Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former CEO, CFO of South Florida Tech Support Scam Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
There will be no trial for two South Florida men who owned and operated a fraudulent tech support
business known as Client Care Experts, LLC (CCE), U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced
today. Michael Austin Seward, 32, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, and Kevin James McCormick, 46, of
Delray Beach, Florida, have both pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging them with
conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting in the process that their business
– formerly known as “First Choice Tech Support” – was a scam.Seward and McCormick were part owners of CCE, based in Boynton Beach, Florida, and held themselves
out as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer respectively. As part of their
guilty pleas, both men admitted that they also oversaw the operations of another fraudulent tech
support business called ABC Repair Tech (ABC), located in Costa Rica.According to court documents, the defendants purchased pop-up advertisements that would appear
suddenly on a person’s computer screen. The pop-ups were made to look like system warnings and
falsely informed the victims that serious problems, such as viruses or malware, had been detected
on their computers. Often, the pop-ups caused the person’s internet browser to freeze up and stop
responding. The pop-ups also typically warned the victims not to shut down their computers or else
they would lose all their data. Instead, the ads directed them to call a toll-free number, where
they were connected to sales representatives who continued the fraud.The sales representatives would convince the victims to grant them remote access to their
computers, where normal computer functions and routine processes were highlighted as evidence of
serious computer problems. Victims were never told that the pop-ups that had hijacked their
computers were just advertisements purchased by the tech support company, or that in most instances
they could make the pop-ups go away simply by rebooting their computers. Instead, they were sold
remote “tune-ups” for $250 and anti-virus protection software for another $400. If victims balked
at the steep prices, the sales representatives would offer them a discount for being
a senior citizen or a military veteran or something else.
From 2013-2016, the two companies – CCE and ABC – combined to defraud more than 40,000 people.
Victims were located in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, several
U.S. territories, all 10 Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, and several other foreign
countries. At least 57 victims of the scams were residents of the Southern District of Illinois,
representing 22 of the district’s 38 counties, including St. Clair and Madison. All told, the two
companies took in over $25 million.Before Seward and McCormick pleaded guilty, they had been set for trial on Sept. 9. Their case has
been pending since May 2018, when a federal grand jury in East St. Louis returned a superseding
indictment charging them and their former vice president, Grant Clark Wasik, 35, of Boynton Beach,
Florida, with one count of conspiracy and 13 counts of wire fraud. Wasik pleaded guilty to the
conspiracy count earlier this year.The Honorable Joe Billy McDade from the Central District of Illinois was recently appointed to
preside over the case and will handle the defendants’ sentencing hearings from the federal district
courthouse in East St. Louis. Seward and McCormick are set to be sentenced on November 18. Wasik’s
sentencing is scheduled for October 8.The former CEO of ABC, Michael Cary Lawing, is due to be sentenced on October 15 before the
Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel, Chief United States District Judge for the Southern District of
Illinois. Lawing, 34, of Lincolnton, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy
late last year.Since April 2017, 14 other employees of CCE and ABC have also pleaded guilty to federal fraud
violations in the Southern District of Illinois:• Joseph Ralph Aievoli, IV, 26, of Boynton Beach, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Cory Steven Bachman, 26, of Boynton Beach, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Andrew Douglas Broad, 27, of Boynton Beach, FL – Director of Training at CCE
• Ryan Stocker Carr, 24, of Mount Laurel, NJ – Team Leader at CCE
• Joshua Dennis Cortez, 38, of Lake Worth, FL – Director of Training at CCE
• Nicholas James Davidson, 27, of Boynton Beach, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Patrick M. Dougherty, 36, of Boynton Beach, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Tatum Elyse Espenshade, 27, of West Palm Beach, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Eric M. Iannaccone, 33, of Monroe Township, NJ – Sales Manager at CCE
• Anthony Vincent Ludena, 30, of Boca Raton, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Robert Thomas McCart, 33, of Boynton Beach, FL – Team Leader at CCE
• Timothy James Miller, II, 28, of Schwenksville, PA – Salesperson at CCE
• Jonathan Matthew Richardson, 28, of Lake Worth, FL – Salesperson at CCE
• Kyle Evan Swinson, 27, of Boynton Beach, FL – Team Leader at ABC/CCE
Another CCE salesperson, Erica Crowell, 30, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, remains under indictment
and is scheduled for trial on Sept. 9. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is
merely a formal charge against a defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury.
Because the crimes allegedly took place in connection with telemarketing and victimized 10 or more
persons over the age of 55, the maximum punishment in each case is 30 years imprisonment. The
defendants could also be ordered to serve up to five years of supervised release and pay a fine of
up to $250,000. Under federal law, restitution to identified victims is mandatory.Ten of the convicted defendants have been sentenced already:
Date Defendant Prison Sentence Restitution Mar. 8, 2018 Ryan Carr 12 months + 1 day $20,384.36 May 7, 2018 Joshua Cortez 18 months $3,034.00 June 8, 2018 Patrick Dougherty 12 months + 1 day $240,966.94 June 14, 2018 Anthony Ludena 12 months + 1 day $176,692.26 June 29, 2018 Nicholas Davidson 5 years probation $181,808.40 July 26, 2018 Timothy Miller 5 years probation + 200 hours community service $127,042.06 Aug. 3, 2018 Tatum Espenshade 1 day + 18 months home detention $132,683.68 Sept. 11, 2018 Andrew Broad 12 months + 1 day $55,238.28 Sept. 20, 2018 Jonathan Richardson 12 months + 1 day $78,638.99 Oct. 4, 2018 Corey Bachman 1 day $156,806.25
These cases are part of an ongoing investigation by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago
Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The cases are being prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorneys Scott A. Verseman, Ranley R. Killian, and Nathan D. Stump.The Florida Attorney General’s Office raided CCE in June 2016 and has been cooperating with the
federal investigation, in addition to bringing its own civil enforcement action against CCE under
Florida state law.The Federal Trade Commission has been working for some time to shut down illegal tech support
scams. For more information about the FTC’s “2019 Tech Support Takedown,” please visit
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/03/ftcs-tech-support-takedown-2019.Some consumers who were victimized by ABC or CCE / First Choice Tech Support have received
additional fraudulent calls. These calls typically come from companies claiming either
(a) that the technical support the victims purchased has been transferred to them and additional
funds are now needed; or (b) that they can help the victims obtain a refund. Victims should be
advised that no companies have been authorized to provide them with any tech support services on
behalf of ABC or CCE / First Choice Tech Support, or to provide them with a refund for any
previous purchases.
Operation Independence Day Leads to Federal Charges for Eight Men Attempting to Meet Minors for SexRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL. – Eight men were federally indicted today after attempting to have sex with children under the age of 18, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. The cases are part of "Operation Independence Day," a nationwide initiative to combat child sex trafficking.
"Those who exploit children gain access to kids through various means, including social media apps. Cases like these remind us that serious dangers are no further away than a child’s cell phone," U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft said. "The beginning of the new school year is a great opportunity for parents to take a closer look at their children’s internet activities and start a conversation about how to stay safe online."
This year, Operation Independence Day consisted of 161 law enforcement operations executed during the month of July throughout all 56 FBI field offices. In addition to working with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI collaborated on the initiative with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and over 400 federal, state, local, and tribal agencies who participate in the FBI’s child exploitation and human trafficking task forces. More information about Operation Independence Day is available at www.fbi.gov/oid2019.
The Department of Justice announced today that the FBI-led initiative resulted in the recovery or identification of 103 child victims and the arrest of 67 sex traffickers nationwide. In Southern Illinois, Operation Independence Day led to the arrest and indictment of eight men. 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."
Earlier today, the following eight men were indicted in the Benton Division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, each separately charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in illicit sexual acts:
• Lawrence A. Bangs, 39, of Herrin, Illinois
• Jesse A. Cantu, 43, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois
• Jorge L. Leal, 34, of Marion, Illinois
• Bret M. Feldscher, 27, of Herrin, Illinois
• Neal J. Keane, 28, of Tucson, Arizona
• James M. Davis, 63, of St. Louis, Missouri
• Hank D. Yoast, 46, of Herrin, Illinois
• Rick E. Garner, 43, of Sesser, Illinois.
