District of Nevada
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Las Vegas Man Charged for Unlawfully Manufacturing and Selling Privately Made Firearms, Including Machine Gun Conversion Devices, Without A Federal Firearms LicenseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday for allegedly possessing a machine gun, and for allegedly engaging in the manufacturing and selling of privately made firearms, including machine gun conversion devices commonly referred to as “Glock Switches” — which are designed to convert semi-automatic pistols to fire automatically — without a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
Clarence Meekins (36) is charged with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of engaging in the business of dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 17, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts.
According to allegations in the complaint, between March 23 and April 11, 2022, Meekins sold privately made 3-D printed firearms and Glock Switches. On April 28, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants on Meekins’ vehicle and residence. During the searches, law enforcement seized a rifle, a shotgun, a .38 revolver, 3-D printers, machine gun conversion devices, 3-D pistol frames, and various magazines and ammunition. Meekins does not have an FFL, which is required to engage in the business of dealing or manufacturing firearms.
Meekins has prior felony convictions in Nassau County, New York, including possession of a controlled substance, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Accordingly, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The statutory maximum penalties are 10 years in prison for illegal possession of a machine gun, and five years in prison for engaging in the business of dealing or manufacturing firearms without a license.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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California Convict Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Detention OfficersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A convicted felon detained at the Nevada Southern Detention Center (NSDC) was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for assaulting two officers before a riot at the facility.
Mekivil Julius Franklin, 51, of California, pleaded guilty on December 21, 2021 to two counts of assault of a federal officer. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Franklin to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2020, detention officers at the NSDC responded to a physical altercation between two detainees in a cell block. After officers broke up the fight, a group of detainees surrounded them. Franklin first sucker punched an officer in the face and knocked him unconscious, and then he punched another officer in the face and body.
After the assaults committed by Franklin, detention officers vacated the cell block. Detainees proceeded to initiate a prison riot. Franklin was an active participant in the riot, and he was ultimately among the last group of detainees to surrender. At the time, Franklin was housed at NSDC temporarily while in transit to his final Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, having been convicted and sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in the Northern District of California.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
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Nevada Man Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraudulent Check SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Nevada man with using fraudulent checks to steal money from victims’ bank accounts. Michael Zeto, 76, of Las Vegas, is charged in a 20-count indictment with wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, Zeto partnered with foreign telemarketers who provided Zeto with the names, bank account numbers and other personal information for American consumers who supposedly had purchased products. These consumers often had not, in fact, agreed to purchase the products and had not authorized anyone to debit their bank accounts.
Zeto allegedly knew that at least one of his telemarketing partners was engaged in fraud, that many of the supposed sales sent by his telemarketing partners were not real sales and that consumers had not authorized debits from their bank accounts. Despite knowing that sales were fraudulent, the indictment alleges that Zeto (using the information provided by his telemarketing partners) created fraudulent checks payable to companies he controlled and arranged to open accounts with banks and payment processors in the United States to deposit the fraudulent checks — thereby taking and attempting to take millions of dollars from victims’ accounts. The indictment also alleges that Zeto knew that many of the victims were older Americans and that he took steps to reduce the likelihood that financial institutions would scrutinize, and possibly close, the bank accounts into which he was depositing the fraudulent checks.
“The defendant is charged with acting as a vital link in a scheme with foreign telemarketing partners to defraud American victims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting older Americans from fraud, including people who knowingly help fraudsters.”
“This indictment reflects our office’s commitment to bring to justice criminals who prey on the elderly,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Working closely with the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute fraudsters who target seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).”
“Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable people in society,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. "The Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting customers from fraud schemes for many years and we will continue to investigate and stop those who exploit older Americans for their own illegal gains.”
“This indictment charges the defendant for his alleged role in a fraudulent check scheme that took and attempted to take millions of dollars from the bank accounts of American consumers,” said Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Enstrom of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who seek to defraud banking customers and threaten the integrity of the banking system.”
If convicted, Zeto faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for wire fraud and 30 years for bank fraud and a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Daniel Zytnick and Timothy Finley of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nevada Man Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraudulent Check SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Nevada man with using fraudulent checks to steal money from victims’ bank accounts. Michael Zeto, 76, of Las Vegas, is charged in a 20-count indictment with wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, Zeto partnered with foreign telemarketers who provided Zeto with the names, bank account numbers and other personal information for American consumers who supposedly had purchased products. These consumers often had not, in fact, agreed to purchase the products and had not authorized anyone to debit their bank accounts.
Zeto allegedly knew that at least one of his telemarketing partners was engaged in fraud, that many of the supposed sales sent by his telemarketing partners were not real sales and that consumers had not authorized debits from their bank accounts. Despite knowing that sales were fraudulent, the indictment alleges that Zeto (using the information provided by his telemarketing partners) created fraudulent checks payable to companies he controlled and arranged to open accounts with banks and payment processors in the United States to deposit the fraudulent checks — thereby taking and attempting to take millions of dollars from victims’ accounts. The indictment also alleges that Zeto knew that many of the victims were older Americans and that he took steps to reduce the likelihood that financial institutions would scrutinize, and possibly close, the bank accounts into which he was depositing the fraudulent checks.
“The defendant is charged with acting as a vital link in a scheme with foreign telemarketing partners to defraud American victims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting older Americans from fraud, including people who knowingly help fraudsters.”
“This indictment reflects our office’s commitment to bring to justice criminals who prey on the elderly,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Working closely with the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute fraudsters who target seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).”
“Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable people in society,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. "The Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting customers from fraud schemes for many years and we will continue to investigate and stop those who exploit older Americans for their own illegal gains.”
“This indictment charges the defendant for his alleged role in a fraudulent check scheme that took and attempted to take millions of dollars from the bank accounts of American consumers,” said Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Enstrom of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who seek to defraud banking customers and threaten the integrity of the banking system.”
If convicted, Zeto faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for wire fraud and 30 years for bank fraud and a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FDIC OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Daniel Zytnick and Timothy Finley of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Owners of Behavioral Health Companies Sentenced for Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The owners of two behavioral health companies in Las Vegas were sentenced yesterday to three years’ probation for their roles in defrauding the Medicaid health care benefit program of thousands of dollars.
Erica Goodley (37) and Billy Kirby (38), both of Georgia, each pleaded guilty in January 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud. In addition to the three-year term of probation, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon ordered the forfeiture of $499,440.70 from the defendants.
According to court documents, Goodley and Kirby were the owners of Endeavor Behavioral Health and International Behavioral Health. From June 2016 to February 2018, Goodley and Kirby conspired to provide false representations and omissions on applications to enroll the companies as medical providers with Medicaid. On the applications, they omitted Kirby’s 2005 gross misdemeanor conviction.
