Northern District of New York
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Washington County Man Sentenced to 192 Months for Possessing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean Eckrote, age 38, of Granville, New York, was sentenced today to 192 months in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography.
The announcement was made by 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).
Eckrote pled guilty on June 3, 2021, admitting to possessing and distributing images and videos of child pornography to members of a private chat group. Eckrote admitted that he distributed child pornography to others in exchange for other child pornography, and to gain acceptance within the private chat group. Eckrote also admitted to possessing additional images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone, including depictions involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of toddlers.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 30-year term of supervised release, which will begin after Eckrote is released from prison. Eckrote will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda 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/.
State Prison Inmates Plead Guilty to Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Two New York State prison inmates pled guilty today to conspiring with others to defraud pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs administered by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).
Reginald Thornton, age 29, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He admitted to conspiring with others to file unemployment insurance claims in his own name and in the names of other inmates, even though they were incarcerated by New York State at the Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone, New York. Inmates were not eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits.
Lord Paulin, age 41, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and admitted to conspiring with Thornton and another person to file a false unemployment insurance claim in his own name while he was also incarcerated at Bare Hill.
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, Acting 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 NYSDOL.
Thornton agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $31,276 to the State of New York. Paulin agreed to restitution in the amount of $10,004.
The mail fraud convictions carry maximum terms of 20 years in prison, fines of up to $250,000, and terms of supervised release of up to 3 years. Thornton’s identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. Thornton and Paulin are scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2022 by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. 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.
These cases were investigated by USDOL-OIG, HSI, USPIS, and the Offices of Special Investigations of NYSDOCCS and NYSDOL. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Chisholm and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
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.
Former MTA Special Inspector Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean M. Andre, age 32, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring with an Ulster County man to fraudulently obtain more than $5.6 million in government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement was made by 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).
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 2-year term of supervised release, ordered Andre to pay $1,309,754 in restitution to his victims, and ordered Andre to forfeit $32,900 in U.S. currency, the balances of six bank accounts totaling $365,613.09, and a 2019 Mercedes Benz GLS, all previously seized by the FBI.
Andre pled guilty last May to conspiring to commit bank fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud. He admitted to helping Jean R. Lavanture obtain $4,309,581 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between June and August 2020, by submitting fraudulent loan applications in the names of four companies that Lavanture controlled. Each loan application misrepresented the number of employees, and total payroll, that each company had, and included false tax documents that Andre created as part of the scheme. Andre was paid $157,578 for his role in the scheme.
Andre also admitted that he fraudulently obtained an additional $1,309,754 in pandemic relief loans, by submitting loan applications in the names of companies he controlled. In these loan applications, Andre lied about the number of employees, and total payroll, that his companies had.
Andre was a Special Inspector for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), in New York City, at the time of his crimes.
Lavanture, age 49, of Saugerties, New York, was sentenced last month to 60 months in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI, as well as Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
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.
Three Men Indicted in Capital Region Unemployment Insurance Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kahleke Taylor, age 21, of Albany; Taquan Parker, age 25, of Snellville, Georgia, and formerly of Albany; and Olajuwon Sutherland, age 26, of Troy, New York, were indicted earlier this month for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $100,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. The alleged false claims exploited federal programs intended to aid out-of-work New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Acting 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, New York 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).
The indictment alleges that Parker and Sutherland provided Taylor with the personal identifying information of other people, which Taylor used to file false claims via the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) website. NYSDOL ultimately paid more than $100,000 in benefits. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Taylor appeared last week before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained after he waived a detention hearing. Parker appeared last week in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, was released with conditions, and is scheduled to first appear before Judge Stewart on March 10. Sutherland appeared today before Judge Stewart, who ordered Sutherland detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
The defendants are charged with mail and wire fraud, as well as aggravated identity theft. The mail and wire fraud charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The charges for aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by 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, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm.
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.
Government Contractor Agrees to Pay Record $48.5 Million to Resolve Claims Related to Fraudulent Procurement of Small Business Contracts Intended for Service-Disabled VeteransRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – TriMark USA, LLC of Mansfield, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $48.5 million to resolve allegations that its subsidiaries, TriMark Gill Marketing and Gill Group, Inc. (collectively, TriMark), improperly manipulated federal small business set-aside contracts around the country, announced Carla B. Freedman, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. A former TriMark executive in charge of the company’s government business, Kimberley Rimsza of Phoenix, Arizona, has agreed to pay an additional $100,000 as an individual civil penalty for her conduct in connection with the scheme. The settlement constitutes the largest-ever False Claims Act recovery based on allegations of small business contracting fraud.
“TriMark and one of its former top executives are paying a steep price for obtaining contracts intended for service-disabled veterans,” said United States Attorney Freedman. “This settlement demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of its business partners, and the serious consequences for depriving legitimate small businesses of the opportunities that the government has allocated to them.”
Federal government contracts may be reserved, or “set aside,” for various categories of small businesses, such that only eligible small businesses in a particular socioeconomic category are eligible to bid on, receive, and perform the contracts. One such category is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), which is reserved for small businesses owned, controlled, and operated by veterans of the United States military who incurred a disability in the course of their military service to the United States.
TriMark provides kitchen and food service equipment to government customers around the world, including in the Northern District of New York and the Eastern District of Washington. As part of the Settlement Agreement, TriMark and Rimsza admitted to and accepted responsibility for their conduct in connection with set-aside contracts that, because of their actions, resulted in federal agencies improperly awarding government set-aside contracts between 2011 and 2021 to three small businesses with which TriMark worked, identified in the Settlement Agreement as “Company 1,” “Company 2,” and “Company 3” (the “small businesses”).