The men were all charged from July 19-21 in connection with an online, undercover investigation. No actual minors were harmed. Each of the offenses is alleged to have occurred in Williamson 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 offense also carries a possible lifetime term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Pending trial, all eight men will be held without bond or released on electronic monitoring and other strict conditions mandated by the Adam Walsh Act.
An indictment 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Herrin Police Department.
Alton Man Sentenced to More Than 33 Years in Federal Prison for Live Streaming the Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Travis J. Varble, 42, has been sentenced to more than 33 years in federal prison and a lifetime
term of supervised release for live streaming the sexual abuse of a child, United States Attorney
Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today.“It is difficult to imagine much that is more reprehensible than molesting a child, but Mr. Varble
found a way to aggravate his deviance by live streaming the abuse over the internet for other
depraved individuals to view. This case highlights the fact that child pornography isn’t a crime
involving anonymous images on the internet. Rather, each image represents a real person, a child,
being overpowered by an adult who knows better. And we will prosecute these cases as aggressively
as the law allows,” said US Attorney Steve Weinhoeft.Varble was caught after law enforcement officials in Auburn, Ala. conducting an unrelated
investigation discovered a recorded video containing child pornography. The perpetrator and child
victim depicted in the video were unidentified, so officers forwarded the evidence to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an effort to identify the victim and/or
assailant depicted in the video.NCMEC is supported by a number of law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), which is the criminal investigative arm of U.S. Immigration & Customs
Enforcement (ICE). ICE, through HSI, operates the National Child Victim Identification System
(NCVIS). The NCVIS uses advanced analytics to identify and rescue child victims as well as identify
and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), investigated the video recovered in Auburn, Ala. and found
evidence suggesting that the sexual abuse may have taken place in Southern Illinois. HSI
investigators in St. Louis were assigned and determined that the perpetrator was Travis Varble, of
Alton, Ill. HSI also discovered a second video of Varble sexually abusing the same child. HSI
learned that Varble live streamed his sexual abuse while the exploitation occurred, and
that others viewing the live stream recorded the abuse and further distributed the recorded videos
on the internet.Evidence at sentencing established that the victim was under the age of 12, and that Varble
had been providing care to the child at the time when the abuse took place.US Attorney Steve Weinhoeft said, “We praise the work done by Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI) and their National Child Victim Identification System (NCVIS) for their efforts on this
particular case, and for their ongoing effort to rescue child victims and identify those who commit
these awful crimes.”During the investigation, agents learned that Varble had been separately prosecuted in Madison
County, Ill., for sexually abusing same victim. Varble was sentenced to a 17-year prison sentence
in Danville Correctional Center for predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 and
aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 in the state court prosecution.Varble was indicted federally in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Illinois on March 21, 2018, for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Counts 1 and 2) and
one count of Distribution of Child Pornography (Count 3). He pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019,
and was sentenced on August 1, 2019, to 398 months in federal prison, which is to be followed by a
lifetime term of supervised release on each count.United States District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle handed down the sentence. The sentence she
imposed was initially calculated at 444 months; however, Judge Yandle gave Varble credit for 46
months that he had already served in state prison for related criminal conduct, thereby resulting
in a 398-month sentence. The federal prison term was ordered to run concurrently with the state
sentence Varble is currently serving.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 Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security
Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Former Director of East St. Louis Library SentencedRead the Press Release
The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced for embezzling
thousands of dollars from the library for years. Marlon P. Bush, 48, of East St. Louis, Illinois,
was ordered to serve 12 months in prison, followed by six months of home detention and two years of
supervised release. From 2014 through 2016, while serving as the library’s director, Bush took
excess salary for himself, stole from the salary of another library employee, and charged numerous
personal purchases to the library’s credit cards. Bush pleaded guilty earlier this year to a
federal indictment charging him with wire fraud and embezzlement from the library, a unit of city
government that receives federal funds.Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, said: “Investigating and
prosecuting public corruption remains among the highest priorities for the Department of Justice.
Citizens need to be able to trust the people who work in all levels of government. Serious harm is
done when public employees abuse that trust and put their own interests above the people they
serve. For that reason, we will continue to vigorously prosecute all forms of public corruption in
this district.”As part of his sentence, Bush was ordered to pay $48,102.86 in restitution to the library.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force which
consists of agents with the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Illinois State Police. The
prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith. Citizens are encouraged to
report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public Corruption
Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.Williamson County Man Charged with Federal Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Adam R. Walker, 34, of Herrin, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with unlawfully possessing
over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Steven
D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred on May 1, 2019, in
Williamson County.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.Earlier today, Walker made his initial appearance in federal district court and pleaded not guilty.
He was ordered held without bond pending a September 16, 2019 jury trial. If convicted of the
offense, Walker faces a maximum possible penalty of 5-40 years imprisonment, 4 years supervised
release, and a $5 million fine.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department.
Williams County Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for Federal Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Timothy S. (“Timmy”) Smith, 41, of Johnston City, Illinois, has been sentenced to a term of 235
months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Steven D.
Weinhoeft announced today. Smith pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment earlier this year.Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that from January to September, 2018,
Smith was involved with numerous others in the distribution of methamphetamine in Williamson and
Franklin Counties. At sentencing, the judge found Smith responsible for distributing 2 kilograms of
ice (methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80%). Because of Smith’s extensive criminal
history, he was classified as a career offender.Smith’s sentence includes four years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Herrin Police
Department, Johnston City Police Department, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
assisted in the investigation.
Paducah Man Hit with Williamson County Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Ronald R. Springfield, 35, of Paducah, Kentucky, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for
possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced
today. According to the indictment, the offense occurred on April 30, 2019, in Williamson County.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.Springfield made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday and pleaded not guilty. He was
ordered held without bond pending a July 19 detention hearing. The charged offense carries a
maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and a $1 million fine.The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group.
The Energy Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Mt. Vernon Man Sentenced for Williamson County Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Leonard M. (“Lenny”) Falcone, 51, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, has been sentenced to 140 months in
prison on a federal methamphetamine violation, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today.
Earlier this year, Falcone pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to
distribute methamphetamine.Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Falcone was involved with numerous
others in the distribution of methamphetamine in Williamson, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. At
sentencing, the judge found that Falcone was responsible for the distribution of approximately 125
grams of ice (methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80%). Falcone received an enhanced
sentence because he possessed a dangerous weapon during the offense, which occurred between
September 2017 and May 31, 2018.Falcone’s sentence includes three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Jefferson County
Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Illinois State Police, and
Williamson County States Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Gun and Meth Charges Lead to 18-Year Sentence for Jersey County ManRead the Press Release
Erickson Deck, 45, of Jerseyville, Illinois, has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for
possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and federal firearm violations. Earlier this
year, Deck pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, on January 28, 2018, Deck was found
passed out in his car and blocking traffic in Alton, Illinois. Inside the car, investigators found
methamphetamine for distribution, a digital scale, and a .357 revolver. At the time, Deck was
prohibited from possessing a gun because of multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2009
domestic battery conviction in Jersey County.Deck’s sentence includes three years of supervised release and forfeiture of the gun.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the
Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to
be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together
to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive
solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most
violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting
reductions in crime.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Alton Police Department.
20-Year Sentence for Granite City Man Who Downloaded Child Pornography, Destroyed EvidenceRead the Press Release
David C. Hogue, 32, of Granite City, Illinois, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography and destroying evidence of his crimes, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Chief United States District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel handed down the 240-month sentence, which includes a 10-year term of supervised release. Hogue pleaded guilty to a three-count superseding indictment late last year.