It was further part of the conspiracy that the companies fraudulently billed Nevada Medicaid for 24 hours of counseling services by a single counselor in one day and for counselors who did not exist or did not work at the companies at the time of the services. As a result of the false billing, Goodley and Kirby caused a loss of thousands of dollars from Medicaid.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress for the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford made the announcement.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Steven Myhre prosecuted the case.
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Former Nevada Business Owner and Salesman Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two Nevada men were sentenced to prison today for conspiring to defraud the IRS.
Saud Alessa was sentenced to 13 months in prison and Jeffrey Bowen was sentenced to 60 days in prison. After a federal jury trial in November 2021, Alessa and Bowen were both convicted on the conspiracy charge, and Alessa also was convicted on tax evasion and false tax return charges.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2010 through approximately March 2014, Alessa, Bowen and another co-conspirator, Jackie Hayes, sought to thwart efforts by the IRS to collect more than $500,000 in tax liabilities owed by Alessa for tax years 1998 to 2007. As part of the scheme, Hayes entered into a payment arrangement with Bowen, the owner of a vacuum cleaner distributor, J&L Distributing, Inc. (J&L), where commissions actually earned by Alessa for his work at J&L were falsely recorded in the company’s books as commissions earned by Hayes. Hayes and Bowen then submitted tax forms and filings to the IRS falsely reporting that Hayes had earned the income. This scheme allowed Alessa to evade IRS collection efforts and the payment of his outstanding federal tax debt. To further conceal his income and assets, Alessa filed false 2012 and 2013 individual tax returns, and in February 2013, he filed a bankruptcy petition falsely reporting no income.
In addition to imprisonment, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du ordered Alessa and Bowen to each serve three years of supervised release and to pay over $500,000 in restitution to the United States.
Hayes previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in February 2022 to two months in prison for her role in the conspiracy.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress of IRS-Criminal Investigation made the announcement. They commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, which conducted the investigation, and members of the U.S. Trustee Program, which uncovered the charged conduct during the supervision of the administration of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case filed by Alessa.
Trial Attorneys Michael Landman and Eric Taffet of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
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Jury Convicts Arizona Man for Fraudulent Citizenship Scheme Targeting Immigrant PopulationRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted an Arizona man of orchestrating an adult adoption business scheme to fraudulently obtain more than one million dollars from his clients — who consisted mostly of Chinese and Spanish speaking individuals — by promising them U.S. citizenship through adult adoption.
“U.S. citizenship cannot be bought,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Together with our law enforcement partners, our office will hold accountable those who manipulate and defraud immigrants for their own personal financial gain, such as by deceiving victims on the false promise of U.S. citizenship.”
"It is an honor and a privilege to become an American citizen, and this individual egregiously exploited trusting victims for his own financial gain," said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. "The sentence should serve as a warning to others that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will remain steadfast in our efforts to dismantle criminal enterprises that strive to circumvent our laws by deceptive and deceitful means.”
Following a six-day trial, Douglas Lee Thayer (68, of Mohave Valley, Arizona) was found guilty of two counts of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the trial and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 26, 2022. For each count of mail fraud, Thayer faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2015 and 2016, Thayer operated U.S. Adult Adoption Services Inc. (USAAS), a business that promised its clients U.S. citizenship in exchange for money. Thayer fraudulently represented to his adult clients that they would be adopted by U.S. citizens. This would supposedly allow the clients to obtain new birth certificates and, subsequently, obtain U.S. citizenship for themselves. Thayer charged each client an upfront payment between $7,000 and $20,000 for USAAS’s services. In total, Thayer received more than $1,018,337.83 in payments from his clients.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Simon F. Kung and Jessica Oliva are prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Armed Robberies of Cell Phone StoresRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to seven years and 10 months in prison for his role in two armed robberies of cell phone stores in the Las Vegas area.
Kejon Ward (28) pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Ward to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Ward — together with co-conspirator Rushard Burton and another co-conspirator — stole more than 100 cell phones from two stores on April 28 and June 5, 2017. Ward was on parole at that time, having been convicted previously for a similar armed robbery. During each cell phone store robbery, Ward pointed a firearm at victims inside, and threatened to shoot them if they did not comply with his demands.
During the June 5 robbery, Ward walked into the store, racked the slide of his handgun, and ordered employees and customers to get to the back of the store. Ward then pointed the gun at several customers — including a family with children — while Burton filled a duffel bag with cell phones.
Co-conspirator Burton pleaded guilty in August 2021 to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced in February 2022 to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Henderson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Burton.
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Former Federal Official Sentenced to Prison for Contract Bribery Conspiracy and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A former official with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving a federal contract and committing $1.5 million in tax fraud.
Frederick J. Leavitt, 50, of Henderson, Nev., pleaded guilty in October 2019 to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon ordered Leavitt to pay restitution in the amount of $704,002.
According to court documents, Leavitt had been employed by the USBR as Director of the Financial Management Office for the Lower Colorado Region, which includes the Hoover Dam. From about February 2015 through about February 2016, Leavitt and co-conspirator Dustin M. Lewis — a certified public accountant employed by L.L. Bradford & Company, an accounting firm in Las Vegas — devised and executed a scheme to defraud the United States. Leavitt had been assigned to a selection committee that awarded government contracts to perform auditing services for USBR programs. As part of the honest services fraud conspiracy, Lewis paid more than $150,000 in bribes to Leavitt, which they agreed to conceal. In exchange, Leavitt steered an audit contract to L.L. Bradford.
In a separate tax fraud conspiracy, Leavitt and Lewis worked together to file fraudulent tax forms for tax year 2013, on behalf of six business entities that claimed over $11,000,000 collectively in false business deductions. As a result, they caused a tax loss to the IRS in excess of $1.5 million.
Co-conspirator Lewis pleaded guilty in January 2020. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Interior. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre and Tax Division Trial Attorney Patrick Burns are prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Police Officer Indicted for Three Casino RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday for allegedly robbing three casinos, stealing approximately $164,000 in total.
Caleb Mitchell Rogers (33) was arrested on February 27, 2022. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 22, 2022, charging Rogers with three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler scheduled a jury trial for May 23, 2022.
According to allegations in the indictment, on November 12, 2021, Rogers robbed a casino in the western part of Las Vegas of approximately $73,810. On January 6, 2022, he robbed a casino in North Las Vegas of approximately $11,500. In both robberies, Rogers walked directly to the casino’s cashier cage and demanded money from the cashiers.
