Northern District of New York

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Thomas Collins, age 35, of Chittenango, New York, pled guilty yesterday to multiple counts of distribution and possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

As part of his guilty plea, Collins admitted that on several occasions in April of 2023, he distributed images and videos of child pornography to two undercover law enforcement officers via the same social networking application. Collins also admitted that on the day of his arrest, May 18, 2023, he possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography on several of his electronic devices.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 20, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd.  Collins faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison, a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life.  Collins will also be required to register as a sex offender.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The case is being investigated by HSI, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the NYSP Troop D Computer Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Stickles, age 35, of Copake, New York, pled guilty today to receiving child pornography.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Stickles admitted that between January 2021 and August 2022, he accessed the Internet in order to visit file-sharing sites and websites that contained child pornography.  Stickles further admitted that while on these sites, he downloaded more than 15,000 still image and video files that contained child pornography. 

At sentencing on December 20, 2023, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Stickles faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison.  The judge will also be required to impose a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to a life term.  The court may also impose a fine, restitution, and forfeiture of the computer Stickles used to commit his offense.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  Stickles will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes FBI special agents, and state and local investigators, including members of the New York State Police. The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force assisted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph F. Morelli, age 51, of Endicott, New York was sentenced today to serve three months in prison for making threatening phone calls from his home to the voicemail in the office of a member of Congress in Washington, D.C.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Morelli was ordered to surrender to prison on October 2, 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Morelli to serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his sentence of incarceration. The Court directed the parties to further brief the issue of restitution sought by the victim for a decision at a later date.

As part of his guilty plea, Morelli admitted to that on March 3, 2022, he placed a telephone call to the Washington, D.C. office of a member of the U.S. House Representatives that said in part, ““I'm gonna have to take your life into my own hands… I'm gonna hurt you. Physically, I’m gonna harm you.”

A second voicemail message on March 3, 2022, said in part, “I'm gonna have to show you, to your face, right up front, what violence truly is, and I don't think you're gonna like it.… I can pay someone 500 bucks to take a baseball bat and crack your skull. …You are going to get f**king physically hurt.”

A third voicemail message on March 3, 2022, included, “you're gonna cause people to get hurt, so I'm gonna have to hurt you physically. … I'm gonna make sure that, even if they lock me up, someone's gonna get you ‘cause I'll pay them to.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Capitol Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick was the prosecutor.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jazell Shuler, age 35, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana and launder money.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Shuler admitted to being a member of a marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region.  Shuler also admitted to laundering marijuana and THC proceeds for the organization. 

The packages of marijuana were shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie.”  At the direction of David Singletary, aka “DB,” Shuler received packages of marijuana at her and David Singletary’s respective residences in Troy and notified David Singletary when the packages arrived.  Shuler also packaged marijuana for sale. 

The marijuana was sold out of “knock spots” in the Capital Region, which advertised various strains and quantities of marijuana and THC “edibles” for sale, with prices, on white boards.  The defendant worked at the “knock spots” and updated the information on the white board for David Singletary.  In addition to working at the “knock spots,” Shuler sold marijuana. 

The defendant also laundered marijuana and THC proceeds for the organization by sending $13,500 in money transfers purchased with cash drug proceeds from Troy to six people in Fresno, Windsor, and Merced, California, including Nehemiah Fane, aka “Neil,” and James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost.”  David Singletary provided Shuler with the cash drug proceeds for the money transfers.

Shuler faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts to which she pled guilty, conspiring to distribute marijuana and conspiring to commit money laundering; fines of up to $1 million and $500,000, respectively, on each count; and a term of supervised release of between 3 years and life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Shuler was charged in an indictment with Dwight and David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Fane, Daniels and 18 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes.  Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Fane, and Daniels have pled not guilty, and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. 

In addition to Shuler, five other defendants, Rosemary Coles, Latrice Mumphrey, Sammy Olague, Victor Turner, and Kristle Walker, previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing. 

The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nathan Hotchkiss, age 35, of Lewis County, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Lewis County District Attorney Leanne K. Moser made the announcement. 

As part of Hotchkiss’s guilty plea, he admitted that, from at least October 2021 through August 2022, he sexually exploited two children under the age of five and livestreamed or distributed depictions of the sexual abuse online for cash. When Hotchkiss was arrested in August 2022, he also had a collection of child pornography he had obtained on the Internet or through social media message exchanges with others.

If the parties’ agreed-upon sentence is imposed by the Court at sentencing on January 17, 2024, Hotchkiss will receive a term of imprisonment of 30 years, a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of life, and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. In addition, Hotchkiss will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to forfeit the electronic devices that he used to commit his offenses to the United States.

HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the New York State Police and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office as part of Project Safe Childhood. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Muhammad Z. Aabdin, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to serve 3 years of probation after previously pleading guilty to offering a bribe to a public official, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office.

In pleading guilty previously, Aabdin admitted that in September 2020, he offered a bribe to a contracting officer with the Veterans Administration (“VA”) in Syracuse. Specifically, Aabdin offered to share profits with the VA contracting officer in exchange for her awarding VA contracts to him for personal protective equipment (“PPE”). Aabdin made the initial bribe offer by email and then reiterated it in subsequent text messages and in a recorded phone conversation with an undercover agent posing as the contracting officer. In text messages dated October 15, 2020, Aabdin offered a bribe of $8,333.33 in the event he received a VA contract for N-95 masks leading to a total profit of $25,000. Aabdin did not receive any VA contracts, and his actions did not cause a loss to the VA.

This case was investigated by VA Office of Inspector General, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jan Lopez-Colon, age 29, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role as the leader of a Capital Region cocaine distribution conspiracy.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.

