District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Boston to fentanyl conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.

Ariel Pagan-Romero, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and being a felon in possession of firearms.  U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2021.

During the course of several months, using an undercover officer, a federal investigation uncovered Pagan-Romero’s fentanyl distribution operation. During a search of Pagan-Romero’s residence, agents seized pistols, an AR-15 rifle, ammunition, fentanyl and cocaine base.

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million and at least 5 years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Andover, North Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

BOSTON – A Utah-based cocaine trafficker was convicted on Thursday following a two-day trial in Boston. 

Droel Jared Encarnacion, 28, of Medford, Mass. and Salt Lake City, Utah, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021.

In August and September 2018, federal investigators were conducting a wiretap investigation into Encarnacion and his co-conspirator, Robin Manuel Suazo, who lived in Lynn, Mass.  The two men discussed their fentanyl and cocaine distribution activities in several calls, and discussed shipping drugs from Utah to Boston.  On Sept. 17, 2018, Encarnacion shipped, via, FedEx, a package containing approximately 427 grams of cocaine from his home in Utah to his mother’s address in Medford, Mass.  Encarnacion then flew to Boston himself to pick up the cocaine. Agents stopped the two men as they drove together in a vehicle toward Lynn, and located the FedEx package of cocaine in the vehicle, showing Encarnacion as the sender of the package.  

The crimes of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared Dolan of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit.

BOSTON – United States Attorney Andrew Lelling announces the creation of a statewide Civil Rights Task Force, which will coordinate with, and support, local and state law enforcement in preventing, investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations in Massachusetts. The Task Force will enhance collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement to better identify and deter threats, work to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and community members, and provide training and support to local police departments confronting civil rights issues. 

“The current intensity of public concern with issues of racial equity, persecution of minorities, and relations between minority communities and law enforcement, demands a coordinated law enforcement response,” said U.S. Attorney Lelling.  “In short, we need to do something and, in the interest of bolstering the public’s trust, the public needs to see that we take these issues seriously and will be accountable for our success or failure.  I want to thank the state and local officials joining me today to launch this effort.”

Today, U.S. Attorney Lelling hosted the Task Force’s initial leadership meeting. The leadership team is charged with choosing representatives for the Task Force’s primary working group and will set priorities for the group. The leadership members in attendance at today’s meeting included: Terrence Reidy, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; William Gross, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department; Jeff W. Farnsworth, the Chief of Police for the Hampden Police Department and the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; and Gina Kwon, Chief of the Criminal Bureau, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and the leadership team outlined the importance of a statewide collective focused on providing support and resources to local and state law enforcement on civil rights issues. They also provided details surrounding the structure of the new Civil Rights Task Force, and the selection process for appointing members. The general Task Force membership is expected to meet and begin providing resources to local police departments, community organizations and police chiefs in January 2021.

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was arrested Wednesday and charged in federal court in Boston yesterday on cocaine distribution charges. 

Anthony Rafael Corcino, 32, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, as well as with attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  Corcino was detained following a hearing this afternoon.

On or about May 19, 2020, Corcino allegedly sought to obtain a parcel shipped to a business in Wilmington, which was subsequently found to contain 23 kilograms of cocaine.  After initially failing to obtain the drugs, Corcino had multiple communications with an undercover federal agent in which he attempted to obtain the parcel.  According to court documents, the value of 23 kilograms of cocaine is well over $500,000.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Wilmington Police Chief Joseph Desmond made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against an East Longmeadow man who was previously charged with placing an incendiary device at the entrance of a Jewish-sponsored senior health care organization.  The superseding indictment adds an additional charge of lying to federal agents.

John Rathbun, 36, has been charged in a superseding indictment with a third count of false statements to a federal agent.  On June 23, 2020, Rathbun was previously indicted with one count of attempting to transport or receive explosive devices in interstate or foreign commerce with the knowledge or intent that the device will be used to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, and another count of attempting to maliciously damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce.

It is alleged that on April 15, 2020, Rathbun falsely stated to a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he was not familiar with the location on Converse Street where the device was placed; he had not left his house in the past two weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic; and he only used the Internet to search for work, to use a dating application called Bumble and to view pornography.

The new false statement charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of attempting to transport or receive explosive devices in interstate or foreign commerce with the knowledge or intent that the device will be used to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of attempting to maliciously damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.    

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Feld Division made the announcement yesterday. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force with valuable assistance also provided by the Longmeadow and East Longmeadow Police Departments and the Massachusetts State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

BOSTON – The owner of a charter bus company operating in Massachusetts was sentenced Tuesday. Oct.13, 2020 for bribing a federal safety investigator in order to influence the safety review of passenger buses.

Le Wen Wu, 51, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to two years of probation with the first 12 months to be served in home detention. In October 2019, Wu and co-defendant Yat Kuen Chan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay an unlawful gratuity and to bribe a public official, one count of unlawful gratuities to a public official and one count of bribery of a public official. Wu and Chan were charged in September 2018. Chan was sentenced on May 26, 2020.    

L&W Travel Inc. was a passenger bus charter company purportedly located on Cambridge Street in Boston. Chan acted as the safety manager and Wu was the owner, president, treasurer, secretary, vice president and director of L&W. In January 2018, L&W applied to register as a charter bus company with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which establishes and enforces safe operating requirements for motor carriers, including mandatory safety audits within the first year of operation.  

On multiple occasions in July and August 2018, during a safety audit of L&W, Chan and Wu gave a total of $2,800 in cash to an FMCSA safety investigator to influence the investigator’s compliance review and safety audit of L&W. For example, on Aug. 1, 2018 Chan gave the investigator $600 so that the investigator would not place an L&W bus immediately out of service based on two significant safety violations – inadequate brakes and a defective emergency exit door – but rather, would allow L&W to fix the brakes in Massachusetts and drive the bus to New Jersey for repair of the door. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Barclay of Lelling’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Colombian national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine distribution.

Diego Sanchez, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 months in prison.  Sanchez pleaded guilty on May 15, 2020 to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Sanchez engaged in two sales of cocaine to a cooperating witness for the government on Sept. 10 and 27, 2019 in East Boston.  Sanchez and his co-defendant, Ricardo Lopera-Arteaga, also conspired together to sell one kilogram of cocaine to the same cooperating witness.  On Oct. 9, 2019, law enforcement agents observed both men walking towards the location for a planned drug transaction and arrested them near the pre-arranged meeting spot in East Boston.  Lopera-Arteaga had one kilogram of cocaine in a bag he was carrying when arrested.  Lopera-Arteaga pleaded guilty to similar charges on Aug. 12, 2020.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. 

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

BOSTON – A South Yarmouth man was sentenced today for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine.

Roosevelt Wilkins, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. Wilkins pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.  

