District of Nevada
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Attorney's Office and DEA Announce Next National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Mark your calendars for the 16th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will be held on Saturday, October 20, in Carson City, Washoe County, and Douglas County, and on Saturday, October 27, in all other participating Nevada counties.
“Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to prevent drug abuse and addiction before they start,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “Take Back Day is an important service provided by the DEA and its law enforcement partners that helps in the prevention of opioid addiction and overdose. I urge all Nevadans to join the nation in safely and anonymously disposing of their expired and unused prescription medications. This is an opportunity to be part of the opioid addiction epidemic solution.”
“Prescription drug abuse is still a significant problem and this is a great opportunity for folks throughout the State of Nevada to help reduce the threat,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill. “Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”
Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet, without their knowledge.
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues.
In 2016, there were 408 opioid-related deaths in Nevada, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. In 2016, Nevada’s per capita prescription rate for opioids was 87 per 100 residents. The Silver State ranked as the sixth highest state for the number of milligrams of opioids distributed per adult according to a DEA study. From 2010 to 2016, opioid-related hospitalizations have increased by 136% in emergency room encounters and 84% in in-patient admissions. During this time period, 85% of all opioid-related deaths in Nevada were deemed accidents.
Take Back Day is part of a nationwide effort sponsored by the DEA and it is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs. There will be free drop-off locations throughout Nevada on:
- This Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in Carson City, Washoe County, and Douglas County. The collection sites will be:
- Save Mart located at 4348 South Carson Street
- Save Mart located at 3620 North Carson Street
- Food Maxx located at 3325 U.S. 50
- Smith’s Food & Drug located at 599 East William Street
- Walmart located at 3770 U.S. 395
- Tillman Sub-Station located at 1281 Kimmerling Road
- Walgreens located at 1342 U.S. Highway 395 North
- Carson Valley Medical Center located at 1107 U.S. Highway 395 North
- Smith’s Food & Drug Center located at 175 Lemmon Drive
- Raley’s Market & Pharmacy located at 18144 Wedge Parkway
- CVS located at 5019 South McCarran Boulevard
- Save Mart located at 10500 North McCarran Boulevard
- University of Nevada-Reno Police Department located at 1664 North Virginia Street
- Smiths Drugs located at 750 South Meadows Parkway
- Smiths Drugs located at 1255 Baring Boulevard
- East Fire Station #4 located at 1476 Albite Road
- Safeway located at 212 Elks Point Road
- Next Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in all other participating Nevada counties. The collection sites will be:
- Walgreens Pharmacy located at 2020 Reno Highway
- CVS Pharmacy located at 461 West Williams Avenue
- Fallon Tribal Health Clinic located at 1001 Rio Vista Drive
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Enterprise Area Command located at 6975 West Windmill Lane
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Northwest Area Command located at 9850 West Cheyenne Avenue
- North Las Vegas Police Department Northwest Area Command Station located at 3755 West Washburn Road
- Ridley’s Market located at 1125 West Winnemucca Boulevard
A complete list of collection sites may be found at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 1-800-882-9539.
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- This Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in Carson City, Washoe County, and Douglas County. The collection sites will be:
Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Disorderly Conduct at Federal CourthouseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas resident who created multiple disturbances at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse after he refused to follow Court Security Officer orders was found guilty and sentenced Tuesday, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield for the District of Nevada.
Following a bench trial, Joshua Martinez, 30, was found guilty of one count of creating a disturbance on federal property and he was immediately sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. to a one year stay away order from the Courthouse, a $500 fine, and two days of credit for time he spent in custody.
Between February 2017 and August 2018, Martinez created disturbances at the Federal Courthouse located in Downtown Las Vegas on multiple occasions. Martinez had previously been arrested at the Courthouse on two occasions because of his disruptive behavior. He was also told to leave the premises two times prior for failing to comply with Courthouse regulations. During these incidents, he created a disturbance by loitering, shouting at Court Security Officers, filming inside the Courthouse, obstructing use of the Courthouse entrance, and impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties by Government employees. Filming inside the Courthouse is prohibited per a Court Order. On August 1, 2018, Martinez attempted to gain access to the Courthouse. He was asked to leave due to his prior disruptive behavior. Martinez refused to comply with the Courthouse Security Officers’ orders and yelled derogatory terms at the officers. His actions disrupted Courthouse personnel duties, and ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kilby Macfadden and Chad McHenry prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Man Convicted of Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Hundreds of Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day trial, Lonny Joseph DiTirro Jr. was found guilty of sexually exploiting children by producing child pornography and possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, including infants and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
A jury convicted DiTirro, 36, of Las Vegas, of four counts of sexual exploitation of children by producing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the jury trial and scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, on September 10, 2015, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers received a concerned citizen’s report of possible child exploitation. The responding officers conducted an interview with the concerned citizen who stated she found a SD card belonging to DiTirro that contained child pornography. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant on the SD card. A forensic examination of the SD card revealed 254 images and 42 videos of child pornography, depicting infants, toddlers, and sadomasochism/violence.
The SD Card also contained over 50 folders bearing the names and ages of minor females that contained nude photos and videos of the minors. Law enforcement identified several victims who all testified that they met DiTirro on a social media/dating application called MeetMe when they were under the age of 16. The victims further testified that DiTirro lied to the victims about his age, claiming he was a teenager or in his 20s, and went as far as falsifying his birth certificate in an effort to coerce, entice, and induce the victims into various sexual activities. Evidence presented at trial showed that DiTirro recorded sex acts with the minor victims, and that he created screenshots of sexually explicit Skype video chats of the victims. DiTirro catalogued these videos and screenshots on the SD Card.
The maximum possible statutory penalty is 140 years imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton are prosecuting the case.
Investigation concerning other potential victims in this case is ongoing. If you have information about DiTirro or believe you or someone you know may have been a victim, you are encouraged to contact the nearest FBI field office, local law enforcement, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
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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Reno Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – LeCharles Edward Baldon Sr. was sentenced Monday to 184 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and heroin in the Reno area, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI Las Vegas Division, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill for the DEA Las Vegas office.
Baldon pleaded guilty in May to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the sentencing hearing.
Between November 18, 2016 and January 17, 2017, Baldon possessed and distributed 339.74 grams of pure methamphetamine and 91.73 grams of heroin in the Reno area. Specifically, on November 18, 2016, Baldon sold heroin to an individual at the Winco Foods parking lot. Then, during three separate drug transactions in December, he sold heroin and methamphetamine to an individual at a Target parking lot and Winco Foods parking lot. On January 17, 2017, task force agents executed search warrants on Baldon’s residence and storage unit. During execution of the warrants, law enforcement recovered methamphetamine and heroin, a firearm, and two scales (which are known to law enforcement to aid in the distributions of narcotics).
Baldon is a multi-convicted felon. He has previously been convicted of carjacking and robbery in California, and has two additional convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force and the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow prosecuted the case.
Led by the FBI, the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force pursues violent gangs through sustained, proactive, coordinated investigations to obtain prosecutions on violations such as racketeering, drug conspiracy, and firearms violations. The Safe Streets Task Force concept expands cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, increasing productivity and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Reno Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting an InfantRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident who sexually exploited an infant and distributed child pornography over the Internet was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben to serve 480 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervision, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, Chief Jason Soto for the Reno Police Department, and Sheriff Chuck Allen for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Derrick Joseph Rady, 37, previously pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The case was initiated when Facebook and Google identified a Reno resident, later determined to be Rady, who possibly possessed child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for investigation by law enforcement. Members of the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force executed search warrants at Rady’s residence. The search warrant revealed that Rady possessed approximately 900 images and videos of child pornography. Investigators also determined that Rady used a cell phone to take sexually explicit photos of an infant and shared images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The investigation was conducted by the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force, which is comprised of members of the FBI, the Reno Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
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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Former Las Vegas Valley Water District Employee Pleads Guilty to $6.7 Million Ink/Toner Cartridge Scheme and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former employee of the Las Vegas Valley Water District pleaded guilty today to mail fraud and tax evasion as part of a scheme to defraud the public utilities company of over $6.7 million, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
Jennifer J. McCain-Bray, aka JJ McCain, 43, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to one count of mail fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Sentencing is set for January 29, 2019. The maximum penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the maximum penalty for subscribing to a false tax return is three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She also faces a $6,715,531 criminal forfeiture money judgment.
Between October 2001 and October 2007, McCain worked as a purchasing analyst for the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) and she was responsible for transmitting orders and payments to vendors when particular products were requested from LVVWD departments and employees. McCain-Bray admitted that between January 1, 2007 to about December 7, 2015, she devised the scheme to defraud the LVVWD by falsely representing that her purchases of ink and toner cartridges were for the LVVWD, when she knew that the products were actually purchased for a New Jersey company which received and then resold the cartridges for its own profit. McCain-Bray instructed the vendor to ship the ink and toner cartridges from California and other locations to her at her LVVWD office in Las Vegas. She then relabeled the packages and shipped them to the New Jersey company. In exchange, the New Jersey company transferred money to McCain-Bray’s personal PayPal account. Financial records indicate that McCain-Bray used the fraud proceeds for personal expenses and purchases, including extensive home remodeling and improvements, trips, gifts to family members and friends, and other lifestyle expenses. Between 2007 and 2015, McCain-Bray fraudulently purchased approximately $6.7 million in ink and toner cartridges with LVVWD funds.