TriMark and Rimsza admitted that their conduct caused federal agencies to award set-aside contracts to the small businesses in violation of federal regulations designed to encourage contract awards to legitimate small businesses and SDVOSBs. TriMark and Rimsza further admitted that when set-aside contracts were awarded by federal agencies to the small businesses, it was typically TriMark Gill Marketing, rather than the small business, that performed substantially all the work, while the small business merely served as the face of the contract, billing the government for the work, and using its small business status to obtain the set-aside contracts.
As part of the Settlement Agreement, TriMark admitted that TriMark Gill Marketing identified federal set-aside contract opportunities for the small businesses to bid on using their set-aside status; instructed them regarding how to prepare their bids and what prices to propose; “ghostwrote” emails for those companies to send to government officials to make it appear as though the small businesses were performing work that TriMark Gill Marketing was performing; and affirmatively concealed TriMark Gill Marketing’s involvement in the contract. TriMark and Rimsza further admitted that one of the small businesses expressed concern more than a decade ago that their business arrangement violated the law and would subject both companies to liability under the False Claims Act, after which a TriMark Gill Marketing official responded that she had spoken with Rimsza about the concerns, and told the individual to “calm down and enjoy your weekend.”
With regard to one of the small businesses, TriMark admitted that certain TriMark Gill Marketing employees had access to and used that company’s email accounts in order to conduct business with the government on behalf of the small business; that TriMark Gill Marketing assisted it in obtaining federal contracts to supply goods that, in reality, TriMark Gill Marketing was providing; that at least one TriMark Gill Marketing employee posed as a representative of the small business when communicating with the government; that TriMark Gill Marketing allowed the small business to use its office space and equipment; and that TriMark considered the small business “an extension” and “affiliate” of TriMark.
TriMark, which has fully cooperated in the United States’ investigation, also represented in the Settlement Agreement that it has taken “comprehensive measures and implemented enhanced controls” to prevent the recurrence of similar conduct, including personnel changes, and implementing revised compliance procedures and training programs.
“This case demonstrates a shocking disregard for fair competition, small business rules, and integrity in government contracting,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “We insisted that both TriMark and former company executive Kimberley Rimsza admit and accept responsibility for their conduct, which included improperly obtaining contracts that were meant for legitimate small businesses, and affirmatively concealing TriMark’s role in the sham contracts. The fact that the money they were stealing was intended for service-disabled veterans is simply unconscionable. Conduct of this kind is antithetical to a safe and strong Eastern Washington.”
“The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to identifying and stopping those individuals who misappropriate an opportunity meant solely for our nation’s veterans with disabilities,” said Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “I want to recognize Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri of our Northeast Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Jason Root of our Northwestern Field Office for their leadership on this investigation. We appreciate the exhaustive efforts of our law enforcement partners and both U.S. Attorney’s Offices in this collaborative effort.”
“Investigating corrupt schemes that undermine the integrity of Department of Defense (DoD) procurement is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to ensure that the contracting process for legitimate small businesses remains fair and competitive.”
“We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to root out small business contracting fraud,” said General Services Administration Inspector General Carol Ochoa. “I appreciate the hard work of the team on this case.”
“When contractors abuse set-aside programs and divert opportunities to themselves, they are undermining the acquisition process and taking business away from legitimate companies. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, our joint investigative partners, and DOJ work vigorously to protect the Department of Defense’s procurement process and ensure wrongdoers are held accountable,” said Special Agent Paul W. Wachsmuth, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Procurement Fraud Director.
“The settlement in this matter demonstrates the excellent results achieved through the combined efforts of federal agencies to uncover and forcefully respond to procurement fraud that unconscionably deprives legitimate small businesses of important procurement opportunities,” said the Small Business Administration’s General Counsel, Peggy Delinois Hamilton. “The federal government is strongly committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing instances of fraud perpetrated by those participating in SBA’s procurement programs. We commend the hard work of all those in law enforcement who successfully prosecuted this case.”
The case began in May 2019, when a whistleblower, a company known as Fox Unlimited Enterprises, LLP, filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. When a whistleblower, or “relator,” files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. In this case, the United States intervened in the action in December 2021, and subsequently reached this settlement. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the relator will receive $10,912,500 of the settlement amount paid by TriMark.
The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Spokane and Buffalo Resident Agencies; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Syracuse Post of Duty; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New York Field Investigations Office; the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud Detachment 6 Rome, New York; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Syracuse Fraud Branch Office; and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Katz of the Northern District of New York and Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene of the Eastern District of Washington handled this matter on behalf of the United States.
Case No. 1:19-cv-914 (N.D.N.Y.)
Utica Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Frank Hunter, 37, of Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 121 months in federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy that trafficked cocaine, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl in Utica from July 2018 through July 2019, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen, and Chief Mark Williams, Utica Police Department.
The multi-agency investigation began in March of 2017 and culminated in the federal arrest of Frank Hunter on July 23, 2019, following the execution of several search warrants in Utica where drugs, cash, and other evidence was seized.
In addition to his prison sentence, Frank Hunter was also sentenced to a post-incarceration term of supervised release of 5-years. The Court also directed the forfeiture of unrecovered assets Hunter acquired through the distribution of drugs consisting of a money judgment in the amount of $518,080.00.
Also forfeited by Frank Hunter were:
$3,241.57 from a credit union account
$5,266.59 from a credit union account
$6,722.07 from a credit union account
$8,226.53 from a credit union account
$4,415.24 from a credit union account
$66,060.00 in U.S. currency
$36,005.00 in U.S. currency
$4,391.00 in U.S. currency
$4,100.00 in money orders
A 2011 Ford Explorer SUV
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 New York State Police-Special Investigations Unit (NYSP-SIU), Investigators from the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, members of the City of Utica Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Beaty, Special Assistant U.S Attorney Grant Garramone, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Saratoga County Woman Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Elizabeth Doyle, age 49, of Burnt Hills, New York, was sentenced today to a year of probation, and to pay restitution in the amount of $94,522 and a $7,500 fine, following her conviction on two counts of filing false tax returns. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Doyle’s conviction related to business income she earned through a Saratoga County company that places home health care aides in patients’ homes. In pleading guilty, Doyle admitting to filing materially false tax returns in tax years 2016 and 2017 that underreported income totaling $647,263, resulting in a loss to the government of at least $94,522.