On April 1, 2019, Wilkins fled a traffic stop in Brockton on foot, and was seen tossing a plastic bag under a parked car.  Police recovered the bag, which contained 16 smaller bags of various sizes, containing over 70 grams of fentanyl.  A search of the defendant’s cell phones resulted in the discovery of text messages related to drug distribution, including messages indicating that he was on his way to a meeting to sell drugs to another individual when police stopped his car.

On Oct. 18, 2019, when law enforcement arrested Wilkins on a federal warrant relating to the April 1 incident, Wilkins was concealing over 30 grams of fentanyl and an additional quantity of cocaine in plastic packaging inside his shoe.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today.  The Stoughton Police Department also provided valuable assistance.

This case is 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.

BOSTON – A Roxbury man, who was previously convicted of cocaine distribution, was indicted today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  

Daiquan Lucas, 28, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Lucas is currently detained on a supervised release violation and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the criminal complaint, on June 18, 2020, Lucas possessed a Bryco Arms model 38, .32 auto caliber semiautomatic pistol, loaded with 4 rounds of .32 caliber ammunition.  In 2017, Lucas was convicted in federal court of distribution of cocaine base and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.  Lucas was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted in Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with child pornography offenses.

Spencer Hughes, 38, of Randolph, was charged in a criminal complaint with receiving and possessing pornographic images and videos of a person under 18 years of age.  Hughes was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Oct. 22, 2020 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

A search was executed at Hughes’ residence early Tuesday morning, where an external hard drive was discovered on Hughes’ kitchen table containing a folder with numerous pornographic images and videos of a female child appearing to be approximately 10 or 11 years old.  According to the complaint affidavit, the imagery appears to have been produced inside of a bedroom.

The charge of receiving child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.  The charge of possession of child pornography provides for up to 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael S. Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III, of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

BOSTON - A Dominican national who was previously deported was sentenced today for illegal reentry.

Irvin Gabriel Bautista Chala, 28, a/k/a Luis Figueroa-Cabrera, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 12 months and one day in prison.  The Court ordered Bautista Chala’s sentence to be served consecutive to a sentence imposed by the Suffolk Superior Court in September 2019.  Following the completion of his prison term, Bautista Chala will be placed into removal proceedings and deported to the Dominican Republic. 

In 2017, Bautista Chala was arrested by the Boston Police during the execution of a search warrant and charged with distribution of heroin.  At that time, Bautista Chala was determined to be illegally present in the United States and on Aug. 7, 2017, he was deported to the Dominican Republic.  Sometime after his removal, Bautista Chala, using the alias Luis Figueroa-Cabrera, illegally reentered the United States and was rearrested, and later convicted of distribution of heroin in the Suffolk County Superior Court and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.  In October 2019, while serving this sentence, Bautista Chala, was encountered by ICE agents and again determined to be illegally present in the United States.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, specifically a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number. 

Tevin Abercrombie, 25, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Abercrombie is currently detained on a supervised release violation and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 16, 2020, Abercrombie possessed a black Taurus 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, loaded with one round in the chamber and an additional 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine. In 2016, Abercrombie was convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, cocaine and heroin and sentenced to 60 months in prison. Abercrombie was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to five bank robberies, including one that resulted in a high-speed chase.

Dong Lee, 50, pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns who scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2021. In Oct. 2018, Lee was charged with co-defendant Charles Lamont Wheeler, 46, who pleaded guilty in March 2020. Wheeler’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2020.

According to the prosecutor at today’s plea hearing, Lee and Wheeler were responsible for the robberies of the Santander Bank in Andover on Sept. 8, 2018; the Berkshire Bank in Boston on Sept. 8, 2018; the Rockland Trust in Braintree on Sept. 12, 2018; the Abington Savings Bank in Avon on Sept. 14, 2018; and Crescent Credit Union in Brockton on Sept. 14, 2018.   Both Lee and Wheeler were arrested following the Sept. 14, 2018 robberies which resulted in a high-speed auto chase by the Massachusetts State Police.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Department; Avon Police Chief Jeffrey J. Bukunt; Brockton Police Chief Emmanuel Gomes; Attleboro Police Chief Kyle P. Heagney; and North Attleboro Police Chief John J. Reilly made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to heroin and fentanyl possession and distribution charges.

Juan Santos Roque, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17, 2021.  Santos Roque has been in federal custody since his arrest on Oct. 21, 2019.

According to court documents, Santos Roque’s co-defendant, James De La Cruz, arranged for the sale of 10 kilograms of fentanyl and six kilograms of heroin to a confidential informant for the government at a hotel in Peabody.  De La Cruz and Santos Roque drove from New York and arrived separately at the meeting location.  Santos Roque had stored 16 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl in a hidden compartment in his vehicle.  When Santos Roque arrived at the hotel parking lot, he met with the confidential informant and handed over the 16 separate drug packages.  Agents then took both men into custody.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least five years to follow the prison sentence.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston, made the announcement today.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Peabody Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office prevailed in a habeas class action brought by law firms WilmerHale and Todd & Weld LLP seeking the release of over 150 detainees awaiting trial on federal charges, including serious drug and gun crimes, on the ground that continued detention was unconstitutional because of the threat to health and safety posed by COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on detention facilities,” stated United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Our law enforcement partners in Plymouth met that challenge by swiftly instituting measures to ensure the safety of detainees, staff, and the public.  Consequently, they prevailed, despite the plaintiffs' insistence that the facility was still unsafe.  We are pleased the Court recognized Plymouth’s efforts in this case.”    

 “The health and safety of the persons committed to the Department’s care and custody, the staff, and the public is of paramount importance,” Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr., said.  “It is gratifying to see that the Court has recognized the many measures the Department has taken to protect people during this time of unprecedented challenge.”      

In April 2020, the detainees filed a habeas petition challenging the conditions at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility (“PCCF”), the state jail where they are held, as inadequate to address the COVID-19 pandemic.  They sought an injunction that would require the immediate release of some or all of them, as well as various other forms of relief.  In May 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin denied their request for an injunction based on the many measures and policies in place at PCCF to protect detainees and staff, but stopped short of dismissing the case at that time.  In September 2020, the Court found that the detainees could not establish an entitlement to habeas relief, and that it would deny the habeas petition unless they presented additional evidence by Oct. 8, 2020.  Instead, the detainees voluntarily dismissed the case.    

U.S. Attorney Lelling and Sheriff McDonald made the announcement today.  The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason C. Weida and Rachel Goldstein of Lelling’s Civil Division, with assistance from Lisa Olson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

BOSTON – Two former employees of eBay, Inc. pleaded guilty today to their roles in a cyberstalking campaign targeting the editor and publisher of a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.

Stephanie Popp, 32, of San Jose, Calif., eBay’s former Senior Manager of Global Intelligence, and Veronica Zea, 26, of San Jose, Calif., a former eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in eBay’s Global Intelligence Center (GIC), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 25, 2021.

Popp and Zea were charged along with co-defendants Brian Gilbert, 51, of San Jose, Calif., a former Senior Manager of Special Operations for eBay’s Global Security Team and Stephanie Stockwell, 26, of Redwood City, Calif., the former manager of eBay’s GIC. Gilbert and Stockwell are scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 29, 2020.

