Northern District of New York
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Endicott Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register Email AccountsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Thomas J. Redeker, age 73, of Endicott, New York was sentenced today to 10 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failing to update his sex offender registration by maintaining unregistered email accounts.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and United States Marshal David L. McNulty.
Redeker was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. In addition to the term of imprisonment for failing to update his sex offender registration, Redeker was sentenced to an 8-month consecutive term of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release by committing new criminal conduct, failing to answer truthfully questions from his probation officer, and possessing an undisclosed internet capable device.
As part of his previously entered plea agreement, Redeker admitted that in 2004 he was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York of production of child pornography and crossing a state line to engage in a sexual act with a person under the age of 12. Those convictions required Redeker to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and to keep that registration current with personal identifying information, including email accounts. Redeker admitted that although he maintained registration as a sex offender in the State of New York, he did not register three email accounts that he created despite knowing he has an obligation under the law to do so.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service Sex Offender Investigation Branch with assistance from the United States Probation Office for the Northern District of New York, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Oswego Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Alvarado, age 27, of Oswego, New York, pled guilty today to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, 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.
Alvarado, who remains detained pending his sentencing scheduled for January 19, 2021 before United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York, faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison. The Court will also impose 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. Alvarado will also be required to register as a sex offender.
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.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. 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 State Employee Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tramaine Pope, age 33, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today to federal program theft, and admitted to abusing her position as a New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) employee to obtain $314,168 by submitting and approving 20 false unemployment insurance applications. The funds stolen by Pope included benefits from federal programs intended to help out-of-work New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and NYSDOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon.
Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon stated: “Tramaine Pope violated the trust of her fellow New Yorkers during a global public health crisis that left so many without work. She was tasked with helping others at a time of substantial need, but instead exploited her position for personal gain. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who abuse the public trust, and steal public funds, during this unprecedented pandemic.”
USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone stated: “Tramaine Pope abused her position as a Senior Employment Security Clerk with the New York State Department of Labor to create and approve fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. Pope obtained over $300,000 from these fraudulent claims, a portion of which was earmarked for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit programs.”
In pleading guilty, Pope admitted to receiving lists of names and personal identifying information from another individual. Pope then used her access to NYSDOL systems to submit and approve fraudulent unemployment insurance claims using the names and other information she received.
Pope agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $314,168 to the State of New York.
Pope 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 when she is sentenced on January 21, 2022 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Joshua McCallister stated: “The actions of Ms. Pope to use the trust given to her by the people of New York and her employer to abuse the system and steal from those who were most in need during the pandemic are unconscionable. This case is a great example of the collaborative effort of law enforcement to bring those to justice who commit criminal acts against the people of New York.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino stated: “HSI remains committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those, like Pope, who have used the COVID pandemic to defraud not only the taxpayer but also those eligible recipients in need of legitimate COVID benefits.”
NYSDOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon stated: “There is no excuse for stealing from others, especially when a person in place of trust abuses their position to knowingly commit fraud. Let this serve as a reminder that if you break the law, you will be held accountable. I thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all levels of law enforcement for their commitment to working with us to fight Unemployment Insurance fraud.”
This case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, HSI, and the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and 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.
Delaware County Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jeremie Hoyt, age 41, of Davenport, New York, appeared today in federal court on charges that he sexually exploited a child.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The criminal complaint alleges that in November 2020, Hoyt produced a sexually explicit photograph and video of a 14-year-old child. Hoyt later distributed the image and video over the Internet to other users on a messaging application. United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric ordered Hoyt to be detained pending trial. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Hoyt faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Hoyt would also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case is being investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Police. The case 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.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Charles Scott, age 61, of Syracuse pled guilty yesterday to distributing cocaine and heroin, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his guilty plea yesterday, Scott admitted that he sold a quantity of heroin and cocaine during a DEA undercover operation on January 21, 2020 in Syracuse. He also pled guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a 45. caliber semiautomatic pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition that were recovered during the execution of search warrants on February 26, 2020 at his residence and at another location he was using, both in the city of Syracuse. Scott admitted as part of his guilty plea that he was a previously convicted felon when he possessed the pistol and ammunition.
Charles Scott is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2022 in Utica, New York. At that time, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00 on each count for his distribution of cocaine and heroin on January 22, 2020, and his possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on February 26, 2020. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Scott could also be sentenced to a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Colonie Man Charged with Human Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A grand jury yesterday returned a superseding indictment charging Christopher Thomas, age 38, of Colonie, New York, with crimes related to the sex trafficking of children and adults.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, 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 Bruen.
The indictment charges Thomas with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking of a child, transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to transport an individual to engage in prostitution, and coercion and enticement.
Thomas is alleged to have recruited girls and women to engage in commercial sex at his direction and then provide him with the proceeds. Thomas is alleged to have used a website to advertise the girls and women for commercial sex in the Capital Region, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Thomas has been in custody since his arrest on May 12, 2020.
If convicted of all offenses, Thomas faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and the New York State Police Troop G Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Colonie Police Department, Vermont State Police, Burlington, Vermont Police Department, Albany Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Bethlehem Police Department, Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, and the New York State Intelligence Center. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shira Hoffman and Katherine Kopita.
Saratoga County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary L. Duchesne, age 25, of Stillwater, New York, pled guilty today to seven counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Duchesne admitted to using a Dropbox account to store, possess and view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, between December 26, 2017 and June 23, 2019. He admitted to periodically transferring child pornography videos into his Dropbox account, and to using the stored child pornography as a form of “currency” to trade with other people.
Duchesne has been in custody since his arrest on July 15, 2020.
Duchesne, who has a prior conviction relating to the possession of child pornography, faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, and at least 5 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, when Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy sentences him on January 11, 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. Duchesne would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Stillwater Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Australian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Visa FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Paul J. Carter, also known as Paul Hamilton, and formerly known as Paul Cristallo, pled guilty today to making false statements in a 2018 U.S. visa application.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Carter, age 55, an Australian citizen residing in Watervliet, New York, admitted to lying about his criminal history when he sought to renew his E-2 visa in 2018. E-2 visas admit certain foreign nationals who have invested a substantial amount of money in a U.S. business. Carter obtained an E-2 visa, and began residing in the United States, in 2014.