Betty Marriot, age 71, of Gansevoort, New York, sold the home health care company to Doyle in 2016. She also filed false tax returns, and was sentenced on October 21, 2021 to a year of probation and ordered to pay $280,413 in restitution and a $7,500 fine.
These cases were investigated by IRS-CI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C. Powers.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Naturalization FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Simarjeet Singh, age 50, of Rochester, New York, pled guilty today to naturalization fraud for providing false identification information during efforts to avoid deportation and become a United States citizen, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office.
As part of his guilty plea, Singh admitted to filing a 1995 asylum application using a false identity and to failing to disclose that he had previously filed for asylum in 1993. Singh also admitted that in 2010, when he sought U.S. citizenship, he failed to disclose his earlier efforts to obtain asylum.
Singh faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is set for June 14, 2022, in Syracuse, before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
This case was investigated by HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C. Powers.
Ithaca Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William L. Marshall, 40, of Ithaca, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possessing a loaded semiautomatic handgun as a prior convicted felon, and possessing marihuana with intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Acting Chief of Police John Joly, City of Ithaca Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea yesterday, Marshall admitted that he possessed a loaded Lorcin .380 mm caliber semiautomatic handgun in his Ithaca residence when it was searched by Ithaca Police on August 18, 2021, pursuant to a search warrant. The handgun was reported stolen from Norfolk, Virginia in 2014. Marshall also admitted that he was a convicted felon, having been found guilty after trial in 2002 of the New York State felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree in Tompkins County Court, for which he was sentenced to serve eight (8) years in prison.
Marshall also pled guilty yesterday to possessing with intent to distribute over a pound of marihuana in his apartment when it was searched by Ithaca Police. As part of his guilty plea, Marshall also agreed to forfeit $37,064.00 in cash recovered during the search warrant as proceeds of drug selling.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2022, in Binghamton, New York, at which time Marshall faces a maximum sentence of up to 10-years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. For his conviction for possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) with intent to distribute, Marshall faces a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and term of supervised release of at least 2 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by City of Ithaca Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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 Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jamie Johnson, age 36, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Johnson admitted to filing false unemployment insurance applications online with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) in order to fraudulently obtain $701,441 in benefits issued in the names of other people.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman stated: “Jamie Johnson used stolen identities to cheat a system designed to help unemployed New Yorkers as the pandemic raged in 2020 and 2021. Johnson’s crimes ultimately did not pay – she is going to prison and she has forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars in ill-gotten gains. Johnson’s prosecution is the result of a multi-agency initiative to pursue, stop and deter fraudsters who try to steal public funds and undermine the integrity of the unemployment insurance program.”
New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang stated: “Unemployment insurance fraud undermines the integrity of a vital government safety net, can affect victims’ ability to file legitimate claims, and puts additional strain on already struggling New York State families. Our office is grateful for the collaboration with our federal partners in working to protect vulnerable community members and good government.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino stated: “Jamie Johnson displayed a complete disregard for the law and a system designed to assist those struggling. I commend our agents and law enforcement partners on a job well done—HSI will continue to find and hold accountable those who defraud the U.S. programs designed to assist individuals in need.”
In pleading guilty, Johnson admitted to receiving personal identifying information from other people and using it to file false unemployment insurance applications in other people’s names. She then collected the resulting unemployment insurance benefits, including by driving a Maserati sport utility vehicle to Capital Region banks and withdrawing cash using debit cards tied to the benefits. The Maserati, over $200,000 in cash, and multiple jewelry items are subject to administrative forfeiture pursuant to the plea agreement.
Johnson also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $701,441 to the State of New York.
The mail fraud conviction carries 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. The identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2022 by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is firmly committed to investigating individuals like Johnson who take advantage of programs designed to support individuals during times of hardship. The U.S. Postal Service has proven to be an essential service that our customers rely on, especially throughout this pandemic. We will continue to work hard to prevent any criminal misuse of the U.S. Mail and work with our law enforcement partners to put a stop to complex fraud schemes such as this.”
USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone stated: “Jamie Johnson used the identities of others to fraudulently obtain over $700,000 in unemployment benefits. The Unemployment Insurance Program exists to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals who are unemployed due to no fault of their own. Fraud against the Unemployment Insurance Program distracts state workforce agencies from ensuring benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them. The Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit the Unemployment Insurance Program.”
This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, the Albany County Department of Social Services, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm.
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.
Washington County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Destructive Devices and Other FirearmsRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Daniel Day, age 35, of Argyle, New York, pled guilty today to unlawful possession of destructive devices, and to the unlawful possession of other firearms and ammunition as a felon.
The announcement was made by 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).
Day has a prior felony conviction for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a user of a controlled substance. In pleading guilty today, he admitted to possessing the component parts necessary to readily assemble and create three homemade, improvised explosive devices at his residence in Argyle on August 5, 2021. Day also admitted to possessing other firearms and ammunition at his residence, including a submachinegun, a sawed-off shotgun, and a 3D-printed pistol without a serial number. None of the firearms were registered to Day as required by federal law. As part of his plea agreement, Day agreed to abandon all the bomb-making materials and chemicals, firearms, firearm parts and ammunition found at his residence.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2022, before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Albany, New York, at which time Day faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes members of the FBI and New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Wentworth-Ping and Richard Belliss.