Former eBay executives, James Baugh and David Harville, were charged on June 15, 2020. Phil Cooke, another former member of eBay’s Global Security Team, was also charged and is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 27, 2020

According to the charging documents, the victims of the cyberstalking campaign were a Natick couple who are the editor and publisher of an online newsletter that covers ecommerce companies, including eBay. Members of the executive leadership team at eBay followed the newsletter’s posts, often taking issue with its content and the anonymous comments underneath the editor’s stories.

It is alleged that in August 2019, after the newsletter published an article about litigation involving eBay, two members of eBay’s executive leadership team sent or forwarded text messages suggesting that it was time to “take down” the newsletter’s editor.

In response, Popp and Zea, and allegedly Baugh, Harville, Gilbert and Stockwell, executed a three-part harassment campaign. Among other things, several of the defendants allegedly ordered anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home, including a preserved fetal pig, a bloody pig Halloween mask, a funeral wreath, a book on surviving the loss of a spouse, and pornography addressed to the victims but delivered to their neighbor’s homes.  Zea used cash to purchase prepaid debit cards for use in the campaign and ordered insects to the victims’ home.

As part of the second phase of the campaign, Popp sent private Twitter messages and public tweets, drafted or approved by Baugh, Gilbert, or Cooke, criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to travel to the victims in Natick. The charging documents allege that Baugh, Gilbert, Popp and Cooke planned for these messages to become increasingly disturbing, culminating with “doxing” the victims (i.e., publishing their home address). It is alleged that the very same group intended to then have Gilbert, a former Santa Clara police captain, approach the victims with an offer to help stop the harassment that the defendants were secretly causing, in an effort to promote good will towards eBay, generate more favorable coverage in the newsletter, and identify the individuals behind the anonymous comments.

The third phase of the campaign allegedly involved covertly surveilling the victims in their home and community. According to the complaint, Harville and Zea registered for a software development conference to explain their trip to Boston on Aug. 15, 2019. Baugh, Harville, and Zea (and later Popp) drove to the victims’ home in Natick several times, with Harville and Baugh allegedly intending to break into the victims’ garage and install a GPS tracking device on their car. As protection in the event if they were stopped by police, Baugh and Harville allegedly carried false documents purporting to show that they were investigating the victims as “Persons of Interest” who had threatened eBay executives. The victims spotted this surveillance, and notified the Natick Police Department who began investigating.

Aware that the police were investigating, the defendants allegedly sought to interfere with the investigation by lying about eBay’s involvement while pretending to offer the company’s assistance with the harassment. They also allegedly lied to eBay’s lawyers and deleted digital evidence that showed their involvement.

The charges of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses each carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Natick Chief of Police James G. Hicks made the announcement today. eBay provided valuable assistance and cooperation with the federal investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto of Lelling’s Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in Boston in relation to the seizure of over 10 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin in December 2018.

Carlos Soto-Villar, 34, a Dominican national formerly residing in Lawrence, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2021.

According to the trial testimony, on Dec.  6, 2018, Soto-Villar supplied a kilogram of fentanyl to co-defendant Ana Caraballo.  The kilogram of fentanyl was later seized by police on Dec. 7, 2018.  A search at the Methuen apartment used by Soto-Villar and co-defendant Angel Valdez as a drug stash house, resulted in the seizure of over nine kilograms of fentanyl and heroin and drug processing equipment.  Soto-Villar fled from the apartment and was apprehended a short distance away.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

Soto-Villar faces a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New England Field Division made the announcement.  Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Methuen Police Department. AUSA Linda M. Ricci, Chief of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, and Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, are prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – Two Massachusetts men were arrested today in connection with a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by falsely inflating taxpayer’s federal income tax refunds and diverting a portion of those refunds to accounts they and their co-conspirators controlled. 

Boris Shadari, 44, of Swampscott, and Christian Zynga, 45, of Everett, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Shadari was additionally charged with three counts of filing a false tax return, three counts of aiding or assisting in filing a false tax return, two counts of theft of government funds, five counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of witness tampering. 

According to the charging documents, from 2012 to 2018, Shadari and Zynga held Shadari out as a tax professional, particularly targeting the Congolese community of Greater Boston. Until 2017, they took their customers’ tax information to a tax professional at a tax preparation company, and provided the tax professional with false information concerning their customers’ dependents, dependent and child care expenses and business income and losses in order to inflate the customers’ federal income tax refunds. They then caused the refunds to be split between the customers’ bank accounts and accounts they and their co-conspirators controlled. After 2017, Shadari prepared customers’ returns himself and added false information to the returns to inflate the refunds due. Shadari also allegedly failed to report the income he received from this scheme on his own tax returns. 

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charges of filing a false tax return and aiding or assisting in filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of witness tampering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Rockland man pleaded guilty yesterday to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Lamont Boswell, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Feb. 11, 2021. Boswell has been in custody since he was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 1, 2020.

In the early morning hours of March 5, 2020, police officers were dispatched to a Hanover convenience store where they approached a vehicle with the engine revving and an occupant, later identified as Boswell, who appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat with a sweatshirt pulled up over his head. Plainly visible on Boswell’s lap was a black revolver handgun. Officers were able to secure the firearm without incident. The revolver, a .38 Special caliber Smith & Wesson, was loaded with five rounds of .38 caliber special ammunition in the cylinder. Boswell could not produce any documentation for the firearm or a license to carry, and was subsequently arrested.

Boswell was also in possession of quantities of suspected heroin and cocaine packaged individually in 10 small clear plastic bags at the time of his arrest. According to court documents, Boswell revealed during booking that he is a member of the Latin Kings gang. Due to previous state drug convictions punishable by more than one year of incarceration, Boswell is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz; and Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.      

BOSTON – A Plainville man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston on child enticement and child pornography offenses.

David Cerasuolo, 47, of Plainville, Mass., was indicted on one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. Cerasuolo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2020.

According to charging documents, Cerasuolo used chat applications to engage in conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover federal agent. During these conversations, Cerasuolo attempted to entice the 13-year-old to engage in sexual activity and sent her several photographs of himself, including one displaying his genitalia. He was also found in possession of child pornography.

The charge of enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transfer of obscene material to a minor provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The Plainville, Arlington, Boston and Newton Police Departments and Massachusetts Department of Correction provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of Lelling Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A man traveling from the Dominican Republic under an assumed identity was indicted by a federal grand jury today in Boston for attempting to enter the United States using a false U.S. passport.

The defendant, whose identity has not yet been confirmed and who was charged as John Doe, was indicted on one count of misuse of a passport and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2020, and has been detained since that time.

As alleged in the charging documents, the defendant arrived at Boston Logan International Airport on a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic on March 4, 2020. While attempting to pass inspection by Customs and Border Protection, he provided officers a U.S. passport bearing his image, but the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a different person.

An investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly applied for the passport in November 2019 in Brighton. In the application, he fraudulently listed the personal identifying information of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico. He also attached a copy of the citizen’s birth certificate in support of the application.

The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of misuse of a passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States attorney Andrew E. Lelling and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.    

BOSTON – A Granby man was convicted today by a federal jury in Springfield of child exploitation offenses.

Jonathan Monson, 38, was convicted of four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2021. The defendant was arrested on March 8, 2018 and has been held in custody since that time. 

Monson used a child on four occasions in 2017 and 2018 to produce child pornography, which was later found on his cell phone. In June 2017, Monson distributed child pornography files to a Kik messenger group. Monson was trading child pornography videos on Kik messenger at 3:30 in the morning with another Kik user, just a few hours before federal agents executed a search warrant at his home. The evidence at trial also showed that Monson had additional child pornography files on his phone at the time of the search warrant.

The charge of sexual exploitation of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a lifetime 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

BOSTON – Six individuals were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a scheme to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles and other merchandise and apply for and utilize bank accounts and credit cards. Two other defendants were indicted for related conduct last week.

The defendants were charged in a 42-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number.  The defendants were previously charged by complaint. 

According to charging documents, between October 2017 and January 2019, the defendants visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and applied for 100% financing. In support of their applications, the defendants provided stolen biographical information of real United States citizens, fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities, as proof of identification. The group allegedly used the stolen identities to illegally open bank accounts and credit cards and purchase vehicles, many of which were exported out of the United States.

The following individuals were indicted today:

1. Ricardo Acevedo, 32, of Manchester, N.H., allegedly used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase three cars worth $90,582, collectively;
2. Joshua Cruz, 32, of Manchester, N.H., allegedly used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase vehicles worth more than $170,288, collectively;
3. Jose Irizarry, 44, of Union City, N.J., allegedly used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase three cars worth $140,124, collectively;
4. Arialka Moya, 31, of Lowell, Mass., allegedly used a stolen identity to obtain a car loan to purchase one car worth $60,982;
5. Alvin Rivera, 37, of Haverhill, Mass., allegedly supplied co-defendants with stolen personal identifying information of United States citizens, providing detailed instructions as to how to perpetrate the scheme to defraud and coordinating payments to co-conspirators; and
6. Wanda Sanchez, 36, of Lawrence, Mass., allegedly used a stolen identity to obtain a car loan to purchase one car worth $50,962.

Two additional individuals, Neida Lopez, 43, of Methuen, Mass., and Iyaury Rodriguez, 39, of Reading, Penn., were indicted on Sept. 29, 2020. Specifically, in March 2020, Lopez allegedly used the stolen identity of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico to obtain a credit card and accrued $21,931 in charges on that card, including charges at various retailers in Massachusetts. In April 2020, working with co-conspirators, she allegedly used the credit card to purchase a specialty printer ribbon that can be used to print identification cards.

On three dates in June and September of 2018, Rodriguez allegedly used stolen identities to obtain financing and purchase three vehicles worth at least $98,432. He allegedly visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and applied for 100% financing.  As proof of identification, he provided stolen biographical information of real United States citizens, as well as fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities.

In a coordinated multi-jurisdictional effort, individuals allegedly involved in this scheme or related schemes were also charged in the District of New Jersey, the State of New Jersey, the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes. The DBFTF has been investigating this scheme since January 2019.

The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number 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 on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Connecticut man who formerly owned ARO Equity, LLC pleaded guilty today in connection with a multi-year fraud scheme that caused more than $4 million in losses to investors.

Thomas D. Renison, 66, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Feb. 11, 2021. 

According to the charging document, between 2015 and 2018, Renison and his co-conspirator, Timothy J. Allcott, fraudulently raised and solicited funds from victims to invest in ARO Equity LLC – a privately-held investment company that purportedly pooled money from investors and then invested it in various New England-based businesses. In order to raise these funds, Renison and Allcott misrepresented to victims how their money would be invested, ARO’s investment track record and the safety of the investments. Allcott and Renison also concealed Renison’s ownership interest and affiliation with ARO because Renison had previously been barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and regulators in Maine from working in the securities industry. 

Over the course of the scheme, ARO took in over $5 million from investors; however, only about half of the funds were actually invested. Of the investments that were actually made, the substantial majority yielded significant losses. Despite these losses, none of the victims were informed of the poor performance of prior investments. Instead, the victims were told on many occasions that the investments were doing well and remained safe. When victims invested with ARO, they signed promissory notes, agreeing to receive monthly interest payments on their investments. ARO generally made these scheduled monthly payments; however, because ARO’s actual investments earned little to no returns, the monthly payments to existing investors were made using funds raised from more recent investors.

The defendants’ scheme also involved misrepresentations to the victims regarding how their investments would be used. Victims were generally told that their investments were to be used by ARO to fund investments in one of three different businesses. Despite this, the investment funds were often used for purposes other than what was represented to the investors – including using the funds to pay Renison and Allcott exorbitant commission fees, satisfy monthly interest obligations to other investors and to invest in different undisclosed businesses.  As part of the scheme, Allcott and Renison disguised commissions paid to Renison as loans to Renison’s wife, which allowed them to continue concealing Renison’s ownership stake in the company. In addition, Renison failed to declare more than half a million dollars of commission income and failed to pay over $150,000 in taxes. 

Allcott previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In January 2020, the SEC charged Allcott and Renison with fraudulently misleading investors in connection with the same conduct. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in connection with unlawfully importing and exporting salamander and turtle species.   

Nathan Boss, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served and two years of supervised release with the first five months to be served in home confinement. Judge Hillman also imposed the special conditions that Boss not possess any wildlife and that he successfully participate in and complete a community service project. In June 2020, Boss pleaded guilty to two counts of smuggling wildlife into the United States, two counts of smuggling wildlife out of the United States and one count of making a false statement to a federal agent.

The investigation began in 2017 when Boss lied to federal investigators about the identity of a recipient of wildlife illegally imported into the United States. Subsequently, federal investigators intercepted an inbound U.S. Postal Service package from Hong Kong that was addressed to “Shelton Boss” at an address on Mildred Avenue in Worcester. The package was found to contain four black-breasted leaf turtles (Geoemyda spengleri), a species included in the Convention for Trade in Endangered Species and Wild Fauna, an international agreement joined by the U.S. that governs the importation of designated wildlife. Specifically, any black-breasted leaf turtle imported into the United States must be declared and approved by Fish and Wildlife Service before any shipment can be received. 

Boss was also found to have illegally imported an injurious species of salamander which can carry a fungal disease and is prohibited from importation into the United States. Further investigation revealed that, on multiple occasions, Boss illegally exported undeclared wildlife destined for locations in Hong Kong and Sweden.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Ryan Noel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Dorchester was sentenced today for drug crimes related to his role in a wide-ranging operation that distributed cocaine and fentanyl throughout Boston and Cape Cod.

