District of Nevada
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Attorney General Barr Appoints U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich to Attorney General's Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the appointment of Nicholas A. Trutanich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, along with eight other U.S. Attorneys, to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). The following eight U.S. Attorneys were also named to serve on the AGAC: David Anderson, Northern District of California; Scott Brady, Western District of Pennsylvania; Maria Chapa Lopez, Middle District of Florida; Halsey Frank, District of Maine; Erica MacDonald, District of Minnesota; Christina Nolan, District of Vermont; Zach Terwilliger, Eastern District of Virginia; and Tom Kirsch, Northern District of Indiana.
“I am pleased to appoint these nine outstanding U.S. Attorneys to this key advisory committee. I am confident that they will serve with distinction,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The U.S. Attorneys who comprise the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee play a critical role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s important work, including its efforts to reduce violent crime, combat the opioid crisis, protect the most vulnerable, and enforce the rule of law.”
The AGAC represents the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management, and operational issues impacting the 93 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation.
The bios of all U.S. Attorneys are available here.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possession of 65 Firearms Stolen from A Gun ShowRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A trade show worker who pleaded guilty to stealing 65 firearms (including machine guns and silencers) from the 2019 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show in Las Vegas was sentenced today to two years in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ray Roundtree of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Jamikko Foster, 27, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in June 2019, to one count of theft of a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) and one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over the sentencing hearing.
Foster admitted that, from January 20 to 29, 2019, he stole 65 firearms and suppressors (known as “silencers”) from four separate FFLs at the SHOT show. Among the 65 stolen firearms were 18 handguns, six rifles, three machine guns, one short barreled rifle, and 35 suppressors. On February 11, 2019, after the investigation identified Foster as one of the suspects in the theft, police obtained and executed search warrants for Foster’s residence and vehicle. During the execution of the warrants, all the stolen firearms (and all but two suppressors) were recovered.
Co-defendant Eduardo Limon, 28, pleaded guilty to the charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24, 2019.
The case was investigated by ATF’s Las Vegas Field Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Levitt prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Tax Returns, Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A grand jury in Las Vegas returned a superseding indictment today charging a tax return preparer with preparing and filing false tax returns, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, United States Attorney Nicholas Trutanich for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS-Criminal Investigation.
According to the indictment, King Isaac Umoren, was the owner and operator of Universal Tax Services, a Las Vegas tax preparation business. From 2014 to 2016, Umoren allegedly used his employees’ preparer tax identification numbers without their consent in order to prepare fraudulent income tax returns for his clients. The indictment also alleges that Umoren charged his clients hidden fees in addition to his tax preparation fee without their knowledge or consent.
If convicted, Umoren faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the false return counts, a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the wire fraud counts, and a statutory mandatory sentence of two years on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Sarah Kiewlicz and Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Burns, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website at www.justice.gov/tax.
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Las Vegas Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Tax Returns, Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
A grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, returned a superseding indictment today charging a tax return preparer with preparing and filing false tax returns, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
According to the indictment, King Isaac Umoren, was the owner and operator of Universal Tax Services, a Las Vegas tax preparation business. From 2014 to 2016, Umoren allegedly used his employees’ preparer tax identification numbers without their consent in order to prepare fraudulent income tax returns for his clients. The indictment also alleges that Umoren charged his clients’ hidden fees in addition to his tax preparation fee without their knowledge or consent.
If convicted, Umoren faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the false return counts, a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the wire fraud counts, and a statutory mandatory sentence of two years on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and TIGTA, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Sarah Kiewlicz and AUSA Patrick Burns, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Role in International Credit Card Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A man who pleaded guilty to his involvement in a multimillion dollar international counterfeit credit card fraud and money laundering conspiracy was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Bruno Macedo Correia, 29, pleaded guilty in July 2019, to conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity in connection with access devices and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to imprisonment, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Correia to pay restitution in the amount of $2,288,180.97. The Court also imposed a $5,000,000 criminal forfeiture money judgment, and ordered 196 items of property and U.S. currency forfeited.
Correia admitted that, from January 2013 to about January 2017, he conspired with others to commit credit and debit card fraud by using “skimmers” placed on automatic teller machines (ATMs), Global Cash Advance (GCA) machines, and other means to obtain stolen account information. The group also obtained stolen credit card information through the use of malware and point of sale intrusions. Correia and his co-conspirators set-up credit card forgery “laboratories” in residences and hotel rooms to manufacture counterfeit credit and debit cards. They used the counterfeit credit and debit cards to obtain cash withdrawals from ATMs and GCA machines located in Nevada and elsewhere and also to purchase high-end merchandise including luxury watches, jewelry, and clothing at hotel-casinos and businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada and other cities throughout the United States, including: Del Mar, California; Detroit, Michigan; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nassau County, New York; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The group laundered the fraud proceeds and resold the fraudulently obtained retail items on the black market or online marketplaces.
Twenty-one individuals were charged in a 2017 indictment for their alleged roles in the conspiracy. To date, 12 defendants have pleaded guilty or have been sentenced. Co-defendants Fausto Teixeira Martins Neto and Felipe Augusto Vicale Martins are currently scheduled for a jury trial beginning in January 2020. The remaining seven indicted defendants are currently at large. The charges as to these defendants are allegations only and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Man Charged for Illegally Engaging in the Business of Manufacturing Machine Guns Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Jayson Michael Babbitt, 35, of Las Vegas, was charged today by criminal complaint with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, illegal possession of a machine gun, and making a machine gun in violation of the National Firearms Act, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ray Roundtree of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Babbitt made an initial appearance on the complaint this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.
According to the allegations contained in the complaint, beginning on or about June 2019 and continuing through September 2019, Babbitt illegally manufactured AR-15 style fully automatic rifles and offered them for purchase in the Las Vegas area. In July 2019, during a controlled purchase, Babbitt sold two fully automatic rifles, one short barrel and one long barrel, for $4,200 to an undercover buyer. Babbitt claimed to have manufactured the machine guns himself in his home with a “jig” using 80% lower receivers, blocks of aluminum, and M-16 machine gun parts to finish the firearms. Babbitt referred to the guns as “Ghost Guns” since the firearms did not have serial numbers so the firearms “would not exist in the eyes of the ATF.” Babbitt also showed the undercover buyer a video of himself test firing the firearms. On September 3, 2019, Babbitt sold an undercover buyer an additional three AR-15 style machine guns for $6,000.00. Babbitt told the undercover buyer that he planned on buying a machine that would allow him to make the gun parts easier and quicker. Babbitt was taken into custody by law enforcement after the September 3, 2019 sale. Babbitt admitted to manufacturing the machine guns he sold at his residence. A search warrant was executed at Babbitt’s residence where the “jig” was located as well as parts used in the manufacture of firearms. ATF Firearms Technology Criminal Branch tested the machine guns purchased in July 2019 and found that the firearms are operable and meet the definition of a “machine gun” under the federal National Firearms Act, Title 26, United States Code Section 5845(b).
A complaint contains merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the ATF. Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Cartier Giroux and Stephanie Ihler are prosecuting the case.
This 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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Reno Man Sentenced to Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident who was on parole when he downloaded over two thousand images and videos of child pornography was sentenced today to 6 ½ years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
David Guilmette, 37, pleaded guilty in March 2018, to one count of receipt of child pornography. Guilmette has a felony conviction for attempted sexual assault of a child. In addition to the prison term, United States District Chief Judge Miranda Du sentenced Guilmette to lifetime supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents, in October 2017, Reno Police Department officers responded to a complaint from a witness that reported seeing Guilmette looking at child pornography on a laptop computer. During an interview with law enforcement, Guilmette admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography. Officers obtained a search warrant to seize the laptop, thumb drive, and a mobile phone. A forensic examination of Guilmette’s laptop and thumb drive revealed approximately 850 images and 115 videos depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some masochistic and sadistic in nature. An additional 1,240 images and seven videos were located from deleted files.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the ICAC Task Force consisting of Washoe County Sherriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Reno Police Department and Sparks Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Sue Fahami and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, you are urged to make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.org or to contact local authorities.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children 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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Attorney General's Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues Convenes in New MexicoRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Nevada United States Attorney Nicholas Trutanich met this week with fellow members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, in order to discuss public safety and law enforcement issues that impact Native American and Alaska Native communities.
During the three-day annual meeting, the NAIS engaged with tribal leaders and developed strategies and best practices to address missing and murdered indigenous people, drug trafficking, needed law enforcement resources, and safeguarding children from sexual abuse in Indian country.
The most common crimes investigated in Indian country include child sexual abuse, violent assaults, and adult sexual assaults, followed by homicide, other forms of child abuse, drug, and property crimes. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Native women and girls suffer a high rate of violence, including murder.