Carter faces up to 10 years in prison, as well as a maximum $250,000 fine, when Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy sentences him on January 12, 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 HSI, with assistance from the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Albany Husband and Wife Charged with Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Denise Mitchell, age 57, and John Mitchell, age 61, of Albany, were arraigned today on a federal indictment charging them with knowingly concealing Denise Mitchell’s work history and making a false statement in order to deceive the Social Security Administration (SSA) into paying disability benefits to Denise Mitchell when she was not entitled to those benefits.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
The indictment alleges that from at least June 2015 until June 2017, Denise Mitchell and her husband John Mitchell, who acted as her representative payee, knowingly failed to disclose that Denise Mitchell was working in order to deceive SSA into continuing to pay disability benefits to Denise Mitchell when she was otherwise ineligible to receive such benefits. The indictment also alleges that on June 8, 2017, Denise Mitchell knowingly made a false statement in a form filed with the SSA regarding her work activity between August 2012 and June 2017. The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The charges filed against Denise Mitchell and John Mitchell carry 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 SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
Rensselaer County Man Charged with Pandemic-Related Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hector J. Sanchez, age 29, of Rensselaer, New York, was arrested today on an indictment charging him with six counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft related to filing for, and receiving more than $80,000 in benefits from, false unemployment insurance claims. 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 Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The indictment alleges that from August to November 2020, Sanchez engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain the personal identifying information of other individuals, including via social media, and file false unemployment insurance applications in their names with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). The indictment further alleges that he used debit cards linked to the false claims in order to obtain cash, goods, and services. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sanchez appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing for September 14.
The mail 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 two 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.
The case is being investigated by USPIS, USDOL-OIG, and HSI, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations and the Albany Police Department. 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.
Amsterdam Resident Charged with Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Kristen Blair Hiltunen, age 36, of Amsterdam, New York, appeared today in federal court on a charge that she received child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to a criminal complaint, in July 2021, Hiltunen used a social media messaging application to communicate with and receive child pornography from a minor victim. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Hiltunen faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years 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.
Hiltunen appeared today before United States Magistrate Daniel J. Stewart. She will remain detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for September 13.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, along with investigators from the Schenectady Police Department. The Child Exploitation Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators, including from the Rotterdam and Colonie Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by 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
Ulster County Man Pleads Guilty to 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 48, of Saugerties, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit bank fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud, and admitted to fraudulently obtaining $4,870,781 in government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Lavanture is the third person to plead guilty in this case.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon stated: “Mr. Lavanture and his co-conspirator Sean M. Andre took millions from COVID-19 relief programs, to the detriment of lenders, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the legitimate businesses that could have put this money to good use. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute fraudsters who prey upon government-backed loan programs meant to stabilize legitimate businesses during an unprecedented pandemic.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi stated: “Mr. Lavanture stole over $4.5 million from a government program designed to help small businesses struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Lavanture and his co-conspirator’s fraud scheme impacted the ability of an untold number of businesses, while selfishly lining their own pockets. The FBI, together with our partners, will continue to seek out and investigate these callous fraudsters who target hardworking Americans.”
In pleading guilty, Lavanture admitted to conspiring with 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 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).
Lavanture agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $4,870,781, and 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 he deposited fraud proceeds.
Lavanture faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud conspiracy, and up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, when he is sentenced on January 6, 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.
Lavanture, a citizen of Haiti, has been in custody since September 17, 2020, when FBI agents arrested him on a criminal complaint.
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 January 6, 2022.
Jamur Pharmes, age 43, 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 December 9, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation, and the SBA Office of Inspector General, and is being 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 Businessman Sentenced for Hoarding and Price Gouging FacemasksRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Imran Selcuk, age 35, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 3 years of probation for hoarding and price gouging in violation of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA).
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of his March 5, 2021 misdemeanor guilty plea, Selcuk admitted that, in March 2020, he purchased approximately 100,000 KN95 facemasks and 25,000 surgical-style facemasks for $1 per mask and 50 cents per mask, respectively. Selcuk then offered these masks for sale at his Troy pizza restaurant and through a website for as much as ten times his acquisition cost. Selcuk also admitted that his website falsely represented that the KN95 masks he offered for sale were certified by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA does not “certify” facemasks.
United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel also ordered Selcuk to pay a $2,500 fine.
This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
This case was brought in coordination with the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force, which organizes efforts among the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorney’s offices across the country to address illegal activity involving personal protective equipment.
Oswego County Woman Charged with Misusing Social Security Numbers and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tammy Tilton-Gajewski, age 48, of Fulton, New York, was arrested yesterday on an indictment charging her with 32 counts of misuse of a social security number and two counts of aggravated identity theft related to her use of the names of other people and social security numbers not assigned to her to obtain credit cards and loans. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
Tilton-Gajewski was arraigned on the indictment yesterday in United States District Court in Syracuse, New York and released pending trial on a date to be scheduled in the future.
If convicted of misuse of a social security number, Powell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to three years. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, Tilton-Gajewski faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years on each aggravated identity theft count. 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 charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Police and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
Montgomery County Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Unlawfully Selling “Ghost Guns”Read the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Castelluccio, age 43, of Fultonville, New York, was sentenced today to serve 30 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release, for unlawfully transferring an unregistered short-barreled rifle that had machinegun capability.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
On November 5, 2020, Castelluccio pled guilty to one count of unlawful transfer of unregistered firearms. As part of his guilty plea, Castelluccio admitted that over the course of four transactions between August and September 2019, he built, sold and transferred 19 firearms from component parts ordered online. These firearms are commonly known as “ghost guns” because they do not have serial numbers, which makes them difficult for law enforcement to trace.
Castelluccio admitted to building, selling, and transferring short-barreled rifles, which are rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long. Castelluccio admitted to doing so without having filed an application with or received approval from the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, or paying the tax required by federal law. He also admitted that one of the firearms he sold was modified to allow it to automatically shoot more than one shot by a single function of its trigger.
Castelluccio also forfeited a pickup truck that he used to transport the firearms.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Schenectady County and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices. The case was 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.
