Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Settles Dispute with East. St. Louis School District 189 over Its Americorps ProgramRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – East St. Louis School District 189 (ESL189) has paid the United States
$38,510 to resolve a civil False Claims Act investigation into the operation of its AmeriCorps
program, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today.AmeriCorps is a federally funded network of national service programs that address critical
community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty,
sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more. AmeriCorps volunteers
(called members) commit to service for a period of three months to a year in exchange
for a living allowance, education awards, and other benefits.To receive an AmeriCorps education award, each volunteer has to complete a specified number of
service hours, among other requirements. Grant recipients like ESL189 are responsible for verifying
and certifying those hours to the Corporation for National and Community Service, now known as
AmeriCorps, which administers the federal grant program.From 2016 to 2018, ESL189 received over $1 million in federal funding and education awards for its
AmeriCorps program. During that time, the United States claims that ESL189 falsely certified to
AmeriCorps that some of its members had performed the service hours necessary to qualify for an
education award, when in fact they had not.Specifically, the United States contends that certain individuals on staff at ESL189’s
AmeriCorps program directed members to falsely inflate their timesheets with “bonus hours” to help
them qualify for education awards they otherwise wouldn’t have earned. For example, on one
occasion, ESL189 staff instructed members to report 20 service hours on their timesheets just for
completing a 15-minute webinar. On another day, members were told that submitting an updated résumé
would count for 25 service hours. Members also received bonus hours for attending events, for
showing up on time, and in at least one instance for wearing orange.“Encouraging AmeriCorps members to falsify their timesheets robbed the students of East St. Louis
of academic help they were entitled to receive,” said AmeriCorps Inspector General Deborah
Jeffrey. “We and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of
Illinois will vigorously pursue any such frauds.”“Instructing young volunteers to lie on their timesheets was a terrible decision,” U.S.
Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said. “This settlement shines a light on that misconduct and should
serve as an example to other federal grantees in Southern Illinois. In these cases, it isn’t about
the money. It’s about ensuring the integrity of the program and, most importantly, making sure the
community actually receives these service hours.”
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; no charges were filed in court, and
there has been no determination of liability. ESL189 cooperated in the investigation, which began
with an anonymous tip in April 2018. The individuals responsible for the fraud are no longer
employed by the school district.The investigation was conducted by the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump handled the matter for the United States.Mississippi Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Cocaine and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Another member of a multi-state drug ring will be spending the rest of the decade behind
bars. Lendarious Hayes, 24, of Meridian, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 135 months (11 years
and 3 months) in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering
conspiracy. Hayes (a.k.a. “Lil Daddy”) was one of 13 defendants named in a 13-count third
superseding indictment returned by an East St. Louis grand jury in October 2019. One year later,
he pled guilty to the two charges in which he was named.
The charged conspiracy to distribute cocaine took place from 2014 through 2018 and
involved the distribution of cocaine between East St. Louis, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Memphis,
Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and other locations. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Hayes
personally distributed at least 32 kilograms of cocaine throughout the country. Other couriers
assisted in the distribution of cocaine for the same organization, totaling at least 360 kilograms of
cocaine. Hayes was also charged with participating in a money laundering conspiracy, in which
he directed the deposit and withdrawal of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds into a coconspirator’s
bank account, in order to disguise the nature of those funds.
The case against Hayes began in February 2019, when an earlier indictment charged him
with just one count of participating in the cocaine distribution conspiracy. While out on bond,
Hayes subsequently traveled without court permission to Houston, Texas, and later Lafayette,
Louisiana, where he was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance in October
2019. Later that month, the money laundering conspiracy charge was added. Hayes was eventually
brought back to the district by the U.S. Marshals Service in March 2020 and has been in federal
custody ever since.
Hayes was just one of 13 defendants named in the third superseding indictment. Many of
his co-defendants were also charged with distributing “ice,” which is a highly pure form of
methamphetamine. Eight co-defendants have already pleaded guilty, with four of them receiving
prison sentences of more than 10 years.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all
defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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When his prison sentence is finished, Hayes will serve a 5-year term of supervised release.
He was also ordered to pay a $200 fine.
This prosecution is 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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue
Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Illinois State Police, and other law
enforcement agencies.
Faking Breast Cancer and Genetic Disorders Leads to Prison Sentence for Highland WomanRead the Press Release
Sarah A. Delashmit, 36, of Highland, Illinois, was sentenced this week to 18 months in
federal prison and 3 years of court supervision after her release. Last October, Delashmit pleaded
guilty to multiple fraud charges after spending years defrauding nonprofit organizations by falsely
posing as person with muscular dystrophy and a breast cancer survivor to receive money, donated
items, and other benefits. The charged offenses took place between 2015 and 2019, but evidence
presented at sentencing established that Delashmit had engaged in similar scams going back as far
as 2006.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle described the
gravity of Delashmit’s offense conduct: “Miss Delashmit deceived and manipulated individuals
and families facing terminal illness and debilitating disorders, and nonprofit organizations and
volunteers who serve those individuals. She preyed on these communities by posing as someone
with muscular dystrophy or a mother who was diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal breast cancer. She
exploited people’s trust, their kindness, their sympathy and their generosity for her own benefit.
She accepted donations and allowed volunteers to care for her when she did not need or deserve
that care. She took resources from those who did.”
Judge Yandle’s comments came after the court heard moving statements from two victims:
one who befriended Delashmit while believing she was dying of cancer and another who cared for
Delashmit while she pretended to be wheelchair bound at a camp for people with disabilities.
As part of the sentence, Judge Yandle ordered Delashmit to pay a $1,250 fine, forfeit
several items she received through her scheme, and make full restitution of $7,629 to the nonprofit
organizations and others she defrauded.
The investigation was conducted by the Highland Police Department, the FBI, and the
United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
Alleged Leaders of the Gangster Disciples Indicted on Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – The United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the
Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today that seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, have been charged in a federal indictment accusing them of a years-long interstate RICO conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. Certain defendants were also charged with murder, attempted murder, and various firearms crimes.The federal indictment was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
“The long list of violent crimes alleged in this indictment—including two murders and multiple violent assaults—make plain the threat to our communities posed by criminal organizations like the Gangster Disciples,” said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This prosecution underscores that coordinated criminal activity will be met with a coordinated and focused law enforcement response by the Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level. We are committed to dismantling violent gangs like the Gangster Disciples and holding their members accountable for criminal conduct.”
“These charges target national and state leaders of one of the most notorious street gangs in
America,” said Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. “The
lawlessness these gangs bring to our cities is terribly destructive and oftentimes difficult to
prosecute. The violence perpetrated by the Gangster Disciples in this district and nationwide has long been a particular focus of our top law enforcement agencies. With the charges unsealed today, we are taking an important, powerful step in the fight to disrupt and dismantle gangs operating in this region. I am especially grateful for the support of the ATF and the many dedicated law enforcement officers at all levels of government who contributed to this investigation.”“ATF has no higher priority than investigating violent crime and ensuring that those who use
firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities are held accountable,” said Fred Winston,
Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Kansas City Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates ATF’s commitment and the commitment of our law enforcement partners to ensure that Missouri and Illinois communities remain a safe place to live, work and raise families. Utilizing firearms to injure or intimidate others cannot be tolerated and there is no question that the public is safer today because of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all of the agencies that played a part in this investigation.”“Today’s indictment is a result of investigative efforts in our Fairview Heights Resident Agency
and strong partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Sean Cox, FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge. “This illustrates, when we work together, how effective our law enforcement alliances are in pursuing and eradicating violent street gangs to make our communities safer.”According to the indictment, the Gangster Disciples is a violent street and prison gang founded in the 1960’s that has engaged in large-scale drug trafficking and violence throughout the United States. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national “Board Members” and state “Governors.” Each of the defendants is alleged to be a member or leader of the Gangster Disciples and to have conspired to conduct the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering.
Frank Smith, 47, of Naperville, Illinois, an alleged national “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Warren Griffin, 51, of Lancaster, Kentucky, an alleged national “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Anthony Dobbins, 53, of Troy, Illinois, an alleged national “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Sean Clemon, 50, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the alleged “Governor” of the state of Missouri, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Dominque Maxwell, 28, of Cape Girardeau, the alleged “Assistant Governor” of the state of Missouri, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Perry Harris, 29, of Cape Girardeau, an alleged “Treasurer” and “Chief of Security” for the state of Missouri, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.
Barry Boyce, 44, of Charleston, Missouri, an alleged member of the gang, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are two gang-related murders. On April 28, 2018, Clemon,
Maxwell, and Harris, on orders from Smith, allegedly killed Leroy Allen as part of a leadership
dispute at a Gangster Disciples meeting in Bridgeton, Missouri. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and
Dobbins are accused of killing Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois.Other acts of violence alleged as part of the conspiracy include a nightclub stabbing in East St. Louis, Illinois, a nonfatal shooting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and multiple unsuccessful murder plots. The indictment also alleges various acts of drug trafficking by Gangster Disciples members, including an ongoing scheme to smuggle the synthetic drug “K2” into Missouri state prisons.
“The BOP takes seriously our mission to protect the safety and security of our correctional
institutions and the public,” said Miranda Faust, Administrator of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Branch. “The BOP’s intelligence component appreciates the opportunity to assist our federal partners in detecting and disrupting criminal activity related to inmates in the BOP's custody.”“Investigating organized crime and related financial schemes are a top priority for CI,” said
Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Chicago Field
Office. “Racketeering, such as the alleged charges today, brazenly facilitates all kinds of illegal dealings that negatively affect the community. Criminal Investigation is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners in this case to bring these criminals to justice.”The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.If convicted of the racketeering conspiracy charged in Count 1, each defendant could receive as much as life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Murder in aid of racketeering is a death- eligible offense.
This case results from investigations by ATF, FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons, IRS – Criminal
Investigation, Missouri Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, and Chicago Police Department.The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jeremy Franker and Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali M. Summers of the Southern District of Illinois, with substantial investigative support from th U.S.Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Illinois.
Alleged Leaders of Gangster Disciples Indicted on Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
“The long list of violent crimes alleged in this indictment – including two murders and multiple violent assaults – make plain the threat to our communities posed by criminal organizations like the Gangster Disciples,” said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This prosecution underscores that coordinated criminal activity will be met with a coordinated and focused law enforcement response by the Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level. We are committed to dismantling violent gangs like the Gangster Disciples and holding their members accountable for criminal conduct.”
“These charges target national and state leaders of one of the most notorious street gangs in America,” said Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. “The lawlessness these gangs bring to our cities is terribly destructive and oftentimes difficult to prosecute. The violence perpetrated by the Gangster Disciples in this district and nationwide has long been a particular focus of our top law enforcement agencies. With the charges unsealed today, we are taking an important, powerful step in the fight to disrupt and dismantle gangs operating in this region. I am especially grateful for the support of the ATF and the many dedicated law enforcement officers at all levels of government who contributed to this investigation.”
“ATF has no higher priority than investigating violent crime and ensuring that those who use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities are held accountable,” said Fred Winston, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division. “This investigation demonstrates ATF’s commitment and the commitment of our law enforcement partners to ensure that Missouri and Illinois communities remain a safe place to live, work and raise families. Utilizing firearms to injure or intimidate others cannot be tolerated and there is no question that the public is safer today because of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all of the agencies that played a part in this investigation.”
“Today’s indictment is a result of investigative efforts in our Fairview Heights Resident Agency and strong partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Sean Cox, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Springfield Field Office. “This illustrates, when we work together, how effective our law enforcement alliances are in pursuing and eradicating violent street gangs to make our communities safer.”
