District of Massachusetts
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Who Trafficked 27 Guns, Ammunition, Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Sentenced to More than Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An alleged member of the Trinitarios street gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking firearms, ammunition, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in the Greater Lawrence area.
Jose Omar Hernandez-Aragones, 24, of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Nov. 30, 2021, Hernandez-Aragones pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.
Hernandez-Aragones was indicted and arrested in November 2019 as part of a sweep targeting federal and state offenders, including members and associates of the Trinitarios street gang in the Greater Lawrence area.
Beginning in 2017, law enforcement conducted an investigation into the members, associates and suppliers of the Trinitarios operating in the Greater Lawrence area. The Trinitarios is a street gang originating in the New York area with increased presence in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. According to court documents, many Trinitarios members are involved in a broad range of illegal activities including, but not limited to, firearms and drug trafficking as well as violent crimes undertaken to protect the interests of the gang and its members.
During the investigation, Hernandez-Aragones sold 27 guns, ammunition, and approximately 27.5 grams of fentanyl/heroin, 83 grams of cocaine and 33 grams of cocaine base over the course of 14 controlled purchases between May and July 2018. This included two handguns and ammunition for $1,900 on May 16, 2018; a bulletproof vest, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a SKS rifle and a magazine containing ammunition for the rifle on June 4, 2018; two handguns and approximately 55.4 grams of a substance containing cocaine on July 3, 2018; as well as three guns, one of which was stolen, and approximately 8.7 grams of a substance containing crack cocaine on July 13, 2018. Hernandez-Aragones is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a 2016 conviction of assault that was punishable by more than one year in prison.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; 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 Field Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mulcahy of Rollins’ Criminal Division 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.
Former eBay Executive Pleads Guilty to His Role in Cyberstalking CampaignRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former eBay, Inc. executive pleaded guilty today 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.
James Baugh, 47, of San Jose, Calif., eBay’s former Senior Director of Safety & Security, 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, two counts of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce, two counts of witness tampering and two counts of destruction, alteration and falsification of records in a federal investigation. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 29, 2022.
In June 2020, Baugh was arrested and charged along with David Harville, eBay’s former Director of Global Resiliency. 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. Harville has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, between approximately Aug. 5, 2019 and Aug. 23, 2020, Baugh and his co-conspirators at eBay agreed to engage in a harassment campaign targeting a husband and wife in Natick, Mass. for of 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.
Baugh and his co-conspirators allegedly 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 the victims at their home.
On Aug. 15, 2019, Baugh and co-conspirators allegedly 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. After learning of the police’s investigation, Baugh made false statements to police and internal investigators, deleted digital evidence related to the cyberstalking campaign and falsified records intended to throw the police off the trail.
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. The charges of witness tampering and destruction, alteration and fabrication of records in a federal investigation each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. The witness tampering charges also carry the potential for 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Natick Chief of Police James G. Hicks made the announcement. 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.
The details contained in charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Milton Man Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a used car dealership in Fall River pleaded guilty yesterday to money laundering.
Augustine Osemwegie, 54, of Milton, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Aug. 3, 2022.
Osemwegie used his car dealership, vehicle auctions and international car shipping to launder and transmit the proceeds of romance scams, pandemic unemployment fraud and other fraudulent schemes. Specifically, Osemwegie accepted fraud proceeds in cash from “customers,” took a percentage fee for laundering the funds and then used the remaining funds to purchase used vehicles at auto auctions, purportedly for the use of his customers. Osemwegie then shipped those vehicles abroad, principally to Nigeria, where they were sold for the benefit of Osemwegie’s customers.
In September 2020, during recorded calls and meetings with an undercover agent, Osemwegie agreed to accept fraud proceeds from the undercover agent and transfer them abroad, under the guise of purchasing a used luxury sedan.
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 $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Indicted on Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican national living in Lawrence was indicted yesterday on charges of trafficking fentanyl.
Jesus Gracielo Garcia-Vega, a/k/a Jonathan Ivan Badillo-Hernandez, 34, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Garcia-Vega was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 24, 2022, and has remained in custody since then.
According to charging documents, it is alleged that on March 23, 2022, Garcia-Vega gave a sample of fentanyl to a confidential source working with law enforcement. During that transaction, Garcia-Vega agreed to sell a kilogram of fentanyl the next day to the confidential source. On March 24, 2022, Garcia-Vega drove to the Premium Outlets in Wrentham with a kilogram of fentanyl inside a laundry bag, intending to sell it to the confidential source, but was stopped by police on I-495 in Westford and arrested.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. If convicted, Garcia-Vega is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Holyoke Man Sentenced for Distributing Heroin and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for distributing heroin and cocaine base (crack cocaine).
Ronny Authier, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2022, Authier pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
On two occasions in September 2019, Authier distributed a total of approximately 12 grams of heroin to an undercover agent. On a third occasion in September 2019, Authier sold the agent approximately 24 grams of crack cocaine.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; and Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuted the case.
California Man Arrested and Charged with Making Threats Against LGBTQ CommunityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man was arrested on Tuesday, April 20, 2022 and charged in federal court in Springfield, Mass. in connection with making threats against Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, Calif., was charged by criminal complaint with one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence. Hanson was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in the Central District of California. Hanson will appear before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson in federal court in Springfield on April 29, 2022.
“Hate-filled threats and intimidations have no place in our society,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We believe Hanson sent a multitude of anonymous threatening and despicable messages related to the LGBTQ community that were intended to evoke fear and division. My office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate threats against members of our communities, no matter what corner of the internet they’re sent from. Perpetrators will be identified, arrested, and held accountable in federal court.”
“Jeremy Hanson is accused of making hate-fueled threats of violence that crossed a line,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Everyone has a right to express their opinion, but repeatedly threatening to kill people, as has been alleged, takes it to a new level. We are always going to pursue individuals who try to intimidate and isolate members of our community by inciting violent, hateful acts. Threats to life are most certainly not protected speech and they cause real fear in victims. Rest assured, the FBI will do everything we can to bring to justice anyone who commits these criminal acts.”
According to the criminal complaint, 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. As a result of the threats, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield and New York City for approximately five business days.
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 threatened to “bomb your offices for lying and creating fake…”.
The investigation 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 crime should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 888-221-6023.
The charge of interstate transmission of communications to injure the person of another 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 document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Associate of Springfield La Cosa Nostra Sentenced for Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man with known ties to organized crime was sentenced yesterday for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
David Cecchetelli, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time served (approximately 62 days in prison) and one year of supervised release to be served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. In December 2021, Cecchetelli pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
During a search of Cecchetelli’s residence on Dec. 5, 2019, law enforcement found a gun and ammunition in Cecchetelli’s bedroom. The ammunition was concealed under his mattress. Cecchetelli is a known associate of the Genovese LCN in Springfield and was previously convicted of bookmaking with the underboss of the Springfield LCN in 2005. Due to his prior conviction, Cecchetelli is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
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 today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Tobacco Wholesaler Pleads Guilty to PACT Act ViolationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A tobacco wholesaler from Connecticut has pleaded guilty to violating the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act.
Syed I. Bokhari, 57, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in federal court in Springfield before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni who scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2022. Bokhari was indicted in October 2014, and subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in December 2015.
Established in 2010, the PACT Act is designed to prevent the evasion of state tobacco taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. The PACT Act requires, among other things, businesses to file a statement with the state tobacco tax administrator prior to shipping cigarettes or smokeless tobacco into that state.
Bokhari owned and operated a wholesale supply business in Scranton, Pa., that sold smokeless tobacco to customers in Massachusetts. Between 2010 and June 5, 2012, Bokhari’s business shipped smokeless tobacco to customers in Massachusetts without ever filing the required statement with the Massachusetts tobacco tax administrator.
“By circumventing the law, Mr. Bokhari sold smokeless tobacco directly to consumers thereby cheating on his tax obligations,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Whether it is through underreporting taxable income or secreting taxable products to customers, tax fraud is a crime that we will continue to investigate – plain and simple.”
“The Department of Revenue’s partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations make it clear that we will pursue those who violate both federal and Massachusetts tax laws,” said Massachusetts Department of Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey E. Snyder. “The Department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau remains committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to combat the illegal tobacco trade and recover lost revenue on behalf of Massachusetts taxpayers.”
“When unscrupulous tobacco wholesalers skirt their tax obligations, it puts competitors at an unfair disadvantage in the marketplace,” said Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Office. “As the investigative arm of the IRS, IRS-CI special agents are a critical force multiplier with our partners in these investigations which focus on ensuring a level playing field for law-abiding tobacco businesses.”
“This guilty plea should send a clear message that the illegal diversion of tobacco products will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson of the ATF Boston Field Division. “ATF will continue to work alongside our partners to investigate incidents of illegal conduct and tax evasion of tobacco products.”
“As a wholesaler, Bokhari imported large quantities of tobacco to Massachusetts without paying the appropriate taxes, diverting significant revenue that belongs to the state. HSI is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this investigation,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ Boston Field Office.