Ithaca Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Attempted Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Jeffrey Blake, age 51, of Ithaca, New York, was sentenced today to serve 160 months (thirteen years and four months) in federal prison for attempted online enticement of a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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 Blake admitted that between June 12, 2019 and August 23, 2019, he exchanged text messages with an undercover officer he believed was the mother of 9 and 13 year old girls. In those messages, Blake expressed an interest in meeting the children and engaging in sex acts with them. He also communicated by text messaging with the undercover agent posing as each of the children. In those communications Blake assured the children that sex with him would not be painful, and that he would take precautions to keep the 13-year-old from getting pregnant. On August 23, 2019, Blake drove to a pre-determined location in Broome County to meet and have sex with the children. He brought with him vibrators and birth control as well as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and stuffed animals that he planned to give to the children as gifts. Blake was then encountered by law enforcement and arrested.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 10 term of supervised release, which will start after Blake is released from prison, and ordered Blake to pay a $100 special assessment. As a result of his conviction, Blake will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Blake’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and 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.
Hogansburg Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joshua Francis, age 32, a resident of Hogansburg, NY, was sentenced today to serve 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute marijuana and for money laundering of drug proceeds announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Gregory S. Oakes, Oswego County District Attorney.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Francis admitted that between January 2017 and August 2017, he smuggled bulk quantities of marijuana from Canada into the United States by boat via the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation in New York State. Francis further admitted that he directed couriers in the United States to deliver marijuana to redistributors in the Syracuse area and elsewhere, and also to collect the proceeds from marijuana sales. Francis distributed at least 317 kilograms of marijuana.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, the court also sentenced Francis to four years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a money judgment in the amount of $501,850 representing proceeds derived from marijuana distribution.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Syracuse Police Department, and the Oswego County Drug Task Force, comprised of Special Agents of HSI, members of the City of Oswego Police Department, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, the SUNY Oswego Police Department, and Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.
Former Madison County Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for Health Card FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Jennifer Caloia, age 57, a licensed pharmacist who owned and operated Dougherty Pharmacy in Morrisville, New York, from 1998 to 2015, was sentenced today in federal court in Utica to serve a two-year term of probation, perform 80 hours of community service, a fine in the amount of $10,000.00, a special assessment of $100 after previously pleading guilty to one felony count of health care fraud.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG); Ralph D. Tortora III, Regional Director, New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Syracuse Office; Carol S. Hamilton, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL EBSA); and Shirin Emami, Acting Superintendent, New York State Department of Financial Services.
In pleading guilty previously, Jennifer Caloia admitted that between 2011 and 2015 she defrauded public and private health insurance programs by submitting false and fraudulent claims for prescription drugs that the pharmacy did not dispense. Caloia also admitted that customers submitting prescriptions for medications had their health insurance providers billed for more expensive drugs than those prescribed. To facilitate this scheme, Caloia changed the names of some of the prescription drugs in the software she used to communicate with insurance companies and to print drug labels, which allowed her to submit her fraudulent claims while providing the customer with the appropriate labels and instructions. Evidence presented to the court in support of Caloia’s guilty plea also revealed that in at least a few instances she dispensed a drug different than what a customer’s doctor had prescribed as part of her scheme to defraud. Caloia no longer owns or operates Dougherty Pharmacy.
In sentencing Caloia, United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $110,431.02 to the public and private insurers affected by her fraud scheme.
In separately negotiated civil settlements with the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Caloia and her company agreed to pay $92,308.76 related to her submission of false claims to public insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid. The civil settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the federal and New York False Claims Acts, which allow private persons, knowns as “relators,” to file civil actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The relator in this case will receive $18,461.75 of the settlement proceeds. The federal civil case is docketed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York under number 6:17-cv-92 (BKS/ATB).
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG); the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Labor-Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL EBSA), New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; and the New York State Department of Financial Services, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry. The civil investigation is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Hoggan and New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Syracuse Office Regional Director Ralph D. Tortora III.
Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – John R. Paeglow III, age 64, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to defrauding a commercial finance company. The company paid more than $400,000 to Paeglow’s book printing business for the right to collect payment for the sales of books that, in fact, had not been sold nor shipped.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DoL-OIG).
As part of his guilty plea to 10 counts of wire fraud, Paeglow admitted that, between October and December 2014, he fraudulently solicited and received more than $400,000 on behalf of his now-closed Castleton, New York-based book printing business Integrated Book Technology, Inc./Hamilton Printing (“IBT/Hamilton”). Paeglow caused the submission of fraudulent invoices and forged shipping documents to a New Jersey-based commercial finance company, which paid him money on the basis of book sales and shipments that Paeglow falsified.
As part of his plea agreement, Paeglow agreed to pay full restitution to the victim finance company. Paeglow also agreed to pay $11,410 in restitution to reimburse the union that represented the IBT/Hamilton employees whose health care premiums Paeglow was charged with embezzling.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2021, in Albany, before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Paeglow faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or the loss to any victim, 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 jointly investigated by the U.S. DoL-OIG and the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.
Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Peter Mami, age 43, of Orange County, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his guilty plea, Mami admitted that on March 2, 2020, he and his co-defendant possessed with the intent to distribute approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
Mami faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, when Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby sentences him on January 6, 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
Gloversville Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jonathan L. Morgan, age 32, of Gloversville, New York, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In previously pleading guilty, Morgan admitted that he distributed videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children via a phone-based application connected to the Internet, from March 11 to March 12, 2020. He also admitted to possessing child pornography on two phones. Additionally, Morgan sought out videos of parents abusing their children, and provided detailed instructions to an undercover law enforcement officer (posing as a parent) as to how to abuse her daughter while filming it; smashed and tried to destroy one of his phones upon being approached by law enforcement; and admitted to inappropriately touching a child on several occasions.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 15-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. Additionally, Morgan will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States 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.
Cortland County Woman Sentenced to 45 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Sarah R. Gates, age 40, of Cortland, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 540 months (45 years) in prison for conspiring and acting together with co-defendant Christopher Perry to sexually exploit a child under five years of age for the purpose of producing images of the abuse. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of her prior guilty plea to a three-count Information, Gates admitted that on several occasions in 2017, she and Perry performed sexual acts on the child while taking photographs of the abuse, using two cell phones.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Gates is released from prison. As a result of her conviction, Gates will also be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison.