“The BOP takes seriously our mission to protect the safety and security of our correctional institutions and the public,” said Miranda Faust, Administrator of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Branch. “The BOP's intelligence component appreciates the opportunity to assist our federal partners in detecting and disrupting criminal activity related to inmates in the BOP's custody.”
“Investigating organized crime and related financial schemes are a top priority for CI,” said Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Chicago Field Office. “Racketeering, such as the alleged charges today, brazenly facilitates all kinds of illegal dealings that negatively affect the community. Criminal Investigation is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners in this case to bring these criminals to justice.”
According to court documents, the Gangster Disciples are a violent gang with a decades-long history of lawlessness and a presence throughout the United States, including in state and federal prisons. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national “Board Members” and state “Governors.” Each of the defendants is alleged to be a member or leader of the Gangster Disciples and to have conspired to conduct the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering.
- Frank Smith, 47, of Naperville, Illinois, an alleged “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
- Warren Griffin, 51, of Lancaster, Kentucky, an alleged “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
- Anthony Dobbins, 53, of Troy, Illinois, an alleged “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
- Sean Clemon, 50, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, an alleged “Governor,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
- Dominque Maxwell, 28, of Cape Girardeau, an alleged “Assistant Governor,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
- Perry Harris, 29, of Cape Girardeau, an alleged “Treasurer” and “Chief of Security,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes; and
- Barry Boyce, 44, of Charleston, Missouri, an alleged member of the gang, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are two gang-related murders. On April 28, 2018, Clemon, Maxwell, and Harris, on orders from Smith, allegedly killed Leroy Allen as part of a leadership dispute at a Gangster Disciples meeting in Bridgeton, Missouri. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins allegedly killed Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois. Other acts of violence alleged as part of the conspiracy include a nightclub stabbing in East St. Louis, Illinois; a nonfatal shooting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and multiple unsuccessful murder plots.
The indictment also alleges various acts of drug trafficking by Gangster Disciples members, including an ongoing scheme to smuggle the synthetic drug “K2” into Missouri state prisons.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case results from investigations by ATF, FBI, BOP, IRS CI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Missouri Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, and Chicago Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Jeremy Franker of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali M. Summers of the Southern District of Illinois, with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Illinois.
- Frank Smith, 47, of Naperville, Illinois, an alleged “Board Member,” is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes;
Traveling Fraudsters Plead Guilty to Felony Bank Fraud Charges After Arrest in EdwardsvilleRead the Press Release
Elvin Lugo-Cales, 47, of Orlando, Florida, and Johnny Collado, 30, of Bronx, New York, pleaded
guilty this week to multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank
fraud, and aggravated identity theft.According to court documents, on March 2, 2020, Lugo-Cales and Collado traveled from New York to
St. Louis for the sole purpose of defrauding banks in the St. Louis metro region. On March 5, they
drove to a U.S. Bank location in Edwardsville, Illinois. Collado waited in the car while Lugo-Cales
went into the bank. Inside, Lugo-Cales presented a fake United States passport bearing his
photograph but someone else’s name and tried to cash a counterfeit check in the amount of $3,650
made payable to that other person. Fortunately, the bank teller recognized the check was
counterfeit, refused to conduct the transaction, and called the police. Lugo-Cales left the bank
and drove away with Collado, leaving the counterfeit check and false passport with his picture on
it with the teller. The two men were stopped by police and taken into custody a short time later.At the time of his arrest, Collado possessed and attempted to conceal numerous items used to
perpetrate the fraud scheme, including over $20,000 cash, numerous blank counterfeit checks, a
counterfeit Oregon driver’s license, and a false United States passport card.Sentencing hearings for the two men will be held on April 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30
p.m. at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. Lugo-Cales and Collado face up to 30 years in
prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on each of their fraud charges. Their aggravated identity
theft charges carry a mandatory sentence of two years of imprisonment, which must run consecutively
to any other sentence imposed.The investigation was conducted by the Edwardsville Police Department and United States
Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Alton Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Matthew L. Richardson, 32, of Alton, Illinois, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison
for two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Richardson pleaded guilty to
the charges in August 2020. His prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised
release.In November 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) received information
that Richardson was selling methamphetamine and firearms. On Nov. 8, 2019, a confidential informant
purchased a shotgun and methamphetamine from Richardson. The transaction was captured on camera,
and Richardson could be seen on the video sawing and filing the barrel of the shotgun down to an
illegal length prior to the sale.On Dec. 2, 2019, ATF agents and Illinois state probation officers arrested Richardson at his
residence in Alton. At the time of his arrest, Richardson was on Illinois state probation for a
2019 conviction in Madison County for possession of methamphetamine. During a search of
Richardson’s bedroom, agents found a loaded revolver with a filed off serial number.In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle explained that the
87-month prison term was necessary to reflect the seriousness of Richardson’s offense, to protect
the public, and to deter him from future criminal activity. Judge Yandle observed that Richardson
was actively contributing to the spread of methamphetamine and guns on the streets, and that when
illegal drugs and firearms go hand-in-hand, they inevitably lead to violence and death.The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Christopher Hoell.Two Brothers Wanted on Federal Kidnapping Charges Captured by the US Marshal's ServiceRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – Two East St. Louis men wanted on federal kidnapping charges were captured
earlier today by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Arrest warrants were issued for Kenwyn
L. Frazier (age 36) and Kendrick A. Frazier (age 34) on December 21, 2020, after a criminal
complaint charged the brothers in connection with the kidnapping and shooting of a man named Kein
Eastman. The U.S. Marshals Service has been searching for the Fraziers since that date.On January 20, 2021, at approximately 7:45 am, the U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional
Fugitive Task Force in the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Office, located and
arrested Kendrick Frazier and Kenwyn Frazier on Hillwood Drive in Belleville, Illinois. They were
taken into custody and no injuries are reported.United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft credited U.S. Marshal Brad Maxwell and his Task Force
for apprehending the Fraziers safely. Weinhoeft said, “The United States Marshals Service Task
Force is made up of incredibly brave agents who risk their personal safety to locate and apprehend
the most violent fugitives. We thank them for their courage and for seeing to it that those charged
with the most serious crimes see their day in court.”The complaint and arrest warrants against Kendrick Frazier and Kenwyn Frazier were unsealed and
made public on December 23, 2021, at a press conference held at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center. At
that press conference, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly announced the creation of a new
ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) that conducted this investigation, along with the East
St. Louis Police Department.The federal charges allege that on August 13, 2020, Kenwyn Frazier kidnapped Kein Eastman from a
residence in East St. Louis after accusing Eastman of stealing personal property. Kendrick Frazier
is alleged to have joined in the kidnapping later in the day. An affidavit filed in the case states
that video evidence recorded Kendrick Frazier shooting Eastman with a .45 caliber handgun outside
of a home on Kansas Avenue as Eastman tried to escape.The SUV used in the kidnapping was discovered burned following the shoot ng.
Eastman’s body has never been found, and he has not been seen or heard from since that day.Upon conviction, Kenwyn Frazier and Kendrick Frazier face up to life in prison, and a fine
of up to $1,000,000. No court date has been scheduled at this time.Jasmine M. Crawford (age 23), also of East St. Louis, was charged in United States District Court
on November 16, 2020, with obstruction of justice for tampering with a Ring doorbell as it recorded
portions of the crime. She faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and a $1,000,000 fine. Crawford is
scheduled for an Initial Appearance and Arraignment in U.S. District Court on January 25, 2021.U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft commended the Illinois State Police for their role in the investigation,
“These charges were made possible by excellent investigative work by the Illinois State Police’s
new Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG). This case demonstrates that PSEG is already working. We
are grateful to Director Kelly and the ISP for their continued commitment to the region.”An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendants are
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Kenwyn Frazier and Kendrick
Frazier. The Task Force in the Southern District of Illinois is composed of the U.S. Marshals;
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Illinois State Police; Illinois Department of
Corrections; Effingham County Sheriff's Office; St. Clair County Sheriff's Department; Belleville
Police; East St. Louis Police; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fairmont City Police.The criminal investigation was conducted by agents from the Illinois State Police Public Safety
Enforcement Group and the East St. Louis Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.Cahokia Health Care Worker Pleads Guilty to Enticing, Transporting Collinsville Girl for Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ricardo D. Minor, 40, of Cahokia, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor,
transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and attempting to obstruct,
influence, and impede an official proceeding. All three crimes arose from an illegal relationship
the defendant developed with an underage patient he met while working as a behavioral health
specialist at Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, Illinois.Court records establish that between June 14, 2017, and Sept. 3, 2017, Minor used a cell phone and
the internet to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce the underage victim (identified as M.F.) to
engage in criminal sexual activity that violated Illinois state law. The sexual acts occurred in
Collinsville – near M.F.’s residence and at her friend’s house – and at the defendant’s residence
in Cahokia. Minor also worked as an Uber driver and would often travel from Illinois to Missouri.
The defendant sometimes asked M.F. to accompany him on these trips and had sex with her there, in
violation of Missouri state law.In late August 2017, staff members at the hospital learned of Minor’s sexual relationship with the
victim from another patient (identified as T.Y.). The following day, Minor sent M.F. a series of
text messages instructing her to try to convince T.Y. to retract her statement. Four days later,
Minor instructed M.F. to tell one of his co-workers and other hospital staff that she had not been
engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with the defendant, when in fact she had.As part of his guilty plea, Minor also admitted that on Nov. 27, 2017, while housed in the St.
Louis County Justice Center on a second degree statutory rape charge relating to his unlawful
sexual activity with M.F. in Missouri, he made a series of phone calls to another person
(identified as T.J.) and instructed T.J. to lean on the victim’s family not to pursue criminal
charges against him. T.J. did, in fact, contact the victim’s family members and told them that if
they pressed charges things would “get ugly.”Minor’s sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces 10 years to life on counts one and two
(enticement of a minor and transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity), and
not more than 20 years on count three (attempting to obstruct, nfluence, and impede an official
proceeding). All three counts also carry a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation
and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on
the tab “resources.”The case was investigated by the Collinsville Police Department, the St. Louis County Polic
Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the
case.Second Escape from Federal Custody Leads to Additional Prison Time for Marion ManRead the Press Release
Marion, Ill. – Ray Allen Flener, 32, of Marion, Illinois, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in
federal prison for escaping from custody. Flener pleaded guilty to the charge back in September.
This is Flener’s second escape conviction.In 2013, Flener was charged with making a false statement to the FBI and conveying a false threat.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2014 to 48 months in prison. In 2018, Flener was transferred
from federal prison to the residential reentry center at Centerstone in Marion, Illinois. Shortly
thereafter, Flener left Centerstone without returning, forcing law enforcement to track him down
and arrest him. This led to his first conviction for escaping from custody, for which he received a
sentence of around four-and-a-half months of time served in pretrial detention.In 2020, with just two months remaining on his sentence, Flener left Centerstone again, leading to
his second conviction for escaping from federal custody. The 18-month sentence imposed by the
federal district court in Benton, Illinois, will be served consecutively to the prison sentence
Flener was already serving.The investigation was conducted by the United States Marsha s Service, with the assistance
of the Illinois State Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.$113K Embezzlement Leads to Federal Prison Sentence for Former Metro East Elementary School PrincipalRead the Press Release
Smithton, Ill. – Roy Joseph Monti, 54, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced last week to 6 months
in federal prison and 6 months of home detention. The former principal of St. John the Baptist
Elementary School in Smithton, Illinois, pleaded guilty back in September to one count of
interstate transportation of stolen money. He will serve an additional 18 months of supervised
release following his home confinement.According to court documents, from March 2017 to November 2019, Monti used his position as the
school’s principal to embezzle $113,061.87 from the school’s bank account. He attempted to cover up
the thefts by noting purportedly valid expenses on the withdrawal slips, which turned out to be
false and fraudulent. Because he lived in Missouri while working in Illinois, Monti often carried
large amounts of the stolen cash across state lines, which is a federal felony.As part of his sentence, the federal district court ordered Monti to make full restitution to the
school.The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Smithton Police Department.
