he would be stealing could be sold for well over $100,000 that they could split. 

On Nov. 16, 2023, Cenat called the CHS to tell him that he was at the parking lot in his MPD-issued vehicle where the deal was to take place. Then, the CHS messaged Cenat a description of the individual’s vehicle for the traffic stop. Like the first deal, two undercover FBI employees engaged in a staged drug transaction in the parking lot. Cenat followed one of them out of the parking lot and turned on the lights of his MPD-issued vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, including his MPD-issued tactical vest with body armor in place, and once again had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” with “Broward County Sheriff’s Office – Narcotics Unit” and told the driver that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat went to the bed of the driver’s truck and took a duffle bag containing seven kilograms of fake cocaine and $80,000 and brought it back to his own MPD vehicle. Cenat then returned to the driver-side window of the vehicle and used the information received from the CHS to create the impression that he was under investigation. Cenat asked the driver “you want to go home tonight or spend 30 years in… federal prison?” The driver told Cenat that he wanted to go home. Cenat then told the driver that he now worked for him and had to answer when he was called. Having obtained the fake cocaine and cash from the driver, Cenat let him drive away. 

Cenat left with the duffle bag containing the fake cocaine and cash and shortly thereafter was arrested by law enforcement officers. The duffle bag, the seven kilograms of fake cocaine and the $80,000 in cash from the traffic stop were found in Cenat’s unmarked MPD-issued vehicle. In addition, $2,000 in $100 bills from the Nov. 3, 2023, traffic stop rip-off was also found in his vehicle.  

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of MPD announced the sentence imposed.

FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from MPD’s Internal Affairs Section, and the DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60016.

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