Hogue was initially charged in February 2017 with one count of receiving child pornography after an FBI investigation traced an IP address that was sharing child pornography over the internet back to Hogue’s house. Hogue was released on pretrial supervision with a number of conditions, including the remote monitoring of his internet activity by the U.S. Probation Office. Within two months of his release, the Probation Office observed Hogue downloading and viewing more child pornography videos, and Hogue was rearrested.
A federal search warrant was issued for Hogue’s computer, and a forensic search showed that Hogue was regularly running software programs that erased his hard drive contents, in an attempt to cover up his child pornography downloads. When questioned about specific images and videos he had downloaded and viewed while on bond, Hogue responded, “How could you see that? I deleted all of those files.” Hogue’s bond was revoked and a superseding indictment was filed that added a second count of receiving child pornography and also charged Hogue with obstruction of justice, for destroying evidence while under investigation.
During Hogue’s sentencing hearing, the FBI testified that the computer wiping programs Hogue used were uncommonly sophisticated. The court also heard evidence about certain admissions Hogue made after his arrest – that he had once briefly fondled an 11 year old girl and that he had entertained sexual fantasies involving a young female relative. In imposing sentence, Judge Rosenstengel explained that the 20-year prison term was needed to protect the public, noting that Hogue presented a high risk of reoffending and that she had serious concerns about what might happen if Hogue was ever allowed to be near a child unsupervised.
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 investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell prosecuted the case."The Drug Llama" Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Prosecutes Dark Web Drug Distributor
Earlier today, Brandon Arias pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to conspiring to distribute fentanyl throughout the United States via the “dark web.” As part of his plea, the 34-year old from San Diego, California admitted that he was one of two individuals known on the dark web as “The Drug Llama,” and that he knowingly distributed misbranded fentanyl pills throughout the United States from October 2016 to August 2018.
Fentanyl is a highly addictive and oftentimes lethal opioid painkiller.
In January 2019, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Illinois returned a superseding indictment charging Arias and his co-defendant, Melissa Scanlan, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, illegally distributing fentanyl (5 counts), selling counterfeit drugs, and misbranding drugs. Arias was arrested in San Diego and made his initial appearance in the Southern District of Illinois on March 12. At the time, he entered a not guilty plea and was ordered held without bond pending trial.
In court today, Arias pleaded guilty to all eight charges pending against him, admitting that he and Scanlan created and maintained an account on “Dream Market,” a dark web marketplace for illegal substances and services. Through that account, Arias and Scanlan sold substantial quantities of narcotics while operating under the moniker, “The Drug Llama.” Arias further admitted being actively involved in Scanlan’s distribution of 1,000 fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl pills every week.
The dark web is an underground computer network that is unreachable by traditional search engines and web browsers, creating a seeming anonymity to users. This false cloak has led to a proliferation of criminal activity on dark web marketplaces, like Dream Market.
Despite the identity veil that the dark web seemingly provides, participants in illegal activity are not shielded from the long arm of the law. “People think they are anonymous when they use the dark web,” U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft commented, “but the drugs and money are here, in the real world, and our agents will work tirelessly to connect the illegal contraband to the criminals hiding within the shroud of the dark web.” U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft gave special recognition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Criminal Investigations, whose agents worked to “pull the Drug Llama enterprise out of the shadows of the dark web.”
“The opioid crisis has evolved and so has the nature of the threat, with potent synthetic opioids representing a sharply increasing amount of the total exposure to these drugs, further fueling the opioid addiction crisis,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. “The FDA has expanded our enforcement efforts to include increased interdiction work aimed at stopping the illegal flow of counterfeit and unapproved prescription opioid drugs, like illicit fentanyl, online including on the dark web. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who threaten the health and safety of Americans by illegally distributing prescription drugs.”“Drug traffickers who operate from the dark corners of the internet are not immune from arrest and prosecution” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge William Callahan of the St. Louis Division. “The men and women of the DEA and our law enforcement partners are well positioned to investigate, locate, and arrest cyber drug traffickers, and their co-conspirators, who spread their poison in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area, no matter where they operate from.”
“The traditional drug dealing mechanics have changed, but law enforcement has changed with it,” said U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer, Jr., of the Southern District of California, who shared in U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft’s accolades of the multi-agency collaboration in this important prosecution. “This case, like others being prosecuted throughout the United States, demonstrates that hiding behind a cloak of anonymity on the dark web, no matter where you are, will be pierced and uncovered by investigators, and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Arias is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2019, at the United States District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois. His sentence will be determined by the court and will be guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Scanlan, 31, has pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody awaiting her trial, currently set for August 27, 2019, in East St. Louis. Members of the public are reminded that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was part of a months-long, coordinated national operation involving the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek J. Wiseman is the prosecuting attorney on this case.
Mascoutah Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Online Extortion, Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A prolific sextortionist has been brought to justice in the Southern District of Illinois. Joshua P. Breckel, 21, of Mascoutah, Illinois, was sentenced today to 420 months in federal prison after spending years exploiting and blackmailing young girls over the internet. The sentencing comes three months after Breckel pleaded guilty to a 10-count felony information as part of a negotiated plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle accepted the terms of the deal, including the stipulated 35-year sentence she handed down today.
Beginning in early 2016 and continuing until his arrest on July 8, 2018, Breckel repeatedly used computers, mobile phones, interactive computer services, and the internet to obtain sexually explicit images and videos from dozens of minor females located throughout the United States and internationally. Breckel found his victims on social media and messaging applications, including Facebook, Instagram, LiveMe, Kik, and Snapchat. He was able to persuade them to send him nude images by feigning a romantic interest in them, offering them money, or threatening them.
To ensure he was getting true images of the girls, Breckel often asked them to include their faces in the pictures or to hold up three fingers. Most of the girls who sent Breckel naked pictures and videos did so using Snapchat, a multi-media messaging application known for making message content inaccessible to recipients shortly after it is received. But Breckel used a screen recording device to capture and save the compromising images before they disappeared. He would then threaten to send their salacious photos to their family, friends, and online contacts unless the victims sent him additional photos and videos per his instructions.
Some victims complied with Breckel’s demands, while others did not. Those who complied were often subjected to escalating extortion demands and more threats, until they eventually stopped communicating with him. Breckel traded some of the explicit images and videos he obtained with other internet users using Kik, a mobile messaging application.
Law enforcement first became aware of Breckel in April 2018, when a 15 year old girl in New Jersey identified as C.S. reported to her mother that she had been threatened online by someone on Whisper with the screen name "User_Pure" and Snapchat account "thatonekidukno1." Local authorities were able to track the user back to Breckel’s home in Mascoutah, Illinois.
As part of his plea deal with the United States, Breckel admitted sending threatening communications to C.S. in an attempt to obtain sexually explicit photos and videos of her. Breckel also pleaded guilty to producing and distributing child pornography and sending extortionate threats over the internet. Among his many victims were three 15 year old girls from California, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, a 12 year old girl from Illinois, and a 10 year old girl from Ohio. Breckel admitted that he threatened to kill the Ohio girl if she didn’t send him naked pictures of herself.
In imposing sentence, Judge Yandle found that the 35 year sentence was appropriate for the important purpose of sending a general deterrence message to other would-be offenders. Judge Yandle noted that as a society "we are living in a different world. A world where it is common for young people to engage in online relationships, share intimate digital photos and not be bothered by cyber intimidation and bullying."
Judge Yandle further noted that the long sentence would ensure the protection of the public. The mother of one victim gave an impact statement at sentencing and discussed the damage that the crime had done to her daughter. She stated that her daughter had become very depressed, withdrawn from her friends, and lost interest in hobbies and school activities. Judge Yandle noted how destructive the defendant’s actions had been to his victims and their families She stated that Breckel "would not be back on the street until he had received treatment." Breckel’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime period of supervised release.
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Mascoutah Police Department, and the Middlesex, New Jersey Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Hoell and Nathan D. Stump.