Chenango County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brian T. Whipple, age 42, of New Berlin, New York pled guilty today to receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
According to the offer of proof filed by the government and admitted to by Whipple during his change of plea hearing, he used peer-to-peer file sharing programs from 2009 through 2020 to knowingly receive child pornography images and videos. When Whipple was arrested in June 2020, he had over 5,000 child pornography files (images and videos) on DVDs, a thumb drive, and his cellular telephone.
At sentencing scheduled for June 14, 2022, Whipple faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of 20 years for the receipt offense. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the three counts of possession of child pornography to which he pled guilty. In addition to imprisonment, Whipple can be fined up to $250,000 per count, will be required to pay restitution to the victims of his child pornography receipt and possession offenses, and will be required to serve a term of supervised release after imprisonment of between five years and life. Whipple also will have to register as sex offender upon his release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in cooperation with the New York State Police and the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Tompkins County Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Shameek Halls, age 31, of Tompkins County, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison for his convictions for trafficking crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Halls was also ordered to forfeit ownership of the currency, ammunition and firearms seized during this case and, also, serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
As part of his guilty plea, Halls admitted that he was responsible for selling crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl on numerous occasions in Broome County in New York’s Southern Tier from 2018 through 2019. Further, on November 14, 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their partner agencies seized three handguns, an AR-15 style weapon and ammunition from Halls. As part of his guilty plea, Halls admitted that he possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force (BCSIUTF), comprised of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, Binghamton Police Department, Johnson City Police Department and Endicott Police Department, as well as by the New York State Police Violent Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team (VGNET) and the New York State Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Grabowski.
Rensselaer Man Admits to Distributing Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shawn Pondillo, age 26, of Rensselaer, New York, pled guilty today to distributing fentanyl.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Foley, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his guilty plea, Pondillo admitted that he sold a quantity of “M 30” blue pills containing a mixture of fentanyl to another person on March 1, 2021 in Rensselaer County.
As a result of his conviction, Pondillo faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, when he is sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on June 9, 2022. 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 DEA and the Rensselaer Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams.
Queens Felon Admits to Illegally Possessing Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shamel Chung, age 35, of Bayside, New York, pled guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Chung admitted to possessing a firearm he knew had an obliterated serial and to hiding the firearm under a vehicle in an alleyway in Troy, New York, after being involved in a physical altercation nearby. Chung had been convicted of four felonies previously, all of which involved controlled substance offenses, and was on parole at the time he possessed the firearm.
At sentencing, Chung faces up to 10 years in prison, a 3-year term of post-release supervision, and a fine of 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.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Troy Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Williams and Dustin Segovia
Illinois Man Arrested for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kevin Couture, a/k/a “travelsizepocket,” 40, of Chicago, Illinois, appeared yesterday in federal court on a charge that he attempted to entice a minor into sexual activity.
The announcement was made by 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).
According to the criminal complaint, Couture exchanged weeks of sexually explicit messages with undercover law enforcement officers posing as the child, who Couture believed to be 9 years old, and the child’s mother. Before his arrest yesterday, Couture travelled from his home in Chicago, Illinois to Oneida County, New York with gifts for the child with whom Couture intended to engage in sexual activity upon his arrival.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Couture faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. Additionally, if convicted, Couture would be required to register as a sex offender.
Couture appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, who ordered Couture detained pending trial.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adrian S. 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.
Cayuga County Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Workman, age 33, of Conquest, New York, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Darren Miller, Deputy Commissioner and Chief of the Office of Special Investigation for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS); and Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck.
As part of his guilty plea, Workman, who has prior felony convictions for arson and burglary offenses, admitted that he possessed a .30-06 caliber rifle and ammunition. and discharged the rifle at his residence in Conquest on October 6, 2020.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, which will start after Workman is released from prison. Workman was also sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating his parole in New York State based on the same conduct; those 15 months in state prison will not be credited toward his federal term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the FBI, DOCCS, and the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download
Albany Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthan Carroll, age 36, of Albany, pled guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine, making fake government identification documents, using others’ identification information to open a U.S. Post Office Box, and aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Carroll admitted to selling a total of 277.41 grams of methamphetamine and sending a portion of that methamphetamine through the U.S. mail. Carroll also admitted to opening a Clifton Park P.O. Box—using other people’s personally identifying information without their permission—in order to receive mailed shipments of methamphetamine. He also admitted to making two fake government identification documents, one of which used another person’s personally identifying information without that person’s permission, bearing Carroll’s photograph.
Carroll faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life, and a fine of up to $10 million. The aggravated identity theft conviction carries a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The defendant also faces 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. Sentencing is set for June 9, 2022, in Albany, before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
This case was investigated by HSI and USPIS, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C. Powers.
Former SUNY Delhi Student Sentenced for Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Makahi Daevon Bryant, 20, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced yesterday to three years of probation for his role in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea to one count of access device fraud, Bryant admitted he obtained debit cards containing unemployment insurance benefits issued by the State of California in the names of other people. During September and October 2020, while a student at the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi), Bryant effected over $13,000 in transactions using two debit cards to obtain cash, goods, and services. Bryant was not authorized to use the debit cards by the people whose names and other personal information were used to apply for the unemployment insurance benefits, or by the State of California.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also ordered Bryant to perform 60 hours of community service, pay restitution to the State of California, and forfeit assets.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), with assistance from the New York State University Police at Delhi, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm.
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.
Schenectady Man Arrested for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rodolfo Bogado, age 38, of Schenectady, New York, was arrested today for possessing video and image files containing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The charge filed against Bogado carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Additionally, if convicted, Bogado would be required to register as a sex offender.
Bogado had an initial appearance today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by HSI and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C. Powers 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 Felon Convicted of Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Khyri Oliver, age 32, of Utica, New York, pled guilty today to possession of a firearm by a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
In pleading guilty, Oliver admitted to possessing and firing a semi-automatic rifle at a gun range in Troy, New York, in July 2020. Oliver was convicted of three felonies prior to possessing the rifle, including attempted robbery.
