Southern District of Florida
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Attorney Lapointe Announces $7.6 Million Settlement of Civil False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Womenswear Company for Underpaying Customs Duties on Imported Women’s ApparelRead the Press Release
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.
###
Fort Lauderdale Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Assaulting a Federal Employee with a Hate Crime EnhancementRead the Press Release
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.
###
Serial South Miami Bank Robber Unmasked: Defendant Convicted of Two Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
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.
###
Four Men Charged in Philippine Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
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.
###
Four Men Charged in Philippine Bribery and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
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.
Australian National Pleads Guilty to Participating in Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
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.
###
73-Year-Old Greenacres Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Threatening to Kill a Member of Congress and the Congressperson’s ChildrenRead the Press Release
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.
###
Defendant Received Nearly $500,000 of $2M Sought from IRSRead the Press Release
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.
###
U.S. Attorney’s Office Staff Join National Night Out Events in South FloridaRead the Press Release
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.
###
Former British Virgin Islands Premier Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Import Cocaine into the United StatesRead the Press Release
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.
###
Eight People Charged in 23-Count Narcotics Trafficking and Felon in Possession IndictmentRead the Press Release
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.
###
Contract Criminals Indicted; Ending Campaign of Arsons, Poisonings and ViolenceRead the Press Release
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.
###
Twelfth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Transnational Scheme to Defraud Spanish-Speaking U.S. ConsumersRead the Press Release
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.
###
Twelfth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Transnational Scheme to Defraud Spanish-Speaking U.S. ConsumersRead the Press Release
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.
El duodécimo acusado se declara culpable de una conspiración transnacional para defraudar a consumidores hispanoparlantes de los Estados UnidosRead the Press Release
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.
Leader of $200 Million Ponzi Scheme Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Faces 20 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
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.
###
Fake Concert Promoter Sentenced to 57 months in Prison for Nearly $3 million Fraud Scheme Involving Identity Theft and Bogus Music ConcertsRead the Press Release
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.
###
Singer Sean Kingston and his Mother Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
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.
###
Coconut Creek Man Charged with Robbing Boca Raton and Delray Beach BanksRead the Press Release
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.
###
Indian River County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
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.
###
Eight People, to Include Five Latin Kings, Charged with Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
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.
###
Broward County Man Sentenced to Prison for Making False Statements During a Firearms Purchase and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
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.
###
Indian River County Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to over 13 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
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.
###
Former SBA Employee Charged with Wire and Bank Fraud in Connection with Filing False Applications for PPP and EIDL Loans and Covid-19 Rental AssistanceRead the Press Release
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.
###
Two Tax Preparers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
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.
###
Former Vice President of Miami Aerospace Company and Accomplice Sentenced to Prison for Involvement in Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
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.
###
Former City of Miami Police Officer Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Attempted Cocaine Trafficking and Attempted Hobbs Act ExtortionRead the Press Release
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.
###
Pensacola Sex Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for New Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Donovan E. Whidden, 21, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to online receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Protecting innocent children from sexual predators remains one of our highest priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “I commend our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who work tirelessly to identify these predators and bring them to justice so that they may never exploit a child again. Due to their collective efforts, our community is safer, and this repeat offender is exactly where he belongs – behind bars.”
In September 2023, the Pensacola Police Department received cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led back to Whidden’s residence. Law enforcement was aware that Whidden was on state court probation for a conviction for Promoting Sexual Performance by a Child in 2022. A search warrant was obtained for his residence, and law enforcement located evidence of Whidden utilizing the media platform Discord to upload and obtain child pornography. Whidden also used a cloud storage platform to maintain his child pornography.
“We must always protect our children. Our relentless pursuit to hunt down sexual predators remains a top priority for our law enforcement partners,” said Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall. “Let this sentence be a reminder to anyone that wants to hurt our children, we will find you and use every available law enforcement resource to get justice.”
Whidden’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions.
“This recidivist predator once again showed no respect for humanity by actively collecting and trading child sexual abuse material online,” said HSI Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Thanks to the investigative efforts of our persistent special agents and the Pensacola Police Department, this repeat offender will now spend well deserved time behind bars.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the other investigate agencies that comprise the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Northern Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 193 Defendants Charged and over $2.75 Billion in False ClaimsRead the Press Release
38 Defendants Charged in the Southern District of Florida
MIAMI - Today, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe announced criminal charges against thirty-eight defendants in connection with alleged health care fraud schemes prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. The charges stem from various schemes to defraud government and private health care benefit programs by submitting false claims for items and services that were not needed and, in many instances, never provided as well as a scheme to unlawfully distribute adulterated and misbranded prescription medications.
“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits.”
“The results of this coordinated law enforcement action demonstrate that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is committed to combatting health care fraud through the prosecution of those who steal from taxpayer-funded programs, defraud Americans, and compromise our health care system,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe. “Our Office and law enforcement partners will continue to fight health care fraud by holding those accountable, at all levels of the healthcare industry, who put profits above patient care and exploit patients and our invaluable health care programs.”
The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.
The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Connecticut, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District to Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and South Dakota are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
The Southern District of Florida, in particular, worked with the Department’s Criminal Division and the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), FBI, Florida Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
“We will not tolerate fraud that preys on patients who need and deserve high quality health care,” said the Honorable Christi A. Grimm, the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General. “The hard work of the HHS-OIG team and our outstanding law enforcement partners makes today’s action possible. We must protect taxpayer dollars and keep Americans safe from harms to their health, privacy, and financial well-being.”
“The numbers speak for themselves – 193 defendants and over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. Health care fraud in South Florida is a large and growing problem. This is why the FBI and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, HHS-OIG and MFCU devote considerable time and resources to investigate, catch, and prosecute those committing this type of fraud,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The law enforcement professionals who unravel these scams are to be commended for their diligence and commitment. Yet we need the public’s help. If anyone suspects they are a victim of health care fraud please call your local FBI office, the Florida Attorney General, or the HHS-OIG."