Jackson County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
James E. Sizemore, a/k/a "Jimmy," of Murphysboro, has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison on a methamphetamine violation, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Sizemore pleaded guilty back in January to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Sizemore was involved with numerous others in the distribution of methamphetamine in Jackson County. On November 14, 2017, Sizemore sold methamphetamine to a confidential source working for law enforcement. At sentencing, the judge found that Sizemore was responsible for the distribution of more than 1.4 kilograms of ice (methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80%). The offense occurred between June 2016 and November 2017.
Sizemore’s sentence includes three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Carbondale Police Department. The Jackson County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Federal Inmate Convicted of Conspiring with Nurse to Smuggle Prescription Drugs into Marion PrisonRead the Press Release
A federal inmate is potentially facing more time behind bars after he was caught trying to smuggle prescription narcotics into prison. Steven W. Snook, 42, pleaded guilty earlier today to conspiring with a licensed practical nurse and others to bring Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) into the U.S. Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, through the mail, to sell to other inmates. Snook also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully attempting to obtain prison contraband. The charged offenses occurred between October 2016 and May 2017, while Snook was imprisoned at USP Marion for a prior drug trafficking offense.
As part of his guilty plea, Snook admitted entering into the illicit enterprise with his co-defendant, 36-year-old Jenny Martin of Tilton, Illinois – an acquaintance who was also a licensed practical nurse. During in-person visits at the prison, Snook and Martin discussed introducing Suboxone into USP Marion as a way to make money. Martin acquired the Suboxone strips illegally for $20 each and mailed them under the alias "Rachel Hall" to other inmates recruited by Snook. Snook instructed Martin how to conceal the Suboxone strips under the glued bottom flaps of the envelopes.
Evidence photograph of intercepted envelope.
In April 2017, prison officials discovered the plot and intercepted two pieces of mail with Suboxone strips hidden inside. A subsequent investigation revealed multiple wire transfers that Martin had received from Snook and others as payment for the Suboxone she provided.
Martin previously pleaded guilty for her role in the conspiracy and is due to be sentenced on Aug. 27, 2019. Snook’s sentencing is set for Oct. 16, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. He faces up to 5 years imprisonment on each count, which by law must be served consecutively to the 262-month sentence he is still serving. Each count also carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation leading to the charges in this case was conducted by the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.
Gun Charge Leads to 5-Year Sentence for Jackson County ManRead the Press Release
Billy Jack Reed, 24, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison on a federal firearm violation. Earlier this year, Reed pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, on February 18, 2018, Reed knowingly possessed a 9mm pistol in Jackson County. At the time, Reed was prohibited from possessing a gun because of multiple prior felony convictions. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Staci M. Yandle also took into consideration that the gun was stolen and that Reed attempted to obstruct justice after his arrest by encouraging a witness to lie for him.
Reed’s sentence includes three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphysboro Police Department.
Randolph County Man Gets 14 Years for Dealing MethRead the Press Release
Lewis D. Higgins, 54, of Ruma, Illinois, has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison on a methamphetamine violation, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Higgins previously pleaded guilty to a single-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. His sentence included a four-year term of supervised release and a fine of $200.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, between 2016 and June 2018, Higgins was involved with co-defendant David M. Bereitschaft and others in the distribution of methamphetamine in Perry and Randolph counties. The judge found that Higgins was responsible for the distribution of 7.5 kilograms of ice (methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80 percent). Higgins also received an enhanced sentence based on his possession of firearms during the drug conspiracy.
Bereitschaft pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy earlier this year and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13, 2019.
The investigation was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Sparta Police Department, the Chester Police Department, the Tilden Police Department, the Marissa Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Tactical Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Meth Distribution in Southern Illinois Lands Missouri Man Behind Bars for 16 YearsRead the Press Release
Scott A. Carnell, 36, of Pacific, Missouri, has been sentenced to 192 months in federal prison on a methamphetamine violation, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Carnell previously pleaded guilty to a single-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Carnell’s 16-year federal sentence was ordered to run consecutively to a five-year sentence he is currently serving in the Illinois Department of Corrections on an unrelated conviction in Randolph County.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Carnell was involved with numerous others in the distribution of methamphetamine in Southern Illinois. The judge found that Carnell was responsible for the distribution of 2.37 kilograms of ice (methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80 percent). The offense occurred between 2017 and August 2018, in Jackson, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties.
As part of his sentence, Carnell was also ordered to serve four years on supervised release and pay $300 in fines.
The investigation was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Sparta Police Department, the New Athens Police Department, the Marissa Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Brentwood (Missouri) Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Effingham Woman Sentenced to 6 1/2 Years in Federal Prison on Methamphetamine Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Melissa J. Reynolds, 28, of Effingham, Illinois, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison on methamphetamine-related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Reynolds previously pleaded guilty to four counts in a federal indictment. Count 1 charged that from January to October 2018, Reynolds conspired with others to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Counts 2-4 charged that Reynolds distributed methamphetamine on three specified dates in June and July 2018. All of Reynolds’ crimes occurred in Effingham County.
The sentence imposed on Reynolds includes a four-year term of supervised release.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force.
More Charges Filed in St. Louis Area Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Three men accused of committing a string of armed robberies in the St. Louis metropolitan area are facing new charges in the Southern District of Illinois. Jalon Moore and Garry Johnson, of St. Louis, and Larry Rhines, of Collinsville, Illinois, have been charged in a superseding federal indictment with conspiracy to commit multiple armed robberies, two counts of business robbery, one count of bank robbery, and using firearms to commit each of those robberies.
According to the indictment, Moore, Johnson, and Rhines, all 22 years old, are responsible for robbing at gunpoint a Sprint store in Fairview Heights on March 9, 2019, and a Marco’s Pizza in Collinsville on March 28, 2019. Moore and Rhines were also charged with the armed robbery of a GCS Credit Union in Collinsville on March 30, 2019.
The three defendants are also under federal indictment in the Eastern District of Missouri for similar crimes arising from a string of armed robberies of the following businesses in St. Louis:
• The Mack Bar and Grill on January 9, 2019;
• A Jimmy John’s on February 9, 2019;
• A Subway restaurant on February 17, 2019;
• A Panda Express on March 18, 2019; and
• A Sprint store on March 21, 2019.
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.
If convicted of all charges, the three defendants could be facing decades in prison. The conspiracy charge and individual armed robbery counts each carry a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment. Using a firearm in furtherance of the robberies carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years and is punishable by as much as life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Collinsville Police Department, and the Fairview Heights Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandria M. Burns.
Mailing Threatening Letters Leads to New Charges for Federal InmateRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jonathan Wade Bohn, 43, of West Frankfort, Illinois, in the October 2014 mailing of two threatening letters to officials in Franklin County, Illinois.
The indictment alleges that Bohn was incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Center in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, when he sent a letter threatening to kill certain Franklin County law enforcement officers and officials. Two weeks later, Bohn allegedly sent another threatening letter, this time to the Franklin County clerk of court, claiming there was a bomb inside a Franklin County school that would detonate the following day. This second letter caused the closing of nine public schools, affecting over 6,400 students.
Mailing a threatening communication carries a maximum possible sentence of 5 years imprisonment. Threatening to use an explosive device is punishable by as much as 10 years in prison. If convicted, Bohn also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and 3 years of supervised release on each count.
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.
According to the Bureau of Prisons website, Bohn is now being housed at a high-security facility in Florida and is currently scheduled for release in August 2022.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Benton, Illinois Police Department. The case is being prosecuted in the Southern District of Illinois by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.
Edwardsville Man Gets 20 Years for Nude Photos of ToddlerRead the Press Release
Tyler S. Seibold, 31, of Edwardsville, Illinois, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. U.S. District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle handed down the sentence after Seibold pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment in March 2019. There was no plea agreement entered in the case.
An investigation by the FBI and the Illinois State Police-Forensic Computer Crime Unit revealed that on several occasions between November 2017 and May 2018 an IP address assigned to Seibold downloaded multiple images and videos of child pornography using a peer to peer file-sharing program. In June 2018, agents served a search warrant on Seibold’s Edwardsville residence and seized several computers, cell phones, and other data storage devices. A forensic search of those devices revealed what appeared to be self-produced photographs of a nude 3 year old girl.
