Central District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Quincy, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon and Violating His Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois, man, Donte Clausell, 36, was sentenced on October 31, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, to 96 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Judge Lawless also sentenced Clausell to 12 months in prison, to be served consecutively to his other sentence, for violating his supervised release. At the time he unlawfully possessed the firearm, Clausell was serving a sentence of supervised release for a drug distribution conviction in the Eastern District of Missouri.
On September 26, 2020, Clausell knowingly possessed a firearm containing an extended ammunition clip that was loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition. Clausell was indicted in November 2020 and plead guilty in February 2023.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a three-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Quincy Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Clausell is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes 20th Anniversary of the Crime Victims’ Rights ActRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – On October 30, 2004, the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) was passed, providing crime victims participatory rights in the federal criminal justice system. Please join U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris in taking a moment to reflect on the 20th anniversary of this landmark legislation.
Prior to the CVRA, there were no requirements to inform a victim of court proceedings, and families would be left out of the process. The families of murder victims Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, and Nila Lynn experienced this exclusion, ultimately influencing the creation of CVRA. Federal crime victims are now afforded substantive rights and there are mechanisms in place to enforce those rights.
RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS.--A crime victim has the following rights:
(1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
(2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
(3) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.
(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
(10) The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.In the Central District of Illinois prosecutions often include violent crime, child exploitation, elder fraud, and other forms of fraud. In July, 2024 the family of a murder victim participated in the trial proceedings that resulted in the conviction Kevin Marshall of Carjacking Resulting in Death and Murder; in August, 2024 several victims testified in the trial that resulted in the conviction of Emmanuel Howard and Evander Jordan, for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Firearms Charges; in October, 2024, a kidnapping victim watched the trial that resulted in Ademeko Maclin-Carney and Ausarian Carney being convicted of his kidnapping in 2022.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to seeking justice and treating all victims with dignity and respect. Protecting the rights of victims is an integral part of the criminal justice system before, during, and after court proceedings. If you would like more information regarding crime victim rights and victim services in the Central District of Illinois, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris Announces Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris announced today the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) who will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The AUSAs appointed to serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in each of the district’s four divisions are: Gregory M. Gilmore in the Springfield headquarters office; Darilynn J. Knauss in the Peoria branch office; Timothy J. Sullivan in the Urbana branch office; and John K. Mehochko in the Rock Island branch office. As DEOs, the AUSAs are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Harris said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Harris stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Gilmore, Knauss, Sullivan, and Mehochko will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.
The DEOs can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers:
Springfield: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore, 217-492-4450;
Urbana: Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Sullivan, 217-373-5875;
Peoria: Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn J. Knauss, 309-671-7050; and,
Rock Island: Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko, 309-793-5884
In addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 217-522-9675.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Harris said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Pembroke Township Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years in Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Larry Dean Gibbs, 63, of Pembroke Township in Kankakee County, Illinois, was sentenced on October 28, 2024, to 6 ½ years of imprisonment for filing false tax returns.
Gibbs was convicted of filing three false federal tax returns following a jury trial held at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana in March of this year. During the trial, the government presented evidence to establish that, in January 2017, Gibbs filed three federal income tax returns for the tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014, each falsely claiming that he had earned $10 million in annual income from the “Larry Dean Gibbs Estate.” Gibbs further falsely claimed that the IRS withheld over $3 million per year from his earnings each year and that he was entitled to refunds totaling over $6.8 million. In contemporaneous filings, Gibbs claimed that he had changed his name to Mulumbua Humraukn El Taikem Bey and that he was the Ambassador for the Al Moroccan Empire National Republic, which is not officially recognized by the U.S. State Department. At the time Gibbs filed the three false tax returns, he had just been released from federal prison for a prior conviction for filing a false federal tax return in 2005, when he had obtained a $66,282 refund to which he was not entitled.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Gibbs had obstructed justice during the trial by falsely claiming that he was a member of the Maipuri Arauan Nation and that a treaty between that tribe and the United States required tribal members to be seated on his jury. Judge Bruce found that Gibbs “continues to file nonsensical sovereign citizen documents with the court, despite the court’s clear warnings against such frivolous, docket-clogging activity.”
The statutory penalties for filing a false tax return are up to three years of imprisonment and up to a $100,000 fine on each of the three counts of conviction. In addition to imprisonment, Judge Bruce sentenced Gibbs to serve one year of supervised release following his release from the federal Bureau of Prisons.
Judge Bruce directed Gibbs to report to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence of imprisonment on January 7, 2025. In the meantime, Gibbs remains released on conditions of bond, which include home detention.
“Fraud upon the government ultimately harms honest taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Our office will vigorously prosecute these important cases, including those involving repeat offenders such as the defendant. We are grateful to our federal law enforcement partners for their dedicated work on this case.”
“Tax fraud undermines the trust between taxpayers and their government,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “By filing false tax returns, Larry Gibbs not only cheated the system but also imposed an unjust burden on honest taxpayers. His frivolous court filings further clogged our legal system, wasting valuable resources that could be better used to serve the community. IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners remain committed to holding accountable those who seek to exploit our tax laws for personal gain.”
“The FBI is proud to work with its law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure that taxpayer dollars aren’t used to line the pockets of repeat offenders,” said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “Our tax system is predicated on the principal that every American pays their fair share, and this sentencing reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring equity for hardworking Americans.”
The IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, and FBI, Chicago Field Office, investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Peoria Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Multi-Year Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Chad Duane Campen, 35, was sentenced on October 24, 2024, to 135 months (11.3 years) following his convictions for bank fraud (one count), wire fraud (three counts), illegal monetary transaction (one count), bankruptcy fraud (one count), and false statements under oath (one count).
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Campen successfully swindled dozens of individuals and financial institutions between 2013 and 2021. During the course of the sentencing, the court heard from several of Campen’s victims who described themselves as “survivors” of Campen’s crimes. Campen pretended to be engaged in various business ventures ranging from farming to the construction of a solar farm. Via this elaborate scheme, Campen obtained loans from multiple banks using each fraudulent loan to not only enrich himself but also to pay off his previous victim. By the time his scheme collapsed, the government showed that Campen had obtained more than $17 million from these banks, of which almost $5 million was still outstanding.
Campen, however, did not limit himself to stealing from banks, he also defrauded individuals. Witnesses, victim letters, and other evidence demonstrated how Campen would pretend to befriend people over the course of years and be welcomed into their families and homes only to steal from them. Campen caused a family farm to have its equipment repossessed after he claimed their equipment as his to secure one of his fraudulent loans. In another instance, Campen offered to assist an elderly man, gained access to his home, and stole more than $50,000 from him. And Campen convinced a family to invest in a purported farming opportunity. The family took out a loan using their own farm as collateral. When Campen’s fraud scheme collapsed, the family not only lost the money they had given Campen, but their farm—which had been in their family for more than 100 years—had to be sold.
Another victim of Campen’s fraud was the Village of Bartonville, Illinois. Campen with co-conspirator Richard Weiss, convinced the Village to extend loans and additional funds to tear down the old Bowen Building in Bartonville. Campen lied to the Village and made promises that he could recoup the Village’s loan and investments through the sale of materials from the building. Campen secured these funds by falsely claiming that he already had buyers lined up for the stone for the building. As a result of Campen’s fraud, the Village lost the equivalent of half of all its property tax revenue for an entire year.
Campen’s co-conspirator in certain acts connected with that fraud, the owner of the Bowen building, Richard Weiss, 62, of Pekin, Illinois, was charged in a separate case in February 2024 with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, related to his and Campen’s receipt of funds from the Village. He pleaded guilty to both counts in February and was sentenced the same day as Campen to 15 months of imprisonment. Weiss’s sentence took into account his unique personal characteristics and significantly smaller role in the offense. In imposing the sentence, Judge Shadid noted that Weiss himself was a victim of Campen’s fraud.
As Campen’s scheme began to unravel, he tried to use the mechanisms of bankruptcy court to delay his creditors and prevent discovery of his fraud. Campen committed additional fraud in the bankruptcy court by filing counterfeit documents and making false statements in his pleadings and under oath. Campen’s fraud was quickly detected by the professionals with the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10, who added to the growing investigation of Campen by providing a criminal referral to the United States Attorney’s Office.
A seventeen-count indictment was filed January 19, 2022, and Campen was arrested and detained five days later. Although he has filed several motions and appeals requesting bond, he has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. Campen entered into a written plea agreement in March 2024, pleading guilty to seven of the seventeen counts.
The statutory penalties for the charges are:
Charge
Imprisonment Time
Supervised Release
Bank Fraud (Ct. 5)Not more than 30 years5 yearsWire Fraud (Cts. 6, 12, 13)Not more than 20 years3 yearsIllegal Monetary Transaction (Ct. 14)Not more than 10 years3 yearsBankruptcy Fraud (Ct. 16)Not more than 5 years3 yearsFalse Statements Under Oath (Ct. 17)Not more than 5 years3 yearsDuring his term of supervised release, Campen is to refrain from engaging in any occupation, business or profession related to the banking industry, including, but not limited to, employment by a bank or any other financial institution.
“The defendant’s repeated acts of fraud caused great damage not only to financial institutions, but also to members of our community, including but not limited to the Village of Bartonville and its taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Our office is committed to protecting individuals and banks from predatory acts like those of the defendant and will vigorously pursue such cases. We are grateful to our federal law enforcement partners, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10.”
“Today’s sentence will go a long way in protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois (Region 10). “We are grateful to U.S. Attorney Harris and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect the interests of creditors and the public.”
“Driven by an unquenchable thirst for ill-gotten gains, Chad Campen embarked on an eight-year fraud spree which led to devastating results for those who put their trust in him,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This sentence sends a clear message about the consequences of greed and demonstrates the resolve of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to follow the money trail and ensure justice.”
“Over several years, Chad Campen defrauded dozens of victims, creating severe economic distress for families and straining resources for institutions that fell victim to his fraud scheme,” said Marta C. Grijalva, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “This sentencing reflects the consequences of actions that caused significant financial pain to not only institutions and communities, but also individual families. That is why IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners remain committed to safeguarding the financial security of our communities and holding accountable those who exploit the system for personal gain.”