“United States Attorneys nationwide are committed to improving public safety in Indian country and rural Alaska. The work of Attorney General Barr’s Native American Issues Subcommittee is focused on reducing violent crime, improving law enforcement resources, and combating the distribution of methamphetamine and opioids,” said US Attorney Shores, Chair of the NAIS. “The disproportionate rates of violence affecting Native American and Alaska Native women is particularly troubling to me. With Attorney General Barr’s leadership, we will continue working with tribal leaders to find solutions to the epidemic of violence against indigenous women.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirms its commitment to working with tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to improve the safety and security of Native American communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Prosecutors are working every day to bring violent offenders to justice and to reduce and prevent crime. In addition, through the Department of Justice’s grant programs, we are helping communities become safer and providing victims with a full range of services and support.”
Panel discussions focused on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and preserving Native American cultural patrimony. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.
U.S. Attorney John Anderson of the District of New Mexico hosted the three-day conference.
The NAIS consists of 53 U.S. Attorneys serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes and makes policy recommendations to the Attorney General. The NAIS has identified four priority areas: 1) Violent crime 2) Law enforcement resources 3) Drug trafficking and substance abuse, and 4) White collar crime. It is the longest standing subcommittee to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and helps develop, shape, and otherwise implement justice policies affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma is the subcommittee Chair. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme of the District of Montana is the Vice Chair.
In fiscal year 2018, the Department of Justice awarded $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs, to 134 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Department awarded a total of 154 grants totaling $88 million as part of the first-ever Tribal Victim Service Set-Aside program; these awards were supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees, and special assessments. The awards will help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance. Even more funding will be available – up to $168 million – under the set-aside this year.
In July 2019, the Department announced a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to input data directly and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements. The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of more than 70 participating tribes across the country.
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Las Vegas Businessman Indicted with 28 Counts for Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal Grand Jury returned a 28 count indictment yesterday against a Las Vegas businessman for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS-Criminal Investigation.
As alleged in the indictment, Lance K. Bradford, 52, a CPA and majority owner of tax and audit firm, L.L. Bradford CPAs, aided and assisted in the preparation of false and fraudulent individual income tax returns for Tax Years 2012, 2013, and 2014. Those false tax returns are alleged to have claimed false deductions for millions of dollars in cost of goods sold, consulting fees, and omitted gross receipts. The returns were filed on behalf of seven individual taxpayers and their associated corporate and partnership entities.
Bradford is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah on September 3, 2019. The maximum penalty is three years in prison and a $100,000 fine per count.
An indictment contains merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Burns and Steven Myhre are prosecuting the case.
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Fallon Doctor and Sparks Nurse Indicted for Unlawfully Prescribing OpioidsRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A doctor and nurse were charged in a 15 count indictment alleging they conspired to prescribe opioids not in the usual course of professional practice, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill of the DEA.
Dr. Gary Ridenour, 71, of Fallon, and Derek Braddix, 36, of Sparks, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. In addition, Dr. Ridenour was charged with six counts of distribution of schedule II, III, IV substances hydrocodone, Tylenol with codeine, and alprazolam. Braddix was charged with four counts of distribution of Hydrocodone and three counts of distribution of Alprazolam. Dr. Ridenour was detained yesterday until September 4, when his detention hearing will continue. Braddix is on conditions of pretrial release.
As alleged in the indictment, from 2016 to February 2019, Dr. Ridenour and Braddix conspired to prescribe and did prescribe Hydrocodone, Tylenol with Codeine, Alprazolam, and Carisoprodol, all without a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice. Furthermore, they maintained a medical practice along Reno Highway in Fallon, Nevada when they unlawfully prescribed these substances.
In an unrelated indictment, Dr. Ridenour was also charged for unlawful possession of a .22 caliber rifle, a .17 caliber rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, and a 7.62 caliber rifle after having a prior felony conviction in Nevada.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The unlawful opioid distribution conspiracy case was investigated by the DEA and the unlawful possession of firearms case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller is prosecuting these cases.
If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids by doctors and pharmacies, call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (792-2873).
The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to identify and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. Since 2017, when the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor in the District of Nevada, the United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted about 12 opioid-related cases and charged about 24 defendants.
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Ely Man Indicted for Murder of 3-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with the murder of a three-year-old girl.
“Violent crime against women and children on tribal land is a significant priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “I am proud to be part of an organization that does its very best to protect vulnerable victims.”
“One of the reasons that the Las Vegas Division augmented our resources in Northern Nevada was to amplify and strengthen our existing partnerships with our local and tribal partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “This complex investigation underscored the success of these efforts.”
Colon Jackson, 28, was arrested last week Friday in White Pine County, Nev. His detention hearing is scheduled to be continued to August 29, before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry. Jackson is charged with one count of murder in the first degree. A trial date has been set for October 22, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life in prison.
According to the indictment and facts presented at the detention hearing, on January 9, 2019, the 3-year-old girl went to day care and was later picked-up by her mother and taken home so Jackson could care for her while her mother was at work. After the victim’s mother returned to work, Jackson called her to tell her that the girl was unconscious. The mother came home and took the child to the emergency room in Ely. The girl was then flown from Ely to Salt Lake City and died shortly thereafter. As alleged, Jackson abused the girl resulting in a significant head injury causing her death.
The charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady and Sue Fahami are prosecuting the case.
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Northern Nevada Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Writing Opioid PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A northern Nevada doctor specializing in family medicine was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $125,000 fine for overprescribing highly addictive pain pills Oxycodone and Hydrocodone not for a legitimate medical purpose, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca for the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
“Today’s sentencing is a reminder of our unwavering commitment to hold dirty doctors accountable for feeding into the addiction of their patients,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “We will continue to aggressively pursue medical professionals who disregard their oath to do no harm.”
“The accessibility of deadly drugs are a threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “Each and every day, the FBI and our partners in Nevada are working hard targeting distributors, who illegally contribute to the opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities all over the state of Nevada.”
Dr. Shouping Li, 57, the former Vice Chief of Staff for Humboldt County General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nev., pleaded guilty in February 2019, to distribution of a controlled substance, specifically Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. In addition to the imprisonment, United States District Judge Miranda Du sentenced Dr. Li to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, the investigation into Dr. Li, who specialized in family medicine with a concentration in cardiovascular disease, began in March 2018, after the FBI received reports of several deaths related to opioid pain medication overdoses and allegations that Dr. Li may have illicitly been prescribing narcotics not for a legitimate medical purpose. Dr. Li admitted that, between August 2015 and February 2018, he prescribed Oxycodone and Hydrocodone at a high dosage rate to his patients outside the usual course of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. He further admitted that several of his patients passed away while he actively attended to them.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Winnemucca Police Department, Elko Combined Narcotics Unit, Elko Police Department, Elko County Sheriff's Office, and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant United States Attorney Sue Fahami and Assistant Chief Kilby MacFadden from the Department of Justice Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids, including Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone by doctors and pharmacies, contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to identify and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. Since 2017, when the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor in the District of Nevada, the United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted about 12 opioid-related cases and charged about 24 defendants.
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North Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison After Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A North Las Vegas man who was convicted of a federal child pornography charge was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Richard Lee Saterstad, 41, was convicted in March 2019, of receiving and distributing child pornography. Saterstad has multiple prior felony convictions for non-exploitation offenses. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the bench trial and sentencing hearing.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the two-day trial, from November 23, 2013 to March 6, 2014, Saterstad received and distributed sexually explicit videos and images containing children over a peer-to-peer file sharing network. In March 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and found 14 different electronic devices belonging to Saterstad. A forensic examination of the seized items revealed over 3,500 images and almost 1000 videos of child pornography. Multiple images and videos contained bondage, bestiality, and infant/toddler victims.
The case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Schiff, Christopher Burton, and Elham Roohani.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children 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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Felon Sentenced to over 14 Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms Including a Stolen High Capacity RifleRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man with a prior felony conviction was sentenced today to 14 years and six months in federal prison for unlawful possession of numerous firearms, including a stolen semi-automatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Following a FBI investigation, Robert Aron Irwin, 35, was indicted and pleaded guilty in January 2019, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In addition to the prison term, United States Chief District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Irwin to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in August 2017, Irwin possessed a Sig Sauer 5.56 NATO rifle that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine and had previously been reported stolen; two .22 caliber rifles; a .30-06 caliber firearm; a .375 H&H mag. caliber firearm; a .45/70 caliber firearm; a M44 Russian rifle 7.62 x 54R; a 5.56 NATO firearm; and a 30/30 Winchester firearm. Furthermore, that same month, Irwin conspired with others to sell at least 150 grams of methamphetamine.