On December 29, 2022, Lopez-Colon pled guilty before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Lopez-Colon admitted that between June 2021 and December 2021, he and three others worked together to receive over 5 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico and distribute it in the Capital Region.  The cocaine was shipped via U.S. mail in 1-kilogram bricks to addresses in Albany and Rensselaer counties; runners then obtained the packages and handed them over to Lopez-Colon for processing and distribution.  

Judge Sharpe also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release, which will begin when Lopez-Colon is released from prison.

Lopez-Colon’s three codefendants have also pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.  They are:

• Jesus Baez, age 34, of Troy, who was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment on July 11, 2023;
• Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, age 31, of Albany, who is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2023; and
• Sam Calderon, age 20, of Troy, who is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023.

This case was investigated by the USPIS and its Capital Region Task Force, led by the USPIS and including the Albany Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schenectady Police Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ulysses Jessie Walls, a/k/a “Guwala,” age 29, of Rensselaer, New York, pled guilty today to armed bank robbery, firearms and conspiracy charges in connection with two February 2019 armed bank robberies.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Alfred Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Steven A. Nigrelli, Acting Superintendent of the New York State Police (NYSP); Chief Eric Hawkins of the Albany Police Department (APD); and Chief David Keevern of the North Greenbush Police Department.

Walls admitted that he committed two armed robberies with Christopher Cohn a/k/a “Wolf.”  On February 6, 2019, Walls and Cohn pulled up to an Albany Trustco Bank branch, where Cohn declared he was about to “go do this,” meaning that he planned to rob the bank.  Walls and Cohn then entered the bank wearing ski masks.  In the bank, Walls displayed a gun, and both men threatened to kill the bank’s employees, who surrendered approximately $150,000 to the pair. 

Walls also admitted that on the morning of February 26, 2019, he and Cohn entered an M&T Bank branch in North Greenbush, each wearing a ski mask and brandishing a gun.  During the robbery, Cohn fired multiple shots, including one that grazed a bank employee.  According to court documents, law enforcement tracked Cohn, Walls, and their getaway driver to an Albany motel using a GPS device placed in the stolen money by a member of the bank’s staff.  Cohn was apprehended by officers with more than $10,000 in cash and wearing red sneakers matching those captured by the bank’s surveillance cameras during the robbery.  Walls was arrested in the motel’s lobby, where officers found him with several bags containing approximately $3,800 in cash along with ski masks and other clothing matching that worn by the robbers.  

Walls will be sentenced on December 27, 2023 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  Under the terms of Walls’s plea agreement, the parties have jointly recommended to Judge D’Agostino that Walls receive a prison term of 204 months (17 years) and a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.  Under the plea agreement, Walls will also be required to pay restitution to his victims, including both banks, and to forfeit the money he stole in the robberies.   

After pleading guilty to firearms, armed bank robbery and conspiracy charges, Cohn was sentenced to 241 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.  

This case was investigated by the FBI, the NYSP, the Town of North Greenbush Police Department, and APD, with the assistance of the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Ashlyn Miranda prosecuted the case.

UTICA, NEW YORK – On Friday evening, a jury voted to convict Charles Harrison, age 34, of Binghamton, New York, of being a felon in possession of a firearm, following a 4-day trial in Utica, New York.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York David L. McNulty made the announcement.

The trial evidence demonstrated that, following his 2012 conviction in the Northern District of New York for Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute controlled substances, Harrison was serving the final portion of his term of imprisonment at a halfway house in Connecticut.  Harrison absconded from the halfway house, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest for Escaping the Custody of the Attorney General.  On March 29, 2022, the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force found Harrison hiding under a mattress in an apartment in Binghamton, New York.  The Marshals also located a loaded gun in the bedroom next to where Harrison was hiding.  Forensic and testimonial evidence presented at trial linked Harrison to the gun that was in the apartment, and the jury voted to convict him of possessing the gun as a prohibited person (previously convicted felon).

At sentencing scheduled for December 20, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd, Harrison faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the United States Marshalls Service with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York State Police, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, and the Binghamton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone and Thomas R. Sutcliffe.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – William Hines, age 45, formerly of Hoosick Falls, New York, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for receiving and possessing more than 6,100 images of child pornography.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, made the announcement.

As a part of his earlier guilty plea, Hines admitted that in December 2016 through January 2017, he downloaded child pornography from a website, and the images he possessed included images depicting the rape of a toddler, adults performing oral sex and using sexual devices upon pre-pubescent children, and images and videos depicting an underaged former girlfriend.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 15-year-term of post-release supervision and ordered Hines to forfeit a phone, laptop, and external hardrive that he used to store the child pornography.  Hines will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the Hoosick Falls Police Department and the New York State Police.  Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Westervelt, age 46, pled guilty today to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 12-year-old.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Westervelt admitted that between January and June 2022, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with someone posing as a man who was sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy.  Over the course of those exchanges, Westervelt expressed his desire to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the 12-year-old, and ultimately Westervelt arranged to meet the man and the boy in Lake George, New York, for that purpose.  On June 14, 2022, Westervelt left his residence in Bennington, Vermont, and drove to a prearranged meet-up location in Lake George, where he was arrested. 

Westervelt will be sentenced on December 15, 2023 by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.  Under the terms of Westervelt’s plea agreement, the parties have jointly recommended to Chief Judge Sannes that he receive a prison term of at least 70 months and no more than 87 months, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  Westervelt would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case. The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark and former Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Williams prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luke Kenna, a/k/a. “Lt,” age 44, of Gloversville, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit bank robbery and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Kenna admitted that between November 14 and November 27, 2022, he agreed to and planned to commit an armed bank robbery at a bank branch in Johnstown, New York, with two co-conspirators, Michael Brown, Jr. a.k.a. “Russ,” and Brian Tierney a.k.a. “Wodanaz.”  Kenna, as part of that conspiracy, conducted surveillance of the bank and purchased items, including weapons, to commit the robbery, and Brown drove to New York to conduct surveillance of the bank with Kenna.  Kenna also admitted that he possessed a rifle on November 6, 2022, after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

The charges remain pending against Tierney, who has been arrested and detained pending a trial currently scheduled for October 30, 2023. The charges in his indictment are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Brown pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery on June 23, 2023. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2023.

