Northern District of New York

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Odell, Tindley, age 30, of Ithaca, New York pled guilty today being a member of a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in Watertown, New York. 

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

As part of his guilty plea today, Odell Tindley admitted that he distributed 83 grams (over two ounces) of cocaine in Watertown on May 25, 2021, and arranged for delivery of methamphetamine later the same day. Investigators of the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force interdicted a car driven by an associate of Tindley as it entered Watertown late in the evening of May 25, 2021. A search of this vehicle resulted in the recovery of 904 grams (just under 32 ounces) of methamphetamine and approximately a pound of marijuana.

At sentencing on July 26, 2023, Tindley 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.

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dennis J. Nelson, age 51, currently incarcerated in Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Facility in Devens, Massachusetts (FCI Devens) pled guilty today to  mailing threat letters in 2018 and 2019, while incarcerated in State of New York correctional facilities, to a Federal Judge and to two members of Congress.

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

As part of his guilty plea, Nelson admitted that on August 1, 2018, while incarcerated in a New York State correctional facility, Nelson mailed a threat letter containing a bomb threat to the chambers of United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York, threatening to kill Judge McAvoy and those at the federal courthouse with a bomb.  As further part of his guilty plea, Nelson admitted that on July 15, 2019, while incarcerated in a New York State correctional facility, Nelson mailed threat letters to the offices of then United States representative Anthony Brindisi, containing a bomb threat to kill Representative Brindisi, and to United States Senator Charles Schumer, containing a bomb threat to kill Senator Schumer.

At sentencing on a date yet to be determined, Nelson faces a term of imprisonment of 84 months, 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.  In this case, if the plea agreement is accepted by the Court, Nelson will be sentenced to an agreed upon sentence of incarceration of 84 months. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force (FBI JTTF), the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigation (NYS DOCCS OIG), and the United States Capitol Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl G. Eurenius is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Renee Burnell, age 49, of Hudson Falls, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for defrauding two banks using the personal information of the customers of her plumbing and heating business.

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.

Burnell previously pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and admitted that between August 2019 and January 2020, she defrauded Synchrony Bank and The Bank of Missouri by applying for lines of credit with each bank using her customers’ personal identifiable information and then using the lines of credit to falsify purchases that benefitted her plumbing and heating business. Burnell admitted that her scheme resulted in a loss of $119,264.43 to The Bank of Missouri and a loss of $13,912.00 to Synchrony Bank.

Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn ordered full restitution to the banks and also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Burnell is released from prison.

The FBI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shelby Ortiz, age 30, of Maryland, New York was sentenced today to serve 15 years in prison and a 20-year term of supervised release to begin after imprisonment for distributing child pornography. Ortiz also will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison. 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), New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli, and City of Oneota Police Chief Christopher Witzenburg.

When Ortiz pled guilty in October 2022, she admitted that she subjected an approximately seven-month-old boy to mouth to penis contact, knowing that the sex act she was performing was being video recorded. She admitted further that, on the same day she performed the sex act, she knowingly distributed the video to a person living in Florida with whom she was participating in an online and telephone dominant/submissive sexual relationship.

This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the City of Oneonta Police Department, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Michael Pupello, age 35, of Kirkville, New York, pled guilty to one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions. 

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

Pupello admitted to distributing cocaine to customers from 2017 through October 2019 and depositing the cash proceeds from the sale of cocaine into a personal checking account and a business checking account that he maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank.  Pupello admitted to using CashApp, a mobile phone application that allows users to make cashless payments to other users, to receive payment from several of his cocaine customers. Pupello further admitted to transferring the proceeds he received via CashApp to both of his accounts at JPMorgan Chase and withdrawing $14,000 of drug proceeds from his business checking account.

Pupello will be sentenced on July 12, 2023, before the Hon. David N. Hurd in Utica, N.Y.  The charge filed against Pupello carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 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.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; New York State Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force, the Madison/Oneida County Sheriff Drug Task Force, and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Charles Whorley, age 35, formerly of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, and to possessing firearms in furtherance of 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); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

Whorley admitted to distributing fentanyl on several dates in June 2020, and to possessing 94 grams of fentanyl and 77 grams of cocaine base, which he intended to distribute, at his residence in Schenectady on June 25, 2020.  Whorley, a previously convicted felon, further admitted to possessing three loaded handguns at his residence, which allowed him to better protect the drugs and the cash proceeds from the sale of drugs.

Whorley faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life when he is sentenced on July 19, 2023, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  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 NYSP and ATF investigated this case with assistance provided by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon is prosecuting this 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 – Kristle Walker, aka “Demii,” age 39, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit money laundering and making false statements to the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

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.

In pleading guilty, Walker admitted to conspiring with Dwight A. Singletary, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” David Singletary, aka “DB,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” among others, to launder proceeds from the sale of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) in the Capital Region and other locations throughout the United States between at least 2019 and June 2022.  Walker laundered the drug proceeds through several means, including sending over $10,000 in money transfers purchased with cash drug proceeds from the Capital Region to Fresno and Clovis, California; exchanging $26,500 in cash drug proceeds consisting of small bills for large bills at a Capital Region credit union; purchasing over $195,000 in cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds; and flying from the Capital Region to Fresno with suitcases full of cash drug proceeds. 

Walker was charged in an indictment with Dwight and David Singletary, Coles, and 20 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes.  Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Coles have pled not guilty, and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.

Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000.  At Dwight Singletary’s direction, to avoid the reporting requirement and otherwise conceal cash drug proceeds, Walker purchased multiple cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold for cash transactions of over $10,000, but amounting to over $10,000 in total, at different banks and branches on the same day.  The cashier’s checks were payable to Dwight Singletary; his company, DAS Empire, Inc.; his lawyer’s firm; a company from which he and Coles purchased real estate; and to a person from whom Dwight Singletary and DAS Empire purchased real estate.