The case investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. The bankruptcy fraud charge was referred for criminal prosecution by the Office of the United States Trustee for Region 10, Nancy J. Gargula. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 54 months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Alvin D. Billups, age 36, was sentenced on October 23, 2024, to 54 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that in June 2023 Springfield Police Officers were on foot patrol in an area where numerous people were having a large block party. The officers approached a car containing an open bottle of alcohol. Billups was in the driver’s seat. During a subsequent search, Billups, a felon, was found in possession of a Taurus G2 9mm pistol. During the hearing, Judge Lawless noted that Billups had a significant history of firearms offenses, which included multiple prior state firearms convictions.
Billups remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he has been since his federal arrest on August 23, 2023. He pleaded guilty to the one-count indictment in the case on May 9, 2024.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person are up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Springfield Police Department investigated the firearms case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case against Billups is part of a committed effort to combat gun violence in Sangamon County, Illinois, by law enforcement including the Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Johnathan S. Sargent, 35, of the 800 block of West Crestwood Drive, was sentenced today to 132 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, and possessing a firearm as a felon. Sargent was also ordered to serve a four-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the government summarized the evidence from the investigation of Sargent’s drug trafficking in late 2023 and early 2024. In February 2024, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Sargent’s person, his vehicle, and two residences. At that time, Sargent was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his three prior felony convictions, including a prior state conviction in 2009 for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for which he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. During the search of his apartment on Crestwood Drive in Peoria on February 21, 2024, agents located a loaded handgun, 415 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, 87 grams of heroin, 77 grams of cocaine, and over $5,000 cash. Agents also located packaging materials and several scales commonly used in illegal drug sales.
Also at the hearing, Judge Mihm found that Sargent’s conduct was not an isolated incident of drug distribution, but rather a business that Sargent was operating over a period of time. The Court stated that Sargent’s apartment was a “one stop shop” for three types of extremely dangerous and addictive drugs that have devastating effects on the community, often destroying the life of addicts and all of those around them.
A criminal complaint was filed against Sargent in February 2024, followed by a four-count indictment in March 2024. He entered into a written plea agreement in June 2024, pleading guilty to all four counts. Sargent has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count 1) are ten years to life imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release, with a possible $10 million dollar fine. The penalties for possession with intent to distribute heroin (Count 2) and cocaine (Count 3) are not more than 20 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and a possible $1 million dollar fine. The possession of a firearm by a prohibited person charge (Count 4) carries penalties of not more than 15 years imprisonment, supervised release of 3 years and a possible fine of $250,000. Sargent has previous felony convictions for theft and drug charges.
The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Peoria Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration – Springfield Resident Office. Ronald L. Hanna represented the United States in the prosecution.
The case against Sargent is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Danville Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Children and Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Danville, Illinois, man, Joseph Allen Carpenter, 52, was sentenced today to 180 months of imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, for attempted sexual exploitation of a child and attempted receipt of child pornography.
Carpenter was convicted of the offenses following a jury trial in June 2024. At the sentencing hearing, the government highlighted evidence from the jury trial showing that from November 2021 and into early 2022, Carpenter communicated with an individual he believed to be the father of an eight-year-old girl via text communication applications. In those communications, Carpenter requested various child pornography images and encouraged abuse of the alleged minor.
Also at the hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm found that Carpenter’s offense should be considered more serious than others because of his attempt to exploit a person he believed to be a child under the age of twelve. Judge Mihm commented that he found Carpenter’s conduct “reprehensible.”
The statutory penalties for attempted sexual exploitation of a child are a minimum of 15 years of imprisonment, a maximum of 30 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime term of supervised release. The statutory penalties for attempted receipt of child pornography are a minimum of five years of imprisonment, a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime term of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Lynch and Timothy A. Bass represented the government in the prosecution.
This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Kankakee Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Attempting to Use Mail to Obtain FentanylRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – A Kankakee man, Javan Jamar Thompson, 35, of the 100 block of Taylor Avenue has been sentenced to ten years in prison for Attempted Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Attempted Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate a Controlled Substance Offense, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Thompson used the United States Mail in an attempt to obtain fentanyl and cocaine for distribution. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (KAMEG) intercepted a parcel, destined for Thompson, that contained thousands of fentanyl laced pills and several hundred grams of cocaine. During his arrest, law enforcement located a handgun in Thompson’s vehicle. As a felon, Thompson was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
At the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Thompson’s drug crimes were made more severe by his possession of a firearm. Judge Bruce also noted that the amount of fentanyl Thompson attempted to possess via the mail triggered an enhanced penalty of at least ten years of imprisonment. It was ordered that Thompson forfeit his legal interests in a BMW X5, a Springfield Armory XDM handgun, and $18,745 in United States Currency.
Thompson pleaded guilty to all charges on June 20, 2024.
The statutory penalties for Attempted Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute are at least ten years of imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of up to life. The statutory penalties for Attempted Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute are up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine and a term of supervised release of up to life. The statutory penalties for Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate a Controlled Substance Offense are a term of imprisonment of up to four years, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to one year. The statutory penalties for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon are a ten-year term of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the community from the distribution of these deadly substances and will fully prosecute individuals attempting to utilize the U.S. mail in an illegal manner.” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “We remain dedicated to protecting the safety and security of the U.S. mail service.”
“Postal inspectors are committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism to distribute deadly fentanyl and other illicit narcotics,” stated Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “The sentence handed down in this case serves as a reminder that postal inspectors, along with our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in our resolve to combat the flow of illicit drugs impacting our communities.”
“This was a collaborative effort between the United States Postal Inspection Service, KAMEG, and the United States Attorney’s Office in continuance of our dedication to stop illicit narcotics from hitting the streets of our communities”, said KAMEG Director Clayt Wolfe. “I commend everyone involved for staying persistent in their pursuit of those involved with the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case in collaboration with KAMEG. Assistant United States Attorney William J. Lynch represented the government in the prosecution.
Taylorville, Illinois, Woman Sentenced to Three Years of Probation and Ordered to Pay $600,000 in Restitution for Stealing from the Christian County YMCARead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Taylorville, Illinois, woman, Lori Zeitler, 65, was sentenced on September 26, 2024, to three years of probation and ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution after being convicted of five counts of wire fraud.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Zeitler took advantage of her position of trust as an employee of the Christian County, Illinois, YMCA and stole at least $292,336.29 and was responsible for $600,000 in loss. Zeitler worked at the YMCA for 32 years in various roles, including bookkeeper. Zeitler’s theft was discovered when the YMCA switched to an internet-based accounting software.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that in addition to the money Zeitler took from the YMCA, she also broke the trust between the organization and the community. Judge Myerscough noted that Zeitler’s crimes against the YMCA were almost unbelievable.
On March 28, 2024, Zeitler appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught and pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment.
The statutory penalties for wire fraud are up to twenty years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and restitution as set by the court.
“The impact of the defendant’s deception is wide reaching, as the money she stole deprived the Christian County YMCA of funds that should have gone towards needed facility improvements and to support programs for members,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore. “The restitution order is a just result that will help the YMCA to continue their mission in serving the community.”
“As a YMCA employee of 32 years, Lori Zeitler developed a long-time pattern of embezzlement, using her position of trust to steal from her employer, and ultimately shortchanging the community the YMCA serves,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “We at the FBI and our law enforcement partners will always pursue justice in an effort to preserve the public’s trust in its valued institutions.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Taylorville Police Department; and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
Rock Island Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Rock Island, Illinois, man, Marques Dupree Wilson, 39, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, to 100 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, the government established that Wilson not only possessed a firearm but discharged that firearm multiple times into an unoccupied home in Rock Island. During the hearing, Judge Darrow noted that Wilson had a significant criminal history, which included prior instances of inflicting harm on others.
Wilson pleaded guilty to the felon-in-possession count in July 2023. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are up to fifteen years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Rock Island Police Department investigated the matter, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Quincy, Illinois, Man Sentenced to Five Years for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois, man, Damond Thomas, 31, was sentenced on September 23, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, to 60 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine.
Thomas was indicted in September 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Myerscough concluded that Thomas was responsible for the distribution of more than 60 grams of methamphetamine in the Central District of Illinois. Thomas’ criminal history includes two Illinois state court convictions involving weapons offenses.
The statutory penalties for distributing methamphetamine are up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Illinois State Police, the Quincy Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Thomas is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Champaign, Illinois, Woman Sentenced to 324 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Champaign, Illinois, woman, Malaia A. Turner, 36, was sentenced on September 23, 2024, to 324 months in prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Turner was a leader in a conspiracy responsible for obtaining large quantities of ice methamphetamine and other drugs from suppliers in California, Texas, and Illinois and transporting those drugs to the Central District of Illinois. After hearing that evidence, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce concluded Turner was a leader of the conspiracy and faced heightened penalties due to her leadership role.
Turner was convicted following a four-day jury trial in May 2024. She has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since her arrest in August 2022.
At sentencing, Turner faced statutory penalties of ten years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $10 million, and not less than a five-year term of supervised release upon her release from custody.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; Illinois State Police East Central Illinois Task Force; and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel E. Ritzer and Timothy J. Sullivan represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
- Quincy, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine
Goodyear, Arizona, Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Central IllinoisRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Goodyear, Arizona, man, Christopher Harris, 44, was sentenced on September 19, 2024, to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in central Illinois.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government presented evidence that in January 2017 Harris recruited two women in Quincy, Illinois, to serve as drug couriers. In exchange, Harris agreed to pay them $5,000. As part of the agreement, the two women drove to Arizona and picked up controlled substances from Harris. They then planned to drive the drugs back to Quincy, where Harris would retrieve the drugs from them after flying from Arizona to Illinois. Ultimately, Harris provided them with eleven pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of cocaine. The pair, however, were arrested while still in Arizona.