Perry previously pled guilty to the same offenses and was sentenced, on November 3, 2020, to 540 months (45 years) in prison.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the City of Cortland Police Department, and the New York State Police-Computer Crimes Unit, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sahar L. Amandolare and Special Assistant U.S. 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.
Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Kurtz, age 57, of Albany, pled guilty today to charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In pleading guilty before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, Kurtz admitted that between September 29, 2018 and at least January 12, 2019, he used a peer-to-peer file sharing software program installed on his computer to distribute approximately 28 videos of child pornography from his home in Albany. Kurtz also admitted to possessing over 200 images of child pornography on his home computer at the time of his arrest on March 18, 2019.
Kurtz faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. His sentencing is scheduled for December 28, 2021 in Albany. 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. Upon his release from prison, Kurtz will also be required to register as a sex offender in any state where he lives, is employed, or is a student.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, including investigators from the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Rachel Williams.
This case is prosecuted 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
Michigan Man Charged with Traveling Across State Lines Intending to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert Hardin, age 75, of Michigan, was charged today with interstate travel with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a minor. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The criminal complaint alleges that during July and August 2021, Hardin communicated through a social media application with an undercover officer posing as a mother who was willing to make her 10-year-old daughter available for a sexual encounter. It further alleges that on August 24, 2021 Hardin drove from his home in Michigan to a location near Binghamton, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with the child. Upon his arrival at the location, Hardin was arrested. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Hardin appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric and was ordered detained pending a hearing on August 27.
If convicted of this offense, Hardin faces up to 30 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. Hardin would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Syracuse Postal Worker Sentenced for Stealing Mail in LiverpoolRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Quayshaun Mitchell, age 28, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 6 months of home detention, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for helping another person steal mail from United States Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Joshua McCallister, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the USPS Office of Inspector General-Northeast Region.
Mitchell was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.
On February 25, 2021, Mitchell pled guilty to one count of possession with the intent to unlawfully use a USPS key, and one count of aiding and abetting the theft of mail.
As part of his guilty plea, Mitchell admitted that on March 5, 2020, he provided a USPS arrow key to his co-defendant Kevin Williams so that Williams could open USPS blue collection boxes in Liverpool, New York, and steal mail from the boxes. Mitchell also admitted that he gave Williams a USPS letter carrier uniform jacket and mail satchel to wear so that Williams would look like a USPS employee as he improperly accessed the collection boxes. Williams stole mail contained in the USPS blue collection boxes, including 49 pieces of first-class mail with checks totaling $67,883.91.
Williams also pled guilty to one count of possession with the intent to unlawfully use a USPS key and one count of theft of mail. Williams was sentenced on May 12, 2021 to serve 6 months of home detention, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.
William D. Wood Jr. Enters Federal Guilty Plea in Chili’s Double Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William D. Wood, Jr. pled guilty today to federal charges related to the September 2018 robbery and murders he committed at the Chili’s Grill and Bar in Dewitt, New York, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Wood, age 35, of Syracuse, entered guilty pleas to three federal felonies: one count of robbery and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and murder. He admitted that in September 2018, he planned and carried out an armed robbery of the Chili’s in Dewitt, and that during the commission of the robbery he directly caused the deaths of two people by use of a firearm.
Wood further admitted that during the early morning hours of September 15, 2018, armed with a loaded handgun, he forced his way into the back door of Chili’s, where four employees remained to close the restaurant. Wood admitted that he held all four employees on the ground at gunpoint, and after obtaining the available cash from the restaurant’s safe, shot and killed Stephen Gudknecht and Kristopher Hicks. Wood admitted that his gun malfunctioned as he attempted to shoot another employee, allowing time for that employee and a fourth employee to hide and flee from Wood.
Wood’s sentencing is scheduled for December 29, 2021 before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York. He faces maximum sentences of 20 years on the robbery conviction, and life on each of the two firearms offenses. 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; however, by statute, the sentences imposed on each count of conviction in this case must run consecutively to one another.
Wood was previously sentenced in Onondaga County Court to life without parole following his plea of guilty to related state crimes, including two counts of Murder in the First Degree. Wood will serve his state sentence first, and if ever released by New York State, he would be surrendered to federal custody to serve any undischarged portion of his federal term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the Town of Dewitt Police Department, and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa M. Fletcher and Michael D. Gadarian.
Texas Man Charged with Conspiring with Michael Mann to Defraud LendersRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derek R. Schwartz, age 52, of Coppell, Texas, was indicted yesterday and accused of conspiring with ValueWise CEO Michael T. Mann to defraud companies that loaned millions of dollars to ValueWise subsidiaries.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Schwartz was charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, along with four counts of wire fraud, and will be arraigned at a later date. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the indictment, Mann obtained millions of dollars in loans from two financing companies, located in New York and Colorado, by falsifying his companies’ receivables. Mann falsely told the financing companies that Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (“UHG”), and its subsidiary OptumInsight Inc. (“Optum”), owed millions of dollars to his companies. Mann routinely created fake invoices reflecting the fictitious debt and assigned them to the financing companies as collateral for loans.
Schwartz was a high-level executive at Optum, and then began working for ValueWise in about October 2013. Until about August 2016, he operated TrueHR, LLC, a ValueWise subsidiary based in Dallas, Texas.According to the indictment, in or about October 2013, Schwartz recruited a UHG/Optum employee, Luke Steiner, to falsely represent to the financing companies that the fake invoices created by Mann were valid and payable by Optum. With Schwartz’s encouragement and direction, Steiner regularly made these false verifications for six years, ending in August 2019.
Schwartz also allegedly took other actions in furtherance of the fraudulent scheme, including, according to the indictment:
- In 2014 and 2015, he recruited at least two other UHG/Optum employees to verify false invoices that Mann submitted to one of the financing companies.
