District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Father and Son Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison in Large-Scale Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Springfield men were sentenced today for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplied by sources in Mexico and spanning at least four states.
Isaac Cardona, 34, and Rafael Cardona Sr., 61, were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 146 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On Oct. 18, 2021, the Cardonas were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin. Isaac Cardona was also convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The Cardonas were indicted in November 2017 as part of a 14-month wiretap investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplied by sources in Mexico and spanning at least four states.
The Cardonas conspired with co-defendant David Cruz to traffic cocaine and heroin from Mexico, through California, to the Springfield area and into New England. Isaac Cardona owed Cruz money for one kilogram of the cocaine Cruz had distributed to him, and, in order to pay down that debt, the Cardonas and other co-conspirators conspired to import at least one kilogram of heroin (which turned out to be pure fentanyl) from sources in Mexico. In late August 2016, Isaac Cardona traveled by car to San Diego, Calif., with cash to pay for the heroin. Cruz later traveled to San Diego, retrieved the car and the cash, and, on Sept. 8, 2016, used the cash to purchase what he believed to be one kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement in California seized the vehicle and recovered approximately one kilogram of pure fentanyl.
Cruz previously pleaded guilty to drug and firearms offenses and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2022.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Carlsbad (Calif.) Resident Office and the Westfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil L. Desroches of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Brockton Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.
Paul Nova, a/k/a “Meagan,” 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 150 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In June 2021, Nova pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In June 2017, Nova was found in possession of $5,000 in cash, two cell phones and fentanyl in distribution sized quantities. During a subsequent search of his apartment, a plaid bag containing 17 plastic bags containing approximately 840 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of fentanyl, multiple kilograms of cutting agents, drug distribution paraphernalia and client lists were found in a bedroom that had been locked with a deadbolt. Also found in the apartment was approximately $28,000, two digital scales, assorted packages and preparation materials, numerous cell phones and firearms: a stolen .40 Caliber Smith and Wesson model SW-40 handgun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition; a Jimenez Arms model JA-22 handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition; a .45 caliber Glock model 21 handgun with two high capacity magazines; a fully loaded .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver handgun; a 9mm CZ model 75 handgun loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition; a Walter model P-22 handgun; a H&R model 929 Revolver loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; a large capacity magazine loaded with 12.40 caliber rounds of ammunition; and a 9mm high capacity magazines.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Belgian and Lebanese National Convicted of Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Belgian and Lebanese national holding an Illinois law license has been convicted by a federal jury of fraud and money laundering charges in connection with multiple scams that defrauded victims in several states.
Hassan A. Abbas, 55, of Belgium, was convicted following a six-day jury trial of one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering, two counts of unlawful monetary transactions and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2022. Abbas was indicted in January 2020 and subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in November 2020.
“The defendant was part of a scheme that toyed with people’s emotions, deceiving them to take their money. The funds he swindled were supposed to be used as the down payment on a home or to fund a comfortable retirement. There are real victims in financial frauds and my office fights for victims. We always have and we always will.” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.
“Hassan Abbas should be ashamed of himself for using his law license as a shield to exploit the hopes and dreams of innocent victims to line his own pockets. He targeted, preyed upon, and systematically ripped them off without a second thought,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Last year, Massachusetts residents reported losing more than $83 million due to romance and business email compromise scams, and the FBI is committed to holding the criminals behind these scams accountable for the harm they do to everyday citizens and our financial institutions.”
Between June 2017 and January 2019, Abbas and others defrauded victims through a series of romance, business email compromise (BEC), and other scams designed to trick victims into wiring monies to bank accounts they controlled. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated fraud often targeting individuals and businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers. In romance scams, perpetrators generally create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the U.S., and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and/or property.
Abbas created sham corporate entities and opened bank accounts in the name of those entities. Under false pretenses, both individual and corporate victims were then instructed to wire funds into the accounts Abbas controlled. Some victims were in the process of buying homes and believed the funds were for that purpose, including two Massachusetts victims who were tricked into wiring money to an individual they believed was their real estate broker. Others, including a third Massachusetts victim, believed they were transferring funds on behalf of or for the benefit of their romantic partners. Corporate victims were targeted as part of the scheme as well and were deceived into remitting invoice payments to the accounts Abbas controlled.
Shortly after receiving the victim funds, Abbas transferred the funds to overseas accounts, domestic personal accounts or spent the funds on personal expenses.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of unlawful monetary transaction 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and David Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
New York Man Indicted for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl.
Chanty Reynoso Vasquez, 27, of Bronx, N.Y., was indicted on possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to the indictment, on March 30, 2022, in Springfield, Reynoso Vasquez possessed 400 grams or more fentanyl intended for distribution.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to six years of supervised release and a fine of $5 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, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Indicted for Sending Threatening CommunicationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A man has been indicted in connection with sending threatening communications to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Drummond Neil Smithson, 30, was indicted on one count of use of interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure.
According to the indictment, on or about July 19, 2020, Smithson, an Army veteran, mailed a threatening communication from Ayer, Mass., to the Department of Veterans Affairs threatening to injure members of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization advocating for the end to gun violence. It is alleged that Smithson threatened, among other things, “If you take my pension there is going to be retaliation,” and, “You take my pension and the second I get out of prison I will go to a Moms Demand Action meeting […] Try me.”
The charge of use of interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 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 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 Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigations, Miami Field Office; and Federal Medical Center, Devens, Special Investigations Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office 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.
MS-13 Fugitive Arrested in TexasRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An MS-13 member who was charged in federal court in Boston in 2017 was arrested on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in Texas.
William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” was indicted on one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, on May 15, 2017.
As alleged court documents, MS-13 is a violent transnational criminal organization whose branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 rewards members who commit acts of violence with promotions within the gang and punishes members who break gang rules. Portillo was identified as a member of the Trece Loco Salvatrucha, or TLS MS-13 clique, which operated in and around Somerville, Mass. After an arrest warrant was issued for Portillo, agents determined that Portillo had been deported to El Salvador under a different name.
On May 9, 2022, federal agents encountered Portillo near Roma, Texas, and determined that he had previously been deported and was wanted on the outstanding arrest warrant for the RICO conspiracy charge. Portillo made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Texas and was ordered detained pending his return to U.S. District Court in Boston.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy; Revere Police Chief David Callahan; and Somerville Acting Police Chief Charles Femino made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Rollins’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides 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.
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 indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former eBay Executive Pleads Guilty to Role in Cyberstalking CampaignRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Director of Global Resiliency for eBay, Inc. pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with his role in a cyberstalking campaign targeting the editor and publisher of a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.
David Harville, 50, of Las Vegas, Nev., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and through facilities of interstate commerce, two counts of stalking through interstate travel and two counts of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2022.
In June 2020, Harville was arrested and charged along with James Baugh, eBay’s former Senior Director of Safety & Security, who pleaded guilty on April 25, 2022. Co-conspirators and former eBay employees Philip Cooke, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Veronica Zea and Stephanie Stockwell previously pleaded guilty. Cooke was sentenced in July 2021 to 18 months in prison. Gilbert, Popp, Zea and Stockwell are awaiting sentencing.
Between approximately Aug. 5, 2019 and Sept. 6, 2019, Harville and his co-conspirators at eBay agreed to engage in a harassment campaign targeting a husband and wife in Natick, Mass. for their roles in publishing a newsletter that reported on issues of interest to eBay sellers. Senior executives at eBay were frustrated with the newsletter’s tone and content, and with the tone and content of comments posted beneath the newsletter’s articles. The harassment campaign arose from communications between those executives and Baugh, who was eBay’s senior security employee.
