District of Nevada
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Four MS-13 Members Indicted for 10 Murders, Kidnapping and Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
Four alleged members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) have been charged in a federal superseding indictment with a racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, kidnappings and burglaries, as well as drug trafficking.
The individuals charged in the superseding indictment are: Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, 27, aka Molesto; David Arturo Perez-Manchame, 22, aka Herbi, aka Walter Melendez; Joel Vargas-Escobar, 25, aka Mumia; and Alexander De Jesus Figueroa-Torres, 25.
According to court documents, MS-13 is a national and transnational gang composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or other Central American descent. MS-13 has more than 10,000 members regularly conducting gang activities in at least 10 states and Washington, D.C., with thousands more conducting gang activities in Central America and Mexico. The purpose of the MS-13 enterprise includes preserving, promoting, and protecting the power, territory, and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation and violence, including murder, and enriching members and associates of the enterprise through criminal activities, including breaking into houses and stealing firearms, jewelry, cash, and other items of value, and selling narcotics. MS-13 is organized by subsets known as “cliques,” and each clique typically has one or more leaders, commonly referred to as “shot callers.”
The superseding indictment charges alleged members of the Parkview clique operating in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Racketeering (RICO) Conspiracy and multiple counts of murder and kidnapping in aid of racketeering, as well as firearms charges. More specifically, the indictment charges the following acts of violence occurring over an approximately 12-month period:
Date
Offense/Predicate Act
March 3, 2017
D.C. murdered
Dec. 31, 2017
R.G. murdered
Jan. 18, 2018
C.P. kidnapped and murdered
Jan. 21, 2018
A.S. kidnapped and murdered
Feb. 2, 2018
J.R. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
J. H. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
R.O. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
J.C. shot and wounded
Mid-February, 2018
I.T. kidnapped and murdered
Mid-February, 2018
R.P. kidnapped and murdered
March 1, 2018
E.R. kidnapped and murdered
“The Criminal Division and our federal, state and local partners are committed to dismantling violent gangs like MS-13,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The violence alleged in the superseding indictment in this case is truly shocking. The murder spree carried out by MS-13 in Las Vegas clearly shows the danger posed by organized street gangs like MS-13.”
“By significantly undermining MS-13’s ability to engage in violence in Las Vegas, the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners have made our communities safer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Our office remains committed to protecting our neighborhoods against gang violence and other criminal activity by prosecuting dangerous transnational criminal organizations like MS-13.”
“Taking violent offenders off the street should send a message to MS-13 members and their associates that violence and murder will not be tolerated in Las Vegas,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “Working with our local partners, we are committed to staying in the fight until this plague is purged from our communities.”
Reyes-Castillo and Perez-Manchame are scheduled for their initial court appearance on Tuesday, Aug. 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. If convicted, they face a mandatory sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Bureau are investigating the case.
Trial attorneys Jeremy Franker and Chris Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaheen Torgoley of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four MS-13 Members Indicted for 10 Murders, Kidnapping and Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Four alleged members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) have been charged in a federal superseding indictment with a racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, kidnappings and burglaries, as well as drug trafficking.
The individuals charged in the superseding indictment are: Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, 27, aka Molesto; David Arturo Perez-Manchame, 22, aka Herbi, aka Walter Melendez; Joel Vargas-Escobar, 25, aka Mumia; and Alexander De Jesus Figueroa-Torres, 25.
According to court documents, MS-13 is a national and transnational gang composed largely of individuals of Salvadoran or other Central American descent. MS-13 has more than 10,000 members regularly conducting gang activities in at least 10 states and Washington, D.C., with thousands more conducting gang activities in Central America and Mexico. The purpose of the MS-13 enterprise includes preserving, promoting, and protecting the power, territory, and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation and violence, including murder, and enriching members and associates of the enterprise through criminal activities, including breaking into houses and stealing firearms, jewelry, cash, and other items of value, and selling narcotics. MS-13 is organized by subsets known as “cliques,” and each clique typically has one or more leaders, commonly referred to as “shot callers.”
The superseding indictment charges alleged members of the Parkview clique operating in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Racketeering (RICO) Conspiracy and multiple counts of murder and kidnapping in aid of racketeering, as well as firearms charges. More specifically, the indictment charges the following acts of violence occurring over an approximately 12-month period:
Date
Offense/Predicate Act
March 3, 2017
D.C. murdered
Dec. 31, 2017
R.G. murdered
Jan. 18, 2018
C.P. kidnapped and murdered
Jan. 21, 2018
A.S. kidnapped and murdered
Feb. 2, 2018
J.R. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
J. H. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
R.O. murdered
Feb. 6, 2018
J.C. shot and wounded
Mid-February, 2018
I.T. kidnapped and murdered
Mid-February, 2018
R.P. kidnapped and murdered
March 1, 2018
E.R. kidnapped and murdered
“The Criminal Division and our federal, state and local partners are committed to dismantling violent gangs like MS-13,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The violence alleged in the superseding indictment in this case is truly shocking. The murder spree carried out by MS-13 in Las Vegas clearly shows the danger posed by organized street gangs like MS-13.”
“By significantly undermining MS-13’s ability to engage in violence in Las Vegas, the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners have made our communities safer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Our office remains committed to protecting our neighborhoods against gang violence and other criminal activity by prosecuting dangerous transnational criminal organizations like MS-13.”
“Taking violent offenders off the street should send a message to MS-13 members and their associates that violence and murder will not be tolerated in Las Vegas,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “Working with our local partners, we are committed to staying in the fight until this plague is purged from our communities.”
Reyes-Castillo and Perez-Manchame are scheduled for their initial court appearance on Tuesday, Aug. 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. If convicted, they face a mandatory sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Bureau are investigating the case.
Trial attorneys Jeremy Franker and Chris Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaheen Torgoley of the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
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 Regional Director of Non-Profit Corporation Sentenced for Bribery Conspiracy Involving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former regional director of community development for the National Community Stabilization Trust — formed in 2008 in response to the national mortgage-housing foreclosure crisis — was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
“The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entrusts non-profit organizations to administer HUD programs honestly and creatively to help improve the housing market. Their expertise is critical to stabilizing the nation’s housing economic recovery. When fraud is perpetrated against HUD, a significant impact is made on that recovery. One of the primary goals of the HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse, and present findings to prosecutors; such findings aid in maintaining the integrity of HUD programs. Barajas’ actions violated that trust and he must now face the consequences,” stated Michael Gibson, Special Agent in Charge, HUD OIG, Los Angeles, California.
According to court documents, Sergio Barajas, 54, of Chino Hills, California, worked for the Trust as a regional representative over the western United States. His duties included helping the Trust and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) non-profit organizations locate and buy foreclosed homes under a joint program between the Trust and HUD.
As part of the conspiracy:
• Heartland Coalition agreed to pay Barajas for his influence to help Heartland Coalition participate in the program. From 2011 to late 2012, Heartland Coalition paid Barajas a total of $186,025 and purchased 626 houses in California, Nevada, and Arizona.
• In 2011, Positive Housing Equations LLC agreed to pay Barajas for his influence to provide its affiliate company, Alliance Revitalization Communities (ARC), with access to houses available through the program. Between 2011 and 2014, ARC bought 167 houses, and Positive Housing Equations LLC paid Barajas a total of approximately $158,000.
• In 2013 and 2014, a real estate agent in Arizona agreed to pay Barajas for each house that her client bought through the Trust. The real estate agent paid Barajas a total of $36,711 to Barajas for at least 32 properties.
