Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Henassy McConico, age 27, of Albany, pled guilty yesterday to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. 

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

McConico admitted to personally distributing fentanyl pills numerous times in 2024, including on October 15, 2024, when he distributed approximately 485 fentanyl pills to another individual. McConico further admitted that he possessed a loaded handgun and assorted ammunition in his home. As a result of his prior conviction for attempted robbery, McConico could not lawfully possess the handgun.

At sentencing scheduled for July 23, 2025, McConico faces a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison, a maximum fine of $8 million, and a term of supervised release after imprisonment of at least 8 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

DEA investigated this case with the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Hudson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting this case. 

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Justin Zimmer, age 45, of Wynantskill, New York, pled guilty today to distributing methamphetamine.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

Zimmer admitted to distributing over 5 grams of pure methamphetamine in Albany County, on or about January 14, 2022.  Zimmer is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on July 28, 2025.  He faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

ATF investigated the case with the assistance of the New York Police Department High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Troy Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Quashawn Pettiford, age 34, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 71 months in federal prison for Interference With Commerce Through Robbery. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of his prior plea agreement, Pettiford admitted that on January 11, 2022, he and two others entered a gas station in Salina, New York, wearing masks. The other two individuals carried BB guns that appeared to be real firearms. Those individuals pointed the BB guns at the store clerk and one of them pressed a gun into the clerk’s neck while directing the clerk to open the cash register. Pettiford further admitted that he and the other robbers took approximately $1,200 in merchandise from the store shelves, approximately $1,495 from the cash register, and $513 from the clerk’s wallet.

Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Pettiford is released from prison. Pettiford was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the offense and to forfeit the $3,208 proceeds of the offense.

FBI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police, Syracuse Police Department, DeWitt Police Department, and Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Thomas R. Sutcliffe prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert LaVair, age 19, of Louisville, New York, pled guilty today to receipt and possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As part of his guilty plea, LaVair admitted that in January of 2024, he received numerous images and videos of child pornography by downloading them from the dark web.  In addition to child pornography obtained from the internet, LaVair also admitted that he possessed sexually explicit images and videos of a nine-year-old child that he produced while the child was sleeping. 

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  However, if Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes accepts the parties’ agreed-upon disposition at sentencing, scheduled for July 18, 2025, LaVair will receive a federal prison term of between 14 and 15 years to be followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. LaVair will also be required to pay restitution to the children whose images he received and possessed, and will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 

The case was investigated by HSI and the New York State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adrian S. LaRochelle and Benjamin Gillis as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK –Collins Bozil, age 26, of Albany, pled guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and forging endorsements on Treasury checks, for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits and purchasing stolen tax refund checks issued by the United States Treasury.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Jeffrey Burr, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of the United States Secret Service (USSS); and Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Field Division, Department of the Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), made the announcement.

Bozil admitted that from about April 2020 through April 2021, he fraudulently obtained over $143,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Bozil admitted that he used cryptocurrency to purchase the personal identifying information (PII) of five people. Bozil used the stolen PII to file for unemployment insurance benefits with the New York State Department of Labor.

Bozil also admitted to purchasing five stolen tax refund checks worth more than $9,000, which he falsely endorsed before depositing into bank accounts he owned and controlled.

Bozil agreed to pay $143,178 to the State of New York, $3,225 to the United States Department of Treasury, and $6,075 to the victims whose identity he stole.

Bozil faces at least 2 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USSS, and TIGTA. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck and Joseph S. Hartunian are prosecuting the case.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Pedro Solano-Azamar, age 27, and a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Solano-Azamar – an illegal alien himself who entered the United States in 2020 – admitted that on May 15, 2023, he traveled from North Carolina to Northern New York, along with four co-conspirators, and smuggled 16 citizens of Mexico who had illegally entered the United States from Canada.  Following Solano Azamar’s service of his term of imprisonment, he faces deportation to Mexico. 