The charge of violating the PACT Act provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, ATF SAC Ferguson, IRS-CI SAC Simpson, HSI SAC Millhollin, Massachusetts DOR Commissioner Snyder and Connecticut Department of Revenue Service Commissioner Mark D. Boughton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex J. Grant and Christopher Morgan of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Superintendent of Chicopee Schools Indicted on Charges of Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Superintendent of the Chicopee Public Schools has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements in connection with sending 99 threatening messages to a candidate for Chicopee Police Chief.
Lynn Clark, 51, of Belchertown, was indicted today on two counts of making false statements. She will appear in federal court in Springfield on April 27, 2022. Clark was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 6, 2022.
According to the charging documents, in December 2021, the City of Chicopee was in the process of hiring a new Police Chief. On Dec. 3, 2021, law enforcement received a report that a candidate for the position was receiving threats intended to force the victim to withdraw their application for Chicopee Police Chief. In November 2021, after submitting their application for Police Chief, the victim allegedly received numerous text messages from unknown numbers containing threats to expose information that would cause the victim reputational harm. As a result, the victim withdrew their application and the City delayed the selection process.
The investigation revealed that a total of approximately 99 threatening messages were sent from fictitious phone numbers purchased through a mobile app. Phone and internet records revealed that these numbers were allegedly purchased by Clark and that these accounts allegedly sent each of the threatening messages.
According to the charging documents, on or about Dec. 6, 2021, Clark falsely stated to federal agents that she received threatening text messages from unknown phone numbers, when, in fact she sent the messages to herself. On or about Feb. 7, 2022, it is alleged that Clark again falsely stated that she did not know who sent the messages in addition to denying that she had downloaded a mobile app with which she purchased the fictitious phone numbers to send the messages. It is further alleged that Clark later admitted that she did indeed send the messages and downloaded the app.
The charges of making false statements each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches 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.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins on the First Circuit Ruling in U.S. V. Jasiel Correia IIRead the Press Release
“After six delays, today’s order from the First Circuit declares what so many have longed to hear in the case against former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia – he will begin his prison sentence in the coming days. Although we cannot erase the impact Jasiel Correia’s conduct and subsequent legal battle has had on the City and constituents he swore to honestly serve, this ruling marks the next step in bringing justice to the people of Fall River and the many others who fell victim to his corruption.”
Lawrence Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Jose Martinez, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Sterns to 66 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On Aug. 31, 2021, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Martinez was charged as part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley dubbed “Operation Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.
In the spring of 2019, federal agents began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in the Lawrence area. Between April and June 2019, federal agents made five controlled purchases of fentanyl from the DTO. Each purchase took place near Martinez’s residence and the fentanyl was delivered by Martinez’s co-defendant, Ronyel Pena. Immediately following the transactions, Pena was observed going directly to Martinez’s home.
Following a controlled purchase in June 2019, agents arrested Pena and approached Martinez’s residence. After knocking and hearing movement inside, agents forced entry out of concern for potential destruction of evidence. As agents entered, Martinez attempted to flee out of a window but was detained at the perimeter of the property. A search of the home revealed a loaded Kel Tec .566 semi-automatic rifle caliber pistol, a Glock 26 handgun, as well as additional ammunition, a bullet proof vest, an attachment for a firearm and gun oil. Law enforcement also found two large plastic bags containing empty capsules, a tray to fill pill capsules, several wet plastic bags in the trash can that contained a white residue, a bottle of lactose and several plastic bags, a digital scale, a money counter, a large quantity of cash and multiple cellphones. In the bathroom, agents found hundreds of empty green pill capsules and a smashed cell phone in the sink and observed that the toilet water was green, similar in color to the pill capsule – indicating that Martinez had destroyed evidence by flushing fentanyl down the toilet and smashing cell phones.
In May 2021, Pena was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and four years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police and the Lawrence Police Department assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Lynn District Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer Convicted of Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Assistant Chief Probation Officer for Lynn District Court was convicted by a federal jury today of child exploitation offenses.
Brian Orlandella, 49, of Beverly, was convicted following a six-day jury trial of one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Aug. 5, 2022. Orlandella was arrested and charged in December 2018 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2019.
In May 2018, a mother in Texas contacted local police about messages she found on her 13-year-old daughter’s cell phone between her daughter and an adult man, later identified as Orlandella. In the messages, sent via the Kik mobile application, Orlandella sent the victim images of himself masturbating and directed her to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos of herself. The victim told him she was 14-years-old and he acknowledged that he was much older than she was.
The Kik account’s IP address was traced to Orlandella’s residence. During a search of his residence, two of Orlandella’s phones were seized, one of which contained evidence tying Orlandella to the Kik account that was used to procure sexually explicit imagery from the victim. During an on-site interview at his home, Orlandella admitted that he had used Kik and was the person depicted in the obscene videos recovered from the victim’s phone.
The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transfer of obscene material to a minor provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $150,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 was provided by the Port Neches (Texas) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit and Adam W. Deitch, also of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Associate and Trap House Landlord of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former associate of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings), and owner of multiple apartment buildings utilized by the Latin Kings, commonly referred to as “trap houses,” pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering and drug charges.
Robert Avitabile, a/k/a “Bobby,” 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine). U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Aug. 10, 2022.
The Latin Kings in New Bedford ran a vast cocaine base distribution network that used multi-unit apartment buildings known as “trap houses” to distribute narcotics. Members of the Latin Kings dealt drugs in the trap houses, obtaining their supply of crack cocaine from the Chapter leader, Jorge Rodriguez, a/k/a “King G.” As detailed in court filings in the case, evidence developed during the investigation included multiple recordings of Rodriguez cooking crack cocaine at the trap houses, directing violence against rival gang members, meting out discipline and handling firearms used to protect the Latin Kings’ drug distribution network.
Avitabile owned multiple apartment buildings in New Bedford referred to as a “trap houses” and rented them to the Latin Kings, knowing that they would be used by the gang as locations where drugs would be dealt, and otherwise serve as centers of power for the gang. Despite the fact that police searched the rental units controlled by the Latin Kings dozens of times, Avitabile continued to rent the units to the gang. Court documents also described recordings and interceptions made of Avitabile coordinating with Jorge Rodriguez on arrangements including payment of rent by Latin Kings members, placement of Latin Kings members in certain apartment units and investment of Rodriguez’s drug proceeds into real estate.
Avitabile rented the apartment units to Latin Kings members, knowing that they would be used to sell, store and manufacture drugs. Through Avitabile’s association with the Latin Kings and Rodriguez, the Latin Kings used the apartment buildings to facilitate their campaign of street violence, drug dealing and otherwise control the neighborhood.
Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Avitabile has agreed to forfeit proceeds from the sale of three apartment buildings in New Bedford, which were historically used by the Latin Kings.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Avitabile is the 57th defendant to plead guilty in the case.
The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Depending on the drug quantity, the drug trafficking conspiracy and distribution charges provide for a sentence of up to 20 years, 40 years or life in prison; a minimum of three, four or five years of supervised release; and fines of $1 million, $5 million and $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.
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; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. 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.
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.
California Parent Sentenced in College Admissions CaseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a warehousing company for the shipping industry was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement in the college admissions case.
I-Hsin “Joey” Chen, 67, of Newport Beach, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to nine weeks in prison, one year of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000. On Dec. 15, 2021, Chen pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud.
Chen conspired with William “Rick” Singer and others to defraud ACT, Inc. by agreeing to cheat on his son’s ACT exam. Specifically, in early 2018, after hiring Singer as a college counselor for his son and agreeing to the testing scheme, Chen got approval for his son to receive multiple day testing accommodations through his son’s high school counselor. Such accommodations allowed for his son’s testing location to be moved to a testing center in West Hollywood that Singer “controlled” through bribes to Igor Dvorskiy, a corrupt test administrator. There, Dvorskiy allowed Mark Riddell, a corrupt test “proctor,” to secretly correct Chen’s son’s ACT exam answers to obtain a fraudulently inflated score. In exchange, Chen paid Singer $75,000 disguised as a business consulting fee paid by Chen’s company to Singer’s for-profit business, The Key.
On April 8, 2022, Riddell was sentenced to four months in prison and two years of supervised release. Riddell was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and forfeit $239,449. Singer and Dvorskiy previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Chen is the 35th parent to be sentenced in the college admissions case.
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’s 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.
Supervisor of Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A supervisor of a Boston-area drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty today to his role in a cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine) trafficking conspiracy.
Arthur Hodges, 36, formerly of Brighton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 10, 2022.
Hodges was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall, which ultimately resulted in charges against two different drug trafficking conspiracies from November 2018 and June 2020.
According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO for which Hodges was both a supervisor and a drug distributor. The DTO was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs – most of which was cocaine or crack cocaine – which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight on the development and reduced the quality of life for other residents. As the investigation continued, law enforcement ultimately identified another DTO operating within the Boston area and targeted its large-scale drug suppliers and their associates.