Kelvin Chalas, a/k/a Jose Solivan, a/k/a “Keco,” 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 41 months  in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2020, Chalas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

Chalas and his co-conspirators, James Ramirez and Alex and Kevin Fraga, were arrested in August 2017 and charged in connection with their roles in a drug ring that shipped large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin from Boston to Cape Cod, where it was redistributed. Chalas helped run a drug stash house for Ramirez, who collected the narcotics and took them to Cape Cod for distribution.

In June 2019, Alex Fraga was sentenced to 131 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In January 2020, Kevin Fraga was sentenced to 45 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2020, Ramirez was sentenced to 66 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe made the announcement today. The Brewster, Harwich, Sandwich, Mashpee, Chatham, Yarmouth and Barnstable Police Departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Philip Cheng and Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today for using fraud and bribery to facilitate his child’s acceptance to Georgetown University.

Peter Dameris, 60, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one day in prison (deemed served), three years of supervised release with 12 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a fine of $95,000. In June 2020, Dameris pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Dameris agreed with William “Rick” Singer to pay an amount, ultimately totaling $300,000, to Singer’s purported charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), knowing that the money would be used to facilitate Dameris’s son’s purported recruitment to Georgetown University as a tennis player, even though he did not play tennis competitively.

Singer previously pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government’s investigation.

Dameris is the 23rd parent to be sentenced in this case.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Three individuals were charged today in connection with a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme, bringing the total number of defendants to six. 

Nathan LaParl, 34, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Talia Alexandre, 30, of Palm Springs, Fla., were each charged by Information with one count of receiving kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program. LaParl and Stefanie Hirsch, 51, of Los Angeles, Calif., were also charged by Information with violating the HIPAA statute. 

According to charging documents, LaParl and Alexandre sold Medicare patients’ personal and medical data to Juan Camilo Perez Buitrago. LaParl and Alexandre worked with foreign call centers to contact Medicare patients to ask if they were interested in durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces “at little to no cost.” The call centers collected demographic and insurance information from Medicare patients, which LaParl and Alexandre sold to Perez. Together, LaParl and Alexandre received more than $1.6 million from Perez for the patient data. Perez Buitrago used that patient data to submit more than $109 million in false and fraudulent claims, submitting claims for DME that was not prescribed, not necessary, and, in many instances, never requested or received. 

To perpetuate the scheme, LaParl checked Medicare patients’ insurance eligibility by improperly accessing a patient eligibility tool provided by Hirsch. Hirsch owned EI Medical, Inc., a Medicare-enrolled wheelchair and scooter repair company that qualified for access to a health care clearinghouse that contains Medicare patients’ personal, medical and insurance information. Hirsch improperly gave LaParl access to that clearinghouse and charged him about $0.25 per patient eligibility check. Using Hirsch’s credentials, LaParl accessed the personal and medical data of more than 350,000 patients. 

Perez was charged in July 2020 and is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct.5, 2020. Two other defendants, Jessica Jones and Elizabeth Putulin, were charged on Sept. 29, 2020 and have agreed to plead guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Dighton registered nurse pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug tampering.

Marietta Strickland, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance oxycodone, which is used for pain relief. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2021. Strickland was charged by Information in June 2020.

While working as a registered nurse at Dighton Care and Rehabilitation Center, Strickland tampered with three blister card packages of oxycodone prescribed to an 89-year-old hospice patient who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, severe dementia and breast cancer. To avoid detection, Strickland replaced the stolen oxycodone pills with other prescription drugs disguised to look like oxycodone. As a result of Strickland’s tampering, the victim was deprived of her prescribed oxycodone for a month and ingested at least 77 unnecessary prescription tablets.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Acting Commissioner Margaret Cooke, of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Marlborough man was arrested on charges of child exploitation.

Philip Raymond, 63, was indicted on 13 counts of sexual exploitation of minors, and attempt. Raymond was arrested last night and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today.

The indictment alleges that between 2004 and 2012, Raymond produced or attempted to produce child pornography involving 13 different minors.

The charging statute provides for a  minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison per count, at least five years and up to life 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation, Boston Field Office; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Marlborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law. 

BOSTON – A former Milford second grade teacher was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for possession of child pornography.  

Vincent Kiejzo, 33, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Kiejzo was previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Sept. 9, 2020. 

According to the charging documents, Kiejzo possessed approximately 6,000 images of apparent child pornography stored within a thumb drive, including images that involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. The Milford Police Department assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Office is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A former client relationship manager at Bank of America pleaded guilty today in connection with embezzling $1.5 million from a client company and using a portion of those funds to purchase luxury items.

Waqas Ali, 31, of Abington, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions before U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, who scheduled sentencing for Feb.1 2021. Ali was charged in August 2020.

Ali was the client relationship manager for the victim company, which was a Bank of America client. Ali opened a checking account in the name of the victim company without its knowledge or authorization, and between September 2016 and July 2017, fraudulently transferred over $1.5 million from the victim company’s accounts to a fraudulent account.

Ali used over $600,000 of the funds he fraudulently obtained to fund his lifestyle and pay for luxury items, including a Porsche SUV and retail items at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Christian Louboutin and Tag Heuer.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester, Mass. man was indicted by a grand jury today with civil disorder and possession of a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration in the City of Worcester over the death of George Floyd.

Vincent Eovacious, 18, was indicted today on one count of civil disorder and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Eovacious was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 3, 2020.

According to charging documents, on June 1, 2020, crowds gathered at various locations in Worcester to protest the death of George Floyd, including South Main Street. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a large crowd blocked traffic and began throwing objects in the direction of the police. As officers on scene gathered into a line formation, one officer observed a man dressed in a trench coat standing on top of a building at 848 Main Street which is clearly marked, “No Trespassing.” The man, later identified as Eovacious, allegedly yelled for the crowd below to kill the police and paced back and forth on the rooftop. The officer then observed Eovacious remove a bottle from his satchel that appeared to contain liquid and attempt to insert a rag into the bottle while holding a silver object that the officer believed to be a lighter. Minutes later, officers observed Eovacious walking in the area of May and Main Streets, still carrying the satchel, and stopped him. According to court documents, officers searched the satchel and recovered three clear glass bottles with a slightly yellow liquid that smelled of gasoline, five white rags, one green lighter and one silver lighter. Eovacious stated that the liquid in the glass bottles was gasoline and that he was “with the anarchist group” and was “waiting for an opportunity.”

The civil disorder charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Friedholm and Danial Bennett, of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, are prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Two Wareham residents were arrested today and charged in connection with selling fentanyl, including to a 42-year-old man who died of an apparent overdose.

Troy Jones, 40, and Kayla Nightingale, 33, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distributing fentanyl resulting in death. The defendants were arrested today and will make an initial appearance today at 1:00 p.m. before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelly.

