Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Okawville Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Casey A. Koepke, 26, of Okawville, Illinois, was sentenced Thursday, November 30, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to 60 months in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine for receipt of child pornography. Koepke will also have to register as a sex offender.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Attempting to Possess Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Missouri man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in overseeing an operation in which methamphetamine was smuggled into the Federal Correctional Institution in Greenville, Illinois, and distributed to inmates.
United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced the sentence for the Southern District of Illinois. Defendant James Leroy Gary, 43, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Facts presented in court showed that in 2014 Gary was an inmate at FCI Greenville in Bond County, Illinois. While an inmate, Gary used contacts outside of prison including his co-defendant, Candace Weakley, to smuggle methamphetamine into FCI Greenville. Gary then oversaw the distribution of the methamphetamine to other inmates within the prison.
Last year, co-defendant, Candace Weakley, was sentenced to prison for 70 months for her role in the offense.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Prison Staff at FCI Greenville and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Houston Resident Sentenced to 262 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
A Houston resident was sentenced to federal prison on Thursday, November 30, 2017, for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy resulting in the seizure of $1.2 million dollars in cash, $72,000 in jewelry, and several kilos of cocaine.
United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced the sentence for the Southern District of Illinois. Defendant Jamie Ramon Green, 46, was sentenced to 262 months in prison, five years of supervised release, a $1000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
An indictment filed on February 18, 2016, charged Green, and seven coconspirators, for participating in a scheme to distribute approximately 120 kilos of cocaine across the country, including into the Southern District of Illinois. In addition to the drug crimes, the indictment sought forfeiture of $1,212,934 in U.S. currency seized on December 2 and 3, 2015, along with jewelry appraised at $72,000.
Earlier this year, co-defendants Sammy Monroe, Rodney Smith, Dana Bell, Nahum Shibeshi, Astin Allison, and Terrance Miles, were sentenced to prison for 168 months, 147 months, 87 months, 48 months, 151 months, and 121 months respectively. The remaining co-defendant in this case, Victor Johnson, has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative brings federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
Former Paramedic Supervisor Convicted on 38 Counts Involving Tampering, Wire Fraud, Making False Statements and Identity Theft Regarding His Theft of Fentanyl and MorphineRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Jason Laut, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, was found guilty of 38 counts by a jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois. The jury convicted Laut on 38 counts, including six counts of wire fraud, 29 counts of making false statements on narcotics logs, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of tampering with the consumer product fentanyl.
Evidence at trial included that, while Laut was acting as a paramedic supervisor for MedStar ambulance company, he tampered with at least 85 vials of fentanyl that were on active duty ambulances by placing a needle through the tamper resistant packaging, removing the fentanyl, and replacing it with water or saline. This action left these tampered vials on ambulances potentially to be used by paramedics who were unaware of the tampering.
Evidence was also presented regarding how Laut altered and falsified documents and records between January of 2013 and May of 2015 to conceal his theft of fentanyl and morphine. These thefts were in addition to the fentanyl removed by tampering. There were 91 unique instances in which Laut stole fentanyl or morphine or both. Fentanyl and morphine are addictive Schedule II controlled narcotic painkillers. These thefts of controlled substances were from narcotic boxes maintained on ambulances in order to render aid to injured individuals consistent with operating procedures approved by a medical director or hospital orders. Memorial Hospital in Belleville supplied Southwestern Illinois EMS system ambulances with the morphine and fentanyl in the narcotic boxes, and suffered the financial loss occasioned by the thefts.
Counts of conviction 1 through 6 charged a wire fraud scheme in which Laut used his MedStar ambulance company administrator access to alter records, known as patient care reports, to indicate falsely that controlled substances had been given to patients.
Counts of conviction 7 through 35 charged that Laut made false statements on narcotics logs submitted to Memorial Hospital. Paramedics used the narcotics logs to record the administration of fentanyl and morphine to patients, and thereby account to Memorial Hospital for the use of the drugs. The jury heard that Laut falsely claimed to have given fentanyl and morphine to patients who did not exist ("phantom" patients) or to patients who did not actually receive fentanyl or morphine.
Counts 36 and 37 of conviction charged that Laut concealed his theft of fentanyl and morphine by utilizing falsely and without authorization the name of a former Memorial Hospital doctor on narcotics logs as authorization for administering fentanyl and morphine, when Laut did not actually administer the drugs. In fact, Laut even claimed to have received such authority, when the doctor no longer worked at Memorial Hospital, to administer fentanyl and morphine to a "phantom" patient.
Counts 1 through 6 for wire fraud, each carry a possible penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Counts 7 through 35 for making false statements, each carry a possible penalty of up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Counts 36 and 37 for aggravated identity theft, each carry a mandatory two years of imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by one year of supervised release.
Count 38 for tampering with a consumer product, carries a penalty of up to ten years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing has been set for March 2, 2018, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sparta, Illinois Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. MedStar Ambulance of Sparta, Illinois, and Memorial Hospital in Belleville assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Ranley R. Killian and Michael J. Quinley prosecuted the case.
Williamson County Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
On November 20, 2017, Julian V. Rodriguez, 22, of Johnston City was sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine offenses, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Rodriguez, who had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and was fined $400.00. The offenses occurred between December 2016 and January 23, 2017, in Williamson County. Evidence at the plea and sentence hearings established that Rodriguez was involved with co-defendant Johnathan Long and others in the distribution of ice and marihuana. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%.
On January 22, 2017, Rodriguez sold ice to a confidential source that was working for law enforcement. When agents executed a search warrant at the Johnson City residence of Rodriguez and Long, they recovered multiple firearms, over 200 grams of ice, cannabis, and a large amount of U.S. currency. At sentencing, the judge found that Rodriguez was responsible for the distribution of 1.13 kilograms of ice and 224.90 kilograms of marihuana. Rodriguez received sentencing enhancements for possessing firearms and for maintaining a residence for the distribution of drugs. Co-defendant Long has pled guilty to his involvement in the methamphetamine and firearm offenses and is currently being held without bond pending a January 30, 2018, sentencing hearing.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County States Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.
Former Illinois Department of Corrections Officer Sentenced to Four Months in Federal Prison for Violating Inmate's Federal Civil RightsRead the Press Release
Dustin A. Fleming, 31, of DuQuoin, Illinois, formerly employed as a correctional officer by the Illinois Department of Corrections, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Benton to a term of four months in federal prison for violating an inmate’s civil rights, announced Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Fleming previously pled guilty on July 18, 2017, to an information charging him with assaulting and causing bodily injury to a handcuffed inmate at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center by choking, punching, kneeing, and kicking the inmate without any legal justification in violation of the United States Constitution. The offense occurred on October 15, 2016.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Fleming was ordered to pay to the United States fines and special assessments totaling $200 and was placed on a two-year term of supervised release to follow his incarceration. Fleming’s employment with the Illinois Department of Corrections was terminated following his guilty plea.
The investigation leading to the charges and guilty plea was conducted by the Illinois State Police with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Illinois Department of Corrections. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.
St Louis Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Heroin and Cocaine Conspiracy in Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
A St. Louis resident was sentenced to federal prison on Friday, November 17, 2017, for his role in the conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine in Southern Illinois and elsewhere.