Judge Lawless found that Harris served as the leader of the conspiracy, and that Harris was a career offender based upon his criminal history, which included three prior felony drug convictions.
The statutory penalties for distributing methamphetamine are up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the West Central Illinois Task Force; Illinois State Police; Quincy Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Apache County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
Tuscola Contractor Sentenced for Fraud Related to Central Illinois Home Building BusinessRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – A Tuscola, Illinois, man, Aaron Gillison, 40, of the 800 block of Beecher Drive, was sentenced on September 13, 2024, to one day in prison, a term of three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $76,995 in restitution.
Gillison had previously pleaded guilty to the offense of giving a false oath or account in a bankruptcy proceeding, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(2).
Gillison initially came to the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation following a series of complaints from Central Illinois homeowners to various local law enforcement agencies. One impacted homeowner won a civil judgement against Gillison and his company.
At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce, the government presented evidence that, at a bankruptcy proceeding, Gillion falsely claimed that he had not used business funds for personal expenses, nor had he co-mingled client funds with his own personal accounts. Further evidence showed the FBI investigation uncovered that, in the twelve months leading up to his business declaring bankruptcy, Gillison had transferred approximately $65,000 from a business account into his personal account, wrote nearly $22,000 in checks to himself from the business account, and spent more than $10,000 in business funds on personal purchases, such as fishing gear and outdoor equipment.
During the sentencing, Judge Bruce noted that Gillison had no criminal history prior to this conduct. He also noted that Gillison was employed and would be able to pay the restitution while he maintained employment.
The maximum penalty for giving a false oath or account in a bankruptcy proceeding are not more than five years in the Bureau of Prisons, not more than a three-year term of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance of several local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Bertrand represented the United States in the prosecution.
Three-Time Felon Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Distribution of Ice Methamphetamine and Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Melvin D. Turner, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid on September 5, 2024, to an aggregate 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, following his convictions for distribution of ice methamphetamine (two counts) and possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, Turner was responsible for distributing 136.82 grams of ice methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Turner in February 2024, and a federal arrest warrant was issued. During the subsequent arrest, officers located a Glock model 26, 9mm handgun and a 30-round magazine for the handgun in Turner’s possession. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment in March 2024 adding the firearm count. At the time of his arrest, Turner had three prior felony convictions. Turner pleaded guilty to all three counts of the superseding indictment in May 2024.
The statutory penalties for the two counts of distribution of 50 grams (actual) of ice methamphetamine are ten years to life imprisonment, to be followed by at least five years of supervised release. The penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years imprisonment and not more than three years of supervised release.
The United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pekin and Peoria Police Departments investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Turner is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A 25-year-old Peoria, Illinois man, Avione Quzea Maurice Parks, was sentenced on September 4, 2024, to ten years in federal prison for three separate counts of distributing methamphetamine. Upon his release from confinement, Parks will serve five years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. Senior District Judge Joe B. McDade, the government presented evidence that Parks sold a collective 6 ounces of methamphetamine over three transactions in January and February 2024. Parks’s conviction in the instant case was his fifth felony conviction as an adult; he previously had been convicted of three firearms offenses and one controlled substance felony. Parks had served two prior sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections and had been discharged from state parole only eighteen days prior to his first sale of methamphetamine in this case.
Parks previously pleaded guilty to all three counts in May 2024. He was arrested on a criminal complaint in late February 2024 and indicted in early March 2024. Parks has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for Counts 1 and 3, distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), are five to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by at least four years of supervised release, for each count. The penalties for Count 2, distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), are 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by at least five years of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Parks is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Two Quad Cities Men Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Multiple Armed Robbery and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal jury on August 23, 2024, found two Quad Cities, Illinois, men – Emmanuel Lance Howard, 24, of Davenport, Iowa, and Evander Allen Jordan, 39, of Rock Island, Illinois – guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and multiple robbery and firearms charges following a two-week trial in Peoria, Illinois, before Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow.
During the trial, the government presented evidence to establish that in the summer and fall of 2020, Howard and Jordan committed ten separate armed robberies in the Quad Cities area, including five armed robberies of retail stores in Rock Island and Moline, one armed robbery and shooting of a man, and a carjacking of a woman in Rock Island, along with three armed robberies of retail stores in Davenport. During their violent crime spree, in which they stole firearms, money, jewelry, and other property, Howard and Jordan shot two men, pistol-whipped and assaulted others, and repeatedly threatened the lives of all of the more than 20 victims. One such victim repeatedly begged for her life and another was so terrified that she feared her young son at home, across the street from the robbery, would hear his mother being shot.
Following an extensive investigation involving the Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline police departments, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Howard and Jordan were charged in 2021 in a fifteen-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, six counts of brandishing or discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges were the result of Howard and Jordan committing the following armed robberies in Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport:
• July 31, 2020: Little Caesar’s on 18th Avenue Rock Island, Illinois
• August 14, 2020: Little Caesar’s on West Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa
• September 5, 2020: MidWest Title Loans on 11th Street, Rock Island, Illinois
• September 12, 2020: Pizza Hut on Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa
• September 12, 2020: Papa John’s on 19th Avenue, Moline, Illinois
• September 18, 2020, Carjacking, Rock Island, Illinois
• October 4, 2020: Domino’s Pizza on 14th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois
• October 9, 2020: Kwik Shop on Telegraph Road, Davenport, Iowa
• October 16, 2020: Pawn King on 11th Street, Rock Island, Illinois
Both Howard and Jordan have been detained in federal custody since their federal arrests in 2021.
The statutory penalty for the conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery offenses is up to 20 years in prison; the statutory penalty for the carjacking offense is up to 15 years in prison; the statutory penalty for the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence offenses is a minimum consecutive sentence for each offense of seven years to life in prison; the statutory penalty for the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence offense is a minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years to life in prison; and the statutory penalty for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon offense is up to 10 years in prison. As a result, Howard faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 45 years and up to life in prison for just the firearm offenses; because Jordan has a prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, he faces a minimum of 63 years to life in prison just for the firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris stated following the trial: “These two defendants terrorized the Quad Cities community in 2020 by committing ten separate armed robberies without any regard for human life or the law, needlessly leaving more than 20 victims in the wake of their violence and intimidation. The jury’s verdict appropriately holds the defendants accountable under the law for their criminal conduct. I especially want to thank the Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline police departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for their outstanding, tireless, and professional work in this matter. This Office and our federal and state partners will continue to hold those persons accountable for their criminal acts of violence.”
“On behalf of the Moline Police Department and the City of Moline, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all involved in bringing this case to justice,” said Darren Gault, Chief of Police for the Moline Police Department. “Over several weeks in 2020 these dangerous individuals went on a crime spree we usually don’t see in the Quad Cities. I’d like to highlight the extraordinary cooperation and coordination across multiple agencies in both Illinois and Iowa as well as the state and federal law enforcement agencies. Without this coordinated effort, these individuals may have evaded being held accountable for their actions. The Quad Cities should be proud of the remarkable work being done by these men and women in law enforcement and at the United States Attorney’s Office. Our partnerships are strong and the message is clear: if you commit these crimes in our communities, you will be held accountable.”
“This verdict of guilt will hold these two men accountable for the mayhem they created throughout the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “I commend the partnership among our local and federal law enforcement agencies for their diligence in investigating these crimes and the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline Police Departments, as well as the ATF and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Mathew, Timothy Bass, and Jeffrey Kienstra represented the government in the prosecution.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Evan Taylor, 28, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, to 480 months’ imprisonment for the offenses of sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity, enticement of a minor, and the use of interstate facilities to attempt to transmit information about a minor.
At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that between 2018 and 2020, Taylor victimized multiple children between the ages of seven and fifteen both by creating child pornography and then distributing images he created using multiple online chatting platforms. Taylor also sexually abused a child under his care, drove across state lines to have sex with a minor, and attempted to entice another minor victim. Taylor bragged about his sexual abuse online and demanded to have sex with one of the minors, even after the minor had become physically sick. The government noted that the creation and dissemination of the images of abuse further traumatized the victims, given that they have no way of knowing with certainty whether the images remain online or in the possession of others.
During the hearing, Judge Lawless categorized Taylor’s actions as sickening, heinous, despicable, and predatory. She noted the egregiousness and continuing nature of Taylor’s conduct and explained that he had taken away the security and innocence of the children he had victimized. Judge Lawless also said that the sentence was necessary to ensure the safety of the public and to provide just punishment.
A federal grand jury returned the fifteen-count indictment in December 2020, and Taylor was arrested that same month. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest. He pleaded guilty to all fifteen counts in December 2023.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assisting agencies included the Indiana State Police; the Jasonville, Indiana, Police Department; and the Marengo, Illinois, Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Taylor was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Springfield Restaurant Owner Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for His Role in Submitting Fraudulent Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Omar Hernandez-Lopez, 39, was sentenced today to 18 months’ imprisonment for concealment of a felony in connection with wire fraud and false statements on loan applications. Following his prison sentence, he will serve a 12-month term of supervised release.
At Hernandez-Lopez’s sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, found that starting around June 2018 and continuing until at least June 2019, Hernandez-Lopez was aware of and acted to conceal the fraudulent nature of several falsified documents that were submitted to loan providers. Two fraudulent loan packages were submitted in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a business loan for Hernandez-Lopez’s Springfield restaurant, La Fiesta Grande. The other two fraudulent loan packages were submitted in a successful attempt to obtain a home mortgage loan. Hernandez-Lopez was aware of the submission of fraudulent documents and took steps to conceal their fraudulent nature from the loan companies and law enforcement.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence showing that Hernandez-Lopez’s name is on the deed of the house for the fraudulently obtained mortgage and he operated the restaurant.