Sentencing for Kenna is scheduled for December 15, 2023, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Kenna faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes FBI Special Agents, and federal, state, and local investigators, including from the New York State Police. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit also provided assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Wu Feng Zhang, age 54, a citizen of China residing in the Town of Colonie, New York, pled guilty today to transporting stolen property across state lines. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Zheng admitted that between June and December 2022, he stole merchandise from home improvement stores in states including Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and New York, and transported those stolen items to his residence in Colonie.  On January 11, 2023, HSI searched his residence and found about $100,000 in merchandise stolen from home improvement and other stores.

At sentencing on December 15, 2023, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, Zhang faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

HSI, with assistance from Colonie Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Burlington E. Nieuenkirk, age 46, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing three loaded firearms as a felon.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr. made the announcement.

Nieuenkirk admitted that on April 30, 2020, he knowingly possessed three loaded pistols, one of which had been reported stolen, at a residence in Green Island, New York.  A prior felony conviction for robbery prevented Nieuenkirk from legally possessing the firearms in New York.

Nieuenkirk faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on December 11, 2023, by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. 

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office with assistance provided by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eunice Ting, age 69, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced on Friday to 1 year of probation, to pay a $10,000 fine, and to pay full restitution for making a false statement to obtain benefits from the United States Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office, made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Ting admitted that between December 2013, and March 2020, she submitted hundreds of materially false and fraudulent forms to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs seeking reimbursement for travel she did not do. Specifically, she falsely claimed workers’ compensation benefits for medically related travel to and from a local YMCA for purported “aquatic therapy” when she had not received any such therapy and did not travel to the YMCA as claimed. She received a total of $26,983 from the Department of Labor because of her fraudulent submissions.

Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. ordered Ting to pay $26,983 in restitution, which Ting paid at sentencing.

USPS-OIG investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted it.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gabriel Charron, age 51, of Milton, Vermont, pled guilty today to the attempted online enticement of a minor.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Charron admitted that between May 2022 and March 4, 2023, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with people he believed were a mother and an 11-year old girl, respectively, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him.  Charron also admitted that on March 4, 2023, he travelled from Vermont to a hotel in Albany County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 11-year-old girl.  Charron was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location. 

At sentencing on December 18, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, Charron faces at least 10 years and up to a life in prison.  The judge will also be required to impose a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life.  The court may also impose a fine, restitution, and forfeiture of the smartphone Charron used to commit his offense.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  Charron will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 

The FBI’s Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force and Capital Region Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. Each task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, as well as state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – John C. Hotaling, age 62, of Esperance, New York, pled guilty today, on the eve of trial, to possessing child pornography.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

Hotaling admitted that in 2020, he possessed child pornography images, some of which he created by photoshopping the faces of children onto nude adult bodies engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a process known as “morphing.”  Hotaling was on supervised release at the time for a 2009 conviction for engaging in the same conduct.  He also admitted violating his terms and conditions of supervised release.  Trial in the case was scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 15.

At sentencing on January 4, 2024, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, Hotaling faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The FBI, New York State Police and U.S. Probation Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Collyer, Ashlyn Miranda and Rick Bellis are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Samuel Coleman, age 51, of Albany, pled guilty on Friday to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

Coleman admitted that between March 2020 and January 2021, he distributed and possessed with intent to distribute at least 1,613 grams of methamphetamine.

At sentencing, Coleman faces a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Colonie Police Department, and New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tramond G. Wallace, Jr., age 28, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 157 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-New York Division, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.

In his earlier guilty plea, Wallace admitted that at his apartment in the Town of DeWitt, he possessed a parcel containing 1,024 grams of pills containing fentanyl, which had been mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. Wallace admitted that he intended to distribute these pills, and other quantities of fentanyl that he possessed in his apartment, to others. Wallace further admitted that in the same apartment, he possessed two Glock .40 caliber pistols, one with an extended magazine inserted, which he possessed in furtherance of his drug-trafficking.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered that Wallace serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

DEA and USPIS investigated the case, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rodney Sumlin, 37, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-New York Division, made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Sumlin admitted that on November 8, 2022, he knowingly possessed 108 grams of cocaine at his residence in Syracuse, which he intended to distribute to others. Sumlin further admitted that at his residence he also possessed a loaded .45 caliber pistol, which he possessed in furtherance of his drug-trafficking.

At sentencing, Sumlin faces up to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

DEA investigated the case, with assistance from the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Danielle Simonson, age 51, of Fort Ann, New York, pled guilty today to distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations.

Simonson admitted that from at least January 2020 through October 2022, she unlawfully prescribed controlled substances to a total of 54 patients.  These included prescriptions for the opioids hydrocodone and oxycodone, benzodiazepines (clonazepam, diazepam, and lorazepam), and amphetamine (e.g. Adderall).  For instance, Simonson admitted that she issued a total of 63 oxycodone prescriptions to two residents of Suffolk County, New York, without treating either of them for a medical condition. The Suffolk County residents usually paid Simonson by mailing her packages of cash.

In the civil settlement agreement, Simonson admitted that she improperly prescribed controlled substances to 105 patients (including the 54 listed in her criminal plea agreement), often without ever examining patients and maintaining medical records justifying her decision to prescribe controlled substances. Simonson agreed to pay $200,000 to settle claims that the United States could have brought against her pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act.