Barajas pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Barajas to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Michael Gibson of HUD OIG, Los Angeles, California, made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HUD OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Schiess prosecuted the case.
To submit allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement or whistleblower related matters within HUD and HUD-funded programs to the OIG, the public can either call the HUD OIG Hotline number at 1-800-347-3735 or make an online report at https://www.hudoig.gov/hotline/report-fraud.
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Las Vegas Couple Indicted for Tax Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, returned an indictment today charging a Las Vegas husband and wife with conspiring to defraud the IRS, tax evasion, filing a false tax return, assisting in the filing of false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns and pay federal income taxes.
According to allegations in the indictment, from at least 2005 through at least 2020, Scott H. Lawrence, a real estate professional, and Debra R. Lawrence, an owner of an interior design business, conspired to conceal their income and true financial condition from the IRS and to obstruct the IRS’s efforts to collect their unpaid tax liabilities. As part of the scheme, Scott and Debra Lawrence allegedly submitted to the IRS false documents, including false tax returns and collection information statements, that understated their true income. The indictment further alleges that Scott and Debra Lawrence sought to evade the payment of taxes owed for tax years 2005 to 2010 by cashing substantial portions of paychecks, thereby thwarting IRS levies and collection actions, and that they willfully failed to pay taxes for tax years 2014 to 2018. In total, Scott and Debra Lawrence are alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1,758,128.
Scott and Debra Lawrence are scheduled to make their initial court appearances on August 11, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youchah of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and for each count of tax evasion; three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return and assisting in the filing of false tax returns; and one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return and failing to pay income taxes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating this case.
Trial Attorneys Valerie Preiss and Patrick Burns of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are 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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Repeat Offender Sentenced for Committing Two Armed Bank Robberies in April 2018Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas felon was sentenced Thursday to 10 years and one month in prison for robbing two banks at gunpoint on the same day in April 2018, stealing approximately $22,000.
According to court documents, on April 17, 2018, Robert Carl Litheredge, 61, entered a bank in Henderson wearing a ski mask and carrying a semi-automatic handgun. Litheredge commanded the bank customers and employees to get down on the floor as he waved the handgun in the air. He pointed the handgun at a bank employee and demanded money. Litheredge left the bank with the stolen money.
Several hours later, Litheredge — again wearing a ski mask and carrying a semi-automatic handgun — entered a different bank in Las Vegas and demanded money. He fired one round from his handgun into the ceiling. Before fleeing the bank with the stolen money, Litheredge also fired another round into the ceiling.
Litheredge was arrested the following day in a local casino, in possession of a semi-automatic handgun and cash. During a post-arrest interview with detectives from the Henderson Police Department and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Litheredge admitted to robbing both banks.
Litheredge pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery and one count of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He has eight prior felony convictions, including two bank robbery convictions from 2001 and 2007. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Litheredge 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, Henderson Police Department, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre 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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Accountant Indicted for Embezzling More Than $140,000 in Tribe FundsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An accountant for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe made her initial appearance in federal court today for allegedly embezzling more than $140,000 from the Tribe.
As alleged in court documents, from March 2018 to July 2018, Linnie Arline Craner, 48, issued at least 18 checks — totaling over $140,000 — from the Tribe’s business checking account for her personal benefit. Craner allegedly falsified information in the Tribe’s accounting system so that it appeared the checks were made out to vendors for legitimate business purposes. But those checks were deposited into Craner’s personal bank account and used to pay off her auto loans.
Craner is charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization. If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on September 27, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon.
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.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Las Vegas Resident Sentenced for Robbing Two U.S. Postal Service Mail CarriersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for robbing two U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers while they were delivering the mail.
According to court documents, on January 18, 2020, Rodolfo Rafael Rodriguez-Silva, 21, and another individual — each wearing a ski mask — robbed a USPS mail carrier who was delivering mail. Rodriguez-Silva intimidated the mail carrier while the other person stole mail from the USPS vehicle. One week later on January 25, Rodriguez-Silva accosted another USPS mail carrier while wearing a mask. Rodriguez-Silva stated to the mail carrier, who was delivering mail in North Las Vegas: “I don’t want to hurt you, get to the side of the vehicle.” An individual with Rodriguez-Silva then stole mail from the USPS vehicle.
Rodriguez-Silva pleaded guilty in November 2020 to two counts of robbery of mail, money, or property of the United States. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Rodriguez-Silva to two years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Daniel Clarkson prosecuted the case.
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Felon Sentenced for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson man was sentenced on Thursday to six years in prison for distributing methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between March 6 and April 3, 2018, Kenneth Hall, 38, sold a total of 383.6 grams of methamphetamine in Henderson and Las Vegas. At the April 3 drug sale, Hall showed and offered to sell a handgun to the buyer. Later that day, during a traffic stop, officers found over 300 grams of methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and $4,080 in cash in Hall’s vehicle. When officers executed a search warrant at Hall’s residence, they found a 9mm Sig Sauer semiautomatic handgun, along with two magazines and ammunition. A convicted felon, Hall is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Hall pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Hall to five years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
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Joint Law Enforcement Operation Results in Arrests and Federal Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Federal indictments in the District of Nevada have been unsealed, charging six defendants with nearly 100 criminal charges in connection with an alleged drug trafficking ring and money laundering conspiracy.
These charges are the result of a global joint investigation, “Operation Money Maker,” comprised of nine law enforcement agencies that worked closely together to target a crime organization.
According to allegations set forth in the indictments:
- Barak Amar (51, of Las Vegas) conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. He is indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
- Arshak Arayan (41, of Los Angeles, California) conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He is indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and six counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
- Ofir Frieden (38, of San Jose, California) conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He is indicted on 45 counts of money laundering, eight counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and ten counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
- Djekem Kedoshim (31, of Seattle, Washington) is a business owner who wrote a business check in the amount of illegal drug proceeds to co-conspirators. He is indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of money laundering.
- Moshe Malka (36, of Las Vegas) conspired with others to deposit illegal cash proceeds into his bank account and wrote checks to co-conspirators for the cash received. He is indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and ten counts of money laundering.
- Shine True (39, of Phoenix, Arizona) conspired with others to deposit illegal cash proceeds into her bank account and wrote checks to co-conspirators for the cash received. She is indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and eight counts of money laundering.
“Our office appreciates the opportunity to partner with the FBI and law enforcement agencies across the world to combat the flow of cocaine into our communities and stop the laundering of illegal drug proceeds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “The hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners made it possible to disrupt this crime operation.”
“This is a brilliant example of the power of the international partnerships the FBI enjoys to combat the most dangerous organizations in the world,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI. “This operation should be a wakeup call to other criminals that regardless of where they think they can hide; the FBI and its partners will find them and bring them to justice.”
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalties for each count faced by each defendant are:
Defendant
Charges
Stat. Max. Penalties
Barak Amar
Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
40 yrs. imprisonment (5 yrs. mandatory minimum), $5 million fine, and at least 4 yrs. supervised release
Distribution of Controlled Substance
20 yrs. imprisonment, $1 million fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Arshak Arayan
Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
40 yrs. imprisonment (5 yrs. mandatory minimum), $5 million fine, and at least 4 yrs. supervised release
Distribution of a Controlled Substance
20 yrs. imprisonment, $1 million fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Ofir Frieden
Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
40 yrs. imprisonment (5 yrs. mandatory minimum), $5 million fine, and at least 4 yrs. supervised release
Distribution of a Controlled Substance
20 yrs. imprisonment, $1 million fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Djekem Kedoshim
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Moshe Malka
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Shine True
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
Money Laundering
20 yrs. imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 yrs. supervised release
This case was investigated by the FBI with significant assistance by the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Colombian National Police, the Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Organization, the Israeli National Police, the SRI – Romanian Intelligence Service, and the UK National Crime Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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U.S. Air Force Servicemember Sentenced for Distributing Drugs and Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force assigned to Nellis Air Force Base was sentenced today to 32 months in prison for selling a large quantity of methamphetamine and for trafficking firearms (including an AK-47 rifle) without a Federal Firearms License.