The sentencing follows Hernandez-Lopez’s guilty plea in April 2024. The statutory penalties for misprision of a felony are up to three years’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges were investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Chicago Region. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sierra Senor-Moore and Tanner Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening to Assault and Murder a U.S. District Court JudgeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Paul Jordan Klawer, 34, was sentenced on August 21, 2024, to 42 months in federal prison for threatening a federal judge. Klawer was also order to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins, the government established that in May 2022 Klawer was representing himself as a party in a civil rights case pending in federal court in the Central District of Illinois. When Klawer became frustrated with matters in that case, he wrote a series of threatening emails to the lawyer representing the opposing party. In the emails, Klawer made multiple threats, including “tell the judge if he doesn’t take my warnings serious…I’ll blow his f****** brains out in broad daylight and put on his Tombstone exactly how much value he gave our future by suppressing evidence of misconduct…” Klawer went on to threaten others as well, promising that if his demands in the case were not met, he would commit various violent acts including blowing up the Department of Human Services in Springfield.
Also at the sentencing hearing, Judge Jenkins found Klawer’s repeated threats to the judge who was presiding over the civil case were “tremendously serious.” Judge Jenkins noted that the threats were “specific, graphic, disgusting, and criminal, and all arising out of the normal and natural progression” of any civil case instituted in the country. Jenkins stated that the messages Klawer sent degrade our justice system, are destabilizing, and are dangerous when directed to people who were fulfilling their role in the larger justice system.
Klawer was arrested in December 2023 after a criminal complaint was filed in federal court. A federal grand jury returned an indictment in mid-December 2023. Klawer initially pled not guilty but entered a change of plea with Judge Jenkins in April 2024. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
“The judiciary is designed to be insulated from intimidation, harassment, and fear of retribution so judges can render fair, impartial and independent decisions. The defendant’s actions were an attack on the justice system itself,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ronald L. Hanna. “We will not tolerate actors like Klawer who try to use fear and intimidation to get their way.”
The statutory penalties for threatening a federal official are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Illinois State Police; and the Northbrook, Illinois, Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Adam J. Heintzman, 26, was sentenced today to 228 months of imprisonment for the offenses of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Heintzman, who is formerly of Emden, Illinois, possessed over 200,000 images of child pornography, and that he engaged in online messaging where he declared a preference for children under the age of 10. The government also established that Heintzman had engaged in conversations where he expressed a desire to engage in the sexual abuse of a child.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that the sentence was appropriate based upon the quantity of images, the ages of the children involved, the fact that the depictions included images of sadistic or masochist conduct, and the transfer of obscene material to minors. Judge Lawless ordered Heintzman be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshall Service at the conclusion of today’s sentencing hearing. Judge Lawless further ordered that Heintzman serve seven years of supervised release following his sentence of imprisonment and that he pay over $80,000 in restitution to his victims.
On December 21, 2023, Heintzman appeared in federal court, waived indictment, and pleaded guilty to an information before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught.
The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for receipt of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution.
“Each person who shares, receives, and possesses the lasting evidence of the sexual assaults suffered by children depicted in child pornography contributes to the irreparable harm suffered by these victims,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. “These predators value their own satisfaction at the expense of children. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their commitment to these investigations and cases.”
The Logan County Sherriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Logan County State’s Attorney’s Office. AUSA Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Heintzman was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Kenneth W. Holobaugh, 43, was sentenced on August 14, 2024, to fifteen years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor. He was also ordered to serve a fifteen-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade, the government established that from April 2023 through January 2024, Holobaugh, a registered sex offender, communicated on an internet-based social media platform with an individual he believed to be a thirteen-year-old female, expressing multiple times that he wanted to engage in sex with her. In January 2024, Holobaugh drove to a location in Peoria to meet with the girl for the purpose of having sex. Federal law enforcement agents arrested him when he arrived at the location.
Holobaugh was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 and entered a guilty plea in April 2024.
The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor are a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, followed by a minimum five-year to maximum life term of supervised release. Holobaugh has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest, pending the resolution of the case. He was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in July 2001 and is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa P. Ortiz and Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Holobaugh was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Indianapolis Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Illegally Purchasing Firearm Used to Shoot and Kill Champaign, Illinois, Police OfficerRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. –An Indianapolis woman, Ashantae Corruthers, 30, was sentenced on August 13, 2024, to four years of imprisonment for engaging in a conspiracy to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm and a conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct.
Corruthers had previously pleaded guilty and admitted that she conspired with co-defendant Regina Lewis and Darion M. Lafayette, now deceased, to purchase and transfer a firearm to Lafayette, who could not legally purchase a firearm himself because he was a convicted felon (commonly known as a “straw purchase”). On November 17, 2020, at the direction of Lafayette and Lewis, Corruthers purchased a Glock 48, nine-millimeter, semi-automatic pistol and Sellier & Bellot, nine-millimeter ammunition, from a federal firearms licensee (FFL) in Indianapolis. During the purchase, Corruthers falsely certified on an ATF form that she was the actual buyer of the firearm, when in fact, she purchased the firearm for Lafayette and transferred it to him.
Corruthers further admitted that she conspired with Lewis and Lafayette to cover up the discovery of their illegal purchase and transfer of the firearm by having Corruthers falsely report to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on April 26, 2021, that the Glock pistol was stolen from her around March of 2021. Approximately twenty-three days after Corruthers falsely reported the firearm stolen, Lafayette used the firearm to shoot Champaign Police Officers Christopher Oberheim and Jeffrey Creel in Champaign, Illinois, killing Oberheim. Corruthers admitted that she and Lewis continued the cover-up after Oberheim’s death by agreeing to have Corruthers falsely tell an ATF Special Agent investigating the officer-involved shooting that she purchased the gun for herself, that it was stolen from her in March of 2021, and that she did not know Lafayette.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that the United States Sentencing Guidelines recommended only 21 to 27 months of imprisonment, although the United States argued they recommended 97 to 121 months. Nonetheless, the United States requested an upward variance from the Court’s determined range to a sentence of nine years of imprisonment due to the nature and circumstances of the offense. Officer Oberheim’s widow and four daughters wrote letters in support of the requested upward variance, and retired Officer Creel personally addressed the Court.
Corruthers faced statutory penalties of up to five years in prison for conspiracy to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm and up to twenty years in prison for conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. Each charge also carried a penalty of up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. Co-defendant Lewis is currently serving 8 ½ years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons following her December 22, 2023, sentencing.
The case investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Danville, Illinois, Man Convicted of Carjacking Resulting in Death and MurderRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned five guilty verdicts on August 7, 2024, against Kevin Marshall, 34, of Danville, Illinois, for carjacking and murdering Daniel Walter, a 28-year-old man from rural Indiana, for the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and the possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Sentencing for Marshall has been scheduled on December 9, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
Over seven days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that on April 25, 2020, Marshall was riding with Walter and Marshall’s girlfriend to an address in the 1600 block of Ray Street in Danville. Once there, Marshall told Walter to get out of the truck because he wanted to talk. Walter complied, and once outside, Marshall shot Walter four times and left him outside of a detached garage. Marshall and his girlfriend started to drive away in Walter’s Ford F-150 before Marshall ordered her to stop the truck. He then returned to Walter and shot him five more times, taking his phone and other identification. Walter was discovered several hours later but was not identified until the following day during the autopsy. Shell casings recovered at the scene were later matched to a Taurus 9mm handgun by Illinois State Police forensic specialists. The evidence showed that Marshall and his girlfriend took Walter’s truck to Belvidere, Illinois, the day after Walter’s murder. The truck broke down and Marshall abandoned it in Belvidere on April 29, 2020, where it was recovered by the Belvidere Police Department that day.
On August 18, 2020, Marshall and his girlfriend were arrested during a traffic stop at a Casey’s gas station in Danville. Marshall possessed the Taurus 9mm handgun used to murder Daniel Walter and a Colt .45 at the time of his arrest. Marshall also had several dozen methamphetamine pills in a black fanny pack with the Colt .45. The evidence at trial showed that the methamphetamine pills were all that remained after Marshall sold most of the 1000 that he had obtained earlier that summer. Marshall obtained the Colt .45 at the same time as the 1000 pills so he could distance himself from Walter’s murder weapon by having his girlfriend carry the gun for him. As Danville Police Department officers and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force approached the car to arrest him, Marshall tried to put all the guns and drugs at the feet of his girlfriend, who was in the backseat at the time.
Additional evidence presented at trial showed that, while in pretrial custody, Marshall manipulated his girlfriend into writing three separate letters to law enforcement falsely claiming that the guns and drugs belonged to her, and that she knew nothing of Walter’s murder. Evidence of the attempted obstruction was presented to the jury during the trial, including through recorded calls where Marshall arranged to have the false letters sent to his attorneys.
Marshall remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he has been since his arrest in 2021. At sentencing, Marshall faces statutory penalties of up to life imprisonment for the carjacking resulting in death and murder convictions.
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Illinois State Police; the Belvidere Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan D. Freres and Eugene L. Miller represented the government at trial in coordination and cooperation with Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon and for Violating Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Tyruis Bramlett, 22, was sentenced on August 8, 2024, to 58 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and violating the terms of his federal supervised release. His sentence includes a three-year term of supervised release to be served upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that in July 2023, Bramlett was on federal supervised release and was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his 2021 conviction for stealing firearms from a gun store in Creve Coeur, Illinois. On July 6, 2023, officers from the Peoria Police Department began investigating several shots-fired incidents in Peoria involving a red SUV reported stolen out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. On July 11, 2023, police officers located the SUV and followed it to a residence on North Sherbrook Lane. Officers approached the vehicle and took three occupants into custody, including Bramlett. During a search of the SUV, police located two 9mm handguns in the front -passenger area, both loaded and equipped with high-capacity extended magazines. Both handguns had previously been reported stolen. Upon closer inspection of the exterior of the SUV, police officers located multiple bullet holes on both sides of the rear portion of the vehicle. The rear driver’s side window also appeared to have been shot out.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Bramlett charging him with possessing a firearm as a felon. He entered a guilty plea in April 2024. At his sentencing hearing, he admitted that he violated the terms of his supervised release by possessing a firearm, and also admitted to earlier incidents in April 2023 where he fled from police at a high rate of speed, drove without a license, and left the scene of an accident. His total sentence of 58 months is a combination of a term of 46 months’ imprisonment on the gun conviction to be served consecutively to a 12-month prison sentence for violations of supervised release.