- From 2014 through 2019, he made misrepresentations directly to one of Mann’s lenders, identified in the indictment as “Financing Company-2.” Mann falsely represented to Financing Company-2 that one of his companies, Weitz & Associates, needed loans in order to pay its vendors. As part of its due diligence process, Financing Company-2 verified, with Weitz’ purported vendors, that they were receiving payments from Weitz. One such purported vendor was TrueHR, a ValueWise company operated by Schwartz. In fact, TrueHR was not a Weitz vendor, and Schwartz regularly lied to Financing Company-2 about TrueHR receiving payments from Weitz – and continued to do so even after TrueHR ceased to exist as a company.
- Schwartz worked with Mann to fabricate Weitz vendors. Mann told Financing Company-2 that, in additional to TrueHR, Weitz had a number of other vendors. Mann, with Schwartz’ help, fabricated the names and contact information of non-existent people working at fake Weitz vendors.
If convicted of any of the charges in the indictment, Schwartz faces up to 20 years in prison, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Mann pled guilty to various crimes in connection with his fraudulent scheme, and was sentenced earlier this month to 144 months in prison. Steiner, age 33, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, pled guilty in February 2020 to conspiring with Mann, and is pending sentencing.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, and being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
- In 2014 and 2015, he recruited at least two other UHG/Optum employees to verify false invoices that Mann submitted to one of the financing companies.
Syracuse Man Convicted at Trial of Naturalization FraudRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Fadl Mohamad Alharbi, age 50, of Syracuse, New York, was convicted today following a federal jury trial of naturalizing contrary to law and submitting a false statement in a passport application, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Timothy Novak, Resident Special Agent in Charge, Buffalo, New York, U.S. Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
The trial evidence revealed that Alharbi, a native of Yemen, used a false name and falsely posed as the son of his uncle, who was a U.S. citizen (and is now deceased), in order to obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States and, later, to naturalize as a U.S. citizen and to apply for a passport. The defendant later admitted in interviews with immigration and Department of State officials that he knew these facts about his identity were false and that he had submitted these false statements in order to naturalize and to obtain a passport.
The charges for which Alharbi was convicted carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Alharbi also faces denaturalization as a result of his naturalization fraud conviction. 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. Alharbi will be sentenced in federal court in Binghamton, New York, on January 4, 2022, by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy, who presided over the trial.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service with assistance from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Hudson Man Admits to Cocaine Base, Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Micah Hines, a/k/a “Water,” age 42, pled guilty today to distributing more than 28 grams of cocaine base, and also admitted to distributing fentanyl, in January 2021.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Ray Donovan, 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 faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a term of post-release supervision of at least 4 years, when United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentences him on December 21, 2021. 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 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Rochester Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Stealing Nude Photos of Dozens of VictimsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nicholas Faber, age 25, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced today to serve 36 months in prison for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his hacking of online social media accounts and theft of nude images of dozens of female victims.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.; Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and State University of New York-Plattsburgh Police Chief Patrick Rascoe.
As part of his guilty plea on February 8, 2021, Faber admitted that from about 2017 to 2019, he worked with co-conspirator Michael Fish to access the school email accounts of dozens of female college students and then used information from those school email accounts to gain access to the victims’ social media accounts. Faber then stole, and traded online with others, private nude photographs and movies stored in the victims’ social media accounts. Also, as a result of Faber’s crimes, the university had to allocate money and staff to identifying compromised accounts, reviewing computer and server access logs, resetting passwords, and notifying students and parents.
Faber obtained his undergraduate degree from SUNY-Plattsburgh, graduating in 2017.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, which will start after Faber is released from prison, and ordered him to pay $35,430 in restitution to SUNY-Plattsburgh and a $200 special assessment.
Fish pled guilty to computer hacking, aggravated identity theft and child pornography offenses on May 19, 2020, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI with substantial assistance from the SUNY-Plattsburgh Police Department. Deputy Chief Michael Stawasz from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Wayne A. Myers, prosecuted the case.
New York Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Stealing Nude Photos of Dozens of VictimsRead the Press Release
A New York man was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his hacking of online social media accounts and theft of nude images of dozens of women.
Nicholas Faber, 25, of Rochester, pleaded guilty on Feb. 8. According to court documents, Faber admitted that from about 2017 to 2019, he worked with co-conspirator Michael Fish to access the school email accounts of dozens of female SUNY-Plattsburgh students and then used information from those school email accounts to gain access to the victims’ social media accounts. Faber then stole, and traded online with others, private nude photographs and movies stored in the victims’ social media accounts. As a result of Faber’s crimes, the university had to allocate money and staff to identifying compromised accounts, reviewing computer and server access logs, resetting passwords and notifying students and parents.
Faber obtained his undergraduate degree from SUNY-Plattsburgh, graduating in 2017.
In addition to the 36 month prison sentence, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a three year term of supervised release, which will start after Faber is released from prison, and ordered him to pay $35,430 in restitution to SUNY-Plattsburgh and a $200 special assessment.
Fish pleaded guilty to computer hacking, aggravated identity theft and child pornography offenses on May 19, 2020 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 3.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Albany Field Office with substantial assistance from the SUNY-Plattsburgh Police Department.
Deputy Chief Michael Stawasz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Wayne A. Myers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York are handling the case.
Martinsburg Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Randell Adist, age 50, of Martinsburg, New York pled guilty today to distributing and possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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 before United States District Court Judge David N. Hurd, 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 approximately 40 files depicting child pornography on his cell phone.
When Adist is sentenced on December 22, 2021, he faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison for distributing child pornography and at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. In addition, Adist will be required to serve a term of supervised release of between five years and life after his term of incarceration and will be required to register as a sex offender. 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 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 Michael D. Gadarian.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States 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.
Onondaga County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timothy B. Pease, 32, of Kirkville, New York, pled guilty yesterday to charges of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In pleading guilty before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby in Syracuse, Pease admitted that from December 2019 through January of 2020, he used various online social networking applications to receive and distribute child pornography. Pease also admitted that during this time he used another social networking application, on which he posed as a teenage girl, to solicit teenage boys to produce sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, which Pease then distributed to others. Pease also admitted to possessing thousands of images and videos of child pornography at the time of his arrest on January 23, 2020.
