District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Threatening to Burn Down the Plymouth County Courthouse and Kill Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal grand jury in Boston indicted a former Middlesex County Sheriff’s deputy today for allegedly threatening to burn down the Plymouth County Courthouse, to kill court security officers and “to get” current Middlesex County sheriff’s officers.
Joshua P. Ford, 42, of Kingston, Mass., was indicted on three counts of interstate transmission of a threatening communication. Ford is currently in state custody and will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Ford served as a deputy for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office between about 2009 and 2017. It is alleged that on March 13, 2023, Ford sent 12 emails to a total of about 140 people, almost all Massachusetts law enforcement officers. Each email allegedly contained the same text: stating “[there] is no more justice system anymore just WAR” and “I am calling on all able bodied officers my brothers in blue to suit up for a fight.” Ford then allegedly asked those law enforcement officers to arm themselves with firearms and armored vehicles and declared, “Tomorrow we burn down the Plymouth County Court house to the ground.”
It is further alleged that the emails included a link to a video Ford posted on YouTube and British video hosting service BitChute. According to the indictment, the video, titled, “War Has Been Declared F***’em All,” is an 11-minute recording of Ford in a kitchen, where he speaks directly to the camera. In the video, it is alleged that Ford’s principal assertion is that the justice system is corrupt, and makes various statements about police officers, correctional officers, court officers, a judge, a prosecutor, defense attorneys and others. Ford allegedly expressed particular contempt for Middlesex Sheriff’s officers, about whom he says, “And guess what? I’m f****** coming. I’m f****** coming, and hell’s f****** coming with me. I’m going to f****** get every last one of you mother*****s. I know where you work. And I am coming to get you.” Ford also allegedly threatened to “break the arms and legs of every court officer” and to “kill” court security officers working in the Plymouth County Courthouse. Ford also allegedly exhorted other law enforcement officers to assist him by bringing guns, gasoline, C-4, armored personnel carriers and SWAT teams to his confrontation, which he scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 14, 2023. Instead, local law enforcement arrested Ford on March 13, 2023 after the emails were sent.
The charges of interstate transmission of a threatening communication each provide for a sentence of up to five 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Kingston Police Department and the Marshfield Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Beck of the National Security 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.
Former North Shore Pizzeria Owner Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for COVID FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former North Shore resident was sentenced today in connection with filing fraudulent applications for more than $660,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds and using those funds for personal expenses, including the purchase of an alpaca farm in Vermont.
Dana L. McIntyre, 59, of Grafton, Vt. and previously of Beverly and Essex, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. McIntyre was also ordered to pay $679,156 in restitution and forfeiture. On April 13, 2023, McIntyre pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering.
“Make no mistake about it, this was no momentary lapse in the fog of the pandemic. Mr. McIntyre submitted multiple bogus applications for pandemic money was supposed to provide a lifeline to small businesses and their employees during a national emergency. He stole from the American taxpayers and the many small businesses which truly needed those loans to survive,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Just last month our office expanded the resources dedicated to investigating and prosecuting COVID fraud. Whether someone used stolen money to buy luxury goods or fancy cars or exotic farm animals, we intend to find them and hold them accountable.
“Dana McIntyre capitalized on a national catastrophe and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a limited pool of money set aside to help struggling businesses, to buy a farm, stock it with alpacas, and make a fresh start for himself in Vermont,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his selfish criminal conduct. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue others like him who are using the money from this economic relief program to pad their own pockets. If you know of similar instances of fraud, please contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
“The funds made available through the Paycheck Protection Program were intended to help businesses and their employees get through the financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Mr. McIntyre’s greed betrayed the good intentions of the American taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “The sentencing today should serve as a reminder that if you defraud pandemic-related government assistance programs, you will be held accountable. HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring these matters to a just conclusion.”
McIntyre is the former owner of Rasta Pasta Pizzeria in Beverly. In March 2020, McIntyre used the names of his adult children to submit two fraudulent applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses that did not exist. Beginning in April 2020, McIntyre submitted an application and weekly certifications in order to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. In these filings, McIntyre falsely claimed that he was not working or receiving income as a result of the pandemic, while McIntyre in fact was still operating the restaurant and paying himself income from the business. By September 2020, when McIntyre sold the restaurant, he had received over $17,000 in PUA and related benefits that he was not entitled to receive.
In April 2020, McIntyre submitted a fraudulent application for a PPP loan of over $660,000 through an SBA-approved lender. In the application, McIntyre inflated information about the pizzeria’s employees and payroll expenses and falsified an official tax form in an effort to qualify the business for a larger loan amount. After receiving a PPP loan of over $660,000, McIntyre sold the pizzeria and used nearly all the funds to purchase a farm in Vermont, as well as eight alpacas, and other personal expenses, including two vehicles and airtime for his crypto-currency themed radio show.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, HUG-OIG SAC Scaringi and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Carol Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit, prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
Previously Convicted Felon Caught on Snapchat Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Boston street gang “D Street” pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition while a convicted felon and while he was under house arrest for a state firearm charge.
Freily Cabral, 25, of Boston and Quincy, pleaded guilty today to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Dec. 14, 2023.
In August 2021, Cabral was identified as the owner of a Snapchat account posting images and of himself in possession of five firearms: a black colored Glock semiautomatic handgun with a flashlight attachment; a black Walther semi-automatic firearm; a silver Taurus revolver; a black semi-automatic firearm; and a brown and silver revolver. In one of the videos, Cabral held three separate firearms to his face as if he were using the firearms to make a phone call.
A search of Cabral’s Quincy residence in September 2021 resulted in the seizure of a Taurus .38 caliber revolver, a Hopkins and Allen .32 caliber revolver, .38 caliber and .32 caliber ammunition, hundreds of grams of marijuana packaged for sale and $23,000 in cash.
At the time of the offense, Cabral was on house arrest with electronic monitoring following a November 2020 arrest for his second unlawful possession of a firearm charge. Cabral was previously convicted in 2016 for unlawful possession of a firearm in Boston Municipal Court. In 2017, Cabral was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Boston Municipal Court and was sentenced to one year in prison.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, at least two 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Nine Kilograms of Fentanyl from California to BostonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican man was sentenced today for conspiring to distribute nine kilograms of fentanyl bound for Massachusetts from California.
Ricardo Peinado Rivera, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 26 months in prison. On May 24, 2023, Peinado Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
In September 2021, law enforcement received information about a person living in the Dominican Republic trafficking fentanyl within the United States. Undercover law enforcement contacted the individual, who offered to sell nine kilograms of fentanyl that would be delivered in California and then driven to Boston. On Nov. 9, 2021, Peinado Rivera was observed delivering the fentanyl to a cooperating source in Ontario, Calif.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.Hyannis Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyannis man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
Timothy Lee Galvin, 31, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to the charging documents, on or about June 2, 2023 in Barnstable, Galvin possessed three rounds of 9mm ammunition; 11 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; and 47 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Galvin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to three prior drug distribution convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, five 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Tolkoff of the Organized Crime & Gang 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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.
