District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Canton woman was sentenced today for her role in a fraud conspiracy involving romance scams and pandemic unemployment fraud.

Florence Mwende Musau, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Allison D. Burroughs to 44 months in prison and 30 months of supervised release. Musau was also ordered to pay approximately $957,000 in restitution and to forfeit approximately $350,000 and a Lexus SUV.  In 2021, Musau was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. 

Musau participated in a conspiracy involving romance scams and other online frauds designed to deceive victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by her and others. Criminals perpetrating romance scams create fictitious profiles on online dating or social media websites, gain the trust of potential victims and then direct those victims to transfer money under false pretenses.

To further the conspiracy, Musau used fake passports in the names of numerous aliases to open bank accounts in and around Boston to receive the proceeds of the romance scams. Musau then executed large cash withdrawals from those accounts, generally structured in amounts less than $10,000, in an effort to evade detection and currency transaction reporting requirements. Musau also received the proceeds of fraudulent state pandemic unemployment assistance benefits in the names of victims. As part of the scheme, Musau used at least three different aliases to open nearly ten fraudulent bank accounts and receive approximately $1 million in fraud proceeds.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today.  Special assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be proceeds of an online investment fraud scheme targeting victims in Massachusetts and elsewhere. The government seeks to forfeit 81,547 USDT (Tether) and 87,321 BEL (Bella Protocol) traceable to the fraud, which has been seized by the government. Tether is a unit of cryptocurrency that is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar. Bella Protocol is also a cryptocurrency with a value that fluctuates with the market.

In April 2022, a federal investigation began into an investment fraud scheme that targeted a Massachusetts victim. As detailed in court documents, the victim had been contacted in March 2022 through LinkedIn by an alleged scammer. After further communications in Chinese through another application, the victim was lulled into making what she believed was a legitimate cryptocurrency investment. The victim was induced to download an application that appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency platform but was allegedly fraudulent, and then invested money through that fraudulent site.

During the investigation, a second victim in California was identified, who was also allegedly lulled into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme after an initial contact through LinkedIn.

A portion of the funds the victims invested to another cryptocurrency wallet was traced, resulting in the seizure of 81,547 USDT and 87,321 BEL. 

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. 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 second civil forfeiture action the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to an online investment fraud scheme 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] 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit, is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action.

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.

BOSTON – A former naval police officer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of making threatening communications to his ex-wife and her mother in Iowa.

Luis De Leon, 30, of Middleton, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of making threats in interstate commerce. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. De Leon was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 26, 2022.

According to the charging documents, on or about April 30, 2022, De Leon made a threatening phone call to his ex-wife in Iowa from a mobile telephone belonging to another individual. Specifically, during the call, De Leon allegedly made several threatening statements including, “You’re gonna f****** pay! Do you understand!? There will be death! There will be war in the street! You wanna to go war!? I’ll take you to f****** war!”

Between May and June 2022, De Leon allegedly sent two letters containing threats to his ex-wife’s mother in Iowa. In the letters, it is alleged that De Leon wrote, among other things, “I’ll be heading over there soon […] God help you and your dysfunctional family if you try and stop me. I won’t be alone either just so you know and that’s for your safety NOT MINE!!! […] If you don’t believe me just look where I’m sending this from. I don’t really have much else to lose, and do you know what men with nothing left to lose usually do?”

The charge of making threatening communications in interstate commerce provides 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Canton man pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2023 in federal court in Boston to wire fraud and bank fraud conspiracy involving romance scams targeting individuals in the United States.

Mark Arome Okuo, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for March 29, 2023. Okuo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2021. He has been detained since his arrest.

Okuo participated in a conspiracy involving romance scams and other online frauds designed to deceive victims into sending money to accounts he controlled. Criminals perpetrating romance scams create fictitious profiles on online dating or social media websites, gain the trust of potential victims and then direct those victims to transfer money under false pretenses. To further the conspiracy, Okuo used fake passports in the names of aliases to open bank accounts in and around Boston to receive the proceeds of the romance scams. Okuo then executed large cash withdrawals from those accounts, generally structured in amounts less than $10,000, in an effort to evade detection. As part of the scheme, Okuo used at least four different aliases to open more than a dozen fraudulent bank accounts and receive approximately $1 million in fraud proceeds.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement today.  Special assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.  

BOSTON – Three men have been convicted in federal court in Boston for their roles in a violent kidnapping tied to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed heroin throughout the Cape Cod and Pawtucket, R.I., regions.

Anthony Basilici, 39, of Pawtucket, R.I., was convicted yesterday following a five-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; witness intimidation; and witness retaliation conspiracy.

On Jan. 18, 2023, shortly before trial commenced, Basilici’s two co-defendants, Edwin Otero, 33, of Hyannis, and Justin Joseph, 35, of Pawtucket, R.I., each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; and witness retaliation conspiracy. Otero also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness intimidation.

U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled Basilici’s sentencing for April 26, 2023 and sentencing for both Otero and Joseph for April 27, 2023.

“For years, members of Edwin Otero’s drug crew plagued the Cape Cod and Pawtucket communities with their heroin operation and the serious, violent crimes it fueled. These defendants actively participated in a violent scheme to kidnap, beat and terrorize a victim who they incorrectly believed was working with law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This case is a prime example of how drug trafficking activities drive violence in our neighborhoods. Law-abiding residents in our Commonwealth have a right to live their lives without from fear or intimidation by violent gangs. Thanks to the exceptional work by our investigative partners and prosecution team, this violent criminal enterprise has been brought to its knees – bringing peace and safety back to the Cape Cod and Pawtucket neighborhoods it once terrorized.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling Drug Trafficking Organizations who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like heroin,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “This conviction not only holds these three men accountable for their crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic with deadly drugs in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic and the violent acts that often accompany it by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes this poison.”

In 2018, law enforcement began investigating a Cape Cod-wide DTO led by Otero. The investigation revealed Otero, Joseph, Basilici and their other co-defendants distributed large quantities of heroin throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville, Osterville and in Pawtucket, R.I. As part of the conspiracy, Otero, Joseph and Basilici committed a May 2019 shooting related to a drug debt owed by a drug customer. Additionally, in April 2019, Otero, Joseph, and Basilici lured a victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island where they kidnapped and held him, stripped him naked, assaulted him and threatened to rape him. Otero, Joseph, Basilici and other co-conspirators discussed causing physical injury to the victim to retaliate against him because they believed he was cooperating with law enforcement. Otero and Basilici also further intimidated or attempted to intimidate other witnesses after the kidnapping.

Otero, Joseph and Basilici were initially charged along with eight others in May 2019 on the drug conspiracy charges. In connection with those arrests, heroin, packaging materials, scales, a finger press as well as three firearms and ammunition including a 9 millimeter assault-style weapon were seized from Otero’s grandmother’s residence. In March 2020, Otero, Joseph, Basilici and two others – Cameron Cartier and Albert Lee – were indicted in connection with the violent kidnapping and related charges. Cartier and Lee previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 14, 2023 and Feb. 16, 2023, respectively. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin provides for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison on and after any other sentence, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm 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 charge of kidnapping conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of witness intimidation and witness retaliation conspiracy provide for a sentence of no greater than 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.

U.S. Attorney Rollins, DEA SAC Boyle, Barnstable Police Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend and Barnstable County Sheriff Donna D. Buckley, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Lauren Graber of Rollins’ Criminal Division 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.

BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged in connection with the September 2022 robbery of a bank in Brookline.

Jerome Lamont Turner, 47, was charged with one-count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 31, 2023.

According to the charging documents, on Sept. 26, 2022, an individual – later identified as Turner – entered a Brookline Bank branch in Brookline. Once inside the bank, Turner allegedly approached a teller and inquired about opening a new account. Turner was provided a bank pamphlet on the process, and he exited the bank. A few minutes later, it is alleged that Turner reentered the bank, approached the same teller and handed them the pamphlet with the words, “Let me have 17,000 in Large bills no dye pack,” written on it. As the teller was gathering money from the cash drawer, it is alleged that Turner repeatedly motioned for more money before exiting the bank. 

A subsequent investigation allegedly identified Turner on the bank’s video surveillance from a previous arrest less than a week earlier and identified his fingerprints on the pamphlet. 

It is further alleged that on Sept. 27, 2022, Turner was located wearing the same clothing worn in the Brookline robbery. Following a violent struggle, Turner was taken into custody and allegedly found in possession of over $2,500 in cash.