McCain-Bray also failed to report her profits from the scheme on her personal tax returns for tax years 2011 to 2015. For those years, she failed to report a total of $2,339,156.12 in taxable income to the Internal Revenue Service.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.
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Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Progress in Making Communities Safer Through Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – One year ago today, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“The goal of Project Safe Neighborhoods in Nevada is to decrease violent crime and therefore decrease victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “Reducing violent offenders’ access and control of weapons, including illegal firearms and illegal ammunition, will lead to fewer opportunities for contributing citizens to become victims. The District of Nevada has always had a robust PSN program and strong partnerships with law enforcement. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized program, we are grateful to not only our communities’ dedicated law enforcement men and women, but also to our community partners for their commitment to prevention and reentry. Safety is a priority in our schools, parks, and neighborhoods; PSN is a valuable resource to achieving that goal.”
Coming in January 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will host a Project Safe Neighborhoods Summit. The Summit will bring together law enforcement and community partners to discuss gang and youth violence prevention. Some of the topics will include: developing positive community relationships in neighborhoods, proven practices in gang prevention and intervention, social media as it relates to gang activity and recruitment, and discussions of potential approaches and solutions.
The Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, has awarded grant money to help the Nevada PSN program. The grant furthers the PSN task force goal of increased enforcement, prevention, and outreach efforts, targeting two specifically-designated high need areas in the Las Vegas Valley. The grant award, for over $400,000, was funded on Wednesday. The PSN task force will get to work in the near future to solicit requests for sub-awards to help accomplish the PSN mission.
Las Vegas has recently created its Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), operated and housed at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) who is a PSN partner. The CGIC, also funded by the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is run in connection with ATF. The Crime Gun Intelligence Center is a multidisciplinary team designed to prevent violent crime by identifying perpetrators, linking criminal activities, and identifying sources of crime guns for immediate disruption, investigation, and prosecution. There are fewer than a dozen CGICs in the United States. Southern Nevada is fortunate to have such a powerful scientific facility as a resource. The CGIC is a critical addition to Nevada’s strengthened PSN team.
The PSN program and its associated partners have contributed to the 27% reduction in violent crime in Las Vegas, according to the LVMPD annual report. There have also been reductions in violent crime in the northern part of Nevada, specifically a 4% decrease in the number of assaults and about a 3% decrease in the number of robberies, according to the Reno Police Department annual report. Nationwide, the violent crime rate has been reduced by 1%.
There is still work to be done. Gratefully, this community has great partnerships and relationships. Working together, we can help current victims and prevent new ones.
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s PSN program, visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
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Nurse Practitioner and Technician Plead Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Prescription Opioids and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A nurse practitioner and a surgical technician pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday in connection to the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and for committing Medicare and Medicaid fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, 45, of Henderson, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and Alejandro “Alex” Incera, aka Alexander Jiminez-Incera, an Advance Practice Registered Nurse, 48, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to eight counts of distribution of controlled substance and eight counts of health care fraud.
The investigation revealed that from January 1, 2018 to about May 3, 2018, Harvey and Incera conspired to distribute Hydrocodone and Oxycodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments.
Harvey, who did not have a medical or DEA license, met individuals in various parking lots in the Las Vegas Valley and unlawfully distributed opioid prescriptions using Incera’s prescription pad with Dr. Horace P. Guerra’s DEA license number, in exchange for cash payments. Dr. Guerra would pre-sign the prescriptions, facilitating Harvey’s unlawful distribution.
Incera also defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by writing Lidocaine, Modafinil, and Diclofenac Sodium prescriptions to patients without a legitimate medical purpose between July 2016 to about December 2017. The prescriptions were filled and processed by Atlas Pharmacy who paid Incera approximately $30,000 in exchange for referring patients to fill their prescriptions at Atlas Pharmacy. The Medicare and Medicaid programs were defrauded out of approximately $3.7 million.
United States District Judge James C. Mahan accepted their guilty pleas and scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 10, 2019. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance, and the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for health care fraud.
Co-defendant Leslie Kalyn, aka Leslie Feth, a Doctor of Nursing, 35, of Las Vegas, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud and is scheduled for a jury trial on September 23, 2019. Guerra, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and he is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, 2018. Nelson M. Mukuna, owner and operator of Atlas Pharmacy, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2018.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting the case.
The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada has assigned a prosecutor that focuses solely on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to medical professionals who prescribe opioids, that unlawfully divert of dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.
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Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas resident who was standing trial for an armed carjacking pleaded guilty late Monday to the federal charge, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
On the first day of trial, after a jury selection was complete, Raul Casarez, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to one count of carjacking. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 30, 2019.
As part of the plea agreement, Casarez admitted that, on January 1, 2015, he and two accomplices entered a 63-year-old man’s home in Henderson, Nevada. Once inside the victim’s house, Casarez pointed the firearm at the victim’s face and demanded money. He tied the victim up and threatened to shoot the victim if the victim didn’t do what he said to do. Once the victim was restrained, Casarez stole a television, a camera, and other property from the house. Then he loaded the stolen property into the victim’s pickup truck and left the residence, taking the stolen items and vehicle with him. He later unloaded the property into a separate vehicle and parked the stolen truck near the Fiesta Casino in Henderson where it was later recovered by law enforcement. Forensic evidence, including fingerprints, tied Casarez and his accomplices to the crime. At the time of this offense, Cararez was wanted for violations of his federal supervised release for an underlying felony Escape conviction from 2013. Casarez has multiple prior felony convictions, including priors for Robbery, Attempted Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Escape. Casarez’s accomplices previously pleaded guilty to charges arising from this event.
The maximum statutory penalty is 15 years and a fine of $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Henderson Police Department, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Gang Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadia J. Ahmed and Alexandra Michael are prosecuting the case.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Casino Cashier CageRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who disguised himself by applying dark colored makeup pleaded guilty Tuesday to armed robbery of a casino floor cashier cage at New York-New York Hotel and Casino, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
Cameron James Kennedy, 27, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware, II to one count of interference with commerce by robbery. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, at the December 13, 2018 sentencing hearing.
This is Kennedy’s second federal conviction. He was placed on federal supervision starting June 23, 2017, after serving a 63-month sentence for two bank robberies he committed in 2012. During those robberies, he threatened to kill a bank teller and displayed a BB gun painted to look like an actual gun. On January 9, 2018, less than seven months into his supervision, Kennedy cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet and absconded from court-ordered home confinement. About three hours later, at about 12:45 a.m. on January 10, Kennedy – while wearing makeup that darkened his skin tone – demanded money from a casino floor cage cashier at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino. He lifted his jacket to display what appeared to be a firearm in his waistband and told the cashier: “I want all your hundreds and don’t mess around.” He fled with approximately $23,367 in stolen cash. Kennedy was identified in spite of his attempt to conceal his identity, in part because of his unique gold mouth grill, which is a type of jewelry worn over a person’s teeth.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Alexandra Michael are prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Awards Nearly $320 Million in Grants to Combat Opioid Crisis in AmericaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and the Department of Justice announced it has awarded nearly $320 million in federal grants to combat the opioid epidemic. A total of approximately $5.3 million was awarded to Nevada to assist in implementation efforts to respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness across the country. In the District of Nevada, the following recipients will receive grant funding:
The Nevada State Board of Pharmacy will receive $633,733, for improving prescriber enrollment and use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), integrating PDMP data with other data sets to identify geographic areas of concern, doctor shopping, and problematic prescribing, supporting interstate data sharing of PDMP data, and improving the analytics available based on PDMP data.
The Reno Police Department will receive $997,701, to support public safety, behavioral health, and public health information-sharing partnerships.
The Foundation for Positively Kids, Inc. will receive $746,937, the Children’s Cabinet, Inc. will receive $749,763, and the Washoe County Human Services Agency will receive $745,564, to help expand programs to provide services to children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis.
The City of Henderson will receive $299,880, to support the enhancement of fully operational drug courts that incorporate the evidence-based principles included in the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Adult Drug Courts Best Practice Standards.
The Judiciary Courts of the State of Nevada-Reno Municipal Court will receive $277,237, to implement a new Veterans Treatment Court, which would link veterans with services, benefits and program providers, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Service Organizations, and volunteer veteran mentors.
The Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada, will receive $874,097, to support family drug court programs for juveniles in the justice system with substance abuse problems, specifically those related to opioid abuse, as well as those with co-occurring mental health disorders.
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. A comprehensive list of grant awardees may be found here.
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Justice Department Announces over $70 Million to Support School Safety and $64 Million to Improve State Criminal Record SystemsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Dayle Elieson joined the Department of Justice today in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident. In Nevada, the Nevada Department of Education was awarded $1 million and the Lincoln County School District was awarded $13,846.
These grants are in addition to the funding to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), announced by Attorney General Sessions last week, to expand and update their curriculum to better support training programs. These grants combined will better protect students, teachers, faculty, and first responders across the United States. Additionally, the Department is awarding more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems, which will help law enforcement and increase the effectiveness of background checks.