Harville and his co-conspirators executed a three-part harassment campaign intended to intimidate the victims and to change the content of the newsletter’s reporting. The campaign included sending anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home; sending private Twitter messages and public tweets criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to visit the victims in Natick; and traveling to Natick to surveil the victims and install a GPS tracking device on their car.
The deliveries ordered to the victims’ home included a book on surviving the death of a spouse, a bloody pig mask, a fetal pig, a funeral wreath and live insects. The harassment also featured Craigslist posts inviting the public for sexual encounters at the victims’ home.
The threatening Twitter messages were written as if they had been sent by eBay sellers who were unhappy with the victims’ coverage in the newsletter. Some of these messages posted the victims’ address and threatened to visit them at their home.
On Aug. 15, 2019, Harville and co-conspirators traveled from California to Natick to surveil the victims and to install a GPS tracking device on the victims’ car. The victims spotted the surveillance team and contacted local police. Harville also purchased tools intending to break into the victims’ garage and lied to an eBay investigator who was responding to the Natick Police’s request for assistance. After learning of the police’s investigation, Harville turned in his company-issued cell phone from which evidence related to the cyberstalking campaign had been deleted.
The charges of conspiracy to commit stalking and stalking each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and 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 Natick Chief of Police James G. Hicks made the announcement. eBay provided valuable assistance and cooperation with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Accountant for College Admissions Scheme SentencedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former accountant for the Edge College & Career Network (also known as The Key) and the Key Worldwide Foundation was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in the college admissions case.
Steven Masera, 72, of Folsom, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to time served, three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. In June 2019, Masera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Beginning in or about 2008, Masera began working as an accountant for William “Rick” Singer. From that time until his resignation in or about December 2017, Masera was responsible for managing payments to and from Singer’s for-profit college counseling business, The Key, and sham charitable foundation, The Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF). This included parent payments made in connection with both the athletic recruitment “side-door” and test-cheating aspects of Singer’s scheme, as well as the associated back-end payments to university insiders and other facilitators. At Singer’s direction, Masera invoiced parents for Singer’s illegitimate services, made bribe payments to university coaches and athletic department administrators (and university athletic funds under their control) and to SAT/ACT administrators and proctors, and created fraudulent donation receipt letters and fake invoices to allow parents to write their payments off as purported donations or business expenses.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
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’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Kristen A. Kearney, Ian J. Stearns and Leslie Wright of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Barry Jumpp, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2022. Jumpp was indicted in February 2021.
On Jan. 7, 2021, Jumpp was pulled over while driving a rental car in Worcester. In the pocket of Jumpp’s jacket, law enforcement found a 9 mm firearm loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. The firearm had been stolen from a Worcester resident in 2016. Jumpp is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
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. 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; 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; and Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting 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.
Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to coercion and enticement of a minor.
Jabarie Phillips, a/k/a Jabarie Lindsey, 44, of Seattle, Wash., pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor before U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 8, 2022. Phillips was charged in May 2019.
In April 2019, Phillips and a 14-year-old middle-school girl from Massachusetts began communicating via Facebook. Phillips, knowing the girl’s age, repeatedly asked her to take sexually explicit videos and photos of herself for him to view. During their communications, the minor told Phillips that she had issues with her family, to which Phillips responded, “If you run away let me know we can take this show on the road I need a partner in crime.” After communicating online with the girl, Phillips flew from Washington to Boston. On April 29, 2019, the girl met Phillips at Logan Airport, and then they traveled together to South Station to catch a bus to Seattle, Wash.
On May 3, 2019, authorities intercepted the bus in Minneapolis, Minn. where they arrested Phillips and recovered the girl. Phillips was arrested on two warrants – one out of Washington for violating probation following his release from prison for a 2008 conviction for manslaughter and one out of Massachusetts for kidnapping.
The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn; and police departments in Southeastern Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus 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.
Stoneham Woman Sentenced for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoneham woman was sentenced today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance using stolen identities.
Lilly Nguyen, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years in prison and 18 months of supervised release. Nguyen was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $526,423. On Aug. 3, 2021, Nguyen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, or gig economy workers).
Nguyen participated in a scheme with co-conspirator Daniel Maleus to submit fraudulent PUA claims using the stolen personally identifiable information of others. The claims submitted by Nguyen and Maleus resulted in $526,423 in payments between April 2020 and April 2021.
In November 2021, Maleus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced on April 12, 2022, by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel, to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. Maleus was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $526,423.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham 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.
Salem Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for COVID-19 and Tax Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salem man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with orchestrating two fraud schemes involving COVID-19 relief funds and tax returns submitted using stolen identities.
Roosevelt Fernandez, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. Fernandez was also ordered to pay $198,402 in restitution and forfeiture. On Jan. 6, 2022, Fernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
In as early as 2018, Fernandez, a tax preparer, operated a Salem-based tax preparation business called Soluciones Multi Service. Though his business, Fernandez used personal identifying information of certain taxpayers to prepare and file fraudulent federal and state tax returns on their behalf without their knowledge. A number of these returns included fraudulent W-2 Forms purportedly issued by employers for whom the named taxpayer did not in fact work. Various fraudulent refunds were deposited into an account in the name of Soluciones Multi Service. In addition, a May 2020 fraudulent Economic Income Payment – stimulus authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) – was deposited into this same account. Fernandez was depicted on ATM surveillance footage depositing another fraudulent tax refund check into this account. Overall, the investigation uncovered approximately 40 fraudulent tax returns associated with Fernandez, totaling over $620,000 in requested refunds.
In addition, Fernandez applied for 10 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), either in his own name or in the names of entities he controlled. EIDL funds were available to eligible individuals and businesses pursuant to the CARES Act. In June 2020, Fernandez applied for an EIDL under Soluciones Multi Service and submitted a false tax filing in support of the application. As a result, the SBA deposited $124,900 into a bank account controlled by Fernandez from which he withdrew more than $80,000 in cash over the next two weeks. In August 2020, Fernandez applied for an EIDL in the name of another business using fraudulent tax filing information. As a result, the SBA deposited $149,900 into the same bank account.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division for the Boston Field Office, made the announcement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Criminal Investigations Bureau provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division, 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.
Lowell Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Cocaine Conspiracy with Colombian Criminal OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy connected to a Colombian-based criminal enterprise.
Juan Pablo Ariasgil, 41, of Lowell, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to four years in prison and four years of supervised release. In April 2021, Ariasgil pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Ariasgil 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 charged with collecting a $750,000 drug debt from two cocaine traffickers in Massachusetts. It is further alleged that Yepes and Zapata conspired with Ariasgil 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.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of 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. 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 provided critical assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Dolan and Lauren Graber 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.
Holyoke Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl.
Carlos Morales, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. On Feb. 17, 2022, Morales pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Morales distributed over 106,000 bags of fentanyl, for a total weight of over 1.7 kilograms. This is believed to be one of the largest amounts of fentanyl packaged for delivery ever seized in Western Massachusetts.
United States Attorney Rachel S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Charged with Pandemic Fraud, Identity Theft, Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to fraud, identity theft, firearm and drug offenses.
Jammy Alphonse, 28, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. Alphonse was previously arrested and charged in August 2021 with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon following a shooting in Cambridge, Mass., in July 2021. Alphonse has remained in custody since that date.