“Fentanyl, which is far more potent than heroin, is an extremely dangerous drug that is now driving overdose deaths during the opioid epidemic,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Federal law provides for particularly severe consequences when illegal drug trafficking results in death, and we intend to use every available tool to combat this problem.”

“The state of Massachusetts is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those responsible for distributing this lethal drug and contribute to the loss of life for those battling this addiction need to be held responsible for their actions. In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this poison.”

As alleged in the indictment, Jones and Nightingale worked together from January 2019 through at least April 3, 2019 to distribute fentanyl in Wareham, including to a 42-year-old Wareham resident. On April 2, 2019, that resident died of an apparent fentanyl overdose.

The charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling; DEA SAC Boyle; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police; and Wareham Police Chief John A. Walcek  made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON –The owner of a Revere towing company was charged yesterday with engaging in an under-the-table payroll fraud scheme that defrauded the government more than $3.3 million.   

Gennaro Angiulo, 49, of Nahant and Saugus, was charged by Information with one count of willful failure to collect and pay over taxes and one count of evading cash transaction reporting requirements.

For tax years 2014 through at least 2017, Angiulo allegedly paid a portion of the wages to employees of his company, GJ Towing, in cash “under the table.” In doing so, Anguilo did not collect, account for or pay over to the IRS required withholding and FICA taxes. The cash payments to employees were funded, at least in part, by cashing checks from clients of GJ Towing and other third parties in groups totaling not more than $10,000 in a single day.

The charge of willful failure to collect and pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of evading cash transaction reporting requirements provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000 and forfeiture. Angiulo is also required to pay restitution to the IRS. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The owner of a now-defunct Peabody construction company was arrested yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the IRS of approximately $1 million in payroll taxes and to defraud his workers’ compensation insurance carrier by failing to disclose how many workers he employed. 

Argyrios “Eric” Mavros, 56, was indicted on 10 counts of failure to collect or pay over taxes and one count of mail fraud. Mavros was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.  

According to the charging documents, Mavros, who owned Mavros Construction, Inc., cashed more than $3.3 million in customer checks at a Peabody check cashing business and used some of those funds to pay his employees in cash. Mavros failed to report these employees or their wages in quarterly corporate tax filings, in an effort to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes on employee wages and withholding federal income taxes. Overall, Mavros failed to pay and withhold federal taxes on more than $2.5 million in wages, resulting in a tax loss of just over $1 million. Additionally, Mavros failed to report these employees to his workers’ compensation insurance carrier, thereby defrauding his insurer of premiums. 

The charge of failure to collect and pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $10,000. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A naturalized U.S. citizen living in Lexington, his wife, and a company they established were charged today in a 24-count superseding indictment in connection with the theft of hundreds of files containing proprietary information from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a worldwide semiconductor company headquartered in Norwood.

Haoyang Yu, a/k/a “Jack Yu,” a/k/a “Harry Yu,” a/k/a “Jack Tricon,” 41, of Lexington, and his company, Tricon MMIC LLC (Tricon), were charged with three counts of possession and attempted possession of a trade secret; two counts of smuggling; two counts of transporting stolen goods; one count of visa fraud; and one count of procuring U.S. citizenship unlawfully. Yu and his wife, Yanzhi Chen, 22, also of Lexington, were also charged with three counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud. Yu was previously charged by indictment in June 2019 with stealing, copying, downloading, and possessing ADI’s trade secrets.

According to the superseding indictment, Yu was born in Harbin, China, and first came to the United States in 2002 through the student visa program. He became a lawful permanent resident in June 2009, and a naturalized U.S. citizen in March 2017. From July 2014 to July 2017, Yu was employed by ADI as a principal design engineer.

As alleged in the indictment, Yu worked for ADI designing and developing parts of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), which are used in radio, cellular and satellite communications, as well as in defense and aerospace applications. As a result of his work, Yu had access to data and information relating to ADI’s present and future product designs, schematics, manufacturing files and testing procedures. It is alleged that, while working for ADI, Yu downloaded hundreds of highly confidential schematic design and modeling files that belonged to ADI, and uploaded many of these files to his personal Google drive account. The files YU stole from ADI were worth millions of dollars.  

In March 2017, approximately five months before he resigned from ADI, Yu and his wife established Tricon, which, according to its website, “specializes in wide band MMIC amplifiers,” and serves customers in “defense and aerospace, test and instrumentation, [and] satellite communications.”

On July 31, 2017, Yu allegedly resigned from ADI and signed an agreement affirming that he had surrendered all proprietary information or data. Nevertheless, in December 2018 and again in June 2019, Yu allegedly had propriety ADI files in his possession both in his Google drive account and on his personal computers. Since creating Tricon in March 2017, Yu marketed and sold approximately 20 ADI designs as his own, and even used the same Taiwanese semiconductor fabrication plant as ADI to manufacture Tricon’s MMIC parts. The superseding indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently obtained MMIC and other semiconductor parts from the Taiwanese semiconductor fabrication plant by providing the plant with ADI’s stolen designs and other proprietary information, and furthermore concealed the fact that the designs were stolen from ADI.

Yu and Tricon also allegedly smuggled export-controlled technology from the United States to Taiwan without obtaining the necessary export license from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that Yu committed visa fraud and procured U.S. citizenship unlawfully by failing to disclose material facts and information concerning the theft of ADI’s trade secrets in his Application for Naturalization (Form N-400), which he submitted to the U.S Department of Homeland Security in or about February 2017.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. All other charges each provide for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; William Higgins, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation, Boston Field Office; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Michael Wiest, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Massachusetts State Police, the Lexington Police Department and the Hingham Police Department also provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Beck and Jason A. Casey of Lelling’s National Security Unit and B. Stephanie Siegmann, Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit, are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

UPDATE: In April 2022, Haoyang Yu, was acquitted by a federal jury of 18 counts of the charges alleged in the indictment. Criminal charges against the remaining defendant, Yanzhi Chen, were dismissed in June 2022. 

BOSTON – A former employee of William “Rick” Singer’s “The Key” for-profit business pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to colleges nationwide.

Mikaela Sanford, 34, of Folsom, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2021. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the sentencing guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, forfeiture in the amount of $67,062 and restitution.

Sanford, who was employed by “The Key,” took online classes for students so that the students could submit the grades Sanford earned in their names as part of their application packages to colleges and universities. In other instances, Sanford helped fabricate athletic “profiles” and other documents to bolster students’ college applications by making the students appear to be highly successful high school athletes when, in fact, they were not.

Sanford is the 42nd defendant to plead guilty in this case.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Boston was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, oxycodone and cocaine.

Yonatan Lara, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Lara will be deported upon completion of his sentence. In June 2020, Lara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana. Lara has been in custody since he was arrested on May 30, 2019.