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Former Hands-On Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession of over 500 Images of Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas resident with an extensive criminal history of sex offenses against children was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervision for possession of 550 images and 27 videos of child exploitation.
“Through the Project Safe Childhood initiative, together with our partners, we are committed to vindicating the rights of vulnerable child victims,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Today’s sentence sends a strong message that law enforcement will pursue justice against child predators.”
“It is a high priority of the FBI to protect the most vulnerable in our society: our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet it re-victimizes a child.”
After a three-day jury trial in November 2018, David Alan Cohen, 59, was found guilty of possession and receipt or distribution of child pornography. He was previously arrested for a series of child sex offenses in New York and New Jersey. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, the investigation began in August 2016, after law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that child pornography was uploaded to a web-based chat room. The IP address associated with the child pornography upload resolved to Cohen’s residence. During the execution of a search warrant, Cohen was interviewed by law enforcement. He discussed his sexual proclivities, prior sex crimes against children, and admitted that he received child pornography files. Cohen’s computer, cell phone, and numerous CDs and DVDs were seized. A forensic examination of the seized items revealed over 550 images and 27 video files of illegal child sexual abuse material, including sadomasochism and bestiality.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Allison Reese prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children 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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Convicted Drug Dealer Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree Murder of Drug SupplierRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A convicted drug dealer with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to life in federal prison today in connection with the killing of a drug supplier at point-blank range during a drug deal gone bad in November 2013, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Following a seven-day jury trial in May 2019, Louis Matthews, 37, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in death. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial.
The evidence at trial showed that Matthews, less than a month after being released from prison, having just served a lengthy sentence for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, planned the drug deal. On November 20, 2013, Matthews and his cousin, co-conspirator John Thomas, met in a North Las Vegas apartment to buy 20 pounds of marijuana from three suppliers: Angel Juarez, Julio Nunez, and Luciano Madrigal-Herrera. During the deal, Matthews and Thomas drew handguns and shot Madrigal-Herrera seven times at point-blank range in the chest, killing him. Matthews and Thomas then grabbed the marijuana and ran. Nunez chased after them with a shotgun, shooting Thomas in the back shoulder and causing him to drop the marijuana they stole.
Thomas, Nunez, and Juarez have all been sentenced to prison on charges related to the homicide.
Matthews has prior felony convictions for Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2001, Bribing or Intimidating Witness to Influence Testimony in 2004, Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2005, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base in 2005 and Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm in 2015.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and North Las Vegas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra Michael, Phillip Smith, and Steven Myhre.
This 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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Venezuelan National Indicted in ATM "Jackpotting" CaseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Venezuelan national was arraigned in federal court today for allegedly hacking into several ATM machines at a casino in Primm causing the machines to dispense large amounts of cash similar to a jackpot, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
“Our office is committed to investigating and prosecuting all cybercriminals – including computer hackers who illegally ‘jackpot’ ATM machines in Nevada – as they attempt to come up with new ways to circumvent cybersecurity systems,” said United States Attorney Trutanich.
Jesus Ernesto Reyes Garcia, aka “Abraham Meza Cardenas,” 42, was indicted by a Grand Jury on August 6, 2019, with six counts of computer fraud. Reyes Garcia was arrested in California on a federal complaint and appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. A jury trial is scheduled for October 7, 2019, before United States District Judge James C. Mahan.
According to court documents, in March 2019, the United States Secret Service was contacted regarding tampering with ATM machines in the Primm, Nevada area. It was reported there was a discrepancy between the amount of money requested and the amount actually dispensed. This is an indication of ATM “jackpotting” or a “Man-in-the-Middle” attack. ATM jackpotting refers to the use of malware to exploit the vulnerabilities in ATM machines that result in the machines dispensing more cash than authorized. ATM Man-in-the-Middle attacks refer to the use of a device being inserted into the ATM to effectively tricking the ATM into dispensing cash.
As alleged, from February 18, 2019 to March 3, 2019, Reyes Garcia and others were observed on surveillance video placing an unknown device behind various ATM machines located in the Primm Valley Resort Chevron. While at the ATM, Reyes Garcia allegedly used stolen and fraudulent credit cards to withdraw cash. Each time a $20 withdrawal was requested, $800 or $1,000 would be dispensed. As alleged, Reyes Garcia conducted a total of approximately 150 transactions and fraudulently withdrew a total of about $125,000 in cash.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Chiou.
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Las Vegas Man Indicted on Federal Extortion ChargeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was arraigned in federal court today for extorting $100,000 from another person who was visiting Las Vegas, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Fredi Kazimirsky, 27, was arraigned on an indictment that charged him with one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote extortion before United States District Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. A Grand Jury returned the indictment on August 7, 2019.
According to court documents, Kazimirsky and the victim had an intimate encounter at a hotel room on the Las Vegas Strip. Approximately two months later, he and the victim planned to meet again, but they did not meet each other. On June 27, 2019, Kazimirsky sent text messages to the victim stating he had footage of their prior sexual encounter and he would sell the video to a porn site if the victim did not give him $100,000 in cash. On June 28, 2019, Kazimirsky agreed to meet the victim at a hotel room to receive the extortion money. When he arrived at the hotel, he was taken into custody by law enforcement. During an interview with agents from the FBI, Kazimirsky admitted to sending the text messages to the victim.
A jury trial is scheduled for October 7, 2019, before United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. If convicted, the maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson is prosecuting the case.
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Convicted Felon and Former Gang Member Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A former gang member with eight prior felony convictions and a prior conviction for domestic battery was sentenced yesterday to six years and six months for unlawful possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich.
Miguel Rodriguez-Franco, 32, pleaded guilty in May 2019, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks imposed an upward variance from the sentencing guideline and sentenced Rodriguez-Franco to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On November 28, 2018, officers from the Sparks Police Department responded to the Western Village Inn & Casino. When officers arrived on scene Rodriguez-Franco was detained by security after passing a fraudulent check at a casino cashier cage. Rodriguez-Franco was placed under arrest. Medics were called after Rodriguez-Franco complained of being short of breath. Officers searched him prior to allowing him into the ambulance. During the search, they found a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol in the jacket pocket Rodriguez-Franco was wearing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sparks Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Las Vegas Man Charged with Possession of Illegal Firearms and Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A southern Nevada man, who is employed as a security guard, was charged and arraigned in federal court today in connection to bomb making materials found at his Las Vegas home following an FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation.
“Threats of violence motivated by hate and intended to intimidate or coerce our faith-based and LGBTQ communities have no place in this Country,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Law enforcement in Nevada remains determined to use the full weight of our investigative resources to prevent bias-motivated violence before it happens. I commend our partners who identified the threat and took swift and appropriate action to ensure justice and protect the community.”
“The FBI’s Las Vegas Joint Terrorism Task Force is committed to protecting our community from any threat of domestic terrorism and I could not be more proud of the work they did in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI Las Vegas Division. “As this complaint illustrates, the FBI will always be proactive to combat threats that cross a line from free speech to potential violence.”
Conor Climo, 23, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged by a criminal complaint with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm – namely, the component parts of a destructive device. Climo was arrested Thursday morning and made his initial appearance on Friday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe.
According to the criminal complaint, Climo was communicating with individuals who identified with a white supremacist extremist organization using the National Socialist Movement to promote their ideology. Members believe in the superiority of the white race and have a common goal of challenging the established laws, social order, and government via terrorism and other violent acts. The organization encourages attacks on the federal government, including critical infrastructure, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community.
The complaint alleges that during encrypted online conversations throughout 2019, Climo would regularly use derogatory racial, anti-Semitic, and homosexual slurs. He discussed attacking a Las Vegas synagogue and making Molotov Cocktails and improvised explosive devices, and he also discussed conducting surveillance on a bar he believed catered to the LGBTQ community located on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. The criminal complaint also describes that items seized by law enforcement during the execution of an August 8, 2019 search warrant, including a notebook with several hand-drawn schematics for a potential Las Vegas-area attack. The notebook also contained drawings of timed explosive devises. Furthermore, Climo claimed to have tried to recruit a homeless individual for pre-attack surveillance against at least one Las Vegas synagogue and other targets. His recruitment attempts proved fruitless.
Climo faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes law enforcement partners from local, state, and federal agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada with the assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
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U.S. Attorney's Office to Take Part in 36th Annual National Night OutRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich will join law enforcement, community leaders, and residents on Tuesday, August 6th at the Multi-Purpose Center, 1316 Sackett St., in Las Vegas, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to celebrate the 36th annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event. In northern Nevada, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office will host National Night Out from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Mills Park, 1111 E. William St, in Carson City.