Former Stockbroker Pleads Guilty to Penny-Stock Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to his involvement as the principal stock trader in a sophisticated securities fraud scheme that generated tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits.
Joseph A. Padilla, 54, of Carlsbad, Calif. and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud and one count of attempting to cause the production of an identification document without lawful authority. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Nov. 15, 2023. Padilla was charged in March 2023 along with an alleged co-conspirator.
Padilla is a former stockbroker who was barred from the securities industry in 2012 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Between 2020 and 2022, Padilla allegedly conspired with others to commit securities fraud by facilitating and participating in market manipulation schemes involving the concealed-control of the shares of penny-stock companies.
Specifically, between October 2020 and July 2022, Padilla participated in a market manipulation scheme involving the shares of Oncology Pharma, Inc., a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter securities market under the ticker symbol ONPH. As part of the scheme, a co-conspirator allegedly caused nearly all of ONPH’s free-trading shares to be transferred to multiple brokerage accounts for the benefit of Padilla’s clients at the Cayman Islands broker Valor Capital, with which Padilla had a close, unofficial association. Padilla then engaged in manipulative trading in ONPH designed, at least in part, to artificially drive up the company’s stock price, after which Padilla began dumping the ONPH shares—which were under common control—to unsuspecting investors in Massachusetts and throughout the United States during a promotional campaign, generating illicit proceeds alleged to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Additionally, between January 2020 and April 2021, Padilla participated in a similar scheme involving the shares of Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc., a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol FPWM. As part of the scheme, Padilla orchestrated an effort designed, at least in part, to artificially increase Charlestowne’s stock price. He then facilitated the sale of millions of Charlestowne’s shares during a promotional campaign to unsuspecting investors in Massachusetts and throughout the United States, generating illicit proceeds alleged to be in the millions of dollars.
Padilla was arrested on a criminal complaint in August 2022 and released on pre-trial conditions, which included surrendering his passport and not obtaining another passport. While on pre-trial release, Padilla attempted to acquire a fraudulent Ukrainian passport so that he could flee prosecution. Padilla was arrested in January 2023 for violating his terms of release and his pre-trial release was revoked.The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of attempt to cause the production of an identification document without lawful authority provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Drabick and Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Stephen Skeirik, 39, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Skeirik pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Feb. 27, 2020, Skeirik and another individual were observed engaging in a suspected drug transaction. When law enforcement approached Skeirik, he ran and threw a loaded Ruger .380 caliber pistol into a neighbor’s yard. During a search of his home, a stolen Ruger 9mm pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition was recovered along with tools for drug distribution, cutting agents and drugs.
Due to a previous conviction for felony drug distribution, Skeirik is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Parole Board, Lawrence Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Hyde Park Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyde Park woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to her role in a wide-ranging fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Erika Prado, 32 pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Nov. 28, 2023. In December 2022, Prado was indicted along with three other co-conspirators. Prado pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information.
According to the charging documents, beginning in or around September 2022, Prado began to work for co-defendant Quenty Ogando –initially cleaning Ogando’s Mattapan apartment and allegedly later counting and packaging fentanyl pills that had been made at the apartment using a pill press. It is alleged that the pills, which Prado packaged for shipment, were often picked up at the apartment by other individuals.
On or about Nov. 22, 2022, a search of Ogando’s Mattapan apartment allegedly revealed over 20 kilograms of fentanyl pills in various colors, over 20 kilograms of loose fentanyl powder, numerous packages and mailing labels, three industrial grade pill presses as well as heroin and cocaine.Prado’s co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, in New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Massachusetts State Police and United States Customs and Border Protection provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Zacks and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is 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.
Two Indicted for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two New Bedford men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. One defendant was also charged with misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft.
Yohenry Contreras-Lara, 29, and Vinicio DeJesus Marrero Arias, 39, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Contreras-Lara was also indicted on one count of misuse of a social security number and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“Fentanyl is devastating communities across Massachusetts. We will continue partner with local police departments like the New Bedford Police Department and the Bristol County DA’s office to combat the distribution of this deadly drug on our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office. “Those who distribute this drug are endangering the safety of the citizens of Massachusetts. Fentanyl continues to cause deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“We will continue to pursue those who misuse the Social Security number of others. This individual allegedly misused the identity of another, remaining in this country unlawfully for two decades. This type of behavior harms innocent lives and damages the integrity of the SSN,” said Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Boston- New York Field Division. “I thank our law enforcement partners for working with us and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”
According to court filings, after Contreras-Lara entered the United States in 2002 on a tourist visa, he allegedly purchased the identity of a United States citizen and posed as that citizen for several years including applying for two Massachusetts drivers’ licenses under an identity that was not his in 2022.
It is further alleged that, following an investigation into fentanyl trafficking in and around the Lord Phillips Apartments in New Bedford, Contreras-Lara and Arias were identified as fentanyl distributors in the area. A search of Contreras Lara and Arias’ residences, as well as an apartment that was being used as a stash location and two storage units, allegedly resulted in the recovery of more than 800 grams of fentanyl and $1.2 million in cash in suspected drug proceeds.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of misuse 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 up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a sentence of two years to be served consecutively with any other sentence, 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, DEA SAC Boyle and SSA-OIG SAC MacDermott made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bristol District Attorney’s Office and the New Bedford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering 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.
Chelsea Man Indicted for Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelsea man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston with illegally selling machinegun conversion devices.
Michael Williams, 49, was indicted on two counts of transferring or possessing a machinegun and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Williams was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 28, 2023.
According to the charging documents, in January 2023, Williams agreed to sell several machinegun conversion devices and other firearm accessories to an undercover federal agent. It is alleged that, following a series of communications, Williams met the undercover agent twice at a pre-arranged location. It is further alleged that on Jan. 12, 2023, Williams sold the first machinegun conversion device, along with numerous rounds of ammunition, to the undercover agent. On the following day Williams allegedly sold two additional machinegun conversion devices to the undercover agent. Williams is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
The charge of unlawful transferring or possession of a machinegun 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. The felon in possession charge 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.
United States File Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Traceable to Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be proceeds of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. The government seeks to forfeit 18.836 bitcoin (BTC) seized from an account located at Binance.US, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. 18.836 BTC has a current estimated value of approximately $500,000.
In June 2022, an investigation began into a BEC fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. In a BEC fraud, individuals obtain unauthorized access to email accounts that a business uses to send information about commercial, real estate, and other financial transactions. Targets impersonate individuals expecting to receive money from these transactions and send requests that payments be directed to a network of bank accounts that they control. Perpetrators behind BEC fraud schemes are often located overseas.