According to the charging documents, beginning in or around May 2020, Alphonse conspired to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits, which were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Specifically, Alphonse conspired to submit false PUA claims in other persons’ names and using other persons’ personally identifiable information. It is alleged that Alphonse and his co-conspirators created email accounts for the purpose of submitting fraudulent PUA claims from Alphonse’s Everett residence and other locations. The fraudulently obtained funds were then directed into accounts held in Alphonse’s name or in the name of a co-conspirator.
Additionally, in February 2021, Alphonse allegedly submitted an application to rent a property in East Boston using the name, Social Security number and date of birth of another person. As a result, Alphonse resided in that apartment from approximately February 2021 through Aug. 6, 2021, when he was arrested on a federal firearms offense. A search of the apartment recovered a loaded Glock model 43X, 9-millimeter firearm, 47 rounds of ammunition and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, among other things.
The charge of wire fraud conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition 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 possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, up to four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seekonk Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Seekonk man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston on charges of child pornography.
Sean J. Trahan, 45, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 126 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On Oct. 19, 2021, Trahan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of access with intent to view child pornography.
Trahan was convicted following two separate investigations into his child pornography activities. An undercover investigation revealed that Trahan used the dark web to access child pornography in February 2015. In October 2015, Trahan was arrested and charged after a search of his residence revealed images of child pornography on his personal computer. At the time of his arrest, Trahan stated that he had accessed sites containing child pornography.
Trahan was released on conditions, including cell phone monitoring. On Sept. 8, 2021, he was arrested for violating conditions of his release and has remained in custody since then.
In October 2021, Trahan was charged in a superseding Information after a further investigation connected Trahan with a username that posted child pornography in a Kik messenger group. Another search of Trahan’s residence in September 2021 revealed child pornography on Trahan’s tablet.
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 was provided by the Winnebago (Wis.) Sherriff’s Office and the Seekonk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James D. Herbert 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.
Lynn Man Sentenced on Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing and selling firearms.
Jufrandy Montano, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 13, 2022, Montano pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Montano was indicted on Sept. 28, 2021.
Between March 4 and March 19, 2020, Montano sold three firearms, including a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Montano does not possess a license to import, manufacture or deal firearms and is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. At the time of the offenses, Montano was on probation for a conviction out of Lynn District Court.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division 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.
Bronx Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Bronx, N.Y., man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Eric Encarnacion Medina, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 51 months in prison and two years of supervised release. In November 2021, Encarnacion Medina pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
In January 2021, Encarnacion Medina was identified as working with a drug trafficker based in the Dominican Republic who shipped multiple kilograms of fentanyl to a location in Pennsylvania. Encarnacion Medina would then transport the fentanyl from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. On Jan. 28, 2021, Encarnacion Medina sold one kilogram of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in Boston and discussed future drug sales before going back to New York. On Feb. 11, 2021, Encarnacion agreed to sell the cooperating witness 400 fentanyl pills and drive to Boston again from New York for the transaction. Encarnacion Medina also discussed future deals and the potential for transactions involving high quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine. Encarnacion Medina was arrested upon his arrival in Boston on Feb. 12, 2021.
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 Stephen W. Hassink of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Darwin Geovani Herrera Orellana, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to six months in prison and one year of supervised release. Herrera Orellana will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On Jan. 4, 2022, Herrera Orellana pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Herrera Orellana was initially encountered in Arizona in 2009, determined to be illegally present in the United States and subsequently deported. Sometime after his removal, Herrera Orellana illegally reentered the United States and was arrested in Texas in 2012. Herrera Orellana was again placed into removal proceedings and deported.
In December 2020, Herrera Orellana was arrested in Waltham and charged with, among other things, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. In June 2021, he was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and sentenced to 14 months in prison. In July 2021, while serving this sentence in the Middlesex County House of Correction, agents determined that Herrera Orellana was illegally present in the United States after the fingerprints from his Waltham arrest and noncitizen records were determined to be a positive match. Upon completion of his state prison sentence, Herrera Orellana was subsequently transferred into federal custody.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Chicopee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicopee man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to possessing more than 100 images of child pornography.
Herve Plasse, 67, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2022. Plasse was indicted in September 2019.
In July 2015, a search of Plasse’s residence revealed over 100 images of child pornography on his computer, including images of prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Plasse admitted that he had accessed a website on an encrypted network for the purpose of viewing child pornography.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Berkley Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Patients' FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Berkley nurse pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to tampering with fentanyl intended for patients at a hospital’s post-surgery recovery unit and an outpatient vascular surgery center.
Hugo Vieira, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Aug. 24, 2022. Vieira was charged on March 3, 2022.
From December 2018 to January 2019, while working at a Massachusetts hospital and an outpatient vascular surgery center, Vieira removed fentanyl from vials meant for patients who were undergoing surgery or recovering from surgery. To conceal his conduct, Vieira replaced the diverted fentanyl with saline. Sixty tampered vials were identified at the vascular surgery center and two vials at the hospital post-surgery recovery unit. Those vials contained only 1.3–7% of the declared concentration of fentanyl citrate.
The charge of tampering with a consumer product 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; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Margret R. Cooke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan and David J. Derusha of Rollins’ Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Former Marblehead Postal Worker Indicted for Stealing Government MoneyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with two schemes to steal USPS funds.
Zeon Johnson, 27, of Saugus, was indicted on one count of theft of government money. Johnson will appear in federal court in Boston on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.
According to the indictment, beginning in approximately August 2018, Johnson worked as a Sales and Service Distribution Associate for USPS at the Marblehead Post Office. As part of his job, Johnson sold stamps and processed money order transactions for USPS customers. It is alleged that from approximately July 2019 through June 18, 2020, Johnson engaged in two schemes to convert USPS funds for personal use.
It is alleged that Johnson intentionally voided cash transaction sales of USPS stamps to customers, resulting in no records being made of cash payments for stamps, and then stole the cash for his own personal use. It is further alleged that Johnson stole USPS funds through fraudulent money orders, specifically by issuing himself blank money orders, money order refunds as well as money orders made payable to himself. In total, it is alleged that Johnson stole over $18,000 in USPS funds.
The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 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 and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lynn Man Indicted for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with stealing money from the mail.
Juan Murillo, 32, was indicted on one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Murillo was released on conditions following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal.
According to the indictment, on or about Sept. 23, 2021, Murillo stole money from mail which came into his possession.
The charge of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 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 and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Harvard University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman and Architecture Firm Owner Convicted of BriberyRead the Press Release
UPDATE: On Sept. 27, 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed David DeQuattro’s conviction for federal-program bribery. The case was remanded for further proceedings. On Oct. 21, 2024, the Court ordered the defendant acquitted.
UPDATE: On Sept. 27, 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Cedric Cromwell’s convictions on the federal program bribery counts and reinstated his extortion convictions.
BOSTON – The former Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the owner of an architecture-and-design firm in Providence, R.I. were convicted today by a federal jury in connection with bribery involving the Tribe’s plans to build a resort and casino in Taunton.
Cedric Cromwell, 55, of Attleboro, was convicted following a 10-day jury trial of two counts of accepting bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government, three counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion. Cromwell faces four remaining charges of filing a false tax return, which will be addressed at a later date. David DeQuattro, 54, of Warwick, R.I., was convicted of one count of paying a bribe to an agent of an Indian tribal government. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduling sentencing for Sept. 9, 2022.
The jury acquitted both defendants of one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. DeQuattro was also found not guilty on one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and Cromwell was found not guilty on one count of extortion.
