District of Maine
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Entering U.S. after RemovalRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Mexican citizen was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for entering the United States after removal, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Following the acceptance of his guilty plea, U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Victor Rios-Merlin, 41, to time served (over two months).
According to court records, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Rios-Merlin in Caribou on March 3, 2020, after they stopped the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Immigration records showed that he had been removed from the U.S. in November 2016.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Police Week, Honors Maine Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
“We owe a profound debt of gratitude to the men and women of law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Frank said. “Law enforcement officers are in the community protecting all of us, day or night, even in the midst of this global pandemic. Here in Maine, we had many examples of heroic and selfless acts by police officers in 2019, including Waterville officer Timothy Hinton, who despite being shot in both arms by an assailant during a traffic stop last December, continued to pursue the shooter. And we will never forget Detective Benjamin Campbell of the Maine State Police, who died tragically in April of last year while assisting a motorist. The employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office are honored to work with our federal, state, local and tribal partners.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including Detective Campbell, who died on April 3, 2019, while assisting a stopped motorist on Interstate 95.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 p.m. (EDT). The online event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.
Augusta and Kennebec County Awarded Funds to Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has awarded $77,591 to the City of Augusta and $58,008 to Kennebec County to address the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
OJP awarded the grants as part of $850 million available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. This program allows eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. OJP is moving quickly, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving an application. OJP has also made statewide awards in addition to awards to local jurisdictions. A list of all awards is at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/cesf/awards.
“Public safety professionals in Maine are doing phenomenal work as they protect Mainers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “I hope these emergency grants to Augusta and Kennebec County will help keep our local partners safe on the job as they keep all of us safe.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment and distributing resources to hard-hit areas. Funds may also be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel.
Applications are due by May 29, 2020. OJP will fund successful applicants on a rolling basis as it receives applications. Grantees may apply the funds retroactively to January 20, 2020, subject to federal rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations. For more information, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553.
OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components is located at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Asks Public to Report Housing-Related Sexual HarassmentRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank is asking Mainers who have been the victim of housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current COVID-19 crisis to report such practices to the Department of Justice.
“While the vast majority of landlords have been incredibly understanding and accommodating to their tenants during this crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Frank, “there have been reports of some landlords who have responded to requests to defer rent payments with demands for sexual favors and other unwelcome sexual conduct. This behavior is reprehensible and will not be tolerated. The Attorney General has asked all U.S. Attorneys to investigate reports of housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current crisis, and my office and the Department of Justice are ready to do whatever we can to stop this predatory behavior.”
In October 2017, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice launched an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. Since launching the initiative, the Department has filed 14 lawsuits alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing. Recently, for example, the Department settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against the owners and managers of Kansas rental properties alleging that one of the owners sexually harassed numerous tenants. The owners agreed to pay $160,000 in damages and civil penalties to resolve the lawsuit.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing can call the DOJ Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178, or send an email to [email protected], describing your experience or the experience of someone you know.
New York Man Sentenced for Interstate Transportation of Stolen GoodsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to transport stolen goods, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Bunny Hibbert, 37, to time served (approximately 14 months). In addition, Judge Levy ordered Hibbert to pay $115,666.63 in restitution to Home Depot. Hibbert pleaded guilty on February 18, 2020.
According to court documents and information provided at sentencing, from October 2018 until February 2019, Hibbert and two other individuals stole numerous items from Home Depot stores in Maine and four other New England states. They transported the stolen goods to the New York City area and sold them through an online marketplace. They stole merchandise worth $115,666.63. Police arrested Hibbert and one other conspirator in Auburn, Maine on February 21, 2019, when they attempted to steal items from the Auburn Home Depot.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Auburn Police Department investigated the case.
Lewiston Awarded over $85,000 to Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has awarded $85,314 to the City of Lewiston to address the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
OJP awarded the grant as part of $850 million available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. This program allows eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. OJP is moving quickly, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving an application. OJP has also made statewide awards in addition to awards to local jurisdictions. A list of all awards is at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/cesf/awards.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment and distributing resources to hard-hit areas. Funds may also be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel. In announcing the grant, U.S. Attorney Frank stated, “my hope is that this grant will help Lewiston combat the coronavirus that has so disrupted our lives.”
Applications are due by May 29, 2020. OJP will fund successful applicants on a rolling basis as it receives applications. Grantees may apply the funds retroactively to January 20, 2020, subject to federal rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations. For more information, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553.
OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components is located at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services throughout the week. This year’s observance takes place April 19–25 and features the theme, “Seek Justice | Ensure Victims’ Rights | Inspire Hope.”
“Every year, millions of Americans suffer the shock and trauma of criminal victimization, affecting their well-being and sense of security and dignity,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “To these victims, we affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting them in their hour of need. We also commend the thousands of victim advocates and public safety professionals who labor tirelessly to secure victims’ rights and support survivors.”
“Although we cannot undo the trauma crime victims suffer,” U.S. Attorney Frank said, “we can do everything in our power to ensure that the criminal justice process helps victims to heal and recover. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a time for all of us to reaffirm our support for victims and applaud those volunteers, victim service providers and criminal justice professionals who make it their mission to assist them.”