As alleged in court documents, a Massachusetts resident was tricked into wiring $400,000 into a bank account located in California, and some of those funds were subsequently transferred to Binance.US where they were used to purchase 18.836 BTC. Investigators traced the funds to a Binance account, and the BTC was seized in July 2023.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. The complaint alleges that the seized cryptocurrency was traceable to proceeds of the wire fraud. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is the fifth civil forfeiture action the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and BEC fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.
Taunton Woman Sentenced for Cocaine PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for possessing cocaine intended for distribution.
Kiyanna Ambers, 42, was sentenced on Aug. 22, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In August 2020, Ambers pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine. Ambers participated in the Court-run RISE program (Repair, Invest, Succeed, Emerge), which she successfully completed.
In June 2020, following a multi-week investigation into Ambers and her associates, a search warrant was executed at Ambers’ residence. During the search, multiple baggies of white powder containing a total of over 340 grams of cocaine and cocaine base, as well as approximately $11,462 were recovered in Ambers’ home.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Dorchester Man Sentenced for Role in Online ScamsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in online romance scams targeting individuals in the United States.
Mike Oziegbe Amiegbe, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison, three months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release. Amiegbe was also ordered to pay $828,325 in forfeiture and restitution to victims. In February 2022, Amiegbe pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
From 2017 through 2020, Amiegbe opened bank accounts using fake passports in others’ names to receive the proceeds from online scams, including romance scams. The romance scammers used fake identities to communicate with victims through online social networks and gained the victims’ affection and trust. The scammers then tricked the victims into sending money to Amiegbe. After Amiegbe received the victims’ money, he withdrew the fraud proceeds in cash or with a cashier’s check and sent the money to his co-conspirators overseas.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and William Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Office of Investigations, New York Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Markham and Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Belchertown Man Convicted of Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Belchertown man was convicted today by a federal jury of fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Kenneth Pontz, 59, was convicted following a three-day jury trial of one count of theft of public funds. Pontz was arrested and charged in June 2022. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 4, 2024.
Over a period of more than six years, Pontz stole approximately $49,929 in Social Security disability benefits.
The charge of theft of public 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Belchertown Police Chief Kevin Pacunas made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Antigua Man Arrested 13 Years After Being Charged with Racketeering in Connection with Illegal Gambling RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Antigua man has been arrested more than a decade after being charged in connection with his participation in a large-scale illegal gambling business which utilized an Antiguan Internet site but operated in the continental United States.
Richard Sullivan, 73, of St. John’s, Antigua, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in August 2010 with racketeering (RICO), operating an illegal gambling business, transmission of wagering information, money laundering and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Sullivan was arrested on Aug. 20, 2023 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while proceeding through customs upon his return to the United States from Antigua. Sullivan was arraigned in the Eastern District of New York on Aug. 21, 2023 and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
This prosecution marked one of the first times that individuals were charged with violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and the first in Massachusetts. The UIGEA statute was enacted in 2006 to deter the use of the U.S. banking system to pay Internet gambling debts incurred by U.S. citizens. Sullivan and his co-defendants are charged with over 75 counts of engaging in U.S. banking transactions involving U.S.-based gamblers to pay gambling debts owed to Sports Offshore.
According to the indictment, Sullivan and his three co-conspirators – Todd Lyons, Robert Eremian and Daniel Eremian – operated Sports Offshore, an online gambling site licensed in Antigua that was actually operating in the United States, conducting an illegal gambling business that stretched from Massachusetts to Florida. It is alleged that Sports Offshore used an Internet site and toll-free telephone line registered in Antigua to service United States customers. The ring also allegedly employed approximately 50 gambling agents in the United States, who solicited hundreds of customers and collected gambling debts, forwarding the illegal gambling proceeds to Antigua.
To conceal the conspiracy, Sullivan and his co-conspirators allegedly created numerous fictitious entities with no legitimate business purpose to launder the proceeds of their illegal gambling business so that authorities could not detect U.S.-based financial transactions involving Sports Offshore.
Sullivan allegedly managed the daily activities of Sports Offshore at its gambling office in St. John’s, Antigua. In that capacity, Sullivan allegedly supervised approximately 30-50 employees who accepted wagers from customers in the United States that were placed over the telephone and the Internet. It is alleged that Sullivan directed collection activities regarding customers and agents located in the United States who owed money to Sports Offshore. Sullivan also allegedly served as an agent for Sports Offshore, in that he was responsible for a group of Massachusetts customers who gambled with Sports Offshore and he earned commissions on gambling losses incurred by those customers. It is further alleged that Sullivan utilized individuals who resided in Massachusetts to collect money from his Massachusetts customers which he had shipped directly to Antigua via the mail.
In total, Sullivan and his co-conspirators allegedly collected over $22 million for Sports Offshore through the illegal gambling operation and laundered more than $10 million in checks and wire transfers.
In December 2011, Lyons and Daniel Eremian were convicted following a five-week jury for their roles in the conspiracy. Lyons was sentenced to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $24.6 million. Daniel Eremian was sentenced to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $7.7 million.
The charge of racketeering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of operating an illegal gambling business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, and up to two years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of transmission of wagering information provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, and up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000. The charge of interstate travel in aid of racketeering provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, and up to two 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Brian Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions 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.
United States Files Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Traceable to Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be proceeds of an investment fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. The government seeks to forfeit 87,637 Tether (USDT) seized from an account located at Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian.
In November 2022, an investigation began into a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. As alleged in court documents, the individual was tricked, through fraudulent text and WhatsApp messages, into transferring a total of $975,900 from his bank account first into two cryptocurrency exchanges and then from there into a fraudulent cryptocurrency exchange.
From that transfer, the funds, in the form of cryptocurrency, were allegedly transferred through a series of intermediary cryptocurrency addresses. Ultimately, investigators were able to trace some of the funds to an account located at Binance, the contents of which were seized in May 2023.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. The complaint alleges that the seized currency was proceeds of the wire fraud. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is the fourth civil forfeiture action the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise (BEC) fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons of the Asset Recovery Unit.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.
Braintree Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Braintree man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to child pornography charges.
Michael Martin, 44, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2023 to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Nov. 15, 2023. Martin was initially charged by criminal complaint in May 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2022.
On March 9, 2021, social media platform Tumblr reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Tumblr user – later identified as Martin – had suspected child pornography on their account. A subsequent search of Martin’s Braintree residence resulted in the seizure of various electronic devices storing child pornography. Additionally, a search of Martin’s Tumblr account determined that Martin has posted and received child pornography over the social media site. The child pornography included images of children believed to be between four and eight years old.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Braintree Police Chief Tim Cohoon made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Taunton Woman Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy to Issue Driver's Licenses to Applicants Who Did Not Take Road TestRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton woman pleaded guilty today to bribing a road test examiner at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in Brockton to issue driver’s licenses to individuals who did not take road tests.
Neta Centio, 56, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. Judge Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Nov. 20, 2023. Centio was charged on June 26, 2023.