United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced the sentence for the Southern District of Illinois. Defendant Marlon Martez Lee, 43, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, 5 years of supervised release, a $500 fine, and a $200 special assessment.
An indictment filed on October 18, 2016, charged Lee and co-defendant Charles Christopher Thirdkill in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances and a second count of unlawful distribution of heroin. Co-defendant Thirdkill has plead guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative brings federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
Jerseyville Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Federal Grand Jury sitting in East St. Louis has indicted Christopher Scott Fry, 47, of Jerseyville, Illinois with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm while being a user of a controlled substance, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. The Court ordered Fry to be detained without bond pending trial after a hearing held today.
Documents filed in the U.S. District Court allege that from March 2016 to September 23, 2016, Fry knowingly conspired with another person to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The documents further allege that Fry, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly and unlawfully possessed three firearms.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Fry faces a term in prison of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. If convicted of being in possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, Fry faces a term in prison of up to ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent
2
of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation was conducted by theMetropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the South Central Illinois Drug Task Force (SCIDTF), and the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers for prosecution.
Six More Defendants Charged in International "Tech Support Scam"Read the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that federal fraud charges were filed this week against six additional individuals for their participation in an international "Tech Support Scam." In a Tech Support Scam, the scammer attempts to convince the victim that he or she has a serious computer problem, and then tries to sell the victim unnecessary products and services.
The federal indictments returned on November 14, 2017, allege that all six individuals worked at a business in Boynton Beach, FL, known as Client Care Experts, LLC ("Client Care"). Client Care was formerly known as First Choice Tech Support, LLC ("First Choice"), and was formerly located in Pompano Beach, FL. With the cases filed this week, the number of former Client Care employees who have been charged with federal fraud violations now stands at fourteen – charges against the previous eight defendants were filed this spring.
According to the indictments, the conspiracy and scheme to defraud operated from approximately November 12, 2013, through at least June 29, 2016. During this period, Client Care/First Choice victimized over 40,000 people and defrauded these individuals out of more than $25,000,000. The victims were located in all fifty of the United States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, several U.S. territories, all ten Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, and several other foreign countries. At least fifty-seven victims of the scam were located in twenty-two counties within the Southern District of Illinois, with multiple victims in both St. Clair and Madison Counties.
According to the indictments, Client Care/First Choice purchased pop-up advertisements, which appeared without warning on the victims’ computer screens and locked up their browsers. These pop-ups falsely informed the victims that serious problems, such as viruses or malware, had been detected on their computers. The pop-ups also usually warned the victims that they were at serious risk of losing their data and informed them to call a toll-free number. When the victims called the numbers shown on their screens, they were connected to Client Care/First Choice salespersons.
The indictments further allege that the salespersons convinced the victims to allow them to have remote access to their computers. Once they accessed the victims’ computers, the indictments charge, the salespersons examined routine computer functions and processes and then tried to convince the victims that these functions and processes were evidence of problems. In addition, the salespersons also ran a system analyzer program on the victims’ computers. However, regardless of what this system analyzer showed, the salespersons allegedly still tried to convince the customers that their computers had serious problems. According to the indictment, the salespersons also concealed from the victims: (1) that they could make the pop-ups go away by unplugging or rebooting their computers; and (2) that Client Care/First Choice paid for the pop-up ads which had frozen their computer browsers.
The indictments allege that the salespersons usually charged the victims $250 for a computer system "tune up," and then also sold them an anti-virus protection software for $400. The salespersons worked on commission.
The six additional individuals charged this week are: Cory Steven Bachman, 25, of Boynton Beach, FL; Tatum Elyse Espenshade, 26, of West Palm Beach, FL; Robert Thomas McCart, 32, of Boynton Beach, FL; Timothy James Miller, II, 27, of Schwenksville, PA; Jonathan Matthew Richardson, 27, of Lake Worth, FL; and Grant Clark Wasik, 35, of Boynton Beach, FL. According to the indictments, Bachman, Espenshade, and Miller all worked as salespersons. With regard to Richardson and McCart, the indictments allege that they both worked as Team Leaders, supervising groups of salespersons. Wasik is alleged to have been the Vice President of Client Care/First Choice. Arraignment hearings for all six of these defendants will be conducted later this month and in early December.
The eight individuals who were previously charged are: Joseph Ralph Aievoli, IV, 25, of Boynton Beach, FL; Andrew Douglas Broad, 26, of Boynton Beach, FL; Ryan Stocker Carr, 23, of Mount Laurel, NJ; Joshua Dennis Cortez, 37, of Lake Worth, FL; Nicholas James Davidson, 26, of Boynton Beach, FL; Patrick M. Dougherty, 35, of Boynton Beach, FL; Eric M. Iannaccone, 32, of Monroe Township, NJ; and Anthony Vincent Ludena, 29, of Boca Raton, FL. The indictments allege that Aievoli, Davidson, Dougherty, and Ludena worked as salespersons for Client Care/First Choice. It is alleged that both Broad and Cortez held the position of Director of Recruiting and Training. Carr is charged with working as a Team Leader. Iannaccone is alleged to have been the company’s Sales Manager.
Aievoli, Broad, Carr, Davidson, Dougherty, Iannaccone, and Ludena have all pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Cortez’s trial date has been set for January 23, 2017. Trial dates for Bachman, Espenshade, McCart, Miller, Richardson, and Wasik will be set in the near future.
All fourteen of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Under the SCAMS Act, because it is alleged that the crimes took place in connection with telemarketing, and victimized ten or more persons over the age of 55, the maximum penalty is 30 years of imprisonment. The defendants can also be ordered to serve up to five years of supervised release
after any term of imprisonment, can be fined up to $250,000, and can be ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
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 is cooperating with the federal investigation. In addition, the Florida Attorney General’s Office brought a civil enforcement action against Client Care/First Choice for the purpose of ending the fraudulent activities at that business.
The Federal Trade Commission has also been working to shut down illegal tech support scams. For more information about the FTC’s "Operation Tech Trap," please go to https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2017/05/ftc-federal-state-international-partnersannounce-major-crackdown.
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.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Julian Rubio-Estrada, 35, pled guilty to illegal reentry after deportation by a felon.
Rubio-Estrada is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis on February 2, 2018. He faces maximum penalties of not more than 20 years imprisonment; a fine of not more than $250,000; and a term of not more than three years of supervised release.
Rubio-Estrada was previously convicted of six felony state offenses in Missouri, including trafficking of drugs and the sale of controlled substances. He had been deported from the United States to Mexico on or about February 10, 2007.
The investigation which resulted in Rubio-Estrada’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and Fairview Heights Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deirdre A. Durborow.
Randolph County Resident Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On November 1, 2017, Brian A. Mudd, 59, Ruma, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. The offense occurred between June 2016 and December 8, 2016, in Randolph County. The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. Mudd is currently being held without bond pending a February 13, 2018, sentencing hearing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda A. Robertson and Adam E. Hanna for prosecution.