In June 2020, Walker attempted to board a flight from Albany to Fresno with a suitcase containing $179,710 in cash drug proceeds, which was seized by the DEA.  The cash, as Walker admitted, belonged to Dwight Singletary, but Walker sought return of the cash from the DEA.  In a claim form submitted to the DEA, Walker claimed ownership of the cash and that she was not involved in criminal activity, which was untrue.

Walker faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on the money laundering conspiracy count, and up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the false statements count.  Walker may also be required to serve up to 3 years of supervised release. 

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 – Benjamin Munson, age 32, of Syracuse, pled guilty in United States District Court today to all counts of a thirteen-count Indictment charging him with six counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Commission of a Felony Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender, four counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement. 

As a part of his guilty plea, Munson, a registered sex offender, admitted that on at least six separate occasions between 2021 and 2022, while on supervised release for a 2011 federal conviction for distribution and possession of child pornography, he sexually abused an infant for the purpose of producing images and videos of his sexual exploitation of the child. He further admitted that he administered a network of approximately 20 child pornography trading groups on the internet, some of which were dedicated exclusively to trading in newly produced child pornography.  Munson admitted that he distributed child pornography to those groups, including images and videos he produced of his abuse of the infant.  Munson was arrested in August of 2022 after his online activities were discovered by the FBI, and the infant was located and rescued. 

Munson also admitted to seven violations of his conditions of his federal supervised release, including for his new criminal conduct, contact with a minor, contact with a known felon, possession of unauthorized electronic devices, and possession of child pornography.

Munson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2023 before Hon. David N. Hurd in Utica, New York.  For all thirteen offenses, Munson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years, and up to 560 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  He will also continue to be required to register as a sex offender.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force in cooperation with the New York State Police.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York. 

Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 65 months in prison after previously pleading guilty 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.

In previously pleading guilty, McDonald admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2018 and 2020.  McDonald 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, outdoor recreational parks, and dog parks. McDonald 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 narcotics.

As part of his sentence, McDonald was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $133,190, and to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $17,648.28. McDonald will serve a 3-year term of supervised release after completing his term of imprisonment.

McDonald was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Tyrone Parker, age 41, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, previously pled guilty to his role in the indictment and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; and Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty for their roles in the indictment and are awaiting sentencing. 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, Florida;
• CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida;
• ROBERT NATSON, a/k/a “Big Rob,” age 36, of Fort Lauderdale; 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/or 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 – Steven A. St. Lucia has agreed to pay $42,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that he caused Union Foot Solutions, LLC, d/b/a Union Orthotics and Pedorthics (Union Foot Solutions), to submit false claims for payment to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman.  St. Lucia has pled guilty to state health care fraud charges and is scheduled for sentencing on March 17, 2023.

As part of the Settlement Agreement, St. Lucia admitted to the following:

In early 2000, the New York State Board of Professional Medical Conduct revoked St. Lucia’s medical license based on findings that he had committed conduct demonstrating moral unfitness and gross incompetence.  Later that year, the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) excluded St. Lucia from participating in all Federal health care programs, including Medicare.  The effect of an exclusion is that no Federal health care program may make payment for items or services furnished by an excluded person, or at the medical direction or on the prescription of an excluded person.

St. Lucia subsequently opened Schenectady-based Union Foot Solutions, a medical supply company, and applied to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for Union Foot Solutions to participate in Medicare.  That enrollment application falsely represented both that St. Lucia had never had a revocation or suspension of a license to provide health care and that he had never faced suspension or exclusion from Federal health care programs.  CMS denied the application, explaining that St. Lucia was “excluded from the Medicare program” and, therefore, Union Foot Solutions “cannot receive Medicare payment.”  St. Lucia later transferred his ownership interest in Union Foot Solutions to a third party, and Union Foot Solutions’ new owner reapplied for and obtained authorization to participate in Medicare.  St. Lucia continued to work for Union Foot Solutions and rendered orthotic and prosthetic care to patients.

The United States alleges that, from December 1, 2016 through February 28, 2018, St. Lucia caused Union Foot Solutions to present false claims for payment to Medicare for services that he furnished to and ordered for Medicare beneficiaries.  The United States further alleges that, to conceal his involvement in the treatment of Medicare beneficiaries and to circumvent the effect of his exclusion, St. Lucia caused Union Foot Solutions to bill services that he furnished to and items that he ordered for Medicare beneficiaries in the name of another pedorthist.

The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, HHS-OIG, and the New York State Offices of the Inspector General.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Katz. 

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Austin Tennant, age 28, of Fulton, New York, was indicted last week for receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography.

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

The indictment alleges that, on January 16, 2023, Tennant sent multiple images depicting child pornography to another individual using an online messaging application installed on a tablet device. On that same device, in addition to the child pornography files Tennant distributed, Tennant also possessed thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography. Tennant received, distributed, and possessed the child pornography while on pre-trial release from an August arrest involving New York state charges for promoting a sexual performance from a minor. Tennant has been ordered detained pending trial. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

For the charges in the indictment, Tennant 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.  If convicted, Tennant will also 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.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Oswego County Sherriff’s Office are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Tuck and Adrian LaRochelle 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 – Doron Tucker, age 26, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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

Tucker admitted to conspiring to sell pills containing fentanyl in Troy and Schenectady between June and October 2020.  At first, he supplied his co-conspirator, Darren Favreau, with fentanyl pills, which Favreau personally sold to purchasers.  Favreau and Tucker then shared the sale proceeds.  After Favreau was arrested in August 2020, Tucker personally sold fentanyl pills to purchasers.

In executing a search warrant at Tucker’s apartment in Schenectady in October 2020, law enforcement seized marijuana, a digital scale, approximately $8,000 in cash, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun.  Tucker’s black BMW, which was parked outside the apartment, contained 386 fentanyl pills, more marijuana, and another digital scale.  Tucker also personally possessed about $1,000 in cash.  Tucker admitted to possessing and intending to sell the fentanyl pills and marijuana and to possessing the handgun to protect his fentanyl, marijuana, and drug proceeds. 