Centio paid a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when, in fact, they had not even showed up for the test. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants. Centio used CashApp to pay the road examiner in exchange for fraudulent passing scores on road tests. After Centio’s fraud was discovered, she told the road test examiner, “Don’t say nothing about the CashApp. . . . Break the phone.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charging document also seeks a $20,215 forfeiture money judgment based on the amount of the bribes. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Adam Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
New Bedford Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Government Identification DocumentsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of International Guatemala Musical and Fashion Accessories in New Bedford has pleaded guilty to producing and selling fraudulent government identification documents.
Tomas Xirum, 48, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2023 to three counts of unlawful transfer of document or authentication feature and three counts of unlawful production of document or authentication feature. U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2024. Xirum was initially charged by criminal complaint in August 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022.
On three separate occasions – May 10, 2021, June 23, 2021 and Aug. 11, 2022 – Xirum sold fraudulent Permanent Resident Cards (commonly referred to as “green cards”) and Social Security cards to undercover federal agents from his store.
The charges of unlawful transfer of document or authentication feature and unlawful production of document or authentication feature each provide for a sentence of up to 15 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Boston Man Charged with Robbing Three BusinessesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged for allegedly robbing three Boston businesses.
Akeem Lahens, 33, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of affecting commerce by armed robbery. Lahens is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, a series of commercial armed robberies occurred in Boston in late April and early May 2023: the armed robbery of Boost Mobile in Jamaica Plain on April 26, 2023; the armed robbery of Cricket Wireless in Jamaica Plain on April 27, 2023; and the armed robbery of Dunkin Donuts in Dorchester on May 4, 2023. Law enforcement believed that the robberies were connected and the perpetrator was likely the same person, as the suspect’s appearance in surveillance footage and witnesses descriptions was the same. Additionally, in each of the robberies, the suspect allegedly brandished two large knives, made a verbal demand for money, forcibly took money from the store and forced or attempted to force the victims into a rear room or bathroom of the store.
On May 5, 2023 Lahens was arrested on state charges related to the armed robberies. It is alleged that during a search of Lahens’ residence in Dorchester on May 6, 2023 two knives and sandals allegedly worn by the robber in the April 26, 2023 robbery were recovered.
According to court records, at the time of the armed robberies, Lahens was on federal supervised release after pleading guilty on April 26, 2021 in the Southern District of New York to five counts of robbery. Lahens was sentenced to 30 months of in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The charge of affecting commerce by armed robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 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 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Michael A. Davis, Vice President Campus Safety and Chief of Police at Northeastern University made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes 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.
Amesbury Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Amesbury man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to child pornography charges.
Thomas Cross, 30, pleaded guilty on Aug. 18, 2023 to one count each of distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Nov. 15, 2023. Cross was charged by complaint in November 2018 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2018.
Cross’ charges stem from the November 2018 search of his home that resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices which contained files depicting child pornography and chats between Cross and a person subsequently identified as Desiree Daigle, in which they exchanged various child pornography files. Some of the images depicted an infant known to Daigle, taken in Daigle’s home. In the chat, the two discussed plans for Cross to meet the child in person so that he and Daigle could sexually abuse the child together. Both Cross and Daigle admitted to exchanging child pornography with each other.
Daigle was arrested and charged separately with the sexual exploitation of children. In October 2022, she was sentenced to 17 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Cross was detained following his arrest in November 2018. He subsequently appealed the order of pretrial detention to the District Court, who released Cross in July 2019 on conditions which, among other things, prohibited him from accessing the internet, possessing pornographic material and possessing internet-accessible devices. However, in June 2020, Cross was re-arrested after a CyberTip identified he was using social media to exchange child pornography and he was found to be in possession of multiple cell phones and an internet-connected gaming console – in violation of his conditions of release. Cross has remained in federal custody since.
The charges of distribution and receipt of child pornography each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. All the charges provide for a minimum of 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Amesbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Rhode Island Business Owner to Plead Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man and the owner of a “virtual CFO” business has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to laundering tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from internet fraud schemes by creating shell companies and opening fraudulent business bank accounts.
Craig Clayton, 73, of Cranston, R.I., has agreed to plead guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of obstruction of justice. Clayton was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, from 2019 to 2021, Clayton and others used his accounting and “virtual CFO” business, Rochart Consulting, as a front to launder the proceeds of internet fraud schemes. As part of the conspiracy, Clayton allegedly founded shell companies to open business bank accounts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through which he laundered the proceeds of internet fraud schemes on behalf of his clients. In total, Clayton allegedly laundered more than $35 million.
In communications with one of his Rochart co-conspirators, Clayton allegedly stated that they were “money mules complicit in their [Rochart’s clients’] offenses.” In encrypted communications with one of his client co-conspirators, Clayton allegedly expressed concern that his phone was “tapped” by law enforcement and sought to obtain “dirt” on a victim who had reported the fraud scheme in order to “distract the police.” It is further alleged that, when banks and law enforcement began to investigate Rochart, Clayton falsely told investigators and bank personnel that his shell companies were legitimate businesses, among other things. After he became aware that a federal grand jury was investigating him, Clayton allegedly attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation by making several false statements to federal agents during an interview.
As proceeds of the money laundering conspiracy, Clayton has agreed to forfeit more than $330,000 and a Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle that he purchased.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the proceeds, whichever is greater. The charge of obstruction of justice 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. This case is the result of a multi-agency coordinated investigation led by the Homeland Security Investigations in New England, El Dorado Financial Task Force; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Recovery Unit 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.
Previously Convicted Felon Indicted for Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly trafficking counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition and using a firearm in relation of a drug trafficking offense.
Shawn Hart, 45, was charged with one count of distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl; one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; one count of using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense; and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Hart was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023. He has remained in custody since.
According to the charging documents, in August 2022, Hart was identified as a manufacturer and distributor of counterfeit pills containing controlled substances on the North Shore. On Sept. 15, 2022, Hart allegedly distributed approximately 500 counterfeit Adderall pills, containing 68 grams of fentanyl, during a controlled purchase in North Billerica. Additionally, on June 1, 2023, Hart allegedly distributed approximately 100 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing suspected fentanyl and well as a 9mm privately manufactured firearm (commonly known as a “ghost gun”) containing 19 rounds of ammunition during a controlled purchase at his home in Methuen.
It is further alleged that three additional firearms, a pill press used for manufacturing counterfeit pills and suspected narcotics in various forms and quantities were seized from Hart’s residence following his arrest.
Hart is prohibited from possession firearms and ammunition due to multiple previous state felony convictions, including: possession with intent to distribute a class a controlled substance in December 2003; armed robbery in June 2004, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; masked armed robbery, breaking and entering a vehicle at night and larceny in August 2004, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; and assault and battery on a correctional institution guard in September 2004, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison.
The charges of distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine provide for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense provides for a mandatory five-year sentence to run consecutive to any other sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office; and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Methuen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering 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.
New Bedford Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing over 1,500 files of child pornography.
