Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rodell Patterson, age 51, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was indicted today on charges that he engaged in the firearms business without a license, sold firearms to a person he knew to be a convicted felon, and unlawfully sold firearms to a resident of another state.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

Patterson sent a package containing multiple handguns from Baton Rouge to the Capital Region in May 2022.  Two of those firearms were recovered the following month in an apartment in Troy, New York. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges filed against Patterson 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.

United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart previously ordered Patterson detained pending trial before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.

ATF’s Albany Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, ATF’s Baton Rouge Field Office, and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jordan Burks, a/k/a Justin Burts, age 32, of Ilion, New York, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for possessing a drug, sometimes marketed as “bath salts,” with the intent to distribute it. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, made the announcement. 

On January 12, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Burks’s home and recovered about 454 grams of alpha-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone, three digital scales, and $19,393 in cash.  In the weeks leading up to the execution of the search warrant, agents seized five packages of alpha-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone—one of which contained more than a quarter-kilogram of the drug—bound for Burks’ home.  Burks admitted that he intended to distribute the “bath salts.”

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed 3 years of post-release supervision.   

HSI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted it.

 

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andrew Edick, age 36, of Mohawk, New York, was arrested and charged today with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. 

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.

Edick appeared today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained after reserving his right to seek a detention hearing at a later date.  

According to a criminal complaint, Edick, who is a registered sex offender in the State of New York, videotaped the genital region of a child, and shared the video recording over an internet social networking application in August 2022.  Edick also shared numerous additional videos containing depictions of child pornography using the same social networking application.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Edick carries a sentence of at least 25 years and up to 50 years in prison.  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.

HIS is investigating this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark 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), and is designed to marshal 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 – Daniel Fuino, age 73, of Slingerlands, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old.

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 Steven A. Nigrelli, Acting Superintendent of the New York State Police, made the announcement.

Fuino appeared today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained after reserving his right to seek a detention hearing at a later date.  

According to a criminal complaint and statements made by prosecutors in court today, Fuino repeatedly molested a child.  Fuino babysat the child at his home and brought her with him to Atlantic City, New Jersey, on weekends while the child’s mother worked.  The complaint alleges that during those stays, Fuino photographed the child’s genitals, digitally penetrated her, and forced the girl to perform oral sex on him.  The conduct is alleged to have occurred over the past 11 months, beginning when the child was 6 years old.  Law enforcement has recovered, from Fuino’s electronic devices, images of the victim on depicting some of the abuse.  The victim reported the abuse to her school last week after an elementary school presentation on inappropriate touching and sexual contact. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Fuino carries a sentence of at least 30 years and up to life in prison.  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 FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark 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), and is designed to marshal 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 – Errol Murray, age 22, of Yonkers, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by obtaining unemployment insurance benefits under the names of other people, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).

Murray admitted that he provided Jamie Johnson with his personal identifying information and the personal identifying information of another person, which Johnson used to file false claims via the NYSDOL website.  Murray further admitted that as a result of the two fraudulent applications submitted by Johnson, the NYSDOL paid $69,954 in unemployment insurance benefits.  As part of his plea agreement, Murray agreed to pay $69,954 in restitution to the State of New York.  Johnson previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $701,441 in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.

Murray faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on September 14, 2023 by Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. 

This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, and the Albany County Department of Social Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian are prosecuting the case.

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

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

UTICA, NEW YORK – A jury on Friday voted to convict Jerod Schaffer, age 40, of Potsdam, New York, of sexual exploitation of a minor, committing a felony offense against a minor while being required to register as a sex offender, and receipt and possession of child pornography, following a 5-day trial in Utica.

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.

The trial evidence established that Schaffer was convicted in 2014 in Franklin County, New York, of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree and, as a result, was required to register as a sex offender. In November 2021, Schaffer met a 14-year-old girl on a social media site and began requesting and receiving child pornography from her. In early 2022, Schaffer traveled from New York to Ohio where he had sex with the victim on multiple occasions, recorded it, and posted a sex video online. When Schaffer’s house was searched in May 2022, he had dozens of sexually explicit files depicting the victim.

The jury voted to acquit Schaffer of one count of sexual exploitation of a child and failed to reach a verdict as to three other counts.

At sentencing scheduled for September 21, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd, Schaffer faces at least 35 years and a maximum term of 120 years in prison, restitution to the victim, and forfeiture of the electronic device involved in the commission of his offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

HSI and the Potsdam Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian LaRochelle are 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Conner Spells, age 24, of Watertown, New York was sentenced yesterday to serve 144 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for the attempted enticement of a minor he believed was 10 years old and for distribution of child pornography. 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.

When Spells pled guilty he admitted that, in October 2021, he exchanged multiple sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer to arrange a sexual encounter with a 10-year-old child the undercover officer purported to have access to and could provide for sex. Spells also admitted that, during his text message communications with the undercover officer, he distributed child pornography to the officer and traveled from the Watertown, New York area to the Binghamton, New York area as arranged for the sexual encounter.

Spells’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as a 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 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 – Tyrone Parker Jr., age 23, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville made the announcement.

Parker Jr. admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2018 and 2020.  Parker Jr. and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, and parks. Parker Jr. and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims and cash checks in drive-through bank lanes. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to drugs and were provided payment at least partially in narcotics.  Parker Jr. also helped rent cars that he and other members of the conspiracy used to travel around and commit their crimes.  Parker Jr. admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is approximately $81,737.

The charges to which Parker Jr. pled guilty carry a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1.25 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years.  Parker Jr. will be sentenced on September 13, 2023.  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.

Parker Jr. was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York; Robert Natson, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; and Tyrone Parker Sr. (the father of Tyrone Parker Jr.), age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty. The remaining co-defendants are:

• CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida; and
• RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale.

The two defendants awaiting trial are each charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and they are scheduled for trial in federal court in Albany on July 10, 2023.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie, Michael F. Perry, and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Latrice Mumphrey, age 42, of Albany, and Victor Turner, age 68, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, respectively. 