At sentencing, Oliver faces up to 10 years in prison, a 3-year term of post-release supervision, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
Lewis County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Randell Adsit, age 51, of Martinsburg, New York, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Adsit, who has a prior New York State conviction for possessing a sexual performance by a child, admitted that he distributed child pornography using a social media application from approximately February 2020 through September 2020. Adsit also admitted that on November 11, 2020, he possessed, on his cell phone, approximately 40 files depicting child pornography.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 15-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. As a result of his conviction, Adsit will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Halfmoon Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin J. Nugent, age 44, of Halfmoon, New York, was sentenced today to serve 120 months in prison for attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct with him. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Nugent admitted that in August 2019 he exchanged multiple sexually explicit messages via an online social networking application with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old child, in an attempt to coerce and entice the child into having sex with him. Nugent further admitted that on August 27, 2019, he traveled to meet with the child at a location in Albany County. Nugent was arrested after arriving at the location, and has been in custody since that date.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 10-year term of supervised release, which will start after Nugent is released from prison. As a result of his conviction, Nugent will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Colonie Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon 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.
Franklin County Man Sentenced for Possession and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Scott Barton, age 30, of Tupper Lake, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months (10 years) in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his prior guilty plea, Barton admitted that in July 2020, he used a messaging application on his phone to participate in a group chat in which child pornography was being traded. As part of this group chat, Barton distributed a video of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a member of the group. Barton also admitted that in November and December 2020, he possessed hundreds of videos and images of child pornography within a cloud storage account he maintained and controlled.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 10-year term of supervised release, which will start after Barton is released from prison. Barton will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU). The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
Vermonter Arrested for Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scarlet Shadows a/k/a “Dragongurl69,” age 31, of West Rutland, Vermont, appeared today in federal court on a charge that she attempted to entice a minor into sexual activity.
The announcement was made by 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).
According to the criminal complaint, Shadows attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom Shadows believed to be an 11-year-old girl, to have sex. After weeks of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with undercover law enforcement officers, Shadows arranged to meet the child in Warren County, New York. Before being arrested yesterday, Shadows traveled from Vermont to Warren County with an engagement ring, condoms, and gifts for the child.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Shadows faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. Additionally, if convicted, Shadows would be required to register as a sex offender.
Shadows appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, who ordered Shadows detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 1, 2022.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation may contact the FBI’s Albany Field Office at (518) 431-4866.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal 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
Ithaca Convenience Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Abdul Jalil, 55, of Ithaca, New York, pled guilty to federal food stamp fraud, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Bethanne M. Dinkins, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), John Joly, Acting Chief of the Ithaca Police Department. As part of his plea, the defendant admitted that he exchanged food stamp benefits for cash with customers at his store, the Ithaca Halal Meat and Grocery, which is prohibited by the USDA, resulting in a loss to the government of $120,061. During today’s guilty plea, the defendant agreed to pay full restitution to the government.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 25, 2022, in Albany, New York. At sentencing, the defendant 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.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Ithaca Police Department, and the Ithaca Department of Social Services, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.
Cayuga County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Child Pornography Crimes and Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Richard J. Potter, Jr., age 56, of Springport, New York, was sentenced yesterday to a term of 180 months (15 years) in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography and for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Potter admitted that from June of 2018 to on or about January of 2019, he used the Internet to search for and receive child pornography. Potter also admitted that on January 23, 2019 he possessed a total of 33,066 images and 206 videos of child pornography on 35 separate electronic devices, and 451 images of child pornography in a cloud storage account that he maintained and controlled. Also located during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Springport was a 12 gauge shotgun illegally possessed by the defendant, a previously convicted felon.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Potter is released from prison. Potter will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Warren County Man Sentenced to 198 Months for Possessing and Receiving Child Pornography, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terry Lajeunesse, age 50, of Pottersville, New York, was sentenced today to 198 months in prison for possessing and receiving child pornography, and for obstruction of justice.
The announcement was made by 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).
Lajeunesse pled guilty on August 12, 2021, admitting to possessing and receiving images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone. Lajeunesse further admitted to asking a minor to falsely take responsibility for the crimes that Lajeunesse himself committed. At the time Lajeunesse possessed and received child pornography, he was on probation following a state conviction for possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will begin after Lajeunesse is released from prison. Lajeunesse will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police, and the Warren County Probation Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda.
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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Ulster County Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Conspiring to Commit COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jean R. Lavanture, a/k/a “JR,” a/k/a “Rudy Lavanture,” age 49, of Saugerties, New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to commit bank fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud.
The announcement was made by 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).
Lavanture pled guilty on September 2, 2021, admitting to fraudulently obtaining $4,870,781 in government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. He conspired with Sean M. Andre to obtain $4,309,581 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between June and August 2020, by submitting fraudulent loan applications in the names of four inactive companies that Lavanture controlled. Each loan application grossly misrepresented each company’s employees and payroll. Each application also included false corporate tax documents that Andre created as part of the scheme. Lavanture admitted that none of his companies actually had a payroll or employees.
Lavanture also admitted that, on his own, he fraudulently obtained $561,200 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release, ordered Lavanture to pay restitution in the amount of $4,870,781, and ordered Lavanture to forfeit proceeds of the fraud, including a motel property he purchased in Rockaway Beach, Missouri; $476,253.25 in U.S. currency; a 2007 Bentley Continental; a 2013 BMW X5; and the balances of 19 bank accounts at a total of 9 banks, into which Lavanture had deposited fraud proceeds.
Andre, age 31, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty on May 26, 2021 to conspiring to commit bank fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud. Andre’s sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2022.