Robert David Austin, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 87 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In May 2023, Austin pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
From approximately June 2019 until November 2021, Austin engaged with a number of groups on messaging applications through which child pornography is disseminated. Austin also possessed child pornography on two cell phones and a tablet. Approximately 1,252 images and 450 videos depicting child pornography were located across all three of the devices. Overall, the child pornography files depicted victims as young as infants through approximately 12 years old, with some files depicting bondage and vaginal and oral penetration of the victims.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane, Meghan C. Cleary and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Marlboro Man Indicted for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Marlboro man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography.
Larry Stephen, 45, was indicted on one count each of receipt of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Stephen was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 18, 2023.
According to the charging documents, authorities identified Stephen as an individual allegedly using a social media platform to receive and post child pornography. On June 7, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Stephen’s Marlboro residence where Stephen’s cell phone was seized. A preliminary examination of the cell phone allegedly revealed the presence of child pornography. It is further alleged that Stephen repeatedly posted images and videos of child pornography videos on a social media platform.
Each of the three charges, possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Marlboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
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.
Local Driving School Owner Sentenced for Driver's License Bribery Scheme at Brockton RMVRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston.
Estevao Semedo, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison and one year of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. Semedo was also ordered to pay a $17,000 forfeiture money judgment. In April 2023, Semedo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud.
Semedo, the owner of a driving school, conspired to defraud the RMV into issuing driver’s licenses to applicants who did not pass the road test. Specifically, Semedo paid a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when, in fact, they had not. Some of the applicants did not even show up to take the test. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants. In total, Semedo paid the road test examiner $17,000 in bribes in exchange for fraudulent passing scores on road tests.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General’s Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher A. Scharf made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF). Valuable assistance was provided by the Mattapoisett Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Adam Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Acton Man Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Prison for Using Stolen Identities to Obtain COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Acton was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiring to use stolen identities to fraudulently obtain disaster loan funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to launder the funds.
Edwin Acevedo, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Acevedo was also ordered to pay restitution of $251,684. In January 2023, Acevedo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. Acevedo was arrested and charged along with co-conspirator Hector Garcia in August 2021.
According to charging documents, Acevedo’s co-conspirators allegedly used stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. It is alleged that Garcia used stolen identity information of a United States citizen to open a fraudulent bank account, which was then linked to other fraudulent bank accounts set up to receive the SBA funds. Acevedo coordinated co-conspirators’ receiving some of the debit cards associated with fraudulent bank accounts into which SBA funds were deposited. Acevedo and co-conspirators laundered the SBA funds by using the debit cards to purchase iPhones, which Acevedo and others then re-sold for cash. It is also alleged that Garcia and other co-conspirators wired a portion of the funds to co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic.
It is alleged that over $452,000 in SBA funds were fraudulently obtained in connection with the scheme. Approximately $250,000 of this money was used to purchase iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
On Dec. 8, 2022, Garcia was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; three counts of wire fraud – aiding and abetting; and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He has since pleaded not guilty is pending trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Orlando, Fla.; the Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General; the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; the Department of State; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Massachusetts State Police; the New Hampshire State Police; and the Acton, Nashua (N.H.), Manchester (N.H.) and Ocala (Fla.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fentanyl distribution charges.
Hector Diaz, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Diaz pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On two occasions between December 2020 and January 2021, Diaz distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl in the New Bedford area.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Worcester Dental Office Manager Sentenced for Role in Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester woman was sentenced today for her participation in a scheme to defraud the Massachusetts Medicaid program, commonly known as MassHealth.
Robin Cronin, 61, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to two years’ probation. In September 2020, Cronin pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud.
Cronin was indicted by a grand jury and arrested in January 2020 along with co-conspirators Dr. Anthony DiStefano III and Dr. Scott Cale, dentists practicing in Worcester. DiStefano was barred from participating in the MassHealth insurance program because of concerns regarding the substandard and dangerous dental care DiStefano delivered to patients. In order to circumvent his exclusion from the MassHealth provider network, DiStefano recruited another co-defendant, Cale, to join his practice.
From 2014 to 2018, dental services that DiStefano personally delivered were billed to MassHealth using Cale’s provider identification credentials. Cronin, DiStefano’s office manager, was aware of the arrangement and personally billed MassHealth for services that were not reimbursable, knowing that the claims were false. The purpose of this arrangement was to deceive MassHealth into paying for dental services that were not reimbursable as DiStefano had previously been terminated from the MassHealth provider program over concerns regarding the quality of care he provided to patients. As a result of this scheme, multiple MassHealth patients were harmed and received dangerously poor care from DiStefano.
Cale also pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and, on Aug. 10, 2023, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Charges against DiStefano were dismissed.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Panich and Chris Looney of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Lownds, detailed from Campbell’s office, prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 27 Months for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon.
Kenji Ingram, 45, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Ingram pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
In August 2020, Ingram was found in possession of a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44 special caliber revolver and five rounds of ammunition as he sat on a bench in the South Bay shopping mall area. At the time, Ingram was on probation in connection with a state felony assault conviction, as well as on pretrial release and electronic monitoring in connection with state drug and firearm charges. Due to his prior felony convictions, Ingram is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Owner of Home Health Care Company to Plead Guilty to Tax OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Certified Nurse Assistant who owns and operates a home health care company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to underreporting his income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Patrick S. Kityo, 43, of Newtonville, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of aiding the preparation of a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Kityo owned and operated a home health care company named Every Step Home Care Inc. (Every Step). It is alleged that, during the years 2016 and 2017, Every Step’s total gross receipts were at least $2 million. Kityo, however, allegedly failed to report all of Every Step’s gross receipts to his tax preparer. Instead, it is alleged that Kityo only reported those gross receipts that Kityo deposited into Every Step’s business bank account and did not report those he received via checks written to Kityo personally. As a result, Kityo allegedly caused his tax preparer to underreport nearly $2 million in gross receipts and Kityo allegedly failed to pay at least $306,603 in personal income taxes.
The charge of aiding the preparation of a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud 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.
Individual Pleads Guilty to False Identity CrimeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An individual pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with fraudulently using the identity of a U.S. citizen.
Alexander Villalona Diaz, 37, previously of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 4, 2023. In December 2020, Villalona Diaz was indicted by a federal grand jury.
Villalona Diaz fraudulently used a Social Security number that was not his when applying for a renewal of a driver’s license with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in 2016.
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. 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 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.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, in New England; Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, in New England; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Connecticut man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to commit human smuggling.
Fagner Chaves De Lima, 42, of East Hartford, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2023, De Lima pleaded guilty to one count of attempted human smuggling.
De Lima conspired with others to illegally smuggle individuals from Brazil into the United States for money and profit. In exchange for payments of thousands of dollars, De Lima and conspirators made travel arrangements for clients to illegally enter the United States from Brazil by plane or bus, and arranged lodging accommodations for clients during their travel. In addition, De Lima extorted clients while their journey to the United States was underway by threatening to harm them and/or their family if they did not pay additional money. De Lima and his conspirators also created and transmitted false documents that were used as part of the illegal smuggling operation.