In the criminal case, sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2023 before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  Simonson faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, as well as up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Simonson’s plea agreement requires that she immediately surrender her nurse practitioner and nursing licenses to the State of New York.  On December 8, 2022, Simonson surrendered her DEA registration (which had allowed her to prescribe controlled substances).

The DEA and HHS-OIG investigated the criminal case, with assistance from the New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the criminal case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Moran represented the United States in the civil matter.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Justin Donohue, age 38, of Syracuse, was sentenced today for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by failing to notify the New York State Sex Offender Registry of a social media and email account he created and used, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release for a prior federal child pornography conviction. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, United States Marshal David McNulty, and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. 

United States District Judge Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby sentenced Donohue to serve 16 months imprisonment for failing to report Snapchat and Gmail accounts to the Sex Offender Registry, as required by law.  In his earlier guilty plea, Donohue admitted that he created the email account using a false name and accessed it 67 times on an unreported cellular telephone that he possessed in violation of his conditions of supervised release.  Investigators found that the email address was used to join at least twelve child pornography trading groups online, but that Donohue regularly factory reset his phone, thereby deleting all data.  

Donohue was further sentenced to serve a consecutive term of 24 months in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release by having contact with a known felon, possessing the unreported cellular telephone, failing to register his internet accounts, and falsifying monthly probation reports. 

Following his terms of incarceration, Donohue will be returned to supervised release for another 20 years and will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.

Donohue’s case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-Mid-state Child Exploitation Task Force in cooperation with the New York State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gilberto Velasquez, age 38, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for conspiring to traffic heroin and fentanyl from New York City to the Capital Region, and for distributing heroin. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Velasquez admitted to organizing a conspiracy that trafficked approximately 89 grams of heroin and 10 grams of fentanyl from New York City to the Capital Region, while he was on parole from a state prison term.  Velasquez, operating out of New York City, sold quantities of heroin bags and fentanyl-laced pills to customers in the Capital Region using “runners” to transport the controlled substances via commercial bus lines.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Velasquez to serve a 3-year term of supervised release after he is released from prison.    

The DEA and the Colonie Police Department investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted it.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Morales, age 31, of Utica, New York, pled guilty yesterday to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.

In pleading guilty Morales admitted that from May 2020 through October 2021, he acquired quantities of fentanyl from co-conspirators, which he then re-distributed to others in the Utica, New York area.  Morales admitted that during his participation in the conspiracy, the drug trafficking organization distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl. 

Sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2023, in front of United States District Judge David N. Hurd.  Morales faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the New York State Police (NYSP), the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the Utica Police Department, the Syracuse Police Department, the Rome Police Department,  the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Yorkville Police Department, the Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Carey Terrance Sr., age 42, of Hogansburg, New York, pled guilty on July 31 to conspiring to launder money in connection with a scheme to smuggle cut rag tobacco into Canada from the United States.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Division, made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Terrance Sr. admitted that from approximately 2013 to 2016, he worked with co-conspirators to acquire cut rag tobacco and smuggle it into Canada, where it was made into contraband cigarettes. Members of the conspiracy sold the contraband cigarettes, making substantial profits by avoiding taxes and duties, and used some of their profits to buy more cut rag tobacco that they sent into Canada.

Funds to purchase the cut rag tobacco were sent from Canada, often through the Northern District of New York, to North Carolina.  Once purchased, the cut rag tobacco was delivered to warehouses and buildings in the Northeastern United States, including on the St. Regis Mohawk Akwesasne Reservation, where it was staged for smuggling into Canada. Terrance admitted that he laundered $221,860.20 as part of the scheme; he agreed to forfeit that amount as part of the guilty plea.

Two other co-conspirators, Samuel C. Baker, age 45, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, and Jeffrey Doctor, age 51, of Charlotte, North Carolina, have each also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and are awaiting sentencing.

Terrance, Doctor and Baker each face a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

A charge remains pending against Edgar M. Baker, Jr. and a trial is currently scheduled for September 27, 2023.  The charge in the indictment against Baker is merely an accusation.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

HSI and IRS-CI are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen J. Vickey and Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping are prosecuting this case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Amphenol Corporation (Amphenol) has agreed to pay the United States $18 million dollars to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for electrical connectors to the United States government when Amphenol sold electrical connectors that failed to fully comply with applicable government regulations and contract specifications, due to Amphenol’s failure to meet required testing standards and other manufacturing and program requirements.   

The U.S. military and government buys tanks, fighter jets, rockets, missiles, and other equipment and weapon systems containing electrical connectors manufactured by Amphenol, and also purchases electrical connectors from Amphenol to use as replacement parts in weapon systems and equipment.   Government contracts and regulations calling for the use of Military Specification (MIL-SPEC or MS) connectors require that both the supplier (Amphenol) and the product supplied (MS electrical connectors) meet all military specifications for the manufacture and testing of those electrical connectors.  The Qualified Products List (QPL) program for the six MS connector series covered by the settlement agreement was at all times overseen and managed by Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).    

As part of the settlement, Amphenol admits that, between 2012 and 2017, it manufactured and sold the following MIL-SPEC electrical connectors directly and indirectly to the U.S. Government that did not fully conform to the applicable MIL-SPECs: Series Nos. 22992, 26482, 26500, 27599, 38999, and 83723 connectors (the “six MS connector series”).  Specifically, Amphenol failed to timely complete required retention of qualification testing,[1] failed to timely report required testing results to DLA, and failed to immediately report certain testing failures to DLA, all as required by the applicable MIL-SPECs.

Between 2012 and at least March 2016, Amphenol also obtained parts and components from sources that DLA did not authorize. Amphenol used these parts in the assembly and manufacture of the six MS connector series.