###Factory Manager at USP-Marion Pleads Guilty After Hiding Outside Payments from Government ContractorRead the Press Release
Shawn E. Whitecotton, 49, of Herrin, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to a two-count felony information charging him with making false statements on government forms. As part of his guilty plea, Whitecotton admitted concealing from the federal government thousands of dollars he received from a government contractor. Sentencing will be held at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois, on March 11, 2021, at 10:00am. Whitecotton faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
According to court documents, Whitecotton was the factory manager of the UNICOR manufacturing facility operating within the federal penitentiary at Marion, Illinois (USP-Marion).1 In 2014, USP-Marion’s UNICOR facility contracted with a private company, PGB Hangers, LLC ("PGB"), to manufacture wire clothing hangers. As the UNICOR factory manager, Whitecotton was responsible for overseeing the contract. After the work began, Whitecotton convinced PGB to hire him as a salesperson. He created a new entity – "TRCB, LLC" – to engage in his side job and subsequently received over $20,000 in payments from PGB.
1 UNICOR is a wholly-owned government corporation administered by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that operates manufacturing facilities in certain BOP facilities. The goal is to prepare federal inmates for successful reentry into society by providing them with job training and work skills. UNICOR hires BOP inmates to work in its factories, which manufacture a variety of goods at different locations. In some circumstances, UNICOR contracts with private companies to provide product manufacturing services.
As a supervisory employee in the executive branch of the United States, Whitecotton was required to annually report his financial interests, any outside employment activities, and any positions held outside his role at the prison. The purpose of this requirement was to uncover any possible conflicts of interest a supervisory employee may have in the performance of his or her duties. The forms require disclosure of any sources of income over $200.
In court documents, Whitecotton admitted that he knowingly and willfully failed to disclose his work for PGB and the payments he received as outside income. Whitecotton also admitted that when it appeared his unlawful conduct would be discovered, he took steps to suppress or interfere with investigators’ discovery of the truth, including by unlawfully instructing a witness to lie about Whitecotton’s involvement with TRCB and receipt of payments from PGB.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
Metro East Couple Charged with $2M Extortion & Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
O’Fallon, Ill. – An O’Fallon, Illinois couple is facing a slew of federal charges tonight. Emmitt
T. Tiner and Matissia S. Holt are named in a wide-ranging, 54-count indictment that accuses the
pair of an elaborate extortion scheme, defrauding the Illinois Home Services Program, and money
laundering. Tiner is also charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, using a
false social security number, and sending threatening communications. The 53-year old Tiner was
arraigned on Monday at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis and pleaded not guilty on all
counts. Holt, 41, is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 3, 2020, at 11:30 a.m.United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The indictment describes a complex crime spree
that persisted for nearly ten years. The charges accuse Tiner of various frauds, along with an
audacious extortion scheme where he demanded payment after convincing victims that they would be
implicated in fabricated crimes.” Weinhoeft continued, “The federal, state, and local investigators
did an outstanding job collecting evidence to support such a wide array of charges, especially
during the ongoing pandemic.”According to the indictment, Tiner devised and engaged in a five-year scheme to defraud people and
businesses, particularly owners of small businesses in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and
fraudulently obtain as much money as possible from them. After receiving some money from his
victims, Tiner allegedly tried to convince them that he had engaged in some sort of criminal
activity on their behalf, such as arranging an illegal drug deal, so that he could acquire the
necessary funds to repay them. Tiner would then attempt to convince the victims that they were
accomplices to his crimes and threaten to falsely implicate them to law enforcement if they did not
give him more money. The indictment alleges that Tiner also extorted his victims by threatening to
kill or injure them and their families. From December 2015 to November 2020, Tiner allegedly
obtained more than $2,000,000 by these means.“Since the inception of the FBI, we have worked tirelessly to counter threats such as those posed
by the defendant in this investigation,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge, Sean
M. Cox. “Extortion of those in our communities and fraud against our citizens for the purpose of
illicit gain will not be tolerated. Mr. Tiner’s alleged crimes adversely affect our communities by
destabilizing our financial institutions, eroding public trust and causing undue financial
hardships to the people we serve. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our federal, state,
and local law enforcement partners for their many contributions to this complex investigation.”
In addition to the fraud and extortion offenses, the indictment charges both Tiner and Holt with
money laundering and conducting financial transactions with criminal proceeds. Specifically, the
indictment alleges that Tiner and Holt hid funds that Tiner obtained from his victims by depositing
those funds into bank accounts in Holt’s name. Tiner and Holt then used those funds to purchase
expensive assets, including buying a home on Knollhaven Trail in O’Fallon, purchasing a lot and
building a house on Pausch Road in O’Fallon, and buying a 2019 Cadillac Escalade and a 2020 Ford
F350 crew cab pickup truck. The United States is seeking to forfeit and sell these assets to help
make restitution to the victims.“These charges against Mr. Tiner and Ms. Holt show that with both law enforcement and financial
investigation expertise, individuals that illegally target victims and execute wide-ranging schemes
for personal financial gain, along with others who assist them, could face criminal prosecution and
lengthy prison sentences,” said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal
Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation, federal and
state law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to protect the
integrity of the tax system and innocent victims that suffer a monetary loss.”The indictment also charges Tiner with aggravated identity theft and related federal charges for
using a social security number that belonged to another person. Tiner’s use of the other person’s
social security number allegedly caused a pawn shop in Collinsville to file a currency transaction
report that contained false information, resulting in another federal charge against Tiner.“Mr. Tiner is accused of misusing social security numbers to further his fraud scheme, undermining
the integrity of our financial system for personal gain,” said Jennifer Walker, Assistant Inspector
General for Investigations, Social Security Administration OIG. “My office will continue to work
with our federal and state law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue this type of fraud. I
want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support of this investigation and its efforts that
have led to these charges.”The 36-page indictment further charges Tiner and Holt with conducting a health care fraud scheme.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (“IDHS”) operates a program known as the Personal
Assistant program, which pays people to work as personal assistants for disabled persons. The
program, which utilizes federal Medicaid funds, has certain asset restrictions and will only pay
for work performed while the disabled individuals are present in their homes. From April 2016
through December 2019, Holt was listed as Tiner’s personal assistant. The indictment alleges that
Tiner and Holt repeatedly lied to IDHS, including falsely representing that Tiner was wheelchair
bound, failing to disclose large asset transfers, and certifying that Holt had performed work for
Tiner on several dates when Tiner was out of town at a Chicago-area casino. While Tiner was
enrolled in the program, his personal assistants, including Holt, were paid more than $150,000.“It is reprehensible when individuals cheat Medicaid by faking medical conditions and claiming
unnecessary services and equipment, especially since so many Americans with disabilities truly need
care through this program,” said Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller of
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Kansas City Regional
Office. “Such repulsive scams will not be tolerated. Our hardworking investigators and law
enforcement partners will work hard to ensure fraudsters are held accountable for their callous
behavior.”An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendants are
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.Each count of extortion, threatening communications, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering
carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. There is a 10-year maximum prison term for health
care fraud and conducting monetary transactions using criminal proceeds. The aggravated identity
theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term, which must run consecutively to any other
sentence imposed. The other charges in the indictment are all punishable by up to five years in
prison. All 54 felony counts also come with a fine of up to $250,000.The investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the United
States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, the Social
Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and the Illinois State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.O'Fallon Man Charged with Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Dwayne E. Robinson, of O’Fallon, Illinois, has been charged with sexually exploiting a minor and
possession of prepubescent child pornography. The 57-year old was arraigned on the two-count
indictment late last month. According to the indictment, on July 26, 2018, Robinson (also known as
“Rob”) employed, used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit
conduct so that he could produce a visual depiction of that conduct. The indictment further alleges
that, on June 10, 2020, Robinson knowingly possessed a device that contained prepubescent child
pornography. Robinson is also facing state charges related to these offenses.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.If convicted of sexual exploiting a minor, Robinson faces 15-30 years imprisonment. Possession of
prepubescent child pornography is punishable by as much as 20 years imprisonment. Both charges
carry a fine of up to $250,000 and a possible lifetime term of supervised release. Trial is
presently scheduled for Dec. 28, 2020, in East St. Louis.Anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been victimized by Mr. Robinson is strongly
encouraged to contact Detective Nick Schmidt with the O’Fallon Police Department by calling (618)
624-9542.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation
and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on
the tab “resources.”The case was investigated by the O’Fallon Police Department and the United States Secret Service
Central and Southern Illinois Financial and Cybercrimes Task Force, with assistance from
the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.U.S. Attorney Observes Veterans Day HolidayRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. - U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft of the Southern District of
Illinois issued the following statement today in observance of Veterans Day:“On Veterans Day, we celebrate the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed
Forces. It is a day appropriately set aside to honor their heroism and recognize their sacrifices.
The peace and security we enjoy in this great nation could never be achieved without the honorable
service of all who have donned a military uniform, and we are forever grateful.”Weinhoeft continued, “I especially want to thank the veterans who work in this office. Those
individuals helped preserve our freedom while in uniform, and they continue to serve our country
from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. To each of those men and women, we say thank you.”Jury Convicts East St. Louis Man of Producing Child Pornography Attempting to Tamper with Victim's TestimonyRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – This afternoon, a federal jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, returned a
guilty verdict against Avery Smartt, Jr. The 43-year-old East St. Louis native was convicted of
producing child pornography and attempting to tamper with the victim’s testimony before trial. The
charges were contained in a two-count superseding indictment filed in August 2020. The original
indictment against Smartt – charging only production of child pornography – had been returned two
years earlier.Evidence at trial showed that Smartt engaged in a months-long sexual relationship with a
15-year-old girl, beginning in September 2016. Smartt was a truck driver, and during the course of
their relationship he took the underage girl with him on out-of-state trips, including a long drive
from Illinois to California. In court, the victim testified that it was on those trips that Smartt
took sexually explicit photographs of her. FBI agents seized Smartt’s cell phone and discovered
numerous sexually explicit images of the victim. The trial also featured DNA evidence showing that
Smartt had fathered a child with the girl.While he was in the Clinton County jail awaiting trial, Smartt sent letters to friends and family
members asking them to contact the victim and encourage her to change her testimony. These letters
formed the basis for the tampering charge.Sentencing has been scheduled for February 3, 2021, in front of Chief United States District Judge
Nancy J. Rosenstengel. Smartt faces 15-30 years in prison for producing child pornography. He also
could receive as much as 20 years in prison for attempting to tamper with the victim’s testimony.Due to the ongoing pandemic, a number of safety precautions were implemented during the trial,
including social distancing, newly-installed plexiglass barriers, and a variety of sanitizing
procedures. Spectators watched the trial via closed circuit television in an adjacent courtroom.The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Illinois State Police Metro-East Crime Laboratory,
the Alton Police Department, and the East St. Louis Police Department. The case was
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura V. Reppert and Christopher R. Hoell.U.S. Attorney Encourages Participation in DEA's 19th Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. - U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft called on everyone in the district to
safely dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs by participating in Prescription
Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Organized by the DEA,
the nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of
prescription medications, while also educating the public about the dangers of prescription drug
abuse.