In May and June 2022, an undercover agent-initiated communications with De Lima over WhatsApp under the guise that the agent sought to have his sister and niece smuggled into the United States. The undercover agent offered to pay $15,000 for De Lima’s services, and De Lima agreed to the arrangement. De Lima stated during these communications (translated from Portuguese) that he had been engaged in human smuggling “for 20 years,” and that he will smuggle individuals “whether you have a visa, no visa, or if . . .[they] are wanted by the police.” De Lima also acknowledged in later messages that human smuggling is “dangerous.” On June 16, 2022, De Lima traveled to Worcester to meet with the undercover agent, during which De Lima accepted two checks for the agreed upon total of $15,000 in exchange for his smuggling services and requested the sister’s passport and Social Security number.
“At its core, human smuggling operations exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our society purely for profit,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “We are determined to hold people engaged in this conduct accountable.”
“No human being should ever be treated as a commodity but that is exactly what Fagner Chaves De Lima did when he conspired with others to exploit, endanger, and extort those seeking a new life in America to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars for himself,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that we have zero tolerance for people who run human smuggling operations.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI Acting SAC DiMenna made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Yuma Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations in Yuma; U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and the Marlborough, Worcester, Hartford (Conn.) and East Hartford (Conn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human smuggling/trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or Text 233733.
Boston Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
London Lee, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 71 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In April 2023, Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine. Lee was arrested and charged along with co-defendant Josiah Watkins in April 2021.
In February 2021, an investigation began into drug trafficking activities conducted by Lee and Watkins. The investigation revealed that Lee and Watkins were actively selling cocaine and fentanyl in the Boston area. Between February and April 2021, Watkins sold or arranged the sale of fentanyl and cocaine in at least 10 separate controlled purchases.
In April 2023, Watkins was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 51 months in prison and four years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley, Jr. of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Three Arrested for Sex Trafficking Five VictimsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three individuals have been arrested and charged with sex trafficking and the interstate transportation of five separate victims for the purposes of prostitution.
Jermall Anderson, 43, of Tewksbury, was charged with five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and one count of coercion and enticement. Jennifer Fortier, 49, of New Haven, Conn., was charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and one count of knowingly transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution. Latasha Anderson, 37, of Lynn, was charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.
The defendants were arrested on Aug. 9, 2023. Following a hearing yesterday, Jermall Anderson was detained pending a final detention determination, and Latasha Anderson was released under conditions. Fortier will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
“This case is yet another manifestation of the opioid crisis plaguing our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Here these defendants are alleged to have exploited women’s addiction, lack of housing and economic stability to coerce them into the sex trafficking trade. Opioids and sex trafficking go hand in hand – and so does the destruction and trauma they inflict on our communities. This office and our law enforcement partners will spare no resource to ensure that harmful, exploitative traffickers are removed from our streets and held accountable.”
“These three are alleged to have specifically targeted vulnerable female victims — women going through substance abuse rehabilitation or facing homelessness. Human traffickers often seek out victims in unstable situations, using force, fraud and coercion to control their every move, making them feel that they are solely reliant on the trafficker,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Bringing those who prey on the vulnerable to justice is one of our core missions at HSI, but our work to support and seek care for those victimized is of equal importance.”
According to the charging documents, from 2012 through 2016, the defendants used physical violence, threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force five different victims to prostitute on their behalf. The defendants allegedly targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling from drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources and coerced them into providing commercial sex for the defendants’ benefit. The defendants are alleged to have trafficked these victims all over New England and into New York and New Jersey.
The charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion each provide for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of coercion and enticement provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of knowingly transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution 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 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact [email protected].
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI Acting SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Connecticut, the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments in Massachusetts and the Hampden, Connecticut Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Leah B. Foley of the Narcotics & Money Laundering 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.
Sutton Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sutton man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Oliver Smith, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 66 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In March 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
In November 2020, after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Swedish law enforcement authorities, a search warrant was executed at Smith’s Sutton residence, and several devices were seized. A forensic review of devices seized revealed images and videos depicting CSAM found on a memory card stored in Smith’s backpack. In addition to the images saved to the memory card, Smith had access to an email account which contained images of CSAM, and in July 2019, while Smith resided in Sweden, he had emailed CSAM from his email account to a separate account he also controlled.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Sutton Police Chief Dennis J. Towle made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office and William Clayman of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sudbury Man Sentenced to more than Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sudbury man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for child pornography charges.
Tyson Tu, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 65 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In May 2023, Tu pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
In May 2020, Tu was identified as the subscriber of an IP address downloading child pornography from a peer-to-peer file sharing network. During an April 2021 search of Tu’s residence, multiple electronic devices were seized – one of which was actively downloading and sharing child pornographic files at the time. Three of the seized devices were found to contain approximately 1,000 child pornographic images and approximately 95 child pornographic videos, which Lu downloaded between approximately February through April 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Six Indicted for Multi-State Oxycodone ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Six individuals were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking organization that distributed oxycodone pills, obtained from a source in the Houston area, across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.
The following defendants were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone pills. They were previously arrested on July 12, 2023:
- John Campbell, a/k/a Jizz, 40, of Taunton;
- Kenneth Veiga, 33, of Abington;
- Michael Atwood, 36, of Carver;
- Austin Gonsalves, 36, of Fall River;
- Scott Lambert, 55, of Falmouth; and
- Christan Russell, a/k/a Christian Russell, a/k/a Bear, 32, of Tomball, Texas.
According to the charging documents, an investigation into Campbell began in April 2022 after law enforcement received information that he was allegedly distributing oxycodone pills. Intercepted communications allegedly revealed that Campbell distributed oxycodone pills to Atwood and Lambert, who then re-distributed the pills to others. On Feb. 24, 2023, law enforcement stopped Lambert in Bourne after he allegedly met with Campbell, and 73 oxycodone pills were found hidden in a Krazy Glue container inside the vehicle.
It is further alleged that, on multiple occasions, Russell obtained oxycodone pills from pharmacies in the Houston area before travelling to the Boston area and distributing the pills to Veiga, who then re-distributed them to Gonsalves. Specifically, flight records allegedly show that Russell travelled to Boston and met with Veiga in February, March and May 2023 to distribute the pills in various locations, including the Twin River Casino, in Lincoln, R.I. and a Brookline hotel.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone pills provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The indictment also includes a drug forfeiture allegation, aiming to seize the following items: a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS550; a 2017 BMW X6; over $998,000 in U.S. Currency; an Aero Precision Model X15 Pistol; a Kongsberg Norwegian M1914 Pistol; a Glock 22 .40 Caliber Pistol; and a Taurus .44 Caliber Revolver.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Falmouth Police Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; and the Barnstable, Dennis, Bourne, Mashpee, Yarmouth and Sandwich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Theft and Misuse of COVID-19 Pandemic AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misuse COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Dquintz Alexander, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. Alexander was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $318,281. In April 2023, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors or gig economy workers).