In April 2021, Michael Reimers, 41, of Las Vegas, had pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson sentenced Reimers to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, from about July 11, 2019 to about September 4, 2019, Reimers — who is not a licensed firearms dealer — sold an AK-47, a .26 caliber handgun, and a 12 gauge shotgun to various buyers. In addition, he sold large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to the same buyers.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA, along with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Henderson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaheen Torgoley prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Filing Fraudulent Claims for over $250,000 in Unemployment Insurance Benefits Through Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to filing two dozen fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, which were approved for more than $250,000 in unemployment benefits from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and California Employment Development Department (EDD).
According to court documents and admissions made in court, from June 1, 2020 to September 28, 2020, Antwine Demon Hunter, 24, and co-conspirators used personally identifiable information belonging to victims to submit 24 false unemployment claims to DETR and EDD. As part of the scheme, Hunter had DETR and EDD mail debit cards containing unemployment benefits to addresses he had access to. In total, more than $250,000 in unemployment benefits were approved, and at least $189,118 were withdrawn by Hunter.
Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2021. Hunter faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 the DOL-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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North Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $200,000 in Social Security Retirement BenefitsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A North Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty today to unlawfully collecting over $200,000 of her deceased mother’s Social Security retirement benefits. She also admitted to wrongfully taking over $20,000 of her deceased mother’s annuity payments from a life insurance company.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Inez Baker Cone, 74, held a joint bank account with her mother. The Social Security Administration (SSA) directly deposited her mother’s retirement benefits into the joint account. When her mother passed away in 1995, Baker Cone did not inform the SSA that her mother had died and was accordingly no longer eligible to receive retirement benefits. Instead, nearly two years after her mother’s death, Baker Cone changed her mother’s mailing address with the SSA to her own home address.
Similarly, Baker Cone changed her mother’s mailing address with Transamerica Life Insurance Company to her own home address in order to wrongfully collect her mother’s annuity payment checks mailed by the company. Baker Cone deposited the checks by forging her late mother’s signature. From April 1995 to September 2020, Baker Cone unlawfully obtained approximately $200,244 of SSA retirement benefits and $22,763 of annuity payments from Transamerica Life Insurance Company.
Baker Cone pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on October 14, 2021, and she faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Inspector General Gail S. Ennis for the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the SSA OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
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Belizean National Sentenced for Using Counterfeit Immigration and Social Security Cards at Nevada DMVRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Belize citizen, who was unlawfully in the United States, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for using a fraudulent United States Permanent Resident Card and a fake Social Security card while applying for a "Real ID" identification card at a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office.
According to court documents, on October 1, 2020, Rickon Amyon Wade, aka “Ricky Wade,” 35, attempted to obtain a Nevada Real ID identification card at a DMV office in Henderson. Wade presented a counterfeit United States Permanent Resident Card and counterfeit Social Security card — bearing Wade’s name and a Social Security number not assigned to him — as identification. Wade had obtained the fraudulent immigration and Social Security cards from a counterfeit document vendor in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Wade to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Inspector General Gail S. Ennis for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) made the announcement.
The case was investigated by HSI and the SSA OIG after referral by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Compliance Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Hundreds of Child Pornography Images and Videos via Instant Messaging AppRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to trading over 600 child pornography images and videos using Kik Messenger, an instant messaging application on mobile devices.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Cyrus Orlando Ortega, 27, distributed those child pornography images and videos to other Kik Messenger users, in exchange for child pornography from those users. The images and videos depicted underage victims — some as young as toddlers — being sexually exploited.
Ortega pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of five years in prison, and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2021.
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 and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Supriya Prasad is 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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Jury Convicts Three Defendants of Stealing Jewelry and Cash from Vault Business and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted three defendants who worked for a Las Vegas private vault business of stealing cash, jewelry, and watches from safe deposit boxes and private vaults, as well as laundering those illegal proceeds.
“Yesterday’s verdict reflects that the defendants used their inside knowledge of the business’ security measures to take advantage of victims — including victims who were reluctant to come forward even after they were stolen from,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Our office is grateful to the jury for fulfilling its civic duty, and to our law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication in investigating the inside jobs.”
2012 Robbery. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Phillip D. Hurbace (74, of Calpine, California) was a former contractor for the private vault business and Sylviane Della Whitmore (aka “Sylviane Cordova,” 69, of Las Vegas) was an employee of the business. They met and conspired to rob the business using information they knew. On April 14, 2012, conspirators entered the business through an adjoining vacant suite, restrained an employee using handcuffs and duct tape, and used the crawl space above the ceiling to pass over walls.
Once inside, conspirators drilled into safe deposit boxes and private vaults. They stole cash and personal property, including coins, jewelry, and watches. Whitmore subsequently deposited more than $250,000 of stolen money into her bank account, and Hurbace attempted to sell a stolen watch worth several hundred thousand dollars.
2014 Break In. In 2014, after the private vault business went into bankruptcy, Whitmore and Larry Anthony McDaniel (61, of Las Vegas) planned another heist. They broke into safe deposit boxes and private vaults, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. Afterwards, McDaniel opened new bank accounts using nearly $700,000 in cash, and Whitmore deposited $190,000 into a trust account in her mother’s name.
Hurbace was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; one count of interference with commerce by robbery; and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. McDaniel was found guilty of one count of fraudulent transfer of property; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; and 11 counts of money laundering. Whitmore was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; one count of interference with commerce by robbery; seven counts of money laundering; one count of fraudulent transfer of property; and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2021. The statutory maximum penalties faced by each defendant are: Hurbace — 50 years of imprisonment and a $750,000 fine; McDaniel — 135 years of imprisonment and a $3.5 million fine; and Whitmore — 115 years of imprisonment and a $2.75 million fine.
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.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Mina Chang are prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI, and AARP Nevada Partner to Protect Nevadans from Gift Card FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and AARP Nevada will host an interactive telephonic town hall on June 30, at 10 a.m. PDT, to share information about common gift card fraud schemes and prevention tips.
During the hour-long town hall, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and FBI Supervisory Special Agent will discuss common scams to be aware of and provide tips to protect you and your loved ones. Following the presentations, callers will have the opportunity to ask questions.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2020, Nevadans over the age of 60 lost more than $36.5M. In fact, Nevada ranked first among all states for the number of total fraud reports in 2020 with 35,533.
To join the toll-free telephonic town hall, register at https://aarp.cvent.com/events/aarp-nv-gift-card-scams-tth-statewide-6-30-2021/event-summary-8b14e7f171034e6fb1c3fb7278fee296.aspx. In addition to joining the town hall by phone, AARP members and the community at large may join online by going to the AARP Nevada Facebook page at facebook.com/aarpnv.
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 National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. 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 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
In addition, you can report potential elder fraud to the FBI at www.ic3.gov or by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). Similarly, you can call AARP’s Fraud Watch Network helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam. You can also find tip sheets and sign up for fraud alerts at the Fraud Watch Network site, www.aarp.org/fraud.