In 2018, a federal and state investigation into the members of a drug trafficking organization in and around the Boston area revealed that Jose Perez Felix, a/k/a “Eugenio Piedraita-Rivera,” a/k/a “Roberto Patricio Ramirez,” a/k/a “Grande,” allegedly distributed large quantities of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a base of operations in Boston. Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix used a 2008 black Subaru Outback, registered to Lara, to distribute narcotics. Federal agents observed Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix take “meaningless” rides in the Subaru – essentially driving the car around the block or a short distance as a means of shielding their transactions from law enforcement – and saw Lara use the Subaru to distribute narcotics to street-level dealers and users. Agents intercepted Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix discussing the acquisition and distribution of oxycodone pills. Over the course of the investigation, agents seized oxycodone and fentanyl pills from Lara after two street-level sales.

Perez Felix has pleaded not guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Wareham man was arrested and charged yesterday with possession of child pornography.

David St. Jacques, 56, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance yesterday, St. Jacques was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Oct. 5, 2020.

As alleged in the charging document, federal agents executed a search of St. Jacques’s residence yesterday morning and seized a computer, three phones, and one thumb drive. Agents discovered that St Jacques had allegedly destroyed at least two other drives and attempted to destroy one of his phones when agents arrived to execute the warrant. St. Jacques admitted to exchanging child pornography with other individuals on various chatting applications, and agents located child pornography during the on scene review of the devices that were still intact.

In March 2009, St. Jacques was convicted in Plymouth County Superior Court of several counts of dissemination and possession of child pornography.

Due to the prior felony conviction, St. Jacques faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced today in connection with his role in a large-scale drug conspiracy that trafficked dozens of kilos of heroin and fentanyl into Springfield from Bronx, N.Y. and the Dominican Republic.

Marcos Pena, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to four years in prison and five years of supervised release. In June 2019, Pena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.

Pena admitted to his part in the conspiracy, which included, amongst other roles, transporting tens of thousands of dollars at a time to sources of heroin in the Bronx and transporting multiple kilograms of heroin back to Springfield, where the heroin would then be packaged at Springfield-based heroin mills.

Pena also admitted to distributing heroin to a government witness on two separate occasions in February 2016. On Feb. 10, 2016, Pena and co-defendant Alberto Marte sold approximately 125 grams of heroin to the witness. Pena again sold 125 grams of heroin to the same witness on Feb. 24, 2016.

Marte pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 months in prison.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb; Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to firearm charges.

William Scott, 31, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with receipt and possession of unregistered firearms, making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee, and making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required. U.S. District Court Judge Mark D. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2021.

Scott, who worked for Dark Horse Gunsmithing in South Hadley, Mass. at the time of these offenses, received and possessed a machinegun which was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by the National Firearm Act. In addition, on April 12, 2016 and July 20, 2016, Scott made a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee. Scott also made false entries in, failed to make appropriate entries in, and failed to properly maintain records as required of a federal firearms licensee.

The charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who previously resided in Malden, pleaded guilty today to immigration and firearms crimes.

Vanderlei Rodrigues DeAraujo, a/k/a Neneco, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, two counts of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021. De Araujo was arrested in May 2019 and has been in custody since.

De Araujo, a citizen and national of Brazil, was deported to Brazil on Aug. 18, 2011.  Sometime after his 2011 removal, De Araujo illegally reentered the United States and took up residence in Malden using the name “Neneco.” Between Sept. 6, 2018 and Jan. 28, 2019, De Araujo illegally negotiated with and sold firearms and ammunition to a third party. In May 2019, De Araujo was arrested, and his fingerprints were found to match prints in his Alien file as a previously deported alien.

The charge of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being an alien in possession of firearm and ammunition carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful reentry of a previously deported alien carries a sentence of up to two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division and the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine, Evan Gotlob and Lindsey Weinstein of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – An Acton man pleaded guilty today in connection with a long-running scheme to steal money from clients of his investment advisor business, in which he fraudulently obtained more than $3.7 million from more than 20 clients.   

Gerald Allan Eaton, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26, 2021.  

Eaton was a certified financial planner, doing business under the name Heritage Financial Group, with an office in Acton. In that capacity, Eaton invested his clients’ funds in securities and various insurance products, including life insurance policies and annuities. From at least 1999 through October 2019, Eaton stole millions of dollars from clients’ accounts. He did so primarily by selling securities, insurance policies and annuities in clients’ accounts, and causing the proceeds to be sent to accounts he owned or controlled. 

As part of his scheme, Eaton forged clients’ signatures on checks and documents, or caused clients to sign documents by falsely representing that the proceeds of transactions would be used for the clients’ benefit. Eaton also falsely represented to the brokerage firm with which he was affiliated, and to insurance companies, that the transactions he requested on his clients’ behalf were for the benefit of those clients. In fact, Eaton caused proceeds to be sent to his own credit card accounts to pay his personal and family expenses, and to his home equity line of credit. In order to avoid detection, Eaton defrauded clients he knew were unlikely to notice what he had done, either because they were elderly or in poor mental or physical condition. 

The charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain/loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) entered an order barring Eaton from the securities industry based on the same conduct.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and ­­­­­­­­­­­­Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U. S. Attorney Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Colorado woman and a Florida woman have agreed to plead guilty in connection with a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme. 

Jessica Jones, 30, of Louisville Colo., and Elizabeth Putulin, 30, of Coconut Creek, Fla., were each charged by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Plea hearings have not yet been scheduled by the Court.

According to charging documents, Jones and Putulin conspired with Juan Camilo Perez Buitrag to submit more than $109 million in false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces. Perez was charged in July 2020 and has agreed to plead guilty. A plea hearing for Perez is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2020.

It is alleged that the Jones and Putulin helped Perez manufacture and submit false and fraudulent Medicare claims by establishing shell companies in more than a dozen different states, including Massachusetts. Perez directed employees, including Jones and Putulin, to list his mother, wife and yacht captain as corporate directors and to use fictitious names when registering the shell companies as DME providers. At Perez’s request, Jones and Putulin allegedly purchased Medicare patient data from foreign and domestic call centers that targeted elderly patients, and instructed call centers to contact the Medicare beneficiaries with an offer of ankle, arm, back, knee and/or shoulder braces “at little to no cost.”  Perez then submitted Medicare claims for those patients without obtaining a prescriber’s order to ensure that the braces were medically necessary. It is further alleged that he submitted blatantly fraudulent claims, including claims for deceased patients and repeat claims for the same patient and the same DME. Perez failed to provide any DME for more than $7.5 million in claims. When Perez did provide DME to patients, he typically billed insurance policies more than 12 times the average price of the DME that he provided to the patient. 

Jones and Putulin further facilitated the fraud by answering frequent phone calls from Medicare patients who received DME that they did not request, want or need. Jones and Putulin also responded to insurance companies’ requests for prescriber’s orders and medical records, which they were unable to provide. 

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A real estate developer and attorney pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with a $2.3 million fraud scheme relating to the redevelopment of a multi-family property in Worcester.

James E. Levin, 61, of Natick, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and false claims. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2021. Levin was charged in August 2016.