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, Mumphrey and Turner admitted to being members of a marijuana/THC and money laundering organization that shipped marijuana and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region. 

Mumphrey admitted to conspiring with Dwight A. Singletary, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and her husband, Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” to launder the proceeds of marijuana and THC sales by purchasing cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds. 

Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000. 

To avoid the reporting requirement and otherwise conceal the cash drug proceeds, Walker purchased four cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold with $37,150 in cash drug proceeds.  The cashier’s checks were payable to Dwight Singletary; a law firm used by Singletary; a company from which Dwight Singletary and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” purchased real estate; and to a person from whom Dwight Singletary and his company, DAS Empire, Inc., purchased real estate.

Turner admitted to regularly receiving packages of marijuana shipped from Fresno by Dwight Singletary and McKenzie Coles at his residence in Troy.  Turner was notified of the shipments by Rosemary Coles, who texted Turner tracking information and shipping receipts for the packages of marijuana.  The marijuana in the packages, which were often sealed with eBay packing tape, was concealed in dog food containers and suitcases.  At times, Rosemary Coles and David Singletary, aka “DB,” picked up the marijuana from Turner at his residence; at other times, Turner delivered the marijuana to Rosemary Coles at her residence in Troy.  Turner was paid between $300 and $400 for each package of marijuana he received. 

Mumphrey faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and may also be required to serve up to 3 years of supervised release.  Turner faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and will be required to serve at least 3 years 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.

Mumphrey and Turner were charged in an indictment with Dwight and David Singletary, McKenzie and Rosemary Coles, Lawrence Mumphrey and 17 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes.  Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, McKenzie Coles, Rosemary Coles, and Lawrence Mumphrey have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. 

Two other defendants, Kristle Walker 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Philip Koester, age 37, of Austin, Texas, formerly of Endicott, New York, pled guilty yesterday to transportation and possession 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 guilty plea, Koester admitted that in January of 2016, he possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography on a heavily encrypted homebuilt desktop computer that was seized by law enforcement during a search of Koester’s apartment. In addition to the child pornography Koester possessed, Koester’s homebuilt desktop computer also contained log files showing that, in March of 2011, Koester had uploaded videos of child pornography to a censorship-resistant, secure, and anonymous online peer-to-peer network called Freenet. As part of his guilty plea, Koester admitted to uploading the files to Freenet and then making the files available for other Freenet users to download.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 14, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd.  Koester faces a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and life to begin after imprisonment. Koester will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 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 Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian LaRochelle, Michael Gadarian, and Geoffrey Brown 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Rory R. Williams, aka “Wildman,” aka “Wild,” aka “Man,” aka “Shawn Carter,” age 45, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to serve 120 months in prison for illegally distributing N-Ethylpentylone, also known as “molly,” a Schedule I controlled substance. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Lieutenant Timothy Pritchard of the Oswego County Drug Task Force, and Chief Joseph Cecile of the Syracuse Police Department.

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Williams admitted that on November 30, 2021, he distributed approximately 267 grams (approximately 10 ounces) of N-Ethylpentylone, also known as “molly,” to a customer outside his residence in Syracuse, New York, in exchange for $2,500. Williams also admitted to distributing controlled substances on other occasions: on March 10, 2022, Williams gave another individual approximately 770 grams of N,N-dimethylpentylone (dipentylone), to deliver to a customer in Oswego, New York, and on December 21, 2020, the defendant distributed approximately 388 grams of eutylone to a customer outside his residence in Syracuse. Both dipentylone and eutylone are also known as “molly.” Williams further admitted that on March 10, 2022, he possessed at his residence approximately 7 kilograms of dipentylone, which he intended to distribute to others. Williams also admitted that $203,204 in cash found at his residence was drug proceeds and agreed to its forfeiture.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Williams to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Oswego County Drug Task Force (comprised of Special Agents of HSI, members of the Oswego City Police Department, Fulton Police Department, Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Syracuse Police Department, and United States Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ernest Shaw, Jr. pled guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, announced 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.

As part of his guilty plea yesterday, Ernest Shaw, Jr. admitted that on September 25, 2019, he possessed 14 grams of cocaine base for distribution, and a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun at his residence in Nedrow, New York. DEA Special Agents, assisted by other law enforcement agencies, executed a federal search warrant and seized the cocaine base and the loaded handgun from the defendant’s bedroom, along with scales and plastic bags.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2023, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Ernest Shaw, Jr. faces a maximum sentence of up to 20-years imprisonment for his possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, a 5-year mandatory consecutive sentence for his possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00, and a post-prison term of supervised release of at least 3 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 United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Syracuse Resident Office, which includes Task Force Officers from the City of Auburn Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Other Agencies that assisted in this investigation included the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.   

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Eugene Gilbert, age 30, of Clay, New York pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, announced 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.

As part of his guilty plea, Gilbert admitted that on November 4, 2021, he led DEA Special Agents and other law enforcement officers on a high-speed vehicular chase on Interstate 81 as they attempted to execute search warrants on his vehicle, his person, and his residence in Clay, New York. Pursuing agents broke off the chase for reasons of public safety near Parish, New York. A short time later, Gilbert’s Dodge Ram pickup truck was discovered abandoned near the Village of Parish. Gilbert left a bag containing 50 grams of cocaine, 39 grams of cocaine base, and 6 grams of fentanyl, as well as a loaded 9mm pistol in a nearby dumpster, where they were recovered by DEA Special Agents. The defendant was later arrested on December 17, 2021, after a second vehicle pursuit through Syracuse, Dewitt, and on Interstate 81 after he fled from a United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. As part of his guilty plea, Gilbert also admitted distributing fentanyl on four separate instances between October 14, 2021, and November 2, 2021.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2023, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Eugene Gilbert faces a maximum sentence of up to 20-years imprisonment for his distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, a 5-year mandatory consecutive sentence for his possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00, and a post-prison term of supervised release of at least 3 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 United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the Syracuse Police Department, and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, the New York State Police, and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joshua Demars, age 37, of Fulton, New York, was arrested today on a federal complaint charging him with receiving, transporting, and possessing child pornography.