The charge of bank robbery 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Brookline Acting Chief of Police Jennifer Paster made the announcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A former Everett man was sentenced yesterday in connection with multiple schemes to fraudulently obtain an apartment as well as pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Tedje Menard, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2022, Menard pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

In or around November 2020, Menard applied to rent an apartment in East Boston using the name and identity of another person. As part of the application and screening process, Menard falsely claimed to be the victim by providing the company overseeing the property with, among other things, the victim’s name, social security number, date of birth and a copy of a purported North Carolina driver’s license containing the victim’s information but depicting a photograph of Menard. Menard also submitted an EIDL application in the amount of $40,000 using the victim’s name and personal identifiable information in June 2021. 

Additionally, in April 2021, Menard used his own name to apply for a PPP loan in the amount of approximately $20,833. In the loan application, Menard falsely represented his business’ total gross income in 2019 and his criminal history.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Labor and the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Meghan C. Cleary of Rollins’ Major Crimes 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.

BOSTON – Seven individuals, including three from Massachusetts, have been arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for themselves and others through the submission of dozens of fraudulent applications to PPP lenders.

The following individuals are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit unlawful monetary transactions:

•    Wallace Ford, 38, of Buford, Ga.; •    Erin Brown, 40, of Buford, Ga.; •    Adiana Pierre, 39, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn.; •    Gardy Alexandre, 51, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; •    Bill Dessaps, 46, of South Easton, Mass;  •    Wens Herby Mathurin, 26, of Brockton, Mass.; and
•    Richardson Rhau, 49, of Brockton, Mass.

The defendants were released on conditions following initial appearances in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia, the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Southern District of Florida and the District of Massachusetts, respectively. 

According to the charging documents, Ford, Brown, Pierre and Alexandre conspired to submit fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of numerous actual or purported businesses and non-profit organizations – including businesses operated by Dessaps and Mathurin – and to collect kickback payments from the borrowers for securing loan amounts.

It is alleged that Ford, who at the time operated three purported businesses or non-profits in Florida, submitted applications for PPP loans for those entities to several lenders in April and May 2020, shortly after PPP funds first became available in April 2020. Ford allegedly inflated the employee and payroll information about these entities on the applications. As a result, Ford obtained $168,121 in PPP funds for these entities.

Beginning in June 2020, Ford allegedly began submitting PPP applications on behalf of others, including Pierre and Alexandre. It is alleged that these applications misrepresented the number of employees and monthly payroll expenses of the applicants, and that Ford submitted these applications with falsified supporting documents. Alexandre and Pierre allegedly received PPP loans of $300,000 and $20,833, respectively, from these applications.

According to the charging documents, between June and August 2020, Ford fraudulently secured PPP funds for at least 27 borrowers. Pierre, Alexandre and others allegedly identified potential applicants and provided those applicants’ information to Ford and Ford’s spouse, Brown. Ford then submitted applications for those borrowers online, fabricating employee numbers and monthly payroll expenses. Ford also allegedly submitted false wage and tax forms in support of the misrepresentations on the applications and as a result, obtained approximately $7 million in PPP funds. It is further alleged that the borrowers who received PPP funds based on these fraudulent applications paid kickbacks to Ford and Brown, Pierre, Alexandre and others, commonly in amounts equal to 10 or 20 percent of the loan amount they received. Collectively, Ford, Brown, Pierre and Alexandre allegedly received over $1 million in kickback payments from borrowers – over $500,000 of which went to Ford and Brown.

The charging documents also allege that, in June 2020, Rhau connected Alexandre with both Dessaps, who operated a used car dealership in Abington, Mass., and Mathurin, who purportedly operated a warehouse and cargo delivery business. It is alleged that Alexandre and Pierre then forwarded information about Dessaps’ and Mathurin’s businesses to Brown and Ford, who submitted PPP applications to Kabbage. The application for Dessaps’ dealership falsely stated that the dealership had 40 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $334,720. The application for Mathurin’s business falsely stated that the business had 25 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $125,541. Ford also allegedly submitted falsified wage and tax forms with this application. As a result of the applications, Kabbage disbursed a PPP loan of $836,800 to Dessaps and a PPP loan of $313,852 to Mathurin.  

After receiving these funds, both Dessaps and Mathurin allegedly made kickback payments to Alexandre, and Mathurin sent additional payments totaling $45,000 to Rhau. With the PPP funds he received, Dessaps allegedly issued sham payroll checks to himself and his relatives, purchased a new residence for himself in South Easton in his sister’s name, paid $32,000 to French Bulldog breeders and purchased a Rolls Royce. Mathurin allegedly made large payments to himself and two purported co-owners of his business.  

The charging documents also allege that Rhau fraudulently obtained $104,166 in PPP funds and $94,800 in other pandemic relief funds as a result of applications containing misrepresentations that he submitted to lenders between April 2020 and April 2021.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit unlawful monetary transactions 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 value of the criminally derived property. 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit 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 defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in connection with his involvement in the violent Boston-based street gang, NOB. 

Michael Brandao, a/k/a “G Fredo,” and “Frizzblock Fredo,” 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2022, Brandao pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Brandao is one of 10 defendants indicted together in June 2020 as part of a broader federal sweep targeting numerous NOB street gang members and associates in which 31 total defendants were charged. All of Brandao’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.

According to court documents, NOB – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry streets in Dorchester – is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in numerous types of criminal activities, including murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, drug trafficking, sex trafficking and illegal firearms offenses. During the investigation, numerous contraband items were seized including 11 firearms, over one kilogram of fentanyl (including over 2,000 fentanyl pills manufactured to appear as commercial oxycodone pills), a commercial pill press, over 15 pounds of marijuana and approximately $36,000 in cash.

Brandao was an active and violent member of the NOB gang who personally committed and supported multiple violent crimes on behalf of the gang.  The Court determined that Brandao was responsible for an attempted murder and took it into consideration at sentencing.  Specifically, in November 2018, an individual was shot multiple times with a .40 caliber pistol in broad daylight near their residence in New Bedford; this individual survived their injuries. Additionally, according to court documents, Brandao actively facilitated, promoted and furthered the criminal activities committed by the NOB gang in various ways, including. by publishing recordings and videos boasting about violence he and the NOB gang committed, bragging about his personal participation in gang violence, threatening rival gangs and intimidating witnesses. 

First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Bryan Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan; Randolph Police Chief Anthony Marag; Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez; Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins; Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr.; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III; and Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Crowley and Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A former Stoneham Police Officer and his brother, an owner of an electrical contracting company, were charged in a superseding indictment today with an alleged bribery and kickback scheme that netted them millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts.

Joseph Ponzo, 49, of Stoneham, and Christopher Ponzo, 48, of North Reading, were originally charged by a federal grand jury in April 2022 in a 13-count indictment with one count of wire fraud conspiracy and 12 counts of wire fraud stemming from a bribery-kickback scheme with a Mass Save vendor that dated from 2013 to 2017. The superseding indictment includes 12 additional wire fraud counts alleging that the Ponzos’ bribery scheme continued after 2017 through as recently as March of 2022, with the Ponzos paying thousands of dollars in cash bribes to another former employee of a Mass Save lead vendor company to obtain millions more in lucrative Mass Save contracts.

The superseding indictment also charges Joseph Ponzo with four counts of causing false tax returns to be filed with the IRS from 2016 to 2019. Joseph Ponzo and Christopher Ponzo were also each charged with one count of making false statements to government officials. A date for the defendants’ arraignment in federal court on the new charging document has not yet been scheduled.

Massachusetts law requires utility companies to collect an energy efficiency surcharge on all Massachusetts energy consumers. These funds, which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars each year, are to be disbursed by the utility companies to fund energy efficiency programs and initiatives in Massachusetts.  

Mass Save is a Massachusetts public-private partnership sponsored by various gas and electric utility companies that disburses these energy efficiency funds through funding energy conservation projects for consumers. Under the Mass Save program, the utility companies select lead vendors. to approve and select contractors to perform energy improvement work for residential customers. This contracting work – performed by contractors at no-cost or reduced cost to the customer – is then paid for by the lead vendor with Mass Save funds.

Joseph Ponzo, a former full-time Stoneham Police Officer, and his brother, Christopher Ponzo, the owner of an electrical contracting company, allegedly conspired to pay, and did pay, tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes, kickbacks, and other in-kind benefits, including a John Deere tractor, a computer, home bathroom fixtures, and free electrical work, among other things, to Company A employees (Associates 1 and 2) in exchange for the Associates’ assistance in getting the defendants millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts.