Cromwell was the Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and President of the Tribe’s Gaming Authority. DeQuattro’s architecture-and-design company signed a contract to serve as the Gaming Authority’s owner’s representative for the First Light Resort and Casino, which the Tribe was building in Taunton. Cromwell was found guilty of accepting three bribes from DeQuattro in exchange for an agreement to protect DeQuattro’s firm’s contract: $10,000 in November 2015, a Bowflex Revolution home gym in August 2016 and a weekend stay at an upscale Boston hotel in May 2017. DeQuattro was found guilty of bribing Cromwell with regard to the Bowflex and the hotel stay. The jury also found Cromwell guilty of extortion under color of official right in connection with the three above items and conspiracy to commit extortion.
“No one is above the law. That rings true today, loudly and clearly,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Cromwell and Mr. DeQuattro entered into a business arrangement that was fueled by bribery for their own selfish and unlawful gain. In doing so, Mr. Cromwell exploited his position and the trust placed in him by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Today’s guilty verdict makes clear that the jury saw this case for what it is – a textbook example of public corruption.”
“Today’s verdict proves that Cedric Cromwell accepted $10,000 and other valuable items in bribes, committed extortion, and abused his elected position as Chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to line his own pockets at the expense of Tribe members whose trust he grossly betrayed,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The quid pro quo scheme that he orchestrated with David DeQuattro was an affront to the Tribe that elected him to serve their best interests. This is exactly why the FBI will not hesitate to investigate elected officials who use their positions to commit illegal acts. We are committed to protecting the integrity of government at all levels from the plunder of public corruption.”
In November 2015, Cromwell received a $10,000 personal check from DeQuattro and deposited it into a bank account for a company he had formed called One Nation Development LLC. Cromwell’s website described One Nation Development as helping Native American tribes with economic development. It stated, “One Nation works with Federal and State agencies on behalf of Native American communities. We have relationships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and provide our Native community clients with direct and active engagement with these various agencies.” The website touted experience in the areas of strategic planning, gaming, hospitality and legal services. It stated, “One Nation Development is comprised of a team of committed professionals that bring together several decades of collective wisdom and experience to the work done on behalf of client communities. Each professional is individually committed to the One Nation approach: a multi-generational approach to advance community-building solutions.” In fact, One Nation Development had no employees and Cromwell spent DeQuattro’s check on personal expenses.
In August 2016, Cromwell asked DeQuattro for a piece of exercise equipment. DeQuattro and his business partner paid $1,700 to buy a used Bowflex on Craigslist, and had it delivered to Cromwell’s home. Cromwell told DeQuattro he was disappointed it was used.
In May 2017, Cromwell texted DeQuattro: “Hello Dave. I hope all is well. My Birthday is coming up this Friday May 19th and I wanted to spend Friday through Monday at a very nice hotel in Boston for my Birthday weekend. Is it possible that you can get me a nice hotel room at the Four Seasons or a suite at the Seaport Hotel? I am going to have a special guest with me. Please let me know and Thank You.” DeQuattro forwarded the text to his business partner, writing, “U can’t think of this stuff…..what is next?” DeQuattro and his business partner paid over $1,800 for Cromwell to stay in an Executive Suite King – Harbor View at the Seaport Boston Hotel for three nights.
The charge of paying a bribe to an agent of an Indian tribal government, or being an agent of an Indian tribal government who accepts a bribe, provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of extortion under color of official right and conspiring to commit extortion each provide 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI Boston SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by Attleboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Jared C. Dolan of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
With respect to the tax charges, the details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Cromwell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California Man Accused of Threatening Merriam-Webster with Anti-LGBTQ Violence IndictedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with making threats to commit anti-LGBTQ violence against Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. and others.
Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, Calif., was indicted on one count of interstate communication of threatening communications to commit violence. The grand jury also charged Hanson with intentionally selecting Merriam-Webster, Inc., its property and its employees as the object of the threatening communications pertaining to one’s actual or perceived gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Hanson will appear in federal court in Springfield on May 13, 2022. On April 20, 2022, Hanson was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.
“We believe Mr. Hanson, motivated by hate and veiled by the assumed anonymity of the internet, made numerous threats of violence to instill fear in our communities,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Hateful and bigoted activity, like the conduct alleged here, is destructive on so many levels and will not be tolerated. Every individual has a right to feel safe in their community. My office will continue its relentless pursuit of those who seek to threaten, intimidate and divide us and hold them accountable.”
“Jeremy Hanson is accused of repeatedly making violent threats, motivated by hate, to intimidate others – even going as far as causing Merriam-Webster to shut down its offices for five days out of fear for their employees’ safety,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Threatening violent action strikes at the heart of our fundamental right as Americans to live and work without fear, and this case underscores the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that everyone’s civil rights are protected, and those who try to infringe on them are brought to justice.”
According to the charging documents, between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8, 2021, Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. received various threatening messages and comments demonstrating bias against specific gender identities submitted through its website’s “Contact Us” page and in the comments section on its webpages that corresponded to the word entries for “Girl” and “Woman.” Authorities later identified the user as Hanson.
Specifically, it is alleged that on Oct. 2, 2021, Hanson used the handle “@anonYmous” to post the following comment on the dictionary’s website definition of “female”: “It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.”
Hanson also allegedly sent the following threatening message via the website’s “Contact Us” page: “You [sic] headquarters should be shot up and bombed. It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science tranny [sic] agenda and altered the definition of ‘female’ as part of the Left’s efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality. You evil Marxists should all be killed. It would be poetic justice to have someone storm your offices and shoot up the place, leaving none of you commies alive.”
It is further alleged that on Oct. 8, 2021, Hanson posted another threatening comment on the dictionary’s website and a threatening message via the “Contact Us” page that read: “I am going to shoot up and bomb your offices for lying and creating fake definitions in order to pander to the tranny mafia. Boys aren’t girls, and girls aren’t boys. The only good Marxist is a dead Marxist. I will assassinate your top editor. You sickening, vile tranny freaks.” As a result of the threats, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield and New York City for approximately five business days.
The criminal complaint identified numerous related threats, including to the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Land O’ Lakes, Hasbro, Inc., IGN Entertainment, the President of the University of North Texas, two professors at Loyola Marymount University and a New York City rabbi.
Individuals or entities who believe they may be victims of this alleged crime should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 888-221-6023.
The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office 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.
Malden Man Indicted on Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with illegally possessing a firearm.
Herby Paul, 27, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Paul was detained following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.
According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 24, 2021, in Canton, Paul possessed a semiautomatic handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition. Paul is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James 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 is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charlestown Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Identity Theft and Fraud Related to Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Charlestown man living under a false identity was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on charges arising from his use of the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen.
An individual referred to as “John Doe” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 22, 2021, Doe pleaded guilty to one count of false statements on a United States passport application, one count of false representation of a Social Security number, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
On or about March 31, 2020, Doe used the name and personally identifiable information (PII) of a Puerto Rican resident to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (MA DUA). On April 1, 2020, MA DUA approved the claim and began issuing benefits to Doe via a prepaid debit card, which he used for cash withdrawals at ATM machines and for the purchase of goods and services. As a result, from April through September 2020, Doe fraudulently received over $15,000 in UI benefits under the stolen identity.
In 2017, Doe used the victim’s Social Security number to apply for a duplicate driver’s license with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and, in 2010, used the victim’s name and PII to apply for a United States passport. Further investigation revealed that Doe had been using the victim’s name and personal identifiers since at least 2000 and, since 1992, he had provided at least four other names when he was arrested by police and to apply for and receive driver’s licenses.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Benjamin Saltzman and James Herbert of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service together with Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
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.
Saugus Woman Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud Elderly Uncle of over $490,000Read the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud her elderly uncle of his life’s savings.