Hodges oversaw a number of the Fidelis Way-related DTO members who were responsible for the packaging, selling, storing and distribution of drugs to, or collection of proceeds from, drug customers, drug runners, or other drug distributors and suppliers. Hodges distributed between approximately 280 and 840 grams of crack cocaine during the course of his participation in the Fidelis Way DTO.
Hodges is the third defendant to plead guilty in the Fidelis Way-related drug conspiracy. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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 with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Shore Landscaper Charged with Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a residential and commercial landscaping business operating in the South Shore area has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with his failure to report approximately $1.5 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service.
Scott Herzog, 47, of Norwell, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging document, Herzog owned and operated Herzog Landscape Solutions. From 2016 through 2018, Herzog allegedly directed landscaping customers to pay him personally for jobs and then cashed many of these payments or deposited them into bank accounts unaffiliated with the landscaping business. Herzog then failed to report approximately $1.5 million in these receipts in the tax returns his tax preparer filed on his behalf. As a result of this alleged conduct, Herzog underreported his personal income tax obligations, causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $500,000.
The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber 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.
Nineteen Members and Associates of Violent Dorchester Gang Charged with Racketeering, Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Nineteen members and associates of Cameron Street, a violent criminal organization based in Dorchester, have been charged in a 39-count indictment with various crimes including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, gun and drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to the indictment, the Cameron Street gang is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in a variety of criminal activities – including murder, assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, carjacking, home invasion, as well as drug and firearms trafficking, among other things – in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and surrounding areas. While the gang is primarily based in Boston, Cameron Street gang’s criminal activity has spanned other communities, including Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Everett, Randolph, Taunton and elsewhere in Massachusetts. During the investigation, 21 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were allegedly seized from 11 of the defendants.
“Members and associates of the Cameron Street gang have, for years, allegedly plagued Boston, Brockton and the neighboring communities with serious, violent crimes through the confluence of guns, drugs and harm. Law-abiding residents of Dorchester, Brockton and other impacted communities deserve to live, work and thrive free of fear and trauma,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “With these charges, and today’s arrests, our aim is to bring peace and safety back to these neighborhoods. This is yet another example of the strong partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and our ongoing shared dedication to root out violence while taking illegal guns off of our streets. My office will spare no resource to ensure the safety of all Massachusetts residents, hold violent offenders accountable, and take back and restore our communities.”
“This investigation is an example of ATF’s dedication to working with our local, state, and federal partners in identifying, targeting and investigating violent criminals who are involved in selling firearms and narcotics. Individuals who prey upon innocent citizens lessen the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “Our neighborhoods deserve to flourish without fear or intimidation inflicted by violent gangs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to reduce the violent crime that has done so much damage to so many of our Boston neighborhoods.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling violent organizations like these operating in Massachusetts,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to our families and communities. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”
“The members of this criminal organization are accused of terrorizing the neighborhoods of Boston by committing violent crime including conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, firearm and drug trafficking. These arrests send a clear message that these criminal enterprises will not be tolerated in Boston. The Boston Police will continue to work with the ATF and all our law enforcement partners to reduce gun violence and stop the trafficking of firearms and drugs in the neighborhoods of Boston. I thank the investigators on this case whose diligent work led to these arrests,” said Gregory Long, Acting Commissioner of the Boston Police Department.
“This indictment highlights the significant criminal footprint of Cameron Street and their involvement in a wide variety of serious crime, from alleged murder to drug trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations works closely with our federal, state, and local partners to make our communities safer by investigating and seeking prosecution of criminal street gangs like Cameron Street,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ Boston Field Office.
It is alleged that Cameron Street members use violence against rival gangs and witnesses, typically with the use of firearms, to maintain and enhance their status and the overall reputation of the gang, as well as to protect the gang’s power, reputation and territory. Cameron Street members are allegedly responsible for assisting one another with obtaining and accessing firearms, forming and maintaining drug trafficking connections, resolving territorial disputes with rival gangs and providing safe havens for fellow members who are wanted by law enforcement. It is further alleged that Cameron Street gang members regularly post videos or use social media to promote Cameron Street, denigrate gang rivals and to celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang. To identify themselves as members of the gang, Cameron Street members obtain tattoos, use hand signs and wear jewelry and clothing involving the letters “C,” “A” and “M,” or numbers corresponding with the letters’ places in the alphabet, “3-1-1-3.”
According to the indictment, Cameron Street members engage in drug trafficking activity and distribute cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine), oxycodone and marijuana throughout Massachusetts. It is alleged that over one kilogram of cocaine was seized from gang members during the investigation.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison, up to five of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, ATF SAC Ferguson, DEA SAC Boyle, HSI SAC Millhollin and BPD Acting Commissioner Long made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
APPENDIX
- Kenny Romero, a/k/a “KG,” 28, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine base and cocaine;
- Anthony Centeio, a/k/a “Wheezy,” a/k/a “Taliban Wheeze,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;
- Felisberto Lopes, a/k/a “Phil,” a/k/a “CheeB,” 36, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute;
- Keiarri Dyette, a/k/a “Kemo,” 24, charged with RICO conspiracy and dealing in firearms without a license;
- Eric Correia, a/k/a “Bubba,” 24, charged with RICO conspiracy and distribution of marijuana;
- Paulo Santos, a/k/a “Bucky,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy, possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense;
- Devante Lopes, a/k/a “D-Lopes,” 27, charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute marijuana;
- Charod Taylor, a/k/a “Pachino,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;
- Jose Afonseca, a/k/a “Zay,” 30, charged with RICO conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base;
- James Rodrigues, a/k/a “Bummy,” 32, charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base;
- Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 29, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and distribution of cocaine and oxycodon;
- Clayton Rodrigues, a/k/a “Loo,” a/k/a “C-Loo,” 26, charged with RICO conspiracy and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number;
- Wilter Rodrigues, a/k/a “Walt,” a/k/a “Wo-Wo,” 35, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base;
- Michael Lopes, a/k/a “Meech,” 34, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;
- Victor Nunez, a/k/a “Tito,” 41, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;
- Fnu Lnu, a/k/a “Smoke,” charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;
- Jamaal Davis, a/k/a “Marley,” 29, charged with distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense;
- Michael Nguyen, a/k/a “Asian,” 22, charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense; and
- Steve Depina, a/k/a “Stizz,” 35, charged with felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of cocaine base and cocaine.
New York Man Sentenced in Multi-Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.
Wilkin Cedano, 38, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 29 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 13, 2021, Cedano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine.
From approximately November 2019 through December 2019, Cedano conspired with others to travel from New York to Massachusetts to sell fentanyl and 1,000 pills containing controlled substances to an individual who, unbeknownst to Cedano, was working with investigators. On Dec. 2, 2019, Cedano drove from New York to a grocery store in Lynn and presented the individual with two potato-shaped packages of heroin wrapped in cellophane and two pill bottles of 938 pills containing fentanyl or a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Cedano was subsequently arrested. Investigators found additional drugs tucked beneath the steering column of Cedano’s car.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. The Lynn Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Attleboro Gun Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Attleboro man previously convicted of illegal gun possession in Rhode Island was sentenced yesterday for trafficking dozens of guns from Georgia into Massachusetts.
Richard Philippe, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 17, 2021, Philippe was convicted by a federal jury of transporting firearms into Massachusetts from Georgia without a license and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Between April and June 2019, Philippe purchased dozens of handguns from a straw purchaser in Georgia. Philippe returned with the guns to a warehouse in Taunton where he sold them for cash. Philippe, who had a prior felony firearms conviction in Rhode Island, had neither the lawful ability to possess firearms or ammunition, nor a federal license to deal in firearms.
The investigation arose following a July 2019 undercover purchase of two guns from a long-time Brockton drug dealer, who had purchased those two guns and more than a dozen other guns from Philippe and had been selling them into criminal commerce on the South Shore. The undercover operation triggered a search of Philippe’s warehouse in Taunton, which revealed Philippe’s firearm trafficking. The weapons were traced back to multiple purchases by Philippe’s straw purchaser from a pawn shop in Georgia specializing in selling low-cost guns.
Several guns that Philippe transported and sold were found by police in the possession of criminals and drug dealers. One gun trafficked by Philippe was used by a gang member to fire at rival associates at the Braintree Mall, but tragically struck an innocent 15-year-old girl twice, in the hand and in the chest. The victim survived.
Other guns were hazardously abandoned, such as one gun that was discovered within a pile of leaves in a parking lot in Taunton, loaded with 12 bullets. Another gun was found by cleaning staff in a vacated hotel room in Brockton.
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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police Department, Taunton Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak III and John T. McNeil of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Owner and Operator of Arlington Insurance Agency Convicted by Federal Jury of Stealing Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner and operator of an Arlington-based insurance agency has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of fraudulently receiving disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Patrick Quinn, 50, of Arlington, was convicted on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, following a six-day jury trial of two counts of theft of public funds and two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Aug. 17, 2022. Quinn was arrested and charged in December 2019.