“I am proud of our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s work to fight fraud through this massive nationwide action, stopping fraudsters who stole billions from healthcare programs, including more than $15 million from Florida Medicaid. We will continue to take a hard stance against criminals looking to exploit taxpayer-funded programs,” stated Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
The following individuals have been charged in the Southern District of Florida:
In U.S. v. Marco Antonio Ramos Izquierdo, et al., Case No. 24-20238-CR-Becerra, Marco Antonio Ramos Izquierdo, 42, of Cuba, Marelys Ruiz Ulloa, 45, of Miami, Fla., Jakeline Canova Cebrian, 58, of Miami, Fla., Roberto Cisneros Cebrian, 53, of Miami, Fla., Jose Antonio Rio Roche, 53, of Miami, Fla., Reiniel Claro Estrada, 42, of Phoenix, Ariz., Maria De Los Angeles Abreu Perez, 37, of Houston, Tex., Nelson Enrique Gonzalez Diaz, 38, of Doral, Fla., Jonathan Jose Martinez Lambrano, 41, of Houston, Tex., Ana Maria Gomez Contreras, 42, of Houston, Tex., Levy Alberto Colina Garcia, 37, of Doral, Fla., and Gloria Guillibeth Diaz Salas, 34, of Doral, Fla., were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering for their role in distributing the proceeds of fourteen durable medical equipment (DME) companies. According to the indictment, Medicare and Medicaid paid these fourteen companies approximately $17,600,000 as a result of false and fraudulent claims for DME. The indictment details how the DME companies transferred approximately $3,906,649 of the fraud proceeds to shell companies, including those owned by Ramos Izquierdo, Ruiz Ulloa, Canova Cebrian, Cisneros Cebrian, Rio Roche, and Claro Estrada. Those defendants then made cash withdrawals from their shell companies and also wrote checks from the shell companies that received these fraud proceeds to individual check cashers, including individual checks between $4,000 and $9,000 totaling a combined approximate amount of $2,513,381 made out to Abreu Perez, Gonzalez Diaz, Martinez Lambrano, Gomez Contreras, Colina Garcia, and Diaz Salas. HHS-OIG, FBI Miami, USMS and MFCU investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Santiago Garcia Jorge, Case No. 24-20237-CR-Altman, Santiago Garcia Jorge, 49, of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering for his role in distributing the proceeds of a fraudulent DME company. The indictment alleges that in connection with his role as the president and registered agent of Gold Medical Supply Inc., a company that submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid in the approximate amount of $7,498,260 and was paid approximately $1,402,478 by Medicare and Medicaid, Garcia Jorge transferred approximately $1,384,875 of the fraud proceeds to shell companies located in the Southern District of Florida. Garcia Jorge did so by writing approximately $174,990 in checks directly to those shell companies, but also by transferring approximately $1,209,855 to three other Gold Medical bank accounts that he controlled before then transferring them to the same shell companies. HHS-OIG, FBI Miami and MFCU investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Jorge Acosta, Case No. 24-20270-CR-Gayles, Jorge Acosta, 55, of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud various private insurance plans. According to the information, Acosta was a licensed physical therapist who worked at Phoenix Rehab Center Corp., a medical clinic based in Miami. Acosta’s co-conspirators offered and paid kickbacks to patient recruiters in exchange for referring beneficiaries of Administrative Services Only (ASO) corporate insurance plans, held by employers JetBlue Airways and AT&T Inc. and administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), to Phoenix Rehab for various forms of physical therapy treatments that they did not need and in many cases never received. Acosta falsified and backdated claims forms for submission to BCBS that falsely and fraudulently represented that various health care benefits had been provided by Phoenix Rehab to beneficiaries of BCBS and ASO insurance plans managed by BCBS. FBI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Omar Cabrera Hernandez, Case No. 24-20245-CR-Damian, Omar Cabrera Hernandez, 55, of Miami, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks to patients. Hernandez, as the administrator of the clinic Advanced Community Wellness Center, Inc. in Hialeah, Fla., participated in a conspiracy to pay patients illegal kickbacks to attend psychosocial rehabilitation services at the clinic which were then billed to Medicaid. This conduct resulted in an improper benefit of at least $400,597 and submission of claims to Medicaid totaling over approximately $3.5 million. HHS-OIG Miami, FBI Miami and MFCU investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Abraham of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Yordany Rivera Bermudez, Case No. 24-20256-CR-Damian, Yordany Rivera Bermudez, 35, of Ft. Myers, Fla., was charged by indictment with health care fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of nearly $3 million for DME that was never supplied to Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients. As alleged in the indictment, Rivera Bermudez was the president and operator of Acqualina Health Medical Solutions Inc. (Acqualina), a company located in North Miami, Fla., that purported to provide DME to eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients. In a ten-month period, Acqualina submitted approximately $2.9 million in allegedly fraudulent health care claims to Medicare and Medicaid for DME that Acqualina never provided, and that Medicare and Medicaid recipients never requested or needed. As a result, Medicare and Medicaid paid approximately $1.2 million to Acqualina. HHS-OIG, FBI Miami and MFCU investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Canzio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Jorge Luis Pajon Rodriguez, Case No. 24-20260-CR-Williams, Jorge Luis Pajon Rodriguez, 58, of Miami, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks to patients in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicaid. As alleged in the information, Pajon Rodriguez, as the owner of the Miami clinic Gables Community Wellness Center, Inc., participated in a conspiracy to pay patients illegal kickbacks to attend psychosocial rehabilitation services at the clinic which were then billed to Medicaid. This conduct resulted in an improper benefit of at least $1,338,184 and approximately $6 million in claims to Medicaid. HHS-OIG Miami, FBI Miami and MFCU investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Abraham of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Yoan Manuel Sanchez Cardet, et al., Case No. 24-60112-CR-Leibowitz, Yoan Manuel Sanchez Cardet, 34, of Homestead, Fla., and Alain Cabrera Marquez, 48, of Austin, Tex., were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $3.2 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Sanchez Cardet was involved in arranging the purchase of a DME company, PRNX Medical Supply Corp., that was acquired for the sole purpose of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare. According to the indictment, Sanchez Cardet was also involved in installing Cabrera Marquez as the sole listed officer of PRNX Medical who signed relevant documents on behalf of the company, in order to conceal the identities of the beneficial owners of the company. FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee C. Jimenez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Daniel David Espinoza, Case No. 24-60105-CR-Singhal, Daniel David Espinoza, 55, of Parkland, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to commit money laundering for allegedly laundering illegal proceeds derived from a health care fraud scheme. According to the information, five DME companies received approximately $5 million from Medicare for the submission of false and fraudulent claims for DME that they did not actually provide and/or was not medically necessary. Espinoza then laundered approximately $3.4 million of those fraud proceeds, primarily through his own company, Danoza Enterprises, and disbursed the proceeds to himself, his family, and others involved in the fraud. FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee C. Jimenez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Justin Blair and Trevor Blair, Case No. 24-cr-80074-Middlebrooks, Justin Blair, 34, and Trevor Blair, 30, both of Boca Raton, Fla,, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive health care kickbacks, solicitation and receipt of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering in connection with an alleged kickback scheme involving a laboratory based in Texas. As alleged in the indictment, Justin Blair and Trevor Blair were partners in PIC Group 21, LLC (PIC Group), a call center that conducted deceptive telemarketing to persuade Medicare beneficiaries and their doctors to order genetic tests. PIC Group allegedly sold signed orders to the lab, which billed Medicare more than $3.5 million based on the orders from PIC Group. PIC Group allegedly received more than $2.5 million in kickbacks and laundered the proceeds through entities controlled by the defendants. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Enrique Perez-Paris et al., Case No. 24-cr-20155-Ruiz, Enrique Perez-Paris, 47, of Aventura, Fla.; Diego Sanudo Sanchez Chocron, 47, of Venice, Calif.; Gregory Charles “Milo” Caskey, 57, of San Antonio, Tex.; Omar Palacios, 34, of Miami, Fla.; and Nadir Perez, 26, of Miami, Fla., were charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with an alleged $65 million scheme to bill health care benefit programs, including Medicare and the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, for medically unnecessary and otherwise non-reimbursable COVID-19 and genetic testing. Palacios and Perez were also charged with receipt of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program. As alleged in the superseding indictment, Perez-Paris, Sanchez, and Caskey owned Innovative Genomics, an independent clinical laboratory in San Antonio. Perez-Paris, Sanchez, and Caskey paid kickbacks and bribes to physicians and patient recruiters, including Palacios and Perez, to generate orders for COVID-19 and genetic testing that Innovative Genomics would use to support false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement. The defendants also caused health care benefit programs to be billed for COVID-19 testing that the Food and Drug Administration had not approved for emergency-use authorization. The defendants further caused Medicare to be billed for genetic testing that patients did not need, that was procured by payments made directly to physicians, and that Innovative Genomics did not process. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Reginald Cuyler Jr. of the Florida Strike Force is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Adam Brosius, et al., Case No. 24-cr-20255-Dimitrouleas, Adam Brosius, 59, of Delray Beach, Fla., and Patrick Boyd, 43, and Charles Boyd, 46, both of Easton, Md. were charged by indictment with conspiracy to introduce into interstate commerce adulterated and misbranded drugs and to defraud the United States; introducing into interstate commerce misbranded drugs; conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and wire fraud. As alleged in the indictment, Patrick Boyd and Charles Boyd were the owners of Safe Chain Solutions LLC (Safe Chain), a wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical drugs. Brosius was a part owner of Safe Chain and the owner of Worldwide Pharma Sales Group, Inc., which helped Safe Chain locate suppliers of HIV drugs and pharmacy customers to purchase HIV drugs. According to the indictment, Safe Chain purchased more than $90 million of heavily discounted and diverted prescription drugs, primarily HIV medication, from five black-market suppliers. These diverted HIV drugs were often acquired through unlawful “buyback” schemes, in which previously dispensed bottles of prescription drugs were purchased from patients. The drugs were then resold to Safe Chain with falsified documentation designed to conceal the true source of the medications. After purchasing HIV medication from the black-market suppliers, the defendants sold the diverted drugs to pharmacies throughout the country. Pharmacies then dispensed these diverted HIV medications to unsuspecting patients. At times, patients received bottles labeled as their prescription medication, but the bottles contained a different drug entirely, with one patient passing out and remaining unconscious for 24 hours after taking an anti-psychotic drug thinking it was his prescribed HIV medication. FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Alexander Thor Pogozelski of the Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit and Jacqueline DerOvanesian of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Delgado of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is assisting with asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Alicia Hiller, Case No. 24-80079-CR-Rosenberg, Alicia Hiller, 45, of Pompano Beach, Fla., was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with her role in an unlawful scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary DME. As alleged in the indictment, Hiller was the owner of Lifeline Recruiting, Inc. (Lifeline), which she used to pay medical providers to sign prescriptions for DME, even though the providers were not reviewing the beneficiaries’ medical records and were not making an actual assessment of medical necessity. Hiller described these providers as “happy clickers” or “auto-clickers.” Those prescriptions were then used to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for the medically unnecessary DME. As a result of the scheme, Medicare paid more than $40 million on the false and fraudulent claims. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III of the National Rapid Response Strike Force is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is assisting with asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Wesley Jackson, Case No. 24-cr-20269-Smith, Wesley Jackson, 28, of Long Island City, N.Y., was charged by information with health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare for over $2.1 million for medically unnecessary orthotic braces, using sham contracts and invoices to disguise the payments. According to the information, Jackson, the owner of a marketing company called Jackson Media LLC, sold doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces to DME suppliers in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. HHS-OIG and MFCU investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jacqueline DerOvanesian of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Delgado of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is assisting with asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Ryan Michael Pattrin, Case No. 24-cr-60109-Leibowitz, Ryan Michael Pattrin, 48, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and solicitation and receipt of kickbacks. According to the indictment, Pattrin was one of the owners of Infinity Medical Supply LLC, a DME company that billed Medicare for medically unnecessary DME based on doctors’ orders procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. The indictment also alleges that Pattrin was one of the owners of National Health Care Advocates LLC, a purported marketing company that referred doctors’ orders for DME to DME companies in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes. The indictment alleges that Pattrin and his co-conspirators caused DME companies, including Infinity, to submit over $7.9 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Andrea Savdie of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Michael Cascone, Case No. 24-cr-20243-Singhal, Michael Cascone, 31, of Delray Beach, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to the information, Cascone owned two DME companies, Limitless Medical Supplies, LLC and Your Medical Supply Co, LLC, that paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to a purported marketing company in exchange for referring beneficiaries and doctors’ orders for DME that was medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. The information alleges that through Limitless Medical Supplies, LLC and Your Medical Supply Co, LLC, Cascone submitted approximately $3,493,466 in false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement from Medicare. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Andrea Savdie of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Angelica Pacheco, Case No. 24-cr-20253-Becerra, Angelica Pacheco, 37, of Hialeah, Fla., was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, and wire fraud in a sober home scheme involving $19.2 million billed to private insurers. Pacheco owned and operated Florida Life Recovery and Rehabilitation LLC (Florida Life) which purportedly provided several levels of outpatient substance abuse care. As alleged in the indictment, Pacheco submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to private insurers for therapy services that were not provided, or were not provided as billed, and excessive and medically unnecessary urinalyses that were not factored into patient treatment. The indictment further alleges that Pacheco fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) loans on behalf of Florida Life by falsely certifying that the company was not engaged in any illegal activities. In November 2023, Pacheco was elected to the City Council for the City of Hialeah. FBI investigated this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief James Hayes of the National Rapid Response Strike Force and Trial Attorney Aisha Schafer Hylton of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Smith et al., Case No. 24-cr-20268-Becerra, Deborah Smith, 62, of Hialeah, Fla., and Mabel de la Caridad Rodriguez Brito, 53, of Miami, Fla., were charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $58,000 in Medicare funds. According to the information, Smith and Rodriguez were employees at a medical facility, and sold Medicare patient information in exchange for cash. That patient information was later used to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment that was never provided and/or was medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey of the Florida Strike Force and Health Care Fraud Unit Assistant Chief Emily Gurskis. Assistant U.S. Attorneys G. Raemy Charest-Turken and Jorge Delgado of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Betscy Kurian, Case No. 24-cr-60114-Singhal, Betscy Kurian, 59, of Coral Springs, Fla., was charged by information with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, in connection with a scheme to dispense controlled substances, primarily oxycodone. As alleged in the information, Kurian, a pharmacist, dispensed oxycodone knowing that these prescriptions were not written in the course of professional practice for a legitimate medical purpose. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jacqueline DerOvanesian of the Florida Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Delgado of the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In U.S. v. Lianet Sacerio, Case No. 24-20267-CR-Ruiz, Lianet Sacerio, 38, of Miami, Fla., was charged by information with obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses. As charged in the information, from March 2022 through March 2023, Sacerio made false representations to law enforcement agents regarding her own knowledge, involvement, and financial interest in health care fraud offenses under investigation. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Egozi and Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster of the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt 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 www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
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.
###
Three Treasure Coast Men Pled Guilty to Committing Robberies of U.S. Postal Service Letter CarriersRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Three Treasure Coast residents recently pled guilty in federal court for their respective involvement in a string of robberies of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers for their Postal keys.
On June 12, Jamal Travon Brown Weathers, 23, of Fort Pierce, Fla., pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, armed Postal/U.S. property robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On June 14, Jalen Dennis Elliott, 19, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.
On June 18, Bernard Jerome Davis III, 20, of Port St. Lucie, pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of armed Postal/U.S. property robbery, and single counts of brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and Hobbs Act robbery.