Bramlett was previously detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending the resolution of his case.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Possession and Sales of Machineguns, Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Devonte Powell Thompson, 27, was sentenced today to 84 months’ imprisonment for two counts of possession of a machinegun and three counts of possession of firearms and ammunition. His sentence includes a three-year term of supervised release to be served upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Thompson, while on parole for a state felony firearm conviction, possessed and sold three handguns, including an AR-15-style privately manufactured “ghost gun” pistol, two machinegun conversion “switch” devices, and ammunition over the course of four transactions in February 2023. Thompson was prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to any one of his five prior felony convictions, three of which were firearm-related offenses.
The indictment was filed in July 2023, and Thompson was arrested shortly thereafter on July 19, 2023. Thompson entered a guilty plea in February 2024. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for possession of a machinegun are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, for each count. The penalties for possession of firearms and ammunition are up to 15 years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, for each count.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Illinois Man Charged with Robbing Credit UnionRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury returned an indictment on August 6, 2024, charging Troy D. Burke, 41, with robbing the Community Plus Federal Credit Union in Rantoul, Illinois, on June 20, 2024.
Burke was arrested in Rantoul on June 20, 2024, by officers of the Rantoul Police Department and has remained in the custody of law enforcement since that date. He was initially charged by the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office and later charged by federal complaint.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the crime charged are up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Rantoul Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; and the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Lynch is representing the government in the prosecution.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dentist Pleads Guilty to Stealing Fentanyl from PatientsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Rochester, Illinois, dentist, Phillip M. Jensen, 63, pleaded guilty on August 2, 2024, to two counts of drug diversion, two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, and two counts of false statements relating to health care matters. Sentencing for Jensen has been scheduled on December 4, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
In court before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, Jensen admitted to having stolen fentanyl from his patients, which was supposed to have been used to manage their pain during surgery. During the hearing, the government stated that Jensen owned and operated a dental practice in Springfield, Illinois, where he specialized in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He received payment for his professional services through both private and public health care benefit programs. Starting as early as December 2019 and continuing through at least August 2020, Jensen took fentanyl he received, removed the safety caps, withdrew at least half of the fentanyl in the single-use vial, refilled the vial with saline, and glued the caps back on to hide what he had done. In total, Jensen obtained more than 40 grams of fentanyl for his personal use through his fraud.
Jensen admitted that his theft came to light after his surgical assistants noticed patients moaning and moving and saw changes in patients’ blood pressure and heart rates that indicated that they were in pain during the surgery.
The counts to which Jensen pleaded guilty included the following. Counts 3, 5, 14, and 15 of Jensen’s indictment documented specific patients and specific dates where this conduct occurred. Count 17 set out details of one patient’s experience who woke during surgery and was struck in the forehead by Jensen, enduring the extraction of three additional teeth and smoothing of her jawbone, all without the benefit of anesthesia and the fentanyl that was supposed to control her pain. Counts 19 and 20 charged that Jensen made materially false entries into two patients’ medical records regarding the fentanyl provided for surgeries and paid for by Molina Healthcare of Illinois. Molina paid Jensen a total of $13,137 for the two procedures.
A federal grand jury returned a twenty-count indictment against Jensen in February 2022. He was originally released on bond, but a warrant was issued in July 2024 for violation of the terms and conditions of bond and the conditions of his pre-trial release, and Jensen was detained at that time. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Jensen faces statutory penalties of:
Since Jensen may be ordered to serve the sentences consecutively, he faces a possible maximum sentence of 78 years in prison, up to a $1,750,000 fine, and up to 21 years of supervised release.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Unit, Springfield Resident Office, which focuses on cases involving pharmaceutical controlled substances diverted from the legal chain of commerce to the illegal drug market, investigated this case in conjunction with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas F. McMeyer and Sierra Senor-Moore are representing the government in the prosecution.
Springfield, Illinois Man Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Isaiah Robinson, 40, of the 2100 block of East Monroe Street, was sentenced on July 29, 2024, to 135 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Robinson sold methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to a confidential source. More specifically, he sold over 15 grams of fentanyl on June 24, 2021, over 30 grams of methamphetamine on July 6, 2021, over 80 grams of methamphetamine on August 3, 2021, and 7 grams of cocaine on September 14, 2021. Robinson later admitted to selling heroin, and agents located over 300 grams of heroin during a search of his residence in September of 2021.
During the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that Robinson was a career offender, having been convicted of both robbery and drug dealing, prior to selling illegal drugs to federal authorities. In determining the sentence, the Court noted that, based upon Robinson’s spotty employment record, that the sale of illicit substances was how he supported himself.
Robinson was indicted in October 2021, and pleaded guilty on February 16, 2024. The defendant has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his initial appearance on September 30, 2021.
The statutory penalties for distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine are, not less than ten years in prison, not less than 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment. The statutory penalties distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine are not less than five years in prison, not less than 4 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Central Illinois Enforcement Group, and the Springfield Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
Two Illinois Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Two Illinois men – Erik Richard Jones, 46, and Mitchell Allen Melega, 38 – were sentenced on July 23, 2024, to multi-year prison sentences following their convictions for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Jones, of Colona, Illinois, was sentenced to 54 months of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release, and Melega, formerly of Orion, Illinois, was sentenced to 75 months of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. Both defendants were also ordered to pay $4,840,944.63 in restitution.
At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that between 2016 and 2017 Jones and Melega devised and executed a scheme to provide false documents to First Midwest Bank in Moline, Illinois, to induce the bank to provide loans to Colona-based I-80 Equipment for vehicle purchases and improvements. Jones, the owner of I-80 Equipment, and Melega, the controller, then diverted loaned funds to other unauthorized uses and directed other employees of the business to provide false information in support of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud. In addition, they diverted real estate loan proceeds advanced by Northwest Bank in Davenport, Iowa – which were intended to finance renovations to an apartment complex Jones purchased – to other uses, including paying off an unrelated loan for Jones’s family members and unrelated business expenses of I-80 Equipment.
Also at the sentencing hearing, Judge Shadid found the scheme – which involved both altering legitimate documents and completely fabricating false documents, included at least 110 vehicle purchases, and took place over an extended period of time – was particularly sophisticated.
Both men were charged in October 2020 in a twelve-count indictment. The charges were conspiracy to commit bank fraud, (Count 1); bank fraud (Counts 2 through 9); and money laundering (Counts 10 through 12). Jones pleaded guilty in September 2023 to all counts of the indictment, and Melega pleaded guilty in March 2024 to the same charges.
The statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit bank fraud is up to 30 years of imprisonment per count; for bank fraud the statutory penalty is up to 30 years of imprisonment per count; and for money laundering the statutory penalty is up to ten years of imprisonment per count.
“Our office is dedicated to prosecuting these serious financial crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Actions like the defendants’ cause significant harm to banks and undermine the stability of our financial system. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their commitment to these investigations and cases.”
“The defendants in this case have been brought to justice for defrauding First Midwest Bank and using the obtained funds for unauthorized purposes,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Chicago Region. “The FDIC OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who commit such fraudulent offenses and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation's banks.”
“This sentence should serve as a warning to any potential fraudsters who think they can defraud banks and get away with it,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “The collective efforts of IRS CI, the FDIC-OIG, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office can follow the money trail and ensure those who engage in bank fraud and money laundering are vigorously investigated and brought to justice.”
“The FBI, working with our federal and state partners, will vigorously investigate to uncover the truth and deliver accountability anytime anyone defrauds U.S. banks,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI remains committed to safeguarding our economic security from threats which could cause harm to American institutions.”
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; and the Illinois Secretary of State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Mehochko and Jennifer Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Committing Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Springfield, IllinoisRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Oklahoma City, Oklahoma man, Gerald Duran, 49, was sentenced on July 18, 2024, to 45 months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. After he completes his prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $4,500 in restitution.
Duran was arrested on December 29, 2023, by Springfield Police Officers at a Springfield branch location of a national bank attempting to cash a cashier’s check he had fraudulently obtained, according to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing in front of Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough. Earlier that same day Duran had secured two cashier’s checks made out to two different individuals, along with cash totaling $13,500, from a different branch location of the same bank. Duran received the money by providing false identity documents and purporting to be an individual with an account at the bank. Duran also correctly answered personal security questions to include providing the social security number of the account holder. When Duran was arrested at the second branch location, he possessed identification cards for three separate victims. Each of the false identity documents contained Duran’s picture with the name and information of real people. Duran has pending charges for similar conduct in Lee County, Florida.
Duran has been in custody since his arrest and pleaded guilty on March 19, 2024.
The statutory penalties for bank fraud are up to thirty years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine. The statutory penalties for aggravated identity theft committed in relation to another felony are a mandatory 24-month sentence, to be served consecutive to the sentence for the underlying crime, up to one year of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Springfield Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Illinois Landlord for Sexually Harassing TenantsRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Michael J. DeWitte, of Washington, Illinois, for sexually harassing female tenants and housing applicants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. DeWitte has managed residential rental properties in Peoria, Illinois, and other central Illinois counties since at least 2002.
“Landlords cannot use their position of power to sexually harass someone who simply wants a place to live,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Fair Housing Act protects tenants’ right to housing free of any kind of sexual advance or harassment. We encourage survivors to speak out so that we can vindicate their fair housing rights.”
“No one should ever be asked to trade their body for a home,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “I urge any other tenants alleging discrimination by DeWitte to contact my office. When landlords abuse their power and attempt to take advantage of the vulnerable in violation of civil rights laws, my office and the Justice Department stand ready to hold them accountable.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, alleges that, since at least 2002, DeWitte subjected female tenants and applicants to unwelcome sexual harassment that included: sexual contact and comments about their physical appearances; offers to strip for female tenants; removing his pants while giving a tour to a female housing applicant; exposing his genitals to female tenants; asking female tenants on dates; requesting sex in exchange for reduced rent or other housing benefits; and evicting female tenants when they did not give in to his sexual advances.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental properties owned or managed by Michael DeWitte, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Justice Department by calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Illinois at 309-671-7019 or 833-591-0291, and emailing [email protected] or [email protected].