Since January 2012, Quinn stole more than $420,000 in veteran benefits and Social Security benefits by falsely telling the VA and SSA that he was unable to work due to a disability, when in reality, he owned and operated Quinn Insurance Group, Inc.
In October 1995, shortly after being discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, Quinn applied and was approved for disability compensation benefits with the VA based on a series of physical injuries and, later, post-traumatic stress disorder. In March 2005, Quinn applied for Individual Unemployability (IU) benefits with the VA, which is paid to individuals who are unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of their service-connected disabilities. In the application, Quinn claimed that his PTSD prevented him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation and that he had become too disabled to work. In support of his application, Quinn submitted a letter from his purported final employer, Insurance Management Consultants, Inc., claiming Quinn was let go due to his erratic behavior and was no longer employed at the firm. While receiving IU benefits, Quinn completed and returned four VA employment questionnaires, in each of which he attested he had not worked during the previous year.
Similarly, in November 2005, Quinn applied and was approved for Disability Insurance Benefits with Social Security, this time claiming he had become unable to work due to his disabling condition in September 2004. In June 2006, Quinn applied for Child’s Insurance Benefits, which are paid to the dependent of a disabled individual receiving Disability Insurance Benefits, on behalf of his minor child. Social Security beneficiaries are obligated to report if they return to work to the SSA. In May 2018, Quinn reported to the SSA that he had not worked since May 2006. The SSA continued to pay benefits to Quinn and his son based on this report.
Evidence presented at trial established that Quinn was self-employed as the owner and operator of his own insurance agency, Shannon Francis & Quinn Insurance, which later became Quinn Insurance Group, Inc, since at least March 2003 – contrary to his claims to the VA and SSA. Quinn also served as the President, Treasurer, Secretary and Director of Insurance Management Consultants, Inc. from 2000 through 2007, despite telling the VA and SSA that the company fired him in 2005. While operating his own insurance company, Quinn regularly received payments ranging in amounts of $6,500 to $15,000 and grew his business significantly through acquisitions of nine smaller insurance companies at various times between 2012 through 2019. Further evidence established that Quinn was appointed by 65 insurance companies to conduct business on their behalf and renewed his insurance producer license on numerous occasions.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of making a false statement provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
Canton Man Arrested for Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canton was arrested yesterday in connection with sex trafficking a minor.
Keion Rowell, 23, was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a child and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, Rowell was detained pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for April 19, 2022.
“We believe that this defendant preyed on, groomed, and advertised a vulnerable 15-year-old girl, a child, for commercial sex – profiting off his exploitation,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This case is an unfortunate reminder that sex trafficking knows no limits. It can reach any community and target victims of all ages. My office and our law enforcement partners remain diligent in our efforts to prevent the targeted exploitation and harming of our most vulnerable.”
“The facts alleged in this case are gut-wrenching. No person, let alone a child, should ever be treated as a commodity, and sold for sex, but Keion Rowell is accused of doing exactly that,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Child sex traffickers often prey upon our community’s most vulnerable minors – runaways, foster kids, children who face difficult circumstances – promising their young victims that they will receive care and support when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Their sole focus is on exploiting them for their own personal gain which is why FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will continue to do everything it can to ensure children recovered from this kind of exploitation receive the services they need to move forward with their lives, and their traffickers are brought to justice.”
According to the indictment, on Jan. 28, 2021, agents recovered a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing approximately 10 to 14 days previously after she left her home in a suburb of Boston. It is alleged that the victim’s phone contained nude and revealing photos of the victim, online advertisements for commercial sex that included pictures of the victim, as well as Venmo and Cash App accounts registered to Rowell. Rowell allegedly opened an online “Meet Me” account for the victim that advertised commercial sex with the victim and instructed the victim on how much she should charge. It is further alleged that the Rowell required the victim to engage in commercial sex acts multiple times and took the proceeds.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this alleged crime should contact [email protected].
The charge of sex trafficking of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Randolph Police Departments and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gotlob of Rollins’ Civil Rights Enforcement Team 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.
California Parents Sentenced in College Admissions CaseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Silicon Valley parents were sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with their involvement in the college admissions case.
Gregory Colburn, M.D., 65, and Amy Colburn, 53, of Palo Alto, Calif., were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to eight weeks in prison, one year of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $12,500. On Dec. 7, 2021, the Colburns pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud.
The Colburns conspired with William “Rick” Singer and others to defraud The College Board by agreeing to cheat on their son’s SAT exam. As part of the scheme, the Colburns paid Singer $25,000 in the form of purported donations to Singer’s sham charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation. In exchange, Singer bribed Igor Dvorskiy, a corrupt test administrator, to allow Mark Riddell, a corrupt test “proctor,” to secretly correct the Colburns’ son’s SAT exam answers to obtain a fraudulently inflated score.
On April 8, 2022, Riddell was sentenced to four months in prison and two years of supervised release. Riddell was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and forfeit $239,449. Singer and Dvorskiy previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Gregory Colburn and Amy Colburn are the 33rd and 34th parents to be sentenced in the college admissions case.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
United States Attorney 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 Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General 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.
California Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man was arrested this morning and charged with surreptitiously filming an 11-year-old Massachusetts girl changing in her bedroom in March 2021.
Jacob Guerrero, 23, of Woodland, Calif., was charged with one count of sexually exploiting a child. Guerrero was arrested this morning in California and will appear in federal court in the Eastern District of California this afternoon. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, on or about March 17, 2021, Guerrero recorded a video of an unclothed 11-year-old girl while she changed in her bedroom at her home in Norfolk, Mass. Guerrero allegedly climbed to the top of a garage attached to the victim’s home and stood just outside the victim’s second floor bedroom window as she changed. In the two weeks leading up to that recording, it is further alleged that Guerrero conducted surveillance of the victim’s home and made notes on his phone regarding the time of day that the victim and her siblings arrived home, showered and changed clothes each night. Guerrero allegedly recorded similar notes for several other Massachusetts homes.
According to the charging document, this case arose following an investigation into allegations that Guerrero, while dressed in a wig and women’s clothing, attempted to surreptitiously record minor females in bathrooms and changing rooms at the Wrentham Outlets using pen cameras affixed to his shoes.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of sexually exploiting a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Wrentham Police Chief William McGrath made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Plead Guilty in Nationwide Rideshare and Delivery Account Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Brazilian nationals pleaded guilty on Monday, April 11, 2022, in connection with a nationwide conspiracy to open fraudulent driver accounts with rideshare and delivery service companies.
Guilherme da Silveira, 29, of Revere, and Priscila Barbosa, 35, of Saugus, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Barbosa also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencings for both defendants on Aug. 4, 2022.
In May 2021, da Silveira and Barbosa were charged along with 17 co-defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud by using stolen identities and falsified documents to create fraudulent driver accounts for rent or sale to individuals who might not otherwise qualify to drive for the rideshare or delivery services.
According to the charging documents, the defendants allegedly used victims’ identifying information to apply for driver accounts with the rideshare and delivery companies – enabling them to pass the companies’ required background checks and create driver accounts in victims’ names. The defendants allegedly obtained victims’ names, dates of birth, driver’s license information and or Social Security numbers from co-conspirators and other sources, including sites on the Dark Net. The defendants and co-conspirators also obtained driver’s license images directly from victims, by photographing victims’ licenses while completing an alcohol delivery through one of the services or while exchanging information with victims following vehicle accidents, some of which defendants or co-conspirators intentionally caused in order to obtain license information. As a result of the scheme, Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 were generated in victims’ names for income that conspirators earned from the rideshare and delivery companies.
In connection with the scheme, Barbosa and da Silveira obtained driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers that they and their co-conspirators procured from the DarkNet and other sources. They then used these stolen identifiers to create and apply for numerous fraudulent accounts with the rideshare and delivery companies and supplied these identifiers to other co-conspirators who also created fraudulent accounts.
To circumvent facial recognition technology utilized by rideshare and delivery companies as a security measure, Barbosa edited victims’ driver’s license images to display photos of the drivers renting or buying the fraudulent accounts. In total, Barbosa admitted to creating over 2,000 fraudulent rideshare accounts.
Barbosa and da Silveira also advertised fraudulent driver accounts for rent and purchase to potential drivers, including via WhatsApp chat groups targeted to Brazilian nationals living in the United States. Barbosa and da Silveira managed the fraudulent accounts they rented out, specifically by collecting rental payments and troubleshooting issues that arose. Additionally, Barbosa and da Silveira used fraudulent driver accounts to exploit referral bonus programs offered by the rideshare and delivery companies and used “bots” and GPS “spoofing” technology to increase the income earned from the companies. Barbosa and da Silveira each received over approximately $791,000 and $570,000, respectively, from the scheme in the form of rental payments from individuals driving under these accounts and payments from the companies generated with these accounts.