As a result of all of this conduct, from 2012 through 2017, Amphenol submitted or caused to be submitted to DLA, and other Government agencies, claims for the six MS connector series when those connectors did not fully conform with the requirements of the applicable MIL-SPECs.

“Defense contractors agree to follow strict manufacturing and testing protocols so that taxpayers receive the equipment they pay for,” said Carla B. Freedman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “These high standards also ensure that our service members have the reliable equipment that they expect and deserve. Today’s $18 million settlement holds Amphenol accountable for its failure to meet those high standards for specific electrical connectors.” 

The settlement with Amphenol was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; the Defense Logistics Agency; the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General.  This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl Eurenius and John Hoggan for the Northern District of New York.

[1] “Retention of qualification” testing is periodic testing required by the applicable MIL-SPECs for a manufacturer to maintain status as a QPL manufacturer for a particular QPL-listed product.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ryan D. Monroe, age 41, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 130 months (10 years and 10 months) in federal prison for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna S. Mills.

Monroe was arrested by members of the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (“Met-Jeff”) on May 18, 2022, on bench warrants for his failure to appear in Jefferson County Court for sentencing on two New York State felony cases. Met-Jeff Detectives located Monroe in the City of Watertown as he got out of a car. A short foot pursuit ensued after which Monroe was taken into custody. A search incident to arrest located 56 grams of nearly pure methamphetamine in Monroe’s pants pocket along with $2,388.00 in U.S. currency. A shoulder bag that Monroe discarded during the foot chase was searched pursuant to a search warrant and found to contain 29 grams of cocaine, a set of digital scales, 12 grams of cocaine base (crack), and approximately 50 small plastic baggies containing individual quantities of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. 

This case was investigated by the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, consisting of Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detectives from the City of Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Investigators from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol Agents. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Cedric L. Hudson, Jr., age 37, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to serve 96 months (8 years) in federal prison for his possession of a firearm as a prior convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

On October 17, 2022, New York State Police stopped a vehicle driven by Hudson in the Town of Dewitt for traffic violations. The registration of his car was expired, and Hudson advised he had no driver’s license. When informed that the vehicle would be towed, Hudson told New York State Troopers that there was a handgun and ammunition in the passenger compartment. A .45 caliber Hi Point pistol and a loaded ammunition magazine were recovered from the interior of the vehicle. When interviewed, Hudson said he intended to sell the handgun.

Records checks revealed that Hudson was previously convicted of several prior felonies in New York State and North Carolina and was the subject of an active arrest warrant for absconding from parole in North Carolina. While detained awaiting sentencing on the instant federal firearm charge, Hudson was arrested and charged with bringing drugs into the Oneida County Jail. He is presumed innocent on both his North Carolina Parole absconding violation and his pending Oneida County charge of Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree (misdemeanor) unless or until proven guilty.   

The New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit (NYSP-Community Stabilization), Troop D Uniform Patrol (NYSP-Troop D), and the FBI Syracuse Resident Agency investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rogelio Lopez-Lopez, a/k/a Hugo Gilardo Sales-Gomez, age 37, a Guatemalan citizen who was living in Chenango County, New York, was sentenced to serve 7-months in prison for unlawfully reentering the United States after previously being deported, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Brophy, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Buffalo Field Office.

As part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he returned to the United States after being previously deported in 2006 and without making application to lawfully reenter. He came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement-Removal Operations after being arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for an assault charge. Following his conviction in Chenango County for Assault in the Third Degree, Lopez-Lopez was sentenced to serve 179 days in the Chenango County Jail. At the conclusion of that sentence, ICE-ERO arrested the defendant for the instant federal offense. 

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) with assistance from the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - John Arthur Nolan, III, age 48, of Norfolk, New York, was sentenced today to serve 15 months in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for failing to update his sex offender registration. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York.

As part of his previously entered plea, Nolan admitted that he was previously convicted of Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors in Florida, which required him to register as a sex offender for 25 years.  Nolan further admitted that he moved from Pennsylvania to New York in July of 2022 and failed to notify either Pennsylvania or New York of his change in residence from that time until his arrest in October of 2022.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service Sex Offender Investigation Branch and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Akiem Howard, age 24, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 250 months (20 years and 10 months) in federal prison for robbing two Syracuse corner  stores, and for related firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Chief Joseph Cecile, City of Syracuse Police Department (SPD), John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshal David McNulty, and William Fitzpatrick, Onondaga County District Attorney.

As part of his previous guilty plea to robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce (the Hobbs Act) and using firearms in furtherance of federal crimes of violence, Howard admitted robbing two Syracuse corner stores at gunpoint. The first robbery occurred on December 13, 2020, and the second was on December 21, 2020.

The December 13 robbery occurred at about 11:14 pm and Howard robbed it along with a second robber. Both Howard and the second robber pointed handguns at the store clerk. The December 21, 2020 robbery occurred at about 10:45 am approximately one-fifth of a mile from an elementary school. Howard robbed the store with a third robber, Chantal Jaquez. Howard used a revolver and Jaquez carried a rifle.  While fleeing the store, Howard fired several rounds from his revolver at the store clerk. One of the bullets struck Jaquez in the leg. Jaquez previously pleaded guilty to participating in the December 21, 2020, robbery and, on August 18, 2022, was sentenced to serve 111 months in federal prison.

As part of his guilty plea, Howard also admitted committing three other armed robberies on December 19, 2020. 

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced Howard to a three-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Syracuse Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (SPD-CID), the SPD Intelligence Section (SPD-Intel), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Campusano, age 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 18 months in federal prison for selling cocaine and illegally reentering the United States.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Thomas Brophy, Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), Buffalo Field Office.