The third robbery occurred on February 27, 2022. As alleged, Rogers ran toward two casino employees in the sportsbook area and yelled: “Get away from the money. I’ve got a gun. I will shoot you!” Rogers climbed over the counter and shoved one of the employees to the floor, before grabbing approximately $78,898 and placing it into a bag. Rogers fled when the employees triggered an alarm. As Rogers ran toward the parking garage, a casino security officer tackled him. Rogers drew a .357 caliber revolver and, with his finger on the trigger, threatened: “I’m going to shoot you!” Security officers were able to disarm Rogers and restrain him until LVMPD officers arrived. The officers arrested Rogers and seized his firearm. Checking the revolver’s serial number, officers learned that it belonged to the LVMPD.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for each count of interference with commerce by robbery, and life imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the LVMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Airline Executive Pleads Guilty to $2.6 Million Employment Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A former airline executive pleaded guilty today to failing to pay over $2.6 million in employment taxes to the IRS.
William Acor (62) pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to collect and pay over employment taxes. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 27, 2022.
According to court documents, Acor had been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Airlines Inc., an airline headquartered in North Las Vegas. On behalf of Vision Airlines, Acor was responsible for collecting, accounting for, and paying over to the IRS taxes withheld from employee wages, including federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. In addition, Vision Airlines was responsible for paying the employer matching share of Social Security taxes.
Acor admitted that, from 2014 to 2016, he failed to pay over on behalf of Vision Airlines a total of $2,657,254.75 in combined employee tax withholdings and employer matching share of taxes.
At sentencing, Acor faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Acor has also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $1,667,290.46 to the IRS.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress for the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
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Five-Time Felon Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A six-time felon was sentenced on Friday to four years in prison for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.
Nhut Hong Nguyen (41) pleaded guilty on July 9, 2021 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Nguyen to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 7, 2019, law enforcement attempted to arrest Nguyen — on a warrant for attempted burglary — as he was exiting a residence. Rather than stopping, Nguyen tried to drive away, struck a police vehicle, crashed his car into a light pole, and then fled on foot. In Nguyen’s car, officers found a loaded .40 caliber pistol with a partially obliterated serial number.
Prior to this latest conviction, Nguyen had been previously convicted of five felonies in Clark County. As a result, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva is prosecuting the case.
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Three Men Plead Guilty to Setting Fire to Police Vehicle During May 2020 Protest in Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — Three Las Vegas men pleaded guilty this week to conspiring to and setting fire to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) patrol vehicle during a protest in downtown Las Vegas in May 2020.
Tyree Walker (23), Devarian Haynes (23), and Ricardo Densmore (24) pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 22, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, on May 31, 2020, LVMPD officers were assigned to the downtown area for crowd control at protests relating to George Floyd’s death. Walker, Haynes, and Densmore each admitted to participating in setting fire to a marked LVMPD patrol vehicle parked near the intersection of South Ninth Street and East Carson Avenue. In addition, the defendants also admitted that they created a substantial risk of harm to others in the vicinity, knowing there was ammunition in the patrol vehicle that could have caused an explosion.
Walker, Haynes, and Densmore each face a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the LMVPD, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the FBI-led Criminal Apprehension Team in conjunction with the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
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Las Vegas Felon Charged for Robbing Multiple Businesses at GunpointRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday for allegedly robbing eight businesses at gunpoint.
George Perez (38) was arrested on January 25, 2022. He is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts ordered Perez to be held in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 4, 2022.
According to allegations in the complaint, Perez robbed eight businesses in the Las Vegas area from January 19 to January 25, 2022. At each robbery, Perez approached the cashier with store merchandise, pretending he was going to purchase it. He then demanded money from the cashier while pointing a 9mm handgun. In total, Perez stole approximately $1,897.95 in cash and several merchandise items. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Perez soon after he fled from the last robbery.
Perez has prior felony convictions in Clark County and in Washington State. Accordingly, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by robbery; the statutory minimum penalty is seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and the statutory maximum penalty is ten years in prison for felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to imprisonment, Perez also faces a period of supervised release, a fine, and restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Las Vegas Man Charged for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday for allegedly robbing two banks and seven other businesses at gunpoint over a two-month period.
Alcede Molyer Melonson Jr. (61) was arrested on February 28, 2022. He is charged in a criminal complaint with seven counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and nine counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts ordered Melonson to be held in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 6, 2022.
According to allegations in the complaint, from December 26, 2021 to February 24, 2022, Melonson robbed three gas station convenience stores, two department stores, two pharmacies, and two banks in the Las Vegas area. During each robbery, Melonson demanded money from the cashier or teller while displaying a .357 caliber revolver. In total, Melonson obtained approximately $5,238 from the nine armed robberies.
Melonson has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for robbery and burglary. At the time of the alleged robbery spree in Las Vegas, he was on parole after serving a 25-year prison sentence for robbery in California.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for each count of interference with commerce by robbery, and 20 years in prison for each count of bank robbery. The statutory minimum penalty is seven years in prison for each count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition to imprisonment, Melonson also faces a period of supervised release, a fine, and restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Winnemucca Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A Winnemucca man who admitted to his role in a conspiracy to steal multiple firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Travis Klyn (41) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal, take, or carry away firearms from the premises of an FFL in September 2021. In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du ordered Klyn to pay $15,309.43 in restitution.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2020, Klyn, co-defendant George Wyatt Elms, and one other individual broke into a hardware store in Winnemucca to steal firearms. They removed a panel in the roof, dropped down approximately ten feet onto a nearby staircase, and then broke through the store’s door. Once inside, Elms used a pickaxe to break into a gun case, from which he and another individual stole 25 firearms. Klyn ran out of the store before the theft of the firearms. Before carrying out the robbery, they had intentionally set a brush fire in a nearby field to divert law enforcement away from the store.
Co-defendant Elms pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of theft of firearms from the premises of an FFL. He was sentenced to six years in prison on March 4, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Winnemucca Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Interference with Flight Crew Members and Assault Aboard Aircraft En Route to Las VegasRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Gardnerville, Nevada man pleaded guilty on Monday to interference with flight crew members and assault during a flight from Seattle to Las Vegas.