Pease faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. Upon his release from prison, Pease also will be required to register as a sex offender in any state where he lives, is employed, or is a student. His sentencing is scheduled for December 14, 2021.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being 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.
Felon Charged with Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm at Albany International AirportRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Josef Jarvis, age 32, of Albany, appeared in federal court today on a charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon at the Albany International Airport on August 16, 2021.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Sr.
The criminal complaint alleges that Jarvis, who has prior felony convictions for racketeering and weapons offenses, possessed a loaded handgun while attempting to pass through a security checkpoint at Albany International Airport on August 16, 2021.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Jarvis 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. 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.
Jarvis appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Transportation Security Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Pratt, age 57, of Albany, pled guilty today to the distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, Pratt admitted that he distributed and received child pornography over the internet through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Pratt also admitted that he possessed numerous images of child pornography on his personal laptop, and that he created a folder on his laptop, labeled “JB” for “jailbait,” in which he stored images of child pornography that he had downloaded from the internet.
Pratt faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, when he is sentenced on December 20, 2021. 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, Pratt will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, including investigators from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Williams and Katherine Kopita.
This case is prosecuted 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
Onondaga County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ryan Maher, 35, of Cicero, New York pled guilty today to receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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 before Chief United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, Maher, who has a prior New York State conviction for Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, admitted that he received child pornography in 2019 and 2020 using a peer-to-peer file sharing service on the internet. Maher also admitted that, on November 17, 2020, he possessed approximately 4,000 child pornography files on a thumb drive.
When Maher is sentenced on December 11, 2021, he faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison for receiving child pornography and at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. In addition, Maher will be required to serve a term of supervised release of between five years and life after his term of incarceration and will be required to register as a sex offender. 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 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 Michael D. Gadarian.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States 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.
Prison Inmates Among Four Defendants Indicted for Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Two New York State prison inmates and two others were indicted last week for conspiring to defraud COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs administered by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Nikitas Splagounias, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Joshua McCallister, Acting 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.
In one indictment, Reginald Thornton, age 28, an inmate at the Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone, New York, and Briana Garland, age 28, of Uniondale, New York, were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In a second indictment, Thornton and Rhasha Wright, age 29, of Roosevelt, New York, were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Another Bare Hill inmate, Lord Paulin, age 40, was also charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in the second indictment.
The indictments, returned on August 5, 2021, allege conspiracies to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the names of Bare Hill inmates. Specifically, Thornton provided his own means of identification to Garland, and the means of identification of Paulin and another inmate to Wright, in order for the non-inmates to submit claims. NYSDOL paid over $30,000 as a result of the scheme. The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Garland and Wright were arraigned today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and were released with conditions. Thornton and Paulin will be arraigned on August 19.
The charges for conspiracy to commit mail fraud 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.
These cases are being 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.
North Carolina Woman Sentenced for Running Tax Refund Scam in SyracuseRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Lathisa Smokes, age 38, formerly of Syracuse, New York, and currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 5 years of probation, after previously pleading guilty to filing false tax returns, and assisting others in preparing false tax returns, which caused the IRS to issue refunds worth over $100,000.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, and Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
In pleading guilty, Smokes admitted that from January 2013 to March 2014, she falsely represented herself as a licensed tax preparer, and told taxpayers in Syracuse that she could obtain refunds for them by filing their individual federal tax returns. Smokes convinced the taxpayers to supply her with their dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, and other information for themselves and their minor dependents. Smokes then prepared and filed 21 individual federal income tax returns that she knew contained false information relating to the taxpayers’ income, withholding, and eligibility for certain tax credits. The false returns caused the IRS to deposit $102,918 in refunds to the taxpayers and Smokes. The IRS has recovered the majority of this money.
Smokes was also ordered to pay $11,135 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury as part of her sentence, which was pronounced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.
Jamesville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution, Transportation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Roy Bovee, age 34, of Jamesville, New York, was sentenced today to serve 15 years in federal prison for distribution, transportation and possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, 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 Bruen.
As part of his guilty plea, Bovee admitted that in July 2020 he used the Kik Messenger application on his cellular telephone to distribute child pornography to other other Kik users. A search of the defendant’s cellular telephone revealed that he possessed 152 images and 113 video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos included depictions of the rape and sodomy of prepubescent children. In addition, Bovee admitted to uploading over 100 images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to his on-line cloud storage account.
Bovee is a registered sex offender who while in the military was convicted in 2010 of Distribution of Child Pornography, sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, and given a bad conduct discharge.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will start after Bovee is released from prison, and ordered him to pay a $300 special assessment and $9,000 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
At the time of his offense Bovee was on federal supervised release for a 2014 conviction for failing to register as a sex offender, for which he served a 54-month sentence. Today he also received a concurrent term of 9 months imprisonment for violating the conditions of that release.
Bovee’s 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) with assistance from the United States Probation Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. 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.
Clifton Park Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eric William Tompkins, age 37, of Clifton Park, New York, pled guilty today to possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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 before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy, Tompkins, a registered sex offender, admitted that on March 28, 2019, he possessed child pornography images on his cellular phone that included depictions of prepubescent children.
Tompkins faces at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, when he is sentenced on December 15, 2021. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams.
This case is prosecuted 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.
Rensselaer County Felon Sentenced to 30 Months on Firearms ConvictionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brandon Glaski, age 38, of East Nassau, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing firearms including “ghost guns,” as well as ammunition, a machinegun conversion device, and silencers.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Glaski to a 3-year term of supervised release.
On June 12, 2018, investigators with ATF and the New York State Police (NYSP) executed a federal search warrant at Glaski’s residence in East Nassau. Stored in locked gun lockers in Glaski’s bedroom, as well as in unlocked containers in a hallway closet, basement and garage, were 23 rifles, 15 handguns, seven silencers, one machinegun conversion device, 101 ammunition magazines, and over 5,000 rounds of assorted ammunition. The recovered firearms included two rifles without serial numbers (“ghost guns”), as well as 15 finished rifle and pistol lower receivers lacking serial numbers.
In pleading guilty, Glaski admitted that he had ordered the machinegun conversion device and silencers from Internet-based suppliers. At the time he possessed the firearms and ammunition, Glaski had a prior state felony conviction for impaired driving.