National Night Out is a community-building and crime prevention campaign that promotes collaborative law enforcement-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Thousands of communities nationwide will participate in neighborhood block parties, festivals, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, and activities that heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and generate support for and participation in local anticrime efforts. Events such as these help to strengthen neighborhood spirit, police-community partnerships, and demonstrate a shared commitment for strong and safe communities.
“Annual events like National Night Out provide incredible opportunities to celebrate partnerships, renew energy, and enhance understanding about community-law enforcement concerns,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “The more time officers spend interacting with community members, the deeper their understanding of the challenges facing those communities and the stronger their commitment to making them even better.”
“Reducing violent crime and promoting safety in American communities is a major focus of the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys across the country,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “National Night Out is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds, the respect, and the camaraderie between neighbors and law enforcement officers. These relationships make our country stronger and safer.”
National Night Out organizers are expecting over 16,000 communities and 38 million people nationwide to take part in community events on Tuesday.
Due to Nevada’s high temperatures in August, some law enforcement agencies host National Night Out in October. For more information on National Night Out events in Nevada, please visit the official website of your local police department.
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Northern Nevada Felon Sentenced to Eight Years in Project Safe Neighborhoods ProsecutionRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A felon who was found guilty of a federal firearm violation was sentenced yesterday to a total of eight years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Clifton James Jackson, 55, of Reno, was found guilty by a jury in April 2019, of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben sentenced Jackson to 78 months in prison. In addition, Jackson committed the crime while on supervised release for his prior felon in possession conviction. His supervised release was revoked and he was sentenced to a consecutive 18 months in prison for a total of 96 months. This was Jackson’s 10th felony conviction.
In December 2018, a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a 911 call reporting a man holding a handgun while walking towards a business. Gunshots were also reported by the caller. When the deputy arrived in the area, he saw a truck matching the suspect’s vehicle. While waiting for additional units to arrive, the deputy observed the truck accelerate quickly. The deputy activated the emergency lights and siren, but the truck failed to stop. While in pursuit of the suspect, the deputy observed an object being thrown from the truck. When additional units arrived on scene, Jackson and a juvenile were ordered from the truck and arrested. The deputies searched the area where the object had been thrown and recovered a loaded 7.65mm semi-automatic pistol and a box of .32 caliber ammunition. A subsequent search of the truck revealed a round of ammunition. A records check of the recovered firearm revealed that it had been stolen in Plumas County, California, in May 2018.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Randy St. Clair prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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California Man Sentenced for His Involvement in A Series of Armored Car Robberies in Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A man was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years and six months in federal prison for his role in a series of violent armored car robberies in Las Vegas and Henderson, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Phillip Shiel, 23, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty on April 16 2019, to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition to the incarceration, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Shiel to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution.
According to court documents, Shiel admitted that he and others conspired to conduct a series of armed robberies of armored cars in Las Vegas. Shiel and his co-conspirators robbed three armored car messengers at gunpoint. They told the victims in each robbery to “Drop the bags, drop the bags!” to which the victims complied. The robberies that Shiel pleaded guilty to occurred on July 15, 2017, at the Walmart Grocery on Silverado Ranch, and on August 14, 2017, at the Wells Fargo Bank at North Pecos Road. Each time, the co-conspirators took the money bags and fled in a getaway vehicle. As a result of the conspiracy, the total loss was in excess of $180,000. Shiel and his co-conspirators were taken into custody in a parking lot while they were preparing to commit another armed robbery.
Co-defendants Trayvale Harrison, Randel Burge, Ianthe Rowland, and Shantae Williams await a jury trial scheduled on August 13, 2019. The charges against them are merely allegations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation leading to the arrests and charges was conducted jointly by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Robbery and Major Violators sections, and the Henderson Police Department. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force consists of FBI Special Agents and Detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Henderson Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department.
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Las Vegas Resident Sentenced to Prison for His Role in A Complex Telemarketing Scheme That Defrauded over 1,000 Timeshare OwnersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to 20 months in federal prison for his role in a telemarketing scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 timeshare owners out of approximately $780,000, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Michael Kroger, 60, pleaded guilty on the eve of his jury trial to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who noted during the sentencing that Kroger showed no remorse for his crimes’ financial and emotional impact on his victims, ordered Kroger, to pay restitution in the amount of approximately $212,396.
According to court documents, from around 2000 until about March 2010, there was an agreement between two or more persons to carry out a fraudulent timeshare ownership scheme. In about 2004, Kroger joined the conspiracy to fraudulently obtain money from victim timeshare owners. In furtherance of the scheme, Kroger and co-conspirator Michele Paonessa created fictitious companies and false contracts to lure in victims seeking to sell their timeshare ownerships. The fictitious contracts obligated victim timeshare owners to pay a monetary fee to process fictitious documents relating to the sales and to cover the closing costs. In reality, Kroger and Paonessa used the victims’ money for personal benefits and to further the scheme. Before victims would contact law enforcement or the Better Business Bureau, Kroger and Paonessa would abandon that business and create a new business which they continued to use to perpetrate the fraud. In all, approximately 29 fictitious companies were used in the scheme. Not a single timeshare ownership was actually sold during the course of the 10 year scheme. In total, approximately $782,090 was stolen from approximately 1,000 victims residing in Nevada, other states, and outside of the United States in places such as Canada.
Paonessa pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2019. Paonessa faces the maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Henderson Police Department, and the Southwestern Identity Theft and Fraud Taskforce (SWIFT). Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Jared Grimmer prosecuted the case.
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67-Year-Old Las Vegas Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Prescribing OpioidsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A pain management doctor who practiced in Las Vegas was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for unlawfully prescribing addictive opioids Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
Dr. Steven A. Holper, M.D., 67, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. Dr. Holper pleaded guilty in December 2018, to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
“Doctors who betray their duty and the public’s trust for their own personal gain will be identified and prosecuted in Nevada,” said United States Attorney Trutanich. “This prosecution is part of our ongoing efforts to protect Nevadans from medical professionals who fuel the opioid epidemic. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners share one goal: to curtail the opioid crisis.”
“A lot lives were impacted by Dr. Holper’s reckless behavior,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill. “This case highlights the impact that federal and state and local agencies have combatting the opioid epidemic in Las Vegas.”
“The accessibility of oxycodone, fentanyl and other deadly drugs are a threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “Each and every day, the FBI and our partners in Nevada are working hard targeting distributors, who are consciously contributing to the appalling opioid crisis that is inflicting havoc in neighborhoods all over the state of Nevada.”
As part of his guilty plea, Dr. Holper admitted that from July 2015 to March 2016, he unlawfully prescribed Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone to his patients outside the proper standard of care, and without a legitimate medical purpose. At least one patient that Dr. Holper admitted he distributed these drugs to passed away with a toxic level of fentanyl in the patient’s system.
Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone are all classed as Schedule II controlled substances by the DEA, indicating that they have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
The case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed and Assistant Chief Kilby MacFadden from the Department of Justice Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids by doctors and pharmacies, call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (792-2873) or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. In 2017, the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
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Identical Twins Plead Guilty to Child Multiple Sex Exploitation and Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada announced that Justin and Joshua Fisher, identical twin brothers, pleaded guilty today to Sexually Exploiting Children, Conspiring to Sexually Exploit Children, Coercing and Enticing Minors, and Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography. Justin Fisher pleaded guilty to an additional charge of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Victim.
Justin Fisher, 34, admitted to sexually exploiting two minor victims from 2015 to late 2016. Justin Fisher messaged with a 14-year-old girl, identified in the Indictment as Victim 1, over an application called KIK and sent the underage girl cell phone text messages about sexual topics. Justin Fisher lied to Victim 1 about his age and convinced Victim 1 that they were in a legitimate romantic relationship. Justin Fisher directed Victim 1 to take nude photos of herself to send to him. In August 2016, Justin Fisher traveled to see Victim 1, had sex with her, and produced pornographic images of their sexual encounters. Later, Justin Fisher conspired to tamper with Victim 1, attempting to stop her from cooperating with law enforcement. Justin Fisher also admitted to traveling to see another underage girl, identified in the Indictment as Victim 2. He admitted to having sex with the 15-year-old girl, and producing pornographic bondage photos of her. Justin Fisher shared the sexually explicit images of Victim 1 and 2 with his brother, Joshua Fisher, and others over Skype.