Daniel A. Parkhurst (38) pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, and one count of simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. U.S. Chief Judge Miranda M. Du scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 24, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Parkhurst, on October 31, 2019, he intimidated flight crew members and flight attendants on a Southwest Airlines flight from Seattle to Las Vegas. During the flight, he assaulted another passenger. The resulting disturbance involved flight attendants and other passengers, and interfered with the performance of the flight crew’s and flight attendants’ duties. Parkhurst’s actions caused the aircraft to be diverted from its flight to Las Vegas, instead landing in Reno.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for interference with flight crew members and attendants, and six months in prison for simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Reno-Tahoe International Airport Police Department, Office of the Nevada Attorney General, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randolph St. Clair and Penelope Brady are prosecuting the case.
If you think you are a victim of assault aboard an aircraft, please report the incident to your flight crew and to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or contact your local FBI office.
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Las Vegas Apartment Complex Manager Pleads Guilty to Violating Clean Air Act Asbestos Regulations at Two FacilitiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Bobby Babak Khalili, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty to renovating two apartment complexes in violation of federal Clean Air Act regulations intended to prevent human exposure to toxic airborne asbestos fibers. Khalili, 46, entered a guilty plea to two counts of violating the Clean Air Act before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sentencing is currently scheduled for June 15, 2022. Khalili faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, and up to three years of supervised release.
Khalili was indicted by a grand jury sitting in the District of Nevada in September 2019, in connection with asbestos-related Clean Air Act violations at a Las Vegas apartment complex. The grand jury later returned a Superseding Indictment against Khalili in July 2021, in connection with new Clean Air Act asbestos violations at a second apartment complex, which Khalili now admits he committed while on pretrial release for the first set of charges.
As part of his guilty plea, Khalili acknowledged that, on behalf of his company Las Vegas Apartments LLC, he oversaw renovation activities at both apartment complexes. He further admitted that he was aware of asbestos-containing materials at both buildings, and that he hired untrained individuals to tear out those materials without following asbestos work practice standards prescribed by the Clean Air Act. Those work practice standards require that asbestos-containing materials be safely removed prior to general renovation activity taking place. Asbestos-containing materials must be kept wet at all times to prevent dust escaping, sealed in leak-proof bags, and disposed of at facilities authorized to accept asbestos waste. At both apartment buildings, untrained laborers removed asbestos-containing drywall and ceiling texture without wetting or containment, releasing asbestos fibers into the surrounding atmosphere.
Khalili also admitted to taking steps to evade law enforcement at each site. At the first apartment complex, Khalili attempted to have a dumpster filled with asbestos waste removed from the site when inspectors from the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability, Division of Air Quality discovered asbestos-related violations. At the second complex, where he oversaw illegal renovations while on pretrial release, he instructed the contractor in charge of the renovation to lie to inspectors about who owned and oversaw the project, in an attempt to blame another person for the Clean Air Act violations he knowingly committed.
Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers has been determined to cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, an invariably fatal disease. Congress and the EPA have determined that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
“The defendant" placed workers and community members in harm’s way when he knowingly violated Clean Air Act requirements for the safe handling of asbestos, and then did it again while already under indictment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable those who defy federal law aimed at protecting the public from adverse health effects of asbestos.”
“Exposure to asbestos is associated with life-threatening illnesses and serious respiratory diseases,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “By failing to follow required standards for properly handling asbestos, the defendant put the health of our communities — including workers at two apartment renovation sites — at risk. This case reflects our office’s commitment to working with our state and federal partners to enforce environmental laws that protect Nevadans from hazardous pollutants.”
“By not removing asbestos – a known carcinogen – safely from the buildings he was working on, the defendant placed the health of his apartment residents and the surrounding community at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Scot Adair of the EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program in Nevada. “Today’s agreement demonstrates that those who violate those laws will be held responsible.”
Special agents of the EPA and employees of the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability, Division of Air Quality investigated the case. Trial Attorney Cassandra Barnum of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean Ripley for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Police Officer Charged in Casino RobberyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer made his initial appearance in federal court today for allegedly robbing a casino.
Caleb Mitchell Rogers (33) was arrested on February 27, 2022. He is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 24, 2022.
According to allegations in the complaint, on February 27, 2022, Rogers entered a Las Vegas casino. He ran toward two employees in the sportsbook area and yelled: “Get away from the money. I’ve got a gun. I will shoot you!” Rogers climbed over the counter and shoved one of the employees to the floor, before grabbing money and placing it into a bag.
Rogers fled when the employees triggered an alarm. As Rogers ran toward the parking garage, a casino security officer tackled him. Rogers drew a revolver and, with his finger on the trigger, threatened: “I’m going to shoot you!” Security officers were able to disarm Rogers and restrain him until LVMPD officers arrived. The officers arrested Rogers and seized his firearm. Checking the revolver’s serial number, officers learned that it belonged to the LVMPD.
The criminal complaint further alleges that: (a) on November 12, 2021, Rogers robbed a casino in the western part of Las Vegas (obtaining approximately $73,810); and (b) on January 6, 2022, he robbed a casino in North Las Vegas (obtaining approximately $11,500).
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by robbery, and life imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the LVMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Committing COVID Relief Fraud While on Pretrial ReleaseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lender while he was on pretrial release, by filing fraudulent loan applications seeking over $100,000 in loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Keyawn Lloyd Cook Jr. (27) pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2022. Cook faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Cook — while on pretrial release for an attempted robbery charge — submitted at least five fraudulent loan applications over a 15-month period for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funding and for PPP funding. As part of the fraudulent scheme, Cook submitted loan applications in the names of multiple fake businesses claiming to operate in various industries. Cook falsely claimed to have between nine and 12 employees in applications for EIDL funding and, in his PPP application, he falsely claimed gross revenues of $50,000 by a non-existent barber shop. In fact, these businesses were non-existent and had no such employees or revenue. Cook sought to fraudulently obtain over $100,000 in COVID relief funds for which he was not eligible.
In a separate case, Cook was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for an attempted robbery of an armored car employee during a delivery to a bank in 2019.
Christopher Chiou, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada; W.M. Herrington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office; Weston King, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General’s (SBA OIG) Western Region Office; Albert Childress, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Cory Nootnagel, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (FRB-OIG) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, SBA OIG, IRS-CI, and FRB-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Kimberly Frayn are prosecuting the case.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who attempted to rob an armored car employee during a delivery to a bank was sentenced today to five years in prison.
Keyawn Lloyd Cook Jr. (27) pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Cook to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on July 16, 2019, Cook waited alongside the bank for the armored car to arrive. As an armored car employee entered the bank, Cook ran towards the employee, pointed a loaded 9mm handgun, and threatened “don’t move.” A second armored car employee pushed an audible alarm, and then Cook fled from the scene without any money.