This case was investigated by ATF, with assistance provided by NYSP, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. 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.
Schenectady Woman Pleads Guilty to Heroin Charges and Possession of a Defaced FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nakia Barber, age 46, of Schenectady, New York, plead guilty today to unlawfully possessing a defaced firearm, and to possessing with intent to distribute and distributing heroin. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and 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).
As part of her guilty plea, Barber admitted that she possessed a defaced Walther P22 .22 caliber pistol, and possessed and distributed heroin on October 30, 2018.
Barber faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life when she is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. on December 7, 2021. 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 Schenectady County Sherriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander P. 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.
Albany Doctor Admits to Violating the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Dr. Larry Bruni has agreed to pay the United States $50,000 to resolve allegations that on numerous occasions from 2016 through 2020, he prescribed controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose or outside the usual course of a professional medical practice, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Dr. Bruni also agreed to surrender DEA registration, and will not seek another DEA registration for at least 15 years. The amount of the civil penalty is based on Dr. Bruni’s inability to pay a higher amount.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
“Prescription pads are for the medication patients need, not drugs they want,” said Antoinette T. Bacon, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “We will continue to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration to enforce the Controlled Substances Act by pursuing civil remedies when there is evidence that physicians have violated their oath to do no harm by writing unlawful prescriptions.”
“Instead of providing appropriate treatment and a safe haven for patients, Dr. Bruni perpetuated the cycle of addiction,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, DEA New York Division. “I commend the Northern District of New York and the Diversion Investigators of the Albany District Office for their resolve to this investigation. DEA and our dedicated partners will continue to investigate those DEA Registrants who choose to neglect their duties and harm those they swore to protect.”
The Settlement Agreement resolves allegations that while Dr. Bruni purported to treat patients for substance abuse, he actually facilitated continued addiction and drug abuse. Examples of conduct include:
- Prescribing Adderall to a patient Dr. Bruni knew was abusing cocaine and methamphetamines, contributing to a high risk of heart attack or stroke for that individual;
- Prescribing Adderall to a patient who repeatedly tested negative for having taken Adderall, suggesting that those prescriptions were not medically necessary or that the medication was being diverted to the illegal market;
- Prescribing ketamine to patients to self-administer even though that drug is typically administered only in a medical setting because it induces a trance-like and dissociative state. In one case, a patient was injured at work while under the influence of ketamine; and
- Prescribing fentanyl strips for a patient who had ongoing substance abuse problems and ultimately died of fentanyl intoxication.
The DEA suspended Dr. Bruni’s DEA Registration in March 2021, which Dr. Bruni agreed to surrender in June 2021. As a result, Dr. Bruni is no longer able to write prescriptions for controlled substances. Pursuant to the Agreement, Dr. Bruni also agreed not to reapply for a DEA registration for at least 15 years.
This case was investigated by the DEA Albany District Office Diversion Group. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher R. Moran represented the United States in this matter.
- Prescribing Adderall to a patient Dr. Bruni knew was abusing cocaine and methamphetamines, contributing to a high risk of heart attack or stroke for that individual;
Washington County Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Day, age 34, of Argyle, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint today with unlawfully possessing ammunition as a felon and illegally possessing a machinegun on August 5, 2021.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 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 criminal complaint alleges that Day, who has a prior felony conviction for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a user of a controlled substance, possessed ammunition and a machinegun at his residence in Argyle, on August 5, 2021. Law enforcement also located other firearms and ammunition at his residence. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Day 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. 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.
Day appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with assistance from the New York State Police and ATF, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Wentworth-Ping and Richard Belliss.
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.
Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 51 Months for Stealing and Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony A. Parker, age 55, of Troy, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; 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.
In pleading guilty, Parker admitted that on April 13, 2020, while employed as a driver at the Federal Express distribution center in Menands, New York, he removed a package from a conveyor belt that was addressed to a Capital Region gun store that contained a Ruger 57 5.7 x 28mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and two magazines. Parker later hid the pistol and magazines at his residence in Troy. At the time he stole and possessed the pistol and magazines, Parker had a prior conviction for second-degree murder.
Parker has been in custody since his arrest on a federal complaint on May 13, 2020.
In addition to the prison sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby sentenced Parker to serve a 3-year term of post-release supervision.
This case was investigated by the FBI and NYSP, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. 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.
Troy Man Sentenced on Heroin and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jean Luis Colon, age 23, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing and intending to distribute heroin, and to possessing a firearm with an altered serial number.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division.
Colon admitted that he possessed approximately 2,050 small bags of heroin that he intended to sell, which law enforcement seized when they executed a search warrant on his Troy residence on August 21, 2020; some of the heroin bags were stamped with the words “Corona Virus.” The bags collectively contained between 60 and 80 grams of heroin.
Colon also admitted to possessing a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver with a scratched serial number. Colon has been in custody since his arrest on August 21, 2020.
This prosecution was the result of a joint investigation by the DEA, Troy Police Department, and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett with assistance from the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.
ValueWise CEO Michael Mann Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for $100 Million FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael T. Mann, age 51, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for running a complex scheme that caused more than $100 million in losses to banks, financing companies, and other businesses, and also involved his misappropriation of millions of dollars entrusted to payroll companies that he owned.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered Mann to serve 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, pay restitution to victims in the total amount of $101,038,793.31, and to forfeit assets already seized by the Government, including $14,522,474.90 contained in bank accounts and 30,000 common shares of Pioneer Bancorp Inc.
Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon stated: “Today’s sentence holds Michael Mann accountable for his despicable crimes. For years, instead of growing a legitimate business in Clifton Park, he grew a fraudulent scheme. Mann inflicted major losses on companies that loaned him money. He also stole the paychecks of thousands of hard-working people, and the tax payments of hundreds of small businesses, across the country. Mann caused immense stress for small business owners and fear among employees living paycheck to paycheck, and he justly deserves the term of imprisonment imposed today. This case should be a deterrent to businesspeople who would seek to lie, cheat and steal their way to success.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi stated: “Michael Mann's intricate fraud scheme allowed him to manipulate the system to the tune of $100 million. He played a dangerously deceitful game with the paychecks of thousands of hard-working Americans trying to make an honest living. Not only were thousands of employees impacted, but some small business owners lost their livelihoods when they went out of business due to Mann’s criminal scheme. While today’s sentence cannot build back those businesses or give back lost jobs, we can only hope it serves as a resounding message that the FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will not stand for anyone looking to gamble with the hard-earned incomes of our citizens.”