According to the court record, to include factual proffers in support of the defendants’ guilty pleas, between Nov. 19, 2022, and Oct. 21, 2023, Brown Weathers, Davis and Elliott robbed at least six USPS letter carriers in St. Lucie, Brevard, Orange and Miami-Dade counties in Florida.
On Nov. 19, 2022, a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail inside an apartment complex in Port St. Lucie. While the carrier was at the mailboxes, Brown Weathers demanded “Give me the key.” Brown Weathers then grabbed and started yanking the letter carrier’s keys, which were attached to her uniform pants. Brown Weathers then brandished a semi-automatic handgun and demanded “Give me the f------ key, you got five seconds to give up the key.” At that point the letter carrier unhooked her arrow key and handed it over to Brown Weathers, who fled in a vehicle driven by Davis.
A Postal arrow key is an accountable property assigned to U.S. Post Office(s) that is only authorized to be used by USPS employees in an official capacity. A Postal arrow key is used by USPS employees to open mail receptacles within a geographic area to collect and deliver mail.
On May 12, 2023, Brown Weathers and Davis robbed two USPS letter carriers at gunpoint in the Middle District of Florida. At approximately 12:13 p.m., a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail in Melbourne, Fla., when Davis approached the letter carrier with a black firearm and demanded the letter carrier’s Postal arrow key. Once the letter carrier handed over the key, Davis fled the scene in a Nissan Altima that he rented. At approximately 1:20 p.m., another USPS letter carrier was on his mail delivery route in Orlando, Fla., when a Nissan Altima stopped behind his Postal vehicle. Brown Weathers exited the Nissan Altima, ran towards the letter carrier while holding a black firearm, grabbed the letter carrier by the shirt, and demanded the letter carrier give him the arrow key. The letter carrier removed the arrow key from his belt loop and gave it Brown Weathers, who fled in the vehicle rented and driven by Davis.
On Aug. 1, 2023, a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail in Fort Pierce when a white Pontiac Grand Prix began to follow her and pulled up behind her USPS vehicle. The letter carrier observed Davis carrying a black semi-automatic firearm and walking towards the Postal vehicle. Fearing a robbery, the letter carrier quickly drove away and called 911. The same white vehicle followed another letter carrier, who also called 911.
On Oct. 11, 2023, a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail in Fort Pierce when Davis approached the driver’s side of the Postal vehicle brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded that the letter carrier give him the key. Once the letter carrier handed the Postal arrow key to Davis, he entered a white vehicle and drove away.
On Oct. 21, 2023, a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail in an apartment community in Miami Beach, Fla. when she was confronted by Davis who shouted, “give me the keys.” Davis ripped the keys, including a Postal arrow key, from the letter carrier's hand and caused an injury. Davis then fled to a waiting black BMW SUV, driven by Elliott.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled before U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore. Brown Weathers and Davis face up to life in prison. Elliot faces up to 40 years in prison. The 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, Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, Chief Diane Hobley-Burney of the Fort Pierce Police Department, Chief Wayne A. Jones of the Miami Beach Police Department, Sheriff John W. Mina of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Wayne Ivey of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Keith Pearson of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Richard Del Toro Jr. of the Port St. Lucie Police Department made the announcement.
USPIS, the Fort Pierce Police Department, Miami Beach Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Port St. Lucie Police Department investigated the case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Lineberger is prosecuting it.
Announced in May 2023, Project Safe Delivery is a USPS initiative to combat the recent rise in threats and attacks on letter carriers and mail theft incidents by protecting Postal employees and the security of the nation’s mail and packages. Multiple departments within USPS, including the Inspection Service, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and the Office of the Chief Retail and Delivery Officer are working together to support the ongoing campaign. To help strengthen this effort, the Inspection Service has also significantly increased monetary rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator of postal crimes.
Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455. The Postal Inspection Service is authorized to issue monetary rewards for the forcible assault, robbery or attempted robbery of any custodian of any mail, money, or other property of the United States under the control and jurisdiction of the Postal Service. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to report allegations of Postal Service employee misconduct, including attempts to corrupt a Postal Service employee, to the USPS OIG at 1-888-877-7644 or www.uspsoig.gov.
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-14053.
###
Former Florida Keys Resident Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIAMI –Yesterday, Eric Edward Cadogan, a/k/a “livelife4fun69,” 39, of La Crosse, Wis., formerly of Marathon, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to distributing child pornography.
According to the factual proffer in support of the plea and information presented in court, Cadogan uploaded and distributed child pornography using a social media messaging platform. Cadogan also offered to sell child pornography and said he had “100 of videos n pictures.” In messages with an online undercover agent, Cadogan indicated he had engaged in sexually explicit conduct with minor children.
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 sentence.
FBI Miami Key West Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine W. Guthrie prosecuted the case.
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, PSC 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 PSC initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone with information regarding suspected child abuse (to include physical and sexual abuse) is encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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-10017.
###
Former U.S. Coast Guard Member Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIAMI - On June 18, a former U.S. Coast Guard Member was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.
The social media application Snapchat alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one image of suspected child pornography was uploaded on March 8, 2021, using an account linked to Blayne Schouest, who at the time was a U.S. Coast Guard Member stationed in Key West, Fla. After executing a search warrant, law enforcement discovered seven videos containing child pornography on Schouest’s cell phone.
An indictment charged Schouest with one count of possessing child pornography. Schouest pled guilty to the indictment on March 8.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge, Matthew Margelot, U.S. Coast Guard Investitive Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office, announced the conviction.
CGIS Key West investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Ayer prosecuted it.
To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by NCMEC in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other law enforcement agencies.
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.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
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 23-cr-10016.
###
Sebring Woman Charged for Role in Fatal Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI - Yaqulelin Dominguez-Nieves, 25, of Sebring, Fla., was detained pending trial today, on an indictment charging ten counts relating to an alien smuggling venture that resulted in the death of approximately sixteen people, four of whom were recovered at sea and found to have died by drowning.
“Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.”
"The Coast Guard Investigative Service is committed to safeguarding those who are vulnerable and at risk of exploitation. The indictment and arrest of Yaqulelin Dominguez-Nieves underscore our unwavering dedication to protecting individuals from the dangers of illegal smuggling operations. These criminal activities not only violate federal law but also endanger human lives. We remain steadfast in our mission to bring those who perpetrate such heinous acts to justice and ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders." said Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office.
According to allegations in the indictment and information presented during the detention hearing, Dominguez-Nieves facilitated a smuggling venture that resulted in death and that was for commercial gain. On Nov. 16, 2022, this smuggling venture resulted in the deaths of approximately sixteen migrants, three of whom are charged in the indictment and many of whom were children, when the boat they were being smuggled in—a boat that according to a survivor was overloaded and did not contain a single life vest—sank roughly thirty miles off the coast of Cuba while in transit to the Southern District of Florida.
Dominguez-Nieves was arrested by CGIS Special Agents.
If convicted of encouraging and inducing or attempting to bring aliens into the United States resulting in death, Dominguez-Nieves faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or death. 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 Sector Key West, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is 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-20223.