In pleading guilty, Campusano admitted that after being deported from the United States in 2009, he returned without permission. While he was living in the Utica area illegally, Campusano sold cocaine to another individual on six separate dates.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered that Campusano serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the Syracuse Police Department, and Utica Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terence Wilson, age 40, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Wilson admitted that he sexually exploited a child from the time the child was approximately 8 years old until the child was approximately 15 years old and that he created approximately 50 videos depicting the abuse.

Under the parties’ plea agreement, at sentencing on November 9, 2023 before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, Wilson faces an imprisonment term of at least 25 years and up to 35 years, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution to the victim, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. Wilson also will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. Former Assistant United States Attorney Rachel L. Williams and Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian LaRochelle prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Wesley Guard, age 34, of Queensbury, New York, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for receiving, transporting, and possessing child pornography using the online social networking application Kik. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

Guard was previously convicted after a four-day jury trial in February of 2023. The evidence at trial established that, between September 2020 and April 2021, Guard, a registered sex offender, used the Kik Messenger application to receive child pornography from others Kik users.  Guard then transported that child pornography over the internet into other Kik accounts under his control as a means of collecting the material. The child pornography Guard received from other Kik users and transported between his various Kik accounts included numerous videos depicting the sexual exploitation of young children. The evidence at trial also established that, at the time of his arrest by law enforcement on April 29, 2021, Guard still possessed the child pornography he had received on Kik.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Guard to 15 years of supervised release that will begin after Guard serves his term of imprisonment. Guard is a prior registered sex offender, and as a result of his conviction, Guard will again be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by HSI, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the NYSP Troop G Computer Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita, Carling Dunham, and Adrian LaRochelle prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Simranjit Singh, age 40, a citizen of India living in Canada, pled guilty today to alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling.  At the request of the United States, Singh was taken into custody on June 28, 2022, in Ontario, Canada.  Singh was extradited from Canada to the United States on March 30, 2023.   

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In pleading guilty, Singh admitted that from at least March of 2020 through March of 2021, he facilitated the smuggling of numerous Indian nationals from Canada into the United States, via Cornwall Island and the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation in the St. Lawrence River region, for profit.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 28, 2023, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino in Albany, New York, at which time Singh faces a mandatory term of 5 years in prison and up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Singh will be subject to deportation following the conclusion of his sentence, which is determined by an immigration judge. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Burnash, age 43, of Albany County, New York, pled guilty today to failing to update his sex offender residential address information with the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, made the announcement.

Burnash was required to register as a sex offender because of his federal conviction in 2012 in the Northern District of New York for receiving child pornography.  Burnash admitted during his guilty plea that, between December 24, 2022, and March 1, 2023, he failed to advise the sex offender registry of a change in his residential address.

In addition to his guilty plea to failure to update his registration information as a sex offender, Burnash also admitted today that his conduct violated the terms of supervised release imposed after his 2012 conviction. 

Sentencing is scheduled for November 27, 2023, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  For the SORNA offense, Burnash faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and up to life to begin upon his release from prison.  Burnash may also receive additional sanctions for violating the terms of his supervised release.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

The United States Marshals Service is investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case.  This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Jose Angel Portillo-Lopez, age 72, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday to serve 121 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, and possession of child pornography.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In pleading guilty, Portillo-Lopez admitted that in April of 2021, he traveled to the northern border in Burke, New York, where he assisted in the smuggling of four Vietnamese nationals from Canada into the United States for profit.  Further, the investigation revealed, and Portillo-Lopez admitted, that he possessed videos of child pornography on his cellphone.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered that Portillo-Lopez serve a 10-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol, Burke & Champlain Stations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Stitt.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Matthew Brooks, age 37, of Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 108 months (nine years) in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli. Brooks was also sentenced to a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $3,377.00 in cash, and four firearms.

As part of his previous guilty plea in November 2022, which occurred mid-way through his federal jury trial, Brooks admitted that he sold and packaged fentanyl, used his apartment to distribute fentanyl to customers, rented cars for other members of the conspiracy, and possessed firearms at his residence in connection with the drug conspiracy. New York State Troopers and Utica Police Investigators executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on July 30, 2021, seizing 60 bags of fentanyl, $3,377.00 in cash, and four loaded firearms. The search warrant execution followed a complex investigation stretching over several months.

Matthew Brooks was the latest of member of the fentanyl distribution conspiracy to be sentenced:

• Jahari D. Brown, Jr., 23, of Utica, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to serve 216 months (18 years) in federal prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. He also pled guilty in Oneida County Court to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, and was sentenced to serve a total of 18 years in state prison and 5 years of post-release supervision. The Federal and New York State sentences are to be served concurrently. Chief Assistant District Attorney Todd C. Carville and Oneida County Executive Assistant District Attorney Grant J. Garramone prosecuted Jahari D. Brown, Jr. in Oneida County Court.

• Kymani K. Minott, 20, of Utica, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on July 14, 2022, to serve 60 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release.

• Daequon D. Perkins, 27, of Utica, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on November 10, 2022, to serve 33 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release.

• Mark W. Baker, 45, of Utica, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on May 18, 2023, to serve 110 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release.

• Melisa Muminovic, 26, of Utica, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. She is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2023. 

The case was investigated by the New York State Police-Special Investigations Unit (NYSP-SIU) and the Utica Police Department (UPD), assisted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the New York State Police-Violent Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew McCrobie and Richard Southwick prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rosemary Coles, age 71, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC).

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Coles admitted to being a member of a marijuana and THC trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region. 