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Davon Hunter, age 27, of Richmond, Virginia, Christian Quivers, age 20, of Richmond, and Crystal Kurschner, age 44, of Brooklyn, New York, have pled guilty for their respective roles in a bank fraud conspiracy. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of their pleas, Hunter, Quivers, and Kurschner each admitted that they were members of a conspiracy to defraud financial institutions all over the country by obtaining the personal identifying information (“PII”) of victims and using lower-level “workers” to impersonate the identity-theft victims to conduct fraudulent banking transactions in their names.  As part of a plea agreement entered today, Quivers admitted that he was a supervisor in the conspiracy and relayed instructions he obtained from supervisors, including Oluwaseun Adekoya, Kani Bassie, and Hunter, to lower-level members of the conspiracy who impersonated identity-theft victims and conducted fraudulent transactions in their names.  As part of a plea agreement entered earlier this week, Kurschner admitted that she was a “worker” who impersonated identity-theft victims and provided most of the fraud proceeds to her supervisors.  Earlier this month, Hunter admitted that he was a manager of the conspiracy who received directions and PII from supervisors including Adekoya and Bassie and orchestrated fraudulent transactions on their behalf.

Hunter and Quivers each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  Kurschner pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. 

These remaining defendants are charged as follows in the second superseding indictment: 

• Adekoya, age 39, a Nigerian citizen living in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft;
• Bassie, age 36, of Brooklyn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of aggravated identity theft; and
• Jermon Brooks, age 20, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

As to these defendants, the charges in the second superseding indictment are merely accusations. These remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI-Albany, which began after the May 2022 arrest of Daniyan, Gaysha Kennedy, age 46, of Brooklyn, and Victor Barriera, age 64, of the Bronx, by the Cohoes Police Department after the trio traveled to the Capital Region to commit bank fraud.  According to documents previously filed in the case, the investigation has uncovered over $1.7 million in fraudulent transactions to date.  Eleven defendants have pled guilty and forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds, luxury apparel, and jewelry.

At sentencing later this year, Hunter, Quivers, and Kurschner each face a maximum term of 30 years’ incarceration for the bank fraud conspiracy, and Hunter and Quivers each face a mandatory consecutive term of 2 years’ incarceration for their convictions of aggravated identity theft.  The defendants will be ordered to pay restitution and will also face a term of post-incarceration supervised release of up to 5 years. 

FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York, Newark, Richmond and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Brooklyn/Queens, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General; New York law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police; Cohoes PD; Colonie PD; Elmira PD; Corning PD; Plattsburgh PD; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; Alabama law enforcement agencies including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Gasden PD, and Rainbow City PD; Georgia law enforcement agencies including the Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrow PD; Kansas law enforcement agencies including Lawrence PD and Overland Park PD; New Hampshire law enforcement agencies including Rochester PD, Manchester PD, and Amherst PD; the Delaware State Police; Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin law enforcement agencies including Onalaska PD and Eau Claire PD; and Indiana law enforcement agencies including the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Danning Lake, age 87, of Scotia, New York, was sentenced to 1 year of probation today for abusive sexual contact.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Thomas Gibbons, Chief of the Department of Veterans Affairs Police at the Stratton VA Medical Center; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, of the Northeast Field Office for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.

Lake admitted that he grabbed the breast of a nursing student at the Stratton VA as she was giving him care on February 29, 2024.  Lake then asked the student nurse, “did you like that?” and told her “they feel nice.”  When the Veterans Affairs Police Officer spoke to Lake, he said that he would do the same thing again if he had the opportunity.  Lake acknowledged that his mental status was not altered by medication, age, or illness and that he groped the nursing student for his own sexual gratification.  As a result of this conviction, Lake must register as a sex offender. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department and Office of Inspector General investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Reiner and Tamara B. Thomson prosecuted.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, age 35, and a citizen of Nigeria, pled guilty yesterday to two counts of wire fraud.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

Umeadi admitted soliciting and purchasing a webpage from a computer hacker that allowed him to illegally gain access to people’s email passwords. Umeadi used those passwords to gain access to email accounts belonging to employees of a produce exporter in Sri Lanka. Umeadi then sent fraudulent emails, which appeared to legitimately come from the produce exporter but were in fact from an email account set up and controlled by Umeadi, directing payment on the Sri Lankan company’s accounts receivable be made to bank accounts in the United Kingdom, controlled by Umeadi. As a result of the fraudulent emails from Umeadi, on two occasions in 2016, a produce importer in Plattsburgh, New York, wired money, totaling $158,400, to those bank accounts in the United Kingdom.