Sixteen of the defendants have been arrested in connection with the conspiracy and three remain at large. Barbosa and da Silveira are the fifth and sixth defendants to plead guilty in the case, respectively. If you believe that you may be a victim of the allegations in this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-wemerson-dutra-aguiar-and-us-v-priscila-barbosa-et-al.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of at least two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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 Massachusetts State Police; the Concord, Lexington, Plymouth, Wilmington, Marlborough and Village of Rye Brook (N.Y.) Police Departments; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the National Crime Insurance Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen A. Kearney and David M. Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Springfield Man Indicted on Cocaine Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for allegedly possessing cocaine intended for distribution.
Hector Quinones, 42, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Following an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson, Quinones was detained pending a detention hearing that has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the indictment, on Jan. 20, 2022, Quinones possessed with intent to distribute cocaine.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Cheryl Clapprood, Superintendent of the Springfield Police Department, made the announcement. 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Principal Supplier and Drug Distributor of Two Boston-Area Cocaine Trafficking Rings Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The main supplier and drug distributor of two Boston-area drug trafficking organizations (DTO) pleaded guilty yesterday to cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Kenji Drayton, 41, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 10, 2022.
Drayton was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall.
According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO – for which Drayton was a principal drug supplier – that was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs – most of which was cocaine or cocaine base, which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The second part of the investigation targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the DTO continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Intercepted communications in spring 2020 revealed Drayton complained about drug supply shortages resulting from the pandemic. On one call, Drayton discussed a co-conspirator’s travels to California to obtain significant quantities of cocaine for the DTO.
Drayton served as one of the main up-the-chain drug suppliers and distributors within each of the identified DTOs. Drayton purchased, sold and distributed wholesale quantities of cocaine as part of each DTO and is estimated to have distributed a total of over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine.
Drayton is the second defendant to plead guilty in the Fidelis-Way related drug conspiracy, and the 11th defendant to plead guilty in the other charged drug conspiracy case. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial. One defendant, Derek Hart, remains at large.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 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 conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for at least three years up to life and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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 with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New York Man Sentenced for Role in Fraud and Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian national was sentenced yesterday in connection with his involvement in multiple criminal schemes, including the submission of fraudulent pandemic-related assistance claims using stolen personally identifiable information and money laundering.
Damilola Adepoju, 29, of Queens, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to four years in prison and ordered to pay $299,500 in restitution. Adepoju will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. On July 21, 2021, Adepoju pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.
In March 2020, in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which among other things, created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The PUA program provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits.
Between May 2020 and May 2021, Adepoju participated in a scheme to submit fraudulent PUA claims in multiple states, including Massachusetts, using the stolen personal information of others. Adepoju used fake identification cards and created financial accounts in the names of the victims in order to receive PUA funds. Adepoju also used a shoe retail business he operated to launder funds, funneling the money to other financial accounts inside and outside the United States. The investigation has identified more than $600,000 in actual or attempted losses associated with the scheme.
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 Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement. The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance provided valuable assistance with the investigation. 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.
Milton Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a used car dealership in Fall River has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to money laundering.
Augustine Osemwegie, 54, of Milton, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of money laundering. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to court documents, Osemwegie used his car dealership, vehicle auctions and international car shipping to launder and transmit the proceeds of romance scams, pandemic unemployment fraud and other fraudulent schemes. Specifically, Osemwegie accepted fraud proceeds in cash from “customers,” took a percentage fee for laundering the funds and then used the remaining funds to purchase used vehicles at auto auctions, purportedly for the use of his customers. Osemwegie then shipped those vehicles abroad, principally to Nigeria, where they were sold for the benefit of Osemwegie’s customers.
In September 2020, during recorded calls and meetings with an undercover agent, Osemwegie agreed to accept fraud proceeds from the agent and transfer them abroad, under the guise of purchasing a used luxury sedan.
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 $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Stearns of Rollins’s Securities, Financial & Cyber 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.
Former Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced today on racketeering charges.
Luis Mendez, a/k/a “King Primo,” 41, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 100 months in prison, with credit for time served in related state cases, and three years of supervised release. On Nov. 3, 2021, Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.
Mendez was a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings and as such he participated in the drug distribution activities that were based in multi-unit apartment buildings, known as “trap houses” that the Latin Kings controlled in the northern section of New Bedford. Multiple search warrants executed by the New Bedford Police Department targeted locations where Mendez resided, and drug were seized as a result. Mendez was also present during a December 2018 group assault in a garage, where co-defendant Michael Cotto, a/k/a “King Gordo,” was captured participating in a group assault of another individual and observed striking the victim with a baseball bat.
Mendez also participated in a shooting of two victims in May 2018. During that incident, multiple Latin Kings members chased the two victims to a vehicle, surrounded the vehicle, and slashed their tires. Another Latin Kings member then fired gunshots at the two victims striking them. Both victims fled in the vehicle and survived. Mendez admitted that these victims were targeted because one of the victims previously objected to Latin Kings members conducting drug transactions in the victim’s driveway. Following the shooting, Mendez discussed the incident on a court-authorized wiretap and advised the shooter that the victims would not be coming to court due to the efforts of the Latin Kings to intimidate them.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Mendez is the 50th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Yomelvin Abreu Bonilla, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Bonilla will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. On Dec. 16, 2021, Bonilla pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
In March 2021, federal agents encountered Bonilla in Bedford and determined that he was illegally present in the United States. Bonilla was previously deported in August 2016.
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 made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Chicopee Company Controller Pleads Guilty to Stealing $1.4 Million from Company FinancesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Springfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to embezzling of over $1.4 million from his employer.
Gerald Burke, 70, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return. U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for July 27, 2022. Burke was charged on April 8, 2022.
Until 2018, Burke was employed as the controller of a privately owned metal stamping company in Chicopee and was responsible for the company’s finances, including directing payroll and signing checks on behalf of the company. From October 2011 until his termination in 2018, Burke embezzled $1.4 million by authorizing additional payroll payments to himself and by writing checks to himself and his credit card company from the company account. Burke failed to report any of his illegal income to the IRS over the nearly seven-year duration of the embezzlement scheme, thereby evading more than $160,000 in federal taxes.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachel S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Brockton Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced on Monday, April 11, 2022, in connection with attempting to purchase six firearms from an undercover agent.
Rotchill Seme, 21, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, with the first 11 months spent in home detention. On Dec. 15, 2021, Seme pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.
On May 25, 2020, Seme began texting with an uncover agent about purchasing multiple firearms. After meeting on May 27, 2020, Seme agreed to purchase six handguns from the undercover agent for $3,500. Seme’s text messages to the undercover agent indicated that he intended to sell the newly acquired firearms and looked forward to buying and selling a steady flow of firearms.
On June 3, 2020, Seme met the undercover agent in a Brockton fast food restaurant parking lot to conduct the transaction. As the meeting concluded, uniformed law enforcement approached the vehicle to arrest Seme. Seme jumped out of the driver’s side window and attempted to flee, resulting in a chase through the parking lot during which Seme engaged in struggles with the pursuing officers on two occasions, but was subsequently apprehended. Seme, who was wearing an ankle GPS bracelet at the time of his arrest, was on parole following state convictions for various drug and firearms offenses and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced for Role in Wide-Ranging Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a wide-ranging cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Luis Mejia Guerrero, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 37 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On Dec. 6, 2021, Guerrero pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
According to court documents, in the fall of 2018, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew led by Djuna Goncalves. The investigation revealed that Goncalves worked with others to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations at a family home in Brockton. The neighborhood surrounding the crew’s Brockton base has been the scene of numerous murders, shootings and other crimes of violence for several years.
The investigation identified Guerrero and other members of his Boston-based drug cell as cocaine suppliers to Goncalves’s crew. Guerrero and others distributed cocaine on a daily basis out of a stash house in Dorchester. Intercepted communications indicated that Guerrero negotiated cocaine deals for co-conspirators and delivered drugs to customers. In May 2019, Guerrero was arrested along with his partner, Luis Alfredo Baez, after a kilogram of cocaine being transported to the stash house was intercepted.
On June 23, 2021, Baez was sentenced by Judge Gorton to 41 months in prison. Goncalves pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2022.
In total, 17 individuals were indicted in wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Lawrence to Cape Cod. Guerrero is the 13th defendant to be sentenced in this 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 Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; and Brockton Police Acting Chief Steve Williamson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Barnstable Man Sentenced for Selling "Ghost Guns"Read the Press Release
BOSTON – A Barnstable man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling four “ghost guns” to an undercover agent.
Jacob Linhares, 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Dec. 21, 2021, Linhares pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Between May 25, 2020 and June 15, 2020, Linhares, sold four Privately Made Firearms (PMFs) he had personally fabricated to an undercover agent. PMFs are not made by firearm manufacturers, but are rather from firearm parts purchased from firearm manufacturers and assembled by the buyer using various drilling tools and machinery to construct a functional firearm. PMFs do not have serial numbers and are commonly known as “ghost guns” because they are not serialized and are thus untraceable to a purchaser or owner.
Over this three-week period, Linhares arranged through phone calls and text messages involving coded language to meet with the undercover agent covertly in parking lots. During the fourth sale, Linhares agreed to take a commercially manufactured firearm as part of the payment. Due to prior felony convictions, Linhares is prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Barnstable County District Attorney Michael D. O’Keefe; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend; and Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Rollins’ Organized Crime and Gang Unit is 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.