Agents soon determined that the girl was related to Seibold and contacted her mother, who confirmed that the dates on the photographs coincided with family events and trips. The child then disclosed to her mother that Seibold had also exposed himself to her. At sentencing, both of her parents provided statements about the emotional impact Seibold’s crimes have had their daughter, who is now in counseling to deal with the aftermath of the abuse.
Seibold claimed that his punishment should be less severe because he has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but Judge Yandle was not persuaded, observing that Seibold had never been diagnosed with ASD before. She also found that Seibold’s expert witness did not use the proper testing methods and did not have the necessary qualifications to make an ASD diagnosis.
As part of his sentence, Seibold was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release, during which time he will be required to undergo sex offender treatment, forgo possession of any cameras or visual recording devices, and have no unsupervised contact with minor females.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Illinois State Police Forensic Unit, and officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Officer Accused of Bilking East St. Louis Police Department with Fraudulent Overtime RequestsRead the Press Release
An East St. Louis police officer is under federal indictment for allegedly taking thousands of dollars in fake overtime pay, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Mario H. Fennoy, 48, of Lebanon, Illinois, has been charged by a federal grand jury with fraudulently obtaining overtime compensation from the East St. Louis Police Department for nearly a year.
Fennoy allegedly began submitting false claims for overtime pay in 2017, while he was employed as a patrol sergeant. According to the indictment, Fennoy was actually at home, spending extended periods of time at a secondary residence, when he was supposedly out working the streets. The indictment further alleges that Fennoy falsely cleared calls and reported responding to dispatches when, in fact, he never left the house. From April 2017 to March 2018, Fennoy is accused of submitting over 50 bogus requests for overtime pay, totaling more than 200 hours. He is accused of using the fraud to significantly boost his earnings. The charge alleges that in 2017 Fennoy received a base salary of $69,382, but after overtime, he received more than $205,000 in total wages.
"Every day, many dedicated police officers report to work in East St. Louis, one of the most impoverished and dangerous jurisdictions in the country, to protect and serve the people who live there," U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said. "Due to serious understaffing, many of them work considerable overtime hours trying to improve the safety of this community. We strongly support the men and women in law enforcement who work in these difficult circumstances. But at the same time, the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to serve its critical role preserving the public trust by holding law enforcement accountable when necessary."
Fraudulently obtaining money from an organization that receives federal funds, like the East St. Louis Police Department, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution is mandatory.
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 Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of agents with the FBI, Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation, and the Illinois State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
Former Executive Director of Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House Indicted for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an indictment charging Christopher K. Coleman, 42, of Troy, Illinois, with embezzlement from the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, an organization that receives federal funds. The indictment alleges that Coleman embezzled the funds from July 2016 to December 2017, while he was serving as the organization’s executive director. The indictment further alleges that Coleman concealed his crime by creating and using false invoices.
According to the indictment, the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House is a non-profit, faith-based organization in East St. Louis, Illinois, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of all ages by providing quality early childhood development services, comprehensive youth services, individual and family support services, services to older adults, and housing economic development services, which will help move individuals and families out of poverty.
Embezzling money from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. Coleman is scheduled to make his initial appearance at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, on June 25, 2019.
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 Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of agents with the FBI, Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation, and the Illinois State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
Southern Illinois Sends Back 3 Tons of Unused Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
Residents of the Southern District of Illinois returned over three tons of prescription drugs for destruction on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was held on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Now in its ninth year, the biannual nationwide event provides a safe and convenient way for individuals to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, millions of Americans misuse prescription drugs each year. A majority of those drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The public response so far this year has been tremendous. 6,636 pounds of prescription drugs were collected in the Southern District of Illinois alone. In Madison County, 897 pounds of drugs were turned in – a total nearly matched in St. Clair County, where 892 pounds were returned. Nationwide, the haul reached 937,443 pounds (468.72 tons) of prescription drugs amassed at more than 6,000 collection sites. Nearly 5,000 law enforcement agencies participated in the event.
The 18th National Take Back Day will be held on October 26, 2019.
Members of the public can find more information on the DEA National Take Back Day and a list of permanent drug return locations at https://takebackday.dea.gov. For local addiction recovery and prevention information, please visit https://partnershipdrugfree.org.
Felon on Federal Supervision Hit with 16 Year Sentence for Drug Trafficking and Death ThreatsRead the Press Release
Anthony Dobbins, 51, of East St. Louis, Illinois, will serve 201 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, influencing a federal official by threat, and mailing threatening communications, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Dobbins committed his offenses while on federal supervised release for a 2001 armed bank robbery.
Evidence presented in court showed that on August 10, 2018, when officers arrived at an apartment to arrest Dobbins for violations of his federal supervised release, Dobbins threw two large bags of pressed heroin and one large bag of crack cocaine out the window. In total, the bags contained over 200 grams of heroin and 90 grams of crack cocaine. During a subsequent search of the apartment, officers found two digital scales, packaging materials, drug ledgers, and a full box of .40 caliber ammunition, as well as a small bag of heroin on Dobbins’ bed.
Dobbins pleaded guilty to the drug offenses in December 2018. Then, while he was still in custody at the Alton jail waiting to be sentenced, Dobbins mailed threatening letters to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons in Washington D.C. and the Director of the North Central Regional Office of the Bureau of Prisons in Kansas City, Kansas. In the letters, Dobbins made overt and explicit threats that, upon his return to prison, he would kill the first Bureau of Prisons employee he could get his "uncuffed hands on." When interviewed, Dobbins admitted he sent the letters and doubled down on his intent to kill someone on staff at the prison.
A new indictment was returned on April 2, 2019, and Dobbins pleaded guilty to the threat charges on April 20, without a plea agreement.
At sentencing, the court heard evidence that Dobbins is a ten-time convicted felon and a high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciplines, a notoriously violent street gang. During his 2001 armed bank robbery, Dobbins held the bank employees at gunpoint, taped their mouths, hands and feet, and threatened to kill them if they didn’t comply with his demands. His 201-month sentence includes 51 months for violating the terms of his supervised release on that conviction.
Dobbins was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release at the expiration of his prison sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police Metro East Police Assistance Team (MEPAT), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the United States Marshal Service (USMS), and the Alton Police Department.
Richland County Man Gets over 20 Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Michael F. Jones, 41, of Olney, Illinois has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison on methamphetamine-related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Jones previously pleaded guilty to five counts in a federal indictment. Count 1 charged that from April to October 2018, Jones conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Counts 2 through 5 charged Jones with distributing methamphetamine on various dates in October 2018. All of Jones’s crimes occurred in Richland County, Illinois.
The investigation was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Alton Woman Indicted for Cashing Deceased Mother's Social Security ChecksRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an indictment charging Mia Lynn Cousett, 32, of Alton, Illinois, with twelve counts of theft of government funds and one count of aggravated identity theft, announced Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges that the funds stolen were social security checks payable to Cousett’s mother, who died in April 2017.
According to the indictment, for twelve months after her mother passed away, Cousett continued to cash her mother’s social security checks and then used those funds for her own expenses. The total of the social security checks allegedly stolen by Cousett is $15,601. The indictment also charges that Cousett used her dead mother’s driver’s license number to conceal and perpetuate her thefts.
Each of the theft of government funds charges carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory sentence of two years of imprisonment. The arraignment for Cousett will be conducted on June 5, 2019, 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 charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Law Enforcement During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers on the occasion of National Police Week, and commented on the FBI’s 2018 Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report.
"National Police Week is a great time for all of us to pause and commemorate the men and women in blue who bravely protect and serve our communities each and every day," U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft, said. "We are especially proud to recognize their contributions to our system of justice, as well as their dedication, personal sacrifice, and public service. On behalf of the Department of Justice, this office extends its most sincere appreciation to all current and former law enforcement officers and their families."
In October 1962, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed a joint resolution declaring May 15th of every year National Peace Officers Memorial Day, to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
This year, National Police Week is being observed from May 12 to May 18. During this time, our nation celebrates all law enforcement officers across the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in safeguarding the communities in which they serve.