Umeadi was arrested on the charges on September 1, 2024, by authorities in Germany when he arrived there from Nigeria. Umeadi was then extradited from Germany to the United States.

At sentencing, scheduled for July 21, 2025, Umeadi faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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 defendant will face removal from the United States after service of his imprisonment term.

HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Offringa, age 34, of Caledonia, Michigan, and Highway and Heavy Parts, LLC (“HHP”), a heavy-duty diesel parts supplier headquartered in Coleman, Michigan,  have been sentenced and fined a total of $125,000 for their pleas last year to an indictment charging them with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act (“CAA”).  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Daniel Meyers, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)’s Criminal Investigations Division (“CID”), Northeast Area Branch, made the announcement.  

Pursuant to the CAA, the EPA enacted regulations that required heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers to limit emissions on those engines.  To comply with these regulations, manufacturers install hardware components, including filters, exhaust recirculation systems, and exhaust aftertreatment systems.  Heavy-duty diesel trucks are also required under the CAA to maintain an onboard-diagnostic system (“OBD”), which monitors the functionality of the hardware emissions control components.  If the OBD detects that an emissions control component is not working, or has been removed, it will ultimately put the truck into what is known as “limp mode,” which limits the top speed to as low as 5 miles per hour.  This is designed to incentivize truck operators to repair any faulty components.

Offringa and HHP previously pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that between at least June 2017 and March 2019, they conspired together and with HHP’s customers, including coconspirators DAIM Logistics, Inc. and Patrick Oare of Fultonville, New York, to tamper with (“tune”) the emission control monitoring devices and systems of numerous diesel vehicles.  As part of the conspiracy, HHP referred its customers who had removed emissions hardware on their heavy-duty diesel trucks to Offringa, who then reprogrammed the OBDs to bypass the CAA monitoring functions so the trucks would remain operational in exchange for a fee of $1,000 to $1,500 per OBD.  HHP charged its customers approximately $250 for each tune performed by Offringa on top of what Offringa charged. 

Today, Offringa was sentenced to a fine of $100,000, payable immediately.  Offringa also agreed to allow the EPA to monitor his businesses for ongoing compliance for two years.  Earlier this year, HHP was sentenced to a fine of $25,000, which it paid at the time of sentencing. 

EPA CID investigated the case, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Keemont Reynolds, age 25, of Manhattan, New York, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances. Reynolds was convicted in November 2024 following a four-day jury trial.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

The evidence at trial established that on November 1, 2023, law enforcement stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Malone, New York. Tyrece Franklin was driving the Grand Cherokee; Roddrick Ingram was seated in the front passenger seat; and Keemont Reynolds was seated in the backseat. Police located a false compartment built within the front dash of the Grand Cherokee. Within the hidden compartment, police found approximately 424 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 564.89 grams of cocaine, approximately 545.77 grams of cocaine base, and approximately 4.87 grams of heroin and fentanyl. In all, the drugs had an approximate street value of $140,000 in Malone.

After three days of testimony, the jury deliberated for five hours before convicting Reynolds of the conspiracy charge but acquitting him of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The jury acquitted Ingram of both charges. Franklin pled guilty and was sentenced on January 23, 2025, to 120 months in prison.

Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Reynolds is released from prison.

HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Collyer and Jeffrey Stitt prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Christopher Gleason, age 36, of Auburn, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 3 years’ probation and ordered to pay $14,858.94 in restitution and a special assessment of $400.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General – Northeast Region, made the announcement.

During his previously entered guilty plea, Gleason admitted that while he was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, he began receiving workers’ compensation benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) for a sprained ankle. While receiving workers’ compensation benefits, Gleason admitted that he was working construction jobs.  Gleason had been instructed to report any earnings from employment outside his federal job for the periods where he sought workers’ compensation benefits.  Gleason admitted to filing multiple false claims affirming that he had not worked outside of his federal job, when he was working and earning income. As a result of the false statements, Gleason received benefits totaling $14,858.94.

The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General and Department of Labor investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson is prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timmy Rifenburg, age 49, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 27 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failing to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), and for violating the terms of his supervised release imposed as part of his 2020 conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. Rifenburg was required to register as a sex offender as the result of a 2007 federal conviction for possession of child pornography. 