Mann operated ValueWise Corporation, based in Clifton Park, New York, as well as subsidiary companies including MyPayrollHR.com LLC. He admitted that from 2013 to September 2019, he engaged in a fraudulent scheme to deceive banks and financing companies into loaning his companies tens of millions of dollars. Because Mann could not repay the loans with legitimate business revenues, he expanded the fraud, by stealing and diverting millions of dollars that were entrusted to his payroll companies, and engaging in the daily kiting of millions of dollars among bank accounts he controlled.
Mann’s scheme collapsed in late August and early September 2019, when one of his banks froze his accounts, setting off a chain of events that left his payroll companies unable to process payroll and tax payments for hundreds of small business customers nationwide.
On August 12, 2020, Mann pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, nine counts of bank fraud, and one count of filing a false tax return.
Mann’s scheme had multiple layers, including:
- Mann obtained tens of millions of dollars in loans from three financing companies, located in New York, Colorado and California, respectively, by falsifying his companies’ revenues and receivables. Mann falsely told the financing companies that Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (“UHG”) and its subsidiary OptumInsight Inc. (“Optum”), owed millions of dollars to his companies. Mann created fake invoices reflecting the fictitious debt and assigned them to the financing companies as collateral for the loans.
- Mann fraudulently obtained a line of credit from several Capital Region banks; the line of credit had grown to $42 million by August 2019. To obtain the line of credit, Mann created companies whose sole purpose was to further the fraud by generating fake invoices, disguising sources of funds, and artificially inflating his assets; falsely represented to the banks that his fake businesses had revenues and receivables based on consulting work for Optum/UHG and other well-known companies, including 3M, Best Buy and T-Mobile; hid the tens of millions of dollars in loans he was receiving from the financing companies, and that he was using the line of credit to pay down these loans; and provided false financial statements, and individual and corporate tax returns, to his outside auditor, which in turn made inaccurate reports to the banks.
- Mann misappropriated payroll monies, entrusted to MyPayrollHR and other payroll companies he owned, by changing the instructions for digital Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) files that were supposed to transmit payroll from customers (employers) to the employees of the customers. Although his companies’ contracts with Cachet Financial Services specified that ACH transfers would route payroll funds from the employers’ accounts to a designated Cachet trust account and then directly to the customers’ employees, Mann changed the instructions inside digital ACH files provided to Cachet, in order to divert payroll funds into accounts that he controlled at Pioneer Bank. When Pioneer Bank froze Mann’s corporate accounts on or about August 30, 2019, it froze the payroll funds in those accounts, and caused several thousand people across the country to not receive a payroll payment.
Mann is the first person to be sentenced in connection with this fraud. A co-conspirator, former Optum employee Luke E. Steiner, age 33, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, pled guilty in February 2020 to conspiring with Mann to defraud two financing companies out of millions of dollars.This case was investigated by the FBI, as well as Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
- Mann obtained tens of millions of dollars in loans from three financing companies, located in New York, Colorado and California, respectively, by falsifying his companies’ revenues and receivables. Mann falsely told the financing companies that Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (“UHG”) and its subsidiary OptumInsight Inc. (“Optum”), owed millions of dollars to his companies. Mann created fake invoices reflecting the fictitious debt and assigned them to the financing companies as collateral for the loans.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to the Binghamton Area Intending to Engage in Sexual Conduct with Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – James Obelkevich, age 51, of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today to traveling to New York from Pennsylvania for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with two children. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon 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, Obelkevich admitted that from the summer of 2019 until the spring of 2020 he exchanged multiple sexually explicit messages via an online social networking application with an undercover officer posing as the mother of 9-year-old and 13-year-old girls. In these messages, Obelkevich expressed a desire to engage in sexually explicit conduct with both children. Obelkevich further admitted that on March 11, 2020, he traveled from Pennsylvania to New York in order to meet with the children and engage in sexual conduct with them at a location in the Binghamton area. Obelkevich was arrested after arriving at the location and has been in custody since that date.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2021, in Binghamton, before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. Obelkevich 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 Obelkevich 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 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.
Former Postal Carrier Sentenced for Discarding Mail in WoodsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tanner Brown, 25, of Cobleskill, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to 18 months of Probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, after previously pleading guilty to one felony count of delaying the mail, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office.
As a part of his prior guilty plea, Brown admitted that between January 1, 2019, and July 24, 2019, while working as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service, he intentionally detained and failed to deliver 5,833 pieces of mail. Instead of delivering this mail to its intended recipients in Onondaga County, Brown drove it to Sharon Springs, New York, where he dumped some of it in a grassy field and the rest of it in a wooded area underneath a pile of discarded tires. When agents recovered the mail from those locations, they discovered that much of it was First-Class Mail and that most of it was wet, dirty, and/or covered in bugs. The Postal Service eventually delivered as much of the recovered mail as it could, and Brown is no longer employed by the Postal Service.
Brown was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service as part of his sentence, which was pronounced by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, who presides over the case.
This case was investigated by USPS-OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Oswego County Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Alisha Obey, age 35, of Fulton, New York, pled guilty yesterday to unlawfully possessing with the intent to distribute eutylone, a Schedule I controlled substance.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of her guilty plea, Obey admitted that on July 14, 2019, November 8, 2019, and December 3, 2019, she possessed eutylone, which she intended to distribute to customers throughout Oswego County. Eutylone is a synthetic cathinone and has pharmacological effects on the central nervous system similar to other schedule I or II substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
Obey faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of post-release supervision of at least 3 years and up to life when she is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. on December 1, 2021. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Oswego County Drug Task Force, comprised of Special Agents of HSI, members of the City of Oswego Police Department, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, investigators from the Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, the SUNY Oswego Police Department and agents of the U.S. Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle.