Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kansas Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Benton, Illinois – Luis Alberto Dejesus-Merced, 46, of Junction City, Kansas, was sentenced to 384
months imprisonment on Thursday, November 10, 2022.According to court documents and statements presented at the hearing, Dejesus-Merced was a family
friend and the godfather of the 10-year-old victim. Dejesus-Merced sexually assaulted the victim in
Georgia and attempted to transport the child to Dejesus-Merced’s residence in Junction City, Kansas
with the intent to engage in further sex acts. However, while in route, an Illinois State Police
trooper conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle driven by Dejesus-Merced. The trooper noted that
Dejesus- Merced appeared “extremely nervous” and a record check revealed he was a registered sex
offender. Due to the trooper’s concerns related to Dejesus-Merced’s history and behavior, the
trooper conducted a further investigation. A search of Dejesus-Merced’s vehicle revealed cellphones
containing child pornography. The child also disclosed the abuse at the hands of Dejesus-Merced.In imposing the 32-year sentence, the sentencing judge observed that “this fact situation is
probably as bad as I’ve ever seen” and told Dejesus-Merced that “you are definitely a danger to
society.”“This is truly despicable conduct,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The 32-year
sentence will provide just punishment for this defendant but cannot restore this child’s lost
innocence. We are profoundly grateful for the vigilance and professionalism exhibited by our law
enforcement partners in this case, and in particular by the Illinois State Police trooper who
conducted the traffic stop and saved this child from further abuse at the hands of this defendant.”“Due to the keen eye of our law enforcement partners and the dedication of our special agents, a
predator has now been removed from the streets where he victimized children.” said Special Agent in
Charge R. Sean Fitzgerald of the Chicago Division of Homeland Security Investigations. “This is
yet another testament to the importance of maintaining strong partnerships with local and state law
enforcement agencies.”“The ISP trooper's vigilance and further investigation into this incident likely prevented further
victimization and countless other crimes all as a result of a simple traffic stop," said Illinois
State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “While human trafficking and its peripheral crimes are
often difficult to spot, ISP is motivated by arrests such as this and committed to further training
its troopers in the detection of these heinous crimes."
The Illinois State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department conducted the investigation in this case which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Karelia S. Rajagopal.Freeburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Committing Bank Fraud While Employed by Area SchoolsRead the Press Release
BENTON, IL – A resident of Freeburg, Illinois, pled guilty today to committing bank fraud in
connection with her former employer.According to court documents, Michelle Miller, 45, worked as a business manager for two Belleville
area schools, St. Teresa’s and St. Luke’s. When she pled guilty, Miller admitted using her
position to commit fraud: she wrote checks from the schools’ accounts to herself, she made excess
salary payments to herself, and she wrote checks to petty cash and pocketed the money. To conceal
this fraud, Miller at times forged the signature of the priest of St. Teresa’s and St. Luke’s. She
also manipulated the parish’s QuickBook accounts to make it look like St. Luke’s was paying money
to St. Teresa’s when the money was actually going to her. And she made false and misleading
adjustments to her own compensation in the payroll system. In all, Miller took a total of
$153,940.38 from St. Teresa’s and St. Luke’s that she was not entitled to receive.“Nonprofit organizations like St. Teresa’s and St. Luke’s provide vital services to our
communities’ children and families,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Criminal behavior
targeting such organizations is unconscionable and even more so when it comes from within. Those
who perpetrate it will be held to account.”Miller’s offense carries a maximum sentence of thirty years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to
$250,000. Miller’s sentencing is set for February 16, 2023, at 10:00am at the federal courthouse in
Benton, Illinois.The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Belleville Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter T. Reed.Former Edwardsville Resident Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A former resident of Edwardsville, Illinois, pled guilty on Friday, October 28, 2022, to making a series of false statements during his 2018 bankruptcy case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois. According to court documents, Kevin Kahrig, 49, a former building contractor in the area, concealed gassets from his creditors by transferring those assets to his girlfriend-turned-spouse, Catharine Kahrig, prior to filing bankruptcy. As part of his plea, Kahrig admitted that he transferred $277,850 in cash and checks to Catharine Kahrig in 2016, then closed all his bank accounts the next year. Kahrig hid those cash transfers and many of the closed accounts in his later filings with the bankruptcy court. Next, Kahrig took his name off a lakefront home he co- owned with Catharine Kahrig and hid this transfer from the bankruptcy court. Kahrig also sold his boat before bankruptcy. He gave the $395,000 he got from the boat to Catharine. Although Kahrig did disclose the sale of this boat to the bankruptcy court, he lied about the amount he received from the sale and did not disclose that he had provided those funds to Catharine. All told, Kahrig concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets from his creditors.
“Individuals who hide assets and make false statement on bankruptcy pleadings not only defraud their creditors, but they use the federal courts as a part of their fraud,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “That is an intolerable abuse of the bankruptcy system which demands transparency and forthrightness by those seeking to have their debts discharged or restructured. Those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable by this office.”
“Kevin Kahrig chose lies and deception at every step to conceal assets and escape financial obligations” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The FBI takes our responsibility to pursue allegations of bankruptcy fraud very seriously and will always work to hold accountable those who try to bypass the system”.
“Concealing assets in a bankruptcy proceeding is a crime that threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy process and public confidence in that process,” stated Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and Central and Southern Illinois (Region 10). “We are grateful to all of our law enforcement partners in this case and, in particular, to United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe for her commitment to pursuing those who lie about assets in bankruptcy.”
Kahrig’s offense carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Kahrig’s sentencing is set for February 2, 2023, at 10:00am.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, in collaboration with the Southern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10, after referral by the U.S. Trustee. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in Peoria, Illinois, and South Bend, Indiana. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter T. Reed.
U.s. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe Announces Collections of over $6.5 Million in Criminal and Civil Cases During the Last Fiscal YearRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced today that her office collected
$6,558,705.15 in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of that amount,
$4,020,660.31 was collected in civil cases, and $2,538,044.84 was collected in criminal cases. The
FY 2022 criminal debt collection total exceeded the average of the previous five fiscal years by
more than $1,000,000. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1st to September 30th.“The fact that we were able to collect more than $6 million dollars this year demonstrates the
dedication and skill of the members of our financial litigation unit, as well as the excellent case
work done by our civil and criminal divisions,” said U.S. Attorney Crowe. “The work of collecting
restitution from criminal defendants and returning funds to victims of crime is a critical part of
the job for all prosecutors,” she continued.U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are
responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and
criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to
victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While
restitution is paid to victims, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s
Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation
and victim assistance programs.U.S. Attorney Crowe also said, “These collections represent civil settlements, restitution to
victims, as well as fines and monetary penalties. This money is back where it belongs – in the
hands of victims and the taxpayers.”Working with partner agencies and divisions, the Southern District of Illinois also collected
$539,030.27 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2022. The Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program
encompasses the seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to
facilitate, federal crimes. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department’s Assets Forfeiture
Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.The Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury Asset Forfeiture Programs are, first
and foremost, law enforcement programs. They remove the tools of crime from criminal organizations,
deprive wrongdoers of the proceeds of their crimes, recover property that may be used to compensate
victims, and deter crime. The Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury emphasize
these law enforcement purposes to their own law enforcement agencies
and all federal, state, local, and tribal partner agencies.U.s. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe Announces $91,731 in Justice Department Grants to Support Local Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramsRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced today that the Department of
Justice has awarded $91,731 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern
District of Illinois. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime
and serious violence in the district. The grant, to Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, is one of a
number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered
by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime,
Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive
Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The
PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities;
supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first
place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our
efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of
arrests or prosecutions.“Partnering with organizations like Hoyleton Youth and Family Services is vital to our efforts to
combat the scourge of gun violence that plagues so many of our local communities and we are proud
to have a role in financially supporting the great work it does,” said U.S. Attorney Crowe. “Strong
collaboration between our law enforcement agencies and community groups and organizations is the
best means of fostering the safe communities which all of this district’s residents deserve.”“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between
criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and
well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen
Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable
every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies
and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and
intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and
accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in
neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges
of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on
the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S.
Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust
necessary to ensure lasting success.”The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More
information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance
and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial
equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More
information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.United States Attorney Announces Efforts to Combat Fraud Against Seniors in Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – In connection with the Department of Justice’s announcement of its Elder
Justice Sweep earlier today, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Rachelle
Aud Crowe, made the following announcement:
“Combating fraud against the elderly is the number one priority of our Fraud & Corruption section,”
U.S. Attorney Crowe stated. “Anytime a senior is victimized, we work very hard to find the
responsible criminals and bring them to justice.”Six federal prosecutors are assigned to the district’s Fraud & Corruption section. They are
Assistant United States Attorneys: Scott Verseman, Chief; Kevin Burke, Zoe Gross, Peter Reed,
Steve Weinhoeft and Luke Weissler.As an example of the office’s efforts to hold accountable those who harm the elderly, U.S. Attorney
Crowe cited to the recent guilty plea of Ashley McKinney, 39, of Cahokia, Illinois. McKinney’s co-
defendant, Erica Rose, 33, of East St. Louis, Illinois, worked as a home healthcare provider for
elderly persons in the Metro East. While working in the victims’ homes, Rose stole their bank
account information and provided it to McKinney. McKinney then used that information to make
illegal purchases, including purchasing an automobile. McKinney and Rose were indicted in January
2020, but McKinney remained a fugitive until she was eventually hunted down and arrested by the
United States Marshals. McKinney will be sentenced on November 22, 2022. Rose previously pled
guilty and was sentenced to prison.U.S. Attorney Crowe also noted that Jaykumar Patel, 33, of Florida, pled guilty on June 28, 2022,
to assisting in a fraud scheme that victimized an elderly woman in Alton, Illinois. That fraud
scheme, which was based in the country of India, tried to convince seniors that their identities
had been stolen and that they needed to pay thousands of dollars to fix the situation. Patel was a
“Money Mule” for the organization. “Money Mules” are individuals who receive funds from victims
and send the money on to the criminals who conduct the schemes. Patel will be sentenced on January
5, 2023.“In addition to the Identity Theft schemes, there are a variety of other schemes out there that
seniors need to be on the look out for,” added U.S. Attorney Crowe. “Those schemes include: (1)
Grandparents Scams – where fraudsters impersonate seniors’ grandchildren, or some other loved one,
and try to convince the seniors that they need funds immediately, usually for some type of medical
or legal emergency; (2) Romance Scams – where scammers meet seniors online, usually through dating sites, pretend to fall in love with them, and then persuade the seniors to send them money; (3) Tax Scams – where fraudsters falsely tell seniors that they owe back taxes and must make immediate
payments; and (4) Lottery Scams – where fraudsters try to convince seniors that they have won the
lottery or some other type of prize, but need to send money first for taxes or fees.”
“Another situation we’re seeing,” added U.S. Attorney Crowe, “is scammers recruiting seniors to
participate in, and help them with, their fraud scams. When seniors knowingly help these scammers,
they themselves can be facing federal prison sentences.”As an example of this situation, U.S. Attorney Crowe noted last week’s guilty plea by Danny Vaughn,
64, of Centralia, Illinois. A few years ago, Vaughn met a person on a dating site whom he thought
was a young woman that was interested in having a relationship with him. This person turned out to
be a scammer. The scammer convinced Vaughn to engage in illegal activity, including purchasing
items using stolen credit cards and then shipping the stolen items overseas, and depositing
counterfeit checks into his bank accounts and sending that money overseas. Vaughn will be
sentenced on January 18, 2023.When asked what seniors can do to avoid being victimized, U.S. Attorney Crowe gave the following
tips:1. Be wary of individuals you meet online or over the phone;
2. If someone you’ve never met in person claims to be in love with you, there’s a good chance
that person is a scammer;3. If someone you’ve never met before asks you for, or demands, money, there’s a good chance it’s
a scam;4. If someone is asking you for, or demanding, money, ask your son, daughter, loved one, or good
friend what they think. This is true even if the person asking for money claims there is no time
for you to talk with your family or friends; and5. If someone contacts you claiming to be from a company or institution, such as the IRS or your
bank, hang up and call them back on a telephone number you look up yourself. This will enable you
to talk to representatives of the real company or institutions.“In summary, we want to do everything we can to protect our seniors from becoming victims. A big
part of that is making seniors aware of the fraud scams out there. If you have an elderly relative
or friend, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to discuss this topic with them. If you are a senior
yourself, my advice and avoid falling prey to these vicious scammers.”Jury Convicts Illinois Man for sending MDMA through the U.S. Postal Service for DistributionRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Delon Echols, 31, of Belleville, Illinois, was convicted by a federal jury
on Thursday, September 29, 2022, for sending MDMA through the mail with the intent to later
distribute it.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Echols utilized the Dark Web to order
MDMA from the Netherlands. Echols shipped the drugs through the U.S. Postal service to an unwitting
individual in Mascoutah, Illinois. In August of 2019, the individual learned about the package
containing narcotics and immediately went to the Mascoutah Police Department. Police discovered
that 911.5 grams of MDMA was concealed in vacuum sealed bags inside whey protein jugs to avoid
detection. At trial, the individual discussed how Echol's actions put both her and her family at
risk.“This case serves as a great example of how a concerned member of the public working with law
enforcement can help make our communities safer,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
“I join with our law enforcement partners in thanking her for her courage in coming forward. This
case also demonstrates yet another way in which drug trafficking is not a victimless crime.”Sentencing has been scheduled for January 10, 2023, in front of United States District Judge
Stephen P. McGlynn. Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute is punishable up to 20 years in prison.The Drug Enforcement Administration, Mascoutah Police Department, and United States Postal
Inspection Service conducted the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karelia S. Rajagopal and Kimberly S. Arshi.Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Antonio M. Brown, 38, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to 151 months in
prison for distribution of methamphetamine on Monday, September 19, 2022. Following his release
from federal prison, Brown must complete five years of supervised release.
The offense occurred in early February 2021, while Brown was on supervised release for federal
firearms offenses. A federal grand jury indicted Brown on September 21, 2021, for one count of
distribution of a controlled substance. Brown was indicted for distributing crystal methamphetamine
in Sauget, Ill., but evidence showed that Brown was also selling the drug in bulk from his
residence in south St. Louis, Missouri. Children were present in the home while drug transactions
occurred. Based upon evidence of drug dealing activity at his residence, federal agents applied for
and executed a search warrant of Brown’s home. Brown pled guilty on April 14, 2022.“Crystal methamphetamine is dangerous in any amount, no matter where it comes from,” said United
States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “With the assistance of our state and local partners, federal
law enforcement officials will track drug dealers across state lines and hold them accountable for
their crimes. Repeat offenders, like this defendant, who endanger the public are deserving of the
significant sentences they receive.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States
Attorney John Trippi prosecuted the case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF
identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the
United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Ad itional
information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.St. Louis Woman entenced to 45 Months Imprisonment for Theft from Metro East Charity, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill – Kenesha Burlison, 40, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to 45 months in
prison in connection with her theft from her former employer, an East St. Louis charity, and
aggravated identity theft.
Burlison served as the Director of Human Relations for Call for Help, Inc. from 2016 until her
termination in 2020. Call for Help is a longstanding charitable organization in East St. Louis,
Illinois, that helps people overcome a variety of personal crises, ranging from sexual assault and
poverty to homelessness and mental health issues. The organization receives federal funds annually
to assist in carrying out its mission.At the time of her guilty plea, Burlison admitted that she fraudulently obtained a cashier’s check
from Call for Help in the amount of $69,788.62, which she used to pay the down payment for a home
she was purchasing. Burlison told Call for Help that she needed a cashier’s check to provide to the
title company and claimed that she couldn’t get one from her bank because it was closed. In
exchange for the cashier’s check, Burlison provided Call for Help with a personal check in the
amount of $70,000. That check, as well as two others provided by Burlison in the coming months,
bounced for insufficient funds.Following her termination from the organization, Call for Help discovered that Burlison had also
fraudulently submitted requests for reimbursements that she was not entitled to. Burlison abused
her access to the company’s payroll system to fraudulently submit and approve mileage
reimbursements and costs for diversity and inclusion trainings that she did not attend. In all,
Burlison was paid more than $115,000 from these fraudulent reimbursements.“Kenesha Burlison’s theft from Call for Help is particularly egregious in light of the essential,
life- saving services that the organization provides to communities in Southern Illinois,” said
United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “We are proud to have organizations like Call for Help
in our District and will continue to hold those who steal from them accountable for their actions.”“Nonprofits elect a board of directors to provide oversight regarding fiduciary, legal and ethical
responsibilities for the organization,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge
David Nanz. “In this case, Call for Help’s board of directors did exactly what they were put in
place to do.
Their oversight enabled the FBI to pursue an investigation into the criminal actions of Kenesha Burlison and prevent further harm to the organization’s reputation and financial resources. The FBI is
committed to investigating public corruption in any form and at all levels.”
Burlison was also sentenced for aggravated identity theft. In 2020, Burlison submitted an inflated
income verification as part of an application for a home mortgage. Because the verification
required a signature on behalf of Call for Help, Burlison forged the signature of the
organization’s Director of Quality Assurance. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory
sentence of two years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.In total, Burlison was sentenced to 45 months in prison. She was also ordered to pay over $185,000
in restitution to Call for Help, a $200 special assessment, and will spend three years on
supervised release following her term of imprisonment.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross prosecuted the case.East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Fulton Lee Gully, 61, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 48
months imprisonment on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, after previously pleading guilty to one count
of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. As part of his guilty plea, Gully acknowledged that between
July 28, 2020, and October 27, 2020, while knowing he was a convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a
shotgun at a residence in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Gully had likewise been convicted in 2003 in this district of being a felon in possession of a
firearm and, in that case, received a sentence of 1 year and 1 day to be followed by 3 years of
supervised release. In 2005, Gully’s supervised release was revoked after he was found to have
possessed cocaine and marijuana. He was sent back to prison for 6 months to be followed by 6
months of home confinement. In 2006, Gully’s supervised release was again revoked and he was
returned to prison for 13 months after he violated the terms of his home confinement.“Felons possessing firearms, regardless of the circumstances, are serious offenses,” said United
States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This defendant has repeatedly shown his inability to follow
the law or comply with restrictions placed on him by the courts. Our communities are less safe
when individuals like this possess guns.”Upon release from his 48-month term of imprisonment, Gully will serve 3 years of supervised
release.This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and prosecuted
by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.New York Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Jeremy Inderyas, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced in federal court
on Thursday, August 18, 2022, to 100 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession
with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Inderyas was also ordered to serve three years of
supervised release upon his release from prison. Inderyas had previously pled guilty in federal
court to the methamphetamine conspiracy charges. As part of his guilty plea, Inderyas acknowledged
he arranged a transaction involving over thirteen kilograms of methamphetamine in Phoenix, Arizona,
for his co-conspirators which was seized by law enforcement officials in Madison County, Illinois,
on May 13, 2018.
“Methamphetamine continues to be a scourge on our society, causing misery for countless Americans
across our nation,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “With its major interstate
highway systems, our district plays a key role in detecting and disrupting the flow of
methamphetamine across the country. This prosecution and sentence demonstrate how seriously we take
that responsibility.”This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF
identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the
United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional
information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.Second “Felony Lane Gang” Member Who Defrauded Illinois Bank by Impersonating Victims of Identity Theft Sentenced to 34 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Mary M. Thornhill, 36, of Knoxville, TN, was sentenced on Wednesday, August
17th, to 34 months in prison for her involvement in a bank fraud scheme that targeted female
victims in Southern Illinois.
In July 2021, Thornhill conspired with others to cash stolen checks and fraudulently obtain funds
from financial institutions using stolen IDs—including driver’s licenses—belonging to real
individuals living in Southern Illinois. The group targeted banks located in the Metro East,
including those in Glen Carbon and Wood River.At the time of her guilty plea, Thornhill admitted that members of the conspiracy broke into
vehicles parked in public places throughout Southern Illinois to steal valuables left in those
vehicles, including purses and wallets containing IDs and checkbooks. After the thefts, members of
the organization wrote checks from the stolen checkbooks made payable to other persons from whom
the group had stolen identities.Thornhill and her co-defendant, Delvin Mills, attempted to cash checks at local banks using the
furthest lane of each bank’s drive-up window to avoid detection by the tellers. The “Felony Lane
Gang” is a term used by law enforcement to describe individuals who use this particular tactic to
defraud banks. Thornhill posed as the female victims and wore wigs or otherwise disguised herself
to look more like the photos on the stolen IDs.Thornhill admitted that on July 19, 2021, she and Mills went to Regions Bank in Glen Carbon,
Illinois, and successfully cashed a check made payable to a person whose identity had been stolen.
Thornhill and Mills were arrested by officers with the Glen Carbon Police Department within minutes
of leaving Regions.“This prosecution and well-deserved sentence is another example of this office’s commitment to
holding people who steal identities and commit related crimes accountable,” said United States
Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “We understand that identity theft has serious consequences for
victims and they deserve the full support of the criminal justice system. I thank all of the
federal and local law enforcement agencies involved for their time and effort investigating this
case.”In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Thornhill to pay restitution to her victims,
a $200 fine, and spend three years on supervised release.Thornhill’s co-conspirator, Delvin Mills, was sentenced on July 20, 2022, to 42 months in prison
for his role in the conspiracy. Prior to arriving in Southern Illinois, Mills pleaded guilty to
similar charges in the District of Oregon. On July 14, 2022, Mills was sentenced in that district
to 55 months in prison. According to the Judgment entered in the Southern District of Illinois,
Mills’ two federal sentences will run consecutively—for a total of 97 months in prison.
The investigation was conducted by local law enforcement agencies, including the Glen Carbon,
Clinton County, Germantown, Belleville, New Baden, Salem, O’Fallon (IL), Kirkwood, and St. Louis
County Police Departments, along with the United States Secret Service, Fairview Heights Domicile
Office of the Springfield Resident Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross prosecuted the case.East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 156 Months Imprisonment for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Mario A. Foster, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced on Tuesday,
August 16, 2022, in federal court to 13 years in prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute
Fentanyl and Cocaine. Following Foster’s release, he will spend three years on supervised release.
Foster was also ordered to pay $200 in special assessments along with a $500 fine.
According to court documents, Foster was stopped and arrested following a call to law enforcement
regarding a parental abduction. Law enforcement observed a three-month old infant sitting in a
removable child safety seat. When the infant was removed from the seat, officers discovered the
baby had been sitting on a baggy containing fentanyl and a baggie containing cocaine base.“Fentanyl’s deadliness is no secret,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “It is
unfathomable that this defendant selfishly chose to place an infant in jeopardy in an apparent
effort to conceal his crimes. His 13-year prison sentence is well-deserved.”This case was investigated by the United States Marshal Service and the Belleville Police
Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson.Crawford County Pair Plead Guilty to Vehicle Break in and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. –– An Oblong man and Robinson woman pleaded guilty on Thursday, August 4, 2022, to
breaking into cars, stealing checks and IDs from vehicles, and committing identity theft in order
to obtain thousands of dollars from local banks by fraud.
According to court documents, Zachary Patrick, 30, of Oblong, Illinois, and Briana Blair, 31, of
Robinson, Illinois, stole checks and personal identifying information from a series of victims,
often by breaking into the victims’ vehicles. Patrick and Blair then used the victims’ information
however they could, writing and depositing fraudulent checks, forging victims’ signatures, and
withdrawing and spending thousands of dollars as they traveled around eastern Illinois and western
Indiana. The pair even opened a bank account using one victim’s stolen information.The pair was eventually caught in a hotel parking lot in Brazil, Indiana, breaking into yet another
vehicle. Patrick and Blair initially identified themselves to law enforcement using two of the
identities they had stolen, but eventually admitted to their true identities. Law enforcement
recovered a pile of stolen IDs, credit cards, and financial information after their arrest.Both Patrick and Blair pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution
fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. They are scheduled to be sentenced on November
17, 2022, and face a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and a statutory maximum of as many as
32 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering
the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.“All who have been victimized by identity theft and its related crimes understand just how serious
and far-reaching its consequences can be,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Along
with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this office will continue to make
investigating and prosecuting these offenses a top priority. I thank the Federal Bureau of
Investigation-Springfield Field Office, the Oblong Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s
Office, and the other local law enforcement agencies involved for their work in investigating this
case.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is prosecuting the case.Former Treasurer of Perry County Agricultural Society Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – Yesterday afternoon, in federal court in Benton, IL, Billy E. Harris, 49, the former
treasurer of the Perry County Agricultural Society (“PCAS”), was sentenced to 21 months in prison
for defrauding the PCAS out of more than $148,000.
The PCAS operates all of the festivals at the Perry County Fairgrounds in Pinckneyville, including
the Perry County Fair. Harris, currently of St. Louis, MO, served as the treasurer of the PCAS
from 2011 through October 2018. At his plea hearing earlier this year, Harris admitted that from
June 5, 2012 through October 3, 2018, he defrauded the PCAS out of more than $100,000.
Specifically, Harris acknowledged that he paid his personal expenses, and purchased items for his
personal use, with electronic debits from the PCAS bank account. Many of those items were
purchased through Amazon. Some of the items that Harris admitted purchasing with PCAS funds
include a WiFi router, Apple AirPods, a Himalyan Salt Lamp Air Purifier, Star Wars Darth Vader and
Yoda personalized pet tags, a pair of Star Wars men’s sleep pants, a floating pool fountain, a CPAP
tube cleaning brush, and men’s grooming products, including beard lube. Harris also admitted
writing checks on the PCAS account payable to himself and his spouse, and forging a Board member’s
signature on those checks.At the sentencing hearing yesterday, the sentencing judge noted that Harris’ fraud against the PCAS
was a product of greed. In explaining her decision to sentence Harris to prison, the judge stated
that individuals who prey on small community organizations cannot steal large sums of money and
then simply say “I’m sorry” and walk away with no real consequences.“When individuals like Harris steal from civic groups like the Perry County Agricultural Society,
they are really stealing from the communities that the groups serve,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle
Aud Crowe. “In this case, Harris stole from the people of Perry County who enjoy attending
community events at the Perry County Fairgrounds. We will always seek to hold these individuals
accountable for their actions.”In addition to the 21 month prison sentence, the court also ordered Harris to pay $148,908.07 in
restitution to the PCAS. After he is released from prison, Harris will then serve a two year
period of
supervised release.The St. Louis Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Pinckneyville Police Department
investigated the case. The Perry County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted with the
investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Verseman and Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.“Felony Lane Gang” Member Who Defrauded Illinois Bank Using Stolen Identity Sentenced to 42 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Delvin O.E. Mills, 29, of North Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to 42
months in prison on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in connection with his involvement in a bank fraud
scheme which targeted female victims in Southern Illinois. Mills was also ordered to pay
restitution, a $2,000 fine, and serve five years on supervised release upon his release from
prison.
In July 2021, Mills conspired with others to cash stolen checks and fraudulently obtain funds from
financial institutions using stolen driver licenses belonging to individuals living in Southern
Illinois. The group targeted banks located in Glen Carbon and Wood River.Mills admitted members of the conspiracy broke into vehicles parked in public places throughout
Southern Illinois to steal valuables left in those vehicles. Items included purses and wallets
containing ID’s and checkbooks. Members of the organization wrote checks from the stolen checkbooks
made payable to other persons from whom the group had stolen identities.Mills and his co-defendant, Mary Thornhill, attempted to cash checks at local banks using the
furthest lane of each bank’s drive-up window to avoid detection by the tellers. The “Felony Lane
Gang” is a term used by law enforcement to describe individuals who use this tactic to defraud
banks. Mills admitted that on July 19, 2021, he and Thornhill went to Regions Bank in Glen Carbon,
Illinois, and successfully cashed a check made payable to a person whose identity had been stolen.
Mills and Thornhill were arrested by officers with the Glen Carbon Police Department within minutes
of leaving Regions Bank.“This case involves a criminal scheme that has unfortunately become far too common in our
District,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This office is committed to assisting
our local law enforcement partners in their investigations of these serious crimes and to holding
those individuals who target our communities, defraud our financial institutions, and steal the
identities of innocent victims accountable. The significant prison sentence imposed by the court in
this case is not only just punishment for this defendant, but should also serve as a warning to
others contemplating such crimes.”Prior to arriving in Southern Illinois, Mills pleaded guilty to similar charges in the District of
Oregon. Mills was on pre-trial release pending sentencing in Oregon when he fled the state. On June
5, 2021, Mills was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, for breaking into cars. After his release in
Nevada, Mills traveled to the Southern District of Illinois to continue his spree. On July 14,
2022, Mills was sentenced
in the District of Oregon to 55 months in prison. According to the Judgment entered in the SouthernDistrict of Illinois, Mills’ two federal sentences will run consecutively—for a total of 97 months
in prison.
Mills’ co-conspirator, Mary Thornhill, has pled guilty and will be sentenced next month.
Thornhill’s sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2022.The investigation was conducted by the following Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies: Glen Carbon,
Clinton County, Germantown, Belleville, New Baden, Salem, and O’Fallon. Other agencies assisting
with the case were the Kirkwood, Missouri, and St. Louis County Police Departments, along with the
United States Secret Service and the Fairview Heights Domicile Office of the Springfield Resident
Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross prosecuted the case.Vandalia Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Shane Hans, 45, of Vandalia, Illinois, pled guilty in federal court on
Thursday, July 21, 2022, to one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession
with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. As
part of his guilty plea, Hans acknowledged that on May 14, 2021, he possessed, with intent to
distribute, approximately 15 grams of methamphetamine that was recovered by law enforcement
officials from his residence in Vandalia, Illinois. Hans also acknowledged he possessed a firearm
recovered from his residence on that date, while knowing he was a convicted felon. Hans further
acknowledged on July 24, 2021, he knowingly distributed approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine
from his residence in Vandalia. Hans is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2022. Hans
faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe thanks the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield Field
Office and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office for their work in investigating the case and notes
that, “this kind of cooperative effort between federal and local law enforcement agencies is
essential to making our communities safer.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.Three Effingham County Residents Charged with Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Kimberly J. Atkins, 45, of Effingham, Illinois, Tyler R. Schumacher, 36, of
Altamont, Illinois, and Jennifer M. Hazlett, 34, of Altamont, Illinois, were each charged in a
separate federal Indictment with methamphetamine related offenses on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.Atkins was charged in a five-count indictment. Counts 1-4 charge that Atkins distributed
methamphetamine on January 24, 2022, January 26, 2022 (two times), and March 9, 2022. Count 5
charges that on April 11, 2022, Atkins possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
All the crimes are alleged to have occurred in Effingham County, Illinois.With respect to Atkins, Counts 1 and 5 each carry penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a
$1,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 3 years. Counts 2-4 each carry penalties
of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised
release not less than 4 years.Schumacher was charged in a two-count indictment. Count 1 charges that from about 2019, until on
or about June 3, 2022, in Effingham County, within the Southern District of Illinois, Kentucky, and
elsewhere, Schumacher conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Count 2 charges that on February 22, 2022, in Effingham County, Schumacher possessed with intent to
distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine.With respect to Schumacher, count 1 carries penalties of a minimum of 10 years up to life
imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years. Count 2
carries penalties of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and
supervised release not less than 4 years.Hazlett was charged in a two-count indictment. Count 1 charges that on March 23, 2022, in
Effingham County, Hazlett distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that
on March 30, 3022, in Effingham County, Hazlett distributed more than 5 grams of
methamphetamine.With respect to Hazlett, count 1 carries penalties of a minimum of 10 years up to life
imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years. Count 2
carries penalties of a minimum of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and
supervised release not less than 4 years.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.The investigation was conducted by the Effingham County Sheriff's Department, the Effingham City
Police Department, and the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force. Assistance was also
provided by the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office.Centralia Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ian N. Merideth, 38, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced today in federal
court to 20 years in prison for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and being a Felon in Possession of a
Firearm. Merideth received a $500 fine and was ordered to pay $200 in special assessment fees.
Following his release, he will spend three years on supervised release.
According to court documents, Merideth was sentenced following a series of criminal acts that
occurred on July 9, 2021. Merideth admitted that on July 9, 2021, he burglarized a
home in Hoffman, Illinois, taking seven firearms including a Weihrauch .357 revolver. Later that
same day, Wamac Officer Muechenheim stopped Merideth and attempted to arrest him for an
outstanding arrest warrant. Merideth, a convicted felon, retrieved the stolen Weihrauch
.357 revolver and fired four rounds at Officer Muechenheim.Attempted Murder charges against Merideth remain pending in Clinton County Circuit Court.
This case was investigated by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Wamac Police Department, the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Springfield Field Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson.Fugitive Leader of Drug Trafficking Operation Sentenced to Thirty Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine into Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – The ringleader of a Houston-based cocaine trafficking operation has been
sentenced in the Southern District of Illinois to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute
cocaine, bringing to a successful close an investigation and prosecution that spanned several
states and more than five years. On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Samuel Ruben Caraway, 46, was sentenced
to 360 months in prison and five years of supervised release for his role in a drug
trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the seizure of $1.2 million dollars in cash, $72,000 in
jewelry, and several kilos of cocaine.Caraway was captured in Texas in July 2021, after being a fugitive for more than three and a half
years.An indictment filed on January 4, 2018, charged that Caraway was the leader of a Houston-based
group responsible for distributing more than $4 million dollars’ worth of cocaine
throughout Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia. Caraway and eight co-defendants were
named in the indictment. The United States also seized $1,212,934 in U.S. currency, along with
jewelry appraised at $72,000.All the other defendants previously pleaded guilty, and Caraway was the last member of the group to
be sentenced. Each of his co-defendants also received significant prison sentences – Victor
Johnson (188 months), Sammy Monroe (168 months), Rodney Smith (147 months), Dana Bell (87 months), Nahum Shibeshi (48 months), Astin Allison (151 months), Terrance Miles (121 months) and Jamie Green (262 months) – after it was determined that they were responsible for trafficking approximately 120 kilos of cocaine into Southern Illinois.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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorneys Steven D. Weinhoeft and David D. Dean.Woman Who Defrauded Illinois Bank Using Fake Identity Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Heather Harper, 38, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to thirty months
in prison on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in connection with her involvement in a conspiracy to commit
bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In December 2020, Harper conspired with others to cash stolen checks and fraudulently obtain funds
from financial institutions using stolen IDs—including driver’s licenses—belonging to real
individuals living in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The scheme targeted banks located in
Southern Illinois and Missouri.When she pled guilty, Harper admitted that her conspirators broke into vehicles in the St. Louis
area to steal checkbooks and IDs belonging to various individuals. Harper also admitted
that her conspirators wrote checks from the stolen checkbooks made payable to other persons from
whom the group had stolen identities. Harper went to banks around St. Louis and the Metro East and
attempted to cash checks made payable to the persons whose identities had been stolen. Harper often
disguised herself to look like the individuals on the stolen IDs, using accessories such as wigs.
Harper admitted that on December 11, 2020, she successfully cashed a check made payable to a person
whose identity had been stolen at First Bank in O’Fallon, Illinois.The investigation was conducted by local law enforcement agencies, including the
O’Fallon (IL), Webster Groves, Shrewsbury, Maryland Heights, Des Peres, and St. Charles
County Police Departments, along with the United States Secret Service, Fairview Heights Domicile
Office of the Springfield Resident Office. Charges against Harper for defrauding banks in St. Louis
County are still pending.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross prosecuted the case.Jury Convicts California Man in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – After a week-long trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict convicting
a California man of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances.
Arturo Ledesma, Jr., 33, of Watsonville, CA, was charged in a superseding indictment on December
10, 2019, with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
between January 2017 and May of 2018. The jury heard evidence that Ledesma supplied marijuana and
methamphetamine to co-conspirators in California and Pennsylvania starting in 2017. In May of 2018,
co-conspirators were arrested in Madison County, Illinois, while they trafficked more than 30
pounds of methamphetamine across the country.Sentencing will be held on September 19, 2022, before the Honorable Chief Judge Nancy
Rosenstengel.Co-Defendants Enrique Vazquez and Dastisha Velez of Reading, Pennsylvania; Mitchell Abreu of
Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Jeremy Inderyas of Brooklyn, New York; and Lauren Korn of Basking Ridge,
New Jersey, have all previously pled guilty to their roles in this drug conspiracy.The Illinois State Police (ISP); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and the United States
Marshal Service (USMS) participated in this investigation.This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF
identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the
United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Kapsak, John Trippi, and Amanda Fischer prosecuted the
case.Possession of Child Pornography Leads to 6 Year Prison Sentence for Fairview Heights ManRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. - A Fairview Heights man is heading to federal prison for possession of
child pornography. Michael M. Rapa, 68, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was sentenced on Thursday,
June 2, 2022, to 6 years in prison for two counts of possession of prepubescent child pornography
and one count of possession of child pornography. Rapa pleaded guilty to the charges in February.