Randolph County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On October 31, 2017, Robert J. Smith, Jr., 48, Sparta, was sentenced to federal prison for a methamphetamine offense, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Smith, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was fined $400.00. The superseding indictment alleged that the methamphetamine offense occurred between 2014 and September 2016, in Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Smith was involved with numerous other persons in the distribution of ice in southern Illinois. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. At sentencing, the district court found that Smith was responsible for the distribution of approximately 7.9 kilograms of ice.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Illinois State Police, Sparta Police Department and Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
DEA and Local Law Enforcement Partners Take Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs October 28Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – This Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and its local law enforcement, community and tribal partners will give the public its 14th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Individuals can take pills and other solid forms of medication to one of almost 5,000 collection sites manned by more than 4,000 partners nationwide. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.) They can find nearby collection sites at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
“Disposing of leftover painkillers or other addictive medicines in the house is one of the best ways to prevent a member of your family from becoming a victim of the opioid epidemic,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson. “More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance. The abuse of these prescription drugs has fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic, which has led to the largest rate of overdose deaths this country has ever seen.”
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—posed potential safety and health hazards.
Last April the public turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,050 tons—of pills.# # #
Complaint Filed Against Granite City Man for RobberyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that a complaint has been filed in federal court charging a Granite City man with the robbery of Granite City Steel Credit Union on October 20, 2017.
The Complaint alleges that Torricelli A. Johnson walked into the Granite City Steel Credit Union in Granite City, Illinois and told the credit union teller, "this is a stick up" and demanded money in $100 bills. The robbery of a credit union carries up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000.
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 is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Granite City Police Department.
Swansea Man Involved in Fatal Car Accident Sentenced for Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Eric L. Eiskant, 33, of Swansea, was sentenced yesterday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to 33 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Honorable Judge Staci M. Yandle ordered that the sentence imposed run consecutively to any sentence on charges Eiskant faces in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County.
Evidence showed that on January 20, 2017, Eiskant was involved in a fatal vehicle accident that occurred in the area of St. Clair Avenue and 79th Street in East St. Louis. A witness on scene told officers that he went to check on Eiskant’s well-being following the accident, and Eiskant handed him a loaded firearm stating, "I got to get out of here. I’m going to get in trouble." The witness dropped the firearm on the ground and kicked it under Eiskant’s vehicle, and after officers arrived on scene, he directed them to where the firearm was located. Agents then located a loaded .25 caliber Beretta pistol under the vehicle Eiskant had been driving. Records showed that Eiskant’s deceased grandfather had originally purchased the pistol.
Eiskant is currently indicted in St. Clair County Case Number 17-CF-727 with four counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence, two counts of Reckless Homicide, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.
Fairview Heights Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Michael S. Putman, 51, of Fairview Heights, was sentenced on October 18, 2017, to 77 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for robbing the Regions Bank in Collinsville, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. After serving this federal sentence, Putman will serve an additional sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections for burglarizing the China King restaurant in Fairview Heights in January of 2017.
Putman had previously pled guilty to the February 10, 2017 robbery of the Regions Bank at #1 Eastport Plaza in Collinsville, Illinois. When officers attempted to pursue Putman after the bank robbery, a high-speed chase ensued through East St. Louis, wherein Putman finally crashed his vehicle and was apprehended near the entrance to the Eads Bridge.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Collinsville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.
Williamson County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
On October 18, 2017, Shaundale J. Johnson, a/k/a "Shug," 35, Marion, pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging unlawful distribution of methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. The offenses occurred on March 17, 2017, and March 20, 2017, in Williamson County. The offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 30 years of imprisonment, to be followed by six years of supervised release, and a $2,000,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County States Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.
Randolph County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On October 18, 2017, Justin M. Rice, 27, Sparta, was sentenced to federal prison for a methamphetamine offense, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Rice, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was fined $200.00. The superseding indictment alleges that the methamphetamine offense occurred between 2014 and September 2016, in Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Rice was involved with numerous other persons in the distribution of ice in southern Illinois. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. At sentencing, the district court found that Rice was responsible for the distribution of 137 grams of ice. Rice received a sentence enhancement based on his possession of a firearm. Co-defendants Bradley M.D. Miller and Taylor C. Robertson were previously sentenced to prison terms of 169 months and 57 months, respectively, for their roles in the ice conspiracy. Two additional co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. One co-defendant has pled not guilty and is being held without bond pending an October 26, 2017, change of plea hearing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Illinois State Police, Sparta Police Department and Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Chiropractor Pleads Guilty and Sentenced for Making False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
James Briggs, 46, of Brentwood, Missouri, pled guilty to an information charging one-count of Making a False Claim against the United States. Sentencing was held immediately after the plea hearing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Don Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. The Court sentenced Briggs to six months of home confinement, five years of probation, a $100 special assessment, a $10,000 fine, and $8,221.30 in restitution.
During his plea hearing, Briggs, a chiropractic physician licensed in Illinois, who operated clinics in Jerseyville and Wood River, admitted that he submitted a false claim for an ankle orthotic to Medicare on October 4, 2013. Briggs agreed to pay mandatory restitution to Medicare for all ankle orthotic claims totaling $5,338.25. Briggs also agreed to pay voluntary restitution to other health care benefit plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, and United Healthcare for all ankle orthotic claims totaling $2,883.05.
The Southern Illinois Health Care Fraud Task Force conducted the investigation with active participation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General; the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General; the U.S.
Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General – Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service; the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General; and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Quinley and Ranley R. Killian prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Joseph K. Rander, 31, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to 37 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Evidence presented showed that on December 5, 2016, agents from the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit stopped Rander in his vehicle and found him to be in possession of a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He had previously been convicted of three different felony charges.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Warren Stepney, Jr., 23, of East St. Louis, Illinois will serve ten years in federal prison for possession of firearms as a previously convicted felon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. Following his prison sentence, Stepney will be on federal supervised release for three years. Stepney has been in custody since his arrest on July 28, 2016.
Documents filed in the U.S. District Court establish that on June 28, 2016, Stepney, was observed by officers loitering outside of a convenience store in East St. Louis, Illinois, along with four other individuals. When the officers approached and questioned Stepney, he reached into his pockets. Officers told him to remove his hands. When he refused, an officer performed a pat down search and found a .380 caliber HiPoint handgun in Stepney’s pocket. The gun was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, and it had an obliterated serial number.
One month later, on July 28, 2016, an East St. Louis officer initiated a traffic stop of Stepney, who was driving a Kia Sportage that had been reported stolen out of St. Louis, Missouri. The officer approached the car with his service weapon drawn and told Stepney to turn the vehicle off, to which Stepney stated he did not know how. When the officer attempted to reach across Stepney to turn the car off, Stepney tried to reach under the passenger’s seat and then put the vehicle into gear and began to drive away with the officer partially inside the car. Stepney drug the officer approximately 15 feet causing injury to the officer. As Stepney fled, he attempted to drive onto a ramp to the interstate at which time he lost control and crashed. As other officers arrived to assist, Stepney threw a handgun out the driver’s side window before he was taken into custody. The firearm was recovered by the officers and determined to be a fully loaded Citadel Government Model 1911-22.
Court documents further established that Stepney was a previously convicted felon, having been convicted in 2012 of residential burglary in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois.
The case was investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Washington Park Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.
