Eastern District of Michigan
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
United States Attorney's Office in Conjunction with Royal Oak Public Schools Welcome the Detroit Tigers Winter Caravan to Hold A Forum on Anti-Bullying “Strike Out Bullying - Strategies for Protecting Your Child“Read the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office, along with Royal Oak Public Schools join the Detroit Tigers Winter Caravan in an effort to increase awareness about bullying prevention. The Detroit Tigers’ “Strike Out Bullying” initiative in partnership with the Detroit Newspapers In Education, the Department of Justice’s Anti-Bullying Prevention initiative as well as the Royal Oak Schools’ prevention efforts aim to bring attention to the widespread and often underreported problem of bullying in schools.
Bullying creates a climate of fear in schools, playgrounds and neighborhoods. Victims of bullying suffer from a wide range of psychological and school-related problems including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and even suicide. One of the key components critical to the success of any anti-bullying effort is community outreach. In an effort to bring law enforcement and the community together to discuss this very important issue, a town hall meeting entitled "Strike Out Bullying - Strategies for Protecting Your Child" will be held at Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 on Thursday, January 24, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin has graciously offered to host the town hall and United States Attorney Barbara McQuade along with Fox Sports Detroit broadcaster Mario Impemba will moderate the event.
Highlighted speakers will include Barbara L. McQuade, United States Attorney, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III and 2012 American League Champions Alex Avila and Phil Coke. Avila and Coke a will speak about bullying and how children can root out this serious problem.
United States Attorney McQuade stated, "Preventing bullying, both online and in person, is part of our violent crime reduction strategy. We do not accept that subjecting children to harassment and intimidation is a necessary part of growing up. Instead, we want to give children strategies for dealing with bullying so that they can be successful students."FBI Special Agent in Charge Foley stated, "Raising awareness about the dangers of bullying and intimidation in schools is a crucial part of the FBI's anti-bullying philosophy. Our goal is to educate students about the importance of stopping bullying and supporting a safe and friendly environment for learning. The FBI is committed to working together to ensure students make healthy choices and continue to respect one another's differences."
Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Lewis-Lakin stated, "Royal Oak Schools strives to be a community of excellence, a place where all students experience success. We welcome opportunities to work collaboratively in private and public partnerships on initiatives that address critical student needs. We welcome this opportunity to work together with the Detroit Tigers and the U.S. Attorney's Office on making our schools positive, safe, bully-free zones for student success."
This is a free, ticketed event however, tickets are no longer available. The event is open to the media. If you have any questions, please contact Gina Balaya, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office at [email protected] or call (313) 226-9758.
Podiatrist Sentenced to 55 Months in Prison in Connection with $1.6 Million Medical Billing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FLINT, Michigan – A Fenton podiatrist was sentenced in Bay City yesterday to 55 months in prison for his participation in a $1.6 million fraudulent medical billing scheme.
The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the HHS Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
Richard Alan Behnan, D.P.M., 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington in Bay City, Michigan. In addition to his prison term, Behnan was ordered to pay $1,427,133.12 million in restitution to Medicare, and $196,956.54 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, jointly and severally with his podiatric assistant and co-defendant, Kelly Morel.
Behnan pleaded guilty on November 21, 2011, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to the plea documents, beginning approximately in 2000 and continuing to at least December 2010, Behnan, a traveling podiatrist who operated across Michigan, including Bay City, Flint, Detroit and Lansing, provided services to patients at various senior centers and assisted living facilities. Behnan and Morel submitted claims to Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for nail avulsion procedures, when in fact they had merely trimmed and polished the patients’ toenails - a form of routine foot care not covered by Medicare. In some instances, Behnan submitted claims for nail avulsion procedures he claimed to have performed at a time when he was outside of the United States. In total, Behnan billed and received a total of $1,624,089.66 in fraudulent claims.Kelly Morel, who had pleaded guilty May 26, 2011, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney McQuade stated, “"We hope that cases like this one will alert doctors and other health care providers that defrauding taxpayers through Medicare fraud is a serious crime that will land them in prison."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Foley stated, “"Those who commit health care fraud by illegally billing Medicare for services never performed are stealing money from all taxpayers. The FBI is vigorously committed to stopping these criminal acts."
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG. and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
Final Defendant in Detroit Drug Conspiracy Case Sentenced to Lengthy Prison TermRead the Press Release
The final defendant in a Detroit narcotics conspiracy was sentenced today to almost ten years in prison, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge David McCain, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division.
Chief United States District Judge Gerald E. Rosen sentenced Tyrone Wooten, 26, of Detroit, to 114 months in prison. Wooten pleaded guilty in September to Conspiracy To Distribute Controlled Substances. Wooten was charged as one of the co-leaders of the drug conspiracy. The indictment charged seven defendants with participating in the conspiracy to distribute at least 280 grams of crack cocaine and more than a kilogram of heroin.During the investigation, a search warrant at a Detroit home uncovered 79 grams of crack cocaine and 15 grams of heroin, along with packaging materials and other narcotics paraphernalia.
In addition to Wooten, each of the charged defendants pleaded guilty to narcotics charges and were sentenced as follows; Stefan Toliver, 100 months; George Wooten: 60 months; Rashawn Marcel Jones: 180 months; Ryan Terrel Jones: 49 months; Jabron Poydras: 32 months and Maurice Curry: 168 months.
“We are focusing our drug enforcement efforts on drug trafficking organizations, which can lead to violence in our neighborhoods,” McQuade said. “We hope that prosecutions like this one can improve public safety for residents in our community.”
U.S. Attorney McQuade thanked the ATF for their work in the successful investigation of the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Gillooly.Flint Store Owner Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
A 55-year-old Flint man was sentenced to more than four years in prison and more than $600,000 in restitution on Jan. 8, 2013, for conspiring to commit food stamp fraud, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Joe N. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of USDA - Office of Inspector General and Robert D. Foley, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Detroit.
U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith sentenced Noha T. Fofana to 51 months in federal prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Fofana was also ordered to pay $612,980.96 in restitution to the USDA-Food and Nutrition Service. This amount is to be paid jointly and severally with Fofana’s co-defendant, Akhir K. McFarland, who was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2012, to 16 months in federal prison for his participation in the conspiracy.
Evidence introduced during the trial established that Fofana, the owner of Mandingo African Market, redeemed more than $750,000 in food stamp benefits from February 2009 to July 2011, approximately $612,000 of which was obtained utilizing fraudulent "food stamps-for-cash" exchanges. The U.S. Department of Agriculture -- Office of Inspector General, (USDA-OIG) which funds the food stamp program, calculated that during that same time period, Mandingo's average food stamp redemption amount was $26,798 per month - compared to an average of $5,479 monthly redemption for other convenience stores in the area.
Witnesses testified during the trial that Fofana and others conspired to fraudulently submit bridge card numbers for cash benefits. Members of the conspiracy agreed to pay customers, including undercover law enforcement agents, roughly 50 cents for each $1 charged against their cards.
USDA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Joe N. Smith stated, "The Office of Inspector General (OIG) will continue to dedicate resources to the investigation of retailers who commit fraud in vital USDA food assistance programs. OIG's objectives are to protect the integrity of USDA nutrition assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and to stop unscrupulous retailers such as Noha Fofana from taking advantage of low-income individuals during these tough economic times. As we conduct fraud investigations throughout the State of Michigan, we appreciate the support of our Federal and State law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office's long-term commitment to prosecuting crimes against SNAP."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Foley stated, “"Crimes involving food stamp fraud steal funds from a system designed to feed those in need. The FBI is committed to stopping this type of illegal activity."
“Taxpayers fund food stamps to provide food for the needy, not to create a revenue stream for store owners,” McQuade said. “We hope that other merchants will become aware of prosecutions like this one and be deterred from engaging in similar fraud schemes.”The case was investigated by special agents from the United States Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General and special agents of the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by the Flint branch of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Detroit Man Sentenced Following Federal Weapons ConvictionRead the Press Release
A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by David McCain, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Jerry Burton, 31, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and will serve two years of supervision following his release from federal prison. Burton pleaded guilty last October and was sentenced by Judge Nancy G. Edmunds on January 8, 2013. The court noted that Burton’s numerous previous convictions demonstrated that he was a continuing danger to the community.
During the guilty plea and in memoranda and argument submitted to the court at sentencing, the evidenced showed that ATF agents identified Burton as someone who had expressed an interest in illegally selling firearms in Detroit. On January 4, 2012, Burton sold an assault rifle to an undercover agent and an undercover Detroit Police Office. The semi-automatic rifle was fully functional and capable of accepting a magazine that holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Burton also sold the undercover officers two 30-round, large capacity magazines, one of which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said: “We are committed to removing dangerous weapons from the hands of felons and from those engaged in illegal gun sales. We believe that removing illegal guns from our streets will help reduce our intolerably high homicide rate.”
McQuade praised the work of the Detroit Police Officers and ATF agents, demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and professionalism in their aggressive and thorough investigation of the case.