Jayne Carbone, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Carbone was also ordered to pay $493,279 in restitution and forfeiture. On Oct. 12, 2021, Carbone was convicted by a federal jury of four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
Carbone was the caretaker for her uncle for over a decade from 2007 to 2018. Carbone systematically defrauded her uncle of $493,279, by using her uncle’s name and Social Security number to withdraw the funds from his bank accounts. To conceal the scheme, Carbone intercepted her uncle’s mail, removed his bank statements and then delivered him fake statements reflecting inflated balances. Once the scheme was uncovered, Carbone refused to return the funds and made various threats against her uncle and other family members.
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 today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham, James R. Drabick and Leslie Wright of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Providence Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Providence man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and heroin.
Darwin J. Gonzalez Reyes a/k/a “España,” 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On Sept. 29, 2021, Gonzalez Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin, one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and heroin.
In June 2019, Gonzalez Reyes coordinated the delivery of 200 grams of fentanyl to an individual and, in August 2019, coordinated the delivery of another 300 grams of fentanyl and 40 grams of heroin to the same individual. Gonzalez Reyes directed another individual to make both deliveries on his behalf.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Providence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Firearm and Cocaine OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm and selling cocaine.
Khyron Thompson, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 13, 2021, Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
On Feb. 13, 2020, Thompson distributed cocaine and possessed a loaded .32 caliber Hi-Point pistol firearm with an obliterated serial number and six rounds of ammunition. Thompson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple previous state convictions including 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; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Gotlob and Kenneth G. Shine of Rollins’ Major Crimes 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.
Connecticut Man Sentenced for Federal Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norwich, Conn. man was sentenced today for illegal possession of ammunition.
Paul Marino, 57, formerly of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 21, 2021, Marino pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition.
On various dates in September 2019, Marino attempted to purchase a handgun and silencer from an undercover agent. During a search of Marino’s home in New Bedford on Sept. 26, 2019, agents seized three 9mm handgun magazines and 277 rounds of 9mm ammunition from a closet in Marino’s bedroom. The ammunition was in a FedEx box addressed to “Vincent Amoroso” in Rhode Island, bearing a return address in Tennessee. Counterfeit Virginia identification documents were also seized in the aliases of Vincent Amoroso and Christian Bennington, each of which bore Marino’s photograph, and an American Express card in the name of Christian Bennington.
Due to a prior federal conviction for wire fraud, Marino is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Additionally, after pleading guilty, Marino submitted several letters to the court that were purported to be from others in support of a lesser sentence for the defendant but were in fact altered and fraudulent – including letters with forged signatures and a letter purported to be from an individual who was deceased at the time.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The New Bedford Police Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
California Man Charged in 16-Year Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to embezzling over $1.2 million from his employer over a 16-year period.
Darrell Pike, 56, of Hesperia, Calif., was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud. Pike will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date for a plea hearing that has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging document, Pike was the general manager of an Ontario, Calif. subsidiary of a supply and service company based in Wilmington, Mass. From in or about 2005 to 2021, Pike allegedly prepared and submitted fraudulent invoices to his employer on behalf of a fake temporary staffing company, Consumer Information Systems (CIS), for staffing services CIS purportedly provided at his employer’s Ontario location. It is further alleged that Pike added approving initials of company personnel to the invoices without their knowledge or consent. Through the fraudulent invoices, Pike allegedly caused the company to pay approximately $1,271,206 to CIS, which he deposited into a bank account he controlled.
The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and 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 Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities & Financial Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brockton Man Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing two trafficked handguns.
Tyrell Hampton, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to six months in prison and two years of supervised release. In February 2020, Hampton pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.
In June 2019, investigators learned that Hampton was offering guns for sale on social media. An undercover officer posing as an interested buyer contacted Hampton on Facebook and arranged to buy two handguns. When negotiating the transaction, Hampton told the undercover officer that they should move fast because “they [the firearms offered for sale] go quick but I can always get more.” On June 27, 2019, Hampton sold a Taurus G2c 9mm Luger caliber pistol and a Glock 9mm Luger caliber pistol and 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition to the undercover officer for $2,200. Following Hampton’s arrest, investigators traced the two handguns to a trafficker who was sourcing cheap guns in Georgia and selling them in Massachusetts. The investigation revealed that Hampton met with the gun trafficker on approximately eight occasions and purchased approximately 14 firearms. Due to multiple previous felony offenses, including drug convictions and a prior firearms conviction, Hampton is prohibited from possessing guns and ammunition.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New England Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division, and Fred M. Wyshak III of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
Adriano Cortez, a/k/a, “A,” 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 121 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Oct. 29, 2021, Cortez was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.
In March 2015, Cortez was observed conducting a street-level drug deal in Weymouth. Law enforcement subsequently attempted to pull over Cortez’s vehicle, but he refused to stop his and instead, fled on foot, leaving the car at an intersection while still in the drive position, causing it to crash. Cortez was ultimately apprehended at which time he was found carrying numerous drugs including over 47 grams of cocaine, approximately 70 grams of heroin and approximately 73 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture. Cortez was arrested on state charges and placed on court-ordered location monitoring and later home detention in connection with this conduct.
Between September and November 2017, while still on court-ordered location monitoring and home detention, Cortez orchestrated approximately 10 drug deals with undercover officers. During this conspiracy, Cortez managed all aspects of the drug operation from his Dorchester residence. He informed undercover officers of the meeting location and payment amount for each drug sale and used couriers to deliver cocaine or fentanyl, or both, to the undercover officers. The couriers returned the cash proceeds to Cortez at his home after the deals.
On or about Nov. 21, 2017, Cortez cut off his court-ordered GPS monitor and fled Massachusetts. He was ultimately apprehended by law enforcement in Colorado.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard Fuller made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Hoefle and John T. Mulcahy of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Robbery of North End MarketRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for the armed robbery of a grocery store in Boston’s North End.
Dante Mirabella, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 92 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Nov. 2, 2021, Mirabella pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with commerce by robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Mirabella is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
Mirabella robbed Bob’s Grocery Store on May 30, 2019, while brandishing a Hi-Point .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Prior to the robbery of the market, Mirabella committed two armed robberies of a parking lot attendant and a restaurant employee.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Acknowledges Recordkeeping Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals, Inc., an affiliate of the Waltham-based Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (Thermo Fisher), has agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act, by improperly purchasing and distributing chemicals regulated by the Act. Thermo Fisher self-disclosed these violations to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The Controlled Substances Act regulates the manufacturing, purchasing and distribution of certain chemicals that can be used to manufacture scheduled controlled substances. The Act allows only DEA registrants to engage in certain activities relative to listed chemicals and requires DEA registrants to, among other things, inform the DEA of sales of listed chemicals to foreign entities. These provisions are designed to ensure that only appropriate entities handle listed chemicals that can be used to manufacture scheduled controlled substances.
Under the settlement agreement, Thermo Fisher acknowledges that it failed to file export declarations when distributing listed chemicals to foreign customers; distributed listed chemicals to a Thermo Fisher location that did not have appropriate DEA registrations; and purchased listed chemicals from suppliers that did not have appropriate DEA registrations.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Rollins’ Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.
Stoneham Police Officer and Electrical Contractor Indicted in $36 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Mass Save FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoneham Police Officer and his brother, an owner of an electrical contracting company, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly paying a Mass Save vendor company employee tens of thousands of dollars in weekly 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 – in exchange for the procurement of over $36 million in Mass Save contracts with the vendor company.
Joseph Ponzo, 48, of Stoneham, and Christopher Ponzo, 47, of North Reading, were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy and 12 counts of wire fraud. The defendants were arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at noon today.