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

The imprisonment term consists of 16 months in federal prison on the new criminal offense of failing to register the email account as required under SORNA, and a consecutive imprisonment term of 11 months for the supervised release violations of failing to report to the probation office, moving to a residence that was not approved by the probation office, possessing three unreported internet capable cellphones, viewing adult pornography on the unreported cellphones, and for being unsuccessfully discharged from sex offender treatment.

The United States Marshals Service investigated this case and Assistant United States Attorney Tamara Thomson prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

UTICA, NEW YORK – Miguel Rodriguez, age 36, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty yesterday to high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Ogdensburg Port of Entry Director Thomas Trimboli made the announcement.

Rodriguez admitted that on January 20, 2025, he arrived from Canada to the U.S. Customs Port of Entry in Ogdensburg, New York, driving a red Infinity sedan, but sped away without stopping and reporting for inspection. A short time later, a St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy found Rodriguez driving the Infinity in Ogdensburg and attempted to stop him. Rodriguez refused to pull over and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, which ended when Rodriguez struck a pickup truck occupied by three people and then crashed into a residence in Ogdensburg; no one was injured. A search of the Infinity revealed a 12-round handgun magazine containing four 9mm bullets. Rodriguez was prohibited from possessing the ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for assault.

At sentencing, scheduled for July 17, 2025, Rodriguez faces a maximum term of 15 years in prison for the ammunition possession and a maximum of 5 years in prison for fleeing from the Port of Entry, 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 statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

HSI and CBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Wright, age 37, of Albany, was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint with possession of firearms as a previously convicted felon.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, made the announcement.

According to the criminal complaint, Wright possessed seven firearms (four pistols, a revolver, a rifle, and a shotgun) in his residence, along with ammunition and suspected narcotics. Wright has a prior felony conviction in New York that prevented him from lawfully possessing those firearms. One firearm had been reported stolen in July 2024. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Wright carries a maximum term of 15 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.

Wright made an initial appearance today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 25, 2025.

ATF and DEA are investigating the case, with assistance from the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Frank Twing, Sr. age 33, of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old victim and travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with an approximately 12-year-old victim. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Twing admitted that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old child during which he created sexually explicit videos depicting that child. He also admitted to traveling from his home in Massachusetts to New York, planning to have sex with an approximately 12-year-old child.

Twing will also have to forfeit to the United States the property he used to commit the offenses, pay special assessments, and is required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Benjamin A. Gillis are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Les by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Erin Rushford, age 50, formerly of Cicero, New York, was sentenced today to 25 months in prison for her role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine in Onondaga County and elsewhere in Central New York.

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

As part of her prior guilty plea, Rushford admitted that from approximately February 2020 through April 2021, she participated in a conspiracy to transport methamphetamine from California to locations in the Northern District of New York for distribution. Rushford further admitted that she agreed to receive shipments of methamphetamine delivered to her home and the home of a relative; she delivered those packages of methamphetamine to other coconspirators for further distribution. Rushford also admitted that she herself sold methamphetamine to customers out of her residence. 

Senior United States Senior District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Rushford to serve a 3-year term of supervised release to follow her release from prison, and ordered the forfeiture of $3,160.

This case was investigated by DEA, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York State Police-Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET), Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Syracuse Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joshua White, age 47, of Albany County, was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of post-imprisonment supervision. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

During his previously entered guilty plea, White admitted that he distributed sexually explicit images of a minor known to him to another person over text message, and that when he met with police in July 2023, he possessed, on his phone, child sexual abuse material depicting other victims that he obtained from the Internet and social media messaging applications.

White was also ordered to forfeit the property he used to commit the offense, and pay a special assessment and restitution of $5,000 to the victim known to him. He is required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Wynn, age 32, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced to 60 months in prison today for distribution of a controlled substance.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

Wynn admitted to selling 1,500 fentanyl pills and 8.6 grams of cocaine base to another person.  The fentanyl pills were stamped “M30” to make them appear as if they were oxycodone.  At the time, Wynn was on state probation for two felony cocaine convictions.  United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Wynn to serve 4 years of supervised release and forfeit the $3,000 profit he made.

The DEA conducted the investigation with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Atikur Razzaque, age 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Razzaque admitted that on September 21, 2024, he traveled to the northern border near Westville, New York, where he smuggled three Bangladeshi citizens into the United States for profit. Razzaque admitted that he smuggled other aliens across the border in the past.