In a separate case, Cook pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and a Paycheck Protection Program lender by filing fraudulent loan applications. Those fraudulent applications sought over $100,000 in loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. He is scheduled to be sentenced for the COVID-related fraud charge on June 8, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Attorney Charged with Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas attorney made his initial appearance in federal court today for allegedly assaulting three FBI Special Agents with a firearm when they attempted to interview him at his home.
Matthew Wade Beasley (49) was arrested on March 4, 2022. He is charged with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 22, 2022.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on March 3, 2022, FBI Special Agents went to a house in northwest Las Vegas to interview Beasley as part of an ongoing investigation. When agents knocked on the glass front doors, Beasley appeared with part of his body obscured. After an agent pulled back his suit jacket to show his FBI badge, Beasley then stepped into complete view with a gun pointed at his own head. When agents instructed Beasley to drop the gun, Beasley instead pointed it at the agents in a sweeping motion — causing one or more agents to discharge their firearm and striking Beasley.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Eric Schmale are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who distributed methamphetamine and unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced today to eight years and two months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
In August 2021, a federal jury found Donnell Henry (36) guilty of one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the four-day trial and sentencing hearing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 29, 2019, Henry distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Three weeks later, on November 19, 2019, he possessed a multi-caliber pistol (and unlawfully sold that pistol). Henry is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions in California state court for first degree burglary and maintaining a place to sell narcotics.
Co-defendant Ozzie Morrison pleaded guilty in May 2021. He was sentenced to two years in prison on August 11, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanee Smith and Kimberly Sokolich prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Operation Nora, a joint investigation by the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Central Intelligence Unit, focusing on the Sherwood Forest and Naked City areas in Las Vegas. Operation Nora was conducted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
This case was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Las Vegas Man Convicted of Carrying Out Mail Forwarding and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas man yesterday for his role in a mail forwarding and identity theft scheme, which defrauded more than 300 victims.
Following a two-day trial, Nosa Frank Obayando (29) was found guilty of one count of mail theft, one count of using an unauthorized access device, and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) was alerted in April 2017 to a fraudulent mail forwarding scheme. The USPIS’ investigation revealed that Obayando and co-defendant Efeturi Ariawhorai carried out a scheme where mail belonging to over 300 victims was forwarded to addresses under Obayando and Ariawhorai’s control, without the victims’ knowledge or consent. As part of the scheme, Obayando and Ariawhorai used a debit card — for a bank account opened in a victim’s name — to withdraw at least $5,000 in cash from ATMs in the Las Vegas area.
Obayando is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2022. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 17 years in prison.
Co-defendant Ariawhorai has been arrested by authorities in Italy and is currently pending extradition proceedings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Simon Kung and Tony Lopez are prosecuting the case.
Please report suspected mail fraud and mail theft to the USPIS by calling 877-876-2455 or by making a report online at https://www.uspis.gov/report.
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Colorado Felon Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Colorado felon was sentenced today to eight and a half years in prison for unlawful possession of firearms.
Russell Cates (43) pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Cates to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Cates — who was on supervised release for a previous felony conviction — absconded from his supervision in Colorado. He then obtained stolen firearms in Colorado and transported them to Las Vegas, with the intent to sell those firearms illegally. On or about August 24, 2019, after attempting to flee, Cates was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers during an investigation into a suspected stolen vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 10 firearms (including a semiautomatic firearm capable of using large capacity magazines), ammunition, and magazines. Cates admitted that several firearms were stolen. He is prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition due to at least five prior felony convictions, including a robbery conviction in Dallas County, Texas.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
If you have information about illegal firearms activity, submit an anonymous tip to ATF by calling the hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or through the ReportIt mobile app.
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Federal Special Agent Pleads Guilty to Gambling with Government FundsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – An FBI Special Agent pleaded guilty yesterday to misusing government money to gamble at a Las Vegas casino.
Scott F. Carpenter (40), of New York, pleaded guilty to one count of conversion of government money. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the hearing and scheduled sentencing for May 18, 2022. At sentencing, Carpenter faces a statutory maximum penalty of one year in prison, supervised release, and restitution.
According to court documents, from July 27 to July 31, 2017, Carpenter — employed as a Special Agent with the FBI’s New York City Field Office — and three other FBI agents traveled to Las Vegas to conduct an undercover operation. At the conclusion of the operation, Carpenter went to a casino’s high limit room, where he gambled on blackjack with $13,500 belonging to the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office (DOJ OIG) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DOJ OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess is prosecuting the case.
If you know about waste, fraud, abuse, misconduct, or whistleblower retaliation within the Department of Justice, you may report it to the OIG Hotline at https://oig.justice.gov/hotline/submit_complaint.
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Las Vegas Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The owner of a Las Vegas tax preparation business was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for failing to collect and pay over employment taxes to the IRS, causing a total loss to the IRS of over $9.6 million.
Jesus S. Castro (39) pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of failure to collect and pay over employment taxes. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Castro to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $399,387.87 in restitution.
According to court documents, in 2014, Castro began operating Castro Enterprise, a tax preparation business in Las Vegas also known as “Castro Enterprises” or “Castro Taxes Services.” Castro had the legal duty to withhold employment taxes on behalf of his employees and pay those funds to the IRS. From at least 2015 to 2019, however, he failed to report wages and employment taxes owed for his employees. Additionally, he filed numerous tax returns on behalf of clients with incorrect deductions and credits. In total, Castro caused a tax loss of $9,620,377.72.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale prosecuted the case.
You can report a tax return preparer for improper tax preparation practices, misconduct to the IRS at: https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/make-a-complaint-about-a-tax-return-preparer.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Receipt of Child Exploitation Images and VideosRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison after he admitted to searching for and downloading hundreds of child pornography files through the internet.
Allen Warren Miller (57) pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Miller to 15 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, in January 2019, Miller had numerous file names indicative of child pornography available to share on the BitTorrent file sharing network. Law enforcement was able to download approximately 15 files depicting child pornography from Miller’s computer. In August 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination of Miller’s devices found 897 images and 65 videos of child pornography.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci prosecuted the case.
The 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Report child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by calling the hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
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California Man Sentenced to Prison for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A California man was sentenced today to 13 years and six months in prison for committing four armed robberies (including two banks and the same Starbucks coffeehouse twice), stealing more than $14,000.
In May 2021, a jury convicted Shamariae Marshon Jones (25), of Pasadena, California, of one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Jones to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the five-day trial, between December 2016 and January 2017, Jones and co-conspirator Edwin Arnold Jr. robbed two banks and a Starbucks coffeehouse, stealing a total of $14,280. During each robbery, Arnold brandished a handgun at employees, demanded money, and threatened to shoot if they did not comply. On January 26, 2017, the FBI's Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Jones and Arnold when the two drove back to Arnold's residence immediately after committing their latest robbery.