According to the indictment, Joseph Ponzo, a full-time Stoneham Police Officer, and his brother, Christopher Ponzo, an owner of an electrical contracting company, conspired to bribe an associate employed by a Mass Save lead vendor company (Company A) in exchange for the associate’s assistance in procuring Mass Save contracts that netted the Ponzos millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts.
Specifically, from 2013 to 2017, the Ponzos allegedly paid the associate tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes, kickbacks and other in-kind benefits. According to the indictment, from 2013 to 2017, Christopher Ponzo paid the associate $1,000 in cash on a weekly basis. At times, Christopher Ponzo allegedly paid the associate $5,000 to $10,000 in cash, telling the associate that the extra money was from Joseph Ponzo for his part in the bribery scheme.
In return for these payments, it is alleged that the associate, among other things: helped the Ponzos create companies; assisted in gaining approval for the companies to serve as Mass Save contractors for Company A; assisted in obtaining Mass Save projects for the Ponzo’s companies; and helped the Ponzo’s receive payments from Company A for completed projects. As a result of the scheme, Christopher Ponzo and Joseph Ponzo allegedly collected approximately $29 million and $7 million in fraudulently obtained Mass Save funds, respectively.
In one such instance, according to the indictment, the associate helped Joseph Ponzo set up a company, Air Tight, to do insulation work and get approved as a Company A contractor under the Mass Save program. Joseph Ponzo put his spouse’s name on Air Tight incorporation documents and contracting licenses in order to conceal his involvement in his corrupt side business. It is alleged Joseph Ponzo collected millions of funds under the Mass Save program through this contract, despite having no professional experience in residential insulation work.
“Virtually every Massachusetts resident who uses energy is surcharged and pays for Mass Save. These payments are mandatory and amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. Defrauding the Mass Save program for millions of dollars means we are all left paying the bill,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “As we allege, these defendants, motivated by greed, orchestrated a corrupt scheme to line their pockets with money fraudulently obtained from honest paying energy consumers. These bad actors allegedly took advantage of funds set aside for energy-efficiency projects for their own personal financial gain and, moreover, did so through illegal, preferential treatment. It is corruption at its core and will not be tolerated.”
“Every year, Massachusetts homeowners shell out hundreds of millions of dollars to fund energy conservation projects for consumers—and today we arrested Joseph and Christopher Ponzo for allegedly cheating them by paying a steady stream of bribes and kickbacks to an insider who steered contracts their way,” said Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston. “These brothers allegedly raked in millions of dollars and are now accused of going to great lengths to conceal their bold and brazen scheme. We have said this before, and it merits repeating. If you are a victim of, or witness to a public corruption scheme, it’s never too late to do the right thing. The FBI is here, we are doing our job, and we want to hear from you.”
“Mass Save is all about providing consumers, who qualify in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with low or no-cost energy-efficiency projects for their homes,” said Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. “The fact that a member of law enforcement who pledged an oath to protect the community allegedly abused this program as a get-rich scheme is particularly reprehensible. Today’s indictment begins the path to ensuring integrity in this program and should serve as a clear warning to those who are attempting to defraud it.”
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 by funding energy conservation projects for consumers. Under the Mass Save program, utility companies select lead vendors to approve and select contractors to perform energy improvement work for residential customers. This contracting work – performed at no-cost or reduced cost to the customer – is then paid for by the lead vendors with Mass Save funds.
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. 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, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and IRS SAC Simpson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Wan and Dustin Chao of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Mail TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service employee pleaded guilty today in Worcester to stealing packages in Gardner.
Roberta Feliz, 33, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 19, 2022. Feliz was charged by an Information on Feb. 4, 2022.
Feliz was employed as Lead Sales and Services Associate with the Gardner Post Office. Between February and July 2020, Feliz stole over $90,000 in cash deposits that were mailed from a Tractor Supply Company to its bank. Feliz, who was scheduled to work on each day that a cash package was mailed, was observed on surveillance camera removing envelopes from the postal service floor into the employee locker area or the women’s restroom. In August 2020, Feliz was approached by law enforcement after she took a control package containing cash from the postal floor into an office, removed money from the envelope and hid it in an unused desk. Feliz admitted to stealing packages from the Tractor Supply Company and stated that she used the money to pay off debt and sent some to family overseas.
The charge of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Former Campus Police Dispatcher Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Glock FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Campus Police Dispatcher for Cape Cod Community College Police pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with making false statements in order to purchase two firearms which can only be purchased by law enforcement officers.
Justin F. Watson, 36, of Mashpee, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms and one count of making false statements in a record. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2022. Watson was indicted along with girlfriend and co-defendant Angel Ecker in July 2019. Ecker has pleaded not guilty.
From March 2018 to February 2019, Watson was an Institutional Security Officer/Campus Police Dispatcher with the Cape Cod Community College Police. As such, Watson neither carried a weapon nor had the power to make arrests on campus.
Watson ordered a Glock pistol to be delivered to a firearms dealer on Cape Cod. On Aug. 26, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer to pick up the Glock, Model 22, GEN4, .40 caliber pistol. Before receiving the firearm, Watson provided his Cape Cod Community College identification card, which listed him as “Campus Police” and “Faculty/Staff,” to the manager and completed a Public Safety Purchase Form identifying himself as an Institutional Security Officer.
Watson called another firearms dealer and spoke with the store’s operator, who informed him that only law enforcement officers with the power to conduct arrests could purchase Glock Model 26 firearms. Watson said he was a police officer with authority to make arrests. On Nov. 17, 2018, Watson went to the firearms dealer with Ecker and spoke with a sales manager. Ecker allegedly told the sales manager that she was Watson’s boss and that Watson had authority to make arrests. Watson identified himself as a police officer to the sales manager and then purchased a Glock, Model 26, GEN4, 9mm pistol for $425. Watson completed a required ATF Form and affirmed that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. The form warned that, “If you are not the actual buyer, the dealer cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.”
During the sale, Watson provided his Cape Cod Community College identification card and completed a certification letter indicating that he was purchasing the firearm for “on or off duty use” and not “for resale.” Watson also completed another certification form and listed himself as “Campus Police.”
It is further alleged that Watson then transferred the Glock Model 26 to Ecker on Dec. 19, 2018.
During an interview with law enforcement, Watson acknowledged that he used his Cape Cod Community College identification card when he purchased both Glock firearms. He stated he used that ID because he did not think he could purchase the firearms without it. He also acknowledged that if the firearms dealers had understood that he was not a police officer with arrest powers, they would not have sold him the firearms. Watson further stated that he knew that Ecker, a civilian, could not purchase a Glock Model 26 herself and that he purchased the firearm for her.
Straw purchases interfere with firearm regulation and recordkeeping, and federal law makes it a crime to knowingly make false statements to a firearms dealer in connection with the lawfulness of the sale.
The charge of making false statements during the purchase of firearms 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 making false statements in a record 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 and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The Cape Cod Community College Campus Police, Barnstable Police Department and Mashpee Police Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption Unit and Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Charged with Sex Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man has been charged with allegedly trafficking two women to engage in commercial sex acts and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Angelo Dominic Lombardo, 27, was charged by criminal complaint with two counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud and coercion and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Lombardo is currently in state custody in Massachusetts and will appear in federal court in Worcester before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy on May 4, 2022.
According to the charging document, Lombardo trafficked two victims to engage in commercial sex acts by coercing the victims psychologically, making false promises of a better life, and making explicit threats to one of the victims with a firearm.
It is alleged that Lombardo first met the victims in Oregon. Lombardo posted advertisements of each victim on various websites and arranged “dates” for the victims to have sex in exchange for money. Lombardo allegedly set the pricing for the commercial sex acts they engaged in, for which he collected most, if not all, of the profit.
In July 2021, Lombardo allegedly flew with the two victims from Portland, Ore., to Boston and allegedly arranged for the victims to engage in commercial sex at meeting spots he set up throughout the city and continued to collect most, if not all, of the profit.
According to the charging document, local law enforcement in Massachusetts met with the two victims. In the first victim’s interview with law enforcement, she alleged that Lombardo told her that she would have a better life and financial stability if she worked for him and expressed fear that Lombardo would retaliate if he knew she was speaking to the police. In a separate interview, the second victim advised law enforcement that she felt like a hostage and alleged that Lombardo would tell her she was better off dead. It is further alleged that prior to travelling from Oregon to Massachusetts, Lombardo threatened the second victim with a firearm because she did not return home from an arranged meeting with enough money. Lombardo allegedly put a gun to the victim’s head and made the victim go back out to make the full payment.
On July 12, 2021, following a traffic stop in Boston, Lombardo was arrested on state trafficking charges. At the time of his arrest, Lombardo had approximately $3,310 in his possession. A subsequent search of a hotel room in Revere associated with Lombardo allegedly resulted in the recovery of a firearm with a laser attached matching the descriptions provided by both victims, and a loaded large capacity magazine with 20 live rounds of ammunition. Due to prior felony convictions for possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver or sell and possession of over 20 grams of marijuana, Lombardo is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this individual or alleged crime should 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.
The charge of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Revere Police Chief David Callahan; and Arlington Police Chief Juliann Flaherty made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Civil Rights Enforcement Team 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.
Texas Man and Arkansas Woman Arrested for Running Illegal Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Texas man and an Arkansas woman were arrested today in connection with allegedly operating a money transmitting business that laundered the proceeds of online investment fraud schemes.
Charles Ochi, 27, of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Danielle Liggins, 32, of Little Rock, Ark., were charged with one count of conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business. Ochi and Liggins were arrested this morning in the Northern District of Texas and the Western District of Arkansas, respectively, and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, Ochi met Liggins in Texas through a dating website and convinced Liggins to help him run a cryptocurrency company, even though Liggins did not know anything about cryptocurrency. It is alleged that Ochi and Liggins used two sham companies to transmit proceeds of Ponzi-style investment fraud schemes based in Nigeria. Specifically, the schemes purported to offer trading and Bitcoin investing services when, in fact, investor funds were stolen and later victims’ investments were used to pay purported returns to earlier investors.
To conduct the scheme, Liggins allegedly opened bank accounts at Ochi’s direction and used sham businesses, Global Prime and Liggins Starflexx Commercial, to receive money from investing victims, which she either withdrew or mailed to individuals designated by Ochi using cashier’s checks. For each transaction, Ochi paid Liggins about $1,000. Liggins and Ochi allegedly transmitted fraud proceeds from at least three online investment fraud schemes, with victims in Massachusetts, California, Florida and Canada. Ochi and Liggins did not hold money transmitting licenses in Texas, nor were they registered as money transmitters as required by federal law.
The charge of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds, 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; 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’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud 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.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl.
Juan Jimenez, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 15, 2022. Jimenez was charged in May 2021 and subsequently indicted in June 2021.
On multiple occasions in May 2021, Jimenez sold fentanyl to an undercover agent. Specifically, on May 12, 2021, Jimenez met the undercover officer at a parking lot in Sturbridge where he provided the agent with a package containing almost 50 grams of fentanyl. During the meeting, Jimenez expressed to the agent that he did not want to have “that much” on him and therefore intended to bring another individual to future meetings to handle transactions. On May 19, 2021, Jimenez drove himself and another individual to the same parking lot to meet with the undercover agent. There, Jimenez sent his accomplice to provide the agent with a package containing 50 grams of fentanyl.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, eight years of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson; and Sturbridge Police Chief Earl Dessert made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Employee Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former employee of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to misuse her position in an effort to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds through fraudulent claims, including claims using identities she stole.
Tiffany Pacheco, a/k/a Tiffany Tavery, 36, formerly of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $199,555 and forfeiture of $17,181. On Aug. 30, 2021, she pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Tiffany Pacheco was hired by the DUA in April 2020, shortly after her release from federal prison following a conviction for aggravated identity theft. While employed by DUA, Tiffany Pacheco abused her position and access to the PUA claim system to submit fraudulent claims using stolen identity information and to submit fraudulent PUA claim information on behalf of herself and her husband, Arthur Pacheco, who was incarcerated in Texas until Sept. 4, 2020, and thus ineligible for PUA funds. Tiffany Pacheco also induced a friend to continue her scheme after she was caught, charged and detained.
“Ms. Pacheco violated the public’s trust by egregiously abusing her position as a DUA employee to perpetrate a fraud scheme that stole personal information from innocent victims and stole money from hardworking taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “COVID-related assistance is intended to help hardworking American workers most affected by the pandemic. To take from these funds is to take from those experiencing legitimate hardship and genuine need. Adding insult to injury, Ms. Pacheco’s job at DUA presented an opportunity for new beginnings following her previous felony conviction. However, she ruined that opportunity by engaging in criminal behavior and refusing to change. Now she will be held responsible.”
“Pacheco abused her privileged access to the personal information of Massachusetts residents seeking unemployment assistance. She stole identities and manipulated records in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance computer system in a scheme to enrich herself and her husband without regard for the lives of those whose identities were impacted or for the funds that should have gone to those in legitimate need,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ New England Field Office.
“Tiffany Pacheco, while employed at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), engaged in a scheme to defraud the Department of Unemployment Assistance by applying for and receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance that she was not entitled to, using her own identity, her husband's identity, and at least two stolen identities she accessed through DUA records. Pacheco abused her position at DUA by taking action on claims, including her husband's claim, to secure just under $200,000 in stolen benefits. The Office of Inspector General remains committed to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program, particularly against those who attempt to use their positions of trust to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Tiffany Pacheco abused her employment-related access to DUA’s online PUA claim system to submit and make changes to claims for five individuals. For two of these claims, she used personal identifying information (PII) obtained by virtue of her job at DUA, while other claims used PII that she had obtained independently. Tiffany Pacheco also used her access to the PUA claim system to make unauthorized eligibility determinations to prompt the payment of benefits and to increase the amount of payments. The total loss associated with the fraudulent claims Tiffany Pacheco submitted using stolen PII is $159,922.
In June 2020, PUA claims submitted for Tiffany Pacheco and her husband reflected 2019 income of $0 and no dependents. In July 2020, via her employment with DUA, Tiffany Pacheco obtained access to the PUA computer system, and later changed claim information for herself and Arthur Pacheco in order to increase the amount of PUA funds they would receive. For example, Tiffany Pacheco increased the amount of 2019 income for her and Arthur Pacheco to more than $240,000 and increased the number of their dependents to seven. Tiffany Pacheco further used her access to the PUA system to verify the increased 2019 income on both claims without the required income verification documents.
In November 2020, Arthur Pacheco called DUA and falsely denied that he had been incarcerated during the timeframe leading up to September 2020, and that he was only incarcerated for approximately one month. Tiffany Pacheco also spoke with DUA and misrepresented the period of time in which Arthur Pacheco had been incarcerated.