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 44 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $17 million for victims of such harassment. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting people from sexual misconduct.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an allegation; any claims within it must be proven in court.
Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Illinois Landlord for Sexually Harassing TenantsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Michael J. DeWitte, of Washington, Illinois, for sexually harassing female tenants and housing applicants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. DeWitte has managed residential rental properties in Peoria, Illinois, and other central Illinois counties since at least 2002.
“Landlords cannot use their position of power to sexually harass someone who simply wants a place to live,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Fair Housing Act protects tenants’ right to housing free of any kind of sexual advance or harassment. We encourage survivors to speak out so that we can vindicate their fair housing rights.”
“No one should ever be asked to trade their body for a home,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “I urge any other tenants alleging discrimination by DeWitte to contact my office. When landlords abuse their power and attempt to take advantage of the vulnerable in violation of civil rights laws, my office and the Justice Department stand ready to hold them accountable.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, alleges that, since at least 2002, DeWitte subjected female tenants and applicants to unwelcome sexual harassment that included: sexual contact and comments about their physical appearances; offers to strip for female tenants; removing his pants while giving a tour to a female housing applicant; exposing his genitals to female tenants; asking female tenants on dates; requesting sex in exchange for reduced rent or other housing benefits; and evicting female tenants when they did not give in to his sexual advances.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental properties owned or managed by Michael DeWitte, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Justice Department by calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois at 309-671-7019 or 833-591-0291, and emailing [email protected] or [email protected].
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 44 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $17 million for victims of such harassment. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting people from sexual misconduct.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Drug Trafficking Associated with Street GangRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Christopher Wallace, 32, was sentenced on July 15, 2024, to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a wide-spread drug conspiracy involving a Springfield street gang, Boss Playas, which lasted from approximately May 2020 through November 2020.
At the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough found Wallace was accountable for over 10 kilograms of cocaine as a member of the conspiracy. During the hearing, Judge Myerscough noted that the group of conspirators were responsible for distributing large amounts of controlled substances in the Springfield area, which had a negative effect on the community.
Wallace was indicted on December 15, 2020; arrested on September 8, 2022; and pleaded guilty on February 22, 2024. He has remained in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for the most serious charge of conviction – conspiracy to distribute cocaine – include not more than twenty years’ imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; Illinois State Police; and Springfield Police Department Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Wallace was part of an investigation of the Springfield based Boss Playas street gang and was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Florida Man Charged with Six Felonies for Mail-Order Pharmacy and Healthcare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 16, 2024, against Franz (aka “Frank”) Peter Suess, 77, of Wellington, Florida, for running a long-standing conspiracy related to his operation of a network of mail-order pharmacies and payment of illegal healthcare kickbacks in order to procure prescriptions for his pharmacies. The charges include one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud, four counts involving healthcare kickback payments or offers to pay kickbacks, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The indictment alleges that starting as early as March 2014, and continuing until at least October 2023, Suess owned a network of pharmacies and business entities that were involved in their management. Suess purchased multiple small retail pharmacies throughout the country with the intent of converting the vast majority of the businesses from in-person pharmacies to mail-order businesses. Suess would typically put the ownership of the pharmacies into the names of third parties despite the fact that he provided the funding for the purchase, received a significant share of the profits, and maintained control of the pharmacy network through his other companies.
After purchasing a pharmacy, Suess made fraudulent submissions to various healthcare entities. In these submissions, Suess hid his ownership and control of the pharmacies, failed to disclose that the pharmacy was being converted to a mail-order pharmacy, and falsely claimed that he was in compliance with the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Through these false claims, Suess and his co-conspirators defrauded and intended to defraud private and public health insurance providers including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.
Suess’s scheme included his July 2017 purchase of McHugh Drug Store, located in Carthage, Illinois, which is within the Central District of Illinois. Suess not only concealed his ownership, but also paid illegal kickbacks for prescriptions that were filled by McHugh.
If convicted, Suess shall forfeit any property that is derived, either directly or indirectly, from gross proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses. The property includes, but is not limited to, a money judgment.
A summons was issued for Suess to appear in federal court before Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley on August 23, 2024, in the federal courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud; up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the four kickback counts; and up to five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Each count carries the possibility of a $250,000 fine, or twice the pecuniary gain/loss, and each count may be followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Two Non-Citizens Illegally Present in the United States Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Firearms in SpringfieldRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – Walter Geovanni Arteta-Gonzalez, age 33, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on July 10, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal reentry after removal. Santos Fernando Zepeda-Arteta, 21, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment on July 11, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Both men are originally from Honduras.
At the sentencing hearings before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta possessed firearms knowing they were in the United States without legal documentation. On November 27, 2023, Springfield Police officers responded to a Springfield hotel to investigate shots being fired. After eyewitnesses were interviewed and the hotel surveillance video was reviewed, both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta admitted to police officers that they possessed firearms. Further, both men were observed on the videos holding a firearm and firing several shots into the air. Arteta-Gonzalez stated he fired rounds outside his hotel room “just for fun.” The gun possessed by Zepeda-Arteta was stolen from an unspecified location in St. Louis, Missouri.
Both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta have remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since their arrests in November of 2023.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person are up to 15 years imprisonment; up to three years of supervised release; up to a $250,000 fine; and a $100 special assessment.
In addition to the firearm possession, Arteta-Gonzalez was sentenced on illegal re-entry into the country after a prior removal. The statutory penalties for this charge include up to 2 years' imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The Springfield Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Sangamon County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sierra-Senor Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Shelbyville, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Shelbyville, Illinois, man, Brett J. Simpson, 30, was sentenced on July 10, 2024, to 210 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by seven years of supervised release. Simpson was also ordered to pay $15,500 in restitution to victims. He is now required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Simpson previously pleaded guilty to persuading a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography between December 2021 and May 2022.
At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Collen R. Lawless, the government established that Simpson portrayed himself as a minor on social media platforms to entice children to produce and send him elicit images and videos. Simpson persuaded one child to produce sexual images in exchange for a gift card and another child sent Simpson, at his request, a video containing nude images of that child. The evidence also showed that Simpson possessed thousands of other images of child pornography, including 250 images depicting children under 12 years of age.
“This sentence once again affirms the commitment of the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois to the protection of children and the vigorous prosecution of those who prey upon children,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore.
“This substantial sentence effectively ends Simpson’s ability to sexually exploit children and underscores the FBI’s commitment to keep our children safe by going after those who seek to take advantage of a child’s innocence,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans.
“The Shelbyville Police Department would like to thank the Springfield Office of the FBI for assisting our department with the arrest of Brett Simpson back in May of 2022,” said Shelbyville Police Chief Chad Brachbill. “In an effort to keep our community safe from predators, the FBI has been paramount in assisting us from keeping dangerous people from exploiting children in our community over the internet. We look forward to partnering with them in the future to continue keeping our youth safe from criminal activity of any kind, especially internet sex crimes.”
Simpson was indicted in June 2022 and has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in May 2022. The statutory penalties for production of child pornography are no less than 15 years and up to a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment; for receipt of child pornography no less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment; and for possession of child pornography a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. The maximum possible fine was $250,000 per count.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Shelbyville Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Simpson was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Canadian National Sentenced to 50 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Against Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Canadian national, Sebastian Chelemen, 38, was sentenced on July 11, 2024, to 50 months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $460,350 in restitution to his victims.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that, between April 2023 and June 2023, Chelemen participated in a fraud scheme with co-conspirators operating in Canada who called elderly individuals throughout the United States portraying themselves as young loved ones who had been arrested and needed money for bond or a lawyer. Once a victim agreed to provide the funds for their loved one’s release from jail, Chelemen, acting as a bail bondsman/courier, arrived at their address for the purpose of picking up the funds. He then provided the victims with a receipt that included a “case number,” the amount of money provided, and the false name he used during the interaction. Ultimately, Chelemen personally obtained over $380,000 from the victims in multiple states directly and co-conspirators received another $78,000 from victims who mailed funds as part of the scheme. Members of the conspiracy also attempted to obtain at least an additional $290,000 from victims. When Chelemen was arrested in Sangamon County, he was found with over $138,000 in cash which he acknowledged he had recently received from numerous victims throughout the Central District of Illinois.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Sue E. Myerscough found Chelemen was responsible for over $750,000 in actual and attempted loss, that he had victimized vulnerable individuals as part of the scheme, and that the scheme was both sophisticated and most of it took place outside of the United States.
“This case is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when we, as a law enforcement community, work towards a common goal.” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. “Victims of this terrible scheme were spread out across the country, and federal, state, and local agencies banded together to identify them and ensure that the victims’ voices were heard.”
“Elder fraud is a massive and growing problem that affects one of our most vulnerable age groups. It accounts for billions of dollars in losses and in many instances leaves victims financially and emotionally devastated.” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans. “This sentence demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who seek to harm the elderly.”
Chelemen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on February 6, 2024. He was ordered detained on June 26, 2023, following his arrest by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on June 13, 2023. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since that time. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to commit wire fraud are up to twenty years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office along with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, and Springfield Police Department investigated the matter with assistance from various law enforcement agencies throughout the country, including Virginia, Ohio, New York, and Wisconsin. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
If a senior, or friend or relative of a senior, believes someone is at risk of imminent danger or financial exploitation, they should call 9-1-1. Reports of financial exploitation and abuse should be reported to the non-emergency number at the Springfield Police Department (217-788-8311.) The Adult Protective Services Hotline number to report elder fraud is 866 800-1409. Elder fraud may also be reported to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at 800-243-5377. Internet-based fraud should be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3, www.ic3.gov. Additional useful information about elder fraud and scams can be found at www.uspis.gov and www.ftc.gov.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, to Ensure Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced today it has reached a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located in Springfield, Illinois, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Department reached the agreement with Driftwood Hospitality Management, LLC, and 3000 S. Dirksen LP, who own and operate the hotel. The agreement requires the hotel to renovate its facilities by increasing the number of accessible rooms and eliminating barriers in existing rooms.