Joshua Fisher, 34, pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl, identified as Victim 3. The abuse began from the time Victim 3 was 11 years old. Joshua Fisher admitted that he messaged and live chatted with Victim 3 and instructed her to take nude photos of herself to send to him. Additionally, Joshua Fisher instructed Victim 3 on how to pose during the live chats so he could take screenshots of her nude and engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Joshua Fisher shared these images of Victim 3 with his brother, Justin Fisher. When law enforcement arrested Justin Fisher, Joshua Fisher directed Victim 3 to destroy evidence implicating him, and cancelled a trip to visit and have sex with Victim 3.
While Justin and Joshua Fisher were in custody on these charges, they conspired with others to destroy further evidence of their child sexual exploitation crimes. However, a concerned citizen’s phone call to the FBI allowed law enforcement to recover the evidence before the Fishers were able to destroy it.
United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 16, 2019. The maximum penalty is life in prison. The Fishers have agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of their crimes.
The case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children/Child Exploitation Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton are prosecuting the case.
If you have information regarding Justin or Joshua Fisher, please contact the nearest FBI field office or local law enforcement. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com, or contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at www.cybertipline.org.
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Former Nevada Senate Majority Leader Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Misusing $250,000 of Donor Money for Personal ExpensesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Former Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison for misusing at least $249,900 of campaign donor money on personal expenses including opening a Las Vegas nightclub, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI Las Vegas Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. for the IRS Criminal Investigation.
“In the Silver State, virtually all public officials serve with integrity, honesty, and humility. But when a public servant violates the public’s trust, federal prosecutors in my office stand ready to pursue justice,” said United States Attorney Trutanich. “The defendant admitted using campaign donations to fund a lavish lifestyle, and the Court determined a 27-month term of federal imprisonment was just and appropriate.”
“The FBI is proud to work with our exceptional partners, like IRS Criminal Investigations, in ensuring those in public office do not betray their oaths or their responsibility to the people they serve,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “Nevada citizens should be reassured we will continue to persistently investigate elected officials who choose to exploit the public’s trust for their personal gain.”
“Atkinson wrongfully used campaign funds for his own personal gain,” said IRS Acting Special Agent in Charge Nevarez Jr. “Today’s sentence is a clear message to public officials that they will be held accountable if they violate the public’s trust.”
According to court documents, from at least January 2010 to about December 2017, Atkinson, 49, admitted that he devised a scheme to mislead donors contributing to his campaign by falsely representing to them that he would use donations for lawful campaign purposes. In reality, he misused contributions in his campaign account for personal expenses. Atkinson admitted that he used nearly $250,000 from his campaign bank account for personal expenses instead of legitimate campaign purposes. His personal spending of campaign funds included approximately $100,000 in payments to his personal credit cards, $75,000 towards opening and operating a Las Vegas nightclub, and $20,000 on leasing a Jaguar Sports Utility Vehicle, among many other personal expenditures.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Schiess prosecuted the case.
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Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Multiple Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, including possession of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Randall Ervin Venerable, 53, pleaded guilty in April 2019, to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware presided over the sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, in March 2018, Venerable met a person four times at a pre-arranged location and sold the person more than one-half pound of methamphetamine, in total. After the fourth drug sale, law enforcement arrested Venerable and seized almost $3,000 in cash. Venerable admitted to detectives that he had recently gotten back into drug trafficking. During the execution of a search warrant at Venerable’s residence, detectives found over one pound of methamphetamine packaged for sale; approximately one-half pound of marijuana; over a quarter-pound of heroin packaged for sale; 89 grams of cocaine; and two digital scales. In addition, detectives found more than $6,000 in cash; an “owe sheet”; and two semi-automatic handguns and ammunition.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Elham Roohani and Peter S. Levitt prosecuted the case.
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Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who was serving a term of supervised release when he committed the offense was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Julian Ricardo Chacon, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chacon has prior convictions including robbery, drug charges, identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm, all in Nevada.
According to court documents, Chacon was serving a term of supervised release related to a 2008 federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. He served the seven year prison term and then began his three years of supervision in 2016. In January 2018, the U.S. Probation Office filed a petition alleging Chacon had violated conditions of his supervised release.
Later, in July 2018, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department learned that Chacon was selling methamphetamine in Las Vegas. He sold approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine to an individual and had an estimated quarter-pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle. During the investigation, officers learned Chacon was on federal supervised release.
On July 9, 2018, law enforcement conducted a search of Chacon’s residence where they found more than 314 grams of methamphetamine, over 26 grams of marijuana, more than $920 in cash, a digital scale, a supply of small baggies, as well as a 9mm semiautomatic pistol loaded with hollow-point ammunition, a loaded magazine, and ammunition. Officers later learned that the 9mm pistol was stolen, and Chacon also illegally purchased a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
The case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
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North Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Prison for Possession of 12-Inch Pipe BombRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who admitted to threatening to “blow up the house” was sentenced today 57 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a 12-inch pipe bomb, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada.
Christopher Michael Robinson, 47, of North Las Vegas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Larry Hicks. Robinson pleaded guilty in November 2018, to unlawful possession of a destructive device. He has multiple prior felony convictions in Nevada and Hawaii, including a prior conviction for possessing a pipe bomb.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2018, the North Las Vegas Police Department requested assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the FBI. When bomb technicians arrived at the North Las Vegas house, they located and removed a 12-inch pipe bomb in the house. The pipe bomb had a fuse and contained BBs, match heads, and pyrotechnic powder. After the pipe bomb was rendered safe, law enforcement conducted an interview with the resident who stated that he had evicted Robinson for not paying rent. Robinson then threatened to “blow up the house” and placed the pipe bomb in the house and left. Law enforcement found Robinson hiding in a shed at a nearby house. During an interview with law enforcement, Robinson admitted he constructed the pipe bomb and stated that he was currently on parole in Hawaii for previously manufacturing a pipe bomb.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the North Las Vegas Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Mott prosecuted the case.
This 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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Jury Convicts Felon of Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A federal jury found a felon guilty of stealing a car at gunpoint, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
After a four-day trial, a jury found Eric Romero-Lobato, 39, guilty of one count of carjacking, one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Romero-Lobato has prior convictions for unlawful reentry by a deported person and for eluding a police officer.
United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the trial and scheduled a sentencing hearing on November 19, 2019. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Romero-Lobato, armed with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, stole a car from an individual at gunpoint. Reno Police Department officers located the stolen vehicle within hours of the carjacking. Romero-Lobato lead the police on a high speed chase before wrecking the stolen car. He was then apprehended. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Reno Police Department.
Romero-Lobato is in custody and is awaiting a jury trial for the remaining counts in the indictment. The charges are related to the attempted robbery of a bar and grill in Sparks. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sparks Police Department. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Steven Myhre are prosecuting both cases.
This 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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Federal Prosecutors Obtain Lengthy Prison Sentence Against Henderson Woman in Deadly Fentanyl Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nevada, resident who admitted to selling Fentanyl resulting in the overdose death of a person in 2017, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Tianna Christina Cordova, 35, pleaded guilty in November 2018, to one count of distribution of a Fentanyl. She was charged in a superseding indictment in August 2018. In addition to the prison incarceration, United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II, sentenced Cordova to 15 years of supervised release.
“This case serves as a deadly reminder of the dangers of Fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “In our continued effort to combat the opioid crisis in Nevada, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains fully committed to the investigation and prosecution of fentanyl distributors.”
“This case highlights the community effort of the Clark County Coroner’s Office, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, and the US Attorney’s Office to bring justice to those who sell deadly poison to our community,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill.
According to court documents, Cordova used coded language in online advertisements to sell narcotics. She admitted that, on March 14, 2017, she sold an individual a controlled substance in the form of prescription pills that contained Fentanyl. After the person ingested the pills, the person died from multiple drug intoxication, namely from an overdose of Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, and Citalopram. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. On June 21, 2018, during the execution of a search warrant at Cordova and co-defendant Robert James Thornburg’s residence, law enforcement found Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, four firearms, and cash.
Co-defendant Thornburg is scheduled for a jury trial on August 26, 2019. He is charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Amphetamine (Adderall), distribution of Oxycodone and Amphetamine (Adderall), distribution of Oxycodone, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Clark County Coroner’s Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Duncan prosecuted the case.
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Northern Nevada Task Force Receives National Recognition for "Dirty Doctor" ProsecutionRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – The northern Nevada Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) received the 2018 Multi-Agency Exploitation of Opioid Strategic Initiatives national award at a presentation held today by the Department of Justice’s OCDETF Regional Board at the United States District Court in Reno.