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s efforts to stop elder fraud, please visit the Elder Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
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Reno Man Sentenced for Robbing Two Stores at GunpointRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A Reno resident was sentenced on Friday to 14 years and one month in federal prison for robbing a liquor store and a convenience store at gunpoint in July 2019.
In March 2021, a federal jury convicted Edward Monet Knight, 32, of Reno, of two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Knight already had prior felony convictions, three of which stemmed from incidents where he robbed commercial establishments at gunpoint. On June 25, 2021, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du sentenced Knight to 30 days for the two most recent robberies and the statutory mandatory minimum of 14 years for the use of a firearm during those robberies.
According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, on July 7, 2019, Knight racked the slide of a firearm while threatening a clerk at a liquor store in Sparks, Nevada. The next day, on July 8, Knight entered a convenience store and told a clerk: “what do you mean knock it off, with a real gun that’s a good way to get yourself killed.” Knight then pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the clerk and ordered the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register. After Knight fled the store with the stolen money, Sparks Police Department officers responded to the scene. A search of an abandoned vehicle that was seen fleeing the convenience store revealed: a handgun matching the description of the gun used in the robbery; Knight’s identification card; and the stolen money.
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 the Sparks Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Penelope Brady prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing fentanyl that caused the death of another person.
According to the indictment and allegations made at the initial court appearance, Gabriel Ulloa, 29, distributed fentanyl to the 27-year-old victim, who believed he was buying Oxycodone pills from Ulloa. The victim died as a result of ingesting the drugs.
Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly.
Ulloa is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Ulloa made his initial appearance on June 25, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler, who scheduled a jury trial for August 23, 2021. If convicted, Ulloa faces a statutory minimum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, and a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Major Violators Narcotics Crimes Bureau, Overdose Response Team, HSI, DEA, and the Henderson Police Department.
This case was part of the Southern Nevada’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program that enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sokolich is prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Business Owner Pleads Guilty in Fraudulent Income Tax Return SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas, Nevada, businesswoman pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Graciela Rueda Alvarez, aka “Graciela Masso,” owned and operated two Las Vegas businesses: All Hose Inc. (AHI) and All Hose South LLC (AHS), which are distributors of industrial, hydraulic, and pneumatic hoses, connectors and fluid transfer systems. From 2013 to 2016, Rueda Alvarez transferred more than $950,000 of the profits from AHI and AHS to bank accounts she controlled, but did not report these funds as income on her personal federal tax returns. In total, Rueda Alvarez caused a tax loss to the IRS of $210,807.
Rueda Alvarez faces the statutory maximum penalty of three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. In addition to the prison term, Rueda Alvarez has agreed to pay $458,728.52 in restitution, including past-due taxes, interest, and penalties. U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey scheduled sentencing for Sept. 27.
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 the IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement.
The IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Michael Landman of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
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Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Federal Courthouse During May 2020 Protest in RenoRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A Reno man today pleaded guilty to damaging the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse in the late evening of May 30, 2020, following a protest relating to the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Keith Moreno, 28, threw a cigarette receptacle (weighing about 23 pounds) and a rock through the first floor windows near the front entrance of the courthouse. Moreno broke at least one of the courthouse windows.
Moreno pleaded guilty to one count of Destruction of Government Property. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on September 16, 2021. Moreno faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 is the product of an investigation by the FBI, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Marshals Service.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Opioids Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas man today pleaded guilty to distributing opioids that resulted in the overdose death of another person.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Daniel Anguiano, 42, distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills — containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl — to a man who died after consuming the counterfeit pills.
Fentanyl is classified as Schedule II controlled substances, and acetyl fentanyl is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly. Acetyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl that is 10-15 times more potent than morphine. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a common drug of abuse.
Anguiano pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2021.
For the distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, Anguiano faces: (a) a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment; and (b) a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the DEA made the announcement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sokolich is prosecuting the case.
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Jury Convicts Carson Indian Colony Resident of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Reno man on June 16, 2021 for committing voluntary manslaughter on tribal land.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven Bryan, 51, shot and killed his son with an AR-15 style rifle on or about December 13, 2019, on the Carson Indian Colony.
Bryan was found guilty of one count of voluntary manslaughter. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2021.
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. Attorneys Penelope Brady and Andolyn Johnson are prosecuting the case.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulenty Obtaining over $170,000 in Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A California man pleaded guilty today 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.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, on September 11, 2020, Keheir Jordan Parker (25, of Victorville, Calif.) and co-conspirator Robert Devon Barber (25, of Lawrenceville, Georgia) 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. Approximately $170,715.78 was obtained from accounts associated with those 12 cards, including $148,400 in ATM cash withdrawals and $22,315.78 in purchases.
Parker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to effectuate illegal transaction with an access device. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of seven and a half years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2021.
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 is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 should please 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.
For information about COVID-19 fraud, visit the Department of Justice’s website at https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $185,000 from Nevada's Unclaimed Property FundRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas man was sentenced on Tuesday to five years and 10 months in prison for assuming others’ identities to steal nearly $185,800 from the Nevada State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Fund.
According to court documents, from February 2011 to August 2014, John Badea, 69, and co-defendant Radu Gal, 66, both of Las Vegas, repeatedly stole money belonging to individual victims that had been held in trust by the Nevada State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division. As part of their fraudulent scheme, Badea and Gal searched the Unclaimed Property Division website to identify potential victims who were owed unclaimed property, obtained those victims’ personal identifying information using a ruse, and then submitted fraudulent claims to the Unclaimed Property Division using the victim’s identities.
Badea opened bank accounts in the names of stolen identities and deposited stolen unclaimed property funds into those accounts. He used the stolen funds for personal gain and to further the fraudulent scheme. Through their scheme, Badea and Gal submitted more than 143 false claims and impersonated more than 100 persons. They unlawfully obtained checks from the Unclaimed Property Division totaling approximately $185,872.
Badea pleaded guilty in December 2020 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Badea was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. Gal pleaded guilty in February 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Gal is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2021.
"We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who conspire to steal Social Security numbers and the identities of innocent people for their personal gain,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General of Social Security. "I thank the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for their efforts and the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI, and Inspector General Ennis of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the SSA OIG, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.
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Nevada Bottled Water Companies and Owners Ordered to Stop Distributing Adulterated and Misbranded Water ProductsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal court permanently enjoined a Henderson, Nevada, company from preparing, processing, and distributing adulterated and misbranded bottled water.
In a complaint filed on May 19, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States alleged that AffinityLifestyles.com Inc. and Real Water Inc., along with company officers Brent A. Jones and his son, Blain K. Jones, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by distributing adulterated and misbranded bottled water. The companies formerly distributed bottled water under the brand names “Re2al Water Drinking Water” and “Re2al Alkalized Water.” While the companies marketed their products as a healthy alternative to tap water, the government alleged that the products in fact consisted of municipal tap water that the defendants processed with various chemicals in violation of current good manufacturing practices, relevant food safety standards and hazard prevention measures.
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the FDA received information that at least five children experienced acute non-viral hepatitis (resulting in acute liver failure) after drinking Re2al Water. The FDA documented other consumer complaints of illness, including nausea and vomiting, related to the Re2al Water. Subsequently, the agency warned consumers, restaurants, distributors and retailers not to drink, cook with, sell or serve the product.
“Food and water sold to consumers must be safe,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that bottled water and other products we eat and drink are manufactured in compliance with the law.”
“As consumers, we count on bottled water companies to take appropriate measures in ensuring their water doesn’t make our families sick, particularly children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “The permanent injunction imposed on Real Water reflects the Department of Justice’s and FDA’s commitment to protecting the health of Nevadans and consumers across the country.”
The complaint alleges that FDA inspections found: (a) multiple regulatory violations in the companies’ manufacturing processes, including significant deviations from preventative control requirements intended to control the risk of hazards in food; and (b) multiple failures to follow current good manufacturing practice requirements for water bottling facilities.
“We are committed to preventing harmful products from entering the nation’s food supply, and we will take enforcement action when a company fails to follow the law,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D. “The FDA, together with our federal counterparts at the U.S. Department of Justice, aggressively pursued this injunction and we will continue to take swift action to protect consumers.”
The defendants agreed to settle the suit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The order entered by the federal court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and requires that they destroy any food, including any bottled water products, still in their possession. As part of the settlement, the defendants represented that they are no longer engaged in processing, preparing, packing or distributing water or any other type of food. Before processing or distributing any food in the future, the defendants first must notify the FDA in advance, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction, and permit the FDA to inspect their facilities and procedures.
Trial Attorneys Brianna Gardner and Sarah Williams of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are handling the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Flake of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and Associate Chief Counsel Jennifer Argabright of the FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
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Las Vegas Woman Arrested and Charged with Illegally Exporting Goods to IranRead the Press Release
A Las Vegas woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to export goods from the United States to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
According to the indictment unsealed yesterday, Tina Chen, 47 — aka Ya When Chen, Wen Tina Chen, Tina Dunbar, and Tina Dubner — is the owner of Top One Zone, LLC, a company exporting electronic and computer components that Chen operates from her residence. As alleged, from about November 2015 to May 2019, Chen conspired with others to buy and export goods from companies in the United States, and then send those goods to individuals in Iran through companies in Hong Kong. Chen concealed the identities of the end users, and she did not have a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Chen is charged with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully export goods to Iran. Chen made her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe, who scheduled a jury trial for July 26. If convicted, Chen faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are 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.
Las Vegas Woman Arrested and Charged with Illegally Exporting Goods to IranRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to export goods from the United States to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
According to the indictment unsealed on Thursday, Tina Chen, 47 — aka Ya When Chen, Wen Tina Chen, Tina Dunbar, and Tina Dubner — is the owner of Top One Zone, LLC, a company exporting electronic and computer components that Chen operates from her residence. As alleged, from about November 2015 to May 2019, Chen conspired with others to buy and export goods from companies in the United States, and then send those goods to individuals in Iran through companies in Hong Kong. Chen concealed the identities of the end users, and she did not have a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Chen is charged with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully export goods to Iran. Chen made her initial court appearance on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe, who scheduled a jury trial for July 26. If convicted, Chen faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are 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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Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Hundreds of Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Laced with FentanylRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno man pleaded guilty today to selling hundreds of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, from June 12 to September 2, 2020, Octavio Mendoza Jr., 24, sold counterfeit oxycodone pills stamped with “M30” that contained fentanyl. On September 6, law enforcement arrested Mendoza after observing him using drugs in a vehicle in downtown Reno. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 374 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
Mendoza pleaded guilty to seven counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben scheduled sentencing for August 24, 2021.
The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of fentanyl is 20 years in prison, and the minimum penalty is five years in prison. The statutory maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl is 40 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Highway Patrol, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Gaming Control Board, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson is prosecuting the case.
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Leader of Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The leader and organizer of a drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison for selling nearly 36 pounds of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.
According to court documents, Vang Tran, 53, of Los Angeles, Calif., also known as “Train,” conspired with Hieugod Tran, also known as “Rabbit,” Quang Duong Tao, David Roeum, and George Suarez to distribute approximately 36 pounds of methamphetamine from December 2017 to November 2018. Tran, who was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy, negotiated the drug sales that occurred at hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.
Tran pleaded guilty in March 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware sentenced Tran to 10 years of supervised release.
Co-defendants Hieugod Tran, Tao, Roeum, and Suarez all previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Hieugod Tran and Roeum were each sentenced to 10 years in prison; Suarez was sentenced to eight years and two months in prison; and Tao has not been sentenced yet.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Steal Trade Secrets from Nevada Defense CompanyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today to attempting to steal trade secrets belonging to his employer, a Nevada-based defense contractor.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Peter James Cariani, 58, of Boston, was employed as a systems engineer by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). On April 7, 2015, without authority to do so, Cariani downloaded tens of thousands of electronic files from SNC’s computer network. The files contained trade secret information related to SNC’s Radar Enhanced Vision System: a unique onboard aircraft radar sensing system that displays digital images of the ground for pilots flying in zero-visibility conditions. Cariani transferred the files to a personal external hard drive, and later transmitted information derived from the files to others for potential economic benefit. When entering his guilty plea, Cariani admitted that he knowingly downloaded trade secret information from SNC’s network and he knew his actions would harm SNC. An investigation was initiated by the FBI’s Reno branch after SNC detected (and reported) that an unauthorized electronic device had been used to download files from its computer network.
“Theft of trade secret information is a federal crime and economically destructive, depriving companies of the fruits of their creativity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Our office will continue to work closely with the FBI and Nevada businesses to hold accountable anyone trying to steal trade secret information from the innovative companies in our district, and to protect their sensitive business and technical information.”
“This case reminds all of our business partners of the need to be vigilant to prevent the insider threat from robbing them of their success,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI. “The FBI stands ready to protect businesses from those who would profit from stealing trade secrets as this case clearly shows.”
Cariani pleaded guilty to one count of attempted theft of trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 31, 2021.
Cariani faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Reno Resident Agency of the Las Vegas Division of the FBI with assistance from the FBI's Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Myhre and Randolph St. Clair are prosecuting the case.
A private sector entity that is a victim of a cyber incident can receive assistance from government agencies, which are prepared to investigate the incident, mitigate its consequences, and help prevent future incidents. Federal Government agencies work together to leverage their collective response expertise, apply their knowledge of cyber threats, preserve key evidence, and use their combined authorities and capabilities to minimize asset vulnerability and bring malicious actors to justice. Private sector entities are encouraged to report a cyber incident to the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
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Jury Convicts Two Men for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury convicted two men on May 21, of committing four armed robberies, including two banks and the same Starbucks coffeehouse twice.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edwin Arnold Jr., 25, of Las Vegas, and Shamariae Marshon Jones, 25, of Pasadena, Calif., robbed two banks and a Starbucks coffeehouse between December 2016 and January 2017. They stole a total of $14,280. During each robbery, Arnold brandished a handgun at employees, demanding money and threatening to shoot if they did not comply. Jones helped Arnold commit the robberies. 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.
After a five-day jury trial, Arnold and Jones were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, one count of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and three counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. Arnold was found guilty of an additional count of interference with commerce by robbery and of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the jury trial and scheduled sentencing for August 25, 2021. Arnold and Jones each face the statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Reese and Shaheen Torgoley are 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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Boulder City Man Convicted of Assaulting Spouse at Lake Mead National Recreation AreaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Boulder City man on May 20, for assaulting his wife at a campground in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael David Thompson, 65, repeatedly struck the victim’s face and body on September 21, 2020, at the Boulder Beach Campground within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Thompson’s assault caused the victim injuries that included a broken nose, fractured left orbital bone, and large contusions to her face and left arm.
After a three-day jury trial, Thompson was found guilty of one count of felony assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a spouse or intimate partner. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the trial and scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 23, 2021.
Thompson faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the National Park Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Kent and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Brister are prosecuting the case
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Hip-Hop Producer Sentenced for Unlawfully Operating A Prostitution Business Guised as Escort BusinessesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A hip-hop producer was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison for unlawfully operating a prostitution business over a 12 year period, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI.
According to court documents, Jamal Rashid, 45, of Las Vegas, known as hip-hop producer “Mally Mall,” owned and operated several escort businesses between April 2002 and September 2014 that served as fronts for a prostitution business. Rashid operated a high-end prostitution business that transported victims across the United States, using various paid websites — such as Backpage and Eros — to advertise the victims for prostitution purposes.
Rashid exploited hundreds of victims as: (a) “independent contractors” who turned over to Rashid a portion of what they earned through prostitution; and (b) “priority girls” who turned over nearly all of the proceeds from prostitution to Rashid. He admitted to manipulating the victims, imposing rules and threatening them so that they would prostitute for him. Further, Rashid encouraged victims to get tattoos of him to demonstrate their loyalty, and led many of them to believe he would advance their careers in show business.
Rashid pleaded guilty in October 2019 to one count of use of an interstate facility in aid of unlawful activity. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Rashid to three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson prosecuted the case.
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Texas Woman Convicted of Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Texas woman Monday for her role in a child sex trafficking conspiracy to recruit and exploit a child in multiple states, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI.
“Sex trafficking — especially when it involves preying on children and forcing them into commercial sexual exploitation — subjects victims to appalling cruelty,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “Combatting human trafficking remains one of our office’s top priorities. Working closely with our law enforcement and community partners, our dedicated prosecutors are focused on bringing traffickers to justice and off the streets, away from victims.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from August 2018 to September 2018, Demecia Shontres Washington, 42, of Dallas, Texas conspired with co-defendant Jimmy David Washington Jr., 35, of Lubbock, Texas, to recruit and coerce a child — who had not yet reached 18 years old — to engage in commercial sex acts and to produce child pornography. Demecia Washington and Jimmy Washington Jr. transported the child from Texas to New Mexico and Nevada with the intent that she engage in prostitution.
After a six-day trial, Washington was found guilty of one count each of: conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking; conspiracy to transport for prostitution or other criminal sexual activity; transportation for prostitution or other criminal sexual activity; conspiracy to sexually exploit children; sexual exploitation of children; and distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial and scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 1, 2021.
The statutory maximum penalty for sex trafficking, transportation for purposes of prostitution, and conspiracy to commit those offenses is life in prison, with mandatory minimum penalties of 10 years for each offense. The statutory maximum penalty for sexual exploitation of children and conspiracy to commit that offense is 30 years in prison, with mandatory minimum penalties of 15 years for both offenses. The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of child pornography is 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum penalty of five years for that offense.
Co-defendant Jimmy Washington Jr. previously pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution. He was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Bianca Pucci are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — In honor of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada honors the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, National Police Week is observed from Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”
“Our law enforcement partners regularly face challenging and dangerous situations without hesitation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou. “Their jobs have only become more difficult during the pandemic. Our office joins in expressing gratitude for individuals who belong to the noble profession of law enforcement and thanking them for their daily sacrifices, as guardians of peace and a system of equal justice are essential to thriving communities.”
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. Since last spring, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the District of Nevada, two officers died in the line of duty. They were: Lt. Erik Lloyd of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Sgt. Benjamin Jenkins of the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.
Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.
To learn more about National Police Week in-person events scheduled for October, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Damaging U.S. Courthouse During May 2020 Protest in Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A fourth defendant has pleaded guilty to causing damage to the Foley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI, and U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield.
According to court documents, Alejandro Avalos, 28, of Las Vegas, participated in a protest on the evening of May 30, 2020 — in front of the federal buildings in downtown Las Vegas — following the May 25th death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. During the protest, fireworks were set off, walls were spray painted with obscenities and graffiti, and small bushes were lit on fire. Avalos and others went to the east entrance of the Foley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, threw paint on the windows, and kicked and struck the windows with objects. Video surveillance footage at the courthouse, as well as social media videos, showed Avalos striking the building’s windows with a metal bar and breaking at least one window.
Avalos pleaded guilty to one count of depredation against property of the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on August 9, 2021. Avalos faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In addition to Avalos, three other individuals - Reginald Lewis, 20; Kelton K. Simon, 35; and Alexander Kostan, 22; all of Las Vegas - have pleaded guilty to one count of depredation against property of the United States and await sentencing. A fifth individual, Keion Joe'l Cherry, 25, has been charged with one count of depredation against property of the United States and awaits a preliminary hearing in June 2021. A sixth individual, Jeanette R. Wallace, 35, of Las Vegas, is charged with one count of depredation against property of the United States and awaits a jury trial scheduled for August 2021.
A complaint or an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
These cases are the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Las Vegas Violent Crimes Task Force and LVMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Kimberly Sokolich are prosecuting the cases.
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California Man Convicted of Running Prescription Opioids Distribution RingRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a California man last Friday for his role in running a prescription opioids trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from January 2018 to May 2019, Myron Motley, 57, of Richmond, California, conspired with others to possess and distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, both Schedule II controlled substances. As part of the conspiracy, Motley enlisted co-defendant Dr. Eric Math to write fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone and Hydrocodone to Motley and co-conspirators Joseph Jeannette, Michael Kwoka, Ivy Elliott, and Alesia Sampson. The co-conspirators would then fill the prescriptions at local pharmacies and give some of the pills to Motley, so that he could sell them to other co-conspirators, including Michael Slater.
Motley was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, four counts of distribution of Oxycodone, and one count of distribution of Hydrocodone. U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the jury trial. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 23, 2021.
Motley faces a statutory mandatory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Motley was charged along with co-conspirators Math, Kwoka, Slater, Elliott, and Sampson, who have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Co-conspirator Jeannette awaits a jury trial.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was a joint investigation conducted by the FBI; the Reno Police Department; Nevada Highway Patrol; the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Welfare and Social Services; the Office of the Nevada Attorney General; the Carson City Sheriff’s Office; the Nevada Department of Corrections; the Nevada Gaming Control Board; the Sparks Police Department; the University of Nevada-Reno Police Department; and IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Peter Levitt.
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Federal Inmate and Accomplice Plead Guilty to Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal inmate and his accomplice pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from a fraudulent tax withholding scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. for the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS CI).
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Jabari Laquan Marshall, 43, devised the fraudulent tax withholding scheme while incarcerated in a Bureau of Prisons facility. As part of the scheme, Marshall provided co-defendant Jalen Tony Henry, 27, with false documents that purportedly showed the sale of certain trade secrets for $25 million during the 2014 tax year. To make those false documents appear more credible, Marshall used the real social security numbers of two other individuals.
In April 2015, Henry filed an amended tax return for tax year 2014, using the false documents and fraudulently claiming that — as part of the fictitious sale of the trade secrets — $5,575,633 in federal income tax had been withheld on his behalf. Henry requested a tax refund of $1,359,645, and actually received a refund check for $1,439,039, which he deposited into his bank account. Marshall then directed Henry to split the funds among their family members. Because of the suspicious nature of the transaction, Henry’s bank account was frozen, and the IRS successfully recovered $1,433,971 of the refund amount sent to Henry.
Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of aggravated identity theft. Henry pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison for theft of government money, and two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan on August 13, 2021.
The case was investigated by IRS CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Commemorates Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness DayRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed a proclamation designating today, May 5, 2021, as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. The proclamation reaffirms our country’s commitment to solving missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases and addressing the underlying causes of these crimes, including sexual violence, violent crime, economic disparities, and substance use and addiction.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins our Tribal, state, local, and federal law enforcement partners in commemorating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, and taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting Tribal crime victims.
“Native Americans, especially women and children, suffer from disproportionately high rates of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou. “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to finding the missing and seeking justice for the murdered. In partnership with the FBI, community organizations, and Tribal Nations, our District — one of the first in the country to recruit a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) program coordinator — has made strides in addressing the lack of data, lack of coordination, and jurisdictional gaps that caused many cases to go unsolved. Work remains to be done but, by working together, I believe we can end the MMIP crisis and bring some degree of peace to the families of missing and murdered Tribal victims.”
If you or someone you know has information about missing or murdered Indigenous persons in Nevada, please contact the FBI Las Vegas Field Office by calling (702) 385-1281, or by visiting tips.fbi.gov. If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP program coordinator Tom Ross by calling (775) 784-5438.
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U.S. Attorney's Office & IRS CI Remind Taxpayers About Their Reporting and Filing Obligations, and the Importance of Choosing Tax Preparers WiselyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – As the May 17 tax filing deadline approaches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and IRS Criminal Investigations remind taxpayers to please pay careful attention to their reporting and filing obligations (and to timely pay all taxes due), and urge taxpayers to choose their return preparers wisely.
“Tax offenses are neither victimless nor without consequence, as taxes are how governments provide essential services,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the IRS website for tips on filing a tax return accurately and on searching for a reputable return preparer. Please keep in mind that criminals often use the tax filing deadline as an opportunity to steal personal and financial information.”
“The 2020 tax year included new tax laws, stimulus payments, and unemployment income benefits that may affect your tax return," said Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation. “And as the American public begins to recover from the ongoing pandemic, taxpayers still have an obligation to file and pay their taxes. It is extremely important to report all taxable income to avoid the potential for further financial hardship.”
In collaboration with the IRS and other law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been investigating and prosecuting a broad array of tax offenses, from identity theft to businesses and white-collar professionals underreporting income.
Identity Theft Prosecution
- On October 7, 2020, a Las Vegas man was sentenced to 70 months in prison for mail and wire fraud conspiracy, following his jury trial convictions. The trial evidence proved that from January 2009 through April 2011, Terry Williamson and his co-conspirators filed false tax returns with the IRS to fraudulently obtain tax refunds. To facilitate the fraud, they used the names and social security numbers of deceased taxpayers. More than 480 fraudulent tax refund checks — totaling almost $2 million — were deposited into Williamson’s account.
Prosecution of Tax Return Preparers
- On March 18, 2021, a Las Vegas tax preparer pleaded guilty to preparing fraudulent tax returns over a seven year span and causing nearly $3 million in tax loss to the IRS. Anita Edoria Santa Ana, the owner and operator of Santana Tax Service and Silver Income Tax LLC, falsified clients’ tax returns by claiming deductions and exemptions to which the clients were not entitled. Santa Ana is currently awaiting sentencing.
- On December 3, 2020, a Las Vegas tax preparer pleaded guilty to preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients and causing at least $1.5 million in tax loss to the IRS. Baby Vasquez Beltran, the owner and operator of Speed Refund Tax Services, falsified clients’ tax returns by claiming deductions and exemptions to which the clients were not entitled. Beltran is awaiting sentencing.
Prosecution of White-Collar Professionals
- On April 7, 2021, a married couple was indicted for their alleged roles — in connection with a sleep study fraud scheme — to evade payment of taxes on more than $1.1 million in income. As alleged, Oganes Berberyan and Valentina Zemlyak evaded paying federal income taxes owing and due on income from the fraud scheme, as well as from other sources. They had bank accounts in business names pay their personal expenses directly, including approximately $1.14 million in payments towards the purchase of real property and mortgage payments. In each of tax years 2014 through 2016, Berberyan and Zemylak had a joint taxable income greater than the amount they reported to the IRS. Berberyan and Zemlyak are currently awaiting a jury trial.
- On October 15, 2020, a former Las Vegas and New York resident was indicted for his alleged participation in an investment fraud scheme. Mykalai Kontilai allegedly misappropriated $6.1 million in investor funds, manufactured evidence to mislead an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and concealed the proceeds of his fraudulent scheme from the IRS. As alleged, Kontilai lured investors into giving him money to start an e-commerce auction business. Kontilai led bank officials to believe that money he withdrew was for business purposes, when in fact it was for himself. Kontilai failed to file tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2018 when he was engaged in the alleged scheme.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a list of important reminders for taxpayers who are about to file their 2020 tax returns, including how to prepare for a smooth filing process.
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Las Vegas Woman Convicted of Sending Letters Threatening to Injure Her Mother's Former Supervisor and LawyersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas woman yesterday for mailing letters threatening to injure her mother’s former supervisor and members of the law firm defending the mother’s former employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the five-day trial, between August 11, 2018 and October 1, 2019, Latonia Smith, 27, sent anonymous threatening letters to her mother’s former supervisor; and attorneys and staff professionals engaged by her former employer to defend against a lawsuit Smith filed. In three of the letters, Smith wrote: “your throat will be slit you will be recorded as the blood spills from your neck and just as you gasp to take your final undeserving breath three bullets will be placed right through your skull.” In another letter, she threatened that the recipients had been “added to the hit list” and it would be the “end of lives.”
Smith was convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications through the U.S. Mail. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a monetary fine. U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware presided over the trial. The Court has not yet scheduled a sentencing hearing.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Reno Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Myhre and Daniel Clarkson.
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Northern Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Fernley resident pleaded guilty today to using encrypted applications and online aliases to distribute child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI.
According to court documents, Benjamin D. Morrow, 36, used various encrypted messaging applications and numerous online aliases and email address, including foreign email service providers, to distribute unsolicited images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He used encrypted applications to conceal his identity and avoid detection by law enforcement. Morrow distributed child pornography to at least 182 recipients. The images and videos depict prepubescent minors under 12 years old engaged in masochistic and sadistic material.
During the execution of a search warrant at Morrow’s residence, law enforcement seized several electronic devices belonging to him. A forensic analysis of the seized devices revealed approximately 119,371 images of child pornography and 4,945 videos of child pornography.
Morrow pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2021. The maximum statutory penalty for each count is 20 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Washoe County Sherriff’s Office, Lyon County Sherriff’s Office, Reno Police Department, Carson City Sherriff’s Office, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson is 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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Las Vegas Woman Sentenced for Unemployment Benefits SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in federal prison for fraudulently applying for and receiving nearly $23,000 in unemployment benefits debit cards, announced 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.
According to court documents, Deandra Michelle Smith, 36, used another person’s personal identification information — without that person’s consent — and fraudulently applied for unemployment insurance benefits with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). Around February 2017, Smith falsely claimed that the victim had been laid off, when in fact the victim was employed. Smith also listed her own address on the benefits application, so she would receive the benefits debit card issued by DETR. In carrying out her fraudulent scheme, Smith used the same victim’s personal information to renew the unemployment claim several times. Between March 2017 and August 2018, Smith used the DETR-issued unemployment benefits debit cards in multiple states, including Nevada, California, Texas, and Hawaii. In total, Smith fraudulently received $22,490 from DETR.
Smith pleaded guilty in November 2020 to one count of mail fraud. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Smith to three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by DOL-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
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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Seattle Man Sentenced for Multi-State Identity Theft Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Seattle man was sentenced today to 4 years and eight months in federal prison for stealing victims’ identities, using those identities to steal vehicles from car dealerships in several states, and then selling these vehicles to unwitting buyers, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI.