From April to June 2020, Alexander conspired with his co-worker, Norman Higgs, to submit fraudulent PUA claims using stolen identifying information of other individuals. The PUA payments were directed into bank accounts controlled by Alexander and Higgs. In total, accounts controlled by Alexander and Higgs received over half a million dollars in fraudulent PUA payments. While the majority of the funds were frozen by banks or recovered through the efforts of law enforcement, Alexander and Higgs were able to use over $200,000 of the funds for their personal benefit, including to pay off credit card debt and to fund digital currency and online retail brokerage accounts. On August 2, 2023, Higgs was sentenced for his role in the scheme.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Chelmsford Dentist Sentenced to More Than a Year in Prison for Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelmsford dentist was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for engaging in a Medicaid Fraud Scheme.
Dr. Scott Cale, 68, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Cale was also ordered to pay restitution of over $1.1 million. In April 2023, Cale pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud.
Cale was indicted by a grand jury and arrested in January 2020 along with co-conspirators Dr. Anthony DiStefano III, a fellow dentist practicing in Worcester, and Robin Cronin, a Worcester Dental Office Manager. DiStefano was barred from participating in the MassHealth insurance program because of concerns regarding the quality of dental care DiStefano delivered to patients. In order to circumvent his exclusion from the MassHealth provider network, DiStefano recruited Cale to join his practice.
From 2014 to 2018, dental services that DiStefano personally delivered were billed to MassHealth using Cale’s provider identification credentials. Cale then paid DiStefano a share of the money that MassHealth had paid Cale. The purpose of this arrangement was to deceive MassHealth into paying for dental services that were not reimbursable (because MassHealth had terminated DiStefano from the MassHealth program). As a result of this scheme, multiple MassHealth patients were harmed and received dangerously poor care from DiStefano.
Charges against the DiStefano were dismissed. Cronin pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy in September 2021. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 15, 2023.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and Chris Looney of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Lownds, detailed from Campbell’s office, prosecuted the case. Additional attorneys and investigators in the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts played a significant role in conducting the investigation.Boston Doctor Arrested for Lewd Acts on an AircraftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was arrested and charged today for allegedly masturbating and exposing himself within the view of a 14-year-old female seated next to him onboard a flight from Honolulu to Boston in May 2022.
Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, 33, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Mohanty was arrested today and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
“Everyone, especially children, has the absolute right to not be exposed to lewd conduct when they are traveling,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “If you engage in the type of illicit behavior alleged here, you will be caught and held accountable wherever it happens.”
“What Dr. Mohanty is accused of doing in front of a fourteen-year-old girl is reprehensible,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s arrest should make it crystal clear that the FBI takes crimes aboard aircraft seriously, everything from sexual misconduct as alleged in this case, to assault, interfering with the flight crew, and theft. If you’ve been the victim of a crime aboard an aircraft or have witnessed one take place, we ask you to report it to both your flight crew and the FBI.”
According to the charging documents, Mohanty is an internal medicine and primary care doctor with a practice in Boston. It is alleged that, on May 27, 2022, Mohanty was a passenger aboard a Hawaiian Airlines Flight enroute from Honolulu to Boston with a female companion. Mohanty was allegedly seated next to a 14-year-old minor travelling with her grandparents, who were seated nearby.
About half-way through the flight, the minor allegedly observed that Mohanty had covered himself with a blanket up to his neck and that Mohanty’s leg was bouncing up and down. Shortly thereafter, the minor observed that the blanket was on the floor, no longer covering Mohanty, and that Mohanty was masturbating. The minor moved herself to an empty seat in a different row for the remainder of the flight.
After arriving in Boston, the minor informed members of her family about the incident and law enforcement was notified.The charge of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI Acting SAC DiMenna made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the 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.
Vermont Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Vermont man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Dominick Bailey, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Bailey pleaded guilty in December 2021.
“This office is committed to doing whatever we can to crack down on illegal gun possession,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “When someone repeatedly breaks gun laws, as this defendant clearly did, they will be held accountable.”
“The Postal Service is part of the communities we serve,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “The combined efforts of the Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Boston Police Department has resulted in a significant sentence for a true threat to the safety of our community. While we are proud of the work in this case, we will not rest in our efforts to identity and bring to justice those who would misuse the U.S. Mail and threaten the safety of our communities.”
“This sentence should serve as notice to repeat offenders, determined to continue to illegally possess firearms. ATF and our law enforcement partners will not falter in our resolve to investigate and incarcerate offenders who illegally possess and traffic firearms,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division.
“This previously convicted felon attempted to obtain methamphetamine in exchange for illegal firearms,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “As we all know, narcotics and unlawfully possessed firearms are serious threats to our communities in Massachusetts. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. These enforcement actions with our federal, state and local partners show what happens when law enforcement works together.”
In November 2019, Bailey was arrested in Boston in possession of four firearms, including an AR-15 style rifle capable of accepting a large capacity magazine. Bailey and his co-defendant had arranged to transport the firearms from Vermont to Boston in exchange for a quantity of methamphetamine. Bailey assumed he was negotiating with a Boston-area drug dealer, when in fact, he was communicating with an undercover federal agent.
This was Bailey’s third federal conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms, having been twice convicted of the same charge in U.S. District Courts in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, USPIS INC Larco-Ward, ATF SAC Ferguson, DEA SAC Boyle and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Vermont State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and James E. Arnold of Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Taunton Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Michael Pacheco, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Nov. 1, 2023. Pacheco was indicted along with nine other co-defendants in August 2022.
In March 2021, law enforcement began investigating a DTO allegedly led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Intercepted communications on numerous cellphones allegedly identified members of the DTO who regularly distributed multiple kilograms of fentanyl from a base of operations at a stash house in Fall River.
The investigation identified Pacheco as a regular DTO customer who re-distributed fentanyl to his own customer base in Southeastern Massachusetts. Intercepted communications showed Pacheco ordering fentanyl from the DTO and was soon after observed meeting with the DTO’s couriers. A search of Pacheco’s residence in July 2022 resulted in the seizure of approximately 41 grams of fentanyl.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for 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 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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.
Southbridge Man Sentenced for Attempting to Distribute Cocaine Sent Through the Mail from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for attempting to distribute a kilogram of cocaine.
Revel Pedro Rivera, 43, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to six months in prison and two years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. On Feb. 15, 2022, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In early July 2020, a package containing a kilogram of cocaine that was shipped to Rivera’s residence from Puerto Rico was intercepted by law enforcement, who replaced the cocaine with a counterfeit substance. On July 6, 2020, Rivera accepted delivery of the package and was arrested as he left the property with the package that he believed contained cocaine.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Middleboro Financial Adviser Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Investment Adviser Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Middleboro financial adviser was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for defrauding his elderly and otherwise vulnerable clients and stealing the victims’ retirement assets.