According to statistics collected by the FBI, in 2018, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. Over half of those deaths were felony homicides – tied for third most in the last ten years; the remainder were fatal accidents. The names of 371 officers killed in the line of duty were added this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org. To access the FBI’s 2018 Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report, please visit https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/topic-pages/officers-feloniously-killed.
Metro East Woman Sentenced for Falsifying Records in BankruptcyRead the Press Release
Dehavalon R. Cook, 46, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, has been sentenced to three years probation for falsifying records in a bankruptcy proceeding, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Cook previously pleaded guilty to the charge on January 29, 2019.
Court documents show that Cook created a fictitious document and forged the signature of an officer of the Court to obtain an automobile loan during the pendency of her bankruptcy case. The document was falsified with the intent to improperly influence the proper administration of a bankruptcy proceeding.
"Today’s sentence makes clear that abuse of the bankruptcy system by falsifying a document and forging the signature of an officer of the court for personal gain will not be tolerated," stated Nancy J. Gargula, U.S. Trustee for Southern and Central Illinois and Indiana (Region 10). "I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft and our law enforcement partners for their strong commitment to combating bankruptcy-related crimes as demonstrated by this prosecution." The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the U.S. Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in Peoria, Illinois, and South Bend, Indiana.
The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by the Peoria Office of the United States Trustee and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group, which is coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Collinsville Man Indicted on Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Larry Rhines, of Collinsville, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit robberies with firearms, two counts of business robbery, one count of bank robbery, and the use of firearms to commit each of those robberies, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Rhines, 22, who is originally from St. Louis, made his initial appearance in federal court on May 9 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending a July 9, 2019 jury trial.
According to the indictment, Rhines, along with unnamed others, were responsible for robbing at gunpoint the following businesses on the following dates:
• A Sprint store located in Fairview Heights, Illinois, on March 9, 2019;
• A Marco’s Pizza located in Collinsville, Illinois on March 28, 2019; and
• A GCS Credit Union located in Collinsville, Illinois, on March 30, 2019.
Rhines and two others – Jalon Moore, 22, and Garry Johnson, 22, both of St. Louis – were recently indicted in the Eastern District of Missouri for similar crimes arising from a string of armed robberies of the following businesses in St. Louis:
• The Mack Bar and Grill on January 9, 2019;
• A Jimmy John’s on February 9, 2019;
• A Subway restaurant on February 17, 2019;
• A Panda Express on March 18, 2019; and
• A Sprint store on March 21, 2019.
If convicted of all charges, Rhines could be facing decades in prison. The conspiracy charge and individual armed robbery counts each carry a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment. Using a firearm in furtherance of the robberies carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and is punishable by as much as life imprisonment, which must ordered to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Saint Louis County Police Department, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield, and the Collinsville and Fairview Heights Police Departments.
Richland County Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison on Methamphetamine-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Brian E. Jordan, 51, of Olney, Illinois, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison on methamphetamine-related charges. Jordan had previously pleaded guilty to three counts in a federal indictment returned late last year. Counts 1 and 2 charged that on October 25 and 26, 2018, Jordan distributed methamphetamine. Count 3 charged that on October 27, 2018, Jordan possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
As part of his sentence, Jordan was also ordered to serve three years on supervised release.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Missouri Man Charged with Enticing an Illinois Minor, Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
Joseph L. Hughes, a/k/a "Joe King," 27, was arraigned today in federal court on a three-count indictment charging him with enticement of a minor and two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. According to the indictment, between November 21 and December 8, 2018, Hughes knowingly used a facility of interstate commerce to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, namely aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The indictment further accuses Hughes of traveling from Missouri to Illinois on two separate occasions to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the minor – once on November 24 and a second time on December 8.
Hughes is also currently facing related state charges in St. Clair County, Illinois.
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 enticement, Hughes faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a possible lifetime term of supervised release. On each of the travel counts, Hughes could receive as much as 30 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for life. Trial is presently scheduled for July 2, 2019, in East St. Louis.
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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 and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Federal Drug Trafficking Charges Filed Against 3 Flora, Illinois MenRead the Press Release
Three men from Flora, Illinois, have been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with methamphetamine-related offenses, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Ethan K. Doud, 28, Bradley A. Caudle, 30, and Justin A. Schofield, 37, are accused of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine (known as "ice") in Clay County and elsewhere. According to the indictment, the conspiracy operated from the fall of 2017 until late January, 2019. Doud is also charged with possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine on January 6, 2019. Elsewhere in the seven-count indictment, Schofield is charged with distributing methamphetamine on four separate dates in 2018 and with possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on October 22, 2018.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely 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.
If convicted, the conspiracy count exposes all three defendants to a possible punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than five years. Doud’s additional charge carries the same penalties, while Schofield could receive as much as 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each of the five additional counts in which he is named.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Flora Police Department, the Clay County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force.
Centralia Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
David Herron, 47, of Centralia, Illinois, has been arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, an FBI task force made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement has been investigating Herron for narcotics trafficking activities in the Centralia area. On several occasions this year, investigators allegedly made undercover purchases of controlled substances from Herron at two locations in Centralia. On April 24, 2019, the task force arrested Herron. During a subsequent search of the residence where he was staying, investigators reportedly found a gun and suspected narcotics that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The complaint alleges that Herron is a convicted felon, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
A criminal complaint is merely 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 methamphetamine charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment and at least five years of supervised release. If convicted of possessing the gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Herron faces an additional five years to life imprisonment, which by law must run consecutively to any sentence imposed on the other charges.
Herron made his initial appearance in federal court on April 25. He is being held pending a detention hearing on April 30.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and members of the FBI task force, including the Centralia Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Carlyle Police Department.
Prison Spells the end of the Road for Cahokia Man who led Police on High-Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
A man who once bragged about outrunning the cops won’t be going anywhere for a while. Lee E. Nichols, 35, of Cahokia, Illinois, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing methamphetamine and a gun, United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced. United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle handed down the sentence, which the parties agreed to in advance as part of a negotiated plea agreement. Nichols was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release and must forfeit the gun.
Court proceedings revealed that sometime around midnight on June 21, 2017, a Dupo police officer attempted a traffic stop on a Corvette that Nichols was driving. Nichols fled and led police on a high-speed chase. The pursuit was eventually terminated for safety reasons on the Jefferson Barracks Bridge headed into Missouri, but recognizing Nichols from past encounters, officers obtained warrants for his arrest and immediately began looking for him. Meanwhile, just two hours after speeding away from police, Nichols posted about his reckless getaway on Facebook, boasting that he had been going over 120 mph. A week later, Nichols uploaded a braggadocios video to his Facebook page about his run from the law, claiming he would do it again and threatening to hurt any police officer who got in his way.
On July 16, 2017, Nichols was caught when an off-duty Dupo police officer recognized him at a bar in Columbia, Illinois. On-duty officers arrived and immediately arrested Nichols on the outstanding warrants. During the arrest, officers discovered .8 grams of methamphetamine in Nichols’ front pants pocket and a loaded Colt .22 pistol in his back pocket. Nichols is legally barred from possessing a firearm as a result of his criminal history, which includes a 2003 conviction for aggravated assault.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Dupo Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Wood River Man Charged with Stealing 135 FirearmsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Bradley N. Boswell, 30, of Wood River, Illinois, charging Boswell with stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The charges allege that in early February 2019, Boswell stole 135 firearms from Benbow City Sports, which is a licensed federal firearms dealer. The indictment also charged Boswell with possessing the same firearms after being convicted of a felony.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000.
Boswell appeared in United States District Court in East St. Louis on April 18, 2019, for his initial appearance and arraignment on the indictment. At the conclusion of his court appearance, Boswell was ordered to remain in the custody of the United States Marshal, pending a detention hearing, which is set for April 23, 2019.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This prosecution is the result of a collaborative investigation by the Wood River Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives.