Following his prison sentence, Rapa will be on federal supervised release for 5 years and will be
required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.According to court documents, Rapa first came to the attention of law enforcement in Vancouver,
Canada, in 2015. As the result of a subsequent investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security and the Fairview Heights Police Department, in 2017 Rapa was determined to be in
possession of hundreds of image and video files containing prepubescent child pornography on
various items of electronic media which lead to charges in the Southern District of Illinois.“There is something profoundly wrong with an individual who derives sexual gratification
from seeing children being raped,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Law
enforcement must confront this evil because, to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, a true measure of
society can be found in how it protects its most vulnerable members.”“One of the most horrific things an individual can do is seek to harm a child,” said acting Special
Agent in Charge of the Kansas City area of operations R. Sean Fitzgerald. “I couldn’t be prouder of
the HSI special agents and analysts, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, who have
dedicated their lives to removing these predators from our community.”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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karelia Rajagopal and Ali Summers.Former Federal Agent Found Guilty of Enticing a Minor and Engaging in Sex Tourism in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A Cahokia, Illinois, man was found guilty as charged last
week for Enticement of a Minor, Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, and
Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in a Foreign Place. Sentencing is set for August 24, 2022, in
front of the Honorable Judge Stephen P. McGlynn.According to evidence presented during trial, Joseph Albert Fuchs, III, an American citizen, met a
14-year-old girl while visiting the Philippines. Fuchs then engaged in sexual conversations with
the minor using Facebook. During those conversations, Fuchs discussed ways to evade detection of
her age when he would return to the Philippines to engage in sexual acts with her at a hotel. Fuchs
then returned to the Philippines in March of 2019 and engaged in sexual acts with the 14- year-old
minor. During this time, Fuchs was a special agent for the United States Postal Service Office of
Inspector General (USPSOIG). USPSOIG provided their full cooperation into the
investigation. Investigation further revealed that Fuchs sent nearly $1,000.00 to the minor over a
year long period.“Today’s guilty verdict should serve as a warning to those in positions of power or trust that if
you engage in this behavior and seek to harm the innocent, you will be held accountable and brought
to justice,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the HSI
Attaché Manila, the Philippine National Police, and the Cahokia Police Department. The case was
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Laura Reppert.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.”Former Aldi Executive and Local Contractor Indicted for Bid FraudRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, a federal grand jury in East St. Louis returned a
nine- count indictment charging a former Aldi executive and a local general contractor with federal
fraud offenses relating to the construction of Aldi grocery stores throughout Southern Illinois and
Missouri. Former Aldi Regional Director of Real Estate, Louis Ross, 62, of Florissant, Missouri,
and the owner of C. Juengel Company, Donald Schniers, 71, of Breese, Illinois, were both charged
with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and four
counts of wire fraud.
Aldi Inc. operates a corporate chain of grocery stores with locations nationwide, including dozens
of stores within the Southern District of Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area. Ross served
as the Director of Real Estate for Aldi’s O’Fallon, Missouri, Division, which encompasses
the area. According to court documents, Schniers, through C. Juengel, provided general
contracting services to Aldi in connection with the construction and renovation of Aldi
stores in the O’Fallon, Missouri, Division.Ross and Schniers are accused of conspiring to create the appearance of a competitive
bidding environment when one did not exist. The indictment alleges that Ross and Schniers submitted
fictitious bids in the names of other regional construction companies that were higher than C.
Juengel’s bids. Using these fictitious high bids from competing construction firms, Ross and
Schniers ensured that C. Juengel was the lowest bidder on the projects and was ultimately awarded
the contracts. The indictment further alleges that on at least one occasion, the Defendants altered
a legitimate bid submitted by one local construction company to increase the amount of the bid to
be higher than C. Juengel’s bid. On other occasions, the Defendants allegedly created and submitted
bids for other regional construction companies who had never bid on Aldi projects before.According to the indictment, C. Juengel was awarded twelve contracts for general contractor
services between March 2016 and May 2017, as a result of the fraud - valued at over $21 million
dollars. Because of the lack of competition in the bidding process, Aldi allegedly overpaid for the
construction and renovation of stores in the O’Fallon, Missouri, Division.“Individuals and companies who collude to thwart free market competition have a direct and negative
impact on communities and the American consumer,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special
Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “Today’s indictment demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our
partners to investigate anti-competitive behavior and hold accountable those who try to cheat the
system for their own benefit and profit.”The indictment also charges that Schniers paid Ross monthly kickbacks in exchange for the receipt
of the Aldi contracts. Over a four-year period, Ross allegedly received $554,000 in kickbacks in
the form of checks drawn on C. Juengel’s bank account. In addition, the indictment
alleges that Ross also received thousands of dollars in kickbacks from another individual for
the exclusive right to serve as the civil engineer on all Aldi new construction and renovation
projects in the O’Fallon, Missouri, Division.
Ross and Schniers are scheduled to appear in federal court in East St. Louis for their arraignments
on June 10, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively. Each of the counts in the indictment
carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
United States Attorney, Steven D. Weinhoeft of the Southern District of Illinois made
the announcement.The investigation was conducted by the Springfield and St. Louis Field Offices of Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and the St. Louis Field Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under law, a defendant is
presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.United States Marshals Service “Operation Washout” Nets 152 Arrests and 62 Firearms SeizedRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – After a final arrest last weekend, federal authorities are releasing the
results of a month long, large scale, multi-agency, law enforcement operation led by the U.S.
Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, operating primarily throughout March
2022. The operation resulted in more than 150 arrests, including three individuals being charged
with homicide in St. Clair County in connection with one of the firearms seized.Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked countless hours concentrating
their efforts on known gang members, wanted subjects, and other known violent
offenders. Operation Washout (OWO) is a United States Marshals initiative deployed to local areas
to bring immediate relief from violent, gang related crime. The goal is to foster safer
communities by investigating and arresting fugitives and members of criminal
organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.The detail yielded 153 arrests with 55 of those subjects being identified as gang members. Also
seized were 62 firearms, $42,974 in U.S. Currency, two vehicles, and 26.9 kilograms of narcotics.
Enforcement operations were focused on Madison and St. Clair counties, in addition to
the Centralia region.“Federal law enforcement is at its best when coordinating our resources to focus on those who
present the biggest threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “I
credit the U.S. Marshals Service for their excellent work. They perform an incredibly valuable
service to the community by searching for and apprehending the most violent offenders in the most
dangerous areas.”“This operation is a great example of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners
working together to have a significant impact on reducing violent crime in our communities,” said
Jeremy Wyatt, Acting United States Marshal. “Thank you to all of the law enforcement officers
that participated in this operation and put it on the line every day to ensure a safer community
for everyone.”
Participating agencies included U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau
of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI), Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections – Parole
(IDOC), St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit (DTU), St. Clair County Probation, Granite City Police
Department, Alton Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Centralia Police
Department, St. Clair, Madison, Jefferson, Effingham, Marion, and Clinton County
Sheriff’s Departments.Saint Louis Man Sentenced to 26 Years for Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.– Jalon J. Moore, 25, of Saint Louis, Missouri, was sentenced on Thursday, May
12, 2022, to a total of 26 years in prison for a string of robberies he committed in the Metro East
area. Moore will serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from federal
prison. Moore was also ordered to pay $132,961.74 in restitution to his victims.
In January of 2022, Moore pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robberies with a
firearm, armed robberies of Sprint in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Marco’s Pizza in
Collinsville, Illinois, and armed bank robbery of GCS Credit Union in Collinsville, Illinois, all
of which occurred in March of 2019. Moore also pled guilty and was sentenced in the Eastern
District of Missouri for five additional armed robberies of businesses in Saint Louis. According to
court documents, Moore, Larry J. Rhines, and Garry Johnson, committed numerous “take over
style” business robberies in the Metro East area between January and March of 2019. During
these robberies, the three were armed with firearms and threatened employees while demanding money.Moore’s co-defendants, Larry J. Rhines and Garry Johnson, are set to be sentenced in June of 2022.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the
Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven
to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work
together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop
comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts
on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for
lasting reductions in crime.This case was investigated by the St. Louis and Springfield Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Saint Louis Metropolitan, Saint Louis County, Collinsville, and Fairview Heights
Police Departments.
The case prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns.Vandalia Man Sentenced to 60 Months Imprisonment for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Bradley L. Matthews, 40, of Vandalia, Illinois, was sentenced on May 4,
2022, to 60 months imprisonment for distributing child pornography.According to the stipulation of facts agreed to by the parties, Matthews came to the attention of
law enforcement in February 2019 during an FBI undercover internet investigation of
child pornography. During the investigation, an undercover officer engaged in a
conversation with Matthews during which he sent the undercover officer three videos depicting
child pornography.In an interview with law enforcement on September 5, 2019, Matthews admitted distributing child
pornography. When shown the printout of the conversation with the undercover officer that took
place on February 5, 2019, Matthews identified himself as the person in the profile picture and
admitted that he was the person who had engaged in the conversation with the undercover officer and
distributed the child pornography videos.In addition to the 60-month term of imprisonment, Matthews will serve a ten-year term
of supervised release, fined $200, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and
local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and
to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety
education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott prosecuted the case.Jury Convicts Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Professor of Concealing Foreign Bank Account from the Internal Revenue ServiceRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – Dr. Mingqing Xiao, 60, of Makanda, Illinois, was convicted by a federal jury on
Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in connection with lying to federal authorities about a foreign bank
account in China in 2017, 2018, and 2019.Dr. Xiao, a mathematics professor and researcher at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, was
convicted of three counts of Making a False or Fraudulent Statement to the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) on his tax returns and one count of Failure to File a report of a Foreign
Bank Account (FBAR). Evidence presented at the trial established that Xiao opened a foreign bank
account at Ping An Bank in China in 2016 and received monthly deposits into the account from
Shenzhenalo University in Shenzhen, China, from 2016 to 2020. Some of the funds were linked to
additional sources in China. By 2020, Xiao had accumulated more than $100,000 in the Chinese
account.