Additionally, Tiffany Pacheco instructed Donna Wasson – a friend who resided in Texas – to use the DUA customer portal to access PUA claims for two of the fraudulent claims Tiffany Pacheco had submitted using stolen PII. Tiffany Pacheco further instructed Wasson to pose as a claimant and directed Wasson to a Google Drive account that contained the images of driver’s licenses and other documents under certain stolen identities. As a result, Wasson accessed unemployment claims under multiple stolen identities to fraudulently obtain benefits to which she was not entitled.
In September 2020, a search of the New Bedford apartment where Tiffany and Arthur Pacheco resided uncovered various tools of identity fraud, including an ID laminator, 100 blank ID cards, 68 hologram overlays, 150 card lamination sheets and 649 sheets of blank checks. Law enforcement also seized approximately $17,000 cash and a notebook that contained the personal identifying information of various individuals. In addition, a driver’s license recovered during the search matched the name of a victim Tiffany Pacheco used to submit another fraudulent PUA claim. On Sept. 23, 2020, DUA terminated Tiffany Pacheco’s employment.
On Nov. 18, 2021, Arthur Pacheco was sentenced by Judge Talwani to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. Arthur Pacheco was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $7,491. On March 8, 2022, Wasson was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Wasson was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $5,437.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, HSI SAC Millhollin and DOL OIG SAC Mellone made the announcement today. The New Bedford Police Department, Massachusetts Parole Board and Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of Rollins’ Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
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.
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Purchase Jeep with Counterfeit CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty on Monday, April 25, 2022, to attempting to purchase a $56,000 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with a counterfeit check.
David Hogan, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 27, 2022. Hogan was charged on March 4, 2022.
On March 31, 2021, Hogan visited a car dealership in Newton, where he agreed to purchase a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for $56,208. Hogan tendered a check from Charles Schwab bank in the amount of the purchase price, took possession of the Jeep and drove it off the lot. When the car dealership attempted to cash the check, the bank did not honor it because the bank account had been frozen. The dealership contacted Hogan and advised that the check was not valid.
On April 9, 2021, using the dealership’s electronic chat app, Hogan promised the dealership that he would wire the money to the bank. Hogan did not ultimately wire any funds and the vehicle was repossessed by the dealership. A subsequent investigation revealed that the Charles Schwab account was opened using a stolen identity. Hogan later admitted that the phony check he used when attempting to purchase the Jeep had been printed by Brandon Brouillard.
Brouillard was charged separately with two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with using two victims’ identities to open bank accounts and attempting to purchase an $83,000 Chevrolet Camaro. Brouillard has since pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 13, 2022.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Braintree, Natick, Newton, Norwood, Worcester and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Malden Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Conspiracy Involving Machine GunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy in which he possessed over 150 grams of cocaine base and other controlled substances and conspired to possess firearms.
Phillips Charles, a/k/a “PHON C,” 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 7, 2022. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 78 months in prison.
While Charles was on pretrial release from Malden District Court and Middlesex Superior Court, and later serving a probation sentence, he continued to conspire with others involved in the conspiracy to distribute large quantities of controlled substances. Members of the conspiracy also possessed firearms, including multiple firearms with “selector switches” that convert firearms into machine guns, to protect the drug trafficking operation and target rival gang members. Charles remained on pretrial release until he was arrested and charged in state court with possessing a firearm in December 2020.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of conspiring to possess, use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy provides for a maximum penalty of life in prison because a machine gun was involved in the offense, five 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.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy: Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police; and Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorneys’ Offices; Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Hancock (Maine) County Sheriffs’ Departments; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, Revere, Bolton (Maine), Bangor (Maine), Portland (Maine) and Westbrook (Maine) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Florida Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud Conspiracy SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud a Massachusetts-based company by falsifying invoices.
Brian Halpern, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to time served (one day in prison) and three years of supervised release with the first 18 months to be served in home confinement. Halpern was also ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $1,516,186 and restitution in the amount of $3,032,272. On Aug. 12, 2021, Halpern pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Between approximately 1998 and March 2019, Halpern and others defrauded the uniform-supply company by causing the company to pay fake invoices for products that were not actually delivered, and by diverting other products that they re-sold for their own benefit. In addition, Halpern and his co-conspirators created a fake supply company and caused the uniform-supply company to pay more than $3 million in fraudulent invoices for purported products that he knew would never be delivered or used.
Halpern is the third person to be sentenced in connection with the conspiracy. On Sept. 8, 2021, co-conspirator Richard Ritz was sentenced to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On Oct. 12, 2021, co-conspirator Keith Smedley was sentenced to three years in prison and two years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Sara Miron Bloom prosecuted the case.
Boston Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston Police Officer pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to failing to report gambling winnings on his tax returns.
Dana Lamb, 57, of Roslindale, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false document with the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2022. Lamb was charged on April 7, 2022.
In May 2020, while an Officer for the Boston Police Department, Lamb sold a winning lottery ticket worth $10,000 to a convenience store owner for cash rather than properly claiming it with the Massachusetts Lottery Commission. He then failed to report his gambling winnings on his U.S. Individual Tax return for the that year. Lamb’s failure to report the gambling proceeds resulted in an additional tax due and owing for that year of $1,800.
The charge of filing a false document with the Internal Revenue Service provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. 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; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’s Public Corruption Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Taunton Man Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Gino Romano, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 18, 2022, Romano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Romano was charged in November 2020 after he was identified as a customer and distributor for a cocaine supplier who was charged in “Operation Snowfall” – a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates. The investigation identified Romano on intercepted calls with the cocaine supplier during which he used coded language to negotiate pricing and a meeting location for a cocaine deal. At the designated location, Romano and the supplier met briefly in a vehicle before the supplier left the scene. A subsequent search of Romano’s vehicle recovered 125 grams of cocaine and the cellphone he had used to communicate with the supplier.
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.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. 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’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with his involvement in a scheme to launder the proceeds of various phone fraud scams.
Utkarsh Thakur, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Sept. 14, 2022. Thakur was charged on March 29, 2022.
Between January and August 2021, Thakur’s co-conspirators called victims over the phone pretending to be individuals in positions of authority, such as law enforcement, and threaten the victims in order to obtain money. The victims were instructed to mail cash to fictitious individuals at addresses in Massachusetts. Thakur obtained fake identification cards in the names of those fictitious individuals, retrieved the cash mailed by the victims and transported the cash to others involved in the scheme. In total, Thakur laundered more than $1 million in victim funds and kept a portion of those funds for himself.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, 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 Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by many local law enforcement partners, including the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Bellingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Boston Area Fentanyl and Cocaine Supplier Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-based fentanyl and cocaine supplier was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jose Perez Felix, a/k/a “Eugenio Piedraita-Rivera,” “Roberto Patricio Ramirez,” “Grande,” 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 87 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Sept. 29, 2021, Perez Felix pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana and one count of distribution of heroin.
In 2018, federal and state law enforcement agents began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew headed by Djuna Goncalves. The investigation revealed that Goncalves and others distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout Southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations in Brockton. The investigation also identified Perez Felix as a Boston-based fentanyl and cocaine supplier for Goncalves and others. Intercepted communications from Perez Felix’s cellphone determined that he distributed large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a base of operations in Boston throughout the greater Boston area and that Perez Felix routinely provided Djuna with supplier quantities of fentanyl (50 grams at a time).
On April 9, 2019, agents observed Perez Felix deliver heroin to a customer in Dorchester and subsequently seized 60 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture from the buyer. A search of Perez Felix’s residence in May 2019 resulted in the seizure of cellphones, materials commonly used to package drugs for street level sale, digital scales and a bag containing approximately 60 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture.
In all, 17 defendants, including Perez Felix, were indicted as part of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Cape Cod. Perez Felix is the 14th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.