Agreement Reached with City of Springfield Reforming its Police Department’s Unconstitutional PracticesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division today filed a complaint and a proposed consent decree with the City of Springfield, Massachusetts to resolve its investigation of the Springfield Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau. This is the first pattern or practice police investigation to be resolved through a settlement under the Biden Administration.
The Settlement Agreement, in the form of a proposed consent decree, which must be approved by a Federal District Court Judge, would resolve the United States’ claim that the City and the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force that deprived individuals of their rights under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Under the Agreement, the Springfield Police Department will improve policies and training related to officers’ use of force. These improvements will ensure that officers avoid force whenever possible through the use of de-escalation tactics; that officers know when force can and cannot be used; and that officers report all instances where force is used. In addition, the Springfield Police Department will provide better supervision to officers and improve internal investigations of complaints of officer misconduct. When officers violate use-of-force policies, the decree will ensure that the Springfield Police Department holds officers accountable.
The Agreement also provides for the federal judge to appoint an independent monitor, with the title of Compliance Evaluator, based on the recommendation of the parties. The Compliance Evaluator will assess Springfield’s implementation of the decree’s requirements and file public reports with the court on Springfield’s progress.
“When communities don’t trust or fear law enforcement, it undermines public safety. Some within the Springfield Police Department, through their sustained and documented constitutional violations, have tarnished the name of the many upstanding and decent police officers working in Springfield,” said U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins for the District of Massachusetts. “Today is the first step in repairing the harm and mistrust their misconduct and violence caused. After lengthy negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that includes significant and sustainable reforms to ensure effective and constitutional policing going forward in the City of Springfield. This is the first police misconduct Settlement Agreement entered during the Biden Administration. Our U.S. Attorney’s Office will always protect the constitutional rights of Massachusetts residents.”
“The public’s trust in law enforcement is a critical component of promoting public safety. Excessive force erodes that trust and makes our communities less safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This consent decree will rebuild the public’s trust by ensuring that Springfield officers who use excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment are held accountable. We look forward to working with city officials to ensure constitutional policing in every corner of the Springfield community and fostering better relationships between law enforcement and the community.”
The Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts initiated the investigation of the Springfield Police Department in April 2018 under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 34 U.S.C. § 12601. This law authorizes the Attorney General to file a lawsuit to address a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of their rights under the Constitution or federal law. In July 2020, the department announced findings that officers in SPD’s Narcotics Bureau, which has since been renamed the Firearms Investigation Unit, engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force. The department found that Narcotics Bureau officers often failed to report use of force incidents. At times officers’ reports were inconsistent with available evidence, including video and photographs.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section. This matter is being handled by Jennifer A. Serafyn, Chief of Rollins’s Civil Rights Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Leung and Torey Cummings of Rollins’ Civil Rights Unit.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Unit, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Winthrop Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Winthrop man pleaded guilty on Friday, April 8, 2022, in federal court in Boston to laundering over $335,000 in cocaine proceeds and distributing over 15 kilograms of cocaine.
Fabio Quijano, 58, of Winthrop, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Aug. 15, 2022. Quijano was arrested and indicted in February 2020. He was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in May 2020.
Quijano worked with at least two other men—including co-defendant Jairo Agudelo, who previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 57 months in prison—to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds derived from Quijano’s large-scale cocaine trafficking business.
On June 26, 2018, Quijano delivered $135,180 of cocaine proceeds to an undercover officer posing as a money laundering intermediary acting on behalf of a Colombian money broker. On Feb. 4, 2019, Quijano’s business partner delivered another $310,000 in drug proceeds to the undercover. And on Feb. 18, 2019, Agudelo attempted to deliver $200,000 to the undercover officer, on behalf of Quijano and his business partner, when he was stopped by police. Agudelo later admitted that Quijano had given him the $200,000 to launder.
On Feb. 20, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at the stash house operated by Quijano and his business partner, located in an apartment in Everett. Inside the apartment, investigators located nearly four kilograms of cocaine, over $310,000 in cash from prior drug sales, a hydraulic kilogram press, drug packaging materials and numerous drug ledgers.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement. Critical assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Revere Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Stoneham Man Sentenced for Identity Theft and Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoneham man was sentenced today for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance using stolen personal information.
Daniel Maleus, 34, was sentenced 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. On Nov. 2, 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.
In March 2020, in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which among other things, created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The PUA program, which in Massachusetts is administered by the Department of Unemployment Assistance, provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits.
Between April 2020 and April 2021, Maleus filed and conspired with others to file over 50 fraudulent PUA claims using the stolen personal information of others. Maleus used email accounts that he created in the names of the victims and directed payments from the fraudulent claims to bank accounts that he controlled. Maleus and his co-conspirators obtained $526,423 in PUA funds from this scheme.
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 Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations 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.
Money Launderer Previously Extradited from Spain Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced on Friday, April 8, 2022, in federal court in Boston for his role in a money laundering conspiracy.
Jose Ernesto Pujols, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to five years in prison. In July 2021, Pujols pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of money laundering.
In March 2011, investigators identified foreign banks accounts involved in a larger drug and money laundering investigation of targets in the United States and Colombia. Undercover agents communicated with Pujols and arranged a meeting at a restaurant in Woburn to pick up drug proceeds for wiring to these foreign bank accounts. On March 2, 2011, Pujols arrived at the meeting location and provided the undercover agents with approximately $100,000 in drug proceeds.
In May 2011, Pujols was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston. Pujols was subsequently located in Spain and arrested by Spanish authorities in September 2019. Pujols was held in Spanish custody and extradited to the United States in March 2021.
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. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bedford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil J. Gallagher and Stephen W. Hassink of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to possessing a 10 mm Glock pistol while a convicted felon. The defendant used the firearm to shoot a victim.
Joel Polanco, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2022. Polanco was charged by criminal complaint in December 2020 and subsequently indicted in January 2021.
In October 2020, Polanco was arrested after police responded to the area of Snow and Cherry Streets in Fitchburg following a report of a person suffering a gunshot wound to the leg. A witness reported seeing someone fitting Polanco’s description shoot the victim. In addition, surveillance videos showed a person fitting Polanco’s description carrying what appeared to be the black fanny-pack and holding an item in his hand that appeared to be a gun. Polanco shot the victim using a 10 mm Glock pistol which was later recovered from a black fanny-pack in the area of Snow Street.
Polanco is prohibited from possessing a firearm after being convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition and distribution of cocaine base in March 2011.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm 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; and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernst Martineau made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Bennett 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.
Career Cocaine Trafficker Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Vermont man with two prior federal convictions for drug conspiracy pleaded guilty on Friday, April 8, 2022, to his role in a drug trafficking organization.
Juan Ramos, 45, of Wardsboro, Vt., pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for July 21, 2022.
From 2015 through 2016, Ramos purchased cocaine from a co-conspirator and distributed the drugs in Massachusetts and various customers in Vermont. Ramos also promoted his co-conspirator and introduced this source of supply to another individual. In total, Ramos distributed over 500 grams of cocaine.
Ramos has two prior federal convictions for cocaine distribution conspiracy. In 2002, Ramos was convicted in the District of Vermont and was sentenced to nine years in prison. In 2010, Ramos was convicted in the Southern District of New York and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Pursuant to Ramos’ pleas agreement, he faces a sentence of at least eight years and up to 12 years in prison. The charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Vermont State Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Curley, Neil L. Desroches and Steven H. Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Office are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Brockton Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy that Spanned Across Southeastern MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy that spanned from Boston to Brockton to Cape Cod.
Jermaine Gonsalves, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 115 months in prison and six years of supervised release. On Sept. 22, 2021, Gonsalves pleaded guilty to 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.
In the fall of 2018, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton drug trafficking organization (DTO) headed by brothers Djuna and Cody Goncalves that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations on Addison Avenue in Brockton. The investigation identified Gonsalves as a member of the DTO who drove Djuna to pick up fentanyl from suppliers and deliver it to customers. The investigation also targeted several Boston-based drug suppliers to the Goncalves brothers.
A search of Gonsalves’ residence during the investigation resulted in the seizure of a loaded 9-millimeter Luger semiautomatic pistol, .40 caliber ammunition, approximately 43 suboxone strips, a digital scale, a pistol light and a bag of cutting agents.
Gonsalves was indicted in a superseding indictment in June 2019 along with 16 others as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Gonsalves has a prior federal drug trafficking conviction and a conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon. Gonsalves is the 12th defendant to be sentenced in the case. All of the remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
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; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Officer with VehicleRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 7, 2022, to assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer while fleeing a motor vehicle stop.
Tykeam Jackson, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Sept. 13, 2022. Jackson was arrested and charged in August 2020.
On July 27, 2020, a deputized federal law enforcement officer stopped Jackson in Avon for speeding and instructed him to exit his vehicle. Instead, Jackson accelerated the vehicle with such force that the officer was dragged for several feet and thrown to the ground. Jackson then sped away, drove in and out of a public parking lot where he swerved around pedestrians and other vehicles, ignored traffic signals and drove into oncoming traffic, eventually travelling at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour in the breakdown lane of Route 24. After attempting to cross all three travel lanes, Jackson lost control of the vehicle and crashed head-on into the guardrail. He exited the vehicle, ran across Route 24 and was subsequently found running into and obstructing traffic on a nearby roadway.
According to court documents, at the time of the offense, Jackson was on probation resulting for an armed robbery conviction in Suffolk Superior Court.
The charge of assaulting a federal officer provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Hoefle of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is 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.
Florida Man Arrested for Lewd Behavior on a Flight from Newark to BostonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was arrested today for allegedly performing a lewd act aboard an aircraft in flight from Newark to Boston on Friday, April 8, 2022.
Donald Edward Robinson, 76, of Bonita Springs, Fla., was charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Robinson was arrested this morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, on or about April 8, 2022, Robinson allegedly engaged in masturbation and exposed his penis to a 21-year-old female passenger seated next to him while onboard a flight from Newark to Boston. Robinson then placed his hand on top of the victim’s thigh without her consent.
Shortly after departure, the victim recorded a 24-second video of Robinson allegedly fondling and manipulating his penis through his pants. A short time later, it is alleged that the victim looked over and saw that Robinson had exposed his penis. Approximately five minutes before landing, Robinson allegedly placed his hand on the victim’s thigh, prompting the victim to ask why he was touching her, to which Robinson withdrew his hand and looked out the window. It is alleged that the victim then got the attention of another passenger and displayed a message on her phone, “Hi, this man assaulted me and touched my leg and is masturbating.”
During the deplaning process, the victim approached a flight attendant about the incident but was unable to point Robinson out due to the volume of passengers deplaning. It is alleged that security footage captured Robinson, upon exiting the secure area of the terminal, repeatedly looking back in the direction from which he came while proceeding to the baggage carousel level.
The charge of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Test Taker in College Admissions Case SentencedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A test taker who played a critical role in the college admissions case was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with accepting nearly $240,000 in payments to cheat on the ACT and SAT exams, and other tests.
Mark Riddell, 39, of Palmetto, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to four months in prison and two years of supervised release. Riddell was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and forfeit $239,449 – of which, the government has already collected $165,878. In April 2019, Riddell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
From 2011 through February 2019, Riddell conspired with William “Rick” Singer, and others, to cheat on college entrance exams in the United States and Canada. As part of the scheme, Riddell secretly took college entrance exams in place of students through the use of fake IDs with the student’s name but his picture with their registration. In other instances, he also posed as a proctor and corrected the students’ answers after they had taken the exam.
In many cases, Singer facilitated the cheating by counseling his clients to seek extended time on the exams, including by having their children purport to have learning disabilities in order to obtain the required medical documentation. Once the extended time was granted, Singer instructed the clients to change the location of the exams to one of two test centers: a public high school in Houston, Texas, or a private college preparatory school in West Hollywood, Calif. Singer had established relationships at those locations with test administrators Niki Williams and Igor Dvorskiy, who admitted to accepting bribes of $5,000 to $10,000 per test in order to facilitate the cheating scheme. Specifically, Williams and Dvorskiy allowed Riddell to take the exams in place of the students; to give the students the correct answers during the exams; or to correct the students’ answers after they completed the exams.
Singer typically paid Riddell $10,000 for each test. Singer’s clients paid him between $15,000 and $75,000 per test, with the payments structured as purported donations to the Key Worldwide Foundation charity Singer controlled or as purported consulting fees to his for-profit business The Key. In many instances, the students taking the exams were unaware that their parents had arranged for the cheating.
In total, Riddell received just under $240,000 for inflating scores for 24 students on 27 exams over the course of eight years.
Singer and Dvorskiy previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Williams pled guilty and was sentenced in December 2020 to one year of probation and was ordered to pay forfeiture of $12,500.
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 Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright and Kristen A. Kearney of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former USC Head Water Polo Coach Convicted by Jury in College Admissions SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former head coach of the University of Southern California (USC) water polo teams was convicted by a federal jury today in connection with soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate the admission of students to USC as purported athletic recruits.
This verdict represents the final conviction in the college admissions scandal involving William “Rick” Singer. 54 defendants have either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a federal jury.
Jovan Vavic, 60, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., was convicted following a five-week jury trial of conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and honest services wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 20, 2022. Vavic was arrested and charged in March 2019.
“With today’s conviction, the government has now held 55 individuals accountable for what is arguably one of the largest scandals in academia history. To say that the conduct in this case is reprehensible is an understatement. The rich, powerful and famous, dripping with privilege and entitlement, used their clout and money to steal college admissions spots from more hard-working, qualified and deserving students. This case was a righteous one and I could not be prouder of our prosecutors in securing this verdict,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.
“Today’s verdict proves that Jovan Vavic participated in a rigged system that robbed students of their right to a fair shot at getting into the University of Southern California. By taking $220,000 in bribes, Vavic fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for hard-working student athletes said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “We are grateful for the jury’s decision to hold him accountable.”
“Today’s guilty verdict proved that Mr. Vavic’s credibility and character was for sale,” said Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Office. “Without the willful participation of University coaches and officials like Mr. Vavic, this scheme would have failed at the outset. Instead, Mr. Vavic and others abused the positions they held at prestigious universities for nothing other than financial gain.”
“Today’s action shows that Mr. Vavic abused his position of trust for personal gain, and in doing so, damaged the reputation of the school and hurt the school and the legitimate students he was supposed to serve. That is unacceptable,” said Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office. “Deservedly, he will now be held accountable for his criminal actions.”
Mr. Vavic was a highly successful coach and served as head coach of the men’s and women’s water polo teams at USC for more than 20 years. During this time, he led the teams to a history-making more than a dozen national championships.
Evidence at trial established that Mr. Vavic participated in an illicit path that Singer, the scheme’s mastermind, dubbed the “side door”— securing admission to selective colleges via athletics, regardless of whether or not the students actually played the sports.
Beginning in at least 2013, Mr. Singer made payments to a USC account that funded Mr. Vavic’s team and paid private school tuition for his children. In return Mr. Vavic would flag students as purported water polo players to be admitted as recruited athletes. Mr. Vavic also agreed to recruit other coaches to join in the scheme.
Singer previously pleaded guilty and is schedule to be sentenced at a later date.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta, IRS CI SAC Simpson and DOE OIG SAC Harris made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Leslie A. Wright and Ian Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
UPDATE: In September 2022, the Court ordered a new trial for the defendant in this case.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to trafficking cocaine as part of a larger drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jean Aman, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 4, 2022.
Aman was charged along with 24 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.
Aman was identified as a drug runner and drug distributor for one of the main cocaine suppliers in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Intercepted communications and surveillance revealed Aman coordinated drug deals and participated in drug trafficking conduct, including meeting with a main cocaine supplier. A traffic stop following an observed cocaine deal recovered 62 grams of crack cocaine from Aman. During a subsequent search of Aman’s residence, magazine clips and ammunition, over 350 grams of cocaine, over 150 grams of cocaine base and over $195,000 in cash were recovered. In total, Aman was responsible for distributing approximately over one kilogram of cocaine base and nearly 400 grams of cocaine.
Aman is the first defendant to plead guilty in the case. The remaining defendants are pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 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 a lifetime 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.
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 with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Man Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted on sex trafficking and cocaine charges stemming from his alleged maintenance of a drug and sex trafficking hub operating out of a tent at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard (Mass and Cass).
Jonathan Vaughan, a/k/a “Ason,” 35, was indicted on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Vaughan will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Monday, April 11, 2022.
According to the indictment unsealed today, from at least June 2019 through October 2021, Vaughan recruited and trafficked three female victims to engage in commercial sex acts by means of threats of force, fraud and coercion. It alleged that in or about October 2021, Vaughan transported two of the victims for purposes of prostitution to another state. At the time of his arrest on state charges, on Oct. 13, 2021, Vaughan allegedly possessed 15 bags of cocaine intended for distribution to drug users.
“Sex trafficking is a heinous crime that inflicts immeasurable pain and trauma on victims and communities,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Vaughan allegedly preyed on and exploited multiple vulnerable victims, by coercion and by force, to engage in sex acts for his own financial benefit. He profited off of people’s pain. These alleged offenses are all too real – sex trafficking is happening all the time, even at this very moment, in our communities yet often goes unnoticed or ignored. No longer. My office will continue to work with community partners supporting victims and will use every means possible in our relentless pursuit to eradicate sex trafficking and the predators that perpetrate this violence and harm.”
“Vaughan is alleged to have used violence, threats, and drugs to coerce and control women, profiting financially by forcing them to perform sexual services for a fee and making it extremely difficult to escape,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ Boston Field Office. “Homeland Security Investigations is grateful to our partners at Barnstable Police Department and Boston Police Department for their collaboration in this case. Partnerships like these are critical to our mission to both investigate alleged human traffickers and help victims feel stable, safe, and secure.”