“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "Earlier this year he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”
“Students should not fear going to school,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “These grants reflect the Department of Justice’s commitment to safe and secure learning environments for our students. The STOP School Violence grants will improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence.”
The Nevada Department of Education will receive $500,000 to address the development and operation of school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and the development of technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of an app, hotline, or website. The proposed technology solutions may be those that could be used during an incident to assist in securing the safety of those involved, to include sharing information with first responders.
The Nevada Department of Education will receive $500,000 and the Lincoln County School District will receive $13,856, to address the training of school personnel and students, to include specialized training for school officials in responding to related mental health crises.
The Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) together are making more than 220 awards to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure. The awards, granted through three funding streams, will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders. This includes the support for existing crisis intervention teams and the creation of new ones.
- BJA’s STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program will provide 68 awards valued at more than $19 million. This funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.
- The STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, also managed by BJA, will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises. This program will fund 85 awards at nearly $28 million.
- The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) will provide nearly $25 million to 91 jurisdictions for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The Department also announced that it has awarded more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems. These grants are administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, part of OJP. Approximately $43 million in funding will be administered through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), and nearly $21 million will be awarded under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program. These grant programs help states automate and upgrade records accessed by the firearms background check system. This year, at the direction of the Attorney General, the Department prioritized funding for projects that improve accessibility of criminal history records, domestic violence convictions, and information on persons who are prohibited from possessing firearms for mental-health related reasons.
The Department is also investing over $1 million in research to better understand the factors behind mass shooting incidents. The grant awards, made by the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of OJP, support scientific investigations that will examine factors that contribute to mass violence, identify any patterns in mass shootings, analyze psychological and social life histories of mass shooters and community-level predictors of mass violence, and will examine firearm purchasing patterns of known mass shooters in order to create a risk prediction tool.
For addition information on today’s grant announcements, visit www.bja.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov. The breakdown of the STOP School Violence Grants can be found here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program.
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Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Remembers One-Year Anniversary of October 1 Mass Shooting and Recommits to Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Today marks the one-year anniversary of the most tragic day in our city’s history. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins our community in remembering everyone who lost their lives as a result of the senseless act committed on October 1, 2017. Earlier today, the United States Attorney’s Office, together with the United States Marshal for the District of Nevada, held a ceremony to honor and remember the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival victims, survivors, and the brave first responders who risked it all. The United States Attorney’s Office remains steadfastly committed to making our community safer and preventing future tragedies. Our community must be protected from violent criminals who terrorize our residents and visitors alike.
With the support of the United States Department of Justice, we have hired three additional prosecutors who are focused on identifying and prosecuting violent offenders, including prosecuting persons who: unlawfully possess firearms, including individuals with domestic violence convictions, commit robberies, with and without firearms, commit car-jackings and assaults, as well as kidnappers and murderers. The addition of new prosecutors allows the United States Attorney’s Office to target the most violent criminals including street gangs that destroy our neighborhoods and drug trafficking organizations that peddle their poison to our children.
Critical to our violent crime reduction effort is the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. On October 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reprioritized and enhanced the PSN program, making it the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy.
Project Safe Neighborhoods empowers each United States Attorney’s office to develop and implement targeted, localized violent crime reduction strategies, tailoring solutions to individual communities and the challenges they face. So far in 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted 123 cases including the following violent crime and firearm offenses, all which came in through our PSN program. Recent notable cases include:
- Josue Diaz-Orellana, Luis Reyes-Castillo, David Perez-Manchame, and Miguel Torres-Escobar, all El Salvadoran nationals who are illegally in the United States and alleged to be MS-13 gang members, were arrested and charged in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a rival gang member whose body was found on federal property in southern Nevada. The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison for the assault charge and life imprisonment for both the kidnapping and the discharging of a firearm count.
- Uriah Crain, a Las Vegas felon, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in two violent armed carjackings that resulted in injury to two victims.
- Samual Lane Donesing and Jaemillah Eagans, both of Las Vegas, were indicted for possession of more than 300 stolen firearms belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee. Donesing is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
- Joseph Michael Gill, a former DEA Supervisory Special Agent in Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to illegally selling firearms without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Omar Qazi, a Las Vegas felon, was convicted by a jury of illegal possession of a firearm. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Connor Woods and Michael Miller, both of Santa Rosa, California, were each sentenced to 13 years in prison for robbing a Reno convenience store at gunpoint.
- Paul Nelson, of Pahrump, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling a stolen revolver and a stolen semi-automatic rifle with a large capacity magazine.
- Charles Ellis, of North Las Vegas, was indicted for illegally purchasing and reselling firearms, including assault rifles, without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Richard Canterbury, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for robbing a bank in the Southern Highlands area after escaping from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Arizona.
- Jacqueline Moore, a Las Vegas felon, was convicted by a jury of unlawful possession of a .25 caliber pistol and ammunition. She faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
- Jose Valentin Mora; Sandy Diaz Tavares; Jose Vega; Angel Diaz; Javier Chavez; Shawn Curl; Marcos Hernandez; Roberto Mora-Mora; Juana Baca; Elizabeth Reyes-Delacerda; Richard Rossall; Ciara Hernandez; Marco Antonio Ramirez; Kelsea Barbara Riley; Leon DeJesus Munera; and Jorge Ayala-Chavez, all of Reno, Nevada; and Francisco Meza Recio, of Simi Valley, California, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno and elsewhere. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10,000,000. The three-related indictments charge Jose Valentin Mora, Jose Vega, Jose Mora-Silva, Dagoberto Mora-Silva, and Alberto Acosta-Macias with firearms offenses. Felons Jose Mora and Jose Vega are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after having a prior felony conviction in Nevada. Jose Mora-Silva is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States. Dagoberto Mora-Silva is charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by prohibited persons Jose Mora and Jose Mora-Silva. Jose Mora and Acosta-Macias are charged with possession of a stolen .22 caliber Marlin rifle. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
- Ronald Robinson, of Reno, was sentenced to over 18 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a .40 caliber pistol.
- Jessie Mendoza, of Henderson, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for stealing approximately $123,000 worth of jewelry and other property from a pawn shop.
- Sylvester Mitchell, of Las Vegas, was charged for selling hundreds of firearms, some of which were subsequently used in crimes, without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum term of five years in prison.
- Jamie Joe Dulus, of Henderson, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for firing multiple shots at security guards at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina.
Under PSN, federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors partner with each other and the communities they serve to drive down violent crime – and it is working. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2017 reflects that the staggering increases from 2015 and 2016 are slowing. Preliminary data from 61 large cities suggest that violent crime overall was down in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to 2017. The overall violent crime rate in those cities is down nearly five percent and murder is down more than six percent. Thanks to the good work of law enforcement, Las Vegas’s violent crime reduction rate is impressive. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 2017 Annual Report, violent crimes decreased by 27%. Specifically, compared to last year, aggravated assault is down by 30%, robbery is down by 32%, and auto theft is down by 10%. While the national trend in the number of homicides is decreasing, Las Vegas is also unique in that it has seen an increase in homicide, to include domestic-violence related homicides. Our office, together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement are all committing to reducing the numbers of homicides.
Based on the overall reduction in violent crime, there are good reasons to be optimistic that our efforts will be successful. To that end, our office is stepping up efforts to reduce the number of homicides. We have implemented a strategy to take additional firearms cases involving individuals who have domestic violence convictions, and those who are present in this county illegally and have violent criminal histories. Together with our partners, we have good reason to be optimistic that the efforts to reduce violent crime will pay off.
The United States Attorney’s Office grieves with and supports Las Vegas, the families that lost so much just one year ago, and the survivors who will continue on their road to recovery. Our grief focuses our resolve to combat violent crime and to make our community a safer place. Through our partnerships with law enforcement, community leaders and others, we will work steadfastly to identify violent criminals and bring them to justice. Because together, we are stronger.
For more information about PSN and the Department’s efforts to reduce violent crime, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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North Las Vegas Man Charged for Kidnapping and Sexually Exploiting A 14-Year-Old Arizona GirlRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A North Las Vegas man who kidnapped a girl in Bullhead City, Arizona, then repeatedly sexually assaulted her at his house in North Las Vegas where he held her hostage for approximately one month, had his initial court appearance today, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office.
Jimmy Carter Kim, 29, was arrested and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Hoffman. He is charged by a criminal complaint with one count of kidnapping, one count of sexual exploitation of children, and one count of possession of child pornography.
As alleged in the complaint, between November 1, 2015 and December 3, 2015, Kim offered a ride to and kidnapped a 14-year-old girl who was walking down the street in Bullhead City, Arizona. He drugged her, then drove her to his house in North Las Vegas, where he locked her in a bedroom. Kim repeatedly sexually assaulted her and took photos of the assaults with his iPhone. He also threatened to shoot her with a firearm if she attempted to leave the house. On about December 3, 2015, she was able to escape from the bedroom and contact law enforcement.
Based on the victim’s description of the suspect and the house, detectives with the North Las Vegas Police Department were able to identify and interview Kim. During a forensic examination of his iPhone, numerous images and videos of child pornography produced by Kim were found.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 12, 2018. The maximum statutory penalty is life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
If you have information regarding Jimmy Kim, 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.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance by the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton are 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Arizona Man Charged for Sexually Assaulting A Woman on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation in LaughlinRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Arizona man had his initial appearance in federal court today on charges related to the sexual assault of a woman at a Laughlin resort and casino on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson.