According to court documents, from February 2016 to March 2016, Justin Lee Tripp, 48, and others conspired to use personal identities without authorization to purchase more than $230,980 of vehicles in Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. As part of the scheme, Tripp and a co-conspirator obtained other peoples’ personal information, produced false identification cards that included Tripp’s and the co-conspirator’s photographs, and used fraudulent lines of credit to purchase electronics and vehicles – including a Ford F350 pickup truck, a 5th Wheel RV trailer; and a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
In March 2016, Tripp attempted to buy two jet skis and a trailer at a Las Vegas dealership using a counterfeit driver’s license, fraudulent credit card, and a fraudulent money order. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers attempted to arrest Tripp who resisted multiple commands, assaulted the officers, and attempted to flee. After a struggle, officers arrested Tripp. At the time of his arrest, Tripp possessed a forged driver’s license and two fraudulent credit cards. During a search of the stolen truck Tripp drove to the Las Vegas dealership, officers found two California license plates that were reported stolen, and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol that was reported stolen in Washington. Officers also searched a stolen 5th Wheel RV trailer and found methamphetamine, multiple license plates, a backpack containing burglary tools, and a forgery lab used to produce counterfeit documents that were used to further the fraud scheme.
At the time of the crime spree, Tripp was a convicted felon serving a federal term of supervised release in the Western District of Washington.
Tripp pleaded guilty in September 2020, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Tripp to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.
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Nevada Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Nevada resident was sentenced last Wednesday to 10 years in prison for his role in a methamphetamine drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, on April 14, 2017, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped a vehicle. Alejandro Jose Rojas, 38, was a passenger, and co-defendant Jonathan Ruiz, 35, was the driver. During the stop, officers observed a firearm protruding from underneath the front passenger seat. Officers found approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine in Rojas’ pocket and recovered three firearms under the passenger seat. 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle’s trunk. During a subsequent search warrant executed on a hotel room Ruiz had rented, officers found an additional firearm and approximately 8.6 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Rojas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Rojas to five years of supervised release.
Ruiz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Two Men Charged for Selling over 4,500 Stolen Goods OnlineRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – Two men from the Reno area face federal charges for selling more than 4,500 stolen items online to buyers nationwide and in foreign countries, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. for IRS Criminal Investigation.
Gennaro Paolo Canta, 42, and Jess Legarza, 37, were indicted on one count of conspiracy and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. In addition, Canta is charged with one count of monetary transactions in criminally derived property. Canta and Legarza made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb, who scheduled a jury trial to begin on June 21, 2021.
According to allegations in the indictment, from about June to August 2016, Canta and Legarza regularly purchased merchandise they knew had been stolen from retail stores, and then resold them online in nearly all 50 states and foreign countries. Canta received payments from the buyers and used the proceeds to buy more stolen items. In total, Canta and Legarza allegedly sold more than 4,500 stolen items online.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalties are five years in prison for conspiracy and 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen property and conducting monetary transactions in criminally derived property.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the IRS CI and the Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel R. Schiess and Richard B. Casper are prosecuting the case.
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Married Couple Indicted for Underreporting over $1.1 Million in Taxable IncomeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A married couple made their initial appearances in federal court on Wednesday for their alleged roles — in connection with a sleep study fraud scheme — to evade payment of taxes on more than $1.1 million in income, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for IRS Criminal Investigation.
According to court documents, Oganes Berberyan, 63, and Valentina Zemlyak, 63, both of Las Vegas, allegedly attempted to evade paying taxes owed to the IRS for tax years 2014 through 2016. From November 2014 to December 2015, co-defendant Armen Magzanyan (a/k/a “Arman Magzanyan” and “Arman Magz,” 43) operated GR8SLEEP.com, d/b/a Las Vegas Sleep Lab, which claimed to conduct monitored sleep studies. As part of a fraudulent scheme, Las Vegas Sleep Lab billed a health insurance company more than $5 million, claiming to have performed hundreds of sleep studies. But it did not actually provide any of those services.
The fraudulent scheme caused the health insurance company to pay more than $1.8 million to Las Vegas Sleep Lab. Berberyan, Zemlyak, and Magzanyan used the proceeds of their scheme to pay for various personal expenses, including private school tuition, luxury vehicles, and real property purchase and mortgage payments:
Berberyan and Zemlyak evaded paying federal income taxes owing and due on income from this scheme, as well as from other sources. They did so in part by having bank accounts in business names pay their personal expenses directly, including approximately $1.14 million in payments towards the purchase of real property and mortgage payments. In each of tax years 2014 through 2016, Berberyan and Zemylak had a joint taxable income greater than the amount they reported to the IRS.
Magzanyan has been charged with three counts of mail fraud, three counts of health care fraud, nine counts of monetary transactions in criminally deprived property, and two counts of attempted evasion of tax assessment.
Berberyan and Zemlyak made their initial appearances on April 21, each charged with three counts of attempted evasion of tax assessment. A jury trial has been scheduled before U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on June 22, 2021. Magzanyan is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information as to Magzanyan's whereabouts is asked to please contact your local law enforcement office, the IRS Criminal Investigation by calling (702) 868-5093, or the FBI by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or at TIPS.FBI.GOV.
If convicted: (a) Berberyan and Zemlyak each face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, $750,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and up to three years of supervised release; and (b) Magzanyan faces a maximum sentence of 190 years in prison, a fine of $4.25 million or twice the gross gain or loss, and up to three years of supervised release.
An indictment is merely an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.
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Reno Man Indicted for Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno man is in federal custody for receipt and possession of child pornography after making his initial court appearance on Monday, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI.
According to court documents, beginning on or about April 24, 2018, Ryan Thomas Eley, 24, received and possessed USB flash drives, an external hard drive, and a cell phone that contained images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of these images were of prepubescent minors and minors under twelve years of age.
A federal grand jury had returned an indictment charging Eley with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Eley made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb, who scheduled a jury trial to start on June 21, 2021 before Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.
If convicted, Eley faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Sparks Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. St. Clair is 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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Last Defendant in Drug and Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 13 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced on Wednesday to 13 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine and firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI, and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Ever Antonio Alvarado-Coronado, 29, conspired with co-defendants Daniel Luis Bowlin, Marquis Dion Patrick-Howard, and Dennis Green to distribute over 15 pounds of methamphetamine and to sell nine firearms in Las Vegas: (a) one of the firearms had been reported stolen; (b) another firearm had an obliterated serial number; and (c) others were “AR” style semi-automatic assault firearms.
Alvarado-Coronado pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He has three prior narcotics convictions and, in January 2014, he was convicted of illegal reentry and was deported to Mexico. Alvarado-Coronado unlawfully returned to the United States and engaged in this methamphetamine and firearms conspiracy.
In May 2018, a federal grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment charging Alvarado-Coronado and the co-defendants for their roles in the drug and firearm trafficking conspiracy. For their roles in the conspiracy: Bowlin, aka “OG,” pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 33 months in prison; Patrick-Howard, aka “Black,” pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of distribution of a controlled substance, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison; and Green, aka “Loc,” pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, and was sentenced to three years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Felon Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm that had been used in an attempted robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada.
Derrick Simmons, 28, of Las Vegas, had pleaded guilty in January 2021 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, on or about June 7, 2020, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers recovered a .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm from Simmons’ vehicle. He had previously used the firearm during an attempted robbery on June 6, 2020. Simmons is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction in Clark County for robbery and battery with a deadly weapon.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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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