It is alleged that on a weekly basis, from 2013 to 2017, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $1,000 in cash. At times, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $5,000 to $10,000 in cash, telling Associate 1 that the extra money was allegedly from Joseph Ponzo for his part in the bribery scheme. In return for these payments, Associate 1, among other things, allegedly helped Joseph Ponzo set up a shell company, Air Tight, to do insulation work and get approved as a Company A contractor under the Mass Save program. It is further alleged that Joseph Ponzo put his spouse’s name on Air Tight incorporation documents and contracting licenses in order to conceal his involvement. Despite having no professional experience in residential insulation work, Joseph Ponzo collected over $7 million under the Mass Save program.    

After Associate 1 left Company A in 2017, Christopher Ponzo and Joseph Ponzo allegedly recruited Associate 2 to the bribery-kickback scheme from approximately 2018 to 2022, paying Associate 2 thousands of dollars in cash and hiring a relative of Associate 2 as part of the ongoing scheme.

During the course of the bribery-kickback scheme, it is also alleged that Ponzo aided in the filing of false tax returns from 2016 to 2019 by claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in false business deductions. To disguise personal expenses as business deductions, Ponzo used his company credit card to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchases at The Home Depot, Lowes, and Staples, claiming to his tax preparers that charges at those establishments were business-related.  It is alleged that in reality, Ponzo used the company credit card at those stores to purchase gift cards that he and his spouse then used to make thousands of dollars in personal expenditures.  

The superseding indictment also alleges that in April 2022, both Joseph and Christopher Ponzo falsely denied making bribe payments to any Company A employees when interviewed by federal agents.

The charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud each provide 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 charges of false statements provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of aiding in filing false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Wan and Dustin Chao of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions 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.

BOSTON – A Wakefield man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a mortgage fraud scheme involving at least two dozen fraudulent loan transactions and $4.3 million in losses to lenders.

Joseph Bates III, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2018, Bates pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, and two counts of bank fraud. Bates was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,238,354 and forfeiture of $700,000.  

Bates was originally charged in September 2018 along with co-defendants George Kritopoulos and David Plunkett. In October 2022, Kritopoulos was sentenced to four years in prison and two years of supervised release after being convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, six counts of bank fraud, one count of aiding the preparation of a false income tax return and one count of obstruction of justice. In February 2019, Plunkett pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aiding in the submission of false tax returns and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2023. 

From 2006 through 2015, Bates, Kritopoulos and others engaged in a scheme to defraud banks and other financial institutions by causing false information to be submitted to those institutions on behalf of borrowers – people recruited to purchase properties – located primarily in Salem, Mass. The properties were usually multi-family buildings with two-to-four units, which the co-conspirators then converted into condominiums. Kritopoulos recruited new borrowers to purchase the individual condominium units. Together, Kritopoulos and Bates created and provided false documents to defraud lenders for financing the purchases. Kritopoulos also recruited Plunkett to prepare false tax returns in support of the fraud scheme.

The false information submitted to lenders included, among other things, representations concerning the borrowers’ employment, income, assets and intent to occupy the property. Specifically, the false employment information included representations that borrowers were employed by entities that were, in fact, shell companies “owned” by Kritopoulos and were used to advance the fraudulent scheme. The employment information also included false representations about the income that the borrowers received from the entities, when the borrowers actually received little or no income from them. Furthermore, the income asserted on the borrowers’ loan applications substantially overstated their true income. The false information also included representations that the recruited borrowers intended to live in the properties that they were purchasing, when they did not intend to do so. Plunkett assisted the scheme by preparing tax returns for some of the borrowers that contained false and inflated income. Some of those tax returns were submitted to lenders in support of the fraudulent loan applications.  

Because the borrowers did not have the financial ability to repay the loans, in all but two instances among 21 properties, they defaulted on their loan payments, resulting in foreclosures and losses to the lenders.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Office; and Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Regional Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Victor A. Wild, of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, and Brian M. LaMacchia, of Rollins’ Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit, is handling the forfeiture and restitution aspects of the case.

BOSTON – A Lawrence woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with fraudulently using someone else’s Social Security number. 

Mariana Rosmely Aguasviva, 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to three years of supervised release with the first 18 months to include home confinement. In September 2022, Aguasviva pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number.

Aguasviva fraudulently used a Social Security number that was assigned to someone else in an application at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston in 2016. Specifically, Aguasviva filled out an application to change information on her driver’s license, which was in the name of the person whose Social Security number was misappropriated. Aguasviva began misusing the victim’s Social Security number to assume the victim’s identity in 2010, when she first obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license in the victim’s name from the RMV. Investigators discovered the driver’s license in the victim’s name in Aguasviva’s purse at the time of her arrest.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Billerica Police Department; and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

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.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan man residing in Framingham pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Carmen Jimenez-Cruz, 42, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley, who scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2023. Jimenez-Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022.

In May 2013, Jimenez-Cruz was encountered by federal immigration authorities after he illegally crossed the Mexican border into Texas without being admitted by an immigration officer. He was removed from the United States in June 2013. Sometime after his removal, Jimenez-Cruz illegally reentered the United States and one month later, in July 2013, Jimenez-Cruz was again encountered by federal immigration authorities in Texas after having entered the United States without inspection. He was removed from the United States for the second time shortly thereafter in July 2013. 

On an unknown date and place, Jimenez-Cruz illegally reentered the United States again. In April 2019, federal immigration authorities located Jimenez-Cruz at the Middlesex County House of Correction where he was being held pretrial on unrelated state charges. According to court records, in May 2022, Jimenez-Cruz was convicted of strangulation/suffocation and assault and battery on a family/household member and was sentenced to an 11-month split sentence followed by probation until May 2023. Upon completion of his sentence, Jimenez-Cruz was released from state prison without notification to federal immigration authorities. 

Jimenez-Cruz was later located in September 2022 upon him being identified as a passenger during a motor vehicle stop in Framingham. Jimenez-Cruz was taken into custody. Fingerprints obtained from Jimenez-Cruz during his booking process were confirmed as an identical match to a prior removal verification document. 
  
The charge provides for a maximum sentence of two years in prison, 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Brockton man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly coercing three minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 

Zaire Aquil Lodge, 45, was indicted on three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. Zaire was arrested on Jan. 23, 2023 and appeared in federal court in Boston today for a detention hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein, who has taken the matter under advisement. Lodge was remanded to federal custody until further notice.

According to the indictment, on various dates in 2021, Lodge employed, used, persuaded, induced and coerced three minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing CSAM. It is also alleged that Lodge knowingly received and attempted to receive CSAM between February and October 2021. 

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

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

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ 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.

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

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to embezzling over $1.2 million from his employer and fraudulently obtaining government benefits in his employer’s name. 

Jack Massarsky, 65, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, who scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2023. Massarsky was charged on Dec. 13, 2022. 

Between 2015 and 2021, Massarsky worked as a dentist and bookkeeper for a general dentistry practice located in Hyannis. In 2015, Massarsky opened a secret bank account in the name of the dentistry practice. Massarsky then intercepted insurance reimbursement checks sent to the dentistry practice in the mail and deposited those checks in the secret bank account. Massarsky continued this practice for over five years and embezzled over $1.2 million. Massarsky used the stolen funds for personal and family expenses.

Additionally, Massarsky used the dentistry practice’s name to defraud the United States. In July 2020, Massarsky submitted a fraudulent application to the Health Resources and Services Administration Provider Relief Fund (HRSA PRF) in the name of the dentistry practice. The HRSA is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides health care to people who are geographically isolated or otherwise vulnerable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HRSA PRF provided economic assistance to qualifying healthcare providers, including certain dentistry practices. By submitting the fraudulent application to the HRSA PRF, Massarsky obtained over $52,000 in pandemic relief funds that were deposited in the secret bank account Massarsky had opened in the name of his employer.

The charges of mail fraud and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Taunton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Cody Mercure, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2023. Mercure was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021. 

On Feb. 19, 2021, Mercure sexually abused a toddler in his care and video-recorded the abuse.  Mercure also distributed numerous files of CSAM over the internet using a messaging application. For example, on Jan. 16, 2021, Mercure distributed CSAM depicting the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child to another user of the messaging application. Over 100 images and videos depicting child pornography were stored on one of the phones seized at the time of Mercure’s arrest.