From July 2010 to September 2011, Levin, as the manager of 5 May Street Apartments, LLC, applied for and obtained federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the City of Worcester, to rehabilitate a multi-unit apartment building at 5 May Street in Worcester. Since the City of Worcester distributes grant funds on behalf of HUD and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Levin submitted seven payment requests to the City for work he fraudulently claimed he completed on the building and associated costs. In the course of her job with the City of Worcester’s Housing Development Office, Levin’s co-defendant, Jacklyn Sutcivni, allegedly approved the payment requests submitted by Levin, although she knew the requests were fraudulent. It is alleged that this caused the City of Worcester to pay approximately $2,365,050 to Levin. After the City issued the payment, Sutcivni or other City officials submitted reimbursement requests to HUD or DHCD for HUD funds.

Sutcivni has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on May 3, 2021.

The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of submission of false claims provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The indictment also seeks monetary forfeiture in the amount of $2,365,050. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – An Everett man was re-sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for conspiring to murder U.S. citizens, including police officers, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

David Daoud Wright, a/k/a Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, a/k/a Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, 31, of Everett, Mass., was re-sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. In December 2017, Wright was sentenced to 28 years in prison after a federal jury convicted him of conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. In August 2019, the First Circuit Court of Appeals vacated count one (conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS) and affirmed the other counts. The case was remanded to the district court for re-sentencing, which took place yesterday.

“Mr. Wright is a homegrown terrorist who plotted to kill innocent Americans on behalf of ISIS, including specifically targeting police officers,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “He radicalized himself and others, pledged allegiance to a terrorist organization, and conspired with his now-deceased uncle to kill police officers with a combat knife. This case is a reminder of the persistent terrorism threat to our citizens and law enforcement officers.”

“ISIS soldier David Wright betrayed his country and forfeited his freedom when he conspired with others to attack and murder innocent civilians and police officers in support of a sworn, barbaric enemy of the United States. This sentence ensures they remain worlds apart,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Identifying and disrupting terrorist plots, both foreign and domestic, is the FBI’s top priority, and the round-the-clock teamwork of our partners within our Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force saved innocent lives, and kept Wright’s endgame of martyrdom out of reach.”

Beginning in at least February 2015, Wright began discussing ISIS’ call to kill non-believers in the United States with his uncle, Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, and co-defendant Nicholas Alexander Rovinski. Specifically, Wright created a “martyrdom” operation cell in Massachusetts. In April 2015, Wright created a Twitter page for the “Lions of America” and published a document entitled, Internal Conquest, on the internet in which Wright called on Muslims living in the United States to kill their fellow citizens. 

Wright also plotted with Rahim and Rovinski to behead U.S. citizens at the direction of ISIS, and identified a New York woman as the first beheading target. Rahim purchased three knives for this plot. In addition, Wright’s ISIS cell was in direct communication with ISIS recruiter and attack facilitator, Junaid Hussain, who provided Rahim with an encrypted document containing details about the intended victim. In August 2015, Hussain was killed in an airstrike in Raqqah, Syria. 

In preparation for their attack, Wright conducted extensive research on weapons, knives, machetes, bombing making components and methods to subdue their victims. Wright also conducted research on “what tranquilizer put humans to sleep instantly” and “how to start a secret militia in the United States.”   

On June 2, 2015, Wright caused a terrorist attack in Massachusetts and caused his uncle, Rahim, to be killed. Rahim was shot and killed after he attacked law enforcement officers with a large fighting knife in a Roslindale, Mass., parking lot. Two hours before Rahim attacked the police, Wright directed and encouraged Rahim to pursue martyrdom by attacking the “boys in blue.” Within minutes of learning of his uncle’s death from a family member, Wright deleted data from his laptop computer by restoring it to factory settings and deleted call logs on his cellphone that showed that he had spoken to Rahim that morning. Wright also instructed Rahim to destroy his electronic devices before attacking the police officers.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. This investigation was conducted by the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Everett Police Department; and Customs and Border Protection. The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office and police in the United Kingdom also provided valuable assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Stephanie Siegmann, Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for distributing heroin.

Jayson Quinones, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2020, Quinones pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin.

Quinones sold heroin on Oct. 7, 2019 in Holyoke. The arrest was the result of a multi-agency investigation into heroin trafficking in Holyoke dubbed “Operation Open Air.”

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A man identified as a member of the Heath Street Gang was sentenced yesterday for distributing crack cocaine in a public housing development.

Michael Pridgen, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 54 months in prison and six years of supervised release, during which time Pridgen will be prohibited from the geographic area of Boston in which he was convicted of selling drugs. In May 2020, Pridgen pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in a public housing development.

Pridgen distributed crack cocaine in and around the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development, in Boston on multiple occasions in the spring and summer of 2019. In a June 5, 2019, incident Pridgen stored crack cocaine and a digital scale in an electrical box affixed to the wall in the stairwell of the public housing complex. At the time of his arrest on Sept. 10, 2019, Pridgen was found on a bench in a courtyard at the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, in possession of distribution-quantity of crack cocaine and fentanyl. Although Pridgen has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Heath Street Gang, he was living in Westborough at the time of these incidents. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today.

This case is 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.

BOSTON – The former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Boston Grand Prix was arrested today on charges that he failed to report income that he received from serving as executive with the Boston Grand Prix organization on his federal tax returns and for a scheme to defraud equipment and small business financing companies.

John F. Casey, 56, of Ipswich, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of money laundering and three counts of filing false tax returns. Casey was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance at 3:30 today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald J. Cabell.

As alleged in the indictment, Casey became the CFO of the Boston Grand Prix in January 2015. The Boston Grand Prix organization made payments to or on behalf of Casey totaling approximately $308,292 in 2015 and $601,073 in 2016 which Casey failed to include in the gross income he claimed on his personal tax returns for those years.

The indictment also alleges that Casey owned an ice rink in Peabody between October 2013 and June 1, 2016. Between October 2014 and October 2016, Casey obtained over $743,000 in funds from equipment financing companies, purportedly for the purchase of equipment for the ice rink. In addition, in August 2016, more than two months after he sold the Peabody rink, Casey obtained over $145,000 in small business loans for the rink business. In order to secure the financing, Casey allegedly submitted materially false documents and information, including fake invoices for the equipment, bank records purporting to show deposits into Casey’s accounts related to the Peabody rink, falsely inflated personal and corporate tax returns, and personal financial statements falsely claiming ownership and value of various assets. Casey also allegedly submitted a fake Deed of Sale containing a forged signature in support of one of his loan applications. Relying on Casey’s false statements, the financing companies provided funding to Casey in amounts and on terms they otherwise would not have made. Most of the funds provided by the victim companies were never repaid. 

Casey is also charged with laundering the proceeds of his fraud scheme, and with failing to include the income from his fraud scheme on his 2014, 2015 and 2016 personal federal tax returns. 

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a consecutive sentence of two years in prison, one year supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.