The settlement resolves an ADA complaint alleging that after reserving an accessible room, when an individual with a disability attempted to check-in, the Crowne Plaza provided a room that lacked toilet handrails and did not have an accessible shower. According to the complaint, after the complainant explained their needs, the hotel provided a second room that lacked toilet handrails, had broken toilet seat hinges, and had an inaccessible shower. Despite the complainant requesting an accessible room, the hotel did not provide one, leaving the complainant unable to use the shower or toilet without assistance from a family member.
The complaint prompted an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. The investigation revealed that the Crowne Plaza does not maintain the number of accessible rooms required by the ADA and that many of its existing accessible rooms may contain barriers prohibited by the ADA. The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities by honoring reservations, making accommodations, and providing a certain number of accessible rooms according to the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
“People with disabilities must be able to travel without sacrificing their independence when simply trying to find a place to sleep, shower, or use the bathroom,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant for the Central District of Illinois. “We appreciate the hotel’s prompt action to renovate its facilities to ensure equal access for all and we encourage all hotels in the Central District of Illinois to ensure their rooms are accessible as required by the ADA.”
Under the agreement, the hotel will create eleven new accessible rooms and eliminate existing barriers in other rooms. Driftwood Hospitality will also create an ADA policy and provide ADA training for all hotels it owns, operations, and manages, including the Crowne Plaza. Without admitting to violating the ADA, the hotel also agreed to a monetary payment to the complainant to fully resolve the matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant represented the government during the investigation and settlement process. For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.
Former Illinois State Senator, Gubernatorial Candidate Sam McCann Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Fraudulent Use of Campaign Funds, Money Laundering, and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Former Illinois State Senator William Samuel McCann Jr, 54, was sentenced on July 9, 2024, to 42 months of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $683,816.61 in restitution for fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion.
At the sentencing hearing and during the bench trial in February 2024, the government presented evidence that McCann engaged in a broad, five-year scheme to defraud by converting more than $600,000 in campaign funds to his personal use. In sentencing McCann, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless stated that McCann betrayed the public trust and continued his fraud even after being questioned by his campaign employee and confronted by federal law enforcement officers. In addition, Judge Lawless found it aggravating that McCann attempted to commit a fraud on the court by falsely representing that he was physically and mentally incapable of proceeding to trial.
McCann, of Plainview, Illinois, served as a state senator for the 49th District of Illinois from 2011 to 2013, and for the redrawn 50th District from 2013 to January 2019. McCann formed the Conservative Party of Illinois and, in 2018, launched an unsuccessful bid for Illinois Governor. McCann previously lived in Carlinville, Illinois, and owned and operated two construction-related businesses.
McCann organized multiple political committees that were registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections: Sam McCann for Senate; Sam McCann for Senate Committee; McCann for Illinois; and Conservative Party of Illinois. From April 2011 to November 2018, McCann and his political committees received more than $5 million in campaign donations.
The evidence presented during the bench trial and sentencing hearing established that McCann used campaign funds to purchase personal vehicles, pay personal debts, make mortgage payments, and pay himself, including the following:
- McCann used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to partially fund the purchases of a 2017 Ford Expedition in April 2017 and a 2018 Ford F-250 truck in July 2018, which he titled in his own name and used for his personal travel. McCann then used campaign funds for loan payments on the F-250 and for fuel and insurance expenses for both vehicles, while at the same time using campaign funds to reimburse mileage expense claims which he did not incur.
- In April 2018, McCann used $18,000 in campaign funds to purchase a 2018 recreational travel trailer, and in May 2018, he used $25,000 in campaign funds to buy a 2006 recreational motor home, both of which McCann titled in his personal name.
McCann established an online account with a recreational vehicle rental business in Ohio and listed the vehicles for rent identifying Sam McCann as the owner. McCann then established a second account with the same rental business and identified himself as William McCann, a potential renter, with a different residential address and email than those he listed as the owner. From approximately May 2018 to June 2018, McCann, while representing himself as the renter, William, rented both the travel trailer and motor home from Sam, the owner, through the RV rental business. McCann caused a total of approximately $62,666 in campaign funds be used to pay the rental cost of the vehicles. The rental business retained approximately $9,838 for commission and paid McCann, as the owner, approximately $52,827 by direct deposit to McCann’s personal checking account. McCann reimbursed the campaign accounts $18,000, resulting in more than $77,000 in campaign funds used to buy and rent from himself.
- On or about October 4, 2016, McCann used a $20,000 cashier’s check funded by a campaign account and issued to him to pay off a personal loan, including legal fees, that had originally been issued to him as an equipment loan in 2011 and was in collection by the bank due to non-payment.
- From May 2015 to August 2020, McCann used campaign funds to pay approximately $64,750 on two separate personal mortgage loans that were secured by his former residence in Carlinville and an adjoining property used as an office for his construction business.
- In November 2018, after an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Illinois, when he was no longer a candidate for office and did not financially support any other candidate, and continuing to June 2020, McCann caused the Conservative Party of Illinois to issue approximately $187,000 in payments to himself personally and an additional $52,282 in payments for payroll taxes. Using a payroll service, McCann was able to conceal himself as the payee for the expenditures from the campaign account.
- McCann also converted more than $100,000 in campaign funds for payment of personal expenses including Green Dot credit card payments related to a family vacation in Colorado and other personal expenses; charges from Apple iTunes, Amazon, a skeet and trap club, Cabela’s, Scheels, Best Buy, and a gun store; and cash withdrawals.
- In relation to his joint return for calendar year 2018, McCann failed to report income from his 2018 rental payments to himself for the RV trailer and motor home. In addition, in March 2018, McCann used a $10,000 check issued by a campaign account to make a down payment to a Shipman, Illinois, business for a motor home. When the purchase was not completed, the business issued a $10,000 refund check payable to William McCann, which he deposited to his personal checking account and failed to report as income received.
During the third day of his bench trial, McCann pleaded guilty to all nine counts of the indictment, which charged him with seven counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion related to his alleged misuse of campaign money for personal expenses. Prior to the commencement of the trial, the court revoked McCann’s pretrial release and ordered that he be detained.
The statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud (seven counts) and one count of money laundering is up to 20 years in prison. For tax evasion, the statutory penalty is up to five years in prison.
Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris stated: “As Judge Lawless explained in imposing sentence, McCann brazenly betrayed the public trust by engaging in a five-year scheme to defraud and converting more than $600,000 in campaign funds to his personal use. Today’s sentence appropriately holds McCann accountable for his criminal conduct. I thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division for their tireless and professional work in this matter. This Office will continue to hold public officials accountable for violating the public trust by exploiting it for their own personal gain.”
“This sentence is a reminder that no one is immune to obeying the law,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “Mr. McCann took a number of steps to conceal his fraud from his donors, the Illinois public, and law enforcement. Now through the combined efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and IRS CI, he will be held accountable for his deception.”
“Investigating public corruption is a top priority for the FBI because the crime tears at the fabric of our democracy’s security,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans. “Elected officials are entrusted and expected to protect the interests of the people with integrity — a moral value Sam McCann did not uphold. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate public officials who abuse public trust and use their office to commit illegal acts.”
The case investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass represented the government in the prosecution.
Rossi Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay More than $3 Million for Scheme to Defraud Former EmployerRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Morton, Illinois, man, Aaron J. Rossi, 41, was sentenced on July 2, 2024, to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution and fines for his scheme to defraud his former employer and filing of false income taxes.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in March 2022, charging Rossi with three counts of filing false tax returns. A superseding indictment adding six counts of mail fraud for a fraud committed against his former employer, was returned in July 2022. Rossi entered into a plea agreement in February 2024, in which he pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and one count of mail fraud. The remaining seven counts were dismissed.
At the sentencing hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the government presented evidence that Rossi had engaged in a practice of lying and deceiving others for his own benefit from the outset of his former employment at Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery (“CIOS”) through the entirety of the court proceedings on these charges. The government demonstrated how Rossi had spent years lying to his employer while stealing money and then, simultaneously, providing false information on his tax returns. Rossi admitted that he had taken funds from CIOS without its knowledge or permission and had purchased personal items and services with the funds. Among other expenditures, he used the funds to purchase a home theater system, lease a luxury vehicle, and rent a private jet for his bachelor party. Further, the government demonstrated that Rossi’s scheme included falsely representing himself to others, including patients, as a doctor even though he was not a licensed physician and not authorized to practice medicine. He also wrote 29 counterfeit prescriptions, one of which was falsely written in the name of a third party who, as a result, was denied entry into a cancer trial.
In imposing sentence, Judge Darrow noted that Rossi’s theft served no purpose other than his own greed and desire. She stated that he was already legally receiving a handsome salary from his former employer but stole from them to further his lifestyle. She explained that he did not use the money for necessities, or even things that were “nice to have” but rather for items that were luxuries. She further discussed Rossi’s betrayal of his former employer and his theft from innocent people who had done nothing wrong at all but instead trusted Rossi, befriended him, and offered to mentor him. Judge Darrow described that betrayal and Rossi’s squandering of opportunity and his talents as a shame.
Judge Darrow ultimately found that the Federal Sentencing Guidelines did not fully capture the scope of Rossi’s fraud. As a result, she sentenced him to 60 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release; imposed a fine of $1,000,000, and ordered him to pay full restitution in an amount of more than $2.2 million dollars to his former employer as well as taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Illinois’ Department of Revenue.
Rossi was originally released on bond following indictment, but his bond was revoked, and he was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in September 2023 after multiple bond violations. He had remained in custody pending sentencing.
Rossi faced statutory penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a three-year term of supervised release for the mail fraud, and up to 3 years’ imprisonment and up to a one-year term of supervised release for the false tax return count. Each of the counts also carried a potential fine.
“This sentence highlights the tireless effort and commitment of the investigative agencies and prosecutors who seek justice against those who commit this type of fraud.” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Crimes such as these continue to cost employers and taxpayers billions of dollars each year. My office will maintain its fight to protect the citizens in Central Illinois from this fraudulent conduct.”