The packages of marijuana were shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” who is the defendant’s daughter.  Coles received the shipments of marijuana at her home in Troy and also coordinated the receipt of shipments of marijuana by Victor Turner and JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney,” at their homes in Troy.  The marijuana in the packages, which were often sealed with eBay packing tape, was concealed in dog food containers and suitcases, and was typically picked up from Coles by David Singletary, aka “DB.”   

Coles, Turner, and Osman were paid between $300 and $400 for each package of marijuana they received, and Coles routinely delivered payment to Tuner and Osman.  Coles typically received payment from David Singletary. 

Coles admitted to receiving approximately 104 packages containing a total of approximately 811 kilograms (1,788 pounds) of marijuana at her home between August 2018 and May 2022.  She also admitted that Turner and Osman respectively received approximately 53 and 30 packages containing a total of 382 kilograms (842 pounds) and 226 kilograms (498 pounds) of marijuana at their respective homes between March 2020 and June 2022. 

In addition to receiving and delivering packages of marijuana, Coles admitted to selling THC “edibles” shipped by her daughter, McKenzie Coles, from Fresno to Troy.  

Coles faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million at sentencing.  She will also be required to serve at least five years and up to a lifetime term of supervised release.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Coles was charged in an indictment with Dwight and David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Turner, Osman and 18 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes.  Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, and Osman have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. 

Turner and three other defendants, Kristle Walker, Latrice Mumphrey, and Sammy Olague, previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing. 

The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

ALBANY, NEW YORK –Thomas O’Bryan, age 41, of Kingston, New York, was sentenced today to serve 110 months in prison for distributing and possessing of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his earlier guilty plea, O’Bryan admitted that between March and September 2020, he traded child pornography on a social media application using the screenname “irishbstrdinc.”  The defendant also admitted that on September 22, 2020, he possessed child pornography, which included depictions of sadistic and masochistic conduct, as well as the sexual abuse and exploitation of toddlers.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 15 year-term of post-release supervision, ordered O’Bryan to pay $3,000 restitution to a child victimized in some of his child pornography, and ordered O’Bryan to forfeit the laptop and cell phone that he used to commit his crimes. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, and the Colonie and Rotterdam Police Departments.  Former Assistant United States Attorney Rachel L. Williams and Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Duane Hollenbeck, age 54, of Moravia, New York, was sentenced today to serve 41 months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement. 

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Hollenbeck admitted to possessing an unregistered AR-15 style American Tactical rifle. The rifle, which had a barrel length of less than 16 inches, was not registered to the defendant in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also sentenced Hollenbeck to a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after his imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the New York State Police, with assistance from the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ryan Berte, age 33, of Eaton, New York, was sentenced today to serve 60 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office, Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Berte admitted that from at least February 24, 2021, through March 10, 2021, while employed as a mail carrier in Madison County, New York, he downloaded images and videos of child pornography which he also made available to third parties using a peer-to-peer file sharing program installed on his laptop. Berte also admitted that, on September 22, 2021, during a search of his home, he possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on the same laptop.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also sentenced Berte to 15 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Berte will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by USPS-OIG, USPIS, and the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), Troop D Oneida. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Todd Ward a/k/a “Fats,” age 44, of Troy, New York; Christopher Ward a/k/a “Reek,” age 45, of Troy; Rocco Resciniti a/k/a “Rock,” age 49, of Albany; and a fourth defendant have been indicted for conspiring with a former New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) employee to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman stated: “As alleged, the defendants teamed up with a corrupt state employee to arrange for the submission of fraudulent unemployment benefits applications. The COVID-19 national emergency is over, but with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we continue to investigate and prosecute those who viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to steal from government.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi stated: “The scheme alleged in this case took crucial funding designed to assist hardworking Americans away from those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s arrests should serve as a warning to all that the FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will not allow critical benefits program funding to be exploited by criminals looking to line their own pockets.”

USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone stated: “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations relating to unemployment insurance fraud, particularly when they involve insider threats.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to aggressively investigate these types of allegations.”

The indictment alleges that from about November 2020 to September 2021, Todd Ward, Christopher Ward, Resciniti and a fourth defendant conspired to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in the names of other people by passing along personally identifiable information of at least 13 individuals to NYSDOL employee Carl J. DiVeglia III.  DiVeglia then abused his NYSDOL computer systems access to submit and approve fraudulent unemployment benefits applications and to release benefits payments on those false claims.  According to the indictment, the defendants each received a share of the benefits paid out by NYSDOL. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Todd Ward, Christopher Ward, and Resciniti appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and were released with conditions. A fourth defendant has yet to be arrested. 

The defendants are charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  These charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

DiVeglia pled guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on April 13, 2022. DiVeglia admitted responsibility for over $1.6 million in losses to NYSDOL and to personally receiving approximately $225,000 in fraud proceeds.

The FBI and USDOL-OIG are investigating this case, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting this case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Anthony Charles Howe, Sr., age 59, of Oswego County New York, pled guilty today to failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender after it was discovered that he had an email address that he had not disclosed to the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, made the announcement.

Howe was required to register as a sex offender because of his federal conviction in 2012 for distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. Howe admitted during his guilty plea that, from May 2022 through April 2023, he failed to register a Google email address he created in May 2022.

In addition to his guilty plea to failure to register and update his registration as a sex offender, Howe also admitted today that his conduct violated the terms of supervised release imposed after his 2012 conviction.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2023, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. For the SORNA offense, Howe faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and up to life to begin upon his release from prison. Howe also may receive additional punishment for violating the terms of his supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Douglas Gustafson, age 36, of Syracuse, was sentenced in federal court today for failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender after absconding from a halfway house where he had been living as a part of his conditions of federal supervision. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, made the announcement.