Richard Anthony Hernandez, 23, a non-Indian from Fort Mohave, Arizona, is charged by a complaint with one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. He was arrested Wednesday and appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman, who ordered him detained pending trial.
According to allegations contained in the complaint, on September 24, 2018, Hernandez and a woman, who is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, entered a room at Avi Resort & Casino, which is located on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation, in Laughlin, Nevada. As alleged, he repeatedly struck her in the face and body, and sexually assaulted her in the room.
Upon arrival, officers from the Fort Mohave Tribal Police Department noticed the room was in disarray, there was blood spatter on the walls and near the door, and there was blood on the beds. After speaking with the victim, who had numerous injuries consistent with having been assaulted, and reviewing the hotel’s surveillance footage, Hernandez was interviewed by the FBI and arrested.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2018. The maximum statutory penalty for Aggravated Sexual Abuse is up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine and the maximum statutory penalty for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury is up to ten years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Fort Mohave Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. is prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Will Award up to $246 Million in Grants to Improve Public Safety in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Dayle Elieson joined the Department of Justice today in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe who will receive $1,004,552; the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada who will receive $450,000; the Moapa Band of Paiutes who will receive $299,900; and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe who will receive $1,350,000.
Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs. CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.
In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance. Recipients will be announced in the near future.
“With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, who made the announcement during his remarks at the 26th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues. We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”
The Four Corners Conference is facilitated annually by U.S. Attorneys from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to provide a forum for discussion of justice-related topics with a large number of populous and diverse tribal nations located in the region.
Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: www.justice.gov/tribal/page/file/1095161/download.
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Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Nearly $30,000 in Counterfeit U.S. CurrencyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to using his home computer and printers to produce nearly $30,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
William Allen Griffin, 54, of Reno, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States before U.S. District Judge Miranda Du. He has a prior felony conviction for burglary in Carson City. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2018. The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to information in the plea agreement, on March 22, 2017, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies served an eviction notice to Griffin. The landlord stated that Griffin tried to pay his rent with counterfeit bills in the past and found a stack of counterfeit bills in the room. After searching the room, the deputies found a computer and two printers used to manufacture fake $5, $10, $20, and $100 bills. One of the counterfeit bills was lying in the output tray of one of the printers. A total of $28,135 in counterfeit bills were seized. Griffin admitted in court that he possessed the counterfeit money and that he intended to spend it.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami is prosecuting the case.
If you suspect a counterfeit bill or have information about counterfeiting activity, you may make a report to the U.S. Secret Service Field Offices at (775) 784-5354 or (702) 868-3000.
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Justice Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Second Annual Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Dayle Elieson joined Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Justice Department leadership today in announcing the recipients of the Second Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 25 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
“The Trump Administration supports law enforcement at all levels—and we always will,” said Attorney General Sessions. “Today’s awards honor the incredible work that is being done across this country every day. This Department of Justice takes pride in announcing today’s winners of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.”
The Justice Department has been committed to supporting law enforcement and continues to back the “women and men in blue,” as directed by President Trump’s February 2017 Executive Order. The Department has recently awarded grants to assist law enforcement and first responders who supported mass shootings in Las Vegas, Nevada, Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas. In addition, the Department has helped police departments across America to hire hundreds more police officers through the COPS grant program.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 207 nominations for 469 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.
The individuals recognized by the Attorney General today include:
Deputy Ned Nemeth of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office:
Deputy Nemeth has demonstrated active exceptional performance in field operations. As a full time K-9 handler, he works highway interdiction and has successfully reduced illegal operations in the past year along the I-80 corridor, including seizing 206 pounds of illegal marijuana, 359.42 grams of methamphetamine, and 43 contraband prescription opioid pain pills. Deputy Nemeth is known for providing high quality information about his interstate contacts to other agencies across the country. His efforts as a part of the HIDTA task force in northern Nevada not only have positive effects on his own community but also make meaningful contributions to other jurisdictions working to disrupt and dismantle organized drug trafficking operations nationwide.
Officers Jeremiah Beason, Patrick Burke, Monty Fetherston, and Steve Morris, Jr., of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department:
On October 2017, at approximately 10:05 p.m., a lone gunman fired into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers attending a country music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 innocent people and injuring more than 850. Las Vegas Metropolitan Officers Beason, Burke, Fetherston, and Morris were the first four first responders to react during this active shooter situation. These four officers rescued injured civilians, cleared the surrounding rooms near the shooter, and secured the perimeter. By running towards the danger, they saved countless lives.
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Carson City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Carson City resident who possessed more than 125 images and 8 videos of child pornography was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks to 120 months in federal prison and lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Ryan Ray Tetirick, 44, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, he is required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
According to information in the plea agreement, on April 19, 2017, law enforcement members from the Northern Online Child Exploitation Task Force executed a search warrant at Tetirick’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Tetirick agreed to a consensual interview with law enforcement officers. During the interview, he admitted he downloaded and possessed child pornography in the past, but denied doing so recently. He also stated his electronic files were password protected and that he used a “cleaner” software program to delete files. He provided a username and password for officers to search his computer. A forensic examination of his computer and other electronic devices revealed approximately 125 images and 8 videos of child pornography, including infants. One computer and one external hard drive were seized.
The case was investigated by the Northern Online Child Exploitation Task Force which includes members from the FBI, ICE-HSI, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Scheme Involving False Claims of Veterans Affairs SettlementRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A woman pleaded guilty Thursday to committing mail fraud in connection with a nearly $1.3 million scheme, U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Maria Jesus Luciano, 66, of Tampa, Florida, pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement to 11 counts of mail fraud.
According to court documents, Luciano resided in Las Vegas in 2010 to 2011. During that time period, Luciano befriended a man she met at the church they both attended. In 2011, she relocated to Tampa and maintained communication with the man. Luciano fraudulently represented to him that she had a pending settlement award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She told him that she would share the settlement award with him if he provided her money to pay fees, interest, and other costs related to obtaining the settlement award. Her representations where false. In fact, after a brief period of service, Luciano was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1971. She received monthly pension benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a non-military service related disability and was not entitled to any large monetary award or settlement.
In July 2013, Luciano mailed the man a fake promissory note granting him an interest in the purported settlement award. The man used his position as a controller at a large real estate investment business to embezzle and steal approximately $1.3 million from the business and its investors. He mailed Luciano numerous envelopes and packages containing the stolen money. Luciano used the money for gambling and personal expenses.
Sentencing is set for January 24, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. The maximum statutory penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a potential fine. In addition, she faces a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $1,298,748.56.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Offices of Inspectors General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.
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Two Las Vegas Residents Sentenced for Multimillion Dollar Telemarketing Scheme Targeting Small Business OwnersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two Las Vegas residents were sentenced today to a total of 18 years in federal prison for their involvement in a $14 million dollar telemarketing fraud scheme targeting small business owners, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation.
Alan W. Rodrigues, 59, was sentenced to 120 months, and Mark L. Bausch, aka Mark Eting, 44, was sentenced to 96 months. Each defendant pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 30 counts of wire fraud, and 6 counts of money laundering. In addition to the prison terms, Bausch and Rodrigues agreed to pay $13,966,329.30 in restitution to victims and to pay between $631,142 and $1,050,955 in a criminal forfeiture money judgment. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the hearings.
According to their individual plea agreements, from March 2009 to about October 2010, Bausch, Rodrigues, and their co-conspirators organized and operated Small Business Funding Co., Inc., Company Funds, Inc., Foundation Research, Inc., and Silver State Holding Company, all telemarketing companies. They charged a fee for their services and offered to help small business owners obtain grants from public and private entities.
In order to perpetuate their fraud scheme, the defendants made false statements to victims to make it appear that they were likely to or guaranteed to receive a grant. They hired salespersons to market the services and to provide false information to the customers. In order to convince the customers that their service was legitimate, the defendants instructed their employees to conduct research about funding entities and send letters to customers and funders, knowing that many of the customers would not qualify for the grants. The defendants also solicited customers by conducting seminars throughout the United States. Throughout the entire scheme, the telemarketing companies received numerous complaints from customers, and the defendants facilitated giving false statements to victims in order to prevent or delay them from contacting law enforcement. Bausch and Rodrigues used the proceeds from the scheme to enrich themselves and others and to pay the expenses necessary to continue operating the scheme.
In December 2014, Bausch, Rodrigues, and co-defendants were indicted for their roles in the telemarketing fraud scheme. Several co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their role in the scheme, including Craig Rudolph who was sentenced to 77 months in prison; Jonas Bowen who was sentenced to 63 months in prison; Lee Panelli who was sentenced to 41 months in prison; and David Bergstrom who was sentenced to 51 months in prison. In a separate case, co-defendant Joseph Marfoglia was sentenced to 125 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel R. Schiess and Jared L. Grimmer prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to 18 Years for Violent Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas felon was sentenced today to a total of 216 months in prison for his involvement in two violent armed carjackings that resulted in bodily injury to the victims, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Uriah Zamir Crain, 29, pleaded guilty to one count each of carjacking, carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over the sentencing hearing.
According to the criminal complaint and plea agreement, on June 22, 2017, co-defendant Nicole Nowak asked the victim to drive her home and invited the victim into the house. Later that night at the house, Crain and another man hit the victim in the head with handguns and stole the victim’s money, wallet, and Ford F-150 truck. Then, on June 25, Crain and Nowak committed a second carjacking. Crain shot the victim in the leg after the victim tried to escape. Crain and Nowak then stole the victim’s Lincoln Navigator and other property. At the time of his arrest, Crain had a stolen Glock 9mm handgun and a 30-round Glock magazine in his possession. Crain was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his prior Utah felony conviction in 2008 for Injury to a Child and his prior Nevada felony convictions in 2012 for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Attempt Robbery.
Co-defendant Nicole Elizabeth Nowak, 24, was previously sentenced on March 21, 2018 to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. She previously pleaded guilty to carjacking, carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip N. Smith, Jr. and Alexandra M. Michael prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Two Las Vegans Charged for Stealing over 300 Firearms from Trailer Parked at Henderson CasinoRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two individuals had their initial court appearances today on charges related to the theft of more than 300 firearms inside a trailer belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Samual Lane Donesing, 28, and Jaemillah Eagans, 26, both of Las Vegas, were indicted with one count of possession of stolen firearms. Donesing is also charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A jury trial is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on October 15, 2018.
According to allegations in the complaint and indictment, on July 31, 2018, Donesing and Eagans, stole a truck and trailer containing more than 300 firearms along with ammunition and firearms accessories such as holsters and magazines. The truck and trailer were parked at the Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino and belonged to a Federal Firearms Licensee from Arizona. Law enforcement identified the defendants as suspects after hotel surveillance footage showed them driving away with the stolen truck and trailer. During an interview with law enforcement, Donesing and Eagans admitted to stealing the truck and trailer containing the firearms.
Donesing, a felon, is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm. He has four prior felony convictions in Clark County including forgery, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand larceny, and burglary.
If convicted, the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Henderson Police Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Mott is prosecuting the case.
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North Las Vegas Man Indicted for Selling Firearms Including Assault Rifles Without A Federal Firearms LicenseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury indicted a North Las Vegas man today for illegally purchasing and reselling firearms over a two-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Charles Martin Ellis, 64, an unlicensed dealer in firearms, was charged with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of the transfer or sale of a firearm to a non-resident.
The charges stem from an ATF investigation conducted after a convicted felon shot and killed a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Deputy and shot and wounded two California Highway Patrol Investigators. The shooter used a Zastava 7.62mm caliber pistol sold by Ellis to another individual. The investigation also revealed guns sold by Ellis were used in other crimes in Nevada and California.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from January 1, 2016, to February 1, 2018, Ellis bought and quickly resold over 250 firearms, such as AR-15 and AK-47 style assault pistols, without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). He is alleged to have sold firearms to Nevada residents and to individuals he knew or had reasonable cause to know were residents of other states.
The maximum statutory penalty is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the ATF’s Sacramento field office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Bank Robbery After Escaping from PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who robbed a bank in the Southern Highlands area after escaping from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Arizona was sentenced today to 125 months in prison and three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Richard Lee Canterbury, 68, was convicted by a jury in February of one count of bank robbery. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the two-day trial and sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, on March 16, 2016, Canterbury entered a Nevada State Bank on Southern Highlands Parkway in Las Vegas wearing a gray “fisherman” style hat, dark glasses, and a blue and white striped long sleeve shirt under a gray zip up vest, carrying a blue zip top bank bag. He approached a teller and showed a handwritten note which stated: “This Is A Robbery No Tricks Loose Bills Only Cooperate No One Gets Hurt Otherwise Everyone Dies.” The teller placed approximately $1,901 and a GPS tracking device into the bag. Canterbury left the bank with the bag containing the bank money and the tracking device.
Shortly after the robbery, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, using information from the GPS tracker and the suspect’s description provided by the bank teller, located and stopped Canterbury’s vehicle. Officers found the stolen bank cash, the bank bag, the note, and the GPS tracking device inside his vehicle. He was still wearing the clothes that he wore during the robbery. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Canterbury was serving a 46 month federal sentence for Felon in Possession of Firearms when he escaped from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Florence, Arizona, on January 27, 2016.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Jared L. Grimmer prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Receipt of over 600 Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who admitted to using file sharing applications to receive more than 600 images of toddlers and children engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Ricky Damian Johnston, 59, previously pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced him to a lifetime term of supervised release following his incarceration and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to information in the plea agreement, Johnston admitted that, from January 1, 2005 to October 29, 2014, he used multiple peer-to-peer file sharing software applications to search for and download images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic examination of his electronic devices revealed that he downloaded more than 600 images and videos, including some of toddlers engaged in a sexually explicit conduct with adults. Computer forensics also showed that Johnston received live-streamed videos of children from southeast Asia engaged in a sexually explicit conduct. Furthermore, he shared and distributed child pornography by actively managing his “shared” folders on the various software applications.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elham Roohani prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Las Vegas Man Convicted in Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury in Las Vegas, Nevada convicted a Las Vegas man of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Terry Williamson conspired with others to file false and fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service using the names and social security numbers of deceased taxpayers. To further the scheme, Williamson opened and managed a bank account to receive the fraudulent tax refunds. In total, more than 480 fraudulent tax refund checks totaling more than $2 million were deposited into Williamson’s account. Williamson withdrew substantial amounts of money from that bank account and also transferred large portions of the proceeds to his personal account and to the accounts of co-conspirators. Williamson spent his cut of the money on personal expenses including over $60,000 on a fully-loaded pick-up truck.
Sentencing is scheduled for a later date. Williamson faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys John Mulcahy and Sarah Kiewlicz of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/tax.
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Arizona Man Indicted for Illegally Engaging in the Business of Manufacturing Ammunition Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury sitting in Las Vegas indicted Arizona resident Douglas Haig today with one count of engaging in the business of manufacturing ammunition without a license, announced United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.
The investigation of Haig, 55, of Mesa, Arizona, arose out of the investigation of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. Haig is scheduled for an initial court appearance on the Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. on September 5, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was previously charged in a criminal complaint.
According to allegations in the indictment, from July 2016 to October 19, 2017, Haig, who did not have a federal firearms license to manufacture ammunition, was illegally conducting business as a manufacturer of various ammunition types. Haig previously operated “Specialized Military Ammunition,” an Internet business selling high explosive armor piercing incendiary ammunition, armor piercing incendiary ammunition, and armor piercing ammunition. Business records reveal that Haig sold armor piercing ammunition throughout the United States, including Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and South Carolina.
During an interview with investigators, Haig told investigators that he reloads ammunition, but does not offer reloaded cartridges for sale to his customers and none of the ammunition recovered in Las Vegas crime scenes would have tool marks on them consistent with his reloading equipment. Reloaded ammunition refers to ammunition that is manufactured from component parts, including previously fired cartridge cases. Based on a forensic examination of rounds recovered inside the suspect’s rooms at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino following the mass shooting, Haig’s fingerprints were found on reloaded, unfired .308 caliber cartridges. Forensic examination also revealed that armor piercing ammunition recovered inside of the shooter’s rooms had tool marks consistent with Haig’s reloading equipment.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Burns, Nicholas D. Dickinson, and Cristina D. Silva.
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Henderson Woman Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of A PersonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury returned a 10-count superseding indictment today on charges related to opioid drug trafficking, including the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the 2017 death of a person, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The superseding indictment charges Tianna Christina Cordova, 34, of Henderson, with one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of illegal use of a communication facility. The superseding indictment charges co-defendant Robert James Thornburg, 36, of Henderson, with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Cordova and Thornburg were previously charged by a seven-count indictment in July 2018. The superseding indictment also includes the prior charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – oxycodone and amphetamine, five counts of distribution of a controlled substance – oxycodone, amphetamine, and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to information contained in the complaint and superseding indictment, on June 21, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Cordova and Thornburg’s residence in Henderson. Law enforcement found varied amounts of oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, four firearms, and cash. As alleged, they conspired with each other to distribute oxycodone and amphetamine (Adderall). On March 14, 2017, it is alleged that Cordova distributed a controlled substance containing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of an individual. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.
If convicted, the maximum penalty is 20 years and a $1,000,000 fine for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance, the mandatory minimum penalty is 20 years up to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, the mandatory minimum penalty is five years up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and the maximum penalty is four years in prison and a $250,000 fine for illegal use of a communication facility.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the Clark County Coroner’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Jaroch is prosecuting the case.
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Las Vegas Resident Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries then filed false tax returns using their identities was sentenced to 366 days in prison and three years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of the IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Edwin Israel Bravo-Donis, 32, previously pleaded guilty to one count of submitting a false, fictitious, and fraudulent claim to the Government. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over yesterday’s sentencing hearing.
According to admissions made in the plea agreement, between January 1, 2015, and October 24, 2017, Bravo-Donis obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador. Even though these foreign citizens did not live or work in the United States, Bravo-Donis used their identities to file fabricated tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service that falsely claimed they were each entitled to thousands of dollars in tax refunds. As part of the scheme, Bravo-Donis assisted in or participated in the filing of at least 228 false tax returns in the names of 67 foreign citizens that received more than $500,000 in refunds from the IRS.