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

The complaint alleges that, on March 19, 2023, the New York State Police (“NYSP”) and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) executed a search warrant at Demars’ residence in Fulton, New York.  The search warrant was obtained, in part, because a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) indicated that Demars had uploaded child pornography to Dropbox.  At the time of the search warrant execution, Demars worked as a teaching assistant and coach in the Fulton City School District.

As outlined in the criminal complaint, during the search of Demars’ residence, law enforcement located several electronic devices that contained hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography.  On those devices, law enforcement found evidence that Demars had indeed transported a video of a 5-7 year old female being sexually abused by an adult male to his Dropbox account, and dozens of recordings of Demars receiving live videos of children who were engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Demars appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 5, 2023.  If convicted, Demars faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000, and will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.  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 and NYSP are investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Tuck and Jessica Carbone 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 – Richard Nejame, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was charged today with sexual exploitation of a child and communicating a threat to injure.

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

The criminal complaint alleges that between about October 2022 and May 1, 2023, Nejame communicated with several girls over a messaging application.  During one series of communications, Nejame threatened a 14-year-old girl in Florida that if she did not take nude pictures of herself and send them to Nejame, bad people would come and harm her, or words to that effect.  In another series of communications on the same messaging application, Nejame persuaded and coerced a 15-year-old girl in Virginia to take sexually explicit still images and videos of herself and send the images and videos to Nejame.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  Nejame is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Nejame would face at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The interstate communication of a threat charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. 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.

Nejame had his initial appearance today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 3, 2023 before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force is investigating this case. 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 – Bradley Boisen, age 26, of Waterford, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempted sex trafficking of a child, 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 guilty plea, Boisen admitted that on April 21, 2021, he met someone over the internet and agreed to pay this person $100 to engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old child.  That same day, Boisen traveled to a location in Albany, where he was to meet and engage in sexual acts with the minor. 

Upon arriving at the meeting location, Boisen informed an undercover law enforcement officer that he had only $60 and negotiated as to what sex acts he could engage in for $60.  After coming to an agreement, Boisen handed the undercover officer $30, half of the agreed-upon price, and promised to provide the remaining $30 after he engaged in the sexual acts with the 14-year-old child.  Boisen was then arrested.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Boisen to serve 15 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment.  Boisen will be required 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 the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by the United States Attorney’s offices and 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juller Perez Salcedo, age 44, of Garfield, New Jersey, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, and also to tax evasion.

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 Tammy L. Tomlins, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.

Perez Salcedo admitted that from at least 2015 to 2019, he co-owned a trucking company in New Jersey that transported products as a third-party contractor for a bedding company with a distribution facility in West Coxsackie, New York. As part of the fraudulent scheme, Perez paid kickbacks to the transportation manager of the bedding company in exchange for the use of the bedding company’s trucks and drivers to transport merchandise from West Coxsackie to Perez’s truck yard in Clifton, New Jersey, which allowed Perez to avoid certain transportation costs. Perez then fraudulently invoiced and received payment from the bedding company as if his trucking company had transported and delivered the merchandise from West Coxsackie when Perez and his trucking company did not in fact transport the merchandise from West Coxsackie. As a result of the scheme, the defendant caused $422,170.86 in losses to the bedding company.

Perez also evaded taxes between January 2014 and April 2018 by cashing gross receipts checks on behalf of his trucking business, providing false and incomplete information to tax preparers and omitting the cashed checks, and filing false federal income tax returns. Perez Salcedo evaded a total of $477,090 in taxes.

Perez Salcedo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on September 5, 2023.  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. Perez Salcedo also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment, and to pay restitution to the bedding company and the IRS.

The FBI and IRS-CI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jonathon Combs, age 43, of Granville, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of theft of firearms from a licensed dealer, and to using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

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); New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli; and Washington County Sherriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement.

Combs admitted to stealing firearms from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on two separate dates in October 2022.  On the second occasion, Combs and a co-conspirator used a sledgehammer to break into the store after hours and steal 31 semi-automatic pistols.  Combs and the co-conspirator subsequently exchanged most of the stolen pistols to another individual in return for a supply of cocaine.

Combs faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  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.

The following defendants still face charges in this case, and face the following penalties:

Name

Age

Minimum

Maximum

Martin Taft

48

5 years

Life

Kwahpreme Mitchell

32

5 years

Life

These charges are merely accusations, and Taft and Mitchell are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scarlet Shadows, a/k/a “Dragongurl69,” age 32, of West Rutland, Vermont, pled guilty today to one count of attempted 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.

Shadows, formerly known as Randy Emillion Goodreau, admitted that she attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom Shadows believed to be an 11-year-old girl, to have sex.  After weeks of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with this individual and another person Shadows believed was the child’s guardian, Shadows traveled in January 2022 from Vermont to Warren County, New York, with an engagement ring, condoms, and gifts for the child, intending to have sex with the child.   

Shadows faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced on August 25, 2023 by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  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.  Shadows will also be required to register as a sex offender upon her 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 Colonie Police Department and the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal 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 – Richard W. Crist, age 55, of Nassau, New York; James R. Gordon, age 42, of North Greenbush, New York; and Leslie A. Wallace, age 35, of Troy, New York, were arrested and arraigned today on an indictment charging them with conspiring to violate the rights of Rensselaer County voters in connection with elections held in 2021.

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.

Crist is the Director of Operations for Rensselaer County, Gordon is the Director of the Bureau for Central Services of Rensselaer County, and Wallace works for the Rensselaer County Executive’s Office. 

The indictment (copy attached) alleges that during local elections held in 2021, Crist, Gordon and Wallace conspired to use their official positions, and actual and apparent authority over Rensselaer County employees, to obtain absentee ballots in voters’ names through fraud and intimidation; these voters did not intend to request absentee ballots, nor did they seek voting assistance from Crist, Gordon or Wallace.