“While we have made tremendous progress driving down crime and violence across the country, far too many Americans continue to suffer the pain and loss of criminal victimization,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs. “This week, we stand by these survivors and their families, and we pledge our ongoing support to the countless men and women who serve them with such extraordinary skill and compassion.”
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims’ rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims. President Trump and his administration have implemented historic levels of support for victim assistance and victim compensation.
Some 3.3 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime in 2018, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is comprised of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local and tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. This year, many communities are organizing virtual gatherings and online public awareness campaigns.
This year’s commemoration began yesterday, 25 years to the day when a truck bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, taking the lives of 168 people, including 19 children, as well as injuring hundreds of others. The mass murder remains the worst act of domestic terrorism in our nation’s history and led to the establishment of the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which is administered by OVC, and has been used to provide direct services to hundreds of victims of mass violence and terrorism.
“Crime victims deserve to know that they have the encouragement and support of the American people,” said OVC Director Jessica E. Hart. “I hope that citizens throughout the nation will take the opportunity this week to remember all victims of crime and their heroic stories of survival. I encourage everyone to also find meaningful ways to express their appreciation to the many committed and compassionate service providers across the country who work tirelessly supporting these survivors.”
This year, the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony will be postponed until a time when we can honor this year’s award recipients in person. During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims. The awardees will be selected from public nominations in 11 categories, including federal service, special courage, public policy, and victim services. Visit www.ovc.gov/gallery to learn more about past recipients.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2020/overview.html.
U.S. Attorney Seeks Help from Healthcare Professionals in Reporting Hoarding and Price Gouging of Medical SuppliesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank sent a letter to the Maine Medical Association and Maine Hospital Association today, asking them to provide information to law enforcement about individuals and companies that may be acquiring or selling scarce medical supplies for the purpose of hoarding or price gouging.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who are trying to use the current pandemic to take advantage of Mainers,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “Law enforcement needs the assistance of medical professionals in identifying those who may have acquired crucial medical supplies in excess of what they could reasonably use, or for the purpose of charging exorbitant prices. These supplies should be in the hands of the brave healthcare workers who are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others.”
U.S. Attorney Frank sent the letter as part of a coordinated, nationwide effort to combat coronavirus-related fraud. Under the leadership of Attorney General William Barr, U.S. Attorneys appointed Coronavirus Fraud Coordinators to work with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners to protect the public from scammers who are attempting to prey upon fears. The Department is also committed to preventing hoarding and price gouging for critical supplies during this crisis. To address this, Attorney General Barr created the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force.
If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at [email protected]. Members of the public in Maine are also encouraged to email [email protected] to reach the office’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Perry.
Read U.S. Attorney Frank’s letter below.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Returning to U.S. after RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Honduran national was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for being found in the United States after removal, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Following the acceptance of his plea, U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Angel Isaula, 67, to time served (approximately three months).
According to court records, on January 7, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped a van in Turner, Maine. Isaula, who was inside the van, told the agents that he was in the U.S. illegally, after having been removed on two prior occasions. Immigration records showed that he had been removed from the U.S. in September 2013 and again in June 2014.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Presque Isle Woman Sentenced to over Nine Months for Passing Counterfeit MoneyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Presque Isle woman was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for passing counterfeit money, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Vicky LeClerc, 29, to a time-served sentence and two years of supervised release. LeClerc has been in federal custody since June 27, 2019. She pleaded guilty on December 4, 2019.
According to court records, in December 2018, LeClerc contacted a person who was selling clothes on Facebook. She stated that she wished to purchase the clothes for $20 and the seller agreed. She later met with the seller and paid for the clothes with a $50 bill. The seller became suspicious that the $50 bill was counterfeit because it did not feel correct. She brought the bill to the Presque Isle Police Department, which confirmed the bill was counterfeit. At the time of the sale, LeClerc was aware that the $50 bill was counterfeit.
The Presque Isle Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.
Ghanaian National Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Ghanaian national pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for identity theft, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Following the acceptance of his plea, Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced George Owusu-Ansah, 44, to a time-served sentence of 21 days.
On February 11, 2020, during a traffic stop, Owusu-Ansah presented a New Jersey driver’s license, issued in another person’s name, as his own to a Maine State Police trooper and U.S. Border Patrol agents. He later used the New Jersey driver’s license to travel out of state.
Border Patrol agents later learned Owusu-Ansah’s true identity. On February 16, 2020, agents detained him on immigration-related offenses, including an order of deportation. He was charged federally on March 13, 2020, and went into federal custody on that date.
The U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Returning to U.S. after RemovalRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for being found in the United States after removal, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Josue Calvo-Burguet, 37, to time served (approximately three months). Calvo-Burguet pleaded guilty on February 18, 2020.
According to court records, on January 7, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped a van in Turner, Maine. Calvo-Burguet, who was inside the van, told the agents that he was in the United States illegally, after having been removed on two prior occasions. Immigration records showed that he had been removed from the United States in March 2018 and again in July 2018.
Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and for health and safety reasons, Calvo-Burguet participated by telephone from the Cumberland County Jail. Telephonic sentencings were recently permitted by the U.S. Congress as part of the CARES Act. Yesterday the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine entered a general order permitting such telephonic proceedings.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Department of Justice Makes $850 Million Available to Help Public Safety Agencies Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: The Department of Justice today announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.
“Our state and local partners are on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank. “Through this new funding program, the Department of Justice is doing its part to ensure that our partners have the resources they need to continue protecting public safety in these challenging times.”
“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”
The solicitation, posted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will remain open for at least 60 days and be extended as necessary. OJP will fund successful applicants as a top priority on a rolling basis as applications are received. Funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities. Grant funds may be applied retroactively to Jan. 20, 2020, subject to federal supplanting rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for this emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations is at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations.
For more information about the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553. For more information about OJP, please visit https://www.ojp.gov/.
U.S. Attorney Urges Public to Report Suspected COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address [email protected].
In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. Some examples of these schemes include:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
- Fraudulently seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
- Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. U.S. Attorney Frank has named Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Perry as the district’s COVID‑19 Fraud Coordinator.
The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.
To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Nearly $60 Million in Grants Available to Support Prisoners’ Successful Reentry into Their CommunitiesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Nearly $60 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address public safety by supporting successful reentry of adult and juvenile offenders into their communities, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today.
“Our nation is facing difficult public safety challenges that demand strong and immediate action. The high rate of recidivism poses a dire threat to community safety and is being met with a robust response by this Administration,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this persistent challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including adult and juvenile reentry initiatives and research projects designed to improve our knowledge of what works in reentry programming.
A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future.
Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Reduction Strategies Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17104
Total Available $7.2 million Deadline 4/27/2020
Improving Community Supervision Outcomes through Swift, Certain and Fair Responses
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17096
Total Available $3 million Deadline 4/28/2020
Improving Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/SCASUD20
Total Available $13.2 million Deadline 4/27/2020
Innovations in Reentry Initiative: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce Recidivism
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17281
Total Available $4 million Deadline 5/4/2020
Research and Evaluation on Promising Reentry Initiatives
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17295
Total Available $6 million Deadline 5/5/2020
Review and Validation of the First Step Act Risk Assessment Tool
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-fsa
Total Available: Determined after selection Deadline 4/10/2020
Second Chance Act Community-Based Reentry Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17110
Total Available $13.5 million Deadline 5/4/2020
Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17680
Total Available $4 million Deadline 4/28/2020
Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/media/document/ojjdp-2020-17350.pdf
Total Available $7 million Deadline 4/28/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities
U.S. Attorney Announces More than $83 Million Available to Support School SafetyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: More than $83 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities improve school security and protect students, teachers and faculty from threats of violence, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today.
“School violence is no longer an abstract threat but has become a tragic reality in too many of America’s communities. Moving to meet this challenge is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to tighten school security and improve the reporting of threats.
A number of funding opportunities for school safety are currently open, with another opening in the near future:
Research and Evaluation on School Safety
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17308
Total Available $5 million Deadline 4/13/2020
STOP Act School Violence Program (FY20)
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17308
Total Available $71.4 million Deadline 4/13/2020
Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17926
Total Available $7 million Deadline 4/27/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities.
U.S. Attorney Announces More than $65 Million Available to Fight Human Trafficking and Help Trafficking VictimsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: More than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today.
“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors.
A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future.
Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17351
Total Available $1.8 million Deadline 4/6/2020 (Extended)
Multidisciplinary Task Force Program to Combat Human Trafficking
Total Available $22 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Preventing Trafficking of Girls
Total Available $1.7 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17324
Total Available $2.5 million Deadline 4/20/2020
Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $16.5 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $2 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Program
Total Available $5 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $6 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking
Total Available $8 million Opens week of 3/16/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities
U.S. Attorney Announces More than $163 Million Available to Fight Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: More than $163 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address America’s addiction crisis, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today.
“Our nation is facing the difficult challenge of curbing substance addiction, which threatens public safety and is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to prevent overdose deaths and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
A number of funding opportunities that address the addiction crisis are currently open:
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17098
Total Available $1.75 million Deadline 5/14/2020
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/COSSAP20
Total Available $27 million Deadline 5/21/2020
Enhancing Community Responses to America's Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims
https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-enhancing-community-responses-to-drug-crisis.pdf
Total Available: $19 million Deadline: 5/4/2020
Family Drug Court Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17090
Total Available $18.2 million Deadline 4/8/2020 (Extended)
Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17754
Total Available $28.1 Deadline 5/5/2020
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17051
Total Available $7.2 million Deadline 4/13/2020 (Extended)
Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-16930
Total Available $48 million Deadline 4/13/2020
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17352
Total Available $9 million Deadline 4/20/2020
Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17275
Total Available $1 million Deadline 4/20/2020
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners
https://bja.ojp.gov/RSAT20
Total Available $4.5 million Deadline 4/6/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities
U.S. Attorney Frank Appoints Experienced Prosecutor as COVID-19 Fraud CoordinatorRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank today announced that he has appointed an experienced Assistant U.S. Attorney to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of crimes related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Perry, a senior prosecutor in the Portland office, will serve as the COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator, overseeing federal prosecutions of virus scammers.