The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Rhode Island State Police and the Taunton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023 in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Jonathan Bermudez, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately 22 months in prison) and eight years of supervised release. In September 2020, Bermudez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

During the course of several months, using an undercover police officer, an investigation uncovered Bermudez’s fentanyl distribution operation. Although Bermudez was arrested on April 2, 2019, he connected the undercover police officer with his co-defendant so they could continue the fentanyl distribution operation.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; and the Andover, North Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

BOSTON – Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and launder the proceeds in Massachusetts and Virginia.

Sathtra Em, 35, of Lowell; Kenneth Owen, a/k/a “Apple,” a/k/a “Carlos,” 22, of Charlotte Court House, Va.; and Michael Mao, a/k/a “Whitebodian,” a/k/a “Spook,” a/k/a “Leno,” 36, an inmate at the Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Va., were indicted on charges of money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute MDMA and Buprenorphine. Em was also indicted in a separate money laundering conspiracy with Sarath Yut, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Khmao,” a/k/a “Asian Warrior,” 36, of Lowell. 

Em and Owen were arrested on Jan. 19, 2023 and were released on conditions following initial appearances in federal court in Boston and the Western District of Virginia, respectively. Mao is currently serving a prison sentence in Virginia for several state convictions for violent offenses, including attempted murder. Yut was previously charged in June 2021 for his alleged role leading a long-running and lucrative drug trafficking enterprise involving numerous gang members and associates of the Lowell-based criminal street gang, One Family Clique. Yut has remained in federal custody and is pending trial in that case.    

According to the indictment, from approximately December 2019 through May 2021, Mao, Em and Owen conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute MDMA and Buprenorphine in Lowell, the Western District of Virginia and elsewhere. It is alleged that Mao, Em and Owen also conspired to launder the drug proceeds to conceal their drug distribution activity. It is further alleged that Em also conspired to launder drug proceeds with Yut via cash deposits into bank accounts with Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union as well as via mortgage payments for a residence in Lowell.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute MDMA and Buprenorphine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy 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 amount of the property involved, whichever is greater. Both charges also include forfeiture of assets traceable to or involved in the distribution and laundering offenses. 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Merrimack Valley Transnational Organized Crime Task Force. Special assistance was provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Amrhein of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit is handling the forfeiture aspects of the case.

This case 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 defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer while fleeing a motor vehicle stop.

Tykeam Jackson, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 77 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. 

On July 27, 2020, a deputized federal law enforcement officer stopped Jackson in Avon, Mass. for speeding and instructed him to exit his vehicle. Instead, Jackson accelerated the vehicle with such force that the officer was dragged for several feet and thrown to the ground. Jackson then sped away, drove in and out of a public parking lot where he swerved around pedestrians and other vehicles, ignored traffic signals and drove into oncoming traffic, eventually travelling at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour in the breakdown lane of Route 24. After attempting to cross all three travel lanes, Jackson lost control of the vehicle and crashed head-on into the guardrail. He exited the vehicle, ran across Route 24 and was subsequently found running into and obstructing traffic on a nearby roadway.

At the time of the offense, Jackson was on state probation resulting from an armed robbery conviction in Suffolk County Superior Court. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Hoefle of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to concealing business income and filing multiple false tax returns. 

Albert Casiello, 56, pleaded guilty to three counts of filing false tax returns before U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel who scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2023. Casiello was charged on Jan. 11, 2023. 

Between 2013 and 2015, Casiello was the president, sole shareholder and primary operator of Cassco Development Group, Inc., a Massachusetts construction business. For each of the tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015, Casiello concealed his business income by depositing customer payments in bank accounts held in the names of other entities. Casiello then filed false tax returns for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, resulting in a tax loss of $315,856.

The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $100,000 and restitution. 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Three men from the Washington, D.C., area have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for stealing thousands of items from a high-end outlet store in Wrentham, Mass.

Linworth Hayes Crawford III, 28; Ronald Patterson, 32; and Nathaniel Owens, 32, were indicted on conspiracy and transporting more than $5,000 in stolen goods. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. The defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint in December 2021. 

On the evening of Sept. 16, 2021, Crawford III, Patterson and Owens allegedly traveled from the Washington D.C. area to the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Massachusetts. It is alleged that, in the early morning hours of Sept. 17, 2021, the defendants and another unidentified individual smashed the front door of the Gucci outlet store, went inside and took approximately $32,000 in high-end merchandise. The defendants then left the store and drove back to the Washington D.C. area. 

According to court documents, phone records show the defendants travelling from the Washington D.C. area through Connecticut to Wrentham prior to the burglary and that they were identified on video surveillance seeking a replacement tire at a Town Fair Tire in Connecticut in the early morning hours of Sept. 16, 2021. Later that day, it is alleged that the defendants were identified on video surveillance at the Wrentham Outlets prior to the burglary in the same vehicle and in the same clothing as seen in the Town Fair Tire surveillance footage. According to court documents, police reports indicate that the vehicle was involved in a number of shopliftings in Virginia. 

Additionally, on Sept. 17, 2021, Patterson allegedly posted on his Instagram account that he had Gucci bags available for sale. Images of the bags appeared to be identical to the Gucci bags stolen during the burglary earlier that day. 

The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of transporting more than $5,000 in stolen goods across state lines 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and the Wrentham Police Chief William R. McGrath made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gotlob of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A previously convicted felon residing in Newton has been charged with cocaine distribution and firearm offenses.

Shawn Craig, 37, of Newton, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 23, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, Craig coordinated three drug deals with an undercover agent between September and October 2022. It is alleged that Craig met with the undercover agent near his Newton residence on three separate occasions – Sept. 12, Oct. 20 and Oct. 26, 2022 – to conduct the deals, during which Craig provided cocaine to the undercover agent in exchange for cash. Prior to the third meeting, on Oct. 26, 2022, Craig allegedly sent an image of a firearm to the undercover agent and indicated that he could sell it to the agent. During the subsequent meeting, it is alleged that Craig provided the undercover agent with a firearm, ammunition and a quantity of cocaine.

At the time of the alleged conduct, Craig was on federal supervised release for a 2014 federal conviction for possessing a stolen firearm and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Craig was sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release in that case. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; and Newton Police Chief John F Carmichael Jr. made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – The leader of a Boston-area drug trafficking organization (DTO) was sentenced yesterday for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
 
Matthew Drayton, 45, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 50 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In August 2022, Drayton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.  

Drayton was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall, which  resulted in the charging of two different drug trafficking conspiracies during the overall period of November 2018 through June 2020. 

According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO for which Drayton was both a leader and a drug distributor. The DTO was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs – most of which was cocaine or cocaine base, which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life for other residents.  As the investigation continued, law enforcement ultimately identified another DTO operating within the Boston area and targeted its large-scale drug suppliers and their associates.

Drayton was the leader of the Fidelis-Way related DTO whose members were allegedly responsible for the packaging, selling, storing and distribution of drugs to, or collection of proceeds from, drug customers, drug runners or other drug distributors and suppliers. It is estimated that Drayton distributed between 280 and 840 grams of cocaine base during the course of his participation in the Fidelis Way DTO which, when all drugs were calculated as powder, amounted to over 500 grams of cocaine. Drayton also participated in a number of controlled buys involving cocaine base during the investigation.

Drayton is the seventh defendant to be sentenced in the Fidelis-Way related drug conspiracy. 
 
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Bryan Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran 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.

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

BOSTON – Johnson & Johnson, DePuy Synthes, Inc. and DePuy Synthes Sales, Inc. (collectively, DePuy) have agreed to pay approximately $9.75 million to resolve allegations that DePuy violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act by providing free products to a Massachusetts-based surgeon (Surgeon) to induce the Surgeon to use DePuy products in his procedures.

DePuy manufactures and distributes medical devices, including spinal implants, and is headquartered in Raynham, Mass.

According to the settlement agreement, DePuy admits, acknowledges and accepts its responsibility for the facts underlying the government’s allegations. From at least July 2013 through February 2018, DePuy gave the Surgeon DePuy products, including implants and instruments, such as cages, rods, screws, plates and modular access and retraction systems. The Surgeon performed more than 20 surgeries over the course of multiple trips to six countries, specifically, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In many of these surgeries, the Surgeon used DePuy products, worth thousands of dollars, that DePuy sales representatives had provided to him. The DePuy products that DePuy gave to the Surgeon were sometimes not available at the hospitals and/or with the third-party sales distributors in the countries where the Surgeon operated overseas. DePuy did not request or receive payment from the Surgeon, the hospitals, or the third-party sales distributors in the countries where the Surgeon operated overseas; nor did the Surgeon, the overseas hospitals, the third-party sales distributors, or anyone else, pay DePuy for the products that it gave to the Surgeon and the Surgeon used abroad.