Trip to McDonald's with a Loaded Assault Rifle Leads to 9 Year Prison Sentence for Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Antoine D. Johnson, Jr., 28, of East St. Louis, Illinois, has been sentenced to 9 years in prison, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Johnson had been charged in a federal indictment with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2019 and faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The federal case against Johnson arose on February 18, 2018, after police received a report of multiple shots fired into a family-occupied home in Washington Park earlier that morning, with injuries to two adults. During the ensuing investigation, officers with the East St. Louis Police Department surrounded a vehicle as it sat idling in the drive thru of the McDonald’s restaurant on State Street. Johnson was sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle holding a loaded Norinco SKS semi-automatic assault rifle. After Johnson and the driver refused to comply with commands to exit the vehicle, and upon observing Johnson’s rifle pointed in their direction, the officers opened fire. The driver attempted to flee but crashed the car into a pole beside the restaurant. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested at the scene. Johnson sustained a gunshot wound to his hip and shrapnel damage to one of his eyes. The driver and the responding officers were uninjured.
At the time of his offense, Johnson was on probation in St. Clair County for a 2015 aggravated robbery conviction. Investigators were able to link both Johnson and the rifle to the Washington Park shooting, and as part of his plea deal with the United States, Johnson admitted firing 11 rounds into the residence on February 18 and agreed to plead guilty in St. Clair County Circuit Court to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. His sentence in that case is expected to run consecutively to his federal sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was jointly investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James G. Piper, Jr., and Alexandria M. Burns.
Loaded Handgun Lands Convicted Felon Back in PrisonRead the Press Release
Damarian K. Griffin, 22, of East St. Louis, Illinois, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Griffin pleaded guilty to a one-count federal indictment in January 2019.
On February 9, 2018, while driving in East St. Louis, Griffin knowingly possessed a Glock 19, 9mm pistol loaded with an extended magazine containing 16 live rounds. Investigators determined that he had purchased the pistol in Columbia, Missouri, and had transported it back to East St. Louis. At the time, Griffin was prohibited from possessing a gun due to a 2015 felony conviction for carjacking in St. Clair County – a crime for which he was previously sentenced to 4½ years in prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is the result of a collaborative investigation by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ali M. Summers, James G. Piper, Jr., and Alexandria M. Burns.
Two People Sentenced for Conspiracy to Counterfeit United States CurrencyRead the Press Release
Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Michael Bell, 33 of Granite City, Illinois, and Kelly Seeger, age 37, of O’Fallon, Illinois, were sentenced in United States District Court for conspiring to manufacture United States Currency. A Federal Grand Jury indicted Bell and Seeger on July 18, 2018. The indictment alleged that between November of 2017 and April 8, 2018, the two had manufactured counterfeit currency and possessed items and equipment necessary for counterfeiting.
Bell was sentenced on April 12, 2019 to 15 months of incarceration; Seeger was sentenced on April 11, 2019 to 18 months of incarceration. Both defendants were ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release following their term of incarceration. Seeger’s sentence was higher than that of her codefendant because of Seeger’s more extensive criminal history. The Court, in sentencing the defendants to imprisonment, stated that the nature of criminal activity was serious because of the need to protect the integrity of United States currency but also stated that the defendants’ efforts to counterfeit currency was a symptom of both Bell and Seeger’s downward spiral with the use of methamphetamine.
The Granite City, Illinois, Collinsville, Illinois, O’Fallon, Illinois, Police Departments and the United States Secret Service participated in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.
Woman who Embezzled over $720,000 Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns, Obtaining a Controlled Substance by FraudRead the Press Release
Ann E. Darling-Batson, 58, of Herrin, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return and fraudulently acquiring a controlled substance. Darling-Batson had been an office manager at New Horizons OBGYN, an obstetrics and gynecological practice group in Carbondale, Illinois. As part of the plea, she admitted embezzling in excess of $720,000 from her employer from 2012 through 2016 – income she acknowledged was not reported on her federal income tax returns for those years. She also confessed that in September 2016, she obtained acetaminophen/codeine #3, a Schedule III controlled substance, from a Walgreens pharmacy without a legitimate, authorized prescription.
Prior to the plea, the defendant made complete restitution to her employer.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2019. Batson-Darling, who is currently released on bond, faces a total of up to seven years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This guilty plea is the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norm Smith.
California Telemarketer Sentenced to Prison for Nationwide Rental Listing ScamRead the Press Release
Carlynne L. Davis, 34, of Lompoc, California, was sentenced on April 5 to 18 months in prison for her participation in a nationwide rental listing scam. Davis worked as a telemarketer at a business owned by Michael S. Davenport, 50, of Santa Barbara, California. Davenport is the former bass guitar player for the Ataris rock band. Last month, Davenport was sentenced to 7 years in prison for his role in the same fraud scam.
Davenport’s Santa Barbara-based business changed names several times but was known variously as MDSQ Productions LLC, Housing Standard LLC, Anchor House Financial, American Standard, American Standard Online, and Your American Standard. Court documents simply refer to the business as “American Standard.”
American Standard was a rental listing scam. From 2009 through 2016, American Standard defrauded over 100,000 would-be renters and home-buyers out of more than $25 million.
At his September 2018 guilty plea, Davenport admitted that American Standard placed ads on Craigslist stating that certain houses were available for sale or rent at very favorable prices. When individuals called in response to these ads, American Standard salespersons told them they would have to purchase American Standard’s list of houses in order to get more information about the property in the Craigslist ad. The salespersons also said that the houses on the American Standard list were in “pre-foreclosure,” that the customers could purchase the houses by simply taking over the homeowners’ mortgage payments, and the deeds to these homes would then be transferred into the customers’ names. The salespersons told the customers that there was a $199 fee for access to the list but claimed that this $199 fee would cover title searches and deed transfers. In addition, regardless of what area of the country the customers lived in, the salespersons told them that the list contained numerous pre-foreclosure properties that were available in their area.
After the customers paid the $199 fee, they learned that the houses on American Standard’s list were not available to be purchased. Instead, the customers found that a substantial number of the addresses contained on the list were fictional and/or no houses existed at those locations. In
numerous other cases, the customers learned that the houses were not in pre-foreclosure or financial distress, and were not available to be purchased at below market prices. If the customers asked for more information about the houses they had seen on Craigslist, American Standard’s Customer Service Department always informed them that the houses were no longer available.
American Standard’s victims were located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. At least 104 victims of the scam were located in 22 counties within the Southern District of Illinois, with multiple victims in both St. Clair and Madison Counties. In addition, American Standard’s list included 534 houses located in Southern Illinois.
Davis worked as a telemarketer for American Standard for approximately 2 years. She pled guilty to her role in the offense last June. At her sentencing hearing today, Chief United States District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel found that Davis personally defrauded over 1,000 victims out of more than $273,000. In addition to her prison sentence, Davis was also ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release.
Three other former American Standard employees have been prosecuted for participating in the fraud conspiracy. On January 28, 2019, Mark A. Phillips, 50, and Semjase E. Santana, 37, both of Santa Barbara, California, were each sentenced to serve 5 years of supervised release. Phillips and Santana both worked as telemarketers for American Standard. On March 6, 2019, Cynthia L. Rawlinson, 52, of Santa Barbara, was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release. Rawlinson was a salesperson who also served as a manager for American Standard for a brief period of time.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Office of the Honorable Joyce E. Dudley, District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria Office of the FBI have provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott A. Verseman and Monica A. Stump.Williamson County Woman Charged with Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Amy J. Brozowski, of Marion, Illinois, has been charged by two-count indictment with distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred on March 7 and March 14, 2019, in Williamson County. On March 21, 2019, the 25 year old Brozowski made her initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. At her detention hearing the following day, Brozowski was granted bond. Her jury trial is currently set for May 28, 2019.
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 drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Marion Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Williamson County Man Charged with Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Raymond E. Wells, 47, of Herrin, Illinois, has been charged in a one-count superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offense occurred between February 2018 and January 2019 in Williamson and Jefferson Counties. On March 22, Wells made his initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held without bond pending a March 26 detention hearing.