United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Maya McIntosh, age 33, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiracies to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and controlled substance analogue, distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and controlled substance analogue, and unlawful possession and use of a means of identification.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than January 2023 through July 2024, the defendant manufactured, distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute the substance MDMB-4en-PINACA, and conspired to do so with others. MDMB-4en-PINACA is a synthetic cannabinoid. McIntosh ordered constituent chemicals, which were shipped to the residences of McIntosh and a coconspirator. McIntosh combined those chemicals in her residence to create MDMB-4en-PINACA, which was in liquid form. McIntosh then sprayed and soaked the liquid onto copy paper and business envelopes. McIntosh placed those documents into U.S. Priority Mail Express envelopes addressed to inmates at various correctional facilities in New York. McIntosh disguised the envelopes as legal mail by stamping the names of actual attorneys in the return address portion of the envelopes, without the attorneys’ knowledge or permission, to make it appear is if the parcels were sent by attorneys and contained legitimate legal paperwork instead of a controlled substance. McIntosh used social media to sell the sheets and envelopes soaked in MDMB-4en-PINACA to others. McIntosh’s customers paid her to mail the MDMB-4en-PINACA-soaked papers to inmates at the facilities.

McIntosh faces a maximum term of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count. She also faces a maximum fine of $1 million on the drug counts and a fine of $250,000 on the remaining counts. McIntosh also faces a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

USPIS and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Fuino, age 75, of Slingerlands, New York, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child who was 6 years old during the abuse.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Last year, Fuino pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and admitted that between the summer of 2022 and April 2023, he babysat a female child born in 2016 and used the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.  According to statements previously made in court, the victim reported the abuse in May 2023 after attending an elementary school presentation on inappropriate touching and sexual contact.  During the execution of a federal search warrant at Fuino’s residence in Slingerlands shortly after the child’s report, Fuino admitted having touched the victim’s genitals.  Fuino has been incarcerated in pretrial detention since that time.

Today, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced Fuino to 15 years’ incarceration, followed by 15 years of supervised release.  Judge D’Agostino also ordered Fuino to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $36,962.25 and imposed special assessments totaling $5,100.  Fuino will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 

The FBI investigated this case, with assistance from the New York State Police and the Colonie Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gregory Magin, age 44, of Glenville, New York, was arrested on Friday on a criminal complaint charging him with distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

The criminal complaint alleges that from on or about July 18 through July 20, 2024, Magin distributed CSAM videos over the internet.  Magin sent CSAM videos to other users on an online chat application in order to get access to certain groups.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Magin initially appeared Friday in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 18.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as Part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, and led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III made these remarks today upon his swearing-in at the James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse:

Thank you, Chief Judge Sannes. Thank you to the Judges of the Northern District of New York, to Clerk of the Court John Domurad, and to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Hanlon, who has ably assisted me with the onboarding process.

I would like to first thank my family for the support and love throughout my life and career, My Wife Cecilia and Children who could not join us today, John Anthony (a Junior at Penn State) and Francesca (a freshman at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina) and Juliet, a sophomore at Croton Harmon High School who is missing school to be here.

Also present are my Mom Deann, my sister Jennifer Genes, Aunt Jane Fiorito and cousins Bill and Janet Tuttle, Cousin Bruce Fiorito and his wife Lorraine, thank you for your steadfast support.

To my brothers Michael and Raymond and their families who could not join us today and extended Sarcone, Fiorito and Hickey families and my wife Cecilia’s family, thank you for your love and support.

Thanks, and a big shout out to my close confidante and friend Ola Hawatmeh.

My dear friends Father Douglas Crawford and Rabbi Abraham Klein. Thank you for joining me today.

Thank you, Governor George Pataki, for all your support throughout the years.

I would like to recognize Senate Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Bill Weber, Assembly Leader Will Barclay, Assemblyman Robert Smullen, my dear friends Chairman Douglas Colety and Chairman Don Minichino, who took time out of their busy schedules to join me today.

Thank you, Ambassador Elise Stefanik, for your support of my appointment.