Jamur Pharmes, age 44, of Hampton, Georgia, pled guilty on July 1, 2021 to conspiring to commit wire fraud. He admitted that he and Lavanture conspired to submit fraudulent EIDL applications in the names of two companies connected to Pharmes. Pharmes obtained approximately $159,900 as a result of the scheme, and paid a $10,000 fee to Lavanture. Pharmes is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation, and the SBA Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
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.
Troy Man Sentenced for Trafficking a Kilogram of HeroinRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Leon Roldan, age 43, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to traffic a kilogram of heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Foley, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo.
Leon Roldan previously admitted to working with his father, Carlos Leon Rivera, and Mario Figueroa-Portalatin, to sell heroin in Troy, from November 2019 to March 30, 2020. Leon Roldan admitted to regularly traveling to New York City with his father, where they would acquire heroin from Figueroa’s source of supply. They brought the heroin back to Troy, where they and Figueroa prepared and packaged it for sale to customers.
Figueroa-Portalatin, of Troy, pled guilty on August 11, 2020, and was sentenced to 151 months in prison.
Leon Rivera, of Troy, pled guilty on June 9, 2021, and was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Baldwinsville Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Curtis, age 22, of Baldwinsville, New York, pled guilty yesterday to one count of receiving child pornography over the Internet.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his guilty plea, Curtis admitted that in September 2017 he asked an 11-year-old child to send him sexually explicit videos over Instagram. In his exchanges with the child, the defendant pretended that he was a female fashion designer looking for models.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2022, before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Curtis faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, 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. Curtis will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown 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 Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Green, age 36, of Albany, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a loaded shotgun as a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his plea, Green admitted that on September 28, 2021, he knowingly possessed a loaded shotgun in his vehicle and on his person while driving and walking on South Pearl Street in the city of Albany. A prior felony conviction for criminal possession of a weapon prevented Green from legally possessing the firearm in New York.
Green faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on May 26, 2022, by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Albany Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
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.
Utica Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation FelonyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Matthew Felitto, age 37, of Utica, New York, pled guilty today to violating the constitutionally protected right of an arrestee to be free from excessive force by a law enforcement officer. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea today, Felitto admitted that on September 4, 2020, while working as a police officer for the Utica Police Department, he arrived on the scene of an arrest to assist in transporting the arrested individual to the station. The arrestee was handcuffed behind his back and in leg shackles when Felitto arrived, because the arrestee had been refusing to comply with the commands of other officers already on-scene. Felitto helped those officers place the arrestee in the back of a police van. Once the arrestee was lying on the floor of the van face up and restrained, Felitto kicked him several times in the face and upper chest while wearing work boots. The kicks were without legal justification and were made with sufficient force to cause the arrestee pain and a bruised/swollen lip.
Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Felitto was required to, and did, resign from the Utica Police Department effective immediately. Sentencing is scheduled for May 25, 2022. If the Court accepts the parties’ plea agreement, the defendant will receive a sentence of probation for a term and under conditions set by the Court, and a fine of $7,500. As a felon, Felitto will also be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
“My office is committed to holding police officers accountable when they violate the constitutional rights of the citizens they are sworn to serve, even those under arrest,” said United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “Police officers routinely respond to high-stress and high-stakes situations, and they regularly handle those responsibilities with professionalism and poise, but when an officer uses excessive force and violates the civil rights of others, we will pursue those cases aggressively.”
“Law enforcement officers are given incredible power to enforce the law and ensure justice. The privilege of wearing a badge does not come with the authority to violate the Constitution or the rights of the very people they have taken an oath to protect. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable law enforcement officers who break the law and tarnish the reputation of the many dedicated, honest, and hard-working officers who serve their communities every day,” said Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Michael F. Perry with the assistance of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.
New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shakespeare Cruz, age 48, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to federal drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. As part of his plea, the defendant admitted that he distributed multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine from 2014 through January 2019. The defendant further admitted that he and his co-conspirators arranged for the drugs to be transported from New York City to Lewis County, New York, where they were re-distributed to others there. During today’s guilty plea, the defendant agreed to forfeiture in the form of a money judgment of $200,000, reflecting the proceeds of his drug trafficking activity.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2022 in Syracuse. At sentencing, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of ten years, with a possible maximum of lifetime imprisonment. He faces a fine of up to $10,000,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of incarceration of at least five years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the New York State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur, Adrian LaRochelle, and Andrew Beaty.
Gloversville Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kent Tucker, age 24, of Gloversville, New York, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Anthony Clay, Chief of the Gloversville Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea, Tucker admitted that on August 21, 2020, he possessed methamphetamine pills and cocaine case with the intent to distribute them, and also possessed a loaded, stolen firearm to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2022, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, in Albany. The parties have jointly recommended an 84-month term of imprisonment, which Judge D’Agostino may accept or reject. If she rejects the recommended term of imprisonment, Tucker would be able to withdraw his guilty plea and proceed to trial.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Gloversville Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
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.
Oswego Man Sentenced to Six Years for Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Alvarado, age 28, of Oswego, New York, was sentenced today to serve 6 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his guilty plea, Alvarado admitted that he actively traded child pornography images and videos using a social media messaging application on his phone, and that on February 29, 2020 he distributed videos of child pornography through the application, including video files depicting sexual conduct with children between 5 and 9 years old. Alvarado further admitted that on June 22, 2020, he knowingly possessed numerous image and video files depicting child pornography on his phone.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Alvarado is released from prison, and ordered Alvarado to pay a $200 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $3,000. Alvarado will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
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
Saugerties Man Sentenced in Ulster County Cocaine and Marijuana Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Russell J. Neglia, age 26, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization in Ulster County that was dismantled in March 2020.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT); and Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg.
In March 2020, HSI and URGENT investigators acted on evidence they had collected, executing three search warrants on residences in Saugerties and southern Greene County related to a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. In the course of the takedown, three members of the organization – Neglia, Roger W. Hummer II and Michael A. Manor – were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges. Investigators seized over two kilograms of cocaine, 125 pounds of marijuana, $68,000 in drug proceeds, three vehicles used to traffic drugs, and one firearm.
Following up on the evidence uncovered by those searches and arrests, four additional individuals affiliated with the drug trafficking organization were arrested and charged by the Ulster County District Attorney.
As part of his plea, Neglia admitted that between January 2019 and March 2020, he sold at least 1.8 kilograms of cocaine on behalf of the organization.
As part of his sentence, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Neglia to serve a 3-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, pay a $15,000 fine and forfeit approximately $19,000 in drug proceeds and two vehicles used in furtherance of his cocaine trafficking.
The following defendant pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and was sentenced as follows:
Name
Age
Prison Term
Supervised Release Term
Michael A. Manor
40
60 months
4 years
The following defendant has also pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and faces the following penalties:
Name
Age
Minimum
Maximum
Roger W. Hummer, II
39
10 years
Life
This case was investigated by HSI, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT, an inter-agency taskforce targeting drug dealers and gang members in Ulster County, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Ashlyn Miranda.
Albany Woman Charged with Burglarizing Albany VA BuildingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jamie Varieur, age 42, of Albany, was arrested today and charged with burglarizing a dwelling at the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; and Chief Eric Hawkins, Albany Police Department.
According to the complaint, on August 22, 2021, Varieur broke into and entered the Fisher House, a home on VA property where military and veteran families can stay while a loved one is in the hospital, where she stole various items from the kitchen. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Varieur carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, and a term of supervised release 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.
Varieur appeared today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was detained pending further proceedings.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Albany Police Department, and the Veterans Affairs Police Service at the Albany VAMC, with assistance from the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping.
Troy Man Sentenced for Possessing and Intending to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marquese Pompey, age 25, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possessing cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute.
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 United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Keith Kruskall, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
In pleading guilty, Pompey admitted to possessing and intending to distribute approximately 13 grams of cocaine base, or “crack,” in March 2020. Pompey was arrested in September 2020, and in searching his Troy apartment, law enforcement discovered approximately 60 grams of cocaine and 8 grams of cocaine base, much of which was partially flushed down the toilet. Pompey also intended to distribute that cocaine and cocaine base.
U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Pompey to serve 3 years of post-release supervision.
This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, and Troy Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck
Syracuse Man Admits Possessing Firearms and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kamar L. Boatman, age 36, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Kenton Buckner, Syracuse Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea today, Boatman admitted that he possessed at his residence in Syracuse the following firearms and ammunition recovered by the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SPD-SID) during the execution of a search warrant on May 31, 2018:
Firearms
One (1) Ruger pistol, model P89DC, caliber 9mm
One (1) Hi Point rifle, model 4595, .45 ACP caliber rifle,
One (1) Smith and Wesson rifle, model M&P15 .556 caliber rifle,
One (1) Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services model A15, Multi Caliber rifle
Ammunition
Twenty-six (26) rounds of .223 caliber ammunition
Six (6) rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition
Eight (8) rounds of .45 caliber ammunition
Boatman also admitted that he was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine (a felony) in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, and was sentenced on May 7, 2010 to serve 48 months in federal prison.
Sentencing in the current case is scheduled for February 28, 2022, at which time the defendant faces a sentence of 60 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year 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.
This case is being investigated by the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SPD-SID) and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Fort Drum Contracting Officer Indicted for Accepting Gratuities from Contractor Boyfriend in Exchange for Taking Official Action on ContractsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Cindy McAleese, age 55, of Dexter, New York, was arraigned today on a one-count indictment charging her with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by seeking and accepting gratuities.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Larry S. Moreland, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Mid-Atlantic Fraud Field Office; Joseph Dattoria, Special Agent in Charge of the General Services Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Region; and Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region.
The indictment alleges that McAleese, while working as a civilian contracting officer for the U.S. Army at Fort Drum, in Jefferson County, New York, sought and received things of value from local general contractor Sean O’Sullivan, including sports tickets, meals, sexual encounters, and time and attention, in exchange for McAleese’s taking official action on O’Sullivan’s behalf, such as providing O’Sullivan’s company with government contracts and approving payment on those contracts. The indictment also alleges that McAleese and O’Sullivan took steps to keep their relationship a secret from other officials at Fort Drum. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
O’Sullivan has already pled guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2022, by United States District Judge David N. Hurd.
United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks released McAleese pending a trial to be scheduled before Judge Hurd in Utica, New York. The charge filed against McAleese carries a maximum sentence of 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.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division; General Services Administration, Office of the Inspector General; U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; and Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – George D. Robinson, V., of Watertown, New York pled guilty today to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it, and possessing three semiautomatic handguns as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna S. Mills.
As part of today’s guilty plea, Robinson admitted that he possessed 98 grams of methamphetamine with intent to sell it when members of the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at his home in Watertown, New York on February 5, 2021. Also seized pursuant to the search warrant were three semiautomatic handguns possessed by Robinson, who is a convicted felon. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 2004 and was sentenced then to serve 24 months in federal prison.
Sentencing in this case is scheduled for February 24, 2022, in Syracuse, at which time the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to 10 million dollars for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for possession of firearms as a convicted felon. The Court will also impose a term of post-incarceration supervised release of at least 5 years and up to 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.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, consisting of Detectives from the City of Watertown Police Department, Detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Agents of the United States Border Patrol, and Special Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also assisted.
This case was brought through 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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Hudson Man Sentenced to 71 Months for Cocaine Base, Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Micah Hines, a/k/a “Water,” age 42, was sentenced today to 71 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distributing more than 28 grams of cocaine base.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Keith Kruskall, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
Hines has recently resided in Hudson, Cairo and Poughkeepsie, New York. In pleading guilty, he admitted to selling about 40 grams of cocaine base on January 7, 2021, and to selling about 52 grams of fentanyl, and about 28 grams of cocaine base, on January 13, 2021.
Hines has three prior drug felony convictions and two prior firearm felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the New York State Police and the DEA’s Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes investigators from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Hudson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Cortland County Woman Sentenced to 190 Months for Sexually Exploiting a 3-Year-OldRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brittany Berry, age 27, of Marathon, New York was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge David N. Hurd to 190 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As part of her previously entered guilty plea, Brittany Berry admitted that she conspired with Lawrence Berry (who was sentenced in November to 30 years’ imprisonment for his role in the offense) to sexually exploit a 3-year-old minor child in August and September 2018. Brittany Berry acted at Lawrence Berry’s direction and sexually exploited the child on five different occasions for the purpose of creating and sending images and videos (live and recorded) of the sexual abuse to Lawrence over the internet.
In addition to the imprisonment term, Judge Hurd sentenced Brittany Berry to 15 years of supervised release to begin after she serves her term of imprisonment. Upon release from prison, Brittany Berry also will be required to register to as a sex offender in any state where she lives, is employed, or is a student.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the City of Cortland Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney's offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Auburn Man Charged with Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Deryk Paul Burdick, 32, of Auburn, New York was arrested yesterday and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett.
According to the complaint, Burdick purchased child pornography on the internet and had a collection of child pornography on a laptop computer found in his home, including the child pornography files that he purchased online.
The charges filed against Burdick carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, a post-release term of supervision of between five years and life, and a fine of up to $250,000. Burdick would be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.
Burdick appeared yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks for an initial appearance and was detained pending further proceedings.
Burdick was previously employed as a school bus driver in Skaneateles, New York and Buffalo, New York. Individuals who believe they have information relevant to this investigation should contact HSI Special Agent Brad Brechler at 315-569-9155.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Burdick’s case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Police, the Auburn Police Department, and the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC). The joint effort is a part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
Jury Convicts Albany Man of Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tyler Purvis-Mitchell, age 27, of Albany, was convicted on Friday of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following a four-day jury trial.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Eric Hawkins, Albany Police Department.
The evidence at trial established that on May 7, 2020, Purvis-Mitchell possessed with the intent to distribute more than 125 pills containing methamphetamine, in his residence and his vehicle. The pills weighed more than 50 grams in total.
Purvis-Mitchell faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life when United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentences him on April 20, 2022. 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 jury voted to acquit Purvis-Mitchell of two felony charges for possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This case was investigated by the Albany Police Department and ATF, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emmet J. O’Hanlon and Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
Watervliet Felon Charged with Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Calvin Strong, age 29, of Watervliet, New York, was ordered detained today pending trial on a charge that he unlawfully possessed a firearm as a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The complaint alleges that Strong, a felon, possessed a handgun in Watervliet on or about November 23, 2021. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. 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-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.
This case is being investigated by the United States Probation Office for the Northern District of New York, the ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Watervliet Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Waldemar Colon, age 45, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to serve 84-months in federal prison for his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department.
Colon was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Colon admitted that he conspired with Luis Carrasquillo and Isidro De Los Santos to sell heroin mixed with fentanyl, and cocaine from De Los Santos’s apartment on Gifford Street in Syracuse as part of a conspiracy that existed from December 2018 through January 31, 2019. Colon also pled guilty to aiding and abetting the sale of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl on December 19, 2018.
On January 31, 2019, ATF Special Agents assisted by DEA and the Syracuse Police Department-Intelligence Unit executed a federal search warrant at Isidro De Los Santos’s residence and recovered over twenty-one ounces (608 grams) of heroin mixed with fentanyl in two packages. A federal search warrant executed at the adjacent apartment of another involved defendant, Anthony Moreno, on the same day resulted in the seizure of over 18 ounces (521grams) of cocaine.
Isidro De Los Santos pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and distribution of controlled substances, and was sentenced on November 13, 2020 to serve a sentence of nine years (108 months) in prison, and a 5-year term of supervised release.
Anthony Moreno pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and on November 17, 2020 was sentenced on to serve 51 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.
Luis Carrasquillo pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and distribution of controlled substances, and was sentenced on November 4, 2021 to serve a sentence of 71 months in prison, and a 5-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Syracuse Police Department-Intelligence Section, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick
California Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to Syracuse Intending to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Edward Mercado, age 34, of Los Angeles, California, pled guilty yesterday to traveling to New York from California for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 10-year-old child. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Mercado admitted that from May of 2021 through June of 2021 he engaged in numerous telephone conversations and exchanged sexually explicit text messages with an undercover officer posing as the mother of 10-year-old girl. In these telephone calls and text messages, Mercado expressed a desire to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the child. Mercado further admitted that on June 3, 2021, he traveled from California to Syracuse, New York in order to meet with the child and engage in sexual conduct with her at a location in the Ithaca area. Mercado was arrested after arriving at the Syracuse airport and has been in custody since that date.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2022, in Utica, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Mercado faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $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 statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Upon his release from prison Mercado will be required to register as a sex offender in any state where he resides, is employed, or is a student.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former North Country Postal Clerk Sentenced for Stealing Prescription Drugs from Mail ParcelsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brittany Irvine, age 27, formerly of Bloomingdale, New York, was sentenced today to 12 months of probation and to pay a fine of $5,000 for stealing prescription drugs from mail parcels.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area for the United States Postal Service (USPS), Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Irvine previously admitted that beginning on June 18, 2019, and until her arrest on August 27, 2019, while working as a Distribution Clerk at the United States Post Office in Bloomingdale, she opened three parcels containing prescription oxycodone pills and removed the pills.
This case was investigated by the USPS, Office of the Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Anderson.