The case was investigated by the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
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Jury Convicts North Las Vegas Man of Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas man was found guilty of using a filing sharing network and the internet to receive and distribute sexually explicit images and videos of children, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
Bret Alan Humphries, 60, was convicted of one count of receipt and/or distribution of child pornography. The jury trial was before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon who scheduled a sentencing hearing on November 15, 2018. Humphries faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between October 4, 2011, and August 30, 2012, Humphries used Shareaza, a peer-to-peer file sharing program, to receive and distribute child pornography. Federal task force agents executed a search warrant at his residence and seized 3 devices containing child pornography. After a forensic examination of the devices, law enforcement discovered 71 images and 120 video files depicting pre-pubescent children and toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct and being subjected to sado-masochistic sexual abuse. Computer forensics showed that Humphries had been using various file sharing networks to receive and view child pornography since at least 2006.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Elham Roohani are 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Former Arizona DEA Agent Pleads Guilty to Illegally Selling Assault RiflesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A former DEA Supervisory Special Agent who was assigned to the Nogales Office as part of the DEA Tucson District Office pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tucson, Arizona, to illegally selling firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada because the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is recused from the case.
Joseph Michael Gill, 42, of Tucson, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a licensee. He resigned from his position with the DEA on June 30, 2018. United States Magistrate Judge Lynnette C. Kimmins accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2018. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the affidavit for a search warrant for Gill’s residence obtained in connection with the investigation, in December 2012, Gill applied for a Federal Firearms License with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), but he subsequently withdrew the application. Subsequent to withdrawing that application, Gill purchased multiple firearms from licensed firearms dealers and sold them on the internet utilizing the website Gunbroker.com. Upon further investigation into Gill’s use of Gunbroker.com, ATF learned that Gill had engaged in approximately 645 transactions.
According to the plea agreement, on June 12, 2016, Gill purchased three Colt .223/5.56 caliber rifles from an online FFL located in Lexington, Kentucky. He paid a total of $1,896. The rifles were shipped to a FFL in Sahuarita, Arizona, and Gill picked up the rifles on June 18. Then, on July 27 and 28, 2016, Gill sold two of the rifles to two different individuals who he had reason to believe intended to use or dispose of the firearms unlawfully.
The case is being investigated by the ATF and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. of the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
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Ohio Resident Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography Using TwitterRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former Henderson resident who distributed sexually explicit photos of children via a Twitter account was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
Mark Alan Stoneking, 40, previously of Henderson, Nevada, now a resident of Elyria, Ohio, pleaded guilty on March 1, 2018, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware II sentenced him to lifetime supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
In his plea agreement, Stoneking admitted that, on December 20, 2014, and January 6, 2015, he distributed sexually explicit photos of children via a Twitter account. Those images were accessible to the account’s “followers.” On January 12, 2016, members of the Henderson Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at Stoneking’s residence in Henderson. They seized four electronic devices containing more than 600 videos and more than 200,000 images of child pornography.
A FBI task force arrested Stoneking on these charges in April 2017. Before the officers entered his residence, Stoneking unsuccessfully tried to hide his cell phone in the attic. A forensic examination showed that Stoneking stored sexually explicit photos of children on that phone as well.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or by making a CyberTipline report at www.cybertipline.com.
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 Convicted of Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas felon was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm that was discovered during a traffic stop, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Omar Qazi, 30, was convicted of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the jury trial and scheduled sentencing for November 15, 2018. Qazi faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to court documents, Qazi was stopped by a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer for a traffic violation near East Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. During the search of his vehicle, the officer found a loaded Smith & Wesson .22 caliber revolver in the front center console. Methamphetamine and marijuana were also recovered inside the vehicle. Evidence introduced at trial also included an audio recorded interview of Qazi where he admitted the firearm was his; and also two jail calls where he admitted to two different individuals that he knew he was a felon and should not have been driving around with a gun. Qazi’s DNA was also recovered from the firearm. Qazi has a prior felony conviction in Nevada for battery with substantial bodily harm and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Michael and Patrick Burns prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv
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Reno Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Creating over 8,000 Fraudulent Online Accounts with Stolen Identities to Commit $3.5 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno man who admitted to using stolen identities to create more than 8,000 fraudulent online accounts to commit a $3.5 million fraud scheme was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison, three years supervised release, and 100 hours of community service, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Kenneth Gilbert Gibson, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Miranda Du. He previously pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, filing a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. In addition to the prison term, he agreed to pay approximately $1 million in restitution and a $3.5 million forfeiture judgment.
Between 2012 and 2017, Gibson created a sophisticated scheme to steal the identities of multiple victims from a database in Reno. He used the stolen identities to create approximately 8,000 unauthorized and fraudulent online accounts, credit accounts, bank accounts, and prepaid cards. He would use those fraudulent accounts to transfer, deposit, and send approximately $3.5 million to himself via hard copy checks and through electronic transactions to approximately 500 bank accounts and pre-paid debit cards owned and under his control.
In addition, he admitted to filing a false federal income tax return for the 2013 tax year. He did not include approximately $1,049,070 of taxable income he received from the fraud scheme.
The case was a joint investigation by a Task Force with members from the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, IRS, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Baldwin Carry prosecuted the case.
If your personal information is stolen, make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. For identity theft prevention tips and free resources visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
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Las Vegas Doctor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Prescription Medications Hydrocodone and Oxycodone Without Medical PurposeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas doctor pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute prescription medications, specifically Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, by allowing his co-conspirators to write illegal opioid prescriptions using his prescription pad.
United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Los Angeles Region made the announcement.
Dr. Horace Paul Guerra IV, a former managing partner of Incera LLC, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan who scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 25, 2018. He was charged in a criminal information on June 25, 2018.
According to admissions made in his plea agreement, from January 1, 2018 to about May 3, 2018, Guerra conspired with his Incera LLC partners, Robert D. Harvey and Alejandro Incera. As part of the conspiracy, he allowed them to use Incera LLC prescription pads to write illegal opioid prescriptions, specifically for Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, for patients he did not see and without a legitimate medical purpose. The pre-signed prescription pads included Guerra’s name, signature, and DEA number.
At time of sentencing, Guerra will face the statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. As part of the plea agreement, Guerra agreed to surrender his Nevada medical license by the time of sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting the case.
The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot program. The District of Nevada has assigned an experienced prosecutor that focuses solely on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to medical professionals who prescribe opioids, that unlawfully divert of dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.
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Lovelock Paiute Tribe Member Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Assaulting A Man with A Broken Glass LampRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Lovelock Paiute Tribe member who admitted to assaulting a man with a broken glass lamp was sentenced today to nine years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Rafael Alfonso Medina Jr., 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to admissions made in his plea agreement, on January 1, 2016, in Lovelock, Nevada, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Lovelock Indian Reservation, Medina repeatedly assaulted a man on his head, arms, and body with a broken glass table lamp. The victim was airlifted to a hospital in Reno for treatment. The victim suffered severe blood loss, requiring a blood transfusion, as well as amputation of a finger and staples and sutures for his injuries.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami prosecuted the case.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Twenty-Two Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nevada man who pleaded guilty on April 17, 2018 to receipt of approximately 8,700 photos and videos of child pornography was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 264 months in prison and lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Craig Richard Pozesky, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, Pozesky uploaded images of child pornography to his “Gmail” email account intending to send the images to another individual. Law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant for Pozesky’s residence. Pozesky admitted that he viewed, downloaded, and possessed hundreds of images and videos of children as young as one-year-old being sexually assaulted by adults. Pozesky also admitted to trading child pornography with other individuals, to include receiving an USB drive containing child pornography from another person, as well as engaging in online sexually explicit conversations with an underage child. Pozesky was in the process of coordinating a meeting with the minor when he was arrested.
At the time Pozesky was arrested for this offense, he was already a convicted felon and registered sex offender. His sex offender status was based on prior convictions in Nevada and Florida for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor offenses.
This case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elham Roohani 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Former Las Vegas City Councilman Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former Las Vegas City Councilman was sentenced today to 1 month in prison, 3 months in a halfway house, and 8 months of home confinement for orchestrating a scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars from his reelection campaign in 2015, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.
Ricki Y. Barlow, 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon of the District of Nevada following Barlow’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud earlier this year. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Gordon imposed a fine of $66,125 and ordered Barlow to serve 3 years of supervised release.
According to admissions made in connection with Barlow’s plea, Barlow stole approximately $49,125 from his reelection campaign in 2015 through a series of kickbacks from campaign vendors. Barlow admitted to directing the campaign vendors to submit inflated invoices to his campaign treasurer and then kick back a substantial percentage of their paychecks to Barlow, typically in the form of cash. Barlow also admitted to accepting an additional $17,000 in cash campaign contributions that he never reported to his campaign treasurer or transmitted to the campaign. Instead, as he did with the campaign kickbacks, Barlow admitted to diverting the $17,000 in campaign contributions for his own personal use.
To conceal the scheme to steal campaign funds, Barlow admitted to causing his campaign to submit false campaign finance reports to the Nevada Secretary of State.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Trial Attorney Ryan J. Ellersick of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
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Las Vegas Felon Convicted of Unlawful Possession of A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas felon was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Jacqueline Moore, 38, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for October 17, 2018. At the time of sentencing, Moore faces the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during a barbeque on the afternoon of October 27, 2017, Moore got into an altercation with a woman who became a victim of violence at the hands of Moore. The altercation happened at a residence near “B” Street and Monroe Street in Las Vegas. The victim left the barbecue and went to the Elk’s Lodge located at 600 West Owens Avenue. Almost immediately thereafter, Moore drove to the Elk’s Lodge and confronted the victim in the parking lot. During the altercation, Moore broke the victim’s car window and a tail light. Moore also threatened to shoot her with a .25 caliber pistol. After Moore fled the scene, an eyewitness called the police. Responding police officers located Moore a short time later and took her into custody near the residence at “B” and Monroe. A search of Moore’s vehicle revealed a .25 caliber pistol and a search of the purse Moore was carrying when she was apprehended yielded a single round of .25 caliber ammunition. Moore is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to her prior felony convictions in Clark County for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted battery with substantial bodily harm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Allison Reese and Phillip N. Smith, Jr. are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv
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Idaho Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Threat and Assault of Federal Law Enforcement During 2014 Armed Standoff in BunkervilleRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Idaho man was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for his involvement in the armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in April 2014, in the Bunkerville, Nevada, area, during the removal and impoundment of Cliven Bundy’s cattle that were trespassing on federal public lands, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada
Todd C. Engel, 51, was found guilty by a jury in April 2017, of obstruction of justice and interstate travel in aid of extortion. He was indicted by a grand jury in March 2016. United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.
During a 32-day jury trial, evidence showed, that in April 2014, Engel traveled to Bunkerville with the intent to commit a crime of violence against federal law enforcement officers who were executing a federal court order. Engel, brandishing a loaded AR-15 assault rifle with extra ammunition in his tactical vest, hid behind concrete barriers on the I-15 overpass. He brandished his firearm at law enforcement to impede, intimidate, and to threaten to assault federal law enforcement officers involved in the impoundment operations.
The case was investigated by the FBI and BLM. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven W. Myhre, Daniel R. Schiess, and Nadia J. Ahmed prosecuted the case.
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Indian Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Violation of Endangered Species Act and Destruction of Property at Death Valley's Devils HoleRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Indian Springs, Nevada, man who rammed his ATV into a gate securing the Devils Hole area, destroyed a surveillance camera and equipment, then harmed pupfish, an endangered species, pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Superintendent Mike Reynolds for Death Valley National Park.
Trenton Sargent, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to one count of violation of the Endangered Species Act, one count of destruction of United States property, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2018. The maximum penalty for Endangered Species Act, a criminal misdemeanor, is up to one year in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. The maximum penalty for destroying United States property and being a felon in possession of a firearm, both felonies, is up to ten years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine per count.
Devils Hole, a detached unit of Death Valley National Park, is located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, within a 40-acre parcel of National Park Service land surrounded by the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Devils Hole is the only location in the world where Devils Hole pupfish exist in the wild. They are the descendants of fish that inhabit an ancient lake that once covered Death Valley. The pupfish is a Nevada state and federally listed endangered species. The Endangered Species Act was enacted to provide a program for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. In the spring of 2016, Devils Hole contained just 115 observable pupfish.
According to court documents, Sargent admitted, that on April 30, 2016, he and two co-defendants rammed the fence surrounding Devils Hole with their ATV, severely damaging the gate. Then, Sargent, a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, fired a Mossbert 500 shotgun at the padlock on the gate, attempting to gain access. After their attempts were unsuccessful, the men scaled the fence. Once in the enclosed area, they destroyed a sensor center for cameras and equipment for the area, and destroyed a video surveillance camera belonging to the National Park Service.
Then, Sargent went into the water. By stepping onto the Devils Hole shallow shelf, he smashed pupfish eggs and larvae pupfish during the peak spawning season for pupfish, who lay their eggs on the shallow shelf.
Two other men, Edgar Reyes, 37, of North Las Vegas, and Steven Schwinkendorf, 31, of Pahrump, who were with Sargent at Devils Hole during the time of the crimes, previously pleaded guilty to destruction of government property and violation of the Endangered Species Act. They were each sentenced to one year probation.
The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez.
To report a suspicious or criminal activity in a national park site, call the National Park Service tip line at 1-888-653-0009 or visit https://www.nps.gov. For more information on the Department of Justice’s wildlife protection efforts, visit https://www.justice.gov/enrd.
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Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Using Another Person's Identity on U.S. Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
RENO Nev. – A man unlawfully in the United States who used another man’s personal identifying information on his U.S. passport application was sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Perlman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) San Francisco Field Office.
Alberto Jacinto-Rios, aka Manuel Lorenzo Diaz, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben. Following his prison sentence, Jacinto-Rios will be deported from the United States. He pleaded guilty in April 2018 to one count of aggravated identity theft.
On March 6, 2017, Jacinto-Rios applied for a U.S. passport at the University of Nevada, Reno using the name, date of birth, Social Security number, and birth certificate of a U.S. citizen. He provided the passport acceptance agent with a California birth certificate and a Nevada Identification Card, both in the name of the other. The passport application was referred to DSS because a passport and passport card had been previously issued. Jacinto-Rios was positively identified as the fraudulent passport applicant through photographs. He was arrested on the same day he was indicted in December of 2017.
The case was investigated by DSS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian L. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
If you are aware of, or have been a victim of, fraud or fraudulently issued U.S. passports, contact [email protected].
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Winnemucca Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of an ExplosiveRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A felon pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of an explosive device at his residence in Winnemucca, Nevada, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.
Terry J. Hanson Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of an explosive. He was arrested and indicted in May of this year. United States Judge Larry R. Hicks accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for October 9, 2018. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to information contained in the plea agreement, on April 18, 2018, Hanson, a convicted felon, and a cooperating witness, who was wearing a recording device, met with an undercover employee to sell a roll of Thermalite Ignitor cord, an explosive material under federal law, and Thermalite connectors. Hanson received $3,000 in cash for the sale to the undercover. He has a prior felony conviction in Humboldt County for possession of a controlled substance.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Nevada Department of Public Safety - NDI, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Winnemucca Police Department, Elko Police Department, Elko Sheriff's Office, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Reno Police Department, and the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow is prosecuting the case.
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Internet Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Selling $2.3 Million Worth of Non-FDA Approved and Misbranded Botox and Juvederm-Related ProductsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The owner and operator of numerous beauty product websites pleaded guilty today to selling $2.3 million in non-FDA approved and misbranded drugs and medical devices, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge William P. Conway of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations’ Chicago Field Office.
Kelly Luanne Schaible, aka Kelly Reed and Heather Lane, 56, previously of Henderson, Nevada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to one count of wire fraud and one count of introduction of misbranded medical devices in interstate commerce.
According to court documents, from 2009 to at least 2014, Schaible owned and operated AAE d/b/a Basics, Inc.; Basics, Inc.; and Basics Inc., Ltd. The companies’ websites sold various beauty products related to weight loss, hair loss, skin care, eyelashes, and wrinkle reduction. She operated the websites from Illinois, then from various homes she occupied in Henderson.
In admissions made in her plea agreement, Schaible knowingly marketed, sold, and distributed non-FDA approved prescription drugs containing Botulinum Toxin Type A, also known as Botox, and non-FDA approved prescription devices containing hyaluronic acid, also known as Juvederm related products. She obtained these products from distributors in China.
She further admitted that she made various misrepresentations on the websites that lead customers to believe the fake Botox and Juvederm products offered for sale were safe and could be administered without a prescription. She did not require customers to provide a valid prescription prior to purchase and the products were not properly labeled as required by federal law. Schaible sold approximately 9,500 units of misbranded prescription drugs containing Botulinum and received approximately $1.7 million in sales revenue. She also sold approximately 4,000 units of misbranded Juvederm products and received approximately $630,000 in sales revenue.
Furthermore, on July 1, 2012, Schaible made an online sale of misbranded products to a customer in Pennsylvania. The products did not have proper labeling providing adequate directions for use as required by federal law. She mailed the products from Henderson to Dresher, Pennsylvania using the U.S. Postal Service.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2018. The maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud is up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the maximum statutory penalty for introducing misbranded devices into interstate commerce is three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the FDA-Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Baldwin Carry is prosecuting the case.
If you find a website that may be illegally selling medical products and devices, dietary supplements or cosmetics over the internet, make a report to the FDA by calling 1-866-300-4374 or at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ucm059315.htm.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Possession of over 15,500 Images and Videos of Child Pornography Including Infants and ToddlersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who possessed more than 15,500 photos and videos of child pornography, including the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, was sentenced today to 68 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Ryan Austin Rother, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He previously pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement to one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2016, Rother’s wife contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to report child pornography she found on her husband’s computer. An officer visited the residence and spoke with Rother’s wife. She showed the officer an image on her husband’s computer of a minor girl being sexually assaulted by a man. During the execution of a search warrant, a total of 39 devices belonging to Rother were seized from the residence. A forensic evaluation revealed 15,676 images and 40 videos of child pornography on four different devices. Of these child pornography files, more than 300 images depicted bondage and violence and more than 3,000 images depicted infants and toddlers.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Burton prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or by making a CyberTipline report at www.cybertipline.com.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 601 Individuals Responsible for over $2 Billion in Fraud LossesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Department of Justice includes four Nevada residents who were charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids and health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, announced today the national health care fraud takedown involved 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings. Of those charged, 162 defendants, including 76 doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS announced today that from July 2017 to the present, it has excluded 2,700 individuals from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and all other Federal health care programs, which includes 587 providers excluded for conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse.