“The Barnstable Police Department recognizes the enormous impact on the victims and the community in these types of cases. We also know that human trafficking affects all walks of life and has extended its toxic reach to the Cape Cod community. Knowing these cases are often difficult for a single agency to investigate alone, we have dedicated Detective Katie Parache as a full time task force officer with the Department of Homeland Security Human Trafficking Task Force. Detective Parache will continue to work with state and federal partners to identify, target, and eradicate individuals that pray upon the vulnerable members of Cape Cod. We are grateful for these strong partnerships that allowed us to fully investigate this case and bring justice and peace to the victims,” said Barnstable Police Department Chief Matthew Sonnabend.
“The Boston Police Department is committed to identifying and investigating sex trafficking in order to provide safety to victims and hold offenders accountable for horrific crimes such as these. This individual took advantage of, and terrorized the most vulnerable members of our community. I would like to thank the members of the Boston Police Department who worked on this investigation as well as our law enforcement partners for the tremendous collaboration and coordination that enabled this violent offender to be brought to justice. This indictment serves as a clear message that this egregious behavior will never be tolerated,” said Gregory Long, Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston Police Department.
“Jonathan Vaughan is accused of sexually exploiting vulnerable women through force and coercion, and transporting them to other states,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Anyone who commits this heinous crime should know the FBI’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will rigorously pursue them, while providing their victims with the resources they need to recover from the trauma they have suffered.”
“My office is working diligently to address the harm inflicted by violent human traffickers while ensuring that victims of sexual exploitation have the supports and services they need and deserve. These indictments represent what we can do on behalf of both survivors and our communities when we collaborate across agencies. I’m grateful to the members of my Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit, the Boston Police Department, and our federal partners for their tireless work to hold a violent individual accountable and protect vulnerable members of our community from exploitation,” said Kevin R. Hayden, Suffolk County District Attorney.
According to court documents, dating back to at least 2019, Vaughan systematically preyed on women throughout Massachusetts, particularly in Boston and on Cape Cod. From at least late spring or early summer of 2021 until his arrest on state charges in mid-October 2021, Vaughan allegedly maintained a tent at Mass and Cass which he used as a hub for distributing drugs and recruiting and trafficking women.
Vaughan allegedly permitted his sex trafficking victims to stay in and bring “dates” back to his tent so long as he received the proceeds of the commercial sex acts that the women engaged in at his direction. It is alleged that he recruited victims in and around Mass and Cass and Downtown Crossing as well as on the internet, including over Facebook. According to court documents, Vaughan also brought his victims to hotels in locations such as Boston, Chelsea, Saugus, the Cape, as well as Queens and Manhattan, N.Y.
Vaughan is also alleged to have forced at least two of his victims to solicit themselves outdoors, by walking “the track” in areas such as Mass and Cass, Broadway in Chelsea and in and around Times Square in Manhattan, N.Y. Dating back to at least 2019, Vaughan allegedly engaged in both physical and sexual violence against his victims to manipulate them and to assert power and control over them. The investigation also revealed that Vaughan allegedly called himself “Ason the Pimp” and had a tattoo across his chest that states: “Pimp or Die.”
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this 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 charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud and 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 up to $250,000. The charges of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million dollars. 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, HSI SAC Millhollin, FBI Boston SAC Bonavolonta, Barnstable Police Chief Sonnabend, Suffolk County DA Hayden and BPD Acting Commissioner Long made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein 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.
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Opening Bank Accounts and Attempting to Purchase $83,000 Sports Car Using Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today to using two victims’ identities to open bank accounts and attempting to purchase an $83,000 Chevrolet Camaro.
Brandon Brouillard, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 13, 2022. Brouillard was indicted in June 2021.
In February 2021, Brouillard used the identity of a New Hampshire resident to open a bank account at Avidia Bank. Brouillard wired $108,000 to the Avidia Bank account from another individual’s Bank of America account. Brouillard also fraudulently obtained a New Hampshire driver’s license in the name of a New Hampshire resident, which he used to attempt to obtain a car loan from Capital One which was ultimately denied.
On April 17, 2021, Brouillard test drove a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro at a dealership in Norwood. After test-driving the Camaro, Brouillard agreed to purchase the sports car for $83,000 and paid for the vehicle with a cashier’s check made out to the dealership. Brouillard provided his Massachusetts driver’s license, proof of insurance, signed sales contract, Massachusetts application for registration and car title in connection with the purchase.
On April 19, 2021, Brouillard picked up the Camaro from the dealership. A few days later, the dealership learned that the account listed on the bank check provided by Brouillard was frozen. The dealership contacted Brouillard, who promised that he would wire $83,000 to pay for the car.
On April 26, 2021, an Arizona resident contacted local police and reported an attempted fraudulent wire transfer of $83,000 from the victim’s bank account. The victim reported that a fraudulent email purportedly from the victim was sent to the bank, requesting a wire transfer of $83,000 to pay for the victim’s “brother-in-law’s car.” The bank contacted the victim for verification, and the victim did not approve the transfer. Starting in or about September 2020, the victim’s accounts were compromised, and large fraudulent purchases were made and shipped to Brouillard’s address. It is estimated that approximately $500,000 of the victim’s funds were stolen.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a 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 $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.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins on the Acquittal of Seth Bourget and Joseph LavoratoRead the Press Release
“While we respect the jury’s decision, today’s verdict will not deter us from bringing these difficult cases. We believe that the allegations warranted the government’s investigation and charges.
Carrying a badge comes with enormous responsibility and obligations to not only enforce and abide by the law, but to respect the civil rights of people in your custody and care. That includes people in carceral facilities, many of whom are plagued with significant mental health issues, like the victim in this case.
This U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously investigate and when appropriate, prosecute allegations of civil rights violations. That also must be the case when the allegations are against Bureau of Prisons employees, who are themselves part of the Department of Justice system.
Our mission is not about winning or losing trials, but about pursuing justice. It is my hope that the light that was shed on these defendants’ conduct, and the undeniable physical harm caused to the victim, will result in positive improvements in our system.”
Sixth and Final MS-13 Member Involved in Murder of Teenage Boy in Lynn Sentenced to 23 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The sixth and final MS-13 member who participated in the July 2018 murder of a teenage boy, who was stabbed at least 32 times in a park in Lynn, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston.
Marlos Reyes a/k/a “Silencio,” 26, a Salvadorian national, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 23 years in prison and three years of supervised release. In July 2020, Reyes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, also known as RICO conspiracy, on behalf of the MS-13 gang. As part of his racketeering activity, Reyes participated in the 2018 murder of a teenager, who was murdered with extreme atrocity and cruelty, and with deliberate premeditation, in violation of Massachusetts law.
MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational street gang operating in Massachusetts and numerous other states, as well as countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. MS-13 gang members often commit acts of extreme violence against suspected rivals, those suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, and others who the gang views as a threat. In recent years, dozens of MS-13 members have been convicted of RICO conspiracy and other serious felonies in the District of Massachusetts. MS-13 is organized into “cliques” or branches operating in local territories. Reyes belonged to the “Sykos Locos Salvatrucha” clique of MS-13, which operated in the cities of Lynn, Chelsea and other parts of Massachusetts.
In November 2018, Reyes and five other MS-13 Sykos clique members were indicted following an investigation into the murder of a teenage boy, whose body found in a park in Lynn on Aug. 2, 2018. The six defendants in this case included five participants in the murder, as well as one longstanding member of the Sykos clique. In a related case, the government charged a juvenile co-conspirator who was the sixth person involved in the murder.
The evidence in this case, which included a recording of one of Reyes’s co-defendants describing the murder in graphic detail, revealed that the MS-13 gang members murdered the victim based on their mistaken belief that he may have been assisting law enforcement.
On July 30, 2018, the gang members lured the victim to a playground and at least four of them were armed with knives. The group pretended to be friendly with the unsuspecting victim and took him to a wooded area of the park where they surrounded the victim and repeatedly stabbed him to death. At least four of the six assailants stabbed the victim, while two others assisted at the scene. After killing the victim, the gang members left his body in the wooded area of the public park. An autopsy revealed that the victim suffered at least 32 sharp force trauma wounds consistent with being stabbed repeatedly, along with blunt force injuries to the head.
Reyes is the sixth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case. On Feb. 14, 2022, Erick Lopez Flores, a/k/a “Mayimbu,” was sentenced to 40 years in prison. On Feb. 15, 2022, Jonathan Tercero Yanes, a/k/a “Desalmado,” was sentenced to 33 years in prison. On Feb. 16, 2022, Henri Salvador Gutierrez, a/k/a “Perverso,” was sentenced to life in prison. On Feb. 18, 2022, Djavier Duggins, a/k/a “Haze,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison. On March 17, 2022, Eliseo Vaquerano Canas, a/k/a “Peligroso,” was sentenced to 43 years in prison.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; 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; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha, Kaitlin O’Donnell, and Philip Mallard of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.