The Department of Justice’s prestigious national award recognized more than 50 agents, officers, investigators, and prosecutors from local, state, and federal agencies involved in the investigation of a prescription drug ring. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Raging Bully,” resulted in the indictment of Dr. Robert Gene Rand, a Nevada-licensed physician, and eight others involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute controlled substances, including oxycodone. Dr. Rand was sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally prescribing oxycodone. Rand’s illegal prescriptions resulted in the death of at least one patient.
“Today’s ceremony is bittersweet. We celebrate law enforcement’s incredible investigative work to stem the tide of northern Nevada’s opioid crisis, but we also honor our friends, family, and neighbors who have fallen victim to addiction created by the epidemic,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich. “I congratulate task force members for their dedication to ridding our streets of dangerous and addictive prescription opioids, and to the community for its prevention efforts.”
“The success achieved on the Rand case is due in large part to the collaboration between DEA and our law enforcement partners,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill. “This alliance, coupled with a resolve to do everything we can to attack the opioid epidemic, resulted in a significant impact on the illicit prescription drug supply in the Reno area.”
“We are honored and appreciative of this award recognizing the dedicated effort of federal, state and local law agencies in their campaign against opioid abuse. Our work does not end here, it merely continues until all neighborhoods across Nevada are safe.” said Aaron C. Rouse, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Las Vegas Division.
The investigation was led by the DEA and FBI with significant assistance by the IRS-Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement; Reno Police Department; Washoe County Sheriff’s Office; Carson City Sheriff’s Office; Nevada Department of Corrections; Nevada Gaming Control; Nevada Department of Public Safety; Lyon County Sheriff’s Office; the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery; and the Susanville, California Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Keller prosecuted the case with assistance by Branch Chief Sue Fahami, Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez, and former Assistant United States Attorneys Carla Baldwin Carry and Shannon Bryant.
The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the U.S. Attorney General’s national drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. There are nine OCDETF Regions throughout the nation.
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Felon Sentenced to 19 1/2 Years in Prison for Facilitating the Sales of Methamphetamine in RenoRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A felon who was found guilty for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Reno and Sparks area was sentenced today to 19 years and six months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Edward Smith, aka “Smitty,” 51, was convicted by a jury in November 2018, of conspiracy to possess and distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, illegal use of a communication facility, money laundering, distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, and distribution of at least five grams of methamphetamine. Smith has 12 prior convictions. United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the three-day trial, Smith, an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, arranged for his niece's ex-boyfriend, whom he referred to as his “nephew,” to sell methamphetamine to another inmate’s associate in the Reno community. Smith told his “nephew” how much to sell the methamphetamine for, how to sell the drugs, and to smuggle an ounce or two of methamphetamine to him each time the “nephew” sold it. His “nephew” sold methamphetamine to the associate in Sparks, Nevada, with the last sale involving a pound of methamphetamine for $7,000.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Nevada Department of Corrections, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Keller prosecuted the case.
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Manufacturers of "Spice" Convicted of Operating A Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Possessing and Distributing A Controlled Substance AnalogueRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two individuals were convicted of 24 counts related to the manufacture of synthetic cannabinoids (commonly referred to as “spice”) today by a federal jury including operating a continuing criminal enterprise, manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and controlled substance analogues, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, and related charges.
The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ismael J. Nevarez Jr. of the Las Vegas Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
According to the evidence presented during the ten-day trial, the defendants, Charles Burton Ritchie, 48, of Park City, Utah, and Benjamin Galecki, 44, of Pensacola, Florida, committed these crimes in the District of Nevada, from March 21 to July 25, 2012. Specifically, the evidence showed that Ritchie and Galecki were the owners and managers of Zencense Incenseworks, a company that manufactured smokable synthethic spice and marketed their products as “potpourri,” “incense,” and “aromatherapy.”
The evidence showed that Ritchie and Galcki rented a warehouse in Las Vegas for the sole purpose of manufacturing spice products which contained the dangerous chemical XLR-11, which the jury found to be a controlled substance analogue. Ritchie and Galecki ordered XLR-11 from chemical suppliers in China and Hong Kong. At the Las Vegas warehouse, a Zencense employee mixed the XLR-11 with acetone, liquid flavoring and applied the chemical mixture to dried plant material. The warehouse employee mailed the compounded spice in draw string garbage bags to Ritchie and Galecki in Pensacola, Florida, where other workers placed the spice into small retail bags. The defendants sold their products with suggestive brand names including, “Bizarro,” “Orgazmo,” “Headhunter,” and “Defcon 5 Total Annihilation,” to smoke shops across the United States. From June 1 to July 25, 2012, Ritchie and Galecki were responsible for manufacturing and distributing approximately 4,000 pounds of spice and grossed more than $1.6 million dollars in sales.
The minimum penalty for a continuing criminal enterprise is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The penalties for the controlled substance analogue, wire fraud, mail fraud, and six money laundering counts each carry a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich and Jason Ruiz of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.
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Drug Dealer Sentenced to Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who brokered the sales of methamphetamine was sentenced today to eight years and one month in federal prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
John William Prince, 51, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. Prince pleaded guilty in January 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, beginning in October 2015, Prince conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Las Vegas. Customers would pay Prince, who handed the money to distributors, who then gave Prince the methamphetamine for the customers. At four different times, Prince sold a half-pound of methamphetamine for $500. In total, he sold two pounds of methamphetamine for $2,000. On July 13, 2016, law enforcement arrested Prince during a drug transaction in which he was planning to sell two pounds of methamphetamine. Over the course of the investigation, Prince sold over 6 pounds of methamphetamine.
Co-conspirators Julian Garcia Palomera was sentenced to 70 months in prison; Ivan Estrada was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and Leonardo Chavez Morales was sentenced to 46 months in prison for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Raytheon Company Agrees to Pay $1 Million in Settlement of Claim Involving Procurement FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich announced today that Raytheon Company, a supplier of equipment to various Government agencies, has agreed to pay $1.075 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by inducing the County of Los Angeles, California, to enter into a contract funded by a federal grant, based on misrepresentations regarding Raytheon’s capability to provide the products involved. Raytheon was contracted to provide interoperable dispatch consoles to the County of Los Angeles for its sheriff and fire departments.
The False Claims Act is the United States’ primary civil remedy to redress false claims for government funds and property under government programs and contracts relating to such varied areas as health care, defense and national security, food safety and inspection, federally insured loans and mortgages, highway funds, small business contracts, agricultural subsidies, and disaster assistance.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Wenthe from the District of Nevada litigated the case.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison After Stealing Elderly Victim's IdentityRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who used an elderly person’s identity to steal nearly $30,000, was sentenced yesterday to three years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Dennis William Moncrief, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan to three years and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Judge Mahan also ordered Moncrief to pay restitution in the amount of $28,034.83.
In August 2017, Moncrief was serving a term of supervised release imposed after his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on Moncrief’s admission that he violated the terms of his release, U.S. District Court Judge Andre P. Gordon revoked Moncrief’s release, imposed a 13-month sentence, and ordered Moncrief to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date to serve that sentence.
According to his plea agreement in this case, prior to his self-surrender date, in October 2017, Moncrief stole the identity of a 79-year old victim to fraudulently obtain credit cards in her name and used those cards to cause more than $28,000 in loss. When it came time for Moncrief to serve his revocation sentence as ordered by Judge Gordon, he intentionally failed to surrender to federal authorities.
In February 2019, Moncrief pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of failure to surrender for service of sentence.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Tax Preparer Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas tax return preparer who falsified his own tax returns as well as those of his clients was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Acting IRS Special Agent in Charge (Criminal Investigation) Ismael J. Nevarez Jr.
According to documents and information provided to the court, for tax years 2013 through 2016, Rosalio Amezcua Alcantar, 67, willfully underreported his taxable income while operating his tax return preparation business, Direct Services Group, in Las Vegas, Nevada. By falsely reporting less revenue than he earned and by claiming business expenses that were either fictitious or impermissible, Alcantar underreported his taxable income by more than $140,000 over the course of four years.
As part of the plea agreement, Alcantar also admitted that, in his capacity as a tax preparer, he purposely and fraudulently claimed charitable contribution and business expense deductions to which his clients were not entitled. As a result of false returns he filed on behalf of his clients, Alcantar caused more than $200,000 in tax loss. Alcantar further admitted that he also misrepresented his income to the Social Security Administration to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits for himself and his daughter.
At the time Alcantar committed these acts, he was serving a three-year term of supervised release imposed after his federal conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan ordered Alcantar to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution of $62,597.40 to the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Doctors, Unlicensed Nurse and Two Others Arrested and Indicted for Trafficking Schedule III Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An indictment by a federal grand jury was unsealed today charging an unlicensed advance nurse practitioner (APRN), two doctors, and two others for conspiring to distribute buprenorphine, a Schedule III Controlled Substance, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.