Arnold was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. In January 2022, he was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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California Man Sentenced to Prison for Unemployment Insurance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A California man who admitted to fraudulently obtaining over $170,000 in unemployment benefits — by submitting multiple unemployment claims in other people’s names and using benefits debit cards not belonging to him — was sentenced today to 30 months in prison.
Keheir Jordan Parker (25), of Victorville, California, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of conspiracy to effectuate illegal transactions with an access device. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Parker to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, on September 11, 2020, Parker and co-conspirator Robert Devon Barber were stopped in Las Vegas for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, law enforcement officers recovered 12 California Employment Development Department (EDD) unemployment insurance benefits debit cards issued in other peoples’ names, along with ATM receipts showing that the debit cards had been used to make cash withdrawals totaling $7,400 in Nevada and California. At least $249,460 in unemployment benefits was approved for claims associated with the 12 recovered EDD cards, and over $170,715.78 was obtained from accounts associated with those cards — including $148,400 in ATM cash withdrawals and $22,315.78 in purchases.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Quentin Heiden of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Los Angeles Region made the announcement.
This case was investigated by DOL-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Jury Convicts Las Vegas Man of Coercion, Enticement of A Minor for SexRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – After a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted a Las Vegas man yesterday for coercion and enticement of a girl to engage in sexual activity.
Barry Allen Gabelman (51) was found guilty of one count of coercion and enticement. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 20, 2022.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from October 31 to December 6, 2019, Gabelman exchanged sexually explicit messages and photos via his social media account, as well as his messaging account, with individuals whom he believed to be an 11-year-old girl and her stepfather. In reality, a law enforcement officer was posing as both the girl and stepfather. During their communications, Gabelman discussed having sex with the girl and sent a nude photo of himself. On December 6, Gabelman traveled to a pre-arranged location in Las Vegas to meet and have sex with the girl. Law enforcement officers arrested Gabelman at the meeting place.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Supriya Prasad are prosecuting the case.
The 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Winnemucca Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Stealing Multiple Firearms from Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A Winnemucca man who admitted to organizing a robbery and stealing more than two dozen firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) was sentenced today to 72 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
George Wyatt Elms (34) pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of theft of firearms from the premises of a Federal Firearms Licensee. In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du ordered Elms to pay $17,187.96 in restitution.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2020, Elms and two other individuals broke into a hardware store in Winnemucca by removing a panel in the roof, dropping down approximately ten feet onto a nearby staircase, and then breaking through the store’s door. Once inside, they broke into a gun case and stole 25 firearms. Before carrying out the robbery, they had intentionally set a fire in a nearby field to divert law enforcement away from the store.
Co-defendant Travis Klyn pleaded guilty in September 2021, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Winnemucca Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm while on supervised release for a prior felony.
Ralph Alexander Medina, 37, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Medina to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Medina was convicted in March 2015 for felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to imprisonment followed by supervised release. On January 4, 2020, while on supervised release for that conviction, Medina assaulted his spouse, pinning her to the floor and placing a 9mm semiautomatic pistol against her head. Several weeks later, on January 29, Medina reported to the U.S. Probation Office where he tested positive for opiates and methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers arrested Medina and recovered a loaded pistol that was hidden in an air conditioning access panel in his home. Medina is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his March 2015 felony conviction.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with assistance by the FBI Criminal Apprehension Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who assaulted a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced today to 46 months in prison.
Michael Gerald Hammond (33) pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of unlawful possession of a postal key. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson sentenced Hammond to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 13, 2018, Hammond searched online for phrases such as “best homemade weapon for knocking out ppl” and “how exactly does a blackjack knock someone out.” The next day, Hammond used a rubber mallet to assault a mail carrier who was delivering mail at an apartment complex. Hammond hit the mail carrier multiple times, including striking the mail carrier’s head, so that he could take and use the carrier’s postal key to steal mail from mailboxes. Three days later, on February 17, Hammond was detained after attempting to break into a car at a casino parking garage.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case.
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Undocumented Individual Sentenced for Filing Fraudulent Claims in Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – An undocumented individual was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to use over 100 victims’ identities (without their consent) to unlawfully submit fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits claims, totaling at least $934,129.
Alan Ray (33) pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to possess counterfeit and unauthorized access devices. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Ray to three years of supervised release and ordered Ray to pay restitution.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, from March 2020 to late October 2020, Ray conspired with others to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, California Employment Development Department, and other state workforce agencies. As part of the fraudulent scheme, Ray had the state workforce agencies mail debit cards — not in his name — containing unemployment benefits to addresses he had access to. In total, more than $934,129 in unemployment benefits was approved by the state workforce agencies, and at least $698,655 was withdrawn by Ray and his co-conspirators. The fraud was discovered when Ray attempted to ship fraudulently-obtained debit cards from Las Vegas to his residence in Houston, Texas.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Los Angeles Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Justice Department Strategy to Combat Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – This week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland released the Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
Rooted in the foundational pillars and priorities of the interagency National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which President Biden released on Dec. 3, 2021, the Department's National Strategy is expansive in scope. It aims to enhance the Department’s capacity to prevent human trafficking; to prosecute human trafficking cases; and to support and protect human trafficking victims and survivors.
“Human trafficking is an insidious crime,” said Attorney General Garland. “Traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm. The Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking will bring the full force of the Department to this fight.”
“Stopping human trafficking requires a joint law enforcement and community effort,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Working alongside our federal, state, local, and tribal agency partners, our office will continue prioritizing the prosecution of those who prey upon and exploit vulnerable people, such as marginalized youth, refugee and migrant workers, and survivors of domestic violence. We will also deploy our combined resources to raise awareness across Nevada communities and to help get survivors on the road to recovery.”
Among other things, the Justice Department’s multi-year strategy to combat all forms of human trafficking will:
- Strengthen engagement, coordination and joint efforts to combat human trafficking by prosecutors in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and by federal law enforcement agents nationwide.
- Establish federally-funded, locally-led anti-human trafficking task forces that support sustained state law enforcement leadership and comprehensive victim assistance.
- Step up departmental efforts to end forced labor by increasing attention, resources and coordination in labor trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
- Enhance initiatives to reduce vulnerability of American Indians and Alaska Natives to violent crime, including human trafficking, and to locate missing children.
- Develop and implement new victim screening protocols to identify potential human trafficking victims during law enforcement operations and encourage victims to share important information.