###
California man and Miami woman charged in the murder of a victim at Aladdin Hotel in MiamiRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On June 20, Jimmy Sanchez, 36, of San Diego, Calif., and Tsvia Kol, 36, of Miami were charged in the execution-style murder of a victim at the Aladdin Hotel in Miami. The indictment charges both Sanchez and Kol with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and causing a death in the course of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
On November 29, 2022, the victim was lured to the Aladdin Hotel by Kol, who demanded to know the whereabouts of a missing methamphetamine package she believed the victim stole. Kol arranged for Sanchez to fly to Miami, from San Diego, to assist her with locating the missing package and the subsequent murder of the victim. Law enforcement discovered the victim lying in the hotel room with two gunshot wounds to the face and head.
If convicted at trial, Sanchez and Kol face a mandatory sentence of life in prison, up to life of supervised release, and up to $10,000,000 in fines.
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 Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) made the announcement.
DEA Miami Field Division and MDPD investigated the case. FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division assisted with this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yara Dodin and Monica Castro are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman 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 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-20149.
###
Port St. Lucie Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Glock SwitchRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On June 11, Darroll C. Gilchrist, 18, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., pled guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm.
Gilchrist was arrested on July 28, 2023, on an outstanding warrant. During his arrest, deputies found a Glock model 19 firearm, modified with a “Glock switch” on Gilchrist’s person. The “Glock switch” enabled the firearm to fire automatically, more than one shot, by a single function of the trigger.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, before U. S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce, Fla. Gilchrist faces up to 10 years in federal prison and up to three years of supervised release. The court 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; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office; and Sheriff Keith Pearson of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
ATF Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hudock is prosecuting it.
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.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case no. 24-cr-14005.
###
Southern District of Florida recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Lapointe emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Our Office is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including the elderly,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Exploitative practices that target seniors inflict great financial, emotional and at times physical harm. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country. If you or your loved ones are victims of elder fraud and/or abuse, contact law enforcement for help. No one should fight this battle alone.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently issued the following announcement regarding money mules..
“Our Office is committed to dismantling criminal networks, to include those designed to inflict financial harm upon older Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to disrupt money mule networks, educate consumers about scams, and prosecute criminals who defraud the public. Our goal is to keep money out of the hands of domestic and international fraudsters and in the pockets and bank accounts of the South Florida residents and visitors we serve.”
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example,
- In Social Security Administration impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation.
- In tech support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask the victim to give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services.
- In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstake and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. U.S. Attorney Lapointe’s elder fraud Public Service Announcement (PSA) can be viewed by visiting this link.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, to include the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
Recent South Florida elder abuse cases include the following:
- Monique C. Clarke, a/k/a “Monique Clark-Mootoo,” a/k/a “Rebecca White,” and a/k/a “Mark Hilton,” and Jon-Michael Hudson were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering for their involvement in a Jamaican lottery scheme that targeted over 50 elderly victims throughout the United States and resulted in over $6.6 million in losses. The trial is scheduled for Aug. 12, before U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian in Fort Lauderdale. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
- Five people, to include a home health aide and her daughter, were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a South Florida elder fraud scheme.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
###
Vero Beach Resident Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
MIAMI– On June 10, Sudiata Stinson, 47, of Vero Beach, Fla., was sentenced to 188 months in prison for distributing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sitting in Miami.
On February 7, Stinson pleaded guilty to an indictment charging two counts of distributing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Maynard, sitting in Fort Pierce, Fla.
According to court documents filed in the case, following the fentanyl overdose death of a young Vero Beach woman, law enforcement began investigating Stinson as the source of supply. Over the next few months, in a joint investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) orchestrated two purchases of fentanyl from Stinson, which led to his indictment for two counts of distributing fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Eric Flowers of the IRCSO made the announcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover.
According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning the nation. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 38,000 Americans in the first six months of 2023 alone. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially fatal dose and laboratory testing indicates seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. The public is encouraged to be cautious.
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-14040.
###
Miami Physical Therapist Assistant Sentenced to over 3 Years in Prison for $2.6 million in Fraudulent ClaimsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Yesterday, a federal judge in Miami, sentenced Tania Cesar, a local physical therapist assistant (PTA), to 39 months in prison and three years of supervised release after a jury found her guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, and five counts of healthcare fraud.
According to evidence presented during a weeklong trial last February, over a two-year period at Elite Therapy Clinic, Cesar signed over 1,500 physical therapy notes for treatments and services that she never provided to patients. Several patients testified at trial, many of whom were paid cash in exchange for visiting Elite Therapy, that they did not recognize Cesar, despite their medical records reflecting months of treatment that Cesar purportedly provided. Elite Therapy coworkers testified that Cesar only visited Elite once or twice per week for a few hours to fill out fabricated progress notes. The fraudulent treatment notes led to over $2.6 million in claims billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and other insurance companies. Trial testimony showed that the year before Cesar started committing fraud at Elite Therapy, Cesar fabricated patient therapy notes at Zion Medical Group Inc., a clinic whose owner was separately convicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The sentencing record showed that the year before the Elite Therapy fraud, Cesar was fired from another medical clinic for billing for therapy that she never provided.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. found that Cesar employed sophisticated means at Elite Therapy to execute and conceal her fraud, and that she abused her special skills as a PTA. Judge Scola ordered that upon Cesar’s release from prison, she cannot work in the health care field while on supervised release, and upon request from the appropriate regulatory agency Cesar must relinquish her PTA license. Cesar was also ordered to pay $939,334.05 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Egozi and Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-CR-20259.
###
Hip-hop Artist Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Today, hip-hop artist and music producer Rodney McClain, a/k/a “Money Rod,” a/k/a “$Rod,” 35, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in relation to his COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.
As part of the plea, McClain, of Fulton County, Georgia, admitted in 2020, he caused a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application to be submitted for his company, Dreams Come True Records, LLC, a music production company with its principal place of business in North Miami Beach, Florida. The PPP application contained materially false information about Dreams Come True Records, LLC’s number of employees and payroll expenses in 2019 and 2020, including two falsified IRS tax forms submitted with the application. McClain received over $600,000 in PPP loan proceeds as a result of this fraudulent loan application, and he spent more than $100,000 of the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds on personal and other impermissible expenses.
McClain, as part of the plea, will have a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of over $113,000 entered against him, and he will forfeit his music rights, master recordings, and music compositions.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29, before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami. McClain faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction. The court 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 D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Division announced the plea.
IRS-CI, Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone is prosecuting this case and 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 24-cr-20094.
###
Miami Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On June 7, Jean Wesner Pierre Louis, 52, of Miami, Florida was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $4,000,000 in restitution for aiding and assisting the preparation and presentation of false tax returns.
Pierre Louis was the president and chief operating officer of a tax preparation business operating in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Pierre Louis pled guilty in February 2024. For tax years 2015 through 2019, on multiple occasions Pierre Louis prepared tax returns for his clients that falsely claimed certain credits that increased the amount of refund owed or decreased the amount of taxes owed, such as: the American Opportunity Credit, a refundable credit which allowed taxpayers to claim a credit for qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student in the first four years of higher education; and the Credit for Federal Taxes Paid on Fuels (Fuel Tax Credit), which could be claimed for fuel used for certain specified purposes. For those same tax years, on multiple occasions Pierre Louis prepared tax returns for his clients that falsely claimed losses on an IRS Schedule C for businesses that did not exist, which also had the effect of increasing the amount of refund owed or decreasing the amount of taxes owed.