“If you have old bottles of pills sitting on a shelf or in a drawer in your house, this is a great
opportunity to get rid of them the right way,” said U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft. “Simply throwing them
in the trash or flushing them down the drain can harm the environment and pollute our water supply,
while keeping them around can put loved ones at risk. If we all do our part, we can make sure these
medications are properly and safely destroyed.”Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of
accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused
prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine
cabinet.“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,”
said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly
susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused,
and expired prescription medications.”All sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations
in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. DEA and its partners
will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. Vape pens or other e-cigarette
devices must have their batteries removed. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers
can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for
proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal
drugs cannot be dropped off.This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
In addition to DEA’s 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be
disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. DEA
also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any
permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community. There are also other safe ways
to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave your home. For more information,
see https://www.fda.gov/drugs/ensuring-safe-use-medicine/safe-disposal-medicines.More information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day can be found by visiting
www.deatakeback.com.Identity Thief Sentenced to 75 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. –Tamecia Buckley, 37, of Cahokia, Illinois, was sentenced today to 75 months in
federal prison on 7 fraud counts and 5 aggravated identity theft counts. Buckley pled guilty to the
charges in July and has been in federal custody since August 2019. She will serve a three-year term
of supervised release following her imprisonment on the fraud counts and a one-year term of
supervised release on the aggravated identity theft counts.Documents in the case reveal that for about a five-year period, Buckley used the identities of real
people, some of whom were elderly females, without their permission to purchase a car, lease
cellular telephones (which she sold for cash), and activate utility services, causing losses over
$325,000. In sentencing Buckley, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle acknowledged the
emotional harm aggravated identity theft victims experience, stating that many people “don’t
consider how serious it is.”United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft praised the investigative work of the United States
Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Illinois State Police, the
Germantown Police Department, the Richmond Heights Police Department, the Fairview Heights Police
Department, and the Cahokia Police Department for their work in this investigation.U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft also acknowledged that in 2018, 14.4 million Americans became identity
theft victims. 1 This averages out to about 1 out of every 15 Americans or a new victimization
every two seconds.2 “If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, I encourage you to
contact your local police department and submit a report,” Weinhoeft said.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 See https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-identity-theft-and-cybercrime.
2 See https://clark.com/technology/theres-a-new-victim-of-identity-theft-every-two-seconds-heres-the-best-way-to- protect-yourself-online/.Department of Justice is Combatting COVID-19 Fraud but Reminds the Public to Remain VigilantRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is reminding members of the public to be vigilant against fraudsters who are using the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit American consumers and organizations and to cheat disaster relief programs. In particular, the department is warning the public about scams perpetrated through websites, social media, emails, robocalls, and other means that peddle fake COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments, and protective equipment, and also about criminals that fabricate businesses and steal identities in order to defraud federal relief programs and state unemployment programs.
“A pandemic is a time when people should come together to pursue the common good, but sadly there are some who instead use it as an opportunity to deceive and thieve,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “From the outset, the Justice Department has acted quickly to detect, investigate, and prosecute wrongdoing relating to this crisis. Pursuing these criminals and deterring would-be bad actors will remain a priority for the foreseeable future.”
At the direction of Attorney General William Barr on March 16, 2020, the Department of Justice mobilized to safeguard Americans from coronavirus-related fraud and other illegal activity. On March 18, Deputy Attorney General Rosen instructed the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) to take coronavirus-related complaints from the public and facilitate information sharing among law enforcement partners and regulators, like the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Drug Administration. The Deputy Attorney General also tasked U.S. Attorneys to appoint Coronavirus Fraud Coordinators in each judicial district, and many U.S. Attorneys also established state-wide and regional task forces to improve federal, state, and local law enforcement coordination. On March 24, following the President’s invocation of his authorities under the Defense Production Act, the Attorney General formed the DOJ Hoarding & Price Gouging Task Force, which is a nationwide effort to deter, detect, and prosecute hoarding and profiteering in the sale of health and medical resources essential to combatting the spread of COVID-19. Memoranda from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General prescribing these measures may be found at www.usdoj.gov/coronavirus/DOJresponse.
To date, the NCDF has received more than 76,000 tips concerning COVID-19-related wrongdoing. Similarly, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has also received more than 20,000 tips regarding suspicious websites and media postings. These tips, as well as reports made directly to the offices of U.S. Attorneys, FBI field offices, and other law enforcement agencies, have led to federal law enforcement opening hundreds of investigations.
The department charged its first COVID-19-related fraud case on March 25, and since then, the department has filed criminal charges in 33 cases across the country involving scam vaccines, treatments, or testing or price gouging in the sale of scarce medical supplies. Additionally, the department has initiated civil actions in 11 cases to enjoin fraudulent coronavirus schemes targeting consumers, including cases against defendants marketing ozone gas, silver-ion solution, and bleach-based solution as treatments.
The department has also focused on prosecuting bad actors who have exploited federal relief programs enacted on March 27 under the CARES Act that are intended to assist hard-hit Americans and businesses. In particular, the department has charged 65 defendants in 50 separate cases to date that relate to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The total intended loss to the PPP in those cases is more than $227 million. The defendants in these cases include those brazen enough to submit PPP loan applications for fabricated businesses named after “Game of Thrones” characters and to spend PPP loan proceeds on exotic cars, boats, and expensive jewelry.
The department has coordinated closely with the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and various other federal law enforcement agencies to stand up the U.S. Department of Justice National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force.
(See https://www.justice.gov/file/1319301/download.) This task force is charged with investigating numerous fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance programs of state workforce agencies, which have been distributing additional Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds provided for under the CARES Act. To date, the department has charged fraud or money laundering in 12 cases relating to unemployment insurance, and has also been supporting DOL-OIG’s efforts to mitigate the threats that transnational criminal organizations and other identity thieves continue to pose to the important benefits programs on which unemployed Americans rely. The department’s leadership has been crucial in organizing and focusing the whole of federal law enforcement on this important issue, including by leveraging the capabilities and resources of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center and by hiring additional prosecutors to investigate and charge these schemes.
Moving forward, the department also is concerned about, and will aim to deter and prevent, attempts by wrongdoers to prey upon potential victims by leveraging news about anticipated approval of a COVID-19 vaccine or about the potential enactment of new disaster relief bills that extend or expand upon CARES Act relief.
The department encourages the public to continue to report wrongdoing relating to the pandemic to the NCDF and to remain vigilant against bad actors looking to exploit this national emergency. To report a scam relating to COVID-19, or if you have information on hoarding or price gouging of critical supplies necessary to respond to the spread of COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home by calling the NCDF Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form, available at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Southern District of Illinois U.S.Attorney Announces Point of Contact for Election Fraud ComplaintsRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today that Assistant
United States Attorney (AUSA) Norman R. Smith will lead the efforts of his Office in connection
with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020
general election. AUSA Smith has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for
the Southern District of Illinois, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the
District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with
Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or
discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The
Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election
process.”The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at
the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s
long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence
in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department
for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are
open through Election Day.Federal law protects against crimes such as 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 acts that intimidate or harass them. For
example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by
questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that
these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights laws. Further,
federal law 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 illiteracy).The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that tho e
who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt itare brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights
concerns during the voting period that ends on Nov. 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are
directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Weinhoeft stated that AUSA/DEO
Norman
R. Smith will be on duty in this district while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public
at the following telephone number: (618) 628-3700.In addition, the FBI 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 (618) 397-4401.Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the
Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at
https://civilrights.justice.gov/.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.U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the
cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information
about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office,
the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.DOJ Charges More Than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
Charging Numbers Hit Five-Year High in the Southern District of Illinois,
Fairview Heights, Ill. – This week, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than
14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges
of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. In the Southern District of Illinois,
93 people were charged with gun crimes – an increase of over 34 percent from last year and the
district’s highest annual total over the past five years.Firearms cases have been a Department priority since November 2019, when Attorney General William
P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a
critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. The significant number of charges
announced this week are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United
States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr.
“By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having
them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious
crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to
investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms.
Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000
individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement
professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our
state and local law enforcement partners.”“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,”
commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and
investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are
prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S.
Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these
offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”According to statistics collected by the Justice Department, the Southern District of Illinois
charged more gun-related crimes in FY2020 than it had in any of the previous five years. Out of 108
matters opened during the year, charges were filed against 93 defendants, representing 86 separate
cases. Of those 93 defendants, 40 were charged with using a firearm in connection with a crime of
violence or a drug trafficking offense. These cases involve defendants who have used and sometimes
discharged a firearm during the commission of a robbery or a carjacking or used the firearm to
further their drug distribution. A conviction for brandishing or discharging the firearm in these
cases carries some of the most serious penalties under federal law, including a mandatory minimum
term of 7 or 10 years and up to life imprisonment. A defendant who commits a series of these
firearm offenses, such as a string of armed robberies or carjackings, will be sentenced to
mandatory consecutive terms of imprisonment for each offense.“Every day, we are working with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime in the Metro
East and throughout Southern Illinois,” U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft said. “When a gun is involved, we
can often leverage federal firearms laws to prosecute and detain some of the most dangerous
criminals in this district. Many of these prosecutions are the direct result of outstanding work by
the Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, and I especially want to thank the United States Marshals
Service for their tremendous leadership and support in tracking down and apprehending these
offenders.”Led by the United States Marshals Service for the Southern District of Illinois, the Great Lakes
Fugitive Task Force includes members from ATF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Illinois
Department of Corrections (IDOC), Illinois State Police (ISP), St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office,
Belleville Police Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and East St. Louis Police
Department. In FY20, the Task Force continued to concentrate its efforts on the most dangerous
criminals in the Southern District of Illinois, arresting 60% of the district’s priority violent
offenders and seizing a record high 272 firearms and over 100,000 rounds of ammunition.“It has been my great privilege to assist in assembling one of the finest fugitive task forces in
the United States,” said U.S. Marshal Brad Maxwell. “The commitment by our partner agencies has
shown their dedication to doing everything possible for the people of Southern Illinois. Each of
our partner agencies truly has dedicated some of their finest officers, agents and deputies to
ensure success.”Twenty-three men arrested by the Task Force are currently under indictment in the Southern District
of Illinois awaiting trial on felon-in-possession charges. Under federal law, it is illegal to
possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories, including being a felon, an
illegal alien, or an unlawful user of a controlled substance. It is also unlawful to possess a
firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime, or to purchase firearms for
a prohibited person. Lying on ATF Form 4473 (used to lawfully purchase a firearm) is also a
federal offense.Southern Illinois Joins Justice Dept. Push to Charge Domestic Violence-Related Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Department of
Justice recently announced that it has charged more than 500 domestic violence cases involving
firearms during fiscal year (FY) 2020. These charges are the result of the critical law enforcement
partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made domestic violence
firearms-related investigations a priority. Several of the cases cited were brought in the Southern
District of Illinois.“Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminal offenders is one of the Department of
Justice’s top priorities,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This is especially important
when it comes to individuals with prior domestic violence convictions. The statistics are clear
that when domestic violence offenders have access to guns, their partners and their families are at
much greater risk of falling victim to gun violence. In fact, in some communities across America,
roughly half of the homicides are related to domestic violence. The Department of Justice is
committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we
will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms related crimes.”“According to the CDC, data suggests that about one in six homicide victims are killed by an
intimate partner,” said ATF Acting Director Lombardo. “Nearly half of female homicide victims in
the U.S. are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. ATF is committed to aggressively
pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and certain
protective orders. It is another way we prevent violent gun crime within our communities.”Included in the national numbers were several cases prosecuted in the Southern District of Illinois
where the offenders possessed a gun after sustaining at least one domestic violence conviction.
Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well
as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing
firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a higher risk of
homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to
kill their partners.“Domestic violence destroys households and damages children,” U.S. Attorney Steven D.
Weinhoeft said. “Most domestic violence cases must be handled on the state level, but in somesituations, the federal firearms laws allow us to step in and end the cycle of violence through
federal criminal prosecution. And so we work closely with our state and local partners to identify
and prioritize these important cases.”Weinhoeft emphasized, “Domestic abusers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,
especially when they illegally possess firearms.”For FY2020, prosecutors in the Southern District of Illinois charged 12 defendants with gun crimes
involving a direct nexus to domestic violence. In some of those cases, the offender was charged for
possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence crime. In
others, the offender was charged in federal court as a felon in possession of firearm because the
offender had a history of domestic violence.The U.S. Attorney’s Office also prosecutes violent crime cases where guns were used during a
domestic assault. Last week, for instance, Johnnie Taylor, 40, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was
sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm while
assaulting his girlfriend on the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. In that case, police
responded to 911 calls in the early hours of March 28, 2019. Callers saw a woman being beaten and
feared that she would be thrown off the bridge. Police arrived and noticed the victim was missing
clumps of her hair and appeared to be in distress. A 9mm handgun was recovered next to Taylor in
the driver’s side door, along with a spent shell casing found on the floorboard. Taylor was charged
and eventually pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.For more information on domestic violence or to get help, visit the National Domestic
Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement, Sex with Illinois MinorRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Joseph L. Hughes, a/k/a “Joe King,” 28, of St. Louis, Missouri, has pleaded
guilty to enticement of a minor and two counts of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct
with a 14 year-old girl in St. Clair County, Illinois. The offenses were committed between Nov. 21,
2018, and Dec. 8, 2018.In pleading guilty, Hughes admitted using the name “Joe King” on Facebook Messenger to text with
the girl and arrange visits to her home in Belleville, Illinois, to have sex. Hughes traveled from
Missouri to the girl’s home on two occasions – Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, 2018. Both times, Hughes engaged
in illicit sexual conduct with the girl. He also admitted that the victim told him her age right
away and that he knew that what he did was against the law.Hughes’ sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. He faces 10 years to life in
prison on count one (enticement of a minor) and up to 30 years in prison on counts two and three
(travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct). All three counts also carry a fine of up
to $250,000 and a possible lifetime term of supervised release.The case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s
Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States
Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.Highland Woman who Faked Breast Cancer and Genetic Disorders Pleads Guilty to Five Federal FeloniesRead the Press Release
A woman who falsely claimed she had breast cancer and genetic disorders to defraud nonprofits has
pleaded guilty. Sarah A. Delashmit, 35, of Highland, Illinois, appeared in federal district court
this morning and admitted her guilt on four counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.According to court documents, Delashmit falsely claimed she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy
and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to attend Camp Summit, a nonprofit camp in Texas that serves
individuals with disabilities. In October 2015 and March 2016, based on her misrepresentations,
Camp Summit awarded Delashmit a spot as a camper and over $2,500 in financial aid. While at the
camp, Delashmit confined herself to a wheelchair and pretended to need assistance with most daily
activities, such as getting dressed and bathing, despite being fully able to walk and care for
herself. Delashmit admitted in court that her fraud prevented deserving people with real
disabilities from attending the camp and receiving financial assistance.As part of her guilty plea, Delashmit also admitted falsely posing as a breast cancer survivor to
defraud the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a New York-based nonprofit organization serving young
adults diagnosed with cancer. In 2017 and 2018, based on her misrepresentations, Delashmit received
over $1,000 in financial benefits and donated items, diverting YSC’s limited resources away from
real cancer survivors. In addition, Delashmit admitted making false statements to a credit card
company and an internet retailer to fraudulently obtain a $4,500 triathlon bicycle.Sentencing will be held on Jan. 19, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis,
Illinois. Delashmit faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the five
fraud charges.The investigation was conducted by the Highland Police Department, the FBI, and the United States
Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Fairview Heights Man Charged with Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
Michael M. Rapa, 67, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was arraigned yesterday in federal court on a
three-count indictment charging him with possessing prepubescent child pornography (two counts) and
possessing child pornography. According to the indictment, on Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, 2017, Rapa
knowingly possessed computers that contained prepubescent child pornography. The indictment further
alleges that, on Dec. 12, 2017, Rapa knowingly possessed a hard drive that contained child
pornography. Rapa has pleaded not guilty to the charges.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.If convicted of possessing prepubescent child pornography, Rapa faces a penalty of not more than 20
years imprisonment. For possession of child pornography, Rapa could receive as much as 10 years in
prison. All three counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000 and supervised release from five years to
life. Trial is presently scheduled for Dec. 17, 2020, in Benton, Illinois.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation
and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on
the tab “resources.”The case was investigated by the Fairview Heights Police Department and the Department of Homeland
Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Disability Fraud after Failing to Disclose Side JobRead the Press Release
Heath D. Shelton of Smithton, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to a single-count information charging
him with making a false statement to obtain federal disability compensation under the Federal
Employees’ Compensation Act.According to court documents, Shelton, 36, started receiving federal disability payments in 2012
after injuring his back as a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service. In late 2019, he
began working on a part-time basis at Complete Family Chiropractic & Wellness, his fiancé’s clinic
located in Freeburg, Illinois. Shelton’s disability forms required him to disclose this side job so
that his earning potential and overall compensation could be adjusted. But, in an effort to avoid a
reduction of his benefits, Shelton failed to disclose his work at the clinic and falsely reported
that he had not worked or had any involvement in any business enterprise during the relevant time
period. As a result of his plea, Shelton will lose all disability benefits going forward.Special Agent-in-Charge Andre Martin, Great Lakes Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of
Inspector General said, “The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.3 billion in workers’ compensation costs
in fiscal year 2020. The majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have
legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries and are truly unable to perform any postal jobs.
However, a small percent abuse the system and cost the Postal Service millions of dollars in
fraudulent claims and enforcement costs. This guilty plea sends a clear message that workers’
compensation fraud is a federal crime, which carries serious consequences. The USPS OIG and the
U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the workers’ compensation
program and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”Sentencing will be held at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, on a date to be
determined. In addition to losing his disability benefits, Shelton could also receive up to a year
in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Service – Office of
Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Former Assistant Director of Massac County EMA Charged with Mail and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – The former assistant director of the Massac County Emergency Management Agency is
facing federal fraud charges today after an East St. Louis grand jury returned an eight-count
indictment against him. Christopher Thompson, 29, of Kevil, Kentucky, is accused of devising and
participating in a scheme to defraud Massac County, Illinois, and private businesses to obtain
money, credit, and property.According to the indictment, Thompson operated his fraudulent scheme from November 2018 to
September 2019, in Massac County and elsewhere. Thompson is alleged to have obtained over $49,000
in money and property for himself using Massac County EMA’s existing accounts and by creating new
accounts in its name. He allegedly used these accounts to charge personal expenses and kept the new
accounts hidden from everyone else in Massac County government.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a
jury.Thompson is charged with one count of wire fraud and seven counts of mail fraud. Each count carries
a maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Thompson is currently out
on bond pending his jury trial, which is set for Nov. 30, 2020, in Benton, Illinois.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI.U.S Attorney Welcomes New District Court JudgesRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. - U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft today praised the Senate confirmation of
Judges David W. Dugan and Stephen P. McGlynn and publicly welcomed them to their new positions on
the federal bench in southern Illinois. Dugan and McGlynn were both confirmed to lifetime
appointments on September 16 and officially sworn in late last week. Their selection fills a pair
of vacancies on the court after the 2019 retirements of District Judges Michael
J. Reagan and David R. Herndon.“On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it is my honor to extend a warm welcome to Judge McGlynn
and Judge Dugan as they begin their federal judicial careers here in the Southern District of
Illinois,” Weinhoeft said. “They are joining a court with a long tradition of well- respected,
dedicated, and fair-minded jurists, including their predecessors Judge Michael Reagan and Judge
David Herndon. And we have no doubt that the court’s newest members will help carry that tradition
forward for many more years to come.”Weinhoeft continued, “Judge McGlynn and Judge Dugan are also joining a court that will be very glad
to receive them. For the past 18 months, despite their already demanding caseloads, the two veteran
district judges and one senior district judge have had to absorb a significant amount of extra
work, all while navigating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and a global pandemic.
And so we also extend our gratitude and recognition to the entire courthouse family for weathering
that storm and continuing to dispense justice while these two positions were vacant.”Weinhoeft also thanked the democratic senatorial delegation and the republican congressional
delegation for working together, and with the White House, to bring a full complement of judges
back to the Southern District of Illinois. “At a time when political fights dominate the headlines,
it is good to see government function effectively by adding two well- qualified and experienced
judges, to bring our court back to full strength. That is certainly
something to celebrate.”Former Madison County Postal Employee Charged with Stealing MailRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an indictment charging Tia
M. Taylor, 27, of Alton, Illinois, with one count of theft of mail by a postal service employee.
The indictment charges that in July 2020, Taylor stole four packages addressed to Godfrey residents
from the Godfrey post office, where she worked as a clerk.The arraignment for Taylor will be held on Oct. 8, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in
East St. Louis, Illinois.Taylor is the second postal employee charged this month with stealing mail in the Southern District
of Illinois. Athens A. Shorey, 33, of Cobden, Illinois, was indicted earlier this month with taking
mail from the Carbondale post office back in May.An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.The charge against Taylor resulted from a referral and investigation by the United States Postal
Service, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Peter T. Reed.Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen Writes Op-ed about Qualified ImmunityRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen
New York Post
George Floyd’s death prompted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to consider ways to reform policing. Some of their suggestions hold promise. But other radical ideas are wide of the mark and, if enacted, would pose a serious threat to public safety. Eliminating qualified immunity falls squarely in that category.
Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that prevents law-enforcement officers and other officials from being personally subjected to civil lawsuits when they have acted lawfully and haven’t violated clearly established rights. The US Supreme Court has repeatedly observed that qualified immunity from civil suits is critical to preserving safety and ensuring a robust police force.
Qualified immunity is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for abusive policing. Criminal charges already can be — and are — brought against cops who break the law. The Department of Justice vigorously investigates and prosecutes allegations against officers, including excessive-force cases.
Since 2009, the DOJ has charged more than 700 law-enforcement officials for willfully violating civil rights or for breaking related laws. Officers know that, with or without qualified immunity in civil cases, they can be criminally charged, lose their jobs and go to prison if they break the law.
With all this in place, it’s hard to see what good would come from ending qualified immunity in civil lawsuits.
The more likely result will be less safe communities. Officers are constantly put in dangerous situations, where they must make split-second decisions to protect innocent lives. The International Association of Chiefs of Police has warned that ending qualified immunity “would have a profoundly chilling effect on police officers and limit their ability and willingness to respond to critical incidents without hesitation.”
The growing risk to officers’ own lives heightens the risk. Assaults against police jumped 20 percent from 2014 to 2017, to about 60,000 a year.
Police officers must be able to respond decisively and responsibly. When a bad guy is threatening to slash innocents on a sidewalk with a knife, officers don’t have time to analyze legal memos.
Ending qualified immunity would also impose heavy financial burdens on courts and taxpayers, as lawsuits against police, prosecutors, judges, guards and wardens are already common.