The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The United States contends that DePuy knowingly and willfully provided free DePuy products, worth over $100,000, to the Surgeon for his overseas surgeries, to induce him to use DePuy’s products in spine surgeries he performed on Medicare and Medicaid patients in Massachusetts in violation of the AKS. 

“Today the United States resolves allegations that DePuy provided over $100,000 worth of free product to a surgeon in order to secure and reward that physician’s continued business,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Unlawful kickbacks can severely distort medical judgment as well as the market for medical devices. The millions of patients that depend on our health care system deserve untainted medical decisions. This settlement reflects our commitment to stamping out illegal kickbacks.”

“Medical device manufacturers are prohibited from providing free items to induce a physician to use their devices,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When medical devices are used in surgical procedures, patients deserve to know that their device was selected based on quality of care considerations and not on improper benefits from manufacturers.”

“The American people, as both taxpayers and consumers, expect medical device manufacturers like DePuy to abide by relevant laws and regulations. When such health care companies provide illegal kickbacks in order to boost profits, their actions erode public confidence in the health care system, can compromise the patient-physician relationship, and waste government health program funding,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “In close cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to thoroughly investigate allegations of fraud to protect both federal health care programs and those served by them.”

“Today’s settlement makes it crystal clear that it is illegal for medical device companies to provide physicians with free medical products to win business and boost their bottom line through illegal kickback schemes,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division. “Every year, health care fraud costs taxpayers billions of dollars. It is not a victimless crime and this unscrupulous scheme orchestrated by DePuy is just one example of how the FBI and our partners are working hard every day to protect both patients and taxpayers.”

The allegations resolved by the settlement agreement were originally brought in a case filed under the whistleblower, or qui tam, provisions of the False Claims Act. The case is captioned United States et al. ex rel. John Doe v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., (D. Mass. 2017). The whistleblower will receive approximately $1,852,500 from the recovery. 

U.S. Attorney Rollins, HHS-OIG SAC Coyne and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. The VA OIG and FDA-OCI also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica J. Weber, Andrew A. Caffrey, III and Abraham R. George of Rollins’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, and Senior Trial Counsel Benjamin C. Wei of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division handled this matter. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was represented by Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lownds.

BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. 

Nicholas Mendes, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to 80 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 22, 2022, Mendes pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On the evening of May 21, 2020, local police responded to a report of possible gunshots in Brockton. At the scene, officers found a parked vehicle with three occupants inside, one of whom was Mendes sitting in the driver’s seat, and the passenger door open. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a FN Model 509, 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a partially obliterated serial number tucked directly under the driver seat where Mendes was sitting. The semi-automatic firearm was loaded with six rounds of 9mm ammunition – including one round in the chamber. At the time, Mendes was on state probation with electronic monitoring.

Mendes is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to prior convictions that include intimidation, possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, narcotics offenses and assault and battery.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crime Unit prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

BOSTON – Three individuals, including a Federal Firearms Licensee, have been charged in connection with a scheme to illegally straw purchase firearms.

Cory Daigle, 29, of Revere; Gustavo Rodriguez, 20 of Boston; and Shakim Grant, 21, of Boston, were each charged with conspiracy to make false statements with respect to the acquisition of a firearm. Daigle was also charged with possession of a machinegun and Grant was charged with making false statements with respect to the acquisition of a firearm. Daigle and Rodriguez were arrested yesterday morning and, following an appearance in federal court in Boston, were detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. today. Grant remains at large. 

According to the charging documents, the investigation arose following a November 2022 shooting in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. It is alleged that during a search of Rodriguez’s residence in Hyde Park the following day, several firearms, assorted ammunition and firearm components and/or accessories were seized. While the search was underway, Grant allegedly arrived at the scene and advised law enforcement that the firearms seized belonged to him, not Rodriguez, and that he had been storing his firearms inside the residence. 

Subsequent interviews, cellphone forensics, financial records and firearm records allegedly revealed that Grant obtained three Glock firearms and ammunition for Rodriguez, who does not have a license to legally possess or carry firearms and is precluded from having firearms in Massachusetts based on his age. It is alleged that the Glock firearms were purchased from Daigle – a Federal Firearms Licensee and the proprietor of Steelworks Defense Solutions in Littleton. Grant and Rodriguez allegedly communicated via Snapchat approximately two hours prior to the search of Rodriguez’s residence, during which the two conspired to coordinate a story to provide law enforcement as to why firearms would be found at Rodriguez’s residence.

According to court documents, during a search of Daigle’s residence, a machine gun barrel and receiver; machine gun bolt with no serial number; two short-barrel rifles, one with a machine gun conversion device; machine gun conversion device with no serial number; and a semi-automatic rifle were seized. 

“The majority of gun violence, including shootings and murders, is committed with an illegal (e.g., unregistered, stolen, etc.) firearm. Usually, by a prohibited individual (e.g., unlicensed, underage, precluded due to criminal history, etc.). Straw purchases are serious crimes that result in deadly firearms getting into the hands of people the law strictly prohibits from having them. We need to prosecute straw purchasers with the same zeal we often have for end users.  If the straw purchase never happened, that firearm never makes it into the hands of a prohibited person seeking to use it unlawfully,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.  “We allege that these defendants engaged in a straw purchasing conspiracy and made false statements in forms required by federal firearms laws in an attempt to cover their tracks. That one of these defendants holds an FFL and has been authorized to sell firearms should be an eye opener to many. People who circumvent regulations and requirements regarding firearms in our Commonwealth can and will face administrative, civil, or criminal consequences by state, local or federal prosecutors.”

“When you buy a gun for someone who is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm, you could be buying yourself time in federal prison,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “The surge of gun violence in our cities is being fueled by individuals who circumvent the law and put firearms in the wrong hands. Our mission is clear and we will continue working with our partners to stop the flow of illegal firearm transfers that fuel the cycles of violence.”

“Boston and every other major city across the country is dealing with the unprecedented proliferation of guns. It is this type of partnership that makes it possible for us to have a substantive impact by bringing local, state and federal powers to bear on those who are allegedly helping to put guns on our streets. This is good police work by our Boston Police officers and the troopers and agents involved. It’s a true partnership with our state and federal counterparts and we look forward to working with U.S. Attorney Rollins as her office guides this case through the criminal justice system,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.

The charges of possession of machineguns provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to a $250,000. The charge of false statements with respect to the acquisition of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to a $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.

U.S. Attorney Rollins, ATF Boston SAC Ferguson and Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Swansea man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 

Todd Miozza, 52, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In September 2022, Miozza pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. 

Miozza obtained and traded CSAM over the internet via a messaging platform. During a search of Miozza’ s residence in June 2022, his iPhone and laptop were seized and found to contain child sexual abuse material. In total, 411 videos and 331 images constituting CSAM were found across Miozza’s devices and electronic storage media, depicting children ranging from infants to approximately 12 years old.  

Miozza was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in the District of Massachusetts in 2002. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. The Swansea Police Department provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  

Andre Tilahun, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Tilahun pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and one count of possession of child pornography. 

Following a search of Tilahun’s residence in April 2021, approximately 350 images of CSAM were found on the Tilahun’s computer and approximately 230 images of CSAM on his phone. The investigation determined that Tilahun used the Kik Messenger platform to receive and engage in communications about CSAM with others. In all, Tilahun participated in six Kik chatrooms where participants shared CSAM.   

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department and Weymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced today for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.    

Charles Reid, 68, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to time served (approximately one day in prison) and three years of supervised release. Reid was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,601 to the Social Security Administration. Earlier in the hearing, Reid pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. Reid was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2021. 

From approximately April 2013 through September 2017, Reid stole approximately $38,601 in Social Security disability benefits. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Tolkoff and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for counterfeiting hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency.

Victor Cardona, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 41 months in prison, two years of supervised release and a fine of $5,000. In October 2022, Cardona pleaded guilty to one count of counterfeiting U.S. currency, specifically, forged older-style $100 bills.

During a search of Cardona’s residence in October 2019, a counterfeit currency manufacturing facility was discovered, including equipment and materials used to create counterfeit bills, specifically, inkjet printers, a paper shredder containing counterfeit bills that had been discarded, a “counterfeit buster” detection pen and counterfeit bills, including one fake $100 bill in Cardona’s wallet. Several authentic $100 bills with serial numbers which were tied to counterfeit currency recovered from across the country were also found. Burned remains of counterfeit currency were also located in Cardona’s backyard.