Michael Halprin, 68, an unlicensed APRN in Las Vegas, Nevada; Chad Hall, D.O., 39, of Las Vegas; Ronald Smith, M.D., 50, of Las Vegas; Janell Olson, 49, of Las Vegas; and Eghomware Igbinovia, a/k/a Jerry Igbinovia, 44, of Las Vegas, are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and with distributing buprenorphine, an opioid classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. Halprin, Hall and Olson are also all charged with distribution of Valium, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Halprin, Hall, Smith and Olson are also charged with obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and Halprin and Hall are charged additionally with maintaining a drug-involved premises.
“The U.S. Attorney's Office will target and prosecute doctors who illegally dispenses addictive opioids, thus placing personal greed above the health and safety of his or her patients,” said US Attorney Trutanich. “Working in lockstep with our law enforcement partners, we will work diligently to reduce, and then stamp out, the opioid crisis.”
Halprin and Olson were arrested and will make their initial appearance in federal court in Melbourne, Florida today. Smith and Igbinovia were arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada and are scheduled to make their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe today. Hall is expected to make his initial appearance in Reno, Nevada on June 21, 2019.
The maximum penalty for maintaining a drug-involved premises is 20 years in custody and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute and distributing buprenorphine is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for distributing Valium is five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation is four years and a fine of $250,000.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while increased therapeutic use of buprenorphine may help reduce prescription opioid abuse and misuse, nontherapeutic or inappropriate use of buprenorphine can cause serious and potentially life-threatening effects among children and adults.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI; DEA; and Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. In 2017, the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed.
Four Executives of Canadian Payment Processor Charged with Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Four individuals were charged with engaging in a massive fraud scheme in which their company processed payments from victims of numerous international mass-mail fraud campaigns, the Department of Justice announced.
Rosanne Day, 51; Robert Paul Davis, 63; Genevieve Renee Frappier, 49; and Miles Kelly, 55; each were charged in the District of Nevada with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. Day and Davis were part-owners and the top managers of PacNet Services Ltd. (PacNet), a payment processing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Frappier was in charge of PacNet’s Marketing and Client Services departments, and Kelly oversaw PacNet’s Compliance Department.
The indictment alleges that PacNet, under the defendants’ direction, was the payment processor of choice for companies that mailed large volumes of fraudulent notifications designed to mislead victims into falsely believing they would receive a large amount of money, a valuable prize, or specialized psychic services upon payment of a fee. Many alleged victims were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. PacNet served as the middleman between banks and the fraudulent mailers – aggregating the checks, cash, and credit card payments collected by its clients, depositing the payments into PacNet-controlled bank accounts, and then distributing the funds as directed by the clients, according to the indictment.
“The defendants are charged with enriching themselves by helping fraudsters who took money from elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. “The United States Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly advance elder fraud schemes – including individuals outside our borders who enable fraudsters to move their ill-gotten gains into the banking system and benefit from their crimes.”
“As alleged in the indictment, numerous victims in Nevada were defrauded of money in connection with the defendants’ scheme, and at least one of PacNet’s fraudulent mass mail clients was located in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Working with our Postal Inspectors and other law enforcement partners, we will identify, investigate, and prosecute criminals – both foreign and domestic – who prey on our seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. These fraud schemes can happen to anyone. If you’re a victim, I urge you to immediately file a complaint with the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting consumers from fraud schemes for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “We do this through traditional investigative methods to identify and stop the scammers, and consumer education, which is the best defense against criminals looking for easy money. Investigations like this one let the American public – especially our vulnerable population – know that Postal Inspectors are working hard to protect them and ensure their confidence in the U.S. Mail.”
From 1994 until Sept. 22, 2016, PacNet processed payments for a variety of clients, including mass-mail clients who sent fraudulent notifications to consumers in the United States and around the world, according to the indictment. Several individuals involved in operating mass-mail companies that processed payments through PacNet have been convicted of federal fraud charges during the last two years.
The indictment alleges that the defendants knew that multiple PacNet mass-mail clients obtained payments from victims through fraudulent notifications and nonetheless approved depositing those payments into U.S. bank accounts, allowing the clients to benefit from the fraud. Day, who was in charge of PacNet’s Vancouver headquarters, and Davis, who oversaw PacNet’s office in Shannon, Ireland, each earned approximately $15 million in Canadian dollars from 2013 through 2015, the last three full years that PacNet was in operation, according to the indictment.
PacNet’s policies required mass-mail clients to submit sample notifications to PacNet for review. The indictment alleges that the defendants approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had been submitted, in some situations approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had not been submitted, and at other times condoned the continued processing for mass-mail clients who were sending different, even more fraudulent notifications than what PacNet had approved.
Davis, who identified himself as PacNet’s general counsel, opened post office boxes in the United Kingdom to which certain PacNet mass-mail clients directed victim payments be sent, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges that Davis, who was a pilot, at times flew to the United Kingdom to pick up the mail and transport it to Ireland, where the mail was opened and the checks, cash, and other payments were processed. The indictment further alleges that on several occasions Davis flew to the Netherlands to pick up cash from facilities that were receiving mail for certain PacNet mass-mail clients. Davis then flew the cash to Ireland, according to the indictment.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment contains only accusations against the defendants and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which through official requests received assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, Canada’s Competition Bureau, Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service.
Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Jasperse of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has provided critical support.
Four Executives of Canadian Payment Processor Charged with Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Four individuals were charged with engaging in a massive fraud scheme in which their company processed payments from victims of numerous international mass-mail fraud campaigns, the Department of Justice announced.
Rosanne Day, 51; Robert Paul Davis, 63; Genevieve Renee Frappier, 49; and Miles Kelly, 55; each were charged in the District of Nevada with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. Day and Davis were part-owners and the top managers of PacNet Services Ltd. (PacNet), a payment processing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Frappier was in charge of PacNet’s Marketing and Client Services departments, and Kelly oversaw PacNet’s Compliance Department.
The indictment alleges that PacNet, under the defendants’ direction, was the payment processor of choice for companies that mailed large volumes of fraudulent notifications designed to mislead victims into falsely believing they would receive a large amount of money, a valuable prize, or specialized psychic services upon payment of a fee. Many alleged victims were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. PacNet served as the middleman between banks and the fraudulent mailers – aggregating the checks, cash, and credit card payments collected by its clients, depositing the payments into PacNet-controlled bank accounts, and then distributing the funds as directed by the clients, according to the indictment.
“The defendants are charged with enriching themselves by helping fraudsters who took money from elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. “The United States Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly advance elder fraud schemes – including individuals outside our borders who enable fraudsters to move their ill-gotten gains into the banking system and benefit from their crimes.”
“As alleged in the indictment, numerous victims in Nevada were defrauded of money in connection with the defendants’ scheme, and at least one of PacNet’s fraudulent mass mail clients was located in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Working with our Postal Inspectors and other law enforcement partners, we will identify, investigate, and prosecute criminals – both foreign and domestic – who prey on our seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. These fraud schemes can happen to anyone. If you’re a victim, I urge you to immediately file a complaint with the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting consumers from fraud schemes for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “We do this through traditional investigative methods to identify and stop the scammers, and consumer education, which is the best defense against criminals looking for easy money. Investigations like this one let the American public – especially our vulnerable population – know that Postal Inspectors are working hard to protect them and ensure their confidence in the U.S. Mail.”
From 1994 until Sept. 22, 2016, PacNet processed payments for a variety of clients, including mass-mail clients who sent fraudulent notifications to consumers in the United States and around the world, according to the indictment. Several individuals involved in operating mass-mail companies that processed payments through PacNet have been convicted of federal fraud charges during the last two years.
The indictment alleges that the defendants knew that multiple PacNet mass-mail clients obtained payments from victims through fraudulent notifications and nonetheless approved depositing those payments into U.S. bank accounts, allowing the clients to benefit from the fraud. Day, who was in charge of PacNet’s Vancouver headquarters, and Davis, who oversaw PacNet’s office in Shannon, Ireland, each earned approximately $15 million in Canadian dollars from 2013 through 2015, the last three full years that PacNet was in operation, according to the indictment.
PacNet’s policies required mass-mail clients to submit sample notifications to PacNet for review. The indictment alleges that the defendants approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had been submitted, in some situations approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had not been submitted, and at other times condoned the continued processing for mass-mail clients who were sending different, even more fraudulent notifications than what PacNet had approved.