Attorney General William Barr has directed all U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the detection, investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct related to the current pandemic. “The pandemic is dangerous enough,” the Attorney General said, “without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated.”
“Criminals are already taking advantage of the anxiety caused by the coronavirus outbreak to peddle fake cures, send phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and install malware on apps designed to track the virus,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “This type of fraudulent activity is appalling. AUSA Perry, one of the most talented and experienced prosecutors in my office, will lead our efforts to stop these fraudsters.”
Individuals who believe they may have been the target of a coronavirus-related fraud scheme can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. More information about coronavirus scams is also available from the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus.
Biddeford, Maine Man Convicted of Hate Crime AssaultsRead the Press Release
Following a three-day jury trial, Maurice Diggins, 36, of Biddeford, Maine, was convicted today of conspiring to commit hate crimes and of actually committing hate crimes by engaging in a series of racially motivated attacks against black men in Maine, announced the Department of Justice.
“Today’s conviction demonstrates that the Department of Justice will not tolerate horrific racially-motivated attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The jury’s verdict reflects the sad fact that racism and violence remain linked more than 150 years after our nation abolished slavery. The Department of Justice will continue forcefully to prosecute race-based violations of our federal civil rights laws.”
“Today, a jury found Maurice Diggins guilty of committing three hate crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank of the District of Maine. “At trial, the government proved that Diggins conspired with his nephew, Dusty Leo, to brutally assault two men because they were black. In both cases, the men’s jaws required surgery to repair extensive damage. Diggins’ and Leo’s behavior was despicable. It violated America’s and Maine’s core values that all men are created equal, that they are entitled to pursue their lives without racial discrimination, and entitled to be safe from being assaulted because of the color of their skin. I am grateful to the jurors for their service, to the trial team for ably presenting the case, and to the federal defender for providing Mr. Diggins with the type of vigorous defense that our system provides to all defendants.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on April 15, 2018, defendant Diggins and his nephew, Dusty Leo (who previously pled guilty in connection with this case), committed two separate racially motivated assaults, one in Portland and one in Biddeford. In the Portland assault, which occurred just before 1:00 a.m., Diggins attacked a black Sudanese male without provocation, breaking the victim’s jaw. During that same incident, Diggins and Leo assaulted another black man who was standing nearby. Witnesses heard Diggins and Leo using racial epithets during the incidents.
In the second incident, which occurred approximately an hour later and approximately 20 miles away in Biddeford, defendant Diggins and Leo drove in Leo’s truck into the parking lot of a convenience store, where Diggins got out of the truck and approached a black man who was walking toward the store’s entrance. Diggins directed a racial slur at the man and distracted him while Leo got out of the truck and sucker-punched him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The unprovoked attack broke the victim’s jaw in several places.
Leo pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, admitting that he conspired to commit hate crimes and that he committed the hate crime against the victim in Biddeford.
Diggins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two hate crime charges, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. Leo faces the same penalties for the hate crime charge and conspiracy charge to which he pleaded guilty. They will be sentenced after the preparation of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Biddeford Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila Sawyer and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Timothy Visser.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.
Biddeford Man Convicted of Hate Crimes AssaultsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Following a three-day jury trial, Maurice Diggins, of Biddeford, Maine, was convicted today of conspiring to commit hate crimes and of actually committing hate crimes by engaging in a series of racially motivated attacks against black men in Maine, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank of the District of Maine.
“Today’s conviction demonstrates that the Department of Justice will not tolerate horrific racially-motivated attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The jury’s verdict reflects the sad fact that racism and violence remain linked more than 150 years after our nation abolished slavery. The Department of Justice will continue forcefully to prosecute race-based violations of our federal civil rights laws.”
“Today, a jury found Maurice Diggins guilty of committing three hate crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank of the District of Maine. “At trial, the government proved that Diggins conspired with his nephew, Dusty Leo, to brutally assault two men because they were black. In both cases, the men’s jaws required surgery to repair extensive damage. Diggins’ and Leo’s behavior was despicable. It violated America’s and Maine’s core values that all men are created equal, that they are entitled to pursue their lives without racial discrimination, and entitled to be safe from being assaulted because of the color of their skin. I am grateful to the jurors for their service, to the trial team for ably presenting the case, and to the federal defender for providing Mr. Diggins with the type of vigorous defense that our system provides to all defendants.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on April 15, 2018, defendant Diggins and his nephew, Dusty Leo (who previously pled guilty in connection with this case), committed two separate racially motivated assaults, one in Portland and one in Biddeford. In the Portland assault, which occurred just before 1:00 a.m., Diggins attacked a black Sudanese male without provocation, breaking the victim’s jaw. During that same incident, Diggins and Leo assaulted another black man who was standing nearby. Witnesses heard Diggins and Leo using racial epithets during the incidents.
In the second incident, which occurred approximately an hour later and approximately 20 miles away in Biddeford, defendant Diggins and Leo drove in Leo’s truck into the parking lot of a convenience store, where Diggins got out of the truck and approached a black man who was walking toward the store’s entrance. Diggins directed a racial slur at the man and distracted him while Leo got out of the truck and sucker-punched him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The unprovoked attack broke the victim’s jaw in several places.
Leo pleaded guilty on February 25, admitting that he conspired to commit hate crimes and that he committed the hate crime against the victim in Biddeford.
Diggins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two hate crime charges, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. Leo faces the same penalties for the hate crime charge and conspiracy charge to which he pleaded guilty. They will be sentenced after the preparation of presentence investigation reports by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Biddeford Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila Sawyer and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Timothy Visser.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee Inducted into American College of Trial LawyersRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in the country, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
The induction ceremony at which McElwee became a Fellow took place on March 7 in Tucson, Arizona.
McElwee’s induction with three other new inductees from Maine brings the total membership of Maine lawyers in the College to just 27. She is the fourth female attorney in Maine to be selected for membership in the College, and she is the first Maine prosecutor to be selected.
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the U.S. and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. Membership in the College is limited to one percent of the lawyers in an individual state.
McElwee has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney since 2002. She is a member of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and a past president of the Cumberland Bar Association. She has served on the adjunct faculty of the University of Maine School of Law and at the Maine Trial Lawyers College of Advocacy. She primarily prosecutes violent crime cases such as sex trafficking, interstate domestic violence and child sexual exploitation, as well as firearms and arson cases.
McElwee is a native of Caribou and a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law.
Brewer Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Brewer man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of two firearms, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on May 17, 2019, Brewer police officers found Jamey Brigley, 32, in possession of brass knuckles. He later physically resisted and struggled with an officer, and two additional officers had to assist in securing him. When officers searched his backpack following his arrest, they found two pistols, one of which had an obliterated, unreadable serial number. Brigley admitted that he knew he could not legally buy or own a firearm. He was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including convictions for Unlawful Possession of Oxycodone and Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs in 2015.
Brigley faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Brewer Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is 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. For more information about PSN, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psn.
Surry Man Sentenced for Trafficking in Counterfeit Pills Containing CarfentanilRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Surry man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Bangor for holding for sale counterfeit drugs, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Adam Fitzherbert, 55, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Fitzherbert pleaded guilty on September 3, 2019.
According to court records, on February 6, 2018, Fitzherbert was arrested at his residence in Surry while agents were executing a search warrant there. While executing the warrant, agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recovered 91 counterfeit Oxycodone HCL pills from Fitzherbert’s bedroom that were later found to contain carfentanil. Fitzherbert admitted purchasing the pills through a “dark web” marketplace.
“The opioid epidemic that has resulted in overdoses and deaths is a national public health crisis. Those who contribute to that crisis by illicitly distributing opioids, whether online or through conventional drug distribution methods, will be brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey J. Ebersole, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “The FDA is fully committed to disrupting and dismantling networks engaged in the manufacturing and sale of illicit opioids and counterfeit prescription drugs. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who threaten the health and safety of Americans by distributing dangerous products.”
FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Maine State Police, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Ellsworth Police Department investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Manchester, Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to threatening a federal agent, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Cody Lyon, 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of transmitting threatening interstate communications.
According to court records, in May and June 2019, agents with the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were investigating shipments of illicit goods to a residence in Maine. Lyon’s name came up during the investigation as a person of interest. After learning of the investigation, on June 15, 2019, Lyon left a series of threatening voicemail messages on the cellular phone of one of the FDA agents involved in the investigation.
Lyon faces a maximum penalty on each charge of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“As FDA’s criminal law enforcement arm, the Office of Criminal Investigations protects the American public by investigating illegal activities involving FDA-regulated products,” said Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field office. “Threatening any individual involved in the criminal investigation process will not be tolerated. We commend the efforts of the Department of Justice and our fellow federal and state law enforcement agencies for vigorously pursuing the prosecution of this matter.”
HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Maine State Police.
Auburn Man Convicted of Possessing Firearm after Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: An Auburn man was convicted yesterday following a two-day jury trial of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in June 2010, Willie Richard Minor, 59, was convicted of Assault in Maine Superior Court. The victim of the assault was his wife at the time. As a result of that conviction, Minor was prohibited from possessing firearms. In November 2016, Minor admitted to having a gun in an interview with the Auburn Police Department. The police subsequently recovered the gun he had described.
Minor was originally convicted and sentenced on the federal charge after a trial in December 2017. While the case was pending on appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision, Rehaif v. United States, that changed what the government is required to prove in certain federal firearm possession cases. As a result, the parties agreed to have the original conviction vacated, and the case was remanded for a new trial. At the second trial, the government was required to prove not only that Minor had been convicted of assaulting his wife, but also that he knew he had been so convicted and was aware of certain details of the conviction.
Minor faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Auburn Police Department, the Mechanic Falls Police Department, the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the FBI investigated the case.
Westbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Westbrook man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to distributing images of child exploitation, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in July 2018, Tyler Garnett, 22, used the social media application Kik Messenger to chat over the internet with another Kik user. During the chat, Garnett sent several images that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Later in 2018, the Westbrook Police Department investigated a CyberTip provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography that had been uploaded to another social networking service. The IP address used to upload the child pornography was assigned to Garnett’s residence in Westbrook. Detectives interviewed Garnett in December 2018. He admitted uploading the images that were the subject of the CyberTip and using Kik Messenger to find child pornography. He consented to a search of his mobile telephone, which contained numerous images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The phone also contained evidence of Kik chats in which Garnett distributed child pornography images.
Garnett faces a sentence of no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison. He also faces a $250,000 fine and from five years to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Westbrook Police Department, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the FBI investigated this case. The 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. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Portland Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Portland tax return preparer was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Portland for preparing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Ashraf Eldeknawey, 46, to six months in prison and one year of supervised release. Judge Hornby also ordered Eldeknawey to pay $97,191 in restitution to the IRS. Eldeknawey pleaded guilty on August 14, 2019.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Eldeknawey operated a tax return preparation business located inside the Ahram Halal Market in Portland from 2015 to 2018. He prepared fraudulent tax returns for clients on which he reported self-employment income that they did not earn. As a result, the clients received tax refunds to which they were not entitled. Eldeknawey also filed a 2014 tax return for himself on which he overstated the expenses associated with a painting business he operated.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division; the FBI; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit, investigated the case. Attorneys from the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Sentenced for Role in Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Dominican national residing in Massachusetts was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Enyel Mejia-Pimental, a/k/a “Gregori Velez-Sosa,” 28, to 40 months imprisonment. Mejia-Pimental pleaded guilty on March 29, 2019.
According to court records, Mejia-Pimentel was a primary drug courier for a drug trafficking organization based out of the Lawrence, Massachusetts area. The organization was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl to customers from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts between approximately April 2016 and March 2018.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sanford Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Buckfield Man Sentenced to over Eight Years for Cocaine Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Buckfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Joshua Morin, 33, to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Morin pleaded guilty on June 24, 2019.
According to court records, on January 2, 2019, after a police pursuit, Morin crashed his car and then continued to flee officers on foot. After officers apprehended him, they recovered a large amount of cocaine from his person and from just outside the car he had been driving. Police also recovered $20,000 cash at the scene of the crash. The cocaine weighed approximately 1.6 kilograms, or about 3.5 pounds. Morin told the police that he distributed the cocaine in ounce and half-ounce quantities.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State Police, the Lewiston Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.
Auburn and Leeds Residents Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Two Maine men were sentenced today in federal court in Portland for fentanyl trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Kevin Camp, 42, of Auburn, and Frank Lynch, 34, of Leeds, to six years and five years in prison, respectively. Judge Singal sentenced both men to three years of supervised release following their prison terms. Camp pleaded guilty on October 17, 2019, and Lynch pleaded guilty on October 28, 2019.
According to court records and the evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing, on January 26, 2019, Lynch obtained fentanyl from Camp and distributed it to another person. The recipient of the fentanyl ingested it and died. On January 27, 2019, law enforcement officers seized additional fentanyl intended for distribution from Camp’s person and from his residence.
The Auburn Police Department investigated the case.
New York Man Sentenced to 77 Months on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: Rochester, New York man was sentenced today in Bangor for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin and conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr sentenced Rashaad McKinney, a/k/a “Dawson,” a/k/a “D,” 28, to 77 months in prison and a three years of supervised release on the drug charge and a concurrent five year term in prison and three years of supervised release on the gun charge.
According to court records, between November 2016 and September 2017, McKinney conspired with others from Rochester and Central Maine to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack and heroin. The drugs were acquired in Rochester and sold in Central Maine. In addition, some of the people to whom McKinney sold drugs conspired with him to illegally obtain firearms from Augusta area firearms dealers. McKinney recruited straw-purchasers, gave them instructions on which firearms to purchase, and then paid them in cash or drugs to make the purchases using money that he provided. The firearms were then taken back to Rochester.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
New York Men Found Guilty of Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Two Brooklyn, New York men were convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin following a jury trial, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Melquan Jordan, (a/k/a “Squirrel”), 30, and Edward Canty III (a/k/a “Demo”), 31, on October 23, 2019, but today U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy denied the defendants’ motions for judgment of acquittal.
According to evidence presented at trial, Jordan and Canty conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin transported from outside Maine for distribution in Portland and Lewiston. Jordan’s distribution involved more than 100 grams of heroin. The other conspirators named in the indictment, Lamale Lawson (a/k/a “Bishop” and “King Bishop”), 28, of Brooklyn; Akeem Cruz (a/k/a “Vibe” and “Mello”), 29, of Brooklyn; and Christopher Rickett (a/k/a “Chris”), 32, of Portland, pleaded guilty in August 2019 to participating in the conspiracy. Sierrha Frisbie (a/k/a “Cici”), 27, of Portland, pleaded guilty in December 2018.
Jordan faces between 10 and 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine and between four years and life on supervised release. Canty faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and between three years and life on supervised release. All six defendants will be sentenced following preparation of presentence reports by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Portland and South Portland Police Departments; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI investigated the case.
Mapleton Man Sentenced to over Eight Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Mapleton man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Daniel Easler, 44, to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Easler pleaded guilty on August 27, 2019.