Prison inmates account for nearly 20 percent of all civil cases launched in federal courts, according to government stats, totaling more than 50,000 a year. About 45,000 cases a year raise claims seeking monetary damages against law enforcers. That number would spike without qualified immunity. State and local governments would bear much of the financial burden of these new cases. Trial lawyers would rub their hands; the public wouldn’t benefit.
About 85 percent of law enforcers are state and local. A recent study of 44 of the largest US law-enforcement agencies found that even with qualified immunity, state and local governments pay 99.98 percent of the settlements and judgments that plaintiffs recover in lawsuits where qualified immunity potentially might apply.
In 2018 alone, the four largest city police departments in the United States — those in New York, LA, Chicago and Philadelphia — paid $397.7 million in settlements and judgments, despite the benefit of qualified immunity. If they have their way, anti-qualified-immunity activists would have those already-huge costs skyrocket.
Unscrupulous lawyers would file still more lawsuits, even if their claims are frivolous. Although each party generally pays its own attorneys’ fees, one of the limited exceptions applies to certain lawsuits against state and local law enforcement. The potential to receive attorneys’ fees would provide an added incentive for opportunistic or media-savvy lawyers and plaintiffs to bring actions against cops, seeking settlements even where no misconduct had occurred.
Eliminating qualified immunity is plainly the wrong way to implement police reform. Every day, we ask our law-enforcement officers to put themselves in harm’s way to protect our streets.
Officers should be — and are — held accountable when they violate the law. They shouldn’t also have to worry about being personally sued for doing their jobs, when they follow the law. Congress, the states and our courts need to preserve qualified immunity: to protect public safety and to save money for real and urgent needs.
https://nypost.com/2020/09/24/sorry-this-criminal-justice-reform-would-be-disaster-for-policing
St Louis Man Who Stole over $100,000 from Catholic School in Smithton Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A former Illinois elementary school principal who embezzled over $100,000 from his own school has
been convicted of a federal felony. Roy Joseph Monti, 54, of St. Louis, Missouri, entered a guilty
plea this morning to a single count of transporting stolen money across state lines.According to court documents, Monti previously worked as the principal of St. John the Baptist
Elementary School in Smithton, Illinois. In a stipulation filed with the court, Monti admitted
stealing $113,061.87 from the school between March 2017 and November 2019. During that time, Monti
repeatedly withdrew cash from the school’s bank account for his own personal use. On many of the
withdrawal slips, Monti wrote a purportedly valid purpose for the withdrawal, but these
explanations turned out to be false and fraudulent. Instead, Monti simply kept the money for
himself. Because he lived in Missouri while working in Illinois, Monti often carried large amounts
of stolen cash across state lines.Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis,
Illinois. Monti’s sentence will be informed by the federal sentencing guidelines and federal law.
He could receive as much as ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.This case resulted from a referral and investigation by the FBI, with significant assistance from
the Smithton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Peter T. Reed.East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Al Stewart, Jr., 21, from East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced today to 51 months in federal
prison for unlawful possession of a firearm while being a user of a controlled substance. Stewart
pled guilty to the charges in June and has been in federal custody since his arrest last August. He
will serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.Documents filed in the case establish that on Aug. 23, 2019, Stewart was living on the left side of
a duplex in East St. Louis, next door to Christopher R. Grant, when shots were fired through the
door of the right side of duplex, killing Illinois State Police Trooper Nicholas Hopkins. Hopkins
was on the front porch preparing to execute a state search warrant for evidence of drug
distribution and weapons possession at the house.During a subsequent search of both sides of the duplex, Illinois State Police crime scene
investigators recovered a total of nine firearms and several magazines of ammunition. On the left
side of the duplex where Stewart was living, investigators found a Glock .40 caliber handgun in a
kitchen cabinet. The gun was fully loaded with an extended magazine. In a post-arrest interview,
Stewart said that he had been sleeping in the left-side bedroom when he heard loud noises outside.
He admitted that he grabbed the gun and went to the front window but told investigators that he put
the gun back when he heard the officers announce “Illinois State Police.” Stewart also admitted
that he was a regular user of cannabis.Christopher R. Grant was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2020 in which it is alleged,
among other offenses, that Grant used a firearm to commit murder in relation to a drug trafficking
crime, causing the death of Trooper Nicholas Hopkins. Grant’s case is still pending, and he is
presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Carbondale Post Office Emplyee Indicted for Embezzling MailRead the Press Release
On Tuesday of this week, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an
indictment charging Athens A. Shorey (also known as “Athens A. DeMartini”), 33, of Cobden,
Illinois, with embezzling mail.Shorey worked as a letter carrier for the Carbondale Post Office. The indictment charges that on
May 23, 2020, and again on May 27, 2020, Shorey embezzled mail that had been entrusted to her for
delivery. According to the indictment, Shorey embezzled ten pieces of mail on May 23, 2020, and
three additional pieces of mail on May 27. The indictment charges that two of the three pieces of
mail embezzled on May 27 were sent by banks.After the alleged embezzlements were discovered, Shorey voluntarily resigned from her position with
the Postal Service.The indictment contains two counts of embezzlement of mail by a Postal Service employee.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.The arraignment for Shorey will be conducted on Sept. 28, 2020, at 10:45 a.m. at the federal
courthouse in Benton, Illinois.An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of a charges until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.The investigation was conducted by agents from the United States Postal Service – Office of the
Inspector General, and officers of the Carbondale, Illinois, Police Department. The case is
being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.St. Clair County Fraud Ring Charged with Using Stolen Identities in Cell Phone ScamRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Illinois – Four St. Clair County residents are facing federal fraud charges today
after an East St. Louis grand jury returned a five-count indictment against them. Michael
Henderson, 36, of Fairview Heights, Kyetia Hines, 37, of Belleville, Antoinette Z. Davis, 23, of
Cahokia, and Jasmine Davison, 27, of Cahokia, are accused of devising and participating in a scheme
to defraud Sprint stores in the Metro East using stolen identities.According to the indictment, the four defendants operated their scheme from October 2015 to May
2018, in St. Clair and Madison Counties and elsewhere. They allegedly set up new accounts for
cellular service using the names and social security numbers of other people and then used those
accounts to acquire new cellphones under contract. Instead of using the phones, however, the
defendants allegedly sold them to other cellular retail stores for cash.The indictment alleges that Henderson worked at a Sprint store in Belleville during the conspiracy
and used his position to help facilitate the fraud. Defendants Hines, Davis, and Davison would
allegedly acquire up to four phones at a time and immediately cancel the accounts after the phones
were acquired. The alleged ringleader of the scheme – Tamecia Buckley, 37, of Cahokia – is also
named in the indictment but was charged separately back in July.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a
jury.Buckley has already pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft, among
other charges. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20. Henderson and Davis appeared in federal
district court yesterday for their initial appearances and pleaded not guilty. Their trial has been
scheduled for Nov. 3. Hines is set to make her initial appearance on Sept. 10. Davison has not yet
been arrested.Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The
conspiracy charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory sentence of two years,
which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed.The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service
and the Cahokia Police Department.
Madison County Nurse Pactitioner Pleads Guilty to Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
Jami L. Mayhew of Glen Carbon, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to a single-count felony information
charging her with healthcare fraud. Facts elicited at the plea hearing established that, from May
30 to June 26, 2017, the 41-year old nurse practitioner knowingly participated in a scheme to
defraud Medicare by performing medically unnecessary visits in nursing homes located in St. Clair
and Madison counties.Mayhew carried out the fraudulent scheme by seeing nursing home residents multiple times, examining
them for only a few minutes at a time, generating progress notes she knew contained
misrepresentations and materially false statements about the services she had performed, and
falsely reporting that her visits met the billing requirements for complex subsequent nursing home
encounters, when in fact they had not.As part of her guilty plea, Mayhew admitted that she knowingly caused 251 false claims to be
submitted to Medicare during the charged timeframe. Medicare paid her employer, General Medicine,
P.C., over $23,000 for those visits. Mayhew, herself, received $27 from the company for each of the
false claims she caused to be submitted, for a total of $6,777.Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2020. Healthcare fraud is a felony punishable by up to 10
years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Members of the public who believe they may have information
related to this or any similar schemes involving healthcare fraud in nursing homes are encouraged
to contact law enforcement by calling the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1- 800-447-8477) or
by going online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.The investigation of this case was a collaborative effort conducted by the Department of Health and
Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control
Bureau, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor
– Employee Benefits and Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United
States Postal Inspection Service, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump.Centralia Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Trafficking Heroin and Meth, Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
David Herron, 49, of Centralia, Illinois, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for
trafficking heroin and methamphetamine and a concurrent 10-year prison term for unlawful gun
possession. Herron entered a guilty plea last September to a three-count indictment charging him
with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charged conspiracy
took place from March 12, 2018, to April 24, 2019, in Centralia.In handing down the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel observed
that a majority of the court’s criminal docket now comes from Centralia.The case arose after an FBI task force investigated Herron’s narcotics trafficking activities for
several months in early 2019. During that time, Herron was on bond for two separate drug- related
cases in Marion County. Herron sold methamphetamine and heroin from a Centralia residence on North
Elm and from a mobile home on North Sycamore. On April 24, 2019, task force members arrested Herron
as he left his home on Hardin Street and found him in possession of methamphetamine and heroin
packaged for sale. A search of his home revealed over 200 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine and a
loaded gun. Herron has a prior felony conviction that prohibits him from knowingly possessing a
firearm or ammunition.Herron has been in custody since his arrest. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a
five-year term of supervised release and pay a $600 fine. Several of Herron’s alleged co-
conspirators were charged in a separate case. Danny Lee DeShane, 45, was sentenced in June to 54
months imprisonment. Earlier this month, Curtis Phelps, 38, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
for his role in the conspiracy. A third man, Cloyd “Rick” Culver, 69, has pleaded not guilty but is
scheduled for a change of plea hearing tomorrow.The FBI’s task force continues its investigation into drug trafficking and related activities in
the Marion-Clinton-Washington County areas. Law enforcement agencies participating in the task
force include the Centralia Police Department, the Carlyle Police Department, and the Marion,
Clinton, and Washington County Sheriffs’ Offices.