Davis, who identified himself as PacNet’s general counsel, opened post office boxes in the United Kingdom to which certain PacNet mass-mail clients directed victim payments be sent, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges that Davis, who was a pilot, at times flew to the United Kingdom to pick up the mail and transport it to Ireland, where the mail was opened and the checks, cash, and other payments were processed. The indictment further alleges that on several occasions Davis flew to the Netherlands to pick up cash from facilities that were receiving mail for certain PacNet mass-mail clients. Davis then flew the cash to Ireland, according to the indictment.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment contains only accusations against the defendants and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which through official requests received assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, Canada’s Competition Bureau, Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service.
Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Jasperse of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has provided critical support.
Undocumented Immigrant Sentenced to Six Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Las Vegas, NV – Luis Ortiz-Menjivar, a 67 year-old El Salvadorian citizen living in Las Vegas, was sentenced today to six years’ incarceration upon his conviction for a felony charge of Deported Alien Found in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, Ortiz had a lengthy criminal history that placed him in the highest possible federal criminal history category for purposes of sentencing. In February 2017, Ortiz was found in Nevada without any valid immigration documents allowing him to be lawfully present in the United States after he had been deported and removed in April 2014 following his conviction for Aggravated Sexual Battery (a felony) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Frayn prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Cardiology Practice Agrees to Pay $2.5 Million Settlement Claim Involving Medicare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Las Vegas, NV – A Las Vegas cardiology practice has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle claims alleging that it referred patients for genetic testing in exchange for kickbacks paid by the testing companies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold accountable fraudulent medical companies that seek to line their pockets by undermining the integrity of health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop illicit activity and I encourage individuals with information of fraud to make a report to authorities.”
From September 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, Nevada Heart & Vascular Center (Resh), LLP (NHVC) was alleged to have referred Medicare patients to genetic testing companies Natural Molecular Testing Corp. and Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc., in exchange for payments to the practice made by the testing companies. The scheme was alleged to be in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the civil False Claims Act.
NHVC has agreed to pay the United States $2.5 million to settle its potential liability in this matter.
The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Wenthe prosecuted the case.
This Settlement Agreement is neither an admission of liability by NHVC nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
Mexican National Charged for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin After Traffic StopRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Mexican national who illegally crossed the border to enter the United States was charged with possession with intent to distribute nearly 10 pounds of heroin after a traffic stop along US-93, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Mario Alberto Bojorquez-Manrique, 27, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
As alleged, on June 10, 2019, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper observed a northbound car driving in an unsafe manner on US-93. During a traffic stop, Bojorquez-Manrique was identified as the driver and gave consent to search the vehicle. A narcotics K9 alerted the trooper to the dash area of the car. During a hand search of the car, a socket driver with a socket were found on the passenger side floorboard. The trooper noticed some finger prints and tooling marks on the bolts securing the wiper cover to the car. Six foil wrapped packages of heroin weighing approximately 9.6 pounds were recovered from the vehicle. Law enforcement located Bojorquez-Manrique’s notebook in the car containing entries for over a dozen narcotic runs he has made, as well as the recorded dollar amounts of the transactions.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the North Las Vegas Police Department.
A criminal complaint merely contains an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Thirteen Defendants Indicted for Large-Scale Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Miriam Elizabeth Suarez-Contreras, the lead defendant in a 30 count indictment in connection to a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy, was arraigned yesterday in federal court, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Suarez-Contreras, aka “Ella” and “Liz,” 38, a Mexican national; Ramiro Ramirez-Barajas, aka “Sergio,” 30, a Mexican national; Roberto Blancas-Mata, aka “Carlos Delgado,” 66, of Las Vegas; Rahdsma Henderson, aka “Weezy,” 41, of Las Vegas; Stephen Lloyd, 38, of Las Vegas; Charles Parr, aka “Charles Magnuson,” 60, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Doug Stumpf, 55, of Henderson; Brian Scarborough, 43, of Henderson; Renea Barnes, aka “Renea Valdez,” 50, of Las Vegas; Quentin Armstrong, 41, of Sandy Valley, Nevada; Cipriano Pineda-Acedo, 49, of Las Vegas; Jose Guillermo Tello-Albarran, 32, of Las Vegas; and Martha Pedraza-Zamora, 40, of Las Vegas, were all charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In addition, Suarez-Contreras was charged with 16 counts; Ramirez-Barajas was charged with eight counts; Blancas-Mata was charged with six counts; Tello-Albarran was charged with two counts; and Henderson was charged with one count, all for distribution of methamphetamine. Tello-Albarran, Scarborough, Parr, Lloyd, Stumpf, Barnes, Armstrong, Pedraza-Zamora, and Pineda-Acedo were each charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Scarborough was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment charging 13 defendants for their involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout Nevada. As alleged, from a date unknown to April 17, 2019, the defendants conspired with each other to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Suarez-Contreras and Ramirez-Barajas have been previously removed from the United States for unlawful entry.
A jury trial was scheduled for July 29, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
The public is reminded an indictment contains merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Schiff is prosecuting this case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI to Host Elder Fraud Prevention Telephone Town Hall to Promote Elder Justice InitiativeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the FBI Las Vegas Division are promoting the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Elder Justice Initiative with an interactive telephone town hall on June 10, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI Las Vegas Division.
One of the best ways to protect yourself or a loved one from financial fraud is to remain informed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and AARP Nevada have partnered to raise awareness and educate Nevada’s seniors about the latest financial scams. The free telephone town hall will be live on Monday, June 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PDT.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established to provide the public with a reliable and convenient reporting mechanism to submit information to the FBI. The IC3 aggregates and forwards suspected criminal internet activity to the appropriate local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies for possible investigation. In 2018, the IC3 received a total of 351,936 complaints with losses in excess of $2.7 billion.
To join the free telephone town hall, register at https://vekeo.com/event/aarpnevada-45728/.
The DOJ Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educating older adults on how to identify scams and avoid getting ripped off by scammers; and promoting greater coordination with law enforcement partners.
Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.
The DOJ provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov. Additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials can be found at the Elder Justice Website at www.elderjustice.gov.
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Las Vegas Woman Indicted for Using over 40 Stolen Identities to Collect $170,000 in Unemployment InsuranceRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman was arrested and arraigned Wednesday in federal court in connection to a 13-count indictment for using more than 40 stolen identities to collect $170,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Danielle Lacharis Buck, aka “Danielle Lacharis Lakey,” 42, was charged with three counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of using an unauthorized access device, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. United States Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman scheduled a trial date for August 12, 2019.
According to allegations in the indictment, which was unsealed yesterday, from about September 2010 to April 2019, Buck participated in a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) into paying her more than $170,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. As part of the scheme, Buck fraudulently obtained personal identifying information, such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of unsuspecting individuals, and then electronically filed false unemployment claims using the stolen names and information. She filed more than 50 false unemployment insurance claims using more than 40 different identities. When EDD approved one of Buck’s false claims, Bank of America mailed her an electronic benefits payment debit card loaded with unemployment insurance benefits. Buck then used the debit card to withdraw the benefits in the form of cash from ATMs in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.
The EDD is the administrator of the federally funded unemployment insurance benefit program for residents of the State of California.
If convicted, the maximum penalty is 160 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez is prosecuting the case.
Charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Nearly 4,800 Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing thousands of child pornography images and hundreds of videos, including prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct and sadistic and masochistic conduct, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Daren W. Phillips, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before United States District Judge Miranda Du. A sentencing hearing has been set for September 9, 2019.
Phillips admitted that, from 2016 to April 2018, he possessed 4,753 images and 538 videos of child pornography on his laptop computer. Some of the sexually explicit images and videos depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct. Other images and videos depicted prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Phillips admitted he possessed some of the child pornography on his laptop prior to his move from the Savannah, Georgia area to the Reno, Nevada area, and that he had accessed child pornography in Nevada as recently as April 9, 2018.
If the Court accepts the plea agreement, Phillips faces 63 months’ imprisonment and not less than 20 years and up to lifetime supervised release. In addition, under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA), Phillips will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Random StabbingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to randomly selecting his victim and stabbing the victim multiple times outside of a smoke shop was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
“Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to combatting violent crime throughout Nevada, including when violent crime occurs on tribal lands,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “This case and today’s sentence send a message that we will pursue justice for victims of violent crime – wherever it occurs.”
Justin Hayward, 36, pleaded guilty, without the benefit of a plea agreement, to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over the sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2018, the victim purchased lunch at a smoke shop and convenience store belonging to the Las Vegas Colony and Reservation for the Paiute Tribe located in downtown Las Vegas. Shortly after returning to the car, the victim heard a noise and saw Hayward puncture the car’s front tire. Hayward then opened the driver’s side door and began stabbing the victim with a knife in the abdomen. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Duncan prosecuted the case.
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