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 sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck.
IRS-CI Miami investigated 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-20379.
###
Broward deputy sheriff and SWAT team member convicted at trial of COVID-19 relief fraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On June 5, a federal jury in Miami convicted a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputy of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA), two counts of false statements to the SBA, and wire fraud, all in relation to her COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.
In 2021, Alexandra Acosta, 38, of Tamarac, Florida, 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 in BSO’s Department of Law Enforcement and was the first and only BSO female SWAT team member.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 27, before U.S. Senior District Judge Robert N. Scola. Acosta faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction, 5 years in prison for the conspiracy conviction, and 2 years in prison for each of the false statement convictions. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acosta’s coconspirator, St Louis, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced, on May 14, to one-year of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker, Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Sheriff Gregory Tony of BSO; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, 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 are prosecuting 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.
###
Former Vice President and employee of Florida aircraft parts broker sentenced to prison for aircraft parts fraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On May 28, Daniel Navarro, 50, of Miami Lakes, Florida, the former Vice President of Sofly Aviation Services (Sofly), an aviation parts distribution company, and Jorge Guerrero, 71, of Hialeah, Florida, a Procurement & Asset Management Specialist for Sofly, were sentenced to federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
U.S. District Senior Judge Federico A. Moreno sentenced Navarro to 30 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release; and sentenced Guerrero to 12 months and 1 day in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release. Navarro and Guerrero were ordered to pay no less than $204,055 in joint and several restitution. A $93,309.22 forfeiture order was placed on Navarro’s property.
According to court records, beginning in 2012 and continuing into 2019, Navarro and Guerrero purchased “as removed” aircraft parts and resold them using certificates that falsely claimed the parts to be airworthy under the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The fraudulent approval tags represented those “as removed” parts to be overhauled, tested/inspected or repaired, which misled their buyers into believing them to be airworthy. Most often, Navarro and Guerrero would use an FAA approved repair station’s FAA certificate number to falsely certify the part to have been overhauled, tested/inspected or repaired by that repair station, when in fact they never were. According to the court documents, those parts were sold to Canadian airlines and a U.S. Department of Defense contractor.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent-in-Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office, and Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Southern Region announced the sentences imposed.
DOT OIG conducted this investigation jointly with DCIS and with assistance from the FAA.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco handled 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. 23-CR-20416.
###
Owner of Jay’s Immigration Consulting Practice, LLC sentenced to over 5 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On May 31, Jephte Bernard, 70, of Margate, Florida, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, after previously pleading guilty to mail fraud and making false statements. Bernard was sentenced for his massive and decades long immigration fraud scheme involving the fraudulent submission of asylum claims to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from Jay’s Immigration Consulting Practice, LLC offices in Sunrise, Orange Park, and Bradenton, Florida. Upon release from custody, Bernard must serve three years of supervised release and forfeit $3,932,460.00 in illegally obtained proceeds.
According to the court record, during the course of the fraud scheme, Bernard falsely portrayed himself as an attorney, pastor, Border Patrol Agent, and former employee and agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who advertised immigration-related services to aliens in the United States, family members and friends of aliens who were in the United States, and domestic family members and friends of aliens who were abroad, all of whom were in need of assistance for immigration-related matters before USCIS. Bernard targeted Spanish-speaking immigrants from Central and South America, as well as Haitian-creole speaking immigrants, by fraudulently representing himself as an attorney licensed to practice law in the United States and advertised his services and expertise in a number of ways, including through the use of business cards, print media, storefront decals, and word of mouth. Bernard gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to client-victims in order to induce them to retain his services and those of Jay’s Immigration Services and prepared and filed various immigration applications and petitions, including Form I-589’s (Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal) which he knew contained false statements, including false biographical information, false residential addresses, and false preparer names, all without the victim applicant’s knowledge and consent. As a result of this fraudulent immigration scheme, Bernard defrauded over 1,000 vulnerable victims, and in the process, earned more than $3.9 million dollars in fraudulent proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, and Miami Asylum Director Varsenik Papazian for USCIS announced the sentences imposed by Judge Ruiz.
HSI Fort Lauderdale and USCIS Miami Asylum Office Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco handled 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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR-60195.
###
Thirteen defendants charged with firearms trafficking related offenses; over one hundred-forty firearms seizedRead the Press Release
MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, announced today that since January 2024 the Southern District of Florida has indicted 13 defendants for federal firearms trafficking related offenses, to include smuggling of firearms, dealing in firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and making a false statement in a firearms purchase, and seized over 140 firearms.
“Traffickers who illegally engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing contribute to the illicit flow of firearms into the black market,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “All too often these powerful firearms then make their way into the hands of felons, gang members, and other violent offenders. Some of these weapons make their way into countries in our hemisphere, with undesirable consequences in those places as well. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify targets who unlawfully traffic in and possess firearms, prosecute the offenders, and reduce gun violence. We are grateful for the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to help keep our communities safe and firearms out of the hands of unauthorized persons.”
“Firearms trafficking is a crime that affects our communities in many ways and ATF and HSI Miami are in communication and collaboration with our unique jurisdictions to combat the flow of illegal weapons to those who perpetrate violent acts in a myriad of fashions to the detriment of public safety domestically and internationally,” said ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson.
“The illegal trafficking of weapons out of the United States is a top priority for HSI. These weapons are fueling the violence in our neighboring nations and continues to destabilize parts of the region,” said Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to target individuals and criminal organizations that are involved in the illicit movement of firearms.”
The arrests and resulting cases are a result of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism.