“Health care fraud is a betrayal of vulnerable patients, and often it is theft from the taxpayer,” said Attorney General Sessions. “In many cases, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists take advantage of people suffering from drug addiction in order to line their pockets. These are despicable crimes. That’s why this Department of Justice has taken historic new steps to go after fraudsters, including hiring more prosecutors and leveraging the power of data analytics. Today the Department of Justice is announcing the largest health care fraud enforcement action in American history. This is the most fraud, the most defendants, and the most doctors ever charged in a single operation—and we have evidence that our ongoing work has stopped or prevented billions of dollars’ worth of fraud. I want to thank our fabulous partners with the FBI, DEA, our Health Care Fraud task forces, HHS, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Medicare, and especially the more than 1,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers from across America who made this possible. By every measure we are more effective at finding and prosecuting medical fraud than ever.”
“Prescription opioid-related health care fraud is a serious problem,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “Medical professionals hold a special place of trust in our society as healers, caregivers, and lifesavers. Doctors who violate their oath to ‘do no harm’ by illegally prescribing opioids for no medical necessity or file fraudulent health care bills will be held accountable.”
As part of the announcement, the District of Nevada filed charges against four individuals, including one doctor, with prescription opioid-related offenses. The cases have a combined loss of approximately $3.7 million.
- Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, Alejandro Incera and Leslie Kalyn, both nurse practitioners, were charged in a 29-count indictment. As alleged, Harvey and Incera conspired to use Dr. Horace Guerra’s pre-signed prescription pad to distribute Hydrocodone and Oxycodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash kickbacks. Incera and Kalyn allegedly prescribed Lidocaine, Modafinil, and Diclofenac Sodium to patients without a legitimate medical purpose, many of which were billed to Medicare/Medicaid by a pharmacy that filled the prescriptions. Harvey, Incera, and Kalyn were paid cash kickbacks for their patient referrals to the pharmacy. A jury trial is set for July 30, 2018.
- Dr. Horace P. Guerra was charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. As alleged, he provided pre-signed prescription pads to Robert Harvey and Alejandro Incera who wrote opioid prescriptions for patients without a legitimate medical purpose. His initial court appearance and plea hearing is set for July 25, 2018.
These charges are the result of joint investigations by the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting these cases.
The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot program. The District of Nevada has assigned an experienced prosecutor that focuses solely on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to medical professionals who prescribe opioids, that unlawfully divert of dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.
A criminal information or indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Additional documents related to the national announcement are available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-june-28-2018.
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Twenty Members of Reno Drug Trafficking and Firearms Organization Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Large Amounts of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Heroin and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A federal grand jury returned four-related indictments today charging 20 alleged members of a Reno drug trafficking and firearms organization for their roles in a large-scale drug distribution ring that operated in the Reno area. Seventeen defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, and three defendants are charged with firearms-related offenses.
United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas office made the announcement.
The 17 defendants charged for their alleged roles in the drug conspiracy are Jose Valentin Mora, aka Cholo and Magic, 36; Sandy Diaz Tavares, 33; Jose Vega, aka Panda, 33; Angel Diaz, 21; Javier Chavez, 58; Shawn Curl, 35; Marcos Hernandez, aka Bigotes, 58; Roberto Mora-Mora, 52; Juana Baca, aka Sneaky, 44; Elizabeth Reyes-Delacerda, aka Chavela, 26; Richard Rossall, aka Monopoly, 52; Ciara Hernandez, 18; Marco Antonio Ramirez, aka Anthony, 35; Kelsea Barbara Riley, 26; Leon DeJesus Munera, 27; and Jorge Ayala-Chavez, 43, all of Reno, Nevada; and Francisco Meza Recio, 31, of Simi Valley, California. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10,000,000.
According to allegations contained in the 14-count drug conspiracy indictment and criminal complaint, from January 25, 2018 to June 14, 2018, the defendants conspired with each other to possess and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno and elsewhere. On several occasions, Jose Valentin Mora, the alleged leader, sold the drugs to his co-conspirators who would then resell the drugs in Reno. To date, more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine has been seized from this drug conspiracy. This amount has an approximate street value of over $300,000.
The three-related indictments charge Jose Valentin Mora, Jose Vega, Jose Mora-Silva, Dagoberto Mora-Silva, and Alberto Acosta-Macias with firearms offenses. Felons Jose Mora and Jose Vega are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after having a prior felony conviction in Nevada. Jose Mora-Silva is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States. Dagoberto Mora-Silva is charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by prohibited persons Jose Mora and Jose Mora-Silva. Jose Mora and Acosta-Macias are charged with possession of a stolen .22 caliber Marlin rifle. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
“As alleged, these defendants trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson. “Today’s indictments are the latest example of our steadfast commitment to fighting drug trafficking and reducing violent crime in Nevada’s communities. Together with our law enforcement partners we are committed to protecting Nevadans and making our communities safe.”
“Law enforcement partnerships made this operation a success,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse. “Drug trafficking organizations bring gun violence to our neighborhoods and take advantage of the addiction problem our community and our nation faces. Working together with our partners enabled us to identify key elements of the organization and effectively shut it down. I am very proud of the hard work of the Northern Nevada Safe Street’s Task Force. As a result of this large scale operation, a well-organized drug trafficking operation has effectively been dismantled, and the community of Reno is safer.”
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These charges stem from an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force with significant assistance by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners including the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Second Defendant Sentenced in Multimillion Dollar Telemarketing Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
An individual who managed a multimillion dollar fraudulent telemarketing scam was sentenced on June 25, 2018, to serve 63 months in prison by a federal judge in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Department of Justice announced.
Michael Rossi, 52, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also ordered Rossi to pay $2,785,508.36 in restitution, reflecting the victim losses from the scheme.
Rossi pleaded guilty in December 2017 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud based on his role in managing a telemarketing operation that defrauded thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly, out of millions of dollars. Co-defendant, Glen Burke, 58, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on March 12 to 87 months in prison.
“This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting scammers who defraud elderly Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams and deliver justice for victims.”
“Seniors and caregivers should be alert to and mindful of these types of scams. Criminals who prey on and steal from seniors will face prosecution and be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “If someone believes they or someone they know is a victim of elder fraud, they should report it to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.”
According to documents filed in court, Rossi managed the fraudulent telemarketing operation for Burke, who controlled the operation. Telemarketers working for Burke and Rossi falsely told victims that they had won one of five valuable prizes: a Chevy Camaro; a Boston Whaler boat; a diamond-and-sapphire bracelet; $3,000 cash; or a cruise that could be exchanged for $2,300. To claim the prize, consumers were told to pay hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of dollars. Once they paid, victims received a nearly worthless piece of costume jewelry or nothing at all.
Individuals who made an initial payment were sometimes called again, and misled into believing they had won an even better prize, in a process called “loading” or “reloading,” which could be repeated multiple times. This caused victims to lose thousands of dollars.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Readler commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He also thanked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for bringing a civil enforcement action that resulted in the shutdown of the defendants’ telemarketing operation and for the FTC’s assistance during the criminal investigation and prosecution. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
Second Defendant Sentenced in Multimillion Dollar Telemarketing Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An individual who managed a multimillion dollar fraudulent telemarketing scam was sentenced today to serve 63 months in prison by a federal judge in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Department of Justice announced.
Michael Rossi, 52, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also ordered Rossi to pay $2,785,508.36 in restitution, reflecting the victim losses from the scheme.
Rossi pleaded guilty in December 2017 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud based on his role in managing a telemarketing operation that defrauded thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly, out of millions of dollars. Co-defendant, Glen Burke, 58, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on March 12, 2018, to 87 months in prison.
“This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting scammers who defraud elderly Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams and deliver justice for victims.”
“Seniors and caregivers should be alert to and mindful of these types of scams. Criminals who prey on and steal from seniors will face prosecution and be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “If someone believes they or someone they know is a victim of elder fraud, they should report it to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.”
According to documents filed in court, Rossi managed the fraudulent telemarketing operation for Burke, who controlled the operation. Telemarketers working for Burke and Rossi falsely told victims that they had won one of five valuable prizes: a Chevy Camaro; a Boston Whaler boat; a diamond-and-sapphire bracelet; $3,000 cash; or a cruise that could be exchanged for $2,300. To claim the prize, consumers were told to pay hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of dollars. Once they paid, victims received a nearly worthless piece of costume jewelry or nothing at all.
Individuals who made an initial payment were sometimes called again, and misled into believing they had won an even better prize, in a process called “loading” or “reloading,” which could be repeated multiple times. This caused victims to lose thousands of dollars.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Readler commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He also thanked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for bringing a civil enforcement action that resulted in the shutdown of the defendants’ telemarketing operation and for the FTC’s assistance during the criminal investigation and prosecution. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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