Williamson County Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
On October 11, 2017, Ricky E. Shull, 51, Marion, was sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine offenses, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Shull, who had previously pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 168 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was fined $400.00. The indictment alleged that the offenses occurred between September 2016 and January 19, 2017, in Williamson County. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Shull was involved with other persons in the distribution of ice in southern Illinois. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. On January 19, 2017, Shull sold ice to a confidential source working for law enforcement. At sentencing, the district court found that Shull was responsible for the distribution of 436.45 grams of ice. Shull received an enhanced sentence based on his classification as a career offender.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Pipe BombRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Paul Ryan Owens, 30, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty on Friday, October 6, 2017, to unlawful receipt and possession of an unregistered destructive device, the offense occurring on July 28, 2017, in Madison County, Illinois. Owens faces up to ten years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, beginning on July 20, 2017, through the time of his arrest on July 28, 2017, Owens solicited a pipe bomb, specifying that he wanted it to be four inches in length with hardened steel end caps containing black powder with a one and a half to two feet long fuse. On July 28, 2017, Owens accepted a toolbox containing a pipe bomb constructed by an ATF bomb expert in such a manner that it would only smoke if detonated. Owens had not registered the pipe bomb in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Owens looked into the toolbox and indicated that the pipe bomb was as he requested and provided morphine pills in exchange for the pipe bomb. Law enforcement immediately arrested Owens.
The investigation of Owens was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Hamel Police Department.
Treasurer of City of Zeigler, IL Indicted on Fraud and Embezzlement ChargesRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned a five count indictment charging Ryan A. Thorpe, 44, of Zeigler, IL, with wire fraud and embezzlement from a local government, announced Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The charges against Thorpe relate to events which occurred while Thorpe worked as the Treasurer for the City of Zeigler.
The indictment charges that from March 4, 2013, through August 3, 2017, Thorpe embezzled more than $300,000 by writing checks to himself drawn on the City of Zeigler’s general account. The indictment further alleges that Thorpe concealed his thefts from the City of Zeigler by altering the copies of the checks that were sent to the city each month by the city’s bank. According to the indictment, Thorpe "whited out" his name in the payee section of these checks, wrote in the names of vendors and suppliers that the city did business with, photocopied the altered checks, placed these photocopies in the bank records kept by the city, and then shredded the copies of the checks with the "white out." In addition, the indictment states that Thorpe further concealed his thefts by submitting false monthly Treasurer’s Reports to the Zeigler City Council.
Thorpe is charged with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of embezzlement from a local government. Each of the wire fraud counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of embezzlement from a local government carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of numerous items Thorpe is alleged to have purchased with embezzled funds. Those items include: two side-by-side Utility Task Vehicles; two motorcycles; a portable building; lots in the City of Zeigler; a utility trailer; numerous firearms; and a lady’s diamond ring.
The arraignment for Thorpe will be conducted on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse in Benton, IL.
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 investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Marion, IL Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
St. Peters, MO Woman Indicted for Fraud in Connection with Preparation of Bankruptcy PetitionsRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an indictment charging Phebe Ibrahim, formerly known as "Phebe Khan," 50, of St. Peters, MO, with 21 counts of bankruptcy fraud and related charges, announced Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Ibrahim was indicted as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continuing effort to crackdown on those who commit fraud in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
According to the indictment, Ibrahim, a non-lawyer, worked as a bankruptcy petition preparer, preparing bankruptcy petitions and other documents for debtors who wished to file bankruptcy in the Southern District of Illinois. The Bankruptcy Code imposes certain restrictions on bankruptcy petition preparers, including requiring them to disclose their names on any documents they prepare, and allowing the Bankruptcy Courts to set maximum fees that they can charge their customers. The practice in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois is that bankruptcy petition preparers are not allowed to charge fees of more than $150.
The indictment alleges that Ibrahim defrauded the debtors for whom she prepared bankruptcy petitions by routinely charging fees that exceeded the maximum allowable amount. The indictment further alleges that Ibrahim attempted to conceal her fraud by not disclosing her name on the documents she prepared, and by instructing her customers not to mention her name during their bankruptcy cases.
The Bankruptcy Code also requires that debtors attend a credit counselling briefing prior to filing a bankruptcy case. The indictment charges that Ibrahim circumvented and defeated this provision of the Bankruptcy Code by causing false "Certificates of Counselling" to be filed on behalf of her customers. These Certificates represented that Ibrahim’s customers had attended the required credit counselling briefing.
"Bankruptcy petition preparers who fail to comply with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code and circumvent its provisions prey on consumers in financial distress," stated Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Southern and Central Illinois and Indiana (Region 10). "We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI and our law enforcement partners who serve on the Southern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group as we work together to protect consumers and the integrity of the bankruptcy system. We welcome information that will help detect unscrupulous bankruptcy petition preparers and we encourage citizens to report suspected bankruptcy fraud through our Internet hotline at [email protected]."
Ibrahim is charged with seven counts each of bankruptcy fraud, causing false statements to be made under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy case, and falsifying records in a bankruptcy case. Each of the bankruptcy fraud and false statements under penalty of perjury counts carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each of the falsification of records charges carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The arraignment for Ibrahim will be conducted on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse in East St. Louis, IL.
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 charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Indiana and Southern and Central Illinois (Region 10) to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 189 Months in Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Raymond O. Winbush, Sr., 43, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to a total of 189 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. The prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.
Evidence presented at sentencing showed that Winbush had sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from his residence in East St. Louis on three different occasions in August and September of 2016. Agents from the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit then obtained a search warrant for his residence and found 845 grams of "ice" (high purity methamphetamine), 115 grams of cocaine, and three loaded firearms – one of which was stolen. Defendant had previously been convicted of a felony drug charge and a felony weapons charge.
At sentencing, the Honorable Chief Judge Michael J. Reagan stated, "In 17 years on the bench, I’ve found that the drug that causes the most carnage is methamphetamine, but has recently been supplanted by heroin and fentanyl." Noting the purity level of the methamphetamine Winbush possessed, Judge Reagan commented that "Walter White from the show Breaking Bad would be jealous." Judge Reagan stated that he needed to impose a sentence that would protect the public from future crimes of Winbush and deter others from engaging in the distribution of narcotics.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.
Beardstown Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Kayln Valdez was sentenced on September 28, 2017 to 108 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Valdez pled guilty on June 14, 2017. At his change of plea hearing, Valdez admitted possessing two kilograms of methamphetamine in Jerseyville, Illinois on June 18, 2016. A co-defendant of Valdez,Mark E. Wilson, was sentenced on September 7, 2017 to a term of 97 months in prison for the same offenses.
The investigation which resulted in Valdez’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.
District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against Illinois Caviar Supplier to Prevent Distribution of Adulterated FoodRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal court in Illinois permanently enjoined a Metropolis, Illinois caviar supplier from distributing adulterated food, the Department of Justice announced today.
In a complaint filed on Sept. 20 at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States alleged that Mary Parrish, doing business as Fort Massac Fish Market, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the complaint, the defendant caused ready-to-eat caviar to become adulterated by being prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions and by failing to comply with seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations, which are designed to mitigate food safety hazards associated with the processing of fish and fishery products.
"Consumers should be able to trust that their food is produced under safe and sanitary conditions," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. "Where food manufacturers prepare food using substandard practices, the Department of Justice will work aggressively with the FDA to enforce our nation’s food safety laws."
The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, alleged that two FDA inspections of Fort Massac in 2016 revealed poor sanitation practices, including failures to sanitize hands, utensils, and food surfaces; insect residue throughout the building; and a pet dog in the facility. According to the complaint, Parrish also failed to ensure the temperature of ready-to-eat caviar remained at a level low enough to control Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation, which can cause botulism. The complaint states that FDA warned Parrish of these violations in April 2016, but observed similar deficiencies during a December 2016 inspection.
"Consumers should be able to trust that the food they buy is safe," said U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois. "We will continue to work with the FDA to combat and deter conduct that leads to the distribution of contaminated food."
"By violating food safety regulations, Fort Massac Fish Market put people at unnecessary risk for serious food poisoning," said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Melinda K. Plaisier. "The FDA took action to protect public health by requiring that the
defendant cease operations until they can demonstrate that they can produce food that meets important safety requirements."
The defendant agreed to be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. As part of that settlement, Parrish stated that she no longer processes or distributes food. Under the terms of the consent decree as entered by the court, Parrish may not resume such activity before taking steps to ensure the safety of her food and receiving FDA authorization.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Biersbach of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, with the assistance of Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement Yen Hoang of the FDA’s Office of General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil.
District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against Illinois Caviar Supplier to Prevent Distribution of Adulterated FoodRead the Press Release
A federal court in Illinois permanently enjoined a Metropolis, Illinois caviar supplier from distributing adulterated food, the Department of Justice announced today.
In a complaint filed on Sept. 20 at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States alleged that Mary Parrish, doing business as Fort Massac Fish Market, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the complaint, the defendant caused ready-to-eat caviar to become adulterated by being prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions and by failing to comply with seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations, which are designed to mitigate food safety hazards associated with the processing of fish and fishery products.
“Consumers should be able to trust that their food is produced under safe and sanitary conditions,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Where food manufacturers prepare food using substandard practices, the Department of Justice will work aggressively with the FDA to enforce our nation’s food safety laws.”
The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, alleged that two FDA inspections of Fort Massac in 2016 revealed poor sanitation practices, including failures to sanitize hands, utensils, and food surfaces; insect residue throughout the building; and a pet dog in the facility. According to the complaint, Parrish also failed to ensure the temperature of ready-to-eat caviar remained at a level low enough to control Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation, which can cause botulism. The complaint states that FDA warned Parrish of these violations in April 2016, but observed similar deficiencies during a December 2016 inspection.
“Consumers should be able to trust that the food they buy is safe,” said U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois. “We will continue to work with the FDA to combat and deter conduct that leads to the distribution of contaminated food.”
“By violating food safety regulations, Fort Massac Fish Market put people at unnecessary risk for serious food poisoning,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Melinda K. Plaisier. “The FDA took action to protect public health by requiring that the defendant cease operations until they can demonstrate that they can produce food that meets important safety requirements.”
The defendant agreed to be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. As part of that settlement, Parrish stated that she no longer processes or distributes food. Under the terms of the consent decree as entered by the court, Parrish may not resume such activity before taking steps to ensure the safety of her food and receiving FDA authorization.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Biersbach of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, with the assistance of Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement Yen Hoang of the FDA’s Office of General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil.
Williamson County Resident Sentenced to 30 Years Imprisonment for Cocaine OffenseRead the Press Release
On September 19, 2017, Tyree M. Neal, Jr., 30, of Marion, was sentenced to federal prison for a cocaine offense, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.
Neal, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute cocaine, was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 6 years’ supervised release, and was fined $400.00. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, from at least 2012, through August 2014, Neal was involved with others in the distribution of cocaine in Williamson County. On multiple occasions, Neal sold cocaine to confidential sources working for law enforcement. On September 12, 2014, federal and local law enforcement attempted to arrest Neal on a federal drug warrant. Neal fled from the police in his vehicle, almost striking a police officer and ramming into a police vehicle. Neal then led authorities on a 17 mile, high-speed pursuit, traveling at speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h. and forcing other vehicles off the road. After Neal crashed his vehicle in rural Williamson County, he carjacked a van that was occupied by a young female and three minor children. Additional evidence established that Neal tried to recruit other persons to kill certain witnesses that had cooperated against him. At sentencing, the district court found that Neal was responsible for the distribution of more than 13.4 kilograms of cocaine and 5.9 grams of crack cocaine. Neal’s sentence was enhanced based on his use of violence, obstruction of justice, and reckless endangerment to others while fleeing from the police. Neal has an extensive criminal history and was classified as a Career Offender.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Marion Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation
Cape Girardeau Resident Charged with Southern Illinois Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Carlos L. Hemphill, a/k/a "Los," 34, of Cape Girardeau, was indicted on September 6, 2017, in a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce announced today.
The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between November 2016, and August 2017, in Williamson and Jackson Counties. Hemphill made his initial appearance in federal court on September 11, 2017. At his September 14, 2017, detention hearing, Hemphill was ordered held without bond pending a November 13, 2017, jury trial.
The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 4 years’ supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The SEMO Drug Task Force, Herrin Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted in the investigation.
Jackson County Residents Charged with Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
Krystle R. Sands, 32, and Robert F. Humphrey, 46, both of Elkville, IL, were indicted on August 23, 2017, in a two-count indictment charging methamphetamine violations, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce announced today.
Sands and Humphrey are each charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred between January 2015 and May 2017, in Jackson, Williamson, and Saline Counties. Sands made her initial appearance in federal court on August 28, 2017. Humphrey made his initial appearance in federal court on September 4, 2017. Both Sands and Humphrey are being held without bond pending a November 6, 2017, jury trial.
The methamphetamine conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of ten years to life imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release and an $8,000,000 fine. The pseudoephedrine conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Elkville Police Department. The Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and Jackson County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Former Pulaski County Illinois Resident Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Clint Wade Green, 42, of Paducah, Ky., pled guilty to four counts of Receipt of Child Pornography and one count of Mail Fraud, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. Sentencing is set for December 12, 2017 in Benton, Illinois. Green has been ordered detained pending sentencing.
Green pled guilty to knowingly receiving materials that contained child pornography on four separate occasions in October 2015 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(B). Green faces a prison sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 20 years on each count, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years supervised release. Green also pled guilty toMail Fraud in September of 2014 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The Mail Fraud count alleged that Green did unlawfully divert, via the United States Mails, checks payable to the Pulaski County Development Association (PCDA) into his personal banking account after his service as Executive Director of the PCDA from approximately November of 2010 through November of 2013. Green faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years, up to 3 years supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and $51,881.60 in restitution to the PCDA.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Marion, the Department of Agriculture-OIG, and the Illinois State Police. The Paducah Kentucky Police Department also participated in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.
San Diego Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Mark Wilson, age 30, of San Diego, California was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment on September 7, 2017 for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
At his change of plea hearing on April 11, 2017, Wilson admitted that he helped to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in the Beardstown, Illinois area between June, 2015 and August, 2016.
The investigation which resulted in Wilson’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.
Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for 2010 Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
A St. Louis man will serve 27 years in federal prison for robbing two convenience stores and shooting a customer in 2010. Derek Marshall, 24, was sentenced on August 31, 2017, in the U.S. District Court to 27 years in prison for his role in the June 17, 2010 armed robbery and shooting that occurred at the Best Stop convenience store in Cahokia, Illinois and the July 8, 2010 robbery and shooting that occurred at D&D’s MiniMart, also located in Cahokia, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.
Documents filed in the U.S. District Court establish that on June 17, 2010, Derek Marshall, Leslie Woods, McGee and James Smith robbed the Best Stop convenience store partially masked and armed with a rifle and two handguns, one of which was a .40 caliber pistol Marshall had stolen during a burglary of a St. Louis gun store earlier in June. The four of them drove to the store in a car they had stolen during a carjacking in South St. Louis earlier in the day. Woods waited in the car while Marshall, McGee and Smith went into the store, ordered a customer to the ground, pointed a gun to the owner’s head and took over $11,000 from the cash register. As they fled the store, Marshall shot the customer laying on the floor with a .40 caliber pistol and then fired four shots toward a woman sitting in her car parked outside the business.
Three weeks later, on July 8, 2010, Derek Marshall, Leslie Woods, Terrell McGee, James Smith and Reshon Farmer robbed D&D’s Minimart partially masked and armed with two rifles and two handguns. The crew drove to the store in a minivan they had stolen in North St. Louis earlier that day. Farmer waited in the van while Marshall,Woods, McGee and Smith went into the store and pointed their guns at the two employees behind the counter. While the male clerk was trying to open the register, Woods shot him with a .30 caliber rifle, causing him to fall on top of the female clerk who was lying on the ground.Woods then fired two more shots at both employees. As the two employees laid motionless on the floor, Marshall, Woods, and Smith took the cash register and a .40 caliber handgun that belonged to the storeowner. As a result of the shooting, the male clerk suffered severe injuries and has permanent loss of use of his right arm.
Several police officers from North St. Louis who knew Woods, Marshall, Smith and Farmer viewed the video surveillance of D&D’s MiniMart robbery and identified Marshall, Woods and Smith as three of the gunmen. They also identified Farmer as the getaway driver. During an interview with law enforcement officers, Smith and Farmer confessed to their involvement in the D&D’s MiniMart robbery and identified Marshall, Woods and McGee as the three other gunmen.
In 2015, McGee was arrested and interviewed about his involvement in the two robberies. McGee admitted that he was one of the three gunmen in the Best Stop robbery. He also admitted that he was one of the four gunmen in the D&D’s MiniMart robbery.
Marshall, Woods and McGee plead guilty to all charges in federal court in April 2017. Woods was sentenced to 30 years in prison and McGee was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month. After completion of the 27-year term of imprisonment, Marshall will then serve three years of federal supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $727,070 in restitution to the victims and a $600 special assessment. Smith and Farmer were prosecuted for these offenses by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case was investigated by the Cahokia Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Illinois State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ali Summers, Dan Kapsak and James Piper, Jr..
Southern Illinois Residents Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
On August 17, 2017, Marshall W. Duty, 58, of Dongola, IL, and Kiristien M. Joyner, 28, of Carbondale, IL, were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine offenses, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.
Duty, who had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine from a public housing apartment, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by six years of supervised release. Joyner, who had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Duty and Joyner were each fined $300.00. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, between 2013, and October 3, 2016, Duty and Joyner were involved with each other and others in the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in Union, Jackson, and Williamson Counties. At sentencing, the district court found that Duty and Joyner were responsible for the distribution of 226.56 grams of methamphetamine. Duty was also found responsible for the possession of 288.9 grams of pseudoephedrine.
Alton Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Eric J. Hightower, 36, of Alton, IL, pleaded guilty on August 15, 2017 to a two-count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in count one and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in count two.
On count one, Hightower faces up to 40 years of imprisonment and/or fine up to $5,000,000, four years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. On count two, Hightower faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and/or a fine up to $1,000,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2017.
On August 20, September 5, and December 5, 2016, the Alton Police Department used a confidential informant to purchase user quantities of crack cocaine and cocaine from Hightower, at his residence.
On December 6, 2016, the Alton Police Department obtained a search warrant to search Hightower’s residence. Police seized 126 grams of cocaine and 58 grams of cocaine base, commonly called "crack." Hightower admitted the drugs found by the Alton Police Department were his and did not belong to anyone else. Hightower also admitted that the drugs found in his home were intended for distribution.
Houston Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine into Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
Two more Houston residents were sentenced to federal prison on Friday, August 11, 2017, for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy resulting in the seizure of $1.2 million dollars in cash, $72,000 in jewelry, and several kilos of cocaine.
United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced the sentence for the Southern District of Illinois. Defendant Nahum Shibeshi, 29, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, four years of supervised release, a $1500 fine, and a $200 special assessment. Dana Bell, 51, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, 3 years supervised release, a $750 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
An indictment filed on February 18, 2016, charged Shibeshi and Bell as drug couriers who transported drugs for other suppliers. The indictment charged eight co-defendants for participating in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine into the Southern District of Illinois from Texas. In addition to the drug crimes, the indictment sought forfeiture of $1,212,934 in U.S. currency seized on December 2 and 3, 2015, along with jewelry appraised at $72,000.
Earlier this summer, co-defendants Sammy Monroe and Rodney Smith were sentenced to prison for 168 months and 147 months, respectively, after it was determined that they were responsible for trafficking approximately 120 kilos of cocaine into Southern Illinois.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Armando Lozano, 42, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment on August 11, 2017, for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. After release from prison, Lozano will be placed on four years of supervised release. Lozano was also fined $200 and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment.
At his change of plea hearing on April 25, 2017, Lozano admitted that he conspired with others to mail methamphetamine from California to a residence in Fairview Heights, Illinois on several occasions. Lozano also admitted to possessing the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Co-defendant Shannon Escobedo, a/k/a "Shannon Lozano," was also charged in the indictment. Escobedo has not appeared before the Court. If anyone has knowledge of Shannon Escobedo’s whereabouts, please contact the United States Marshals Service.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Edwardsville/Glen Carbon/Springfield Bank Robber Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Adrianna C. Frye-Williamson, 21, Springfield, Illinois, pled guilty today to three bank robberies she committed in Illinois between January 12 and February 9, 2017. The first bank robbery occurred in Springfield on January 12, the second occurred in Edwardsville on January 20, and the third occurred in Glen Carbon on February 9, 2017. Frye-Williamson faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment on each count. Restitution is mandatory.
According to court documents, on January 12, 2017, Frye-Williamson, wearing a hat and sunglasses, entered the Illini Bank in Springfield and presented a note that stated, "This is a robbery. I have a bomb strapped to me. Large bills only," or words similar as described by the teller. On January 20, 2017, Frye-Williamson, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, entered the National Bank in Edwardsville and presented a note reading, "This is a robbery. I have a gun – BIG BILLS ONLY." On February 9, 2017, Frye-Williamson, wearing a baseball cap, entered the U.S. Bank in Glen Carbon and presented a note indicating that she was committing a robbery and had a gun. The tellers complied in each robbery by handing over money from their teller drawers. The banks were insured by the FDIC at the time of the robberies.