Paul R. McGonigle, 67, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 54 months in prison and two months of supervised release. McGonigle was also ordered to pay restitution of $652,987. In February 2023, McGonigle pleaded guilty to one count of investment adviser fraud, two counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“Among the highest priorities of this office is protecting vulnerable victims from pernicious fraudulent schemes. This defendant took advantage of the elderly, including individuals living with dementia and other cognitive impairments, to line his own pockets. The conduct is despicable. The judicial system has now held him accountable and anyone embarking on such conduct is forewarned that you will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“What Paul McGonigle did is despicable. He preyed on his elderly and vulnerable clients, betrayed their trust, and stole over $1.2 million from their retirement accounts,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Last year, investment scams cost consumers nationwide $3.31 billion, and here in Massachusetts, victims reported losing almost $76 million. This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to holding fraudsters accountable.”
McGonigle served as a financial adviser for the victims, many of whom were elderly, one of whom had dementia, and another who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Beginning no later than February 2015, McGonigle caused unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ annuities and induced victims to give him money to invest on their behalf, which he then used for personal and business expenses. To carry out his scheme, McGonigle posed as clients on calls with their annuity companies and signed their names on forms requesting withdrawals from their annuities. When some of his clients began to ask questions, McGonigle concealed his scheme by falsely assuring clients that their investments were growing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI Acting SAC DiMenna made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Malden Man Sentenced for Cocaine and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for operating a drug trafficking enterprise in which he sold fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base to an undercover officer on multiple occasions.
Dhamari Jordan, a/k/a/ “DMO,” a/k/a “DMO Crashout,” 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately three years in prison) and five years of supervised release. In August 2021, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.Jordan and other members of his conspiracy were captured on recording selling fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base to an undercover officer on three occasions in January 2021. During these sales, Jordan was on pretrial release for a pending firearms case in Cambridge District Court from June 2019.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, Boston Police Department and Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Manager of Brockton RMV Sentenced for ExtortionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for accepting money in exchange for agreeing to issue passing learner’s permit test scores to applicants regardless of whether they actually passed at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in Brockton.
Mia Cox-Johnson, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to four months in prison and one year of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home confinement. Cox was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine. Cox-Johnson pleaded guilty on March 30, 2023 to two counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion.
Cox-Johnson, a former manager of the RMV service center in Brockton, took money in exchange for passing scores on learner’s permit tests for both passenger vehicle driver’s licenses and Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). Between December 2018 and October 2019, Cox-Johnson conspired to take money in exchange for agreeing to give customers passing scores on their multiple-choice learner’s permit tests even if they did not pass. Customers were told to request a paper test instead of taking the test on the RMV computer. Cox-Johnson personally graded these customers’ paper tests and gave the applicants passing scores.
On Dec. 28, 2018, Cox-Johnson accepted $1,000 in cash – delivered from a friend on behalf of another individual – in exchange for a passing score for the individual’s relative who had failed the passenger vehicle learner’s permit test six times when taking it in their native language. Cox-Johnson agreed to score the relative as having passed the permit test regardless of whether they had truly passed. Cox-Johnson did, in fact, pass the relative’s test, which was taken on paper in English.
On Oct. 21, 2019, a customer came to the Brockton RMV and took three multiple-choice tests they needed to pass in order to get a commercial learner’s permit – a prerequisite to taking the road test for a CDL. Cox-Johnson accepted $200 in cash from an individual to score the customer as having passed the tests even if they did not actually pass. In fact, the applicant failed one of the tests, but Cox-Johnson falsely gave the applicant a passing score.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF). Valuable assistance was provided by the Mattapoisett Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers, Adam Deitch and Eugenia M. Carris of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Duane of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for the armed robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in Massachusetts.
Anthony Diaz, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2023, Diaz pleaded guilty to forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a United States Postal employee, while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties, and did so by use of a deadly weapon, a firearm; and assaulting a person having lawful charge, custody and control of United States mail, money and other property of the United States, with the intent to rob, steal and purloin that mail, money and other property of the United States, and in doing so put the life of that victim in jeopardy by the use of a firearm.
USPS has seen a rise in the use of Arrow Keys to facilitate the theft of U.S. Mail. An Arrow Key is a specific key designed to open designated blue USPS collection boxes in a specific area. These Arrow Keys are the property of USPS, and it is a federal offense for an unauthorized person to possess one. Since July 2022, there have been at least 12 assaults on USPS letter carriers while in the performance of their official duties in Boston and surrounding cities and towns.
In January 2023, in Peabody, Mass., Diaz approached a USPS letter carrier and stated, “Give me the keys,” while pointing a semi-automatic pistol at the victim. After the victim handed Diaz the USPS vehicle key, Diaz responded, “Give me the rest of the key,” and “Hurry up or I’ll shoot you.” The victim removed his keychain, which was attached to his belt, containing his USPS Arrow Key and asked if he could have his vehicle key back. Diaz did not respond, placed the firearm in his right jacket pocket and departed in a nearby vehicle.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Ketty Larco Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Three Men Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Nine Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three men have been charged for their alleged roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Leonardo Lara, 43, and Leandro Martinez, 41, both of Lawrence; and Merced Navarro-Morfin, 42, of Lunenberg, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
With respect to Lara and Navarro-Morfin, the conspiracy is alleged to have involved five kilograms or more of cocaine. Martinez and Navarro-Morfin were also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Following initial appearances on Aug. 4, 2023, in federal court in Boston, Lara was detained pending a further hearing scheduled for Aug. 7, 2023. Martinez was released by the court on conditions. Navarro-Morfin will have an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Aug. 9, 2023.
It is alleged that in April 2022, approximately $40,000 in suspected drug proceeds were seized from Lara’s vehicle following a traffic stop in Sturbridge. Shortly after Lara was released, Martinez and Navarro-Morfin allegedly travelled to a Methuen residence used by Lara, and removed eight kilograms of cocaine. Martinez and Navarro-Morfin also allegedly possessed approximately $196,000 in suspected drug proceeds and one additional kilogram of cocaine.
According to court records, Lara has two prior federal convictions. In 2017, Lara was convicted of money laundering and theft of public funds for which he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. In 2004, Lara was convicted in federal court of one count of bank robbery for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation. Navarro-Morfin was also convicted in federal court in Boston in 2015 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana and cocaine, for which he was sentenced to 97 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, involving five kilograms or more of cocaine, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provide for a maximum of 20 years incarceration, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & 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.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in central and eastern Massachusetts.
Hector Torres Rosario, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Torres Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
From April to July 2022, Torres Rosario was responsible for brokering and assisting co-conspirators in the sale and transportation of cocaine and fentanyl in furtherance of a criminal drug conspiracy. Torres Rosario was indicted in September 2022 along with 21 other co-defendants from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.