The following firearms trafficking related cases were charged in the Southern District of Florida since January 2024:
U.S. v. Jamaal Calloway, Case No. 24-CR-20006
Jamaal Calloway, 41, of Florida City, Florida was charged in a seven-count indictment for dealing in firearms without a license, which included selling pistols, rifles, and at least seventy machine guns, unlawful transfer, and possession of machine guns, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Calloway sold approximately thirty-nine machine gun conversion devices that had the capability of enabling a semi-automatic firearm to discharge more than one shot without manual reloading and with a single function of the trigger. On March 22, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty. Sentencing is set for June 7, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck. ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan Diaz Espinosa is prosecuting the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Ronald Zapete, Case No. 24-CR-20049
U.S. v. Amanda Roden, Case No. 24-CR-20165
Ronald Zapete, 39, and Amanda Roden, 31, of Miami, were indicted separately for smuggling firearms to the Dominican Republic. The indictments allege that Roden bought firearms in Dania Beach, Florida, and the pair, Zapete and Roden, arranged for a common or contract carrier to export three firearms – without permission - to the Dominican Republic in October 2023. HSI Miami investigated both cases with the assistance of ATF Miami. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld is prosecuting both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika M. Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Trevin Roberts, Case No. 24-CR-20167
Trevin Roberts, 29, of Aventura, Florida, was charged by indictment on April 24, 2024, with smuggling firearms and ammunition from Miami to the Bahamas. On April 5, 2021, law enforcement seized eleven firearms loaded with magazines and ammunition from a freight shipping company in Opa-Locka, Florida that were to be shipped to the Bahamas at Robert’s direction. Roberts was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. ATF Miami and HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Samuel Pierre, et al., Case No. 24-CR-20168
Samuel Pierre, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Reginald Louis Chosson, 28, of Homestead, Florida, were charged by indictment on April 24, 2024, for participating in a conspiracy to purchase firearms by means of false statement and to smuggle firearms and ammunition from Miami to Haiti. From May 2022 through July 2022, the defendants conspired to purchase firearms and ship those firearms to Haiti. On July 12, 2022, law enforcement seized eight rifles, one belt-fed machine gun, fourteen pistols, and approximately 4,000 rounds of ammunition from a cargo shipment destined for Miargoane, Haiti. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Nathaniel Christian Guillaume, Case No. 24-CR-20175
Nathaniel Guillaume, 24, of Miami, was charged by indictment with making a false statement during a firearms purchase. The indictment alleges that the defendant purchased a firearm on behalf of another person while knowingly making a false statement on ATF Form 4473 when he represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Dante Marquaze Donaldson and Jeleel Eion Gumbs, Case No. 24-CR-20177
Dante Marquaze Donaldson, 24, of Conyers, Georgia, and Jeleel Eion Gumbs, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, were charged in a three-count indictment for conspiring to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Saint Martin, attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Saint Martin, and for delivering firearms and ammunition to a common carrier without written notification. According to the allegations contained in the indictment, starting on or about Oct. 18, 2022, and continuing through on or about October 31, 2022, the defendants and their co-conspirators purchased firearms and ammunition in Georgia and thereafter concealed those items in an air tank. The defendants and their co-conspirators shipped the package with the concealed firearms and ammunition in an air tank intended for Saint Martin via Doral, Florida. Five firearms were recovered. HSI Miami, HSI Caribbean, and ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Sondy Dales, Case No. 24-CR-20184
Sondy Dales, 35, of Orlando, Florida, was charged in a two-count indictment for delivering three firearms and ammunition to a common carrier to be transported to a foreign country. HSI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Hiledin Quintero Martinez, a/k/a “Mily Alvarez”, Case No. 24-CR-20197
Hiledin Quintero Martinez, a/k/a “Mily Alvarez,” 36, of Orlando, was charged in a four-count information for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and delivery of firearms to a common or contract carrier without written notice. According to the allegations contained in the indictment, starting in or about June 2020, and continuing through on or about Jan. 13, 2021, the defendant, using the fictitious alias “Mily Alvarez,” and her co-conspirators delivered and caused to be delivered, without notifying common or contract carriers, multiple packages containing approximately ten firearms. The packages were destined for Venezuela and Colombia. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan Diaz Espinosa is prosecuting the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Jacoby Karmaren Smith, Case No. 24-CR-60035
Jacoby Karmaren Smith, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida was charged by indictment for aiding, abetting, and willfully causing another person to make a false statement during the purchase of four firearms. HSI Miami and ATF Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Allen John Collier, Case No. 24-CR-60049
Allen John Collier, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged in a six-count information for making false statements during six separate firearms purchases. Several of the firearms Collier purchased were transported to Jamaica. Pursuant to the investigation, at least thirteen firearms were seized. HSI Miami and ATF Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika M. Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
If an individual is convicted of the respectively charged offenses, the maximum statutory penalties are: 10 years for smuggling goods from the United States; 10 years for attempted smuggling goods from the United States; 10 or 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (depending on the date of the offense); 10 years for unlawful transfer and/or possession of a machine gun; 10 years for purchase of firearm by means of a false statement; 5 years for dealing in firearms without a license; 5 years for conspiracy; and 5 years for delivery of a firearm to a common carrier without written notification.
An indictment, complaint, and information each 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 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 the corresponding case numbers.
###
Miami resident sentenced to prison for shooting at a U.S. Postal Service Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On May 29, Charlie Holley, 43, of Florida City, Florida, was sentenced to 192 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz II, after having been convicted by a federal jury of forcibly assaulting a federal employee, brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to evidence introduced at trial, in June 2021, the victim, a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), was delivering the mail on her usual route in Florida City when she arrived at Holley’s townhouse to deliver a package addressed to a name used by Holley. The victim got out of the mail truck and heard Holley speaking to her from a second-story window. The victim told Holley that she had a package for him. In response, Holley demanded that the victim open the package. The victim advised Holley that she was not permitted to open the package, which Holley responded to by shouting, “Do you think I’m f----- playing with you?,” and then lifting a 45 caliber, semi-automatic rifle and pointing it at the victim. The victim fled to her postal truck and heard a bullet hit her truck as she drove away.
In response to her 911 call, officers responded to Holley’s residence, where he barricaded himself inside. After a near two-hour standoff, Holley surrendered. The black rifle was found in a bedroom with several magazines loaded with ammunition, and a bullet fragment was recovered from above the gas tank of the postal truck.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, 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, Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), and Chief Pedro W. Taylor of the Florida City Police Department made the announcement.
USPIS, FBI Miami, ATF, MDPD and the Florida City Police Department investigated the case. Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and Homestead Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Zachary A. Keller prosecuted it.
Anyone with information about a crime having been committed against a postal employee, to include an assault, robbery or attempted robbery is encouraged to call 877-876-2455 or submit a tip to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report. The Postal Inspection Service is authorized to issue monetary rewards for the forcible assault, robbery or attempted robbery of any custodian of any mail, money, or other property of the United States under the control and jurisdiction of the Postal Service.
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-20373.
###
Florida Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Health Care Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna, District of New Jersey, and U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, Southern District of Florida, announced today.
Kareem Memon, 34, of Coral Springs, Florida, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Raag Singhal to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Judge Singhal imposed the sentence on May 29, 2024, in the Southern District of Florida.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Memon and his conspirators owned and operated marketing call centers and telemedicine companies through which they obtained doctors’ orders for DME for Medicare beneficiaries without regard to medical necessity. Memon and his conspirators provided doctors’ orders in exchange for bribes from DME companies that provided the braces to Medicare beneficiaries. Memon and his conspirators caused losses to Medicare in excess of $11 million.
On Sept. 21, 2023, Memon pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and felon in possession charges in a separate case before Judge Singhal. Memon submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $451,000 in forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and used those funds for personal gains. At the time of Memon’s arrest he was a felon and found to be unlawfully in possession of an arsenal of 12 firearms and ammunition.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Singhal sentenced Memon to three years of supervised release.
Attorney for the United States Khanna and U.S. Attorney Lapointe credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark and Acting Special Agent in Charge is Maged Behnam in Miami, Florida; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of District of New Jersey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Waugh of the Southern District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
Since February 2024, one defendant pled guilty and five others have been charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in deathRead the Press Release
MIAMI – 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, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO), Chief Joe DeGiulio of the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), Chief Dominick Pape of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and Chief Sean Scheller of the Lantana Police Department announced the results of their continuing efforts to combat the distribution of fentanyl crisis in South Florida.
Since March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with assistance from law enforcement partners, has indicted five defendants with distributing fentanyl resulting in death. Their charges follow another defendant’s guilty plea to the same charge in February 2024. Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 841, the distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death is an offense that upon conviction is punishable by a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life.
According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 38,000 Americans in the first six months of 2023 alone. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially fatal dose and laboratory testing indicates seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. The public is encouraged to be cautious.