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 drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 5 to 40 years’ imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Herrin Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Johnston City Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
St. Clair County Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a one count indictment charging Sean M. Hall, 22, of Cahokia, Illinois, with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. According to the indictment, Hall knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on February 26 of this year after previously sustaining a 2013 felony conviction for cannabis possession.
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 arraignment for Hall will be conducted on April 1, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. He is currently being held without bond.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address violent crime, the Justice Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN ("PSN 2.0") and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The investigation of this case was a collaborative effort between the O’Fallon Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria M. Burns.
St. Clair County Man Charged with Distributing and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a seven-count indictment charging James K. Young, 66, of Dupo, Illinois, with five counts of distributing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. According to the indictment, Young knowingly distributed child pornography on five separate dates from June 2017 to March 2018. On the first occasion, Young is specifically charged with distributing a digital video file depicting the anal penetration of a toddler by an adult male. The indictment further charges Young with knowingly receiving child pornography on November 7, 2017, and April 29, 2018.
An indictment is 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.
Young’s arraignment will be held on April 11, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Young has been summoned to appear at the arraignment.
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 FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Randolph County Man Charged with Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a three-count indictment charging Brandon W. Junge, 33, of Baldwin, Illinois, with transportation of child pornography, possession of prepubescent child pornography and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. According to the indictment, on April 17, 2018, Junge knowingly transported child pornography in interstate commerce and knowingly possessed child pornography depicting prepubescent children. Junge is further accused of sending a close-up picture of a nude penis to a person he believed to be a 14 year old girl.
An indictment is 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.
The arraignment for Junge will be held on April 17, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Junge is currently in Missouri state custody on related charges.
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 St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Florida Resident who Traveled to Illinois for Sex with a 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced to 20 YearsRead the Press Release
Emmanuel D. Abdon, 31, of Hollywood, Florida, has been sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison for traveling across state lines to have sex with a 13 year old girl. Chief United States District Court Judge Michael J. Reagan handed down the 240-month sentence, which is to be followed by five years of supervised release. Abdon was also ordered to pay $43,974 in restitution to the victim’s family.
In January 2018, Abdon traveled from Florida to Troy, Illinois, to have sex with the girl. The two had previously met on Snapchat, where Abdon falsely told the victim he was 24 years old. The evidence presented at sentencing established that Abdon knew his young victim was emotionally vulnerable when, over a three-week period beginning in late December 2017, he used text messages, FaceTime, and Snapchat in an attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce her to engage in sexual activity with him.
On the day he arrived in Troy, Abdon met the victim in her driveway on two separate occasions. Both times her parents were not at home. During their second meeting, Abdon presented the middle-schooler with a pack of Swisher Sweets cigars, a lighter, some jewelry, and a sex toy.
A third meeting planned for later that day was foiled thanks to the victim’s 14 year old friend. Identified in court only as K.S., the friend witnessed the first meeting between Abdon and the victim and voiced concerns to her foster mother, who promptly notified the Troy Police Department. The responding officers quickly discovered that Abdon had rented a motel room roughly one mile from the victim’s house. They immediately set up surveillance and followed Abdon as he drove from the motel back to the victim’s house. Within a few short hours of receiving the initial report, Troy Police intercepted and arrested Abdon as he was pulling into the victim’s driveway.
During a voluntary, videotaped statement, Abdon eventually admitted receiving nude pictures of the victim and knowing that she was underage before he traveled to Illinois to meet her. Text messages recovered from the victim’s phone revealed sexually explicit texts she had received
from Abdon. The investigation further revealed that Abdon was planning to have the victim sneak out of her house and meet him for sex in his hotel room later that night. Officers found two condoms in his wallet.
Abdon’s first trial was held in July 2018 and ended in a mistrial. The case was retried over three days in November, after which a jury sitting in East St. Louis convicted Abdon on charges of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illicit sex acts and traveling across state lines intending to have illicit sex with a minor.
At sentencing, Judge Reagan praised the victim’s friend and her foster mother as "unsung heroes" for their actions in the case. The United States also introduced Snapchat messages between Abdon and other minors in which he lied about his age and where he lived.
Abdon was born in Haiti and was living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident when he committed his crimes. He is expected to be deported back to Haiti once his term of imprisonment ends.
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 Troy Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Distributing and Receiving Child Pornography Leads to Federal Prison Time for St. Clair County ManRead the Press Release
William L. Isaac, 54, of O’Fallon, Illinois, has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for knowingly distributing and receiving child pornography over the internet, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Chief United States District Judge Michael J. Reagan handed down the 15-year sentence, which is to be followed by five years of supervised release. Isaac also agreed to pay $3,000 in restitution to an identified victim whose image was found in the collection of child pornography he possessed.
In 2014, on two separate occasions, Isaac uploaded child pornography to a website chat room. Unbeknownst to Isaac, his activities were captured by the FBI, which was conducting a nationwide investigation of the website at the time.
In September 2017, during a voluntary interview with local FBI agents, Isaac confessed that he had uploaded images and videos of child pornography to chat rooms in the past. He also admitted that he regularly browsed child pornography images on the dark web, most recently that very same morning. A consensual search of his computer revealed the presence of 67 child pornography videos, including videos depicting children in bondage, child torture, and the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. The videos had been downloaded between July and September 2017.
Earlier this year, Isaac pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment, charging two counts of child pornography distribution and one count of knowingly receiving child pornography over the internet.
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 FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Crawford County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Michael S. Johnson, age 48, of Robinson, Illinois, has been sentenced to serve 210 months in federal prison for his convictions on methamphetamine and firearm charges, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today.
Johnson previously pleaded guilty to all charges in a five count indictment. Counts 1 through 3 charged Johnson with methamphetamine distribution on dates in April and May 2018. Count 4 charged Johnson with distribution of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine on May 5, 2018. Count 5 charged him with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm on April 23, 2018.
The investigation was conducted by the Robinson, Illinois Police Department.
Canadian Telemarketers Who Defrauded Elderly Americans in Prescription Drug Discount Scam Headed to PrisonRead the Press Release
Earlier this morning, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, three Canadian citizens were sentenced to prison for their roles in defrauding elderly Americans in a prescription drug discount card telemarketing scam. Fawaz Sebai, 41, and Vassilios Klouvatos, 34, both of Montreal, Quebec, were each sentenced to serve 44 months in prison. The third defendant, Lefkothea Klouvatos (Vassilios Klouvatos’ sister), 27, also of Montreal, Quebec, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison.
All three defendants pled guilty to federal mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges back in December 2018. As part of their guilty pleas, Fawaz Sebai and Vassilios Klouvatos admitted that they owned and operated a call room in Canada that marketed prescription drug discount cards to elderly Americans over the phone. Lefkothea Klouvatos admitted that she managed the call room.
The telemarketers who worked for the defendants routinely lied and misled the victims. One of the lies the telemarketers often used was that they were calling on behalf of Medicare. Sometimes the telemarketers stated or implied that the victims might lose their Medicare benefits if they did not purchase a prescription drug discount card. The telemarketers also concealed the fact that the prescription drug discount cards they were selling for $299 were available for free on the internet.
The defendants sold these prescription drug discount cards under various corporate names, including AFD Medical Advisors and Clinacall. The scheme defrauded over 5,000 people throughout the United States out of more than $1.9 million. At least seven of the scheme’s elderly victims reside within the Southern District of Illinois in the towns of Carterville, Centralia, Granite City, Highland, Johnson City, Harrisburg, and Smithton.
The case was indicted in July 2014, and the Department of Justice promptly requested that the Canadian government extradite the defendants to the United States to stand trial. The Canadian government extradited all three defendants in 2018.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Montreal Office of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided substantial assistance in the investigation. In 2013, the Federal Trade Commission filed a civil action to stop the operations of this business in the United States. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Quinley and Scott A. Verseman.