According to court documents, Cardona admitted that he procured the materials to create the counterfeit currency and hosted one or more other individuals at his home on a weekly basis for the purpose of creating the fake bills. In total, Cardona produced, or participated in the production of, over 4,000 fake $100 bills that were identified as counterfeit and traced by serial number to the authentic bills found at Cardona’s residence. To date, the government has recovered over $467,000 in counterfeit $100 bills traced back to the authentic bills found at Cardona’s residence.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Many local police departments, including the Quincy Police Department and Salem Police Department, provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A partner in a Mumbai-based prescription drug company was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for operating an overseas pharmacy that sold unapproved prescription drugs and controlled substances, including opioids, and shipped them from Asia into the United States.

Manish Kumar, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 87 months in prison and three months of supervised release. Manish was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. In October 2022, Kumar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import misbranded prescription drugs and controlled substances; conspiracy to distribute Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances; and one count of making false statements to federal officers.

Kumar was a partner in Mihu Business Solutions Pvt., Ltd., a Mumbai-based drug company which he operated through multiple entities, including “All Herb Distributors,” “365 Life Group,” and “Health Life 365 Co.” From at least 2015 until 2019, when Kumar was arrested on unrelated charges, Kumar used these entities to ship millions of illegal and unapproved prescription pills into the United States to individuals who did not have prescriptions. Specifically, Kumar trafficked prescription drugs including generic erectile dysfunction drugs, and Schedule II controlled substances, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and tapentadol, and Schedule IV controlled substances, such as tramadol. 

Kumar’s operation directly marketed drugs to customers in the United States through advertising and calls to prospective customers from call centers in India. As part of the  conspiracy, Kumar personally directed and managed shipments of drugs from drug suppliers in Singapore and India into Massachusetts and other states. In total, Kumar’s drug business generated more than $3.5 million in revenue and shipped millions of illegal and unapproved pills into the United States to individuals who did not have prescriptions. After his arrest, Kumar made false statements to law enforcement in February 2020 about his involvement in the sale of controlled substances.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial, & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a scheme to steal thousands of customers’ debit and credit card account numbers, and other personally identifying information, via a network of electronic skimming equipment at gas stations across New England.
 
Luis Angel Naranjo Rodriguez, 32, of Hialeah, Fla., pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of possessing 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices (the debit and credit card account numbers) and one count of possessing device-making equipment (the card skimming devices). U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2023. Naranjo Rodriguez was arrested and charged in March 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2020. 
 
Naranjo Rodriguez secretly installed card skimming devices in gas pumps in Massachusetts gas stations and in other New England states. The devices were programmed to send Naranjo Rodriguez’s mobile phone a text message with stolen account information after customers had used their debit or credit cards to purchase gas at the compromised fuel pumps. Card skimming devices linked to Naranjo Rodriguez’s mobile phone were traced to at least 11 different gas stations located in Lynnfield, Concord, Malden, Taunton, Randolph and Raynham, Mass.; Portland, Maine; Nashua, N.H.; and Willington, Conn.
 
Between April 2019 until November 2019, Naranjo Rodriguez traveled frequently from Florida to Massachusetts to maintain this network of card skimmers. During the course of the scheme, Naranjo Rodriguez’s mobile phone received at least 4,878 text messages containing stolen debit and credit card account numbers. Many of these text messages also included the account holders’ names and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs).   
 
Naranjo Rodriguez cloned the account information belonging to the unwitting victims onto gift cards and other prepaid cards in order to steal money from them, typically by using the cloned cards to make ATM withdrawals, to purchase consumer goods that could be resold in secondary markets, and to request cash back on debit card transactions.  On Nov. 16, 2019, security cameras at a Framingham gas station and CVS captured Naranjo Rodriguez using four cloned cards to withdraw money from victims’ bank accounts at ATMs.  Naranjo Rodriguez was arrested the same night at the Concord Rotary Gulf gas station, where he was tampering with a fuel pump after the gas station had closed.  In Naranjo Rodriguez’s car, four cloned cards from the ATM withdrawals earlier that night were found, along with fuel pump keys, black latex gloves, four card skimming devices and the mobile phone that was receiving the text messages with the stolen credit and debit card account numbers.
 
The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possessing device-making equipment provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possessing 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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.
 
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Concord, Lunenburg and Raynham Police Departments in Massachusetts, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department and the Portland (Maine) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiring to distribute cocaine.

Miguel Colindres, 61, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2023. Colindres was arrested and charged on July 15, 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on July 21, 2020.

Colindres conspired with members of La Oficina de Envigado (La Oficina), a criminal organization based in Medellín, Colombia to distribute five kilograms of cocaine. La Oficina originated in the 1980s when its members provided enforcement and collection services for the Medellín Cartel, including deceased Medellín Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Today, La Oficina is allegedly involved in international narcotics trafficking, drug debt collection, money laundering, extortion and murder for hire.  

It is alleged that co-defendants Fabio de Jesus Yepes Sanchez and Mario Zapata Velez were members of La Oficina who were tasked with collecting a $750,000 drug debt from two cocaine traffickers in Massachusetts. It is further alleged that Yepes and Zapata conspired with Colindres and others to obtain five kilograms of cocaine from the Massachusetts traffickers, sell those kilograms, and then repatriate the drug proceeds to Colombia, in partial satisfaction of the outstanding drug debt.

The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department; Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and the Government of Colombia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – An East Boston man has been arrested for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Cristopher Vladimir Pineda Martinez, 23, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein, Pineda was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Feb. 3, 2023.

According to the charging documents, law enforcement identified Pineda as member of several private communities and/or groups involved in the distribution of CSAM on an online chat platform. It is alleged that, on Dec. 12, 2022, Pineda distributed six videos depicting CSAM in three online chat groups. It is further alleged that an additional 54 videos depicting CSAM, depicting children as young as six years old, were found on Pineda’s personal cell phone. 

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $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, a mandatory minimum of 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of Rollins’ 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.

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

BOSTON – A Boston man was arrested yesterday and charged in connection with allegedly attempting to hire a contract killer – who was actually an undercover federal agent – to murder his wife and the wife’s boyfriend.

Mohammed Chowdhury, 46, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of murder-for-hire. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday, Chowdhury was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 20, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, in November 2022, an individual notified federal law enforcement that Chowdhury was soliciting assistance in having his wife murdered. The individual said that Chowdhury had allegedly paid someone to conduct the murder for hire, but that they took the money and did not follow through with Chowdhury’s request. It is alleged that Chowdhury subsequently told the individual that he needed the murder done as soon as possible and that he would get the money to do so, even robbing a store if necessary to obtain the funds. The individual provided Chowdhury’s phone number to law enforcement, who thereafter used an undercover agent posing as a contract killer to communicate with Chowdhury about his alleged murder for hire plot.

It is alleged that on numerous occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, Chowdhury met with undercover agents posing as the contract killer and their associates, to seek help with killing his wife and her new boyfriend whom she left him for. It is alleged that during these meetings and communications, Chowdhury explained that his wife wouldn’t let him see his children and that he wanted the undercover agents to rob and beat his wife and her boyfriend so that he would not be a suspect. Chowdhury allegedly asked the agents, “So how we gonna disappear his, uh, body?” and stated, “No evidence. No evidence. No evidence from like, you know, that, uh, I did something, you know?” Chowdhury allegedly provided the undercover agents with photographs of his wife and her new boyfriend, where they lived, where they worked and their work schedules. It is alleged that Chowdhury ultimately agreed to pay $4,000 per murder, with a deposit of $500. 

Chowdhury met with the undercover agents yesterday morning, allegedly provided the $500 deposit and confirmed that he wanted the murders committed. Chowdhury was then taken into federal custody.

In October 2019, Chowdhury was charged in Boston Municipal Court with violating an Abuse Prevention Order prohibiting him from abusing, contacting, or coming within a certain distance of his wife. Chowdhury pleaded to sufficient facts and received a continuance without a finding.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and John T. Dawley of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles and other merchandise and apply for and utilize bank accounts and credit cards. 

Ricardo Acevedo, 34, of Manchester, N.H., pleaded guilty on Jan. 13, 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2023. 

The defendant and multiple co-defendants were charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020. In a coordinated multi-jurisdictional effort, the defendant was also charged in the State of New Jersey, and others involved in the scheme were also charged there, in the District of New Jersey, the Northern District of Ohio, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

    According to charging documents, between October 2017 and January 2019, Acevedo visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and applied for 100% financing. In support of the applications, Acevedo provided stolen biographical information of real United States citizens, fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities, as proof of identification. Acevedo used the stolen identities to illegally open bank accounts and credit cards and to purchase vehicles, many of which were exported out of the United States. In total, Acevedo used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase three cars worth $90,582, collectively.