“Drug traffickers who distribute fentanyl are handing out a death sentence to drug users and those who unknowingly come in contact with this dangerous and deadly synthetic drug,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to target those who fuel the opioid epidemic, to include the Chinese companies and employees that manufacture and introduce the raw chemicals at the start of the fentanyl supply chain, the associates and members of the drug cartels that manufacture fentanyl, and, as we have seen with today’s announcement, the South Florida suppliers who handout the fatal fentanyl overdoses. We commend our partner agencies for their skill and resourcefulness, as we work collectively to prosecute the distributors of the fentanyl poison and protect the public.”
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing our country. Whether in a fake pill, in powdered form, or laced in other illicit drugs, the effects of illicit fentanyl are devastating on our Florida communities as drug distributors put profits over the lives of people,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “DEA will continue our collaborative efforts, working with our local, state, and federal partners, to target the entire illicit fentanyl supply chain and hold those who threaten the safety and health of our communities responsible for their actions.”
“I commend all of our law enforcement partners in this investigation for their dedication and perseverance. The Boynton Beach Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting the distribution of dangerous narcotics. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for the distribution of these drugs are brought to justice," said BBPD Chief Joseph DeGiulio.
“The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department appreciates the working partnership with our federal law enforcement partners to combat these dangerous drugs that are harming residents of our community. These efforts will hopefully result in reducing the impact of fentanyl and keep our community safe,” said Chief Dominick Pape of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.
The following cases exemplify the continued commitment between federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute drug dealers who distribute deadly fentanyl.
U.S. v. Keyon Lewis, Case No. 23-CR-14030
On Feb. 20, 2024, Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, Florida pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of another person. According to the plea documents filed with the Court, on Nov. 5, 2021, Lewis sold fentanyl to a man in a parking lot in Vero Beach. The next day, the man’s wife found him dead on the kitchen floor of their residence.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce. IRCSO and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Samantha Hana Yi and Darnell Julio Mendez,
Case No. 24-cr-80041
On March 28, 2024, Samantha Yi, a/k/a “China,” 32 and Darnell Julio Mendez, 31, of Lake Worth, Florida, were indicted for distributing fentanyl causing death, following the fatal ingestion of fentanyl by a 10-month old baby in Boynton Beach, Florida. According to allegations in the court record, Yi and Mendez sold the fentanyl to the baby’s mother, who was a drug addict, the day before the baby’s death. Undercover officers also subsequently purchased fentanyl from Yi and Mendez. When the couple was arrested at their home, they were found in possession of fourteen firearms. Both Yi and Mendez were also charged in the indictment with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Yi and Mendez are detained pending trial, scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg. A plea hearing is scheduled for Yi on June 11, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart. BBPD, PBSO, and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McMichael and Shannon O’Shea Darsch are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Alfonso Guerrero, Case No. 24-cr-14013
On April 11, 2024, Alfonso Guerrero, 37, of Vero Beach, Florida, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, resulting in death, distribution of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, resulting in death, and possession of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl with intent to distribute, following the death of a 37-year-old male in Vero Beach on May 16, 2023. According to allegations in the court record, Guerrero delivered a white powdery substance to the victim hours before he died. Toxicology results determined that the victim died from a combination of dimethylpentylone, pentylone, and fentanyl. Two days after the victims’ death, Guerrero sold more fentanyl to an undercover officer.
Guerrero is detained pending trial. A status conference is scheduled for June 26, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg. A trial date has not been scheduled in this matter. IRCSO and DEA investigated the case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Gito St Fort, Case No 24-cr-80063
On May 16, 2024, Gito St Fort, 30, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was charged by indictment with distributing fentanyl on Dec. 24, 2023, to a young man who was visiting his parents in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. According to allegations in the court record, the victim took an Uber from his parent’s house to St Fort’s apartment in the early morning hours of December 24, 2023, to buy heroin capsules and cocaine. Tragically, the victim was found dead by his parents the next morning, on Christmas Day along with leftover capsules that tested positive for fentanyl. A toxicology report confirmed fatal levels of fentanyl in the victim’s blood.
St Fort is detained pending trial, scheduled for July 1, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, PBSO and DEA investigated the case. FBI Miami provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Anthony Raul Del Valle, Case No. 24-cr-80062
Today, Anthony Raul Del Valle, 29, of Lantana, Florida, was charged in a superseding indictment with distributing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl causing the death of two sisters in Lantana, Florida. According to the criminal complaint, Del Valle sold counterfeit pills to the victims on April 8, 2024. According to the superseding indictment, the counterfeit pills contained acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl, quantities of which were found in the victims’ toxicology findings by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office. Del Valle has also been charged with possessing additional fentanyl which he intended to distribute on April 10, 2024, along with a firearm he possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
Del Valle is detained pending trial, which is scheduled for June 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. The Lantana Police Department and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Shea Darsch is prosecuting it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners thank the Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit and the Office of State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl for the 19th Judicial Circuit for their invaluable assistance with fentanyl cases.
Anyone with information regarding the distribution of fentanyl is encouraged to contact 911 or call the DEA at 1-877-792-2873.
A number of these prosecutions are 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.
An indictment and 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 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 the corresponding case numbers.
###
Former Broward Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Stephanie Diane Smith, 54, of Sunrise, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 7 months in prison for participating in a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme in which she received two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In March 2024, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found Smith guilty of two counts of wire fraud in connection with the scheme.
Smith was employed as a deputy sheriff with the Broward Sheriff’s Office when she applied for the PPP loans in 2021. As established at trial, the PPP loans were based upon materially false gross income information for two sole proprietorship businesses, Children 1st Basketball Training and Agape Smith Vending. The fruits of this scheme resulted in Smith’s unlawful receipt of $31,108.
U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn imposed the sentence following a hearing. The sentence includes a 3-year term of supervised release following imprisonment, restitution in the amount of $31,108, a $2,000 fine, and forfeiture.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI, Miami Field Office; 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); and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.
FBI Miami, FRB-OIG, and BSO investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Snider and Trevor Jones prosecuted the case. 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-60203.
###
Foreign National Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Colombian national was sentenced today to 48 years and nine months in prison for his role in kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia.
According to court documents, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 36, and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota to rob them of their valuables. On the evening of March 5, 2020, the two victims went to an entertainment district in Bogota to watch a soccer game. They visited a pub, where Arango Castellanos incapacitated the two victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Arango Castellanos and one of his co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by another co-conspirator, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit and credit cards and cell phones. Arango Castellanos and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
In May 2023, Arango was extradited from Colombia to the United States pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. On Jan. 26, he pleaded guilty to 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.
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 Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila L. 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 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.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
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-20173.
###
Foreign National Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
A Colombian national was sentenced today to 48 years and nine months in prison for his role in kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia.
According to court documents, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 36, and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota to rob them of their valuables. On the evening of March 5, 2020, the two victims went to an entertainment district in Bogota to watch a soccer game. They visited a pub, where Arango Castellanos incapacitated the two victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Arango Castellanos and one of his co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by another co-conspirator, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit and credit cards and cell phones. Arango Castellanos and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
In May 2023, Arango was extradited from Colombia to the United States pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. On Jan. 26, he pleaded guilty to 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.
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 Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. 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 L. Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.