O'Fallon, IL Bookkeeper Indicted for Defrauding Client Out of More Than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a ten-count indictment
charging Kathleen M. Dvorak, 60, of O’Fallon, Illinois, with conducting a large, multi-year fraud
scheme. The indictment alleges that from 2012 through 2019, while working as a private bookkeeper,
Dvorak embezzled more than $1 million from her client-victim in two primary ways:
(1) by writing large checks, payable to herself, that were drawn on the victim’s bank account; and
(2) by taking large amounts of cash back for herself when she deposited checks payable to the
victim into his bank accounts. According to the indictment, Dvorak concealed her fraud from the
victim by making false entries into his QuickBooks accounting program.The indictment charges Dvorak with five counts of wire fraud and five counts of bank fraud. Each
wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to
$250,000. The bank fraud charges each carry a maximum prison sentence of 30 years in prison and a
fine of up to $1 million. The indictment also requests that a forfeiture judgment be entered
against Dvorak in the amount of $1,523,719.08.The arraignment for Dvorak will be conducted on September 10, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at the federal
courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of a charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.The investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI Springfield Division, Fairview Heights
Resident Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott
A. Verseman.Metro East Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
A St. Louis-area dentist has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Illinois Medicaid out of
hundreds of thousands of dollars over a period of several years. Dr. Yun Sup Kim, 49, of St. Louis,
appeared this morning via videoconference at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois, and was
sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison. Kim pled guilty to three counts of health
care fraud back in February.The case against Kim arose from a regulatory audit initiated in 2015 after claims data showed Kim
had performed more cavity fillings and surgical tooth extractions than nearly any other dentist in
Illinois. Investigators discovered that from August 2014 through December 2017, Kim had repeatedly
submitted false bills for cavity fillings and surgical tooth extractions. Court records list over
1,300 patients for whom Kim falsely claimed to have performed eight or more cavity fillings in a
single day. Kim conceded in court that he did not actually numb, drill, and fill cavities in those
teeth. Kim further admitted billing simple extractions to Medicaid as if they had been surgical
extractions, which are more expensive, and confessed that he had falsified dates of service on
numerous occasions to evade Medicaid billing rules for dental sealants.In April, as part of his plea agreement with the United States, Kim agreed to the entry of a
consent decree revoking his license to practice dentistry in Illinois. Kim’s sentence also includes
restitution to Illinois Medicaid and Medicaid managed care organizations in the amount
of
$671,845.20, which Kim has already paid in full. United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle found
these factors mitigating but also emphasized the need for a period of incarceration to deter other
health care practitioners from committing the same offense. Judge Yandle observed that many of
Kim’s Medicaid-eligible patients were physically harmed by his failure to provide them proper
dental care and that Kim had not demonstrated any remorse for his conduct.Kim was ordered to self-surrender for his prison term on Nov. 13, 2020. A one-year term of
supervised release was also imposed.The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump prosecuted the case.Alton Woman Sentenced for Cashing Dead Mother's Social Security ChecksRead the Press Release
This morning, in federal court in East St. Louis, Mia Lynn Cousett, 33, of Alton, Illinois, was
sentenced to three years of probation for her conviction on twelve felony counts of theft of
government funds. The funds stolen were social security checks payable to Cousett’s mother, who
died in April 2017.When she pled guilty to these offenses on Feb. 7, 2020, Cousett admitted that for twelve months
after her mother passed away, she continued to cash her mother’s social security checks and then
used those funds for her own expenses. Cousett forged her dead mother’s signature on the backs of
each of those checks, deposited the checks into her mother’s bank account, and then accessed those
funds using her mother’s debit card. The total of the social security checks stolen by Cousett was
$15,601. Cousett also admitted that she used her dead mother’s driver’s license number to conceal
and perpetuate her thefts.In addition to the three years of probation, the court also ordered Cousett to pay full restitution
of $12,849.06. This figure represents the $15,601 that was stolen, less $2,751.94 that was
recovered prior to the sentencing hearing. Cousett was also ordered to pay $1,200 in special
assessments.At the time of the offenses, Cousett was employed as a letter carrier for the post office in Alton,
Illinois. As part of her plea agreement, Cousett voluntarily resigned from her position at the post
office.The investigation was conducted by agents from the Social Security Administration, Office of the
Inspector General, Chicago Field Division, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Chicago
Division, St. Louis Field Office, and the Alton Police Department. The ca e was
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott A. Verseman and Luke J. Weissler.
Former Financial Consultant Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Douglas J. Kiffmeyer, 45, of Granite City, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to
a 17-count federal indictment that charged wire fraud, failure to file individual and corporate
income tax returns, and money laundering.Kiffmeyer held himself out to the public as a retirement planner, financial consultant, and tax
advisor. He operated businesses under the names of Modern Retirement Professionals and Kiffmeyer
Tax Advisory Group, Inc. He solicited funds from clients for personal investments and made personal
expenditures with investor funds that totaled approximately $1.5 million. Very little of the
investor funds were ever used for their intended purpose, with most of the funds going to pay for
Kiffmeyer’s personal expenses. None of the money received was reported by Kiffmeyer as income to
the corporation or as personal income to the Internal Revenue Service.Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2020. The charges against Kiffmeyer were the result of an
investigation conducted by the Illinois Securities Department and the Internal Revenue
Service Criminal Investigation division.
Internal Revenue Service Wrapped up the ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of Tax Scams for 2020; IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Attorney Office Urge Taxpayers to Watch Out for These Tax ScamsRead the Press Release
The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up its annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of tax scams with a special
emphasis on aggressive and evolving schemes related to coronavirus tax relief, including Economic
Impact Payments. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division and the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois urge taxpayers to be vigilant to these tax
scams.This year, the Dirty Dozen focuses on scams that target taxpayers. The criminals behind these bogus
schemes view everyone as potentially easy prey.“Fraud schemes harm everyone, especially those which defraud the IRS and members of our community,”
said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the
St. Louis Field Office. “As we stand ready to investigate anyone who would put a taxpayer at risk
for a quick profit, we urge everyone to watch out for these tax scams all the time.”Tax scams tend to rise during tax season or during times of crisis. “This years’ list of tax scams
should serve as a stark reminder to everyone to be vigilant to these threats during the current
pandemic and its aftermath,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of
Illinois. “Please safeguard your personal and financial information, and refrain from engaging
potential scammers online or on the phone.”Taxpayers are encouraged to review the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list in a special section on
IRS.gov and be on the lookout for these scams throughout the year.For official information year round, taxpayers can visit IRS.gov
Criminal Investigation and United States Attorney remind taxpayers of the tax filing deadline; urge and to remain vigilant of scamsRead the Press Release
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
Southern District of Illinois remind taxpayers of the July 15 filing and payment deadline and warn
against an increase in tax and COVID-19 scams.Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from
April 15 to July 15. Taxpayers filing Form 1040 series returns must file Form 4868 by July 15 to
obtain the automatic extension to Oct. 15.“Although the extension provides additional time to file the tax return – it is not an extension to
pay any taxes due”, said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal
Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “For people facing hardships who cannot pay
in full, including those affected by COVID-19, the IRS has several options available to help. The
IRS encourages taxpayers to visit IRS.gov as soon as possible to explore these options and avoid
accruing interest and penalties after the July 15 deadline.”As the filing deadline is today, taxpayers should beware of tax and COVID-19 related scams.
“Criminals use the tax filing deadline as an opportunity to steal personal and financial
information”, said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois.
“Taxpayers should remain vigilant and know that the IRS will not initiate contact with them via
phone, email or social media to request personal or financial information.”In the last few months, the IRS Criminal Investigation division (CI) has continued to see
a tremendous increase in a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and otherfinancial schemes. CI continues to work with its law enforcement partners to put a stop
to these schemes and bring criminals to justice.Taxpayers can report COVID-19 scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Taxpayers can also
report fraud or theft of their Economic Impact Payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration (TIGTA). Unsolicited (phishing) e- mails that appear to be from the IRS should be
forwarded to [email protected].For the most up-to-date information bout the tax filing deadline and IRS impersonation
scams, taxpayers can visit IRS.gov.Postal Employee Charged with Stealing MailRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned on indictment charging
Brittany Freeman, 27, of Johnston City, Illinois (Williamson County), with four counts of theft of
mail by a postal service employee.Freeman worked as a mail carrier for the Goreville post office. The indictment charges that she
stole over $500 worth of rebate checks sent by Menards to customers along her mail routes in
February and March, 2020.The arraignment for Freeman will be held on July 27, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in
Benton, Illinois. Each of the four felony counts is punishable by up to five years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.The charges resulted from a referral and investigation by the United States Postal Service, Office
of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Peter T. Reed.Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiban and U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft on the Federal Court's Decision That Legal Challenge to Illinois Governor's Sweeping Covid-19 Orders Belongs in State CourtRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft issued the following statement on yesterday’s ruling, agreeing with the Justice Department, that a legal challenge to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 orders belongs in Illinois state court rather than federal court:
“It is now up to the Illinois courts to decide if Governor Pritzker’s continuing COVID-19 executive orders are lawful. These sweeping proclamations affect more than 12.5 million Americans, restrict their freedom to associate, practice their faith, and engage in commerce. And, these orders appear to reach far beyond the scope of the 30-day emergency authority granted to the governor under Illinois law.
The United States Constitution requires that every state in this nation establish and maintain a Republican Form of Government. This means that governors cannot restrict our freedom by issuing unlawful edicts.
Governors do not rule us. We are self-governing, and governors answer to the people through the democratic process. For that reason, all public officials, including governors, must comply with the law. Even in the face of a pandemic, states must follow their own laws and make these sensitive policy choices in a manner responsive to the people. Doing so, both respects and serves the goals of our broader federal structure.
The Department of Justice remains committed to defending the rule of law and the American people at all times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Background
On May 22, 2020, the Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in an Illinois federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by Illinois state representative Darren Bailey challenging certain actions of Governor J.B. Pritzker in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its statement of interest, the United States explained that this dispute belongs in Illinois state court, and that Representative Bailey has raised substantial questions as to whether the governor’s current response to COVID-19 is lawful.
Yesterday, the Illinois federal court agreed with the Department of Justice that the dispute belongs in state court, ruling that “in the interest of federalism, the court finds that the amended complaint does not give rise to federal jurisdiction and that this action is best committed to the courts of the State of Illinois for further consideration.”
The statement of interest was part of Attorney General William P. Barr’s April 27, 2020 initiative directing Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Matthew Schneider, to review state and local policies to ensure that civil liberties are protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor of Illinois has, for the past several months, sought to rely on authority under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to impose sweeping limitations on nearly all aspects of life for citizens of Illinois. According to the lawsuit, the governor’s actions are not authorized by state law, as they extend beyond the 30-day time period imposed by the Illinois legislature for the governor’s exercise of emergency powers granted under the act.
Representative Bailey brought his case in Illinois state court and elected only to assert state law claims. In May, the presiding state court judge ordered Bailey to file his motion for summary judgment and instructed the governor to respond to it. Instead of responding to Bailey’s motion for summary judgment, on May 21, the governor removed the case to federal district court.
On June 29, the federal district court remanded the case to the circuit court for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Clay Court, Illinois.
The federal case is Bailey v. Pritzker, No. 3:20-cv-474.
The department’s previous statement of interest in this case can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1278636/download
The department’s press release on its previous statement of interest in this case can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-statement-interest-challenging-legality-illinois-governors-sweeping
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
###
Lutheran Pastor Arrested in Godfrey, Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A federal criminal complaint was filed late on Friday, June 19, against a Madison County pastor.
Steven P. Tibbetts, 61, was charged with one count of knowingly distributing child pornography in
December 2019. At the time the complaint was filed, Tibbetts was employed as the head pastor at
Resurrection Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois. His attorney, Bill Lucco, told prosecutors this
afternoon that on account of the charge pending against him, Tibbetts has been “released of all
duties, pastoral or otherwise, at Resurrection Lutheran.”According to the complaint, the investigation of Tibbetts began in August 2019 when the
photo-sharing website, Tumblr, provided a cyber tip line report about one of its user accounts to
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The account was searched by law
enforcement and allegedly found to contain images and videos of nude minors engaging in sexually
explicit conduct. The complaint alleges that NCMEC also received a tip from Twitter in February
2020 that one of its users had uploaded two images of suspected child pornography.Investigators were allegedly able to trace the Tumblr and Twitter accounts back to Tibbetts’ home,
where a federal search warrant was executed on June 18. An initial review of Tibbetts’ computer
allegedly revealed the presence of additional child pornography images and videos, and agents
subsequently arrested Tibbetts at his home without incident.This afternoon, Tibbetts made his initial appearance at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
After holding a preliminary hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty found probable
cause to support the complaint and ordered Tibbetts to be placed on electronic monitoring and
released on a $10,000 unsecured bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.Distributing child pornography over the internet is a federal crime that as a first offense carries
a maximum punishment of 5-20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised
release.A complaint is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006
by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and
Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate,
apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue
victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For
more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the
tab “resources.”The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Significant assistance was provided in the
early stages of the investigation by the Peoria (I linois) Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Hoell is prosecuting the case.Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft on Federal Court’s Decision that Legal Challenge to Illinois Governor’s Sweeping COVID-19 Orders Belongs in State CourtRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft issued the following statement on yesterday’s ruling, agreeing with the Justice Department, that a legal challenge to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 orders belongs in Illinois state court rather than federal court:
“It is now up to the Illinois courts to decide if Governor Pritzker’s continuing COVID-19 executive orders are lawful. These sweeping proclamations affect more than 12.5 million Americans, restrict their freedom to associate, practice their faith, and engage in commerce. And, these orders appear to reach far beyond the scope of the 30-day emergency authority granted to the governor under Illinois law.