The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. 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.

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

BOSTON – Two Worcester residents have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and heroin. 

Antonio Rosario Garcia, a/k/a “Animal,” 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 80 months in prison and four years of supervised release. Cintia Franco, 32, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2022, Franco and Garcia each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl; conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Garcia also pleaded guilty to distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

Franco and Garcia were charged in October 2019 along with co-conspirators John Robles and Jector Torres. In early 2019, Robles was identified by investigators selling purported oxycodone pills, which were later determined to be counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, at Albino’s Market in Worcester. Intercepted communications from Robles’ phone identified that Garcia was the supply source and that Garcia was distributing pills through Robles and Torres. The investigation also revealed that Garcia and Franco were distributing heroin, fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl directly to users in Worcester. 

In October 2022, Torres was sentenced to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Robles previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2023. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto and Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office 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.

BOSTON – A Minnesota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly engaging in abusive sexual contact while a passenger aboard a cruise ship from Iceland to Boston in August 2022.

Daniel Farias, 45, of Bloomington, Minn., was indicted on one count of abusive sexual contact. He will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 20, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. Farias was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2022. 

According to the charging documents, while aboard the Celebrity Summit Cruise Ship travelling from Reykjavík, Iceland to Boston, Farias sexually assaulted a male crewmember in the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 2022. Specifically, it is alleged that the victim entered the mid-ship men’s restroom to clean. The restroom was empty apart from a male passenger – later identified as Farias – occupying one of stalls. At some point, Farias allegedly exited the stall, approached the victim and began rubbing his hand on the victim’s forearm. The victim pulled his arm away, and said, “What are you doing?” It is alleged that Farias then used both of his hands to grab the victim’s genitalia over the victim’s clothes and then made a sexually explicit comment. The victim pulled away. Farias allegedly then asked the victim if he was upset, to which the victim said he was. According to the charging documents, Farias apologized and asked the victim not to report what happened before leaving the restroom.

The charge of abusive sexual contact provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A repeat convicted felon has been charged by a federal grand jury in a superseding indictment on firearm and drug offenses.

Christian Soares, a/k/a “Eazy,” 29, of Brockton, was indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; one count of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and buprenorphine (suboxone); one count of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, MDA and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Soares was previously indicted in August 2019.

According to the indictment, in 2019, Soares possessed a loaded firearm while a convicted felon and did so in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense – namely, possessing cocaine, fentanyl and buprenorphine (suboxone) intended for distribution. In 2021, while on pretrial release following the August 2019 indictment, it is alleged that Soares possessed multiple firearms and ammunition while a convicted felon and did so in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Additionally, it is alleged he did so while also possessing cocaine, methamphetamine, MDA and 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution. 

Soares was previously convicted of at least one prior felony conviction.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and buprenorphine, provides for a sentence of not more than 20 years, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl (which charge also alleged cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDA) provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, to be served from and after the term of imprisonment imposed for any other count, supervised release of up to five years, 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Bryan Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Rollins’ 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.

This effort is also 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 indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A registered nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for tampering with morphine prescribed to a nursing home resident in her care.  

Gwen Rider, 43, of Northborough, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 8, 2022, Rider pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and deception. 

Rider was a registered nurse employed by a Worcester County nursing home. From approximately 11:00 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2020 until 7:00 a.m. the following morning, Rider was on duty in a unit specializing in care for residents suffering from dementia. During her shift and while entrusted with the care of a resident suffering from dementia, Rider tampered with a bottle of morphine sulfate prescribed to the patient by removing some of the morphine and adding water to the remaining supply. Morphine sulfate is a Schedule II controlled substance under federal law. A nurse on a subsequent shift administered the adulterated morphine to a patient before the tampering was discovered.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Margret R. Cooke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Northborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced on Jan. 5, 2023 in federal court in Boston for accessing with intent to view child pornography.

Thomas LeBlanc, 36, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Earlier in the hearing, LeBlanc pleaded guilty to one count of access with intent to view of child pornography

 In 2017, LeBlanc was sentenced to five years in prison for a federal conviction of receipt and possession of child pornography. Upon his release from federal prison, LeBlanc was subject to cell phone monitoring as part of his supervised release conditions. Monitoring equipment revealed that LeBlanc used the cell phone to access child pornography and was subsequently sentenced in 2020 to an additional two years in prison. In May 2022, LeBlanc was released from federal prison and again subject to monitoring of his cell phone activity. Again, United States Probation again became aware that LeBlanc used his cell phone to access child pornography. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy; and Bryan Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography. 

Rudy Frabizio, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In September 2022, Frabizio pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. 

During a search of Frabizio’s residence on May 19, 2021, agents found a “microSD” memory card that contained hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography. The image and video files included material involving prepubescent minors, as well as the abuse of infants or toddlers. In addition, Frabizio uploaded images depicting child pornography via his Google account. Frabizio is a registered Level 2 sex offender due to an April 2009 conviction for possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. The Taunton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – The leader of a local drug trafficking organization (DTO) was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, carfentanil (a fentanyl analogue) in and around the Lawrence area and for possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of his DTO’s operations. 

Luis Manuel Rodriguez Then, 31, formerly of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 186 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In September 2022, Rodriguez Then pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, 10 grams or more of carfentanil, and 10 grams or more of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl; distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and 10 grams or more of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl (fentanyl analogue); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

“The seriousness of Mr. Rodriguez’s crimes cannot be overstated. He was a leader of a drug distribution organization that brought fentanyl and fentanyl analogue into our communities,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “For the last several years, the United States as a whole and Massachusetts in particular have been plagued by an opioid epidemic that has taken an alarming number of lives and has destroyed countless families and communities. In 2021, 80,816 people died from opioid-related overdoses in the United States — the equivalent of 221 deaths per day. In Massachusetts alone we lost 2,301 of our loved ones. My office will continue to do everything we can to protect our communities from this deadly crisis.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling violent poly drug trafficking organizations like these operating in Massachusetts,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division. “As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to our families and communities.  This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen.  DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”

From October 2018 through March 2019, Rodriguez Then and another individual were leaders of a DTO which distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and other substances in and around the Lawrence area. Rodriguez Then and the other individual employed a third individual who was tasked with residing at a stash house maintained by and serving as a courier for the DTO. During the investigation, a confidential source conducted three controlled purchases of suspected fentanyl from the DTO during which Rodriguez Then and the other leader obtained the order and collected payment from the confidential source and the courier brought the requested suspected fentanyl pills. For two of these transactions, the pills distributed by the DTO tested positive for fentanyl. For the third transaction, the pills distributed by Rodriguez Then’s DTO tested positive for fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl analogue. 

On March 13, 2019, two search warrants were executed in Lawrence. At one location, where Rodriguez Then resided, a wall hide in Rodriguez Then’s master bedroom contained $7,010 in suspected drug proceeds, a loaded .22 caliber Smith and Wesson firearms and multiple fake identification cards bearing the defendant’s likeness. A rental lease for the stash house was also located in Rodriguez Then’s residence. During a search warrant executed at the stash house, among other things, multiple hidden compartments/wall hides containing drugs and drug paraphernalia were located, including approximately 2,074 grams of fentanyl, 732 grams of heroin, 2,333 grams of cocaine and 448.4 grams of carfentanil. Additionally, a .45 caliber Taurus and a Highpoint 9 mm with a partially obliterated serial number were also seized from a wall hide in the stash house.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Ferguson and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment yesterday charging a Boston man with sex trafficking a young adult victim and transporting a minor to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex.

Leon Blount III, 30, of Boston, was charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and three counts of transportation of minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Blount has been in state custody since September 2022. He will appear in federal court in Boston on Jan. 19, 2023.

“Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Whether labor or sex trafficking, if someone is profiting off of a person they control through threat, force or coercion, they are committing a felony. We allege that Mr. Blount targeted two victims – one of whom was a minor – whom he groomed and trafficked to engage in commercial sex across multiple states and used extreme violence to keep one of his victims under his control,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and, with the perseverance and bravery of the victims, our dedicated Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit will spare no expense or resource to protect our communities, our children, and our Commonwealth from this growing public health threat.”