Crist, Gordon and Wallace then conspired to cast false and illegal votes in these voters’ names in primary and general elections held in Rensselaer County in 2021. Their conduct violated the constitutional rights of Rensselaer County voters to have their votes counted equally as compared to votes cast by other voters, and made it more likely that the defendants’ preferred candidates would win the elections.

Gordon is also charged with one count of witness tampering, and Wallace is also charged with one count of making false statements.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Crist, Gordon and Wallace were each arraigned today before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter, and ordered released with conditions pending a trial before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.

If convicted of conspiracy to violate constitutional rights, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison.  If convicted of witness tampering, Gordon faces up to 20 years in prison.  If convicted of making false statements, Wallace faces up to 5 years in prison.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The FBI is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Steven D. Clymer are prosecuting this case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Orozco Acosta, age 22, of Bakersfield, California, pled guilty today to possessing over 65,000 fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division Frank A. Tarentino III, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. DEA California Division Bob Beris, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

As part of his plea, Acosta admitted that, on April 4, 2022, he travelled from Bakersfield, CA to a storage unit in Syracuse, NY.  Acosta transferred the contents of his storage unit, which included a black plastic tote, to a different storage unit in the city of Syracuse.  The black plastic tote that Acosta transported contained over 65,000 fentanyl pills, weighing approximately 7.2 kilograms.  The defendant possessed the fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them throughout the Central New York area. 

The investigation, which was coordinated primarily by NYSP Investigators in conjunction with DEA Special Agents in Bakersfield, CA, revealed that Acosta was transporting fentanyl and other narcotics from his home in Bakersfield to drug dealers in the Central New York area for further distribution.  As part of the investigation, many of the local dealers that Acosta was supplying were arrested in August 2022 during what authorities called the largest drug seizure in Cayuga County in over 10 years.

As a result of his plea, Acosta faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2023 by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, New York.  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. 

NYSP Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET) and DEA Resident Offices in Syracuse, NY and Bakersfield, CA are investigating the case with assistance from the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal Service, United States Army National Guard Counterdrug Program, Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, Cortland City Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Kern County Probation Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A jury voted today to convict three men of trafficking kilograms of cocaine to Schenectady, New York, in March and April 2021. 

Jeffrey C. Civitello, Sr., age 51, of Schenectady, his son Jeffrey C. Civitello Jr., age 23, of Schenectady, and Richard D. Sinde, age 58, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, were convicted on all counts following an 8-day trial.

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.

The trial evidence demonstrated a conspiracy between five men: the three defendants on trial, as well as Christopher J. Kelly, age 56, of Brooklyn, New York, and Robert J. Ingrao, age 76, of Lodi, New Jersey. 

As part of the conspiracy, Kelly delivered 3 kilograms of cocaine to Civitello Sr. in Schenectady on March 29, and Kelly and Sinde delivered an additional 3 kilograms of cocaine to Civitello Sr. on March 31.

Also on March 31, the Civitellos ordered more cocaine and suggested that Kelly and Sinde use, as a transportation vehicle, a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee owned by Civitello Jr., which contained, in its trunk, a sophisticated, hidden compartment, also known as a “trap.” Unbeknownst to the conspirators, the DEA had placed a court-authorized tracker on the Jeep several months prior, as part of an investigation of Civitello Jr.

On March 31, Sinde then drove the Jeep from Schenectady to his residence in Fort Lee, and the following evening met Kelly in Breezy Point, New York, on the Rockaway Peninsula, where Kelly and Sinde loaded up the Jeep’s hidden compartment with 9 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered the following day to the Civitellos in Schenectady. Sinde then drove the Jeep home to Fort Lee.

The following day, on April 2, 2021, Ingrao went to Sinde’s house and got into the Jeep, and drove it north on Interstate 87 toward Schenectady.  A New York State Police Trooper, at the DEA’s request, conducted a stop on Ingrao in Greene County.  The Trooper then located 9 kilograms of cocaine in the Jeep’s hidden compartment.

The jury voted to convict all defendants of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, as well as possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance for the 3 kilograms of cocaine delivered on March 31. The jury also voted to convict Sinde of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and the Civitellos of attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, for the 9 kilograms of cocaine they tried to transport to Schenectady on April 2.

Following the jury’s verdict, Sinde and Civitello Sr. were remanded to custody.  Civitello Jr. has been in custody since October 21, 2021, when he was arrested by the DEA in Schenectady on unrelated charges of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing and intending to distribute marijuana. Those charges are merely accusations, and as to those charges, Civitello Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino will sentence the Civitellos on September 6, and will sentence Sinde on September 8.  Each man faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as at least 5 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.  Ingrao’s sentencing and Kelly’s sentencing are also pending. 

This case was investigated by the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes DEA Special Agents and investigators from state and local police agencies, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ilvin Figueroa Batista, age 32, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Capital Region.  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. 

Batista admitted that between June 2021 and December 2021, in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, he conspired with others to receive cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to distribute in the Capital Region.  Batista’s role in the conspiracy was to receive cocaine from Puerto Rico shipped via U.S. mail and turn it over to other members of the conspiracy, who processed the cocaine and sold it. 

Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2023 in front of Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.  Batista faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life.  Batista also agreed to forfeit $2,300 in cash seized when he was arrested.

Three coconspirators previously pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved the receipt and distribution of more than 5 kilograms of cocaine in the Capital Region:

• Jan Lopez-Colon, age 28, of Troy, New York;
• Jesus Baez, age 32, of Loudonville, New York; and
• Sam Calderon, age 20, of Troy.

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, investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case. 

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Craig Foley, age 57, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to failing to update his sex offender registration. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

Foley pled guilty to violating the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which requires a convicted sex offender to register, and keep that registration current, wherever he resides. As part of his guilty plea, Foley admitted that he was previously convicted of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree in Utica City Court, and because of that conviction was required to register as a sex offender. Foley further admitted that he moved from Pennsylvania to New York in or about November 2020 and, from then until he was arrested in this case, failed to register as a sex offender in New York or update his registration to reflect his place of residence.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2023 before District Court Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Foley faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and life to begin after he is released from prison. 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 Marshal Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.

This case was prosecuted 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 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 – Andrew O’Connor, age 36, of Cohoes, New York pled guilty today to distributing methamphetamine in Cohoes, New York, and conspiracy to tamper with records. 

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), and, Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea today, Andrew O’Connor admitted that he distributed ounce-quantities of methamphetamine in Cohoes in March, April, and June 2022, and had a shipment of over one pound of methamphetamine sent to him around June 15, 2022. Investigators with USPIS and FBI intercepted the package and seized the methamphetamine. O’Connor also admitted that, after his arrest, he contacted a co-conspirator to make arrangements to have the co-conspirator factory reset and remote wipe several of O’Connor’s cell phones.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  At sentencing, O’Connor faces a minimum sentence of ten years and maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million dollars, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of at least five 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 USPIS, and the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia is prosecuting the case.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Randall J. Montour, age 44, a resident of Cornwall, Ontario, was arrested and charged today for violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 and for falsifying his military discharge certificate.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

Montour was charged by complaint and made his initial appearance in Plattsburgh, before United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro.  Montour was released pending a further court appearance.

The complaint alleges that Montour falsely altered his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Form DD-214, to reflect he received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and that he earned numerous decorations, medals, badges, citations or campaign ribbons, including the Purple Heart.  The complaint further alleges that on three occasions, Montour used his altered Form DD-214 to purchase Purple Heart recipient license plates from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, which he then affixed to his vehicle.

Military records show, however, that Montour served in the United States Air Force from 1999 until he was court-martialed in 2000 for impersonating an officer and making threats.  Montour received a bad-conduct discharge and was separated from the Air Force on June 18, 2001.  He is not a Purple Heart recipient.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges filed against Montour carry up to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $100,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 1 year.  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 United States Marshals Service is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas G. Collyer is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eunice Ting, age 69, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty yesterday to making a false statement to obtain benefits from the United States Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.

This announcement was made by 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.

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 Worker’s Compensation Programs seeking reimbursement for travel in which she did not engage. 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. In total, she received a total of $26,983 from the Department of Labor because of her fraudulent submissions.

Ting is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 2023, by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. in Albany, New York. Ting faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. As part of her plea agreement, Ting has also agreed to pay full restitution. 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 USPS-OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jordan Valle, age 26, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As part of his guilty plea Valle admitted that, from at least October 2021 through December 2022, he pretended to be a hacker online and threatened to delete or takeover the social media accounts of multiple minor females aged approximately 10-15 years old if they did not send him sexually explicit material. Several children complied with his demands and sent him sexually explicit videos of themselves urinating or masturbating. In December 2022, Valle also had a collection of child pornography he obtained on the internet saved onto his computer at his home.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2023, in Albany, New York before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Valle faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child count and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. He also will also be required to serve at least 5 years and up to a life term on supervised release after his imprisonment term ends, at which time he will be required to register as a sex offender. Valle also will be required to forfeit the devices he used to commit the offenses to the United States and must pay restitution to his victims. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Upper Allen Township Police Department, and the New York State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.

This case is being prosecuted 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), and is designed to marshal 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 – Dianna Nolan, age 47, formerly of Utica, New York, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Utica to filing false income tax returns. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.

In pleading guilty, Nolan admitted that she worked as a professional tax return preparer in Oneida County, New York, between at least 2014 through 2018. On her personal income tax returns for tax years 2017 and 2018, Nolan intentionally did not report all the income she received as a tax return preparer. Nolan also filed income tax returns on behalf of clients that falsely claimed losses from rental properties, thereby reducing the total taxes owed by these clients and causing losses to the IRS. In a signed plea agreement, Nolan agreed to pay restitution to the IRS totaling $101,636 for tax years 2014 through 2018.

Nolan, who recently relocated to Florida, will be sentenced on August 17, 2023. The charge to which Nolan pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 1 year, and a special assessment of $100.  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 Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Melissa O. Rothbart.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Lisa Waldron, age 44, of Palermo, New York, pled guilty today to eleven counts of Theft of Government Property, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.

The charges to which Waldron pled guilty relate to her theft of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits intended for her disabled son, Jordan Brooks, while Waldron was acting as Brooks’s representative payee.  A representative payee is a person or organization who receives Social Security benefits on another person’s behalf and is required to ensure the benefits are used only to support the beneficiary.

As part of her guilty plea, Waldron admitted that, after Brooks died on May 9, 2021, Waldron continued to receive SSI benefits intended for Brooks.  Instead of properly notifying SSA of the issue and knowing she was not entitled to Brooks’s benefit payments, Waldron nonetheless used Brooks’s SSI benefits to pay her own personal expenses until SSA independently learned of the issue and terminated Brooks’s benefits.

Unrelated to the federal charges to which Waldron pled guilty today, Waldron is also facing state murder charges related to her involvement in Brooks’s death.

On the federal charges, Waldron faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to three years. As part of her plea agreement, Waldron has also agreed to pay full restitution. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2023, by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, New York.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 Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timothy Buckley, age 55, of Groton, New York, was sentenced today to serve 84 months in federal prison for receiving and distributing 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 previously entered guilty plea, Buckley admitted that in January of 2021, he received child pornography from another user on a social networking application. Buckley also admitted that in August of 2021, he distributed images of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement officer via the same social networking application.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also sentenced Buckley to 15 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment.  Buckley will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian 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 – Kyle Biswell, age 37, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was charged this week with one count of interstate travel for illicit sexual conduct.  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. 

According to a federal complaint filed earlier this week, earlier this year Biswell engaged in a series of online conversations with a person in Albany whom he believed would allow him to engage in sexual contact with an 11-year old relative.  On April 8, 2023, Biswell flew from Arkansas to Albany to engage in sexual contact with the minor, packing numerous Viagra pills in his suitcase.  He was arrested at the airport, and later admitted he flew to Albany with the intent to engage in sexual contact with a minor.  Biswell was detained pending a detention hearing later this week.  The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted of the charge, Biswell faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment 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 is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark 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 – Robert Natson, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville made the announcement.

In pleading guilty, Natson admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2015 and 2020. Natson and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, parks, and dog parks. Natson and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims and cash checks in drive-through bank lanes. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to controlled substances and were provided payment at least partially in drugs. Natson admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is up to $40,000.

The charge to which Natson pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. Natson will be sentenced on August 10, 2023. 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.

Natson was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York; and Tyrone Parker, age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty for their roles in the indictment. The remaining co-defendants are:

• TYRONE PARKER, JR. a/k/a “Ty,” a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Little Thigh,” age 22, of Fort Lauderdale;
• CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida; and
• RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale.

Each of the remaining defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and they are scheduled for trial in federal court in Albany on July 10, 2023.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie, Michael F. Perry, and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Maurice Owens, age 22, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 138 months in prison following his conviction for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and using and carrying a firearm while drug-trafficking announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

During his prior guilty plea, Owens admitted that he sold fentanyl to a customer on December 2, 2020, and December 7, 2020.  On December 10, 2020, Owens was sitting in a car in a parking lot near where he previously had sold fentanyl. He saw police officers approaching, exited the car, and fled while carrying a loaded “ghost gun” that did not bear any serial number. Owens also had in his possession at the time three glassine envelopes containing fentanyl.  Owens previously was convicted of a felony offense in state court and was prohibited under state law from possessing the gun.

From approximately December 10, 2020, until February 27, 2021, Owens was detained in a local jail. While incarcerated, Owens participated in multiple calls in which he arranged for associates to supply heroin and fentanyl to the customers to whom Owens no longer could sell because he was in jail.  Owens received a share of the proceeds from these sales.  Owens and his associates sold at least 81 grams of fentanyl.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced Owens to a four-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay a forfeiture judgment in the amount of $6,200, which represented the proceeds from drug sales.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Syracuse Police Department Criminal Intelligence Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Beaty prosecuted this case 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 Department 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 –Two men from Los Angeles, California, were sentenced yesterday for their roles in a conspiracy to acquire methamphetamine in California and distribute it in the Cortland, New York area, 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), Sheriff Mark E. Helms, Cortland County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Andrew Espinoza Jr., City of Barstow  (California) Police Department.  Edgar Arrendondo, 31, was sentenced to serve 240 months (20 years), and Jose Pimentel, 35, was sentenced to serve 151 months (12 years and seven months) in federal prison for conspiring to provide more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to co-defendant Kyle Leeper, who intended to distribute it in Cortland. Arredondo was also sentenced based on his possession in the Central District of California of a shotgun and ammunition as a convicted felon, and for possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both men were also sentenced to serve 5-year terms of post-incarceration supervised release.

Co-defendant Kyle Leeper was at the center of the conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from Indiana and Southern California to Cortland County, New York, where Leeper distributed it to local residents and drug dealers.  In the fall of 2018, co-defendant Crystal Stephens, of Groton, New York, who was incarcerated in Indiana on burglary charges, contacted Leeper by telephone with contact information for co-defendant John Rice, an Indiana-based methamphetamine dealer. Leeper communicated with Rice by telephone and then travelled to and from Indiana twice in late 2018 and early 2019, where he obtained crystal methamphetamine and a .380 caliber pistol from Rice.  Leeper distributed this methamphetamine in the Cortland area.

After Rice was arrested in Indiana in early January 2019, Leeper arranged to travel to the Los Angeles area to purchase more methamphetamine. From jail Crystal Stephens provided Leeper with telephone numbers for possible methamphetamine sources in East Los Angeles.  In mid-January 2019, Leeper and an associate, co-defendant Ramon Nieves-Cotto, drove from Cortland to Los Angeles, where Leeper contacted one of these sources.  The source sought assistance from co-defendant Arlene Rodriguez, who introduced Leeper to a middleman.  On January 17, 2019, this middleman arranged for Leeper to buy three pounds of crystal methamphetamine for $5,000 from co-defendant Jose Pimentel.  But after the methamphetamine was delivered to a motel in El Monte, California, Leeper realized that he had been shortchanged on the quantity delivered.  Leeper abducted the middleman and Arlene Rodriguez at gunpoint.  Later that day, Nieves-Cotto purchased zip ties, which Leeper used to bind the middleman.  On the night of January 17, 2019, in the desert in Barstow, California, Leeper shot the bound middleman eight times from behind with the .380 caliber pistol, killing him.   Leeper and Nieves-Cotto, along with Rodriguez, then drove to Cortland, where Leeper distributed the methamphetamine he obtained on this trip to California.

In early February 2019, Leeper, Nieves-Cotto, and Rodriguez returned to Los Angeles, where Leeper purchased an additional six to eight pounds of methamphetamine and a 9 mm pistol from co-defendant Edgar Arredondo.  Upon his return to Cortland, Leeper, assisted by Rodriguez, began to distribute this methamphetamine.  On February 19, 2019, officers from the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office stopped Leeper and Rodriguez while they were driving in Leeper’s pickup truck, which had an expired registration and cracked windshield.  Inside the truck, the officers found four pounds of high-purity methamphetamine, the loaded .380 caliber pistol Leeper had used to commit the murder, and ammunition.  They arrested Leeper, who previously had been convicted of state and federal felony offenses in Pennsylvania, and Rodriguez.

Five (5) other co-defendants previously pled guilty to participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy, and/or aiding and abetting the murder.

Kyle Leeper, 38, of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 18, 2022, to serve 40 years in federal prison for a murder committed during a drug trafficking conspiracy, conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon

Ramon Nieves-Cotto, 30, of DeRuyter, New York, pled guilty to aiding and abetting a murder during a drug conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was sentenced on October 7, 2022, to serve 156 months in federal prison, and a four-year term of supervised release.

Crystal J. Stephens, 34, of Groton, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. She was sentenced on November 15, 2022, to serve 100 months in federal prison, and a four-year term of supervised release.

Arlene N.  Rodriguez, 38, of Montebello, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.  She was sentenced on October 6, 2022, to serve 94 months in prison, to be followed by four-year term of supervised release.

John Rice, 57, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced on January 12, 2023, to 63 months in federal prison and a four-year term of supervised release after incarceration. 

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cortland County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, the Barstow (California) Police Department, and the San Bernadino (California) County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Cortland County (New York) District Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Montgomery County (Indiana) District Attorney’s Office, the Pomona (California) Police Department, and the El Monte (California) Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven D. Clymer, Richard R. Southwick, and Thomas R. Sutcliffe, with assistance provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (Assistant U.S. Attorney Benedetto Balding).

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Adam Middleton, age 40, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for the unlawful possession of ammunition.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.

Middleton admitted that on December 7, 2021, he possessed a Glock magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, in addition to numerous additional rounds of ammunition, at his residence in Troy.  At the time, Middleton had a felony conviction for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.  Under federal law, that conviction prevented Middleton from lawfully possessing the ammunition.

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered Middleton to serve a 1-year term of supervised release when he is released from prison.  

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, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Macko, age 23, of North Adams, Massachusetts, pled guilty today to one count of attempted coercion and 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. 

Macko admitted that between November 16, 2022 and December 9, 2022, he exchanged text messages with an undercover officer posing as an 11-year-old child, in which he attempted to coerce and entice the assumed child into sexual contact with him.  Macko arranged to meet the child in a state park in Western Massachusetts, where he intended to perform sexual acts on the child in a cave.  On December 9, 2022, Macko left his home in North Adams in order to meet the child and was arrested shortly thereafter, carrying with him candy, liquor, and a length of rope.

United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci will sentence Macko on July 28, 2023.  Macko faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment 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 FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark 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 – Jose Manuel Mejias-Ayala, age 46, of Washington, Indiana, was sentenced today to time served (five days in jail) and to pay a $2,000 fine for attempting to unlawfully transport aliens.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea on December 2, 2022, Mejias-Ayala admitted that on September 25, 2022 he drove his SUV from Indiana to Mooers, New York, to pick up three Mexican citizens who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States.  Mejias-Ayala also admitted that he planned to drive the three people to Chicago, Illinois, and that he was to be paid $6,000 for his efforts.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 1-year term of supervised release. 

The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case. 

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Simranjit Singh, a/ka/ “Shally” Singh, age 40, a citizen of India residing in Canada, was extradited to the United States last week on an indictment charging him with 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.  

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), made the announcement.

A June 2022 indictment charges Singh with three counts of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for profit and six additional counts of alien smuggling for profit, all of which allege his involvement and facilitation of the smuggling of Indian nationals from Canada into the United States, via Cornwall Island and the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation in the St. Lawrence River region, from at least March 2020 through March 2021. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Singh was arraigned on March 31, in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart; he is detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 7.

If convicted on all charges, Singh faces at least 5 years and up to 15 years in prison, as well as at least 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. 

This case is being investigated by United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt is prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Singh.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Rey Felix-Rubio, age 32, and a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

Felix-Rubio, who entered the United States unlawfully in 2021, admitted that in February 2023, he traveled to the northern border in Chateauguay, New York, where he smuggled five Mexican nationals from Canada and into the United States for profit.  He also unlawfully possessed a firearm. 

Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2023, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino in Albany, at which time Felix-Rubio faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3years. 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.

United States Border Patrol, Burke Station, investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Stitt is prosecuting this case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jondell Middlebrooks, age 42, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, Chief Joseph Cecile, City of Syracuse Police Department, and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Middlebrooks admitted that on June 23, 2022, he possessed a quantity of cocaine that he stored in Syracuse, NY and intended to distribute. At the time he possessed it, Middlebrooks was on supervised release following a 2019 federal drug conviction.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby further sentenced Middlebrooks to a consecutive 18-month term of imprisonment for violating his supervised release and a new six-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his terms of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the DEA-Syracuse Resident Office, the Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Department-Northern District of New York. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brandon Prawl, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for distributing heroin, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm 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 U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.

A jury voted to convict Prawl on November 9, 2022, following a 3-day jury trial. The trial evidence established that on four dates in September 2019, Prawl distributed heroin out of a residence in Schenectady.  On October 4, 2019, Prawl was found in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and loaded magazine, more than 21 grams of heroin, and drug distribution paraphernalia at the same residence.  The jury concluded that Prawl possessed the heroin for distribution, and the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.

ATF and New York State Police investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and 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 – Cameron Robinson, age 25, of Grover, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted 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 Rotterdam Police Chief Michael S. Brown made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Robinson admitted that on May 4, 2022, he possessed a Taurus Model G2C 9mm semi-automatic pistol.  That morning, in Rotterdam, Robinson had been shot by another person using the Taurus pistol.  Robinson was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to a previous North Carolina felony conviction for Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.  Robinson was on parole for that crime when he committed this offense.

ATF and the Rotterdam Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Williams and Allen J. Vickey prosecuted this case 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 Department 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.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Dennis Radcliffe, age 51, and Kenneth Radcliffe, age 49, each of Elka Park, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to evade taxes on income earned from stock sales.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.

Dennis Radcliffe and Kenneth Radcliffe, who are cousins, each pled guilty to two conspiracies.  In the first conspiracy, they conspired with each other to avoid taxes on their personal income, by failing to report to the IRS several million dollars of income earned principally from sales of penny stocks, from 2014 through 2017.  The stock sales occurred in brokerage accounts that Dennis Radcliffe and Kenneth Radcliffe controlled, and which stood in the names of their companies Crackerjack Classics LLC (“Crackerjack”) and Universal Consulting LLC (“Universal”).