The United States Constitution requires that every state in this nation establish and maintain a Republican Form of Government. This means that governors cannot restrict our freedom by issuing unlawful edicts.
Governors do not rule us. We are self-governing, and governors answer to the people through the democratic process. For that reason, all public officials, including governors, must comply with the law. Even in the face of a pandemic, states must follow their own laws and make these sensitive policy choices in a manner responsive to the people. Doing so, both respects and serves the goals of our broader federal structure.
The Department of Justice remains committed to defending the rule of law and the American people at all times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Background
On May 22, 2020, the Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in an Illinois federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by Illinois state representative Darren Bailey challenging certain actions of Governor J.B. Pritzker in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its statement of interest, the United States explained that this dispute belongs in Illinois state court, and that Representative Bailey has raised substantial questions as to whether the governor’s current response to COVID-19 is lawful.
Yesterday, the Illinois federal court agreed with the Department of Justice that the dispute belongs in state court, ruling that “in the interest of federalism, the court finds that the amended complaint does not give rise to federal jurisdiction and that this action is best committed to the courts of the State of Illinois for further consideration.”
The statement of interest was part of Attorney General William P. Barr’s April 27, 2020 initiative directing Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Matthew Schneider, to review state and local policies to ensure that civil liberties are protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor of Illinois has, for the past several months, sought to rely on authority under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to impose sweeping limitations on nearly all aspects of life for citizens of Illinois. According to the lawsuit, the governor’s actions are not authorized by state law, as they extend beyond the 30-day time period imposed by the Illinois legislature for the governor’s exercise of emergency powers granted under the act.
Representative Bailey brought his case in Illinois state court and elected only to assert state law claims. In May, the presiding state court judge ordered Bailey to file his motion for summary judgment and instructed the governor to respond to it. Instead of responding to Bailey’s motion for summary judgment, on May 21, the governor removed the case to federal district court.
On June 29, the federal district court remanded the case to the circuit court for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Clay Court, Illinois.
The federal case is Bailey v. Pritzker, No. 3:20-cv-474.
The department’s previous statement of interest in this case can be found here: /media/1070681/dl?inline.
The department’s press release on its previous statement of interest in this case can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-statement-interest-challenging-legality-illinois-governors-sweeping.
FBI Undercover Operation Leads to Federal Charges for 14 Men Attempting to Meet Minors for SexRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean M.
Cox announced today that 14 men have been federally charged for attempting to engage in sexual
activity with minors. The cases are the result of an FBI led operation involving multiple federal
and state law enforcement agencies that targeted online predators attempting to meet minors for
sex. Over 50 law enforcement agents were involved in the operation.U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft said, “Instead of lurking on playgrounds, modern predators hide
behind electronic devices using social media and texting apps to access young children.” Weinhoeft
continued, “Serious dangers are no further away than a child’s cell phone or tablet, and we
strongly urge parents to monitor their children’s online activity, be aware of who their children
are talking with, and have conversations about how to stay safe online.”SAC Cox echoed those remarks: “Over this past weekend, FBI Agents from Springfield and St. Louis
partnered with law enforcement to conduct an operation to identify child predators. These are some
of the most difficult, and yet the most important, investigations we work with our partners to make
a positive impact in our communities and protect our children. In today’s world, children have a
much larger presence on social media platforms than they had in the past, which places them at far
greater risk of becoming a victim to online sexual predators. These arrests should serve as a
reminder to parents everywhere of the importance of monitoring the computer usage of their children
and staying active in their lives.”During the two-day operation, undercover agents pretended to be minors in a variety of online
texting, social media and message board platforms and apps. All of the defendants contacted these
profiles online, engaged in sexually explicit discussions with the undercover agents and arrived at
a residence with the intent to engage in sexual acts with minors. Some of the defendants also
propositioned the undercover agents to send them pornographic photos, traveled across state lines
for the purpose of illicit sexual activity with a minor, and/or offered to pay money to engage in
sexual activity with a minor. All of the defendants were arrested after arriving at the undercover
residence. Several defendants arrived with items intended for the fictitious minors, including
alcohol, sex toys, lubricant, condoms, methamphetamine, and in one case, a dog leash and a dog
collar with the name of the undercover profile engraved on it. No actual minors were harmed.All of the defendants were charged by criminal complaint between June 28-29, 2020. U.S. Attorney
Weinhoeft said, “Sex trafficking and child exploitation continue to impact our communities, and we
will aggressively enforce the law against those who would prey upon children.”The identities of the 14 men who were charged in the East St. Louis Division of the United States
Name Age City Charges Brett Brimberry 28 Glen Carbon, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Richard L. Britt 38 Granite City, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor; Interstate
District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, as well as their charges, are set out in the
table below:
Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct Urich Gaines 32 Belleville, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Kayln E. Hoggat 27 Bridgeport, ILAttempted Enticement of a Minor; Attempted
Kevin Kamler 30 O'Fallon, MO Attempted Enticement of a Minor Brian Lotz 56 Collinsville, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Anthony Parrish 33 Swansea, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Philip M. Reis 55 O'Fallon, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Gerald S. Sewell 56 Belleville, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor: Interstate
Production of Child Pornography
Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct James R. Sears 35 Bridgeport, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Travis Shubert 29 Granite City, IL Attempted Enticement of a Minor Preston Thomas 57 St. Louis, MO Attempted Enticement of a Minor Nicholas Wright 35 O'Fallon, MO Attempted Enticement of a Minor; Interstate
Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct;
Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child Vallie F. Zeller 43 St. Louis, MO Attempted Enticement of a Minor; Interstate
Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct;
Attempted Production of Child Pornography
Between June 29-July 1, 2020, all 14 defendants will have an initial appearance in front of United
States Magistrate Judges Mark Beatty or Gilbert Sison at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
Each of the offenses is alleged to have occurred in Madison County, Illinois. If convicted, the
defendants each face a minimum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and could receive as much as life
behind bars. The offenses also carry a possible lifetime term of supervised release and fines of up
to $250,000.Pending trial, all 14 defendants will be held without bond or released on electronic
monitoring and other strict conditions mandated by the Adam Walsh Act.A complaint is merely a charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be
innocent of the charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.These cases fall under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation
and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on
the tab “resources.”The investigation was led by the FBI-Springfield Division, with the assistance of the FBI- St.
Louis Division, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Belleville Police Department,
the Collinsville Police Department, the Edwardsville Police Department, the Franklin County
Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Police
Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Swansea Police Department, and the United
States Secret Service. Additional assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service,
the Alton Jail, the Monroe County Jail, and the St. Clair County Jail. The 14 defendants’ cases
will be prosecuted by Assistant Unite States Attorneys Chris Hoell, Ali Burns, Karelia
Rajagopal, and Laura Reppert.Stolen Credit Card Charges Lead to Federal Felony Charges for Centralia ManRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an indictment charging
Danny Vaughn, 62, of Centralia, Illinois, with 15 felony counts, including mail fraud, wire fraud,
and aggravated identity theft.According to the indictment, Vaughn purchased computers, cell phones, and gift cards from local
retailers using credit cards associated with other people’s accounts. The indictment includes 12
wire fraud charges for separate credit card transactions adding up to over $20,000 – all made over
the course of four days in November, 2018, using one victim’s account at Best Buy, Walmart, and
Peoples National Bank. Vaughn allegedly received copies of the victims’ credit cards from
co-conspirators, along with packages containing other fraudulently acquired property. The
indictment alleges that Vaughn shipped the fraudulently acquired items to addresses overseas,
including Malaysia.Vaughn is due in federal court for his initial appearance on July 13 at 10:00 a.m. A trial date has
not been set. Each of the 14 fraud charges is punishable by as much as 20 years in prison. The
aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory sentence of two years imprisonment in addition
to the punishment imposed for any other count.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a
jury.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the
Centralia Police Department.Southern Illinois Man Indicted for Stealing Mail from Okawville and Collinsville ResidentsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an indictment charging Seth
W. Sorensen, 45, with one count of mail theft and four counts of possessing stolen mail.
According to the indictment, Sorensen stole mail out of a residential mailbox on R&R Drive in
Okawville. The indictment also charges Sorensen with possessing stolen mail addressed to a second
Okawville resident and three residents of Collinsville. All of the crimes charged allegedly
occurred in February 2019.Sorensen is currently serving a three year sentence for an unrelated crime. His initial appearance
and trial dates have not been set. Each charge carries up to five years in prison and a maximum
fine of $250,000.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a
jury.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the
Collinsville Police Department, and the Okawville Police Department.Department of Justice Observes 15th Annual Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft today joined Attorney General William P.
Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day. The Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and
exploitation.As the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our country and the world, those
most severely affected by the threat of the novel virus are our senior citizens. During this time,
seniors are particularly vulnerable, isolated from their families and loved ones by social
distancing and quarantine restrictions. Bad actors have already been exploiting this international
tragedy to prey on the elderly through a whole host of scams and fraud schemes. The Department of
Justice remains relentlessly committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to
prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors.“Here in Southern Illinois, the greatest generation needs our help,” said U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft.
“In the sunset of their lives, our parents and grandparents shouldn’t have to live in fear of being
abused or neglected or conned out of their life’s savings. From bad nursing homes and health care
fraud to identity theft and telemarketing scams, we take these crimes very seriously and will
vigorously prosecute anyone who victimizes senior citizens in this district.”Earlier this year Attorney General Barr declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder
Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities. Major
strides have already been made to that end:• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11. Earlier this year Attorney General Barr
launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide
personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who
lieve they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services.• Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud
schemes, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S.
Attorneys’ Offices along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law
enforcement personnel. Since its inception, prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases
against more than 140 sweep defendants.• Annual Elder Justice Sweep. In March of this year, the Attorney General announced the
largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in department history. The Department, together with
every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss
through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors.• Money Mule Initiative. Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners
began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and
prosecute money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior
citizens. In 2019 actions were taken to halt the conduct of more than 600 domestic money mules,
exceeding a similar effort against approximately 400 mules in the previous year. In Southern
Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service are continuing
to actively investigate and disrupt money mule operations through confrontation, education, and
criminal prosecution.• Holding foreign-based perpetrators and those that flee the United States accountable. The U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois has joined the Department in prosecuting
transnational criminal organizations targeting our elder population in a variety of schemes,
including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS
and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and tech support scams. In 2019, for example,
this office prosecuted two of the owners of AFD Medical, a telemarketing scam based in Montreal,
Canada, that targeted senior citizens in the United States by offering prescription drug discount
cards for $299. These cards were available for free on the internet and provided no real benefit to
most seniors. Two others involved in the scheme were also prosecuted in this district, and all four
defendants were sentenced to prison.For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim
rvices, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.