At sentencing, Tucker faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million on the drug charges.  The gun charge carries a mandatory 5-year term of imprisonment and a maximum term of life, which must be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment.  Tucker will be required to serve at least 3 years and up to a life 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.

DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck is prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Luis Guajaca, age 36, and a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty today to unlawfully transporting two Mexican citizens.

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

Guajaca admitted that between February 6 and February 7, 2023, he drove from Illinois to near Ellenburg, New York, picked up two Mexican citizens who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States, and transported the two aliens before the vehicle was stopped. Guajaca admitted that he planned to drive the two Mexican citizens to Illinois, and expected to be paid for transporting them.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2023, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Guajaca faces up to 10 years in prison, a 3-year term of post-release supervision, and a fine up to $250,000.  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 investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taquan Parker, age 26, of Rensselaer, New York, and Olajuwon Sutherland, a/k/a “Suave,” age 27, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $100,000 in 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; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

As part of his guilty plea to conspiracy and mail fraud charges, Parker admitted that he provided Kahleke Taylor, a/k/a “Flex,” with the personal identifying information of two other people, which Taylor used to file false claims online with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).  Parker further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications submitted by Taylor, the NYSDOL paid out $60,132 in unemployment insurance benefits.  Parker agreed to pay $60,132 in restitution to the State of New York and forfeit $30,000 in fraud proceeds that he personally obtained.

As part of his guilty plea to conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud charges, Sutherland admitted that he also provided Taylor with the personal identifying information of two other people, which Taylor used to file false claims online with the NYSDOL.  Sutherland further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications submitted by Taylor, the NYSDOL paid out $48,008 in unemployment insurance benefits.  Sutherland agreed to pay $48,008 in restitution to the State of New York and forfeit $12,000 in fraud proceeds that he personally obtained.

Taylor previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $207,004 in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.

At sentencing, both Parker and Sutherland face 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.  Parker and Sutherland are scheduled to be sentenced on July 6 and July 12, 2023, respectively, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. 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 HSI, the New York State Inspector General’s Office, USDOL-OIG, and USPIS, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations and the Schenectady County Department of Social Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case. 

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

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Redell Williams, III, age 42, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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

As part of his guilty plea, Williams admitted that on November 10, 2022, he possessed a total of approximately 531 grams of cocaine and approximately 211 grams of cocaine base at his home in Syracuse, New York with the intent to distribute it. Williams further admitted that in his residence, he “cooked” powder cocaine to manufacture cocaine base, also known as “crack” cocaine, and that $4,587 in cash found at his residence was narcotics proceeds.

At sentencing, scheduled for July 7, 2023, Williams faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 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.

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dr. Howard Silcoff, and his medical practice, Dryden Family Medical Practice, PLLC agreed to pay $70,377 to resolve the United States’ allegations that they prescribed controlled substances for non-legitimate medical purposes, outside the usual course of a professional practice, thereby causing false claims to be submitted to the Medicare program.  

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

Under the Controlled Substances Act and analogous New York State law, controlled substances may only be issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of a professional practice.  Prescribers must regulate the dosage to that which is ordinarily recognized by the medical profession as sufficient for treatment.  For the cost of a prescription to be reimbursable by Medicare, the prescription must be medically necessary, and comply with federal and state law. Dr. Silcoff admitted that for more than a decade, he prescribed an average of 35 morphine pills per day to a single patient. He also simultaneously prescribed to the same patient diazepam, also known as valium, which belongs to class of drugs known as benzodiazepines.  Dr. Silcoff had been advised by the patient’s Medicare prescription drug carrier, that these medications were potentially contraindicated and that physicians should use caution when concurrently prescribing opioids, such as morphine, with benzodiazepines.  Beginning in October 2017, Dr. Silcoff ordered drug urinalysis screens for this patient, which revealed that the patient was using cocaine and unprescribed oxycodone and was inconsistently taking the diazepam.  Dr. Silcoff made no changes to the prescription regimen for 17 months, before ultimately initiating the patient on buprenorphine for opioid dependence, pain, and withdrawal symptoms. 

This settlement resolves the United States’ allegations that the morphine prescriptions were excessive and dangerous to both the patient and the general public, especially in light of concurrent use of diazepam, un-prescribed oxycodone, and cocaine. Because multiple drug screens were negative for benzodiazepines, the United States further contends that a portion of the diazepam prescriptions had no legitimate medical purpose.

The $70,377 payment constitutes damages sustained by Medicare when it reimbursed for the prescriptions, and civil penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. 

This case was investigated by HHS-OIG and DEA Syracuse District Office’s Diversion Group. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Moran represented the United States in this matter. 

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Omar Fuentes, age 26, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 121 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy involving the distribution of heroin and cocaine, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarantino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and Chief of Police Joseph Cecile, Syracuse Police Department. 

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Fuentes admitted that between May and September 2020, he conspired with others to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in the Syracuse area.  The defendant also admitted that on September 16, 2020, he possessed a loaded semi-automatic handgun and a quantity of heroin he intended to distribute.

Fuentes was one of 13 defendants charged and convicted in connection with the investigation which revealed that these defendants were involved in bringing kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine to Syracuse from New York and Puerto Rico and then redistributing the drugs throughout the Syracuse area.  During the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of cocaine as well as significant quantities of heroin, numerous firearms, and large sums of United States currency.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Fuentes to serve a four-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

The other defendants convicted in this and other related cases, and the sentences they received, are listed below:

Name

Prison Term

Jobany Tirado

135 months

Angel Negron-Collazo

120 months

Joel Franco-Ortiz

85 months

Rahfet Shehadeh

57 months

Samuel Matos

100 months

Luis Mendez

70 months

Helbert Calo-Birriel

70 months

Luis Resto

60 months

John Resto

60 months

Hector Santiago

24 months

Jose Medina

Time served (12 months)

Jikeya McBride

27 months

Jonathan Cornier

10 months

These cases were investigated by the by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Syracuse Police Department, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Investigators from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police, and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Adrian LaRochelle, and former Assistant United States Attorney Sahar Amandolare.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Michael Griswold, age 37, of Syracuse, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

As part of his plea, Griswold admitted that, on November 9, 2022, he possessed over 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside a bag in his bedroom closet. Griswold also admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby will sentence Griswold on July 12, 2023.  Griswold faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Syracuse Police Department, and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – JoAnne Natalie, age 64, of Saratoga Springs, New York, pled guilty today to misappropriating the funds of a veteran as his appointed fiduciary, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Christopher F. Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General.

Natalie admitted that after being appointed as fiduciary for a veteran, between September 2019 and January 2021, she stole, embezzled and misappropriated $50,174.42 of the veteran’s VA benefits by using the benefits deposited into the veteran’s bank account for her own personal ends. She also admitted to neglecting and failing to submit any required accountings to the VA, as required by law.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby will sentence Natalie on July 27, 2023. Natalie faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and restitution to the estate of the veteran and any other identified victims. 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 VA Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping prosecuted this case.

This case is part of the Elder Justice Initiative. The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving elders can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rasheed Mingues, 43, a resident of New York City staying in the Utica, NY area, was indicted today for possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.  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.

 Mingues was previously charged by a federal complaint on December 10, 2022.  He has been detained without bail since he made his initial appearance on December 10 before Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks.

The indictment alleges that, on December 9, 2022, Mingues possessed hundreds of grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine with the intent to distribute them.  The indictment also alleges that Mingues possessed a loaded 9mm handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.  Federal law prohibits Mingues from possessing the firearm as a result of a prior felony conviction. 

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

The charges filed against Mingues carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and New York State Police are investigating the case with assistance from the Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.

 

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristin Blair Hiltunen, age 37, of Amsterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 228 months in prison for sexually exploiting 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. 

As part of her guilty plea, Hiltunen admitted that between April 2021 and August 2021, she engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor victim who was under 16 years of age.  During this period of time, Hiltunen exchanged thousands of messages with the victim over a social media application through which she persuaded, induced, and enticed the victim to take sexually explicit images of themselves and send the images to Hiltunen.  Hiltunen further engaged in livestreamed video chats with the victim during which they engaged in sexual acts.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release to begin after Hiltunen is released from prison.  Hiltunen will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of this conviction. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the Rotterdam Police Department, as well as the New York State Police.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel L. Williams 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 – Sean Morrissey, age 51, of Waterford, New York, a former Rensselaer County Correctional Officer, was sentenced today for sexually abusing an inmate in his custody at the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility (“RCCF”).  United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby ordered Morrissey to serve 3 years of probation, to include 6 weekends in jail, and to pay a $2,000 fine.

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.

Morrissey previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging abusive sexual contact of a ward.  Morrissey admitted that during a two-week period between September 7, 2018 and September 21, 2018, while he was a correctional officer at RCCF, he knowingly rubbed the genitalia of a female federal inmate, while he was the sole corrections officer in charge of her all-female housing unit.

The FBI and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Pamela Febo, age 38, of Keansburg, New Jersey, was sentenced today to three years of probation for fraudulently applying for unemployment benefits on behalf of a state prisoner.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Anthony J. Annucci, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS); and New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Commissioner Roberta Reardon made the announcement.

Febo agreed with her boyfriend, Irvis Jorge, to submit a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim to NYSDOL using Jorge’s personal identifying information, at a time when Jorge was an inmate in NYSDOCCS custody.  Febo submitted the application in October 2020 and continued to re-certify Jorge’s benefits eligibility each week for approximately four months.  Each weekly certification Febo submitted indicated that Jorge was “able and available to start work immediately” even though she knew Jorge remained incarcerated and could not work.  NYSDOL paid the defendants $27,348 based on the repeated false certifications. 

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered restitution in the amount of $27,348 and forfeiture in the amount of $12,444.  In December, Judge Sharpe sentenced Jorge to 364 days in jail, to run consecutively to the state term of imprisonment he was serving at the time of this offense. 

The FBI, the NYSDOCCS Office of Special Investigations, and the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brian Lazore, age 45, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of alien smuggling.

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 previous guilty plea, Lazore admitted to smuggling six Indian citizens from Cornwall, Ontario, into the United States using the St. Lawrence and St. Regis Rivers.   During the smuggling event on April 28, 2022, Lazore’s boat sank in the St. Regis River, and Lazore and the Indian nationals were ultimately picked up by the St. Regis Mohawk Rescue Vessel.  Lazore admitted to smuggling the aliens for his own financial gain.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 2-year term of supervised release to follow Lazore’s term of incarceration. 

The United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rodney Matthews, age 50, of Albany, was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute cocaine and heroin, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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 Chief Eric Hawkins of the Albany Police Department (APD) made the announcement.

When he pled guilty in this case, Matthews admitted to possessing 306 grams of cocaine and 95 grams of heroin at his apartment in Albany, which he intended to distribute, as well as $11,966, which represented the proceeds of his drug trafficking.  Matthews, a previously convicted felon, further admitted to possessing a loaded, privately manufactured .357 caliber semi-automatic pistol (aka a “ghost gun”) to guard against the potential theft of his drugs and proceeds.  Matthews was initially arrested by APD officers after he was observed firing the pistol into a telephone pole outside his residence. 

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered that Matthews forfeit the $11,966 seized from his apartment, and that he serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including APD.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted this 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David Backus, age 40, of North Syracuse, New York, pled guilty today to six counts of mailing threatening communications. 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.

As part of his guilty plea, Backus admitted that between November 2021, and September 2022, he mailed 18 threatening letters to 6 victims using the U.S. Postal Service. In each of those letters, Backus threatened, among other things, “I’m going to kill you dead!!!” Backus admitted that he intended for each of these mailings to be a threat, and he knew that they would be viewed as a threat.

At sentencing, scheduled for June 28, 2023, Backus faces up to 5 years in prison on each count, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment 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.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated the case, with the assistance of the New York State Police, the Town of Kirkland Police Department, the Town of New Hartford Police Department, the Village of North Syracuse Police Department, and the City of Oswego Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – The Justice Department, together with the New York State Office of the Attorney General, announced today that the United States and New York State have entered into settlement agreements with the landlord and several individuals and entities involved in the operation of Saratoga Center for Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care (Saratoga Center), a nursing facility in Ballston Spa, New York. Leon Melohn; Alan “Ari” Schwartz; Jeffrey Vegh; Jack Jaffa; 149 Ballston Ave., LLC; Ballston Two, LLC; Saratoga Center for Care, LLC; and Saratoga Care and Rehabilitation Center, LLC (the Settling Parties) collectively agreed to pay $7,168,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false claims to the Medicaid program for worthless services provided to residents. Saratoga Center closed in February 2021, after this investigation was initiated.

“This settlement demonstrates the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that nursing home residents receive the quality of care to which they are entitled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When individuals or entities put the welfare of these vulnerable residents in jeopardy, they will be held accountable.” 

Before issuing a license to operate a nursing home, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) thoroughly reviews, among other things, an applicant’s character and competence to ensure that the operator will provide a consistently high level of care to residents. After a months-long vetting process, in 2014, NYSDOH approved Schwartz and Vegh to operate Saratoga Center with Leon Melohn, through entities he managed and controlled, acting as its landlord (Melohn and his entities are hereinafter referred to as the Landlord). This license vested in Schwartz and Vegh the nondelegable duty to oversee the operations of the home. But in or around early 2017, due to a financial dispute, the Landlord required the legally licensed operators to surrender control of Saratoga Center. The Landlord replaced them with Jaffa and a business associate of his, along with various corporate entities, even though none of them had – and they never obtained – the necessary license from the NYSDOH. Jaffa and his associate undertook all the nondelegable duties that remained the responsibility of Schwartz and Vegh. 

These unlicensed individuals operated Saratoga Center from February 2017 until it closed in February 2021. During that period, the United States contends that Saratoga Center delivered worthless services to residents, and its physical conditions deteriorated to such a degree that it violated federal and state regulations. Specifically, the operators failed to adequately staff the home, and residents suffered medication errors, unnecessary falls, and the development of pressure ulcers. Additionally, Saratoga Center did not consistently maintain hot water throughout the facility, have an adequate linen inventory, and dispose of solid waste. In 2019, Saratoga Center was placed on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Special Focus Facility list – a list of the worst-performing nursing homes in the United States. Saratoga Center remained on the list until its closure. 

The United States contends that, between February 2017 and February 2021, the Settling Parties knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims for payment to Medicaid for worthless nursing services. This settlement resolves those allegations. 

“Nursing homes should protect the health and well-being of every resident,” said U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman for the Northern District of New York. “That did not happen at Saratoga Center. Instead, a business dispute between the operators and landlord led to dangerous conditions for residents and staff, and caused the submission of false claims to Medicaid for worthless services. This case demonstrates that we will hold responsible people accountable when they pocket federal funds while providing substandard care. Thank you to Attorney General James and her office for collaborating on this case.”

“We trust nursing homes to protect New Yorkers during their most vulnerable days, but the owners, unlicensed operator and landlord of Saratoga Center repeatedly violated the law for their own benefit,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Instead of providing the quality care and compassion that residents deserved, the owners of Saratoga Center deceived regulators and left residents to suffer deplorable conditions and neglect. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Freedman and team for their partnership in holding Saratoga Center accountable for putting New Yorkers in harm’s way. My office will continue to ensure nursing home residents are protected, and I encourage anyone who has witnessed alarming conditions, resident neglect, or abuse at a nursing home to contact my office.”

In connection with the settlement, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), negotiated voluntary exclusions of the individuals and entities. Schwartz; Saratoga Center for Care, LLC; 149 Ballston Ave, LLC; and Ballston Two, LLC will be excluded from Medicare, Medicaid, and all other Federal health care programs, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(f), for a period of ten years. Vegh will be excluded for eleven years. Jaffa and Saratoga Care and Rehabilitation Center, LLC, will be excluded for twenty years. 

“Ensuring safety and quality of care for nursing home residents is a top priority,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the HHS OIG. “When nursing home owners, operators, and landlords are responsible for substandard care in their facilities, HHS OIG will not hesitate to pursue their exclusion and bar them from future participation in federal health care programs.”

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Justice Department’s Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the New York State Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Moran and Civil Division Attorneys Carol Wallack and Lyle Gruby handled this matter for the United States. Special Assistant Attorneys General Emily Auletta and Hillary Gray Chapman handled this matter for the Office of the New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The exclusions of the individuals and entities were negotiated by Senior Counsel Felicia Heimer for HHS OIG.

The United States’ investigation was part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

Attachments:

• 149 Ballston Ave Ballston Two Settlement Agreement (2-27-2023).pdf
• Jack Jaffa Settlement Agreement (2-27-2023).pdf
• Jeffrey Vegh Settlement Agreement (2-27-2023).pdf
• Ari Schwartz and Saratoga Center Settlement Agreement (2-27-2023).pdf

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Wesley Guard, age 34, of Queensbury, New York, was convicted Friday, after a four-day jury trial, of receiving, transporting and possessing child pornography using the online social networking application Kik. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.

The trial evidence established that between September 2020 and April 2021, Guard, a registered sex offender, used the Kik Messenger application to receive child pornography from other Kik users.  Guard then sent that child pornography to another Kik account under his control as a means of collecting the material. The child pornography the defendant received from other Kik users and transported between his various Kik accounts included numerous videos depicting the sexual exploitation of young children. The trial evidence also established that, at the time of his arrest by law enforcement on April 29, 2021, Guard still possessed the child pornography he had received on Kik.

Sentencing, which will be scheduled at a later date, will be held in Albany, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  Guard faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least 5 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. 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 jury voted to acquit Guard of distributing child pornography to other Kik users.

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

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Campusano, age 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Utica, New York, pled guilty to selling cocaine and illegally reentering the United States.

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

As part of his plea, Campusano admitted that, at some point after being deported from the United States in 2009, he returned without permission. While he was living in the Utica area illegally, Campusano sold cocaine to another individual on six separate dates. The charges to which Campusano pled guilty carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a 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 statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Cota, age 29, of Castleton-on-Hudson, New York, was arrested today for sexually exploiting a child and receiving 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.

A criminal complaint alleges that between May 27, 2022 and June 7, 2022, Cota sexually exploited an 8-year-old child residing outside of New York State and also received child pornography.

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

Cota appeared today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.

Upon conviction, the charges filed against Cota carry a mandatory minimum term of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 90 years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The 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 Rotterdam, Troy, and Colonie Police Departments and the New York State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Reiner and Rachel L. Williams are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Richard Hileman, age 39, of Marcy, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for mailing a threatening letter. 

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

As part of his previous guilty plea, Hileman admitted that on September 3, 2021 he mailed a letter to a woman who lived in Ballston Spa, New York.  In the letter, Hileman threatened the woman not to end her personal relationship with him.  Hileman wrote, in part, “i have 2 different guns and a vest . . .”  and “i told you before if you left me someone will pay people dont really know me once I set my mind it’s set if you contact anyone it will not be nice [sic].”  Hileman further wrote, in part, “. . . if you contact the jail or police your lovely kids wont have a mother i swear on my dead son they cant keep me forever I’ll get out one day [sic][.]”   

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

The FBI and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigation investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kevin Walker, age 32, of Elmira, New York, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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

Walker admitted that on February 12, 2022, he drove a rental vehicle from his residence in Elmira to Cortland, New York. He intended to meet another individual in the parking lot of a Cortland business to sell to that individual 447 grams of pure methamphetamine, which Walker had in the trunk of the vehicle. Walker further admitted that he also possessed 137 grams of cocaine in the vehicle.

At sentencing, scheduled for June 21, 2023, Walker faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $10,000,000, 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.

The New York State Police and DEA investigated the case, with assistance from the Elmira Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Emmanuel Medina, age 35, of Albany, pled guilty today to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf made the announcement.

Medina admitted that on June 27, 2022, Troy Police Officers responded to a disturbance call in Lansingburgh and found him outside of a house, attempting to conceal a loaded handgun inside of a Jeep Wrangler. Medina eventually stepped away from the vehicle and was safely detained. Officers found a loaded Hi-Point Firearms .380 ACP pistol in the part of the Jeep where Medina had just been observed. Medina admitted that he possessed the handgun in order to protect the cash proceeds (totaling about $2,610.22) that he had generated from recent, prior heroin sales, as well as to protect himself when he had sold and possessed that heroin. 

Medina has been in custody since his arrest on June 27, 2022.  He faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on June 21, 2023 by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.

This case was investigated by the Troy Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eddie Galicia-Bravo, age 28, of Elmhurst, New York, pled guilty and was sentenced today to time served for unlawfully transporting two aliens.

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

Galicia-Bravo admitted that on September 25, 2022, he drove from New York City to the vicinity of Churubusco, New York, to pick up two Mexican citizens who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States.  Galicia-Bravo also admitted that he planned to drive the two people to New York City. 

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luke Kenna a/k/a “Lt.,” age 43, of Johnstown, New York; Michael Brown, Jr. a/k/a “Russ,” a/k/a “Doc Grimson,” age 40, of Exton, Pennsylvania; and Brian Tierney, a/k/a “Wodanaz”, age 29, of North Bellmore, New York, were charged by indictment yesterday with conspiring to commit bank robbery. 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.

The indictment alleges that between November 14 and November 27, 2022, Kenna, Brown, and Tierney agreed to and planned to commit an armed bank robbery at a bank branch in Johnstown, New York. Kenna, as part of that conspiracy, conducted surveillance of the bank and purchased items, including weapons, with which to commit the robbery. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Kenna, Brown, and Tierney were previously charged by criminal complaints and arrested; all are presently detained.

The 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.

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tramond G. Wallace, Jr., age 28, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

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

As part of his guilty plea, Wallace admitted that at his apartment in the Town of DeWitt, he possessed a parcel containing 1,024 grams of pills containing fentanyl, which had been mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. Wallace admitted that he intended to distribute these pills, and other quantities of fentanyl that he possessed in his apartment, to others. Wallace further admitted that in the same apartment, he possessed two (2) Glock .40 caliber pistols, which he possessed in furtherance of his drug-trafficking.

At sentencing, Wallace faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 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.

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

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Alexander Guillen-Tamayo, age 32, of Lanham, Maryland, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months and one day in prison after previously pleading guilty to unlawfully transporting illegal immigrants.

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

In pleading guilty, Guillen-Tamayo admitted that, on a date prior to October 8, 2022, he was contacted by an individual who asked him to drive to Champlain, New York to pick up illegal immigrants and drive them to Maryland.  On October 8, 2022, he drove to Champlain, New York from his home in Maryland, and picked up a group of illegal immigrants.  The defendant’s vehicle was subsequently stopped near Plattsburgh, New York.  The defendant admitted that he planned to drive the illegal immigrants to Maryland, and that he expected to be paid approximately $3,000.

The United States Border Patrol and the Clinton County (New York) Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael E. Robbins, II, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to 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.

Robbins admitted that between February and March 2021, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl, in an attempt to entice the presumed child into engaging in sexual acts with him.  Robbins admitted that he initiated the conversations with the presumed minor after locating her in an online chat group for teens in the (518) area code.  Robbins further admitted that he arranged to meet the minor on March 18, 2021 at a location in Latham, New York, and he traveled from Rensselaer to Latham on that date with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the presumed 12-year-old child.  Robbins was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location.

Robbins pled guilty on the day his trial was supposed to begin.

United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby will sentence Robbins on July 13, 2023. Robbins 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 Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Michael D. Gadarian 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.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tyrone Parker, age 41, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison after previously pleading guilty 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.

In pleading guilty, Parker admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2019 and 2020.  Parker 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 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 narcotics.

Parker was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $132,990, and to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $7,202.  Parker will serve a 3-year term of supervised release after completing his term of imprisonment.

Parker 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, Florida; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; and Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York, 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;
• ROBERT NATSON, a/k/a “Big Rob,” age 36, of Fort Lauderdale; 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/or 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.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Thomas Caves, age 28, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. 

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.

In previously pleading guilty, Caves admitted that he coordinated with a straw purchaser in Vermont to acquire a firearm, knowing that he could not legally possess a firearm.  At the time the defendant possessed the firearm, he was on parole supervision for a burglary conviction from the State of Connecticut.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Stitt.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Carlos Hernandez, age 53, of Albany, pled guilty today to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, 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.

Hernandez admitted that between April and May 2021, he sold a total of 68 grams of fentanyl and 71 grams of heroin in Albany.

Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2023 before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.  He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release between 3 years and life. 

The DEA investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Charles E. Williams, age 34, of Albany, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with possessing a firearm while a prohibited person. 

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

The indictment alleges Williams possessed a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver in Albany County on November 18, 2021.  Federal law prohibits Williams from possessing the firearm as a result of a prior felony conviction. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-release supervision of up to 3 years.  A judge imposes a defendant’s sentence based on the particular statute a defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart arraigned Williams arraigned today in Albany, and ordered Williams detained pending trial.

The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case, with assistance from the North Greenbush Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thomas O’Bryan, age 41, of Kingston, New York, pled guilty yesterday to distribution and possession 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.

O’Bryan admitted that between March 19 and September 22, 2020, he traded child pornography on a social media application using the screenname “irishbstrdinc.”  The defendant also admitted that on September 22, 2020, he possessed child pornography.  The child pornography images and videos distributed and possessed by the defendant portrayed sadistic and masochistic conduct, and the sexual abuse and exploitation of toddlers. 

The distribution of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison. The possession of child pornography charge carries a maximum term of 20 years. O’Bryan also faces a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, forfeiture to the United States of property used to commit his offenses, restitution to identified victims, and he will have 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.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2023, in Albany, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. 

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

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

UTICA, NEW YORK – Charles Wager, age 55, of Castleton-on-Hudson, New York, was convicted yesterday of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities, following a 4-day trial.  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.

The trial evidence established that in January and February 2021, Wager exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with people he believed to be a 10-year-old girl and her mother. In these text messages, Wager, among other things, discussed performing different sexual acts with the 10-year-old and sent nude pictures of himself.  Wager arranged to meet with the presumed mother and 10-year-old in person.  On February 5, 2021, he travelled from Castleton-on-Hudson to Binghamton, New York, for the purpose of having sex with the presumed 10-year-old.  The defendant was arrested shortly after his arrival.

In 2002, Wager pled guilty in Rensselaer County Court to rape in the third degree, after admitting to having sex with a then-15-year-old girl.   He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since.  Following his arrest in February 2021, Wager also admitted to sexually molesting two other minor victims several decades ago.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, at which time the defendant faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. The defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force investigated this case. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys  Benjamin S. Clark and Thomas R. Sutcliffe prosecuted this case.

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shaun Morant, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted Tuesday for producing and receiving 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.

The indictment alleges that in January 2022, Morant produced and received child pornography involving a 10-year old girl, and that between January 2020 and April 2022, Morant received child pornography involving a ten-year old boy.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

On the producing child pornography count, Morant faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, if convicted.  On the receipt counts, Morant faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The FBI is investigating the 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 – Briana Garland, age 30, of Uniondale, New York, was sentenced today to 2 years of probation for conspiring with a New York State prisoner to obtain unemployment insurance benefits by fraud.  Garland is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in related cases stemming from pandemic-related schemes involving prisoners at the Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone, New York.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); 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); Anthony J. Annucci, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS); and Roberta Reardon, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).

Garland previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  She admitted to submitting a false unemployment insurance claim to NYSDOL in the name of Bare Hill inmate Reginald Thornton.  Prisoners were not eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered her to pay $19,580 in restitution to the State of New York.

Thornton previously pled guilty to participating in two prison-based unemployment insurance fraud conspiracies and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, to be served after his state prison term ends.  Thornton’s co-defendants in a related case, Lord Paulin and Rhasha Wright, were previously sentenced to 19 months and 24 months and one day in federal prison, respectively.  

USDOL-OIG, HSI, USPIS, and the Offices of Special Investigations of NYSDOCCS and NYSDOL investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the cases.

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 – Brian Botsford, age 26, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for attempting to coerce and entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual acts with him.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Botsford admitted that between July and August 2020, he sent graphic, sexually explicit text messages to an undercover investigator who was posing as the 13-year-old child.  In those messages, Botsford repeatedly asked the child for naked photos and sent photos of an erect penis to the presumed child.  Botsford further stated that he wanted the child to run away and live with him in an abandoned building and get the child pregnant.  On August 10, 2020, Botsford attempted to meet the child in person at a location in Troy in order to engage in sexual acts with the child.  Botsford was encountered by law enforcement upon his arrival and arrested.

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also imposed a 25-year term of supervised release to begin after Botsford is released from prison.  Botsford will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 

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

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher L. Vandermark, age 57, formerly of Gansevoort, New York, now a resident of Endicott, New York, was sentenced today to 5 years of probation following his guilty plea to a money laundering conspiracy designed to conceal proceeds from a multi-state unemployment insurance fraud scheme.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John Pias, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), made the announcement.

At the time of his guilty plea, Vandermark admitted to corresponding via online messages for over a year with a co-conspirator who represented herself to be a woman living in North Carolina.  The co-conspirator directed Vandermark to open accounts at multiple financial institutions, as well as provide her with routing details for his existing accounts. From June 2020 through early April 2021, Vandermark’s accounts received transfers of more than $88,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from six states. Vandermark purchased hundreds of gift cards from local retailers using the benefits, photographed the identifying numbers on the cards, and sent the photographs to the co-conspirator. After Vandermark provided the identifying numbers, the co-conspirator could sell the gift cards online as part of an effort to conceal the original source of the funds.

Vandermark admitted that he received and ignored multiple warnings from multiple financial institutions that his actions furthered an unemployment insurance fraud scheme. Additionally, when law enforcement agents interviewed Vandermark regarding approximately $37,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits transferred to his account at a local bank, Vandermark falsely denied holding the account and receiving the funds. Following the law enforcement interview, Vandermark opened yet another financial account and received an additional $13,734 in benefits from three states, which he used to purchase more gift cards that he photographed and sent to his co-conspirator. 

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered Vandermark to pay restitution in the amount of $13,734, and to forfeit the same amount of money as proceeds of his crime.

DHS-OIG investigated the case, with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted 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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph F. Morelli, 51, of Endicott, New York pled guilty today to making threatening phone calls from his home in Endicott, New York to the voicemail in the office of a member of Congress in Washington, D.C.

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

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

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

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

At sentencing on June 1, 2023, Morelli faces up to 5 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.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Capitol Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Twenty-four defendants have been charged with marijuana distribution, money laundering, firearms, and related offenses in an indictment returned last month.

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

As alleged in the 99-count indictment, between at least 2016 and June 2022, Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” and others shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana from a small shipping store called Fast Pack & Ship in Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York.  The marijuana was shipped in packages delivered by UPS and FedEx, and to enable the recipients to receive the packages, Singletary, Coles, and others text messaged receipts with package tracking information to the recipients.  Singletary and Coles are from New York but moved to Fresno and, as alleged, principally operated their marijuana distribution scheme from California. 

Recipients of the packages of marijuana in the Capital Region included, among many others, David Singletary; Lawrence Mumphrey; Deandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre”; Rosemary Coles; Niara Banks, aka “Nie”; Jazell Shuler; Toqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie”; Victor Turner; JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney”; Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy”; and LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala.”

In addition to marijuana, Singletary, Coles, and others also shipped “edibles” containing tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, from Fast Pack & Ship.  Rosemary Coles, David Singletary, Lawrence Mumphrey, and Deandre Caldwell, among others, allegedly sold the edibles in the Capital Region.  In the Capital Region, the marijuana and edibles would often be taken to so-called “knock spots,” including on 5th Avenue in Troy, where the marijuana products were sold through a slot in the door.  Search warrants executed throughout the investigation repeatedly resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition at “knock spots” and at residences belonging to those who ran the knock spots, including David Singletary, aka “DB,” and Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” both of whom are alleged to have been prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as previously convicted felons.  

The proceeds from the sale of marijuana and edibles were allegedly laundered through a variety of means, including money transfers; the transportation and delivery of cash, including $179,710 in cash that was seized from Kristle Walker, aka “Demii” at the Albany International Airport; the purchase of cashier’s checks; real estate transactions; and cash and money order deposits into various bank accounts, including accounts in the names of Dwight Singletary’s companies, DAS Empire, Inc. and Daddy D’s Boutique, and McKenzie Coles’ company, M.M.M.C. Management, Inc.  The real estate transactions included Dwight Singletary’s and Coles’ purchase of two residences in Fresno for $820,000, and the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash marijuana proceeds to renovate properties owned by Dwight Singletary and DAS Empire in the Capital Region.  Some of the renovated properties were later sold, including a residence on 5th Avenue in Troy. As alleged in the indictment, Singletary purchased the residence for $9,000 in 2016 and sold it for over $250,000 in 2020. 

The indictment alleges that Lawrence Mumphrey possessed three large-caliber rifles and a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.  One of the rifles and the handgun did not have serial numbers; Mumphrey also allegedly possessed 79 rounds of ammunition.  Deandre Caldwell also allegedly possessed a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. 

The indictment contains forfeiture allegations seeking the forfeiture of, among other things, seven properties in Fresno and the Capital Region; over $300,000 in cash and funds seized from bank accounts; several vehicles, including a 2021 Mercedes G63 and a 2021 Mercedes S580; over $500,000 worth of jewelry, including a Patek Philippe watch worth over $114,000; luxury items, including a chinchilla fur vest; and firearms and ammunition.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The indictment is unsealed as to the following 17 defendants, who are charged with the following crimes and face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment on the most serious counts. 

Defendant

Age

Residence

Charges

Min/Max

Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones”

40

Fresno, California

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Transactions in criminally derived property.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie”

35

Fresno, California

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Transactions in criminally derived property.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

David Singletary, aka “DB”

36

Cohoes, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

Maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, aka “Zay”

35

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L”

43

Albany, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Minimum:15 years Maximum: Life

Latrice Mumphrey

41

Albany, New York

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Maximum: 20 years

Deandre Caldwell, aka “Dilli,” “Dillinger,” and “Dre”

30

Albany, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

Rosemary Coles

70

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life

Kristle Walker, aka “Demii”

30

Albany, New York

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

False statements.

Maximum: 20 years

Niara Banks, aka “Nie”

31

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Maximum: 20 years

Jazell Shuler

34

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Minimum: 5 years

Maximum: 40 years

Toqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie”

28

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

 

Minimum: 5 years

Maximum: 40 years

Victor Turner

58

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

 

Minimum: 5 years

Maximum: 40 years

JuneAllyson Osman, aka “Juney”

57

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Minimum: 5 years

Maximum: 40 years

LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala”

21

Latham, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Maximum: 20 years

Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy”

62

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Minimum: 5 years

Maximum: 40 years

Alyssa June White

29

Troy, New York

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Money laundering.

Maximum: 20 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. 

The defendants who have appeared in court have been released with conditions pending trial, except for Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Lawrence Mumphrey, who were ordered detained following detention hearings earlier this month before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.

The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, 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.