In the second conspiracy, Dennis Radcliffe and Kenneth Radcliffe conspired with each other and with Joseph Radcliffe, Dennis’s father, to avoid taxes on approximately $500,000 in compensation that Crackerjack and Universal paid to Joseph, from 2013 through 2019. 

When they are sentenced on August 10, 2023, Dennis Radcliffe and Kenneth Radcliffe each face up to 5 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.  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. Dennis Radcliffe has agreed to pay $77,552 in restitution to the IRS, and Kenneth Radcliffe has agreed to pay an additional $152,274 in restitution.

Joseph Radcliffe, age 76, of Elka Park, was sentenced in August 2022 to three years of probation, to spend four consecutive weekends in jail as a condition of his probation, and to pay $109,106 in restitution to the IRS, following his guilty plea to tax evasion conspiracy.

IRS-CI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sammy Olague, age 36, of Clovis, California, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana. 

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; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Olague admitted that he was a member of a marijuana-trafficking organization that shipped marijuana from Fresno, California, to locations through the United States, including the Capital Region, between 2016 and February 2020.  The marijuana was shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store, Fast Pack & Ship, in Fresno.  The defendant owned and operated Fast Pack & Ship from 2016 through June 2018, when he sold the business to Nehemiah Fane, aka “Neil.”  A portion of the purchase money was paid in cash by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” whom the defendant called “New York.” 

Before selling Fast Pack & Ship, Olague shipped approximately 86 kilograms (189 pounds) of marijuana from Fast Pack & Ship to Ruskin, Florida.  He also shipped marijuana to, among other locations, the Capital Region and New York City for Singletary. 

Between April 2016 and May 2018, Olague shipped at least 104 packages—55 of which contained over 340 kilograms (750 pounds) of marijuana—from Fast Pack & Ship to the Capital Region.  In the same period, he received money transfers from and cash, cashier’s checks, and money order deposits into his bank accounts in the Capital Region.  As payment for marijuana from Singletary, in May 2018, McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” sent a $1,650 money transfer from the Capital Region to Olague in Fresno; in July and August 2018, three $5,000 cashier’s checks purchased by Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, aka “Zay,” were deposited into Olague’s bank account at a bank in the Capital Region. 

After selling Fast Pack & Ship to Fane, between July 2018 and February 2020, Olague shipped at least 30 packages containing approximately 56 kilograms (123 pounds) of marijuana from Fast Pack & Ship to Ruskin. 

Olague was charged in an indictment with Singletary, Coles, Fane, Clements, and 19 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes.  Singletary, Coles, Fane, and Clements have pled not guilty, and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.

Olague faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million at sentencing.  He will also be required to serve at least 4 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.

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 – Adam Baldwin, age 42, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months’ imprisonment for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

As part of his prior guilty plea, Baldwin admitted that in September 2021, he agreed to receive shipments of methamphetamine, which he provided to another individual in exchange for payment. Baldwin had the shipments delivered to a UPS Store in Alexandria Bay, New York, where he picked them up. In October 2021, law enforcement intercepted two of the packages addressed to Baldwin, which contained a total of approximately 1,070 grams of pure methamphetamine.

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Baldwin to serve a three-year term of supervision following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (comprised of detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Watertown Police Department, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office), and the Santa Ana Police Department in California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Yuny Hurtado Rodriguez, age 34, of Cutler Bay, Florida, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for his role in an access device fraud conspiracy.

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 Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea on December 30, 2020, Rodriguez admitted that between April 2016 and July 2019,  he conspired with others to commit access device fraud by building skimming devices designed to steal gas station customer information, installing those devices inside gas pumps in Albany, Broome, and Montgomery Counties, and elsewhere, and then using the information collected by those devices to create fraudulent credit and debit cards. The fraudulent cards were used to obtain money orders, gift cards, cash, and other things of value.  As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez agreed to be subject to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $606,000.

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release on Rodriguez to follow his term of incarceration. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Field Office and the USPIS Boston Division, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Miami and Pittsburgh, the USPIS Miami Division, and the United States Secret Service Miami Field Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case. 

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jesse Bartlett a/k/a the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” age 46, of LaFargeville, New York, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for mailing threatening letters.

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.

From about April 2021 to May 2022, and while using the alias “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” Bartlett mailed threatening communications to media outlets, government offices, houses of worship, and private businesses throughout New York, as well as in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. In the letters, which he signed as the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” Bartlett wrote that he killed people, ate their flesh, and that he intended to kill more people, including an unnamed bus driver.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Bartlett’s term of incarceration.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with assistance from the New York State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taliek Lanier, age 23, of Albany, pled guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by obtaining unemployment insurance benefits under the names of other people, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).

As part of his guilty plea, Lanier admitted that he provided Jamie Johnson with the personal identifying information of three other people, which Johnson used to file false claims via the NYSDOL website.  Lanier further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications submitted by Johnson, the NYSDOL paid $113,936 in unemployment insurance benefits.  As part of his plea agreement, Lanier agreed to pay $113,936 in restitution to the State of New York. 

Johnson previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $701,441 in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.

Lanier faces 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 when he is sentenced on August 2, 2023 by Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. 

This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, and the Albany County Department of Social Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian are prosecuting the case.

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

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Thomas, age 39, of Colonie, New York, was convicted today of 16 counts of sex trafficking and related offenses, following a five-day jury trial. 

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 (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

The trial evidence established that between 2018 and 2020, Thomas trafficked and exploited victims, including minors as young as 16, whom he recruited to work in commercial sex for his financial benefit.  His crimes spanned New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Thomas was also convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and tampering with a witness. 

When United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentences Thomas, he faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment 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. Thomas must also register as a sex offender.

In addition to the FBI and NYSP, the Colonie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Albany Police Department assisted in investigating the case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Rachel Williams are prosecuting the case.