- Increase capacity to provide victim-centered assistance to trafficking survivors, including by supporting efforts to deliver financial restoration to victims.
- Expand dissemination of federal human trafficking training, guidance and expertise.
- Advance innovative demand-reduction strategies.
The Department’s strategy will be implemented under the direction of the National Human Trafficking Coordinator designated by the Attorney General in accordance with the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017.
If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or text 233733.
To read the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking click here.
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Las Vegas Woman Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for using her late husband’s identity to steal over $40,000 in Social Security benefits while on supervised release for a prior crime.
Florence Faamaligi Levao (71) pleaded guilty in July 2021, to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Faamaligi Levao to three years of supervised release. Faamaligi Levao was also ordered to pay restitution.
According to court documents, from October 30, 2014 to March 6, 2018, Faamaligi Levao stole approximately $40,625 of her late husband’s Social Security benefits for her personal use. During a substantial portion of this timeframe, she was on supervised release following her previous conviction for stealing Social Security benefits in her late father’s name.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Inspector General Gail S. Ennis for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case.
If you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse concerning Social Security Administration programs, please make a report to the Office of Inspector General at https://secure.ssa.gov/pfrf/home.
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Member of Armed Robbery Crew Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Henderson man who was a member of a crew that robbed at least nine stores in southern Nevada was sentenced today to 14 years in prison.
Kaili Tualau (31) pleaded guilty in October 2021 to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Tualau to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, between March and October 2016, Tualau and co-conspirators Jason Goldsby, Rudy Redmond, Bonnie Madrigal, Jessie Mendoza, and others robbed at least nine pawn shops in Las Vegas and Henderson. During each robbery, one robber stood guard at the door brandishing a firearm, while another robber used a sledgehammer to break open a display case and steal high value jewelry and watches. The robbers then fled in a stolen getaway vehicle, which they later abandoned for a second getaway vehicle. In total, the stolen items were valued at approximately $201,900.
Goldsby, Redmond, and Madrigal all pleaded guilty in September and October 2021. Redmond has been sentenced, while Goldsby and Madrigal are awaiting sentencing. Mendoza pleaded guilty in September 2019 to his role in one robbery and was sentenced to 43 months in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Henderson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez, Jim Fang, and Simon Kung are prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for his role in five armed robberies of cell phone stores.
Rushard Burton (27) pleaded guilty in August 2021 to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Burton to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from March 18 to June 5, 2017, Burton, co-conspirators Kejon Ward and Erica Caldwell, and others stole over 400 cell phones from five cell phone stores in North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Las Vegas. During each robbery, they pointed firearms at — and made threats to — victims in the stores.
Ward (28) pleaded guilty in August 2021, and he is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Henderson Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Stephanie Ihler.
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California Man Indicted for Stealing ExplosivesRead the Press Release
RENO – A California man made his initial court appearance yesterday for allegedly stealing explosive materials from a mill in Hawthorne, Nevada.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Evan Ray Atkinson, 38, with multiple counts of Theft of Explosive Material from Licensee; Theft of Explosive Material Moved in Interstate Commerce; Transport of Explosives by a Non-Licensee; Possession of Stolen Explosives; and Improper Storage of Explosives. Atkinson was arrested on January 4, 2022 in Henderson. U.S. District Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb scheduled a jury trial to begin on March 28, 2022, before Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.
According to allegations in the indictment, on December 24, 2021, Atkinson stole approximately 100 pounds of detonating cord, boosters, and dynamite from a Federal Explosives Licensee. Atkinson then drove the explosives to Henderson and stored them in his hotel room and vehicle. On January 4, 2022, after evacuating the hotel, law enforcement safely recovered the stolen explosive materials from Atkinson’s vehicle and hotel room.
If convicted, Atkinson faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF, Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, FBI, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was convicted of committing four armed robberies — including two bank robberies and a robbery of the same Starbucks coffeehouse twice — was sentenced today to 29 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
In May 2021, a jury convicted Edwin Arnold Jr., 25, of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the five-day jury trial and the sentencing hearing today.
According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, between December 2016 and January 2017, Arnold and co-conspirator Shamariae Marshon Jones (25), of Pasadena, California, robbed two banks and a Starbucks coffeehouse — stealing a total of $14,280. During each robbery, Arnold brandished a handgun at employees, demanded money, and threatened to shoot if they did not comply. On January 26, 2017, the FBI's Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Arnold and Jones when the two drove back to Arnold's residence immediately after committing their latest robbery.
Jones was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. Jones faces a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison at his sentencing hearing on January 18, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison for Double Murder on Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Fort McDermitt Shoshone Paiute Tribe member was sentenced today to a term of life in prison as to both counts to run consecutively to each other for murdering two women who were also Tribe members.
According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, on January 31, 2018, Stoney Prior (43) shot and killed two women on the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, inside the home of one of the victims.
In August 2021, a jury convicted Prior of two counts of second-degree murder in Indian Country. U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the jury trial and the sentencing hearing today.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was a joint investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Penelope Brady and Richard Casper prosecuted the case.
If you have information concerning a missing or murdered person in Indian Country, you are urged to contact your local FBI office or submit a tip online – tips can remain anonymous – at TIPS.FBI.GOV.
The Department of Justice is committed to addressing violent crime in native communities and to improving the federal response to reports of missing or murdered American Indians or Alaska Natives. For more information about the Department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons initiative, visit: www.justice.gov/tribal.
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Arizona Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting A Woman on the Fort Mohave Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — An Arizona man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman at a Laughlin resort and casino on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison.
According to court documents, on September 24, 2018, Richard Anthony Hernandez (26) punched a woman multiple times before sexually assaulting her. As a result of the assault, the victim — a Native American — suffered multiple facial abrasions and contusions, bleeding from head injuries, and loss of consciousness with a concussion, all of which required medical treatment at a hospital.
Hernandez pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of aggravated sexual abuse. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Hernandez to 15 years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Fort Mohave Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Penelope Brady prosecuted the case.
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Three Men Charged for COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Three men made their initial appearances in federal court today for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to apply for and use Nevada and California unemployment insurance benefits debit cards — approved for over $900,000 — that were issued in other peoples’ names.
Luigi J. Montes (41), of Sugarland, Texas, Alexander Hoyos Rivera (24), of Marion, Ohio, and Peter Alexander Stincer (33), of Sylmar, California, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to allegations contained in the complaint, from about March 1, 2020 to January 6, 2021, Montes, Rivera, and Stincer conspired with others — including Alan Ray, who was previously charged and pleaded guilty in October 2021 to his role in the conspiracy — to defraud the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). As part of the scheme, the defendants fraudulently applied for unemployment insurance benefits with DETR and EDD, using stolen personal identifying information. The debit cards were sent to mailing addresses to which the defendants had access. After receiving the unemployment insurance debit cards, Montes, Rivera, and Stincer withdrew the funds at various ATMS located in several states, including Nevada, California, and Texas. In total, the fraud scheme involved at least $934,129 in benefits approved by the state workforce agencies, and implicated $1,149,250 in actual and potential benefits.
Montes, Rivera, and Stincer each appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 26 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Resulting in the Death of His PassengerRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who admitted to recklessly driving a vehicle with five times the legal limit of marijuana in his blood — resulting in the death of his passenger — was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, on March 17, 2017, Corey Wylie Brown (26) was speeding and swerving his truck back and forth on a loose gravel road around Nelson’s Landing at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Brown lost control of the truck, causing it to flip onto the passenger side. As a result, his passenger — who was a minor — was partially pinned under the truck. A package labeled “Shaolin Kush” was found at the scene and tested positive for THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Brown pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary vehicular manslaughter, one count of driving under the influence, one count of reckless driving, and one count of unsafe operation of a motor vehicle.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Burton and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Kent prosecuted the case.
Driving under the influence of over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, marijuana or other illicit drugs is referred to as drug-impaired driving. In 2020, 12.6 million people ages 16 and older admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For more information on drug-impaired driving, go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who admitted to sexually exploiting a child and possessing child sexual abuse material was sentenced today to 15 years and 10 months in prison.
According to court documents, on April 9, 2020, Kenneth James Robison (35) recorded a video of himself sexually exploiting a child who was less than 12 years old. That same day, he shared the video with others using Kik, an online messaging platform. Additionally, Robison possessed more than 600 items of child pornography — including a video of the sexual assault of an infant — in online cloud storage.
Robison pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Robison to a lifetime term of supervised release and ordered Robison to pay restitution to his victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case.
The 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Three Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 25 years and 9 months in prison for his role in a series of violent armed robberies in September 2019.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from September 6 to September 9, 2019, Lesean Roger Dennis Braddock Jr. (29) and co-conspirator Byron Joshua Jarell Porter (24) robbed three businesses at gunpoint in Las Vegas and Henderson. Braddock and Porter committed the armed robberies while Braddock was on state parole after serving a significant prison term for a robbery in California.
Following a three-day jury trial in August 2021, Braddock was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Porter pleaded guilty in October 2020 and is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2022.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Braddock to five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Whang prosecuted the case.
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Department of Justice Awards Additional $11.8 Million in Grants to Support Public Safety Efforts in NevadaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded an additional $11,884,392 in grant funding to support public safety efforts across the Silver State. In total, the Department has awarded $33,881,859 to various Nevada entities since September.
“Our office and our state and local partners are grateful to the Department of Justice for continuing to provide resources to better serve our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “We appreciate the commitment demonstrated by the Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to protecting public safety in Nevada.”
From October through December, Nevada entities were awarded the following grants from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and its components:
- Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention:
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was awarded $385,854, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.
- Bureau of Justice Assistance:
- The City of Winnemucca was awarded $75,749, as part of the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies.
- The Division of Child & Family Services was awarded $172,939, as part of the Implementing the PREA Standards, Protecting Inmates, and Safeguarding Communities.
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was awarded $933,421, as part of the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program; and $249,580, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.
- Washoe County was awarded $200,000, as part of the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program.
- The City of Henderson was awarded $250,000, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.
- The Nevada Department of Public Safety was awarded $296,966, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program; and $201,426, as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
- Nevada Department of Corrections was awarded $500,000, as part of the Continuation of BJA Previously Funded Awards.
- The City of North Las Vegas was awarded $549,003, as part of the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program.
- The National Judicial College was awarded $1,000,000, as part of the Continuation of BJA Previously Funded Awards.
- The Nevada Office of the Attorney General was awarded $5,751,772, as part of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Program.
- National Institute of Justice:
- The Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education was awarded $567,682, as part of research and development in forensic science for criminal justice purposes.
Further, Nevada entities have been awarded the following grants from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office):
- The Nevada System of Higher Education was awarded $125,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
- The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe was awarded $125,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
- The City of Sparks was awarded $500,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
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OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found here.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. More information about the COPS Office can be found here.
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- Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention:
U.S. Attorney's Office Collects over $38.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou announced today that the District of Nevada collected $38,515,689.66 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $36,943,966.20 was collected in criminal actions and $1,571,723.46 was collected in civil actions.
“Without the dedication, commitment, and hard work of our Civil Division, particularly the Financial Litigation Program and Asset Forfeiture Unit, these significant collections would not have been possible,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “Our office is honored to work alongside our law enforcement and other collection partners, and contribute these funds for (among other things) victim compensation and assistance.”
Highlights of the District of Nevada’s FY 2021 collection efforts include:
- In March 2021, Indian drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited (FKOL) pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to provide certain records to FDA investigators. As part of a criminal resolution, FKOL paid a criminal fine of $30 million in April. The Asset Forfeiture Unit also obtained an order compelling FKOL to forfeit an additional $20 million.
- In September 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office obtained an order granting a motion for final order of garnishment in United States v. Patel. The garnishment, which was directed to a complicated investment vehicle owned by the defendant, enabled the government to obtain $453,025.57 to apply towards the defendant’s outstanding $500,000 fine.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $22,292,063 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Coercing Children into Sending Sexual Images Using Video and Instant Messaging ApplicationsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for coercing two children, who were step-siblings, to create images of themselves appearing to commit sexual acts with each other and to send those images using various video and instant messaging applications.
According to court documents, David Howard Babit, 49, utilized the Internet applications LiveMe, ooVoo, Skype, and Snapchat to contact and manipulate two 12-year-old children to create and send child sexual abuse images. He used an alias when speaking with the victims, pretending to be a 16-year-old boy. Babit directed the victims to create videos and images conducting sexual acts with each other. The mother of one of the victims contacted law enforcement about Babit’s messages.
On December 1, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Babit’s residence. After Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigators advised Babit of his Miranda rights, he confessed to communicating with the children and possessing child pornography. A forensic examination of Babit’s computer revealed at least 788 images and 1,280 videos of child pornography, including forceful sexual assault of toddlers and children ranging from three to ten years old.
Babit pleaded guilty in November 2020 to two counts of coercion and enticement. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Babit to 35 years of supervised release. Babit also must pay restitution to the victims.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Gardendale Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci prosecuted the case.
The 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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