According to court records, on the evening of December 4, 2018, the Caribou Police Department received a call from a citizen stating that there was a vehicle off the road in a snow bank. Law enforcement responded to the scene. There was no one in the vehicle but there were footprints in the snow leading away from the vehicle. Officers followed the footprints and found Easler, a convicted felon, lying in the snow. A search of Easler revealed multiple firearms and ammunition. One of the firearms had previously been reported as stolen.
The Caribou Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
Hudson Man Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm After Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Hudson man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Charles Werenko, 52, to time served (2 ½ months) and two years of supervised release. Judge Walker found Werenko guilty following a one-day bench trial on October 3, 2019.
The evidence at trial revealed that in 2015, Werenko was convicted of domestic violence assault in the Penobscot County Superior Court. Following his conviction, he knowingly possessed a .357 Magnum revolver from an unknown date until January 31, 2019.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Owner of Lewiston Counseling Agency Sentenced for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lewiston woman was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to commit health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Nancy Ludwig, 64, to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Ludwig also was ordered to pay $660,902 in restitution to MaineCare. A jury had found Ludwig guilty of nine counts of health care fraud on June 14, 2019, after a five-day trial.
According to testimony at trial, Ludwig was the owner of Facing Change, a mental health and substance abuse counseling agency in Lewiston. Abdirashid Ahmed was a Somali interpreter. From about November 2015 until May 2018, Ludwig conspired with Ahmed and others to commit health care fraud. The evidence showed that beginning in February 2015, Ludwig agreed to pay Ahmed a kickback in return for Ahmed bringing MaineCare beneficiaries to Facing Change. Ludwig, Ahmed and other employees at Facing Change then submitted false claims to MaineCare for counseling and interpreter services. In 2016, in response to a MaineCare regulatory change, Ludwig and Ahmed conspired to change the diagnosis of many of those clients to schizophrenia so they could remain eligible to receive MaineCare reimbursement for services at Facing Change. In the fall of 2016, auditors with the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit audited Facing Change. Ludwig and many of her employees conspired to manufacture false records in an attempt to deceive the auditor. The fraud continued until May 1, 2018, when federal and state agents executed search warrants at Facing Change and Ahmed’s business.
The prosecution was the result of a three-year collaborative investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the FBI; and the Maine State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The investigation started because of the auditing work done by the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit.
New York Man Sentenced for Crack Cocaine and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Bronx, New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for distributing cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) and heroin, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Leanza Boney, a/k/a “G,” 22, to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Boney pleaded guilty on October 3, 2019.
According to court records, on March 22, 2019, Boney distributed crack and heroin to an undercover agent. At the time of the offense, Boney was on state probation following his conviction for a 2018 drug trafficking offense.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hancock and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Statement by U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank Regarding Sanctuary JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
In his speech today regarding so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, Attorney General Barr highlighted the dangers that sanctuary policies pose to public safety. Jurisdictions with these policies prevent or limit their law enforcement officials from working with their federal law enforcement partners. One way they do so is to refuse to honor detainers—formal requests to maintain custody of an alien for a limited period—issued by federal immigration officials for a removable alien in state or local custody following a criminal arrest. Another way is to prohibit state or local agencies from sharing information or otherwise cooperating with immigration officials.
Illegal aliens who commit crimes in this country and end up in state or local custody should not be able to avoid removal or other immigration consequences. Releasing criminal aliens in the face of immigration detainers imperils the public. Illegal alien criminals who have been released after law enforcement agencies have failed to honor detainers have gone on to commit additional crimes, including violent felonies. When state and local jurisdictions release criminal illegal aliens, immigration officials must locate and arrest them in the community rather than in the secure and controlled environment of a jail or prison.
Sanctuary policies prevent the collaboration and information-sharing among state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement officials that is critical to maintaining public safety. These misguided policies undermine the rule of law and endanger everyone.
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Waterville Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced William Stewart, 64, to 80 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Stewart was also ordered to pay $63,000 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on April 19, 2019.
According to court records, in May and June 2018, Stewart possessed thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child pornography that he had received over the internet. Many of the images and videos depicted prepubescent children under 12 years old. Law enforcement officers discovered the child pornography when they executed a search warrant at Stewart’s home on June 28, 2018.
In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock described the statements made by the victims of Stewart’s offense as “heartbreaking,” and told Stewart that what he had done was “just abhorrent.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Waterville Police Department investigated the case. The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Portland Resident of Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A former Portland resident was convicted yesterday of accessing with intent to view child pornography following a three-day jury trial, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, in July 2015, agents with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at the Portland home of George Royle V, 45. Agents seized a laptop computer under the warrant. A forensic analysis of the laptop showed that Royle had been accessing internet websites containing child pornography images with the intent to view them. He also had been using peer-to-peer file-sharing software to seek out child pornography.
Royle faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
Houlton Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: Houlton man was sentenced today in Bangor for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Larry O’Neal, 46, to 51 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release. O’Neal was found guilty on April 26, 2019 following a four-day jury trial.
Court records and trial evidence revealed that O’Neal was found with images of child pornography on his computer in January 2018, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. Agents began investigating O’Neal after his computer was observed on a peer-to-peer file sharing network as having files associated with child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Princeton Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Princeton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to distributing cocaine base (crack), United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on April 25, 2019, Robert McKenna, 48, sold crack to an undercover agent from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency at a residence in Indian Township, Maine.
McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. He also faces between three years and a lifetime of supervised release.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Nepalese Man Sentenced on Marriage Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Nepalese man currently residing in California was sentenced today in Bangor for marriage fraud and conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Eilove Shrestha, 28, to one month in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Shrestha pleaded guilty on July 8, 2019.
According to court records, on June 20, 2018, Shrestha, a Nepalese citizen then lawfully in the United States in a temporary status, agreed to pay a United States citizen $13,000 to marry him so he could obtain permanent resident status, also known as, a “green card.” Four days later, Shrestha flew to Maine and the two were married the next day. Before and after the wedding, Shrestha paid the United States citizen hundreds of dollars via wire transfers, while he continued to live and work in another state.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Brewer Police Department.
Hancock Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Hancock man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on February 13, 2019, law enforcement officers encountered William Smeal, 33, in Ellsworth, Maine. A bag containing over 100 grams of a substance containing fentanyl was seized from his car. Smeal admitted to purchasing drugs in Massachusetts that day. A search of Smeal’s home and an additional search of his car resulted in the seizure of more than another 100 grams of a substance containing of fentanyl.
Smeal faces between five years and 40 years in prison and up to a $5,000,000 fine. He also faces between four years and a lifetime of supervised release.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Attempted Drug RobberyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A New York City man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to conspiring and attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, in July 2016, Hector Munoz, 52, and others developed a plan to commit a robbery in Rangeley and steal controlled substances from a residence in the town. On July 28, 2016, Munoz and an unnamed conspirator entered the residence intending to take the controlled substances by using actual and threatened force, violence and fear of injury. Munoz and his conspirator were armed with knives and a baseball bat at the time of the attempted robbery.
Munoz faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine State Police; and the Rangeley Police Department investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Maine Office of the Attorney General.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Lawrence, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, between September 2017 and January 2018, Pedro Perez, 29, supplied another conspirator with multi-ounce quantities of cocaine for further distribution in the Portland area. On January 19, 2018, Perez supplied approximately 280 grams of cocaine to a member of the conspiracy. Law enforcement officers seized the cocaine in Scarborough during a traffic stop.
Perez faces between five and 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine and between four years and life on supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Portland Police Department investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Ellsworth Man Sentenced to over Seven Years for Two Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: An Ellsworth man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for robbing two banks, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Timothy T. Myers, 28, to 85 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Myers pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019.
According to court records, Myers entered a TD Bank branch in Bangor on December 21, 2018, and handed a teller a note that read, “Give me the money or I shoot, no dye, $1,000.” The teller gave Myers cash from the drawer and he absconded with it. Five days later, he robbed a KeyBank branch in Bangor. He entered the bank, walked to the table near the entrance and picked up a withdrawal slip on which he wrote, “Money now or I shoot, no dye.” He handed the note to a teller, took the money and fled the bank.
The Bangor and Ellsworth Police Departments, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the FBI investigated the case.
South Portland Man Sentenced to Prison for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A South Portland man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
Chief Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Patrick Clark, 53, to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. Clark pleaded guilty on July 16, 2019.
According to court records, on January 4, 2019, pursuant to a search warrant, U.S. Postal Inspectors seized a package that had been addressed to the defendant at his apartment, and found approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine inside. Law enforcement officers then executed a second search warrant at the defendant’s apartment. In the bedroom where Clark was present, they found 11 grams of methamphetamine, more than $800 cash and a digital scale.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Clinton Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud and False StatementsRead the Press Release
Bangor Maine: A Clinton woman pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court in Bangor to Social Security fraud and making false statements, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, from about August 2006 through March 2019, Katherine Prosper, 61, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), concealed the presence of her husband in her household in order to maintain her eligibility to receive benefit payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled, or elderly. Prosper’s husband had sufficient income to render her ineligible for the benefits she received during that period. In multiple reviews of her eligibility for benefits, Prosper falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) that she was living alone and not receiving help or money from any other person during this time. At an interview with law enforcement agents, Prosper admitted to concealing her living situation from SSA because she knew it would make her ineligible to receive SSI.
Prosper faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on both charges, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Litchfield Woman Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling from Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: A Litchfield woman was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for committing wire fraud affecting a financial institution, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Jessica Childs, 39, to 13 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Childs pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019.
According to court records, Childs was the Finance Director of Women Unlimited (WU), a non-profit organization located in Augusta. As the Finance Director, Childs had access to the company’s bank accounts, credit cards and accounting system. Beginning in about February 2010, and continuing until September 2015, Childs used WU’s credit card to make personal purchases, frequently over the internet. She also obtained cash advances with the card and used the cash for personal purchases. She then used WU funds to pay the charges she had fraudulently incurred on the company card without WU’s knowledge or authorization.
In imposing sentence, Judge Hornby described Childs’s conduct as inexcusable, flagrant and prolonged. He also noted that her crime had an enormous impact, both directly on WU and its employees and indirectly on the individuals WU had served.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.