Law enforcement arrested Frye-Williamson on February 10, 2017, in Springfield. During a search of her car, the baseball cap worn by Frye-Williamson during the U.S. Bank robbery, and a note that read, "This is a robbery [sic] I have a gun," were located. Law enforcement recovered some of the stolen money during a search of Frye-Williamson’s home. Following advice of rights, Frye-Williamson acknowledged committing the bank robberies.
Information leading to the charges against Frye-Williamson was obtained in an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sentencing is scheduled for November 2, 2017.
Developer Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud in Connection with Carbondale Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
On August 9, 2017, Christopher E. Creek, 56, of Champaign, IL, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison on his federal bank fraud conviction, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. Creek’s conviction resulted from his participation as a developer for the construction of an apartment complex in Carbondale, IL, known as the Pointe at SIU.
When he pled guilty on May 9, 2017, Creek admitted that he submitted fraudulent requests for draws of construction loan funds to the banks that financed the construction of the apartment complex. Specifically, Creek submitted documents to the banks that falsely stated that the framing for the project had been provided by a company called "Southern Framing," and that the foundation work had been done by a company called "Solid as a Rock." Both "Southern Framing" and "Solid as a Rock" were fictitious entities that Creek created. Creek deposited the checks that were payable to the fictitious entities into bank accounts that he controlled. He then used those funds for his own purposes, including paying subcontractors and materials suppliers from prior jobs to whom he still owed money.
Creek’s sentencing hearing was held in United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. In addition to the prison sentence, Creek was also ordered to pay $376,890.84 in restitution to the victims of his crime and fined an additional $2,000. The judge also ordered Creek to serve three years of supervised release after he is released from prison.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Marion, Illinois, Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on August 9, 2017, Steven D. Blosser, 40, Columbia, IL, pled guilty to an Indictment charging him with Receipt of Child Pornography which carries a penalty of a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than twenty (20) years, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than five (5) years to life.
Facts stipulated to by the parties were that, on March 2, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Blosser’s residence in Columbia, Illinois. Among the items seized from the defendant’s residence were an Apple iPad and a Dell desktop computer. While the search warrant was being executed, Blosser provided a voluntary, videotaped statement. During his statement, the defendant admitted having child pornography on his Apple iPad, stating that it had been on there "for years." The defendant also admitted downloading child pornography and provided the officers with a name of a website that he visited to find child pornography. He said that he had been downloading child pornography "as far back as I can remember."
Blosser also stipulated that a forensic review of his Dell computer revealed that it contained 84 image files of child pornography while a forensic review of his iPad revealed 2,124 image files of child pornography. In addition, the forensic review of the two devices revealed that, from on or about September 16, 2015, until on or about February 19, 2016, the defendant received images of child pornography, including those charged in the indictment.
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 case was investigated by the Columbia, Illinois, Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Child Exploitation Task Force. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for 2010 Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
A North St. Louis man will serve 30 years in federal prison for robbing two convenience stores and shooting a store clerk in 2010. Leslie Woods, 23, was sentenced yesterday in the U.S. District Court to 30 years in prison for his role in the June 17, 2010 armed robbery and shooting that that occurred at the Best Stop convenience store in Cahokia, Illinois and the July 8, 2010 robbery and shooting that occurred at D&D’s MiniMart, also located in Cahokia, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.
Documents filed in the U.S. District Court establish that on June 17, 2010, Leslie Woods, Derek Marshall, Terrell McGee and James Smith robbed the Best Stop convenience store partially masked and armed with a rifle and two handguns, one of which was a .40 caliber pistol Marshall had stolen during a burglary of a St. Louis gun store earlier in June. Woods, acting as the getaway driver, drove Marshall, McGee and Smith to the store in a car they had stolen during a carjacking in South St. Louis earlier in the day. Woods waited in the car while Marshall, McGee and Smith went into the store, ordered a customer to the ground, pointed a gun to the owner’s head and took over $11,000 from the cash register. As they fled the store, Marshall shot the customer laying on the floor with a .40 caliber pistol and then fired four shots toward a woman sitting in her car parked outside the business. The entire robbery was captured on the store video surveillance.
Five hours after the robbery, the stolen car was recovered in St. Louis County and processed for fingerprints. Two fingerprints were recovered from the door of the gas tank, which were determined to be a match to Leslie Woods. Approximately a week and a half later, Marshall was found in possession of a .40 caliber handgun during a traffic stop in Brooklyn, Illinois. Testing by the Illinois State Police forensic lab revealed that the gun recovered from Marshall was a match to the .40 caliber fired cartridges recovered by a crime scene investigator from the shooting at Best Stop.
Three weeks later, on July 8, 2010, Leslie Woods, Derek Marshall, Terrell McGee, James Smith and Reshon Farmer robbed D&D’s Minimart partially masked and armed with two rifles and two handguns. Farmer drove Woods, Marshall, McGee and Smith to the store in a minivan they had stolen in North St. Louis earlier that day. Farmer waited in the van while Woods, Marshall, McGee and Smith went into the store and pointed their guns at the two employees behind the counter. While the male clerk was trying to open the register, Woods shot him with a .30/.30 caliber rifle, causing him to fall on top of the female clerk who was lying on the ground. Woods then fired two more shots at both employees. As the two employees laid motionless on the floor, Woods and his co-conspirators took the cash register and a .40 caliber handgun that belonged to the store owner. As a result of the shooting, the male clerk suffered severe injuries and has permanent loss of use of his right arm. The entire robbery was captured on the store video surveillance.
Several police officers from North St. Louis who knew Woods, Marshall, Smith and Farmer viewed the video surveillance of D&D’s MiniMart robbery and identified Marshall, Woods and Smith as three of the gunmen. They also identified Farmer as the getaway driver. During an interview with law enforcement officers, Smith and Farmer confessed to their involvement in the D&D’s MiniMart robbery and identified Marshall, Woods and McGee as the three other gunmen.
In 2015, McGee was arrested and interviewed about his involvement in the two robberies. McGee admitted that he was one of the three gunman in the Best Stop robbery. He also admitted that he was one of the four gunmen in the D&D’s MiniMart robbery.
Woods, Marshall and McGee pleaded guilty to all charges in federal court in April 2017. Marshall and McGee are awaiting sentencing. After completion of the 30-year term of imprisonment, Woods will then serve 3 years of federal supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $727,070 in restitution to the victims and a $600 special assessment. Smith and Farmer were prosecuted for these offenses by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case was investigated by the Cahokia Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Illinois State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ali Summers, Dan Kapsak, and James Piper, Jr..
Williamson County Man Indicted on Charges Related to Unlawful Dealing of FirearmsRead the Press Release
On July 12, 2017, Austin K. Sims was indicted for three charges relating to the unlawful sale of firearms, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. After a detention hearing held on July 26, 2017, the federal district court in Benton ordered that Sims be held without bond pending trial.
Count One charges that from on or about April 24, 2014, until on or about August 1, 2016, in Williamson County, Sims engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license. Count Two charges that on or about April 29, 2016, in Williamson County, Sims was an unlawful user of a controlled substance and knowingly possessed a firearm in and affecting interstate or foreign commerce. Count Three charges that on August 4, 2016, in Williamson County, Sims willfully and knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements during an investigation conducted within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the United States government.
The offense of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license carries up to a maximum of five years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment. The offense of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person carries up to a maximum of ten years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment. The offense of making a false statement to an agency of the United States carries up to a maximum of five years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment.