U.S. taxpayers are required to report the existence of any foreign bank account on their federal
income tax returns. In addition, individuals with funds in foreign accounts totaling
more than $10,000 at any time during a given year are required to file an FBAR with the
Treasury Department.“There are foreign entities that exploit American universities and grant agencies,” said
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “To guard against this abuse, the National Science Foundation
(NSF) requires grant applicants to disclose any conflicting activities, including foreign
activities, as a condition of receiving federal funding. Further, all U.S. citizens are obligated
to disclose any foreign bank accounts they may have. The evidence established that Dr. Xiao
concealed foreign work and hid more than $100,000 of foreign assets in an account in China, and he
was properly prosecuted and held accountable.”“Failing to disclose a foreign bank account and filing false tax returns demonstrates a lack
of truthfulness and an abdication of the duties of citizenship,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge
David Nanz. “Xiao received money from a Chinese employer and knowingly failed to report those
funds, thereby evading his income tax responsibilities. The FBI is committed to investigate and
bring to justice anyone who avoids their obligation to live by our nation’s laws.”“As this verdict shows, when you fail to disclose a foreign bank account and submit false income
tax statements to the IRS, you are committing tax fraud,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington DC Field Office. “Xiao’s acts of fraud and dishonesty
undermine the integrity of our system of taxation. Our agency will continue to uphold its mission
to investigate tax and financial crimes in order to uphold confidence in our tax system, holding
individuals accountable for their crimes.”The court dismissed two additional counts against Xiao that charged wire fraud. In addition, Xiao
was found not guilty of a false statement charge. Those three charges were all related to alleged
fraud in connection with a grant Xiao obtained from the National Science Foundation.The charge of making and subscribing false income tax returns provides for a sentence of up to
three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. The charge of failing
to file an FBAR provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised
release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based
upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set before the
Honorable Staci M. Yandle on August 11, 2022.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield Field Office and the
Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigations.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Reed and Scott Verseman of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and Trial Attorney Derek Shugert of the
National Security Division of the Department of Justice.East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 30 Years Imprisonment for Production of Child Pornography and Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Dinish L. Watson, 26, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 30 years
in federal prison on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, for Production of Child Pornography and Felon in
Possession of a Firearm. Following his release from prison, Watson will serve a five-year term of
supervised release. Watson was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2021, the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS)
executed an arrest warrant at Watson’s residence for one of Watson’s friends. Discovered during the
arrest was a Del-Ton 5.56 caliber rifle with a loaded extended magazine, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, a
bullet proof vest, and additional ammunition. Watson admitted to law enforcement
officials that he had previously held the rifle and posed for pictures with it. Watson later
messaged two different friends on a social media application indicating that law enforcement had
taken his guns. Evidence adduced at the sentencing hearing showed that Watson had acquired at least
one firearm after his contact with USMS and that Watson claimed affiliation with a local gang in
East St. Louis.Separately, in late January of 2021, the East St. Louis Police Department and the Public Safety
Enforcement Group (PSEG) received information that Watson had engaged in a
sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female. The investigation revealed that he repeatedly
engaged in sexual conduct with the 16-year-old and filmed her performing a sex act on
him. While law enforcement investigated the case, Watson threatened the 16-year-old and posted
the video of the sex act to a social media website.Watson has prior felony convictions for Aggravated Battery and Stealing from a Person. He was on
probation at the time of the offenses.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the
Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to
be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together
to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and
develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.This case was investigated by Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG), the East St. Louis Police
Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). PSEG is an Illinois
State Police unit embedded in and working in direct partnership with the East St.
Louis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert prosecuted the case.Convicted Felon Sentenced to 84 Months Imprisonment for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Bernard L. Mosley, Jr., 23, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 84
months in federal prison on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
As part of his sentence, Mosley will serve a two-year term of supervised release following his
release from federal prison.On August 4, 2020, the United States Marshals Service located Mosley at a house in East St. Louis
and arrested him on an active warrant. At the time of his arrest, Mosley was in possession of a
loaded handgun. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or
firearm ammunition. A federal grand jury indicted Mosley in October of 2020, and Mosley pled
guilty on February 22, 2022.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Illinois State
Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and David Dean prosecuted the case.Maywood Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Antonio Ferto-Castorena, 31, of Maywood, Illinois, was sentenced on Thursday, April
21, 2022, to a total of 168 months in prison after pleading guilty for arranging to have sex with a
minor online and traveling to pick her up in the Southern District of Illinois. Antonio
Ferto-Castorena, a citizen of Mexico, was also ordered to pay restitution and serve 5 years of
supervised release.According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Ferto-Castorena used an online chat
application to meet a teenage girl. Ferto-Castorena engaged in sexual conversations with the minor.
On February 5, 2020, Ferto-Castorena drove from Maywood, Illinois, to Teutopolis, Illinois, to pick
up the minor from school. School employees notified the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office who
apprehended Ferto-Castorena prior meeting the minor.As part of his plea agreement, Ferto-Castorena admitted to producing child pornography of a minor
who was located in California, using an online chat application. The images were located on
Ferto-Castorena’s cell phone.The investigation was conducted by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Effingham Police
Department, and the FBI Springfield and Chicago Field Offices.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns.
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
more information about internet safety education, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”St. Louis man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for series of armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge John A. Ross sentenced Jalon Moore, age 25, to 25 years in federal prison for several counts of armed robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence. Moore previously pleaded guilty in January.
According to the plea agreement, Moore and two co-defendants committed a string of armed robberies in 2019 within the Eastern District of Missouri. Each of the robberies involved a yellow Camaro (which was used as the getaway car), the brandishing of firearms, and the taking or attempted taking of money from local businesses, by the use of force, threatened force, or violence.
Moore and the others were responsible for robbing (or attempting to rob) the following businesses on the following dates:
- Mack Bar and Grill located at 4615 Macklind, St. Louis, Missouri on January 9, 2019;
- Jimmy John’s located at 6459 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri on February 9, 2019;
- Subway located at 1151 South Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri on February 17, 2019;
- Panda Express located at 4400 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 18, 2019; and
- Sprint located at 5441 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-St. Louis and the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois; the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield; and the Collinsville and Fairview Heights Police Departments.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Martin Cooper, 31, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 210 months in
prison on Thursday, April 7, 2022, for his role in a Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and
Money Laundering. The offenses occurred in St. Clair County and throughout the Southern District of
Illinois. Cooper pleaded guilty to both charges in October 2021. The United States Postal
Inspection Service initiated an investigation in January 2019, after noticing numerous
suspicious packages being sent to and from addresses in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Phoenix,
Arizona. During the investigation, agents learned that Jose Angulo shipped packages containing
methamphetamine to the East St. Louis area to Martin Cooper.According to court documents, Cooper admitted to receiving narcotics from Jose and
Steven Angulo in 2019 and acknowledged a package containing over two kilograms of methamphetamine
destined for an address in East St. Louis was for him. Cooper also admitted to transferring money
to the Angulos via Walmart, and by mailing currency and money orders to them.Jose Angulo was sentenced on March 24, 2022, to 30 years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute
Methamphetamine, Money Laundering and Distribution of Methamphetamine.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.United States Files False Claims Act Suit Against General Medicine, P.C. and Related Entities for Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – The United States filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of Illinois against General Medicine, P.C. (“General Medicine”), Thomas M. Prose, M.D. –
the owner of General Medicine, and seventeen related corporate entities owned by Prose. In a
96-page complaint, the government alleges Defendants violated the False Claims Act in a widespread
healthcare fraud scheme involving the submission of thousands of false claims to the Medicare
program. Since 2016, Medicare has paid defendants over $40 million dollars.General Medicine and the other defendant companies owned by Prose are based in Novi, Michigan and
employed physicians and nurse practitioners to treat patients in nursing homes and assisted living
facilities in numerous states, including Illinois and Missouri. The government’s
complaint alleges Defendants knowingly billed Medicare for visits with facility residents
that were not medically necessary, did not meet the requirements of the billing codes, or were
not performed at all. As alleged in the complaint, these visits resulted from General
Medicine directing their physicians and nurse practitioners to meet visit quotas and perform
numerous patient visits and assessments each month without any consideration as to whether the
patients needed the services. Defendants also allegedly submitted inflated claims to Medicare using
billing codes for complex, comprehensive visits when the providers spent only minimal time
with patients. On multiple occasions, Defendants allegedly completed progress notes
containing inaccurate information or embellished portions of the notes to bill the visits using
codes with higher reimbursement rates.“Vulnerable patients living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities should receive their
medical care based on their medical needs, not needless visits manufactured to meet artificial
corporate quotas,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Billing Medicare for unnecessary and
worthless services at inflated rates drains valuable taxpayer funding from the program and
ultimately harms the patients who need it most. We will continue to work closely with our law
enforcement partners to ensure federally funded healthcare programs are not abused.”The investigation was a collaborative effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern
District of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector
General (HHS OIG), the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the U.S.
Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, the United States Postal
Inspection Service, and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. The
investigation has already resulted in former General Medicine nurse practitioner
Jami Mayhew pleading guilty to healthcare fraud (see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil/pr/madison-county-nurse-pactitioner-pleads-guilty-healthcare-fraud) and the indictment of Phillip Greene, a former General Medicine physician, in September 2021.The United States is represented in the civil litigation by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Wyatt and Laura Barke.
The case is captioned United States v. General Medicine, P.C., et al., No. 22-cv-00651-SMY (S.D.
Ill.). The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no
determination of liability.Members of the public who believe they may have information related to this or any similar schemes
involving healthcare fraud in nursing homes are encouraged to contact law enforcement by calling
the HHS OIG fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or by going online at
https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Eugene Falls, 42, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to
405 months’ imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent
to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Cocaine; Attempted Possession with the Intent
to Distribute Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; and Money Laundering. Falls was
convicted of all charges by a jury on December 2, 2021. The jury also found that Falls had a
prior drug conviction that subjected him to an enhanced sentence.
Evidence established during the trial and sentencing hearing demonstrated that from
between December 2018 through March 2019, Falls was responsible for receiving or
distributing over 19 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 kilograms of heroin in the Southern District
of Illinois, and he laundered drug proceeds to conceal his drug distribution operation. He was
arrested in March 2019 during a deal in which he was attempting to receive another ten pounds of
methamphetamine.Falls was previously convicted in the Southern District of Illinois for Conspiracy to Distribute
Cocaine Base and Distribution of Cocaine Base, and he was still on supervised release for that case
at the time he committed these new offenses. At the sentencing hearing, Falls faced a mandatory
minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment as a result of that prior offense. He will be required to serve a
new 10-year term of supervised release once he completes this term of imprisonment.The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service,
Criminal Investigation.Missouri Man Receives 30 Year Sentence for Attempted Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – William E. Jackson, 47, of Pevely, Missouri, was sentenced to 360 months in
prison on Thursday, March 24, 2022, for traveling from Missouri to Illinois to engage in sex with a
minor.
According to court documents, in April 2020, an FBI agent, acting in an undercover capacity,
located and responded to an online ad posted by William E. Jackson indicating Jackson’s interest in
incest. When the undercover FBI agent offered to have Jackson meet a fictitious ten-year-old female
minor for purposes of sexual contact, Jackson agreed to do so. On May 6, 2021, Jackson traveled
from Missouri to the Southern District of Illinois for the purpose of meeting the
fictitious ten-year-old female minor for sex. Upon arriving at the meet location, Mr. Jackson
was arrested by FBI agents. Following his arrest, Jackson’s cell phone was seized, which was found
to contain child pornography.“Significant sentences, like the one announced today, are appropriate because those who try to
sexually abuse children deserve justice in proportion to the deviance of their behavior,” said
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute
these cases and do all that we can to protect children.”“This investigation and resulting noteworthy sentence illustrate the FBI’s efforts to protect
children from sexual predators,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “Victims of these
types of crimes can suffer from long-lasting trauma, so it is vital we continue our efforts to
investigate and arrest those who prey on vulnerable children.”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 - Springfield Field Office.
This case was prosecuted by Former Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell and Assistant
United States Attorney Daniel Kapsak.Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Jose Angulo, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on Thursday, March 24, 2022, to
30 years imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Money Laundering, and
Distribution of Methamphetamine. Evidence established during the sentencing hearing demonstrated
that from between 2018 through November of 2019, Angulo had been responsible for shipping
over 50 pounds of methamphetamine to the Southern District of Illinois and laundered drug proceeds
to conceal his drug distribution operation. During the investigation, the United States Postal
Inspection Service intercepted three packages of methamphetamine that Angulo had mailed to
addresses in East St. Louis and Swansea, Illinois, totaling nine pounds of methamphetamine.Angulo had previously been convicted in the State of Arizona for participating in a drug
trafficking organization and engaging in money laundering.This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.Missouri Man Receives 35-year Federal Sentence for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Jason Dominik Tyler Rodriquez, 38, of East Prairie, Missouri, was sentenced to a
total of 420 months in prison on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, after a federal jury found him guilty
in November of 2021 of trying to have sex with an 8-year-old girl and transporting child
pornography.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rodriguez, formerly known as Jason
Tyler Smith, chatted online for four days on an online dating application and had a telephone
conversation with what he thought was a father willing to allow strangers to have sex with his
8-year-old daughter for $150. The purported father was actually an FBI agent. During the
conversations, Rodriguez indicated his interest in traveling to Marion, Illinois, from St.
Louis, Missouri, to meet the father and the purported victim and engage in sexual acts with her. On
March 26, 2020, Rodriguez left St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed as a nurse, and arrived
at a business in Marion, Illinois. Law enforcement agents promptly arrested Rodriguez. After his
arrest, agents found $150 in cash on Rodriguez and an unopened bag of candy in his automobile.
Rodriguez had previously been told the 8-year-old would expect candy before having sex with him.
After his arrest, the agents also discovered Rodriguez had a cellphone in his possession with over
20,000 videos and pictures of child pornography.“Federal law enforcement conducts these sting operations so that would-be child molesters are
aggressively prosecuted after they take affirmative steps to abuse a child, but before they can do
immeasurable damage,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.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 - Springfield Division, and the United States Marshals Service.
Centralia Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Chris Jamison, 19, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced today in federal
court to 78 months in prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Upon his release,
Jamison will be supervised by United States Probation for a period of three years. Additionally,
Jamison must pay a $1000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, Jamison possessed a Smith and Wesson, 9mm pistol while
on probation for Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied Vehicle through Marion County
Circuit Court.The case was investigated by the FBI - Springfield Division Safe Streets Task Force and assisted
by the Centralia Police Department.Postal Employee on Disability Pleads Guilty for False StatementsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Randy Goodwin, 56, of Belleville, Illinois, pled guilty today to a two-
count information charging him with making false statements to obtain federal disability
compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.According to court documents, Goodwin began receiving federal disability payments after he was
injured working for the United States Postal Service in 2013. After his injury, Goodwin began
working at his family’s restaurant, Good Heavens BBQ, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Annual disability forms require recipients to disclose additional earned income and
employment. However, to avoid a reduction of his benefits, Goodwin falsely reported that he had not
worked for any employers or had any involvement in any businesses for several years. This caused
the United States Postal Service to pay him more in disability than he truly deserved.As a result of his plea, Goodwin will lose all disability benefits going forward. He also paid over
$20,000 in restitution on the day of his plea hearing.Special Agent-in-Charge Andre Martin, Central Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of
Inspector General said, “The U.S. Postal Service paid $1.3 billion in workers’ compensation costs
in fiscal year 2021. The majority of postal employees who collect compensation benefits have
legitimate claims due to on-the-job injuries and are truly unable to perform any
postal jobs. However, a small percent abuse the system and cost the Postal Service
millions of dollars in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs. This guilty plea sends a clear
message that workers’ compensation fraud is a federal crime, which carries serious consequences.
The USPS OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to safeguarding the integrity
of the workers’ compensation program and ensuring the accountability and integrity of
U.S. Postal Service employees.”Sentencing will be held at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, on June 13, 2022. In
addition to losing his disability benefits and paying restitution, Goodwin could also receive up to
a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.The investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Service –
Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Granite City Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Benny Davis, 37, of Granite City, Illinois, was sentenced in federal court
on Monday, March 7, 2022, to 10 years in prison for possessing firearms while being a convicted
felon. Davis was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from
prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was a passenger in a vehicle that
was stopped by the Hartford Police Department for traffic infractions. Police officers discovered a
rifle, three shotguns and a stolen handgun during a search of the vehicle. The recovered firearms
were all loaded at the time of the traffic stop. The officers also obtained videos of Davis firing
the guns the day prior to his arrest. Davis admitted to being a convicted felon at the
time of his arrest which prevented him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the
Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to
be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together
to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive
solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most
violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting
reductions in crime.The investigation was conducted by the Hartford Police Department and the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.Centralia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison on Child Pornography and Sextortion ChargesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Bryan Flanagan, 35, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in federal
prison on Thursday, March 3, 2022, on two counts of distribution of child pornography and five
counts of interstate communication with intent to extort. Flanagan pleaded guilty to charges in
federal court on September 16, 2021.
Flanagan extorted multiple minor girls online to send him sexual videos and images. Beginning in
February 2020, Flanagan used fake profiles pretending to be a teenage boy on Facebook to contact
multiple underage girls across the United States. Flanagan pressured and threatened his victims
into sending him sexually explicit videos and images. When some victims refused to do so, Flanagan
lied and told them that he was babysitting a young child and would rape or molest the child unless
his online victims sent him the requested images. Flanagan distributed images of child pornography
to at least two of his victims.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and
local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children,
and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education,
please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield-Division.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Hoell and George Norwood.Cahokia Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Jasmine Davison, 29, of Cahokia, Illinois, was sentenced to
eighteen months in prison on Friday, March 4, 2022, for her involvement in an ID-theft scam from
2015 to 2018.