Gustafson was required to register as a sex offender because of a federal conviction in 2008 for recruiting and enticing a fourteen-year-old minor to engage in a commercial sex act.  He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for that offense.  Following his release from prison in 2016 Gustafson was placed on 10 years supervised release. As a convicted sex offender he is required to register with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and to update any changes, including any change in residence. Gustafson’s last registered address was a halfway house where he was living as a part of his court-ordered supervised release.  He admitted in his earlier guilty plea that in May of 2022 he absconded from that facility within weeks of being placed there and did not update his change of residence with the Sex Offender Registry as required by law.  Gustafson was located by the United States Marshal NY/NJ Regional Task Force a month later in Cazenovia, NY, and arrested. 

For the crime of failing to update his sex offender registration, District Judge David N. Hurd sentenced Gustafson to 33 months in prison.  For violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release, he sentenced Gustafson to an additional (consecutive) term of 24 months in prison, for a total of 57 months.  When released, Gustafson will serve another 10 years on supervised release. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Gustafson is obligated to register as a sex offender for 25 years, exclusive of time spent incarcerated.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Deborah Budhraj, age 52, and her husband Adesh Budhraj, age 53, of Ballston Lake, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring with each other to defraud loan programs meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Deborah and Adesh Budhraj had co-owned a combination restaurant, bar and nightclub in Schenectady, New York (called “Establishment A” in court documents).  In February 2020, they contractually agreed to sell this business to another couple (“Couple A”), and received most of the purchase money – $265,720 – from Couple A the following month.  Although the sale was not finalized until August 2021, Couple A became the managers of Establishment A as of about March 2020, and assumed day-to-day responsibility for its payroll and other ordinary expenses, such as lease and utilities payments.

In pleading guilty, Deborah and Adesh Budhraj admitted that without Couple A’s knowledge, they applied for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans issued by banks and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), between April 2020 and June 2021; the loans totaled $558,514 and were meant to support Establishment A and its employees during the pandemic.

Deborah and Adesh Budhraj each admitted that they never intended to use the loans for Establishment A’s expenses, and to instead using the loaned funds for impermissible purposes, including on real estate transactions and personal expenses.  Deborah also fraudulently obtained forgiveness of the two PPP loans by falsely certifying that the loaned funds were spent in accordance with PPP rules, including on payroll.

Deborah and Adesh Budhraj each pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and to wire fraud conspiracy.  They face up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud conspiracy, and up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, when they are sentenced on November 16, 2023 by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.  Each defendant has also agreed to pay $558,514 in restitution to the SBA, and to forfeit that same amount as proceeds of their crimes.

The FBI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting this case. 

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Charles J. Whorley, age 35, formerly of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

In pleading guilty, Whorley admitted to distributing a fentanyl mixture on several dates in June 2020, and to possessing 94 grams of fentanyl and 77 grams of cocaine base, which he intended to distribute, at his residence in Schenectady, on June 25, 2020.  Whorley, a previously convicted felon, further admitted to possessing three loaded handguns at his residence to protect drugs and the cash generated from drug sales.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered that Whorley serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the NYSP and ATF with assistance provided by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael J. Smith, age 62, of Saratoga, New York, was sentenced today to 5 years of probation for conspiring to launder money. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), North East Region; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Boston Division, made the announcement.

In previously pleading guilty, Smith admitted to conspiring with a purported woman he met online and her purported attorney to launder over $200,000 in fraudulently obtained government benefits between June 2020 and May 2022.  The benefits mostly came from COVID-19 relief programs and were obtained through fraudulent unemployment insurance applications and fraudulent business loan applications.  The benefits were deposited into Smith’s bank account by government entities in several states, including Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania, and sent to him by check and on debit cards.  To launder the funds after he received them, Smith purchased gift cards with the fraud proceeds, took photographs of the gift cards, and sent the photographs to the purported woman and her purported attorney.  He also transferred fraud proceeds to his co-conspirators. 

Smith was also ordered to pay $208,263.22 in restitution to the defrauded government entities. 

The case was investigated by HSI, USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and the New York State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck. 

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dennis J. Nelson, age 51, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for mailing threat letters in 2018 and 2019 to a federal judge and two members of Congress while incarcerated in State of New York correctional facilities.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

On March 24, 2023, Nelson pled guilty to three counts of mailing threat letters and admitted that on August 1, 2018, while incarcerated at a New York State correctional facility, he mailed a threat letter to the chambers of Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York, threatening to kill Judge McAvoy and those at the federal courthouse with a bomb.  Nelson admitted that on July 15, 2019, while incarcerated at a New York State correctional facility, he mailed a threat letter to an office of Congressman Anthony Brindisi, containing a threat to kill Representative Brindisi, and mailed a threat letter to an office of United States Senator Charles Schumer, containing a threat to kill Senator Schumer.

Senior United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., of the Western District of New York, also sentenced Nelson to serve a term of supervised release of 3 years to follow incarceration.     

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigations (NYS DOCCS OSI), and the United States Capitol Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl G. Eurenius prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Henry C. Albrecht, Jr., age 53, of Forestport, New York, pled guilty today to presenting child pornography, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Albrecht admitted that from at least May 2021 through February 28, 2023, he received child pornography images and videos using social media messaging applications and from another adult who gave him a flash drive with child pornography files saved onto it. Albrecht admitted further that in December 2022, he had a live video call with another adult and shared his screen with that person and presented multiple videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Albrecht also possessed more than 2,500 files of child pornography on various devices on the day of his arrest.

At sentencing on November 8, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd, Albrecht faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison for each count of presenting and receiving child pornography and up to 20 years in prison for each count of possessing child pornography. The judge will also be required to impose a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to a life term. The court also may impose a fine, restitution, and forfeiture of the devices Albrecht used to commit his offenses. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Albrecht will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

HSI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.