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 is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the Marion (Illinois) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William E. Coonan.
Randolph County Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On July 27, 2017, Colty T. Peak, 32, of Red Bud, was sentenced to federal prison for a methamphetamine offense, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Peak, who had previously pled guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to 140 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 4 years’ supervised release, and was fined $300.00. The indictment alleged that the offense occurred between November 2013 and August 2015, in Perry, Randolph, Monroe, Jackson and St. Clair Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Peak was involved with other persons in manufacture of methamphetamine and distribution of ice in southern Illinois. Ice is methamphetamine which has a purity level of at least 80%. At sentencing, the district court found that Peak was responsible for the possession or distribution of 240.8 grams of ice and 332.4 of pseudoephedrine. Co-defendant Dyllan Wayland was previously sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment for his role in the ice conspiracy. Co-defendant Joseph Hatley has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Sparta Police Department, and Illinois Department of Corrections. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Ronnie Parente, Jr., 35, was sentenced Tuesday, July 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to 144 months in federal prison, ten years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments for possession of child pornography. Parente, Jr., will also have to register as a sex offender. Parente, Jr. had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography in the Circuit Court of Madison County in 2004.
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 Granite City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.
Jury Convicts East St. Louis Man of His Fourth Gun-Related ChargeRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Tuesday afternoon, a federal jury in East St. Louis found Bernard L. Cherry, 31, of East St. Louis, Illinois, guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at trial showed that on December 13, 2016, an East St. Louis officer responding to a 911 call about a suspicious vehicle encountered Cherry in the yard of an abandoned house. A .40 caliber pistol was on the ground at Cherry’s feet. Cherry attempted to flee from the officer but was eventually apprehended. During a statement to police, he admitted to having the gun in his hand.
At the time of his arrest Cherry was on supervised release in two separate federal cases after convictions for felon in possession of a firearm. Cherry also had prior state convictions in both Illinois and Missouri for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking. Cherry faces a maximum of ten years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 17, 2017, in front of the Honorable David R. Herndon.
The investigation into this crime was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East St. Louis Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Hoell and Derek Wiseman.
Springfield Man Sentenced to Prison for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Yesterday afternoon, in federal court in East St. Louis, IL, Mark A. McFarland, 58, of Springfield, IL, was sentenced to one year in prison for his convictions on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. McFarland was indicted on February 2, 2016, as part of the U.S. Attorney’s effort to crackdown on those who commit fraud in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing yesterday established that McFarland is a serial bankruptcy filer. Serial bankruptcy filers repeatedly file bankruptcy petitions with no intention of following through with their cases. Instead, they simply file the petitions in order to stop their creditors from collecting on the debts they owe.
On October 6, 2014, McFarland filed a chapter 11 bankruptcy case on behalf of his business, Second Chance of Springfield, Inc. ("Second Chance.") McFarland filed this case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis, IL. Prior to filing that case, McFarland had filed ten separate bankruptcy cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield. All but one of those cases had been dismissed due to McFarland’s failure to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s orders. In the last case, the Bankruptcy Court barred McFarland from filing any more bankruptcy cases in the Central District of Illinois for 180 days. The Bankruptcy Court also barred McFarland from filing any additional bankruptcy petitions in the Central District of Illinois for three years unless he paid the full filing fee (approximately $300) upfront.
Shortly after that order was entered, McFarland filed his bankruptcy case on behalf of his business, Second Chance, in the Southern District of Illinois. When he filed this case, McFarland lied on his bankruptcy petition by claiming that his business was located in the Southern District of Illinois. An attorney from the U.S. Trustee’s Office subsequently pointed out that the case did not belong in the Southern District of Illinois, because the street address of Second Chance was located in Springfield. As a result, the case should have been filed in the Central District of Illinois in Springfield. McFarland then lied again on an amended bankruptcy petition, stating that Second Chance had a business address in Alton, IL. In support of this claim, McFarland provided a lease to the Bankruptcy Court that was fraudulently backdated to September 25, 2014. Then, as McFarland admitted during his plea hearing, he falsely testified under oath that he had signed that lease on September 25, 2014. He also falsely testified under oath that he had reached an oral agreement with the landlord for the rental of the Alton property in September 2014.
During the hearing yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel stated that she hoped the prison sentence would send a message to other would-be serial filers. Specifically, Judge Rosenstengel pointed out that individuals who attempt to use the federal bankruptcy courts to defraud their creditors and make false statements under oath will face very serious consequences. In addition to sentencing McFarland to prison, Judge Rosenstengel also ordered McFarland to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence is concluded, with the first six months under home confinement. The judge also fined McFarland $3,000 and ordered him to pay a $200 Special Assessment.
"Criminal bankruptcy fraud threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy system, as well as public confidence in that system," stated Nancy J. Gargula, U.S. Trustee for Indiana, Central Illinois and Southern Illinois. "I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Boyce and our law enforcement partners for their strong commitment to combating bankruptcy related crimes, as demonstrated by yesterday’s sentencing." 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 South Bend, IN, and Peoria, IL.
The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Indiana and Southern and Central Illinois (Region 10) to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Two New York Men Charged with Conspiracy to Counterfeit United States CurrencyRead the Press Release
On July 18, 2017, two New York men were charged with Conspiracy to Counterfeit, and Passing Counterfeit United States currency, one of the men was also charged with making false statements, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.
Quincy Battice, 29, and Linvol R. Cummings, 34, both from New York were charged with Conspiracy to Counterfeit and Pass Counterfeit United States Currency. Quincy Battice was also charged with Making False Statements to an agent of the United States Secret Service.
The indictment alleges that in June of 2017, in the Southern District of Illinois and Eastern District of Missouri, Battice and Cummings conspired to counterfeit United States Currency. The indictment also alleges that Battice and Cummings passed counterfeited currency at multiple locations in the region. As alleged in a complaint filed against the two on June 29, 2017, the pair were arrested at a hotel in Troy, Illinois, where Secret Service and Troy Police located the printing device and sheets of uncut counterfeit currency.
The indictment alleges that when arrested, Battice gave false information to law enforcement, including a false name and personal information, causing agents to initially believe that he was another person. Battice was charged with making these false statements.
The Conspiracy to Counterfeit and Pass Counterfeit as well as, Making a False Statement each carry a maximum penalty of up to 5 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Troy, Illinois, Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.
Illinois Department of Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Violating Inmate’s Federal Civil RightsRead the Press Release
Dustin A. Fleming, 30, of DuQuoin, Illinois, who is employed as a correctional officer by the Illinois Department of Corrections, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Benton to an information charging him with depriving an inmate of his federal civil rights, announced Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The felony information to which Fleming pled guilty alleged that on October 15, 2016, Fleming assaulted and caused bodily injury to a handcuffed inmate at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center by choking, punching, kneeing, and kicking the inmate without any legal justification in violation of the United States Constitution.
Sentencing was set for October 18, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at the United States District Courthouse in Benton. Fleming faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release to follow any term of incarceration imposed. Fleming was placed on bond pending sentencing.
Fleming has been on administrative leave from the Illinois Department of Corrections since the assault occurred.
The investigation leading to the charges and guilty plea was conducted by the Illinois States Police with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Illinois Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.