Davison and her fellow conspirators used the stolen names and social security numbers of real
people to set up new cellular service accounts at Sprint stores across southern Illinois. In
addition, they used the accounts to acquire cellular telephones without paying for them and resold
the phones to other cellular retail stores for cash.Davison is the third defendant to be sentenced in the case. On February 18, 2021,
Michael Henderson was sentenced to serve 24 months and 1 day in prison. Kyetia Hines was sentenced
on May 5, 2021, to serve 28 months, 4 of which ran concurrent with a prior sentence. Antoinette
Davis, the last defendant in the case, is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Cahokia
Police Department.Saint Louis Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Deandre Young, 43, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced today to 96 months
imprisonment by Judge David Dugan in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. Young plead guilty
on October 7, 2021, to one count of aiding and abetting a co-defendant’s possession with intent to
distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking offense.As part of the guilty plea, Young acknowledged that on March 11, 2021, he aided and abetted his
co-defendant’s intended distribution of methamphetamine to a customer at a gas station
in Fairview Heights, Illinois, before being arrested by DEA agents. Young was in possession of a
firearm at the time of his arrest.This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.Missouri Man receives 50-year Sentence after Trial for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A Jefferson County, Missouri, man was sentenced to a total of 600 months in prison
on Friday, February 25, 2022, after a federal jury found him guilty in October of 2021 for
arranging to have sex with a minor, traveling to pick her up in Belleville, Illinois, and producing
sexually explicit images of her.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Earl G. Rice, Jr., 63, chatted online
via a dating application with a teenage girl. Rice quickly indicated his interest in
traveling to Belleville, Illinois, from Dittmer, Missouri, to meet the victim and engage in sexual
acts with her. On Valentine’s Day of 2018, Rice arrived with alcohol, condoms, and a candle to take
the victim to a nearby motel. Rice engaged in sexual acts with the victim and produced sexually
explicit images of the teen girl on his cell phone. Belleville Police Department apprehended Rice
at the scene of the crime.“Serious crimes deserve serious punishment, and we are very satisfied with the 50-year sentence
imposed on Earl Rice. Nothing could be more important than keeping children safe from
sex offenders,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This case is another reminder
for parents to be vigilant about their kids’ online activity and to monitor the apps on their
phones.”“While this sentence ensures that Rice will never again subject another child to sexual abuse and
exploitation, it will not erase the devastating and long-term impact for the victim,” said Special
Agent in Charge David Nanz of the FBI Springfield Field Office. “The FBI remains steadfast in our
dedication to identify, investigate and arrest those who seek to harm children. If you suspect a
child is or could become a victim of a sexual predator, don’t hesitate to contact
local law enforcement or the FBI.”Belleville Police Department conducted the investigation, along with support from the
Illinois State Police, and FBI-Springfield and Saint Louis Divisions.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Karelia Rajagopal.
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 i ternet safety education,
please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Metro East Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud ScamRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Lagardo Wright, 21, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was sentenced to 27
months in federal prison today for orchestrating a large-scale bank fraud scheme.From at least February 2019 until February 2020, Wright led a team of coconspirators that printed
counterfeit checks, deposited them into other people’s bank accounts, and withdrew the available
proceeds before the banks could determine the checks were counterfeit. Their scheme targeted at
least ten different financial institutions and caused losses over $95,000.During the conspiracy, Wright’s main objective was finding valid bank accounts to
exploit. Because the banks closed each account for fraud after his counterfeit checks inevitably
bounced, Wright needed a constant supply of new account holders with valid bank accounts to
perpetuate his scheme. He solved this problem by developing and directing a network of
“recruiters.” These middlemen convinced naive account holders to turn over their online
banking information, including usernames, passwords, and pin numbers, in exchange for the promise
of money.Whenever a recruiter found an account holder willing to participate, Wright accessed the account
holder’s bank account online, adjusted deposit and withdrawal limits, printed counterfeit checks,
and arranged for as many fraudulent transactions as possible before the banks caught on and closed
the account. Then he waited for his recruiters to bring him a new account or tried to solicit some
on his own.Wright and his recruiters found new account holders mostly through social media and cellphone apps,
where they flaunted their “success” to attract followers. Wright posted pictures and videos of
cash, expensive clothing, guns, drugs, and screenshots of bank accounts showing large account
balances. He and his recruiters implored their online followers to contact them if they had a valid
bank account and wanted to make thousands of dollars. Of course, Wright never mentioned that he got
the money by committing bank fraud in the account holders’ names, or that the account holders would
lose their ability to bank and have red flags on credit reports for years to come. In fact, if
young account holders seemed hesitant, Wright and his recruiters assured them that
everything was legitimate and they couldn’t get in any trouble.During sentencing, United States District Court Judge David Dugan noted that Wright committed
serious crimes by leading a long-term enterprise that was sophisticated for his age. In addition to
the prison sentence, Judge Dugan ordered Wright to spend 4 years on supervised release and pay over $30,000 in restitution.
Two of Wright’s coconspirators, Aijeigh McShan and Cedric Sheard, have pled guilty and will be
sentenced next month. McShan’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2022.
Cedric Sheard will be sentenced on March 16, 2022.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Owner and Two Top Executives of South Florida Health Insurance Telemarketing Business Indicted for FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Yesterday afternoon, a federal grand jury in East St. Louis
returned an indictment charging a former owner and two top tier executives of a south
Florida telemarketing business known as Simple Health with federal fraud offense. Former owner
Steven Dorfman, 37, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, former Chief Compliance Officer, Candida L. Girouard,
45, of Valrico, FL, and former Vice President of Sales John A. Sand, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, FL,
were all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail
fraud, and eight counts of wire fraud.
Simple Health, also known as Health Benefits One, sold health insurance policies over the phone.
The vast majority of the policies sold by Simple Health were limited indemnity plans.
Limited indemnity plans have a relatively low cap on the amount of medical expenses they will
cover. After those caps are reached, the patients are responsible for paying 100% of their
medical expenses out of their own pockets.The indictment alleges that Simple Health employed a deceptive sales script to trick
people into purchasing the limited indemnity plans. Among other things, the script required the
Simple Health salespersons to tell the customers that: “The whole idea of this plan is to make
your out of pocket expenses as low as possible . . . .” and “When all is said and done, you end up
with pennies on the dollar!!” Relying on these and other false and misleading representations, thousands of people across the country purchased limited indemnity plans from Simple Health. According to the
indictment, after customers purchased these policies, they frequently called Simple Health’s
Customer Service Department and complained that (1) they had incurred significant medical expenses
that they had been led to believe would be covered, but were not; (2) their doctors and hospitals
did not accept the limited indemnity plans; and (3) their prescription drug costs were not covered,
contrary to what they were told when the purchased the policies.In October 2018, the Federal Trade Commission’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago took action to
prevent Simple Health from defrauding any additional consumers. The complaint filed by the FTC
requested that the federal court in south Florida enter an injunction prohibiting Simple Health
from violating federal consumer protection laws. In addition, at the request of the FTC, the
court appointed a receiver take over operations of the business. The litigation in that case is ongoing.“We credit the Federal Trade Commission for their continued vigilance to protect the community from
predatory and unscrupulous businesses operating online,” said United States Attorney
Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Crimes like those alleged in the indictment rob people of their hard-earned
money, but worse, they have catastrophic consequences when expected insurance benefits aren’t there
in a time of need. These offenses ruin lives and must be dealt with harshly.”
The indictment charges that from May 4, 2012, through November 1, 2018, Simple Health
sold policies to over 400,000 people nationwide, generating revenues to Simple Health of
more than $190,000,000. Simple Health sold 1,175 policies to individuals residing in all 38
counties that comprise the Southern District of Illinois.Dorfman, Girouard, and Sand are scheduled to appear in federal court in East St. Louis on Monday,
March 7, 2022, for their arraignments. Because the alleged scheme was conducted via telemarketing
and victimized ten or more persons over the age of 55, the maximum penalty for the conspiracy count
is 30 years, pursuant to the SCAMS Act. Each of the mail and wire fraud counts carries a maximum
sentence of up to 20 years in prison. In addition, the defendants can be ordered to pay full
restitution to the victims.U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft of the Southern District of Illinois made the announcement. The
St. Louis Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Verseman and Peter Reed are prosecuting the case.Federal Prisoner Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Prison Guard at FCI-GreenvilleRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A federal prisoner originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, and imprisoned at
Federal Correctional Institution Greenville, pled guilty on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, to
assaulting a federal correctional officer in August of 2020.
At the time of the offense, Dakota Holland, 26, was incarcerated at FCI-Greenville serving a six
(6) year sentence for gun and drug conviction stemming from the Southern District of Indiana.
Holland pled guilty to throwing a hard object at a guard which struck the officer in the face below
the eye. The officer did not require medical treatment as a result of the assault.In September of 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Holland. Holland faces a maximum
of eight additional years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2022.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Trippi.Crystal Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 5 years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Demarko Hines, 50, of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, was sentenced today to five
years federal prison for distributing crystal methamphetamine. Hines will also serve a four-year
term of supervised release following his release from federal prison.
On February 23, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Hines and his brother, Laquan Hines, for a drug
transaction that occurred in August of 2020. Demarko Hines pled guilty on September
18, 2021. Laquan Hines remains innocent until proven guilty.The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Trippi.