“HSI New England, and our law enforcement partners, are constantly watching closely for indicators of human trafficking and child exploitation throughout our community,” said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s indictment is a result of those partnerships and the watchful eyes of all of the dedicated agents and officers involved in this case.  HSI New England will continue to work tirelessly to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved human trafficking enterprises in order to keep our communities safe.”

According to the charging documents, beginning in the Fall of 2021, Blount began grooming a young adult victim, Jane Doe 1, to engage in commercial sex. First, Blount allegedly pressured Jane Doe 1 to create pornographic videos that were distributed online. Later, he allegedly insisted that Jane Doe 1 earn money for him by performing commercial sex acts. Jane Doe 1 was posted on websites that advertise commercial sex and Blount allegedly drove her throughout Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut to perform sex acts for his financial benefit.  

It is further alleged that, to maintain control, Blount threatened to harm Jane Doe 1 if she ever left his trafficking operation. In September 2022, when Blount learned that Jane Doe 1 was trying to leave his control, Blount allegedly threw a rock through the window of the car Jane Doe 1 was sitting in and tried to pull her out of the car while spraying her in the face with pepper spray. Blount allegedly then got into the car and drove over Jane Doe 1’s leg, severely injuring her, as she tried to flee. It is alleged that after Jane Doe 1 was taken to the hospital, Blount broke into her apartment and wrote, “B**** ya not safe” on the wall. Shortly thereafter, Lowell Police arrested Blount, and he has remained in custody since that time.

Additionally, according to the charging documents, between July and August 2022, Blount transported a 17-year-old victim, Jane Doe 2, to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Blount allegedly met Jane Doe 2 while she was living at a group home for transitional age adolescents. He gave her alcohol and marijuana, and quickly recruited Jane Doe 2 to travel out-of-state to engage in commercial sex. While in New York, Blount allegedly directed Jane Doe 2 to solicit sex buyers in an area of Brooklyn known for commercial sex. It is further alleged that Blount caused Jane Doe 2’s photo to be posted on websites that advertise commercial sex and put her in hotel rooms in Woburn and Hartford, where he directed her to perform sex acts to earn money for him. 

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity 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 $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]. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources. 

U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI SAC Millhollin made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of Rollins’ Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in online romance scams targeting individuals in the United States. 

Francis Okafor, 30, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to two years in prison and two years of supervised release. Okafor was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,130,285. In August 2022, Okafor pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy.  

From approximately May 2018 through August 2021, Okafor and others participated in a series of romance scams designed to defraud victims. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. In furtherance of the scheme, Okafor used false foreign passports in the names of others but with his photo to open numerous bank accounts. In turn, co-conspirators directed victims to send money to these accounts. Okafor and his co-conspirators then withdrew the victims’ money from various bank branches and ATMs and wired the money overseas. In total, more than $1.1 million in fraud proceeds was deposited into fraudulent bank accounts Okafor controlled.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling ghost guns, ammunition and fentanyl.

Miguel Mejia, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. In September 2022, Mejia pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possession with intent to distribute distribution of 40 grams of more fentanyl. 

Between July 7, 2020 and Dec. 16, 2020, Mejia sold five privately made firearms (PMFs), more commonly known as ghost-guns along with ammunition. Specifically, Mejia sold two Glock 26 style PMF pistols, two Glock 17 style PMF pistols and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Additionally, on July 31, 2020, Mejia sold approximately 50 grams of fentanyl. During a search of Mejia’s residence on Dec. 16, 2020, a Glock 43 style PMF pistol; 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition; three pistol magazines; a pill press and pill stamping set; and five baggies of narcotics cutting agents were recovered. 

“Stopping the flow of illegal firearms into our communities is the most critical step in combatting violent crime. Ghost guns are particularly dangerous because in addition to being deadly, they are unlicensed and untraceable,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Mejia profited off of bringing deadly guns and drugs into our communities. This sentence is just, and Lawrence residents are safer because of it."

“Illegally dealing firearms without a license, particularly privately manufactured firearms, will continue to remain an ATF priority and will be stopped in its tracks. The ripple effect of violence cannot be overstated and ATF will be vigilant about going after these violent criminals,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division 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.

BOSTON – An Illinois man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for coercing and enticing a minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos.

Domenique Dequon Hines, 25, of Crystal Lake, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 19 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In September 2022, Hines pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. 

“Less than two months after being released from prison for a child pornography offense, Mr. Hines went right back to exploiting and sexualizing children. He used social media to target, coerce and threaten a 14-year-old victim for his own sexual gratification. Mr. Hines is a danger to our children and accordingly, he will be removed from our community for nearly two decades,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Protecting the safety, innocence and wellbeing of our children, especially from the threat of online predators like Mr. Hines, is a top priority.”

“Domenique Dequon Hines is a calculating and manipulative predator who targeted, exploited, and harmed a vulnerable child for life. No sentence for this man will wipe away the scars he left on his 14-year-old victim, and our thoughts are with both her and her family today,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division. “It is the FBI’s sincere hope that his punishment—almost two decades behind bars—will deter others from engaging in this repulsive, criminal conduct.”

In October 2020, approximately six weeks after being released from serving a sentence in Illinois for a child pornography offense, Hines met a 14-year-old Massachusetts victim on Instagram. Hines and the victim exchanged phone numbers and profile pictures and began communicating online via iMessage and other forms of internet communication for a period of approximately 10 days. On the first day of communications, Hines confirmed with the victim that she was 14 years old and he informed the victim that he is 23 years old. After confirming her age, Hines knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced the victim to take and send him, sexually explicit images and videos of herself. Hines requested that the victim call him “daddy,” and explained that if her parents ever try to take her phone, she should delete all of their text messages.

Hines was previously convicted of a child pornography offense in the state of Illinois.

U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus and Christopher R. Looney of Rollins’ 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.

BOSTON – A Hyde Park man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the armed robbery of a Hyde Park bank.
 
Paul Whooten, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2023. Whooten was charged in February 2020. 

On Dec. 21, 2019, Whooten entered a branch of Rockland Trust Bank in Hyde Park, carrying something that appeared to be a rifle. Upon entering the bank, Whooten pointed it at the teller before stating, “Give me all of your money.” The teller filled Whooten’s bag with $13,603 in cash, and Whooten fled the bank on foot. Bank surveillance cameras captured images of the Whooten throughout the robbery. 
 
Shortly after leaving the bank, Whooten was observed on the street wearing clothes consistent with those observed inside the bank and still holding what appeared to be a rifle in his hand. Law enforcement immediately apprehended Whooten and a black rifle-type BB gun and bag of cash were recovered from him.  
 
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years 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.
 
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Worcester-based investment adviser was sentenced today in connection with a long-running scheme to steal more than $2.8 million from six clients.

James Kenneth Couture, 42, of Sutton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Couture was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,924,585 and forfeiture of $2,874,585. In September 2022, Couture pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of investment adviser fraud and one count of witness tampering.  

Couture was a registered investment adviser, with an office in Worcester. In that capacity, he invested his clients’ funds in securities and various insurance products, including annuities, and set up and assisted clients with profit-sharing plans and other retirement products. From approximately 2009 to 2020, Couture misappropriated approximately $2.8 million from his clients by transferring funds out of his clients’ accounts, investing it in fictitious mutual funds and then selling other clients’ holdings to pay investment returns. In June 2016, Couture liquidated one client’s variable annuities to fund withdrawals by another client. Similarly, in December 2019 and January 2020, Couture paid a client he had previously defrauded by selling other clients’ mutual funds. As part of this scheme, Couture forged clients’ signatures on documents, or caused clients to sign documents by falsely representing that the proceeds of transactions would be used for the clients’ benefit. Couture also stole from clients using their own profit-sharing plans and conducting transactions in their names to disguise his fraudulent transactions.

Couture was initially charged in connection with this scheme in June 2021. After those initial charges were filed, Couture engaged in witness tampering by creating fake documents purported to be for his clients’ accounts and providing false information to at least one victim in the case for approximately six months. Couture was subsequently charged with witness tampering in connection with his efforts to deceive this victim on Jan. 14, 2022.

United States Attorney Rachael Rollins, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

Herby Paul, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2022, Paul pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

On Nov. 24, 2021, Paul was pulled over by law enforcement while driving on interstate 95 in Canton. Paul provided law enforcement with a false name and was asked to exit the vehicle. He then fled on foot, jumped over a guardrail, ran down an embankment and attempted to scale a fence. Paul was quickly apprehended on scene and a subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9mm handgun loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition. 

At the time of the offense, Paul was on state probation for a 2020 conviction of possessing a firearm without a license and resisting arrest, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.