“The sentencing of Aaron Rossi sends a clear message that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate and bring to justice those who use the U.S. Mail to line their pockets. We are dedicated to defending the nation’s mail system from criminal activity and preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail. We value our law enforcement partners and their support of our mission,” said Ruth Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes Peoria, Illinois.
“This sentencing sends a clear message that deceit, and theft—especially in times of crisis—will not go unpunished,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Aaron Rossi shamelessly stole from his employer, the State of Illinois, and the American public for his own personal gain during a time when many people were struggling. IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to holding individuals like Rossi accountable while ensuring that justice is served.”
The case investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas F. McMeyer and Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Kenin L. Edwards, 59, was sentenced on July 1, 2024, to 21 months in federal prison for making and subscribing a false tax return. Edwards will also serve one year of supervised release and is required to pay restitution, in addition to a $10,000.00 fine.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Edwards was employed in the logging business as a timber buyer. His employment included contract work between landowners and sawmills, and he was paid a commission for the deals that he closed. In late 2017, Edwards formed a partnership with his son, which he named Edwards & Sons Log Purveyors. For the tax years 2014 through 2018, Edwards underreported income totaling $2,100,365.00 to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), resulting in a total federal tax loss of $180,626.00. In addition, he underreported income totaling $673,359.00 to the Illinois Department of Revenue (“IDR”), resulting in a total state tax loss of $22,004.00. Edwards has a remaining tax loss due to the IRS of $6,346.00 and has paid the tax loss to the IDR. Interest and penalties due to both the IRS and IDR have not yet been paid.
A federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment against Edwards in March 2021. Counts One through Four involved mail fraud and Counts Five through Seven were wire fraud charges. Counts Eight through Fourteen related to the filing of false tax returns.
Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return in November 2023, pursuant to a written agreement. The court dismissed the remaining charges at sentencing upon the government’s motion. A ruling on the restitution amount due will be made at a later date.
The statutory penalties for filing a false tax return are up to three years imprisonment; up to one year of supervised release; and a fine of up to $100,000.00.
The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Bass, Douglas F. McMeyer, and Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
Felon Sentenced to Third Time in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Alan Andrew Collins, 39, of the 800 block of West MacQueen Avenue, has been sentenced to 55 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm. Collins has previously been convicted of felony offenses in 2004 and 2005 in Cook County, as well as two prior federal convictions for possession of a firearm in the Central District of Illinois in 2008 and 2014. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that, in November 2022, the ATF and Peoria Police executed a federal search warrant at Collins’ house on MacQueen Avenue. During the search, Collins exited his bedroom where agents later located a loaded semi-automatic 9mm pistol on the nightstand next to the bed. The gun was loaded with a 16 round magazine and live ammunition, including a round in the chamber. During the search, police also located a 9mm 30-round extended magazine loaded with live ammunition, an ammunition speed loader, and additional rounds of ammunition. Collins admitted that his fingerprints and DNA would be on the gun because he had handled it. However, he disclaimed ownership of the gun, indicating his girlfriend had bought it and left it at his house.
Collins was arrested in November 2022 following a federal complaint. He was indicted by a federal grand jury two weeks later. Collins entered a guilty plea in February 2024. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for a felon in possession of a firearm are up to 15 years imprisonment; up to 3 years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Collins is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years and One Day in Prison for Possessing Obscene Images of the Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Jack Lee Nimrick, 43, was sentenced on June 24, 2024, to a total of ten years and one day in federal prison for possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
Nimrick was previously convicted of distribution of child pornography in 2015 and was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. He was also required to register as a sex offender. While serving his term of supervised release, United States Probation Officers found Nimrick in possession of an unmonitored and unapproved cellphone capable of connecting to the internet. Further investigation and forensic investigation of the cellphone by Homeland Security agents revealed over 150 computer-generated images and over 50 computer-generated animated videos depicting the sexual abuse of children ranging in age from approximately four years old to teenagers.
Nimrick was arrested in October 2023 on supervised release revocation charges, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with possession of obscene images in November 2023. He entered a guilty plea to the possession of obscene images charge in March 2024. At the sentencing hearing this week, Nimrick also admitted that he had violated his conditions of supervised release by possessing the illegal images, failing to register his cellphone in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act, and failing to comply with the U.S. Probation Office’s Computer and Internet Monitoring Program. Nimrick has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest. He will serve a three-year term of supervised release upon completion of the term of imprisonment.
Based on Nimrick’s prior conviction for a sex offense, he faced an enhanced statutory penalty of ten to twenty years’ imprisonment, followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release.
The United States Department of Homeland Security investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Danville Man Convicted of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on June 25, 2024, against Joseph A. Carpenter, 51, of Danville, Illinois, for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. Sentencing for Carpenter has been scheduled on October 23, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
Over a single day of testimony in front of Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the government presented evidence that, from November 2021 and into early 2022, Carpenter communicated with an individual he believed to be the father of an eight-year-old girl, via text communication applications. In those communications, Carpenter requested various child pornography images and encouraged ongoing abuse of the alleged minor.
Carpenter remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service where he has been since his arrest in 2022. At sentencing, Carpenter faces statutory penalties of 15 to 30 years of imprisonment for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child; and 5 to 20 years of imprisonment for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. Carpenter will also be required to register as a sex offender under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Lynch and Timothy Bass represented the government at trial.
This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Quincy Area Man Convicted of Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on June 21, 2024, against Phillip C. Mayfield, 35, of Quincy, Illinois, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Sentencing for Mayfield has been scheduled on October 29, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
Over three days of testimony in front of U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government presented evidence to establish that, in February 2023, Mayfield sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a grocery store parking lot in Quincy. Evidence established that, in March 2023, Mayfield sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in an apartment parking lot in Quincy.
Mayfield is in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, where he has been since his arrest on June 20, 2023.
At sentencing, Mayfield faces statutory penalties of not less than 10 years and up to a life term of imprisonment; at least 5 years and up to a life term of supervised releasee; up to a $10,000,000 fine; and a $100 special assessment.
The case investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration Springfield Resident Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Seberger and Matthew Z. Weir represented the government at trial.
New Indictment Alleges Aaron Rossi Committed Fraud in COVID-19 TestingRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted a Morton, Illinois man, Aaron Rossi (“Rossi”), 40, on six counts of healthcare fraud, one count of mail fraud, and four counts of wire fraud for allegedly defrauding the State of Illinois and public and private health insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indictment alleges that Reditus Laboratories, LLC (“Reditus”), located in Pekin, Illinois, was a full-service pathology laboratory which offered various testing services for patients and clients. As part of those services, Reditus had the capability to run PCR tests for infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus. After the COVID pandemic reached the United States in early 2020, Rossi and Reditus began processing COVID-19 PCR tests which were paid for with both public and private health insurance programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Healthlink, and the Health Resources & Services Administration's Uninsured Program. Beginning as early as October 2020, and continuing to at least November 2021, Rossi established policies and procedures at Reditus that directly benefitted himself financially and defrauded healthcare providers. Services provided were mischaracterized in order to receive payment for services that were not actually rendered. This resulted in the six counts of healthcare fraud alleged in the indictment.
In addition, Rossi and Reditus had a contract with the State of Illinois to provide COVID-19 PCR testing. The contract, signed by Rossi as CEO for Reditus, was a flat-rate contract. Reditus could only invoice the State for the difference between what a patient’s healthcare coverage paid and the agreed-upon flat rate arranged with the State. Rossi, however, developed a scheme to bill both the healthcare providers and the State, resulting in Reditus fraudulently receiving double payments for the same COVID-19 PCR tests, one from the State and one from another health insurance provider. This conduct was the basis for the one mail fraud count and the four wire fraud counts alleged in the indictment.
Rossi previously plead guilty to charges of filing false federal tax returns and taking funds from his former employer, Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery in Bloomington on February 6, 2024. In that case, Rossi admitted to taking funds without the knowledge or permission of his employer and fraudulently purchasing personal items that he had delivered to his home. Due to multiple bond violations, Rossi has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since September 2023, and remains in custody on that case pending his sentencing—currently schedule for July 2, 2024. Today’s indictment alleges new offenses and conduct that are separate from his initial case and which took place after the conduct in his first case had concluded.
If convicted, on the new offenses, Rossi faces maximum statutory penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for each of the healthcare fraud charges, and up to 20 years imprisonment for each of the mail fraud and wire fraud charges. Each of the 11 charges could also incur a $250,000 fine. Imprisonment could be followed by 3 years of supervised release for each count.
The case investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Internal Revenue Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Springfield Division; the Department of Labor—Employee Benefit Security Administration; Office of Personnel Management—Office of Inspector General; and Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas F. McMeyer and Tanner K. Jacobs represent the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Rantoul Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Deliver more than 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – On June 10, 2024, a Rantoul, Illinois, man Artez L. Johnson, of the 300 block of South Marshall Street was sentenced to 252 months imprisonment to be followed by 7 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
In August 2023, Johnson was convicted of the offense following a federal jury trial held in front of United States District Judge Colin Bruce. At the trial, the government presented evidence establishing that on February 20, 2023, Johnson was pulled over during a traffic stop near the intersection of Maplewood and Grove Avenue in Rantoul, Illinois. Upon Johnson exiting the car, Rantoul police noticed a small bag of suspected cocaine on the driver’s seat. Officers searched the car and located approximately 330 grams of methamphetamine ice packed in three Ziplock bags in the center console. Johnson claimed ownership of the methamphetamine but claimed it was for personal use. The Government presented additional evidence that Johnson had sold methamphetamine to an individual for several months prior to Johnson’s arrest. Expert testimony was presented that 330 grams is a distribution amount, not a personal use amount.
The statutory penalties for possessing with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine are 10 years to life imprisonment, at least 5 years supervised release, and a fine of not more than $10 million.
The case investigation was conducted by the Rantoul Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Sullivan and Rachel Ritzer represented the government in the prosecution.