Also joining me are my Dear friend, mentor and former law partner, NYS Appellate Division 2nd Department Justice Mark Dillon and his wife Michelle, my longtime friend and colleague Maury Heller, Al Buonamici, and mentor in everything election law John Ciampoli.

Thanks to some very special friends who believed in me and fought with me in the political trenches for the past 10 years, Former Congressman John Sweeney, White House Counsel David Warrington, First Deputy White House Counsel Gineen Bresso, Deputy White House Counsel Stuart McCommas.

And to all friends and colleagues who traveled to Albany today to witness my swearing-in on this most sacred and blessed day, THANK YOU.

Incidentally, the family bible that I swore my oath on was passed down from my great grandmother Jennie Curtis Hickey to my grandmother Dorothy “Dot” Hickey Fiorito and to my mom Deann Sarcone. I chose today to be sworn in to honor my late grandmother Dot! I was also spiritually moved when my brother Raymond pointed out the date Attorney General Bondi signed the Order appointing me to this most prestigious position, February 28. That day would have been my father’s 87th birthday, whom we lost 35 years ago.

During the first Trump Administration, I had the privilege and honor of serving as the 14th Regional Administrator for the United States General Services Administration, Northeast Caribbean Region. My jurisdiction included the Northern District of New York and this historic courthouse.

These federal courthouses mean something – they project the majesty and authority of our government. Everyone knows that important work is going on inside.

I am honored to be welcomed again into this building, this time as U.S. Attorney, to lead the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, who are doing the important work of representing the United States in enforcing its laws both civil and criminal.

Since I was appointed U.S. Attorney two weeks ago, here are just some of the great results this office has achieved:

• A Nigerian citizen, who has been illegally present in this country for decades and living under stolen identities, pled guilty to bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies that caused $1.7 million in losses;
• A North Country woman pled guilty to her role in an alien smuggling conspiracy that left a Romanian family of four dead in the St. Lawrence River; and
• A former music teacher was convicted after trial of transporting students across state lines, and raping and sexually abusing them.

These cases are each the result of close collaboration between AUSAs and our law enforcement partners. My goal is to continue this great work, and to implement the mandate by President Trump and task of Attorney General Pam Bondi to restore public confidence in our justice system. I am humbled and honored that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed their faith and trust in me to carry forth that mandate as the chief federal law enforcement officer in this district.

Which leads me to this subject – what makes a good prosecutor? It’s not what college or law school you went to, or whether you have been a career prosecutor, as recent events show. What matters is judgment.

A good prosecutor has wisdom, common sense, a strong moral and ethical compass, a sense of fairness and empathy, coupled with legal skills and acumen honed over time and from a diversity of representations and matters. As recent events have also shown, there’s just no substitute for common sense. For instance, we recently witnessed the heads of Ivy League institutions equivocate on whether calling for the genocide of Jews by a minority of its students and others violates their own rules.

I believe the prosecutorial power, and discretion, is best entrusted to those with the full breath of professional and life experiences, from which common sense, wisdom and informed judgment emerge. With these values in mind, I look forward to working together with everyone at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with our dedicated Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies, in pursuit of honest, transparent, non-political enforcement of federal laws and to restore public confidence in our federal government and our Justice Department.

As United States Attorney leading this office, I will prioritize our resources to keep our northern border secure; to work with federal, state and local authorities to maintain safe communities; root out public corruption; protect our seniors from being victimized by endless scams and consumer fraud; to end lawlessness and willful disregard for Federal laws; keep our kids safe from illegal drugs; and combat human trafficking.

I pledge to dedicate steadfast resources to root out hate crimes of all kinds and will not tolerate violations of college students’ rights to be free from harassment or threats because of their religious beliefs and I give fair warning to university leaders that our reach will not stop at prosecuting those who choose to violate our laws but also those who knowingly support any violations in any way, shape or form.

In conclusion, I am honored and humbled to be standing here before you, my family, friends, colleagues, distinguished guests and our amazing Judges of the Northern District of New York. Thank you all for honoring me with your presence.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edgar Placencia-Guaillas, age 22, and a citizen of Ecuador, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Placencia-Guaillas, an illegal alien who entered the United States unlawfully in 2022, admitted that on August 25, 2024, he traveled to the northern border in Chateaugay, New York, where he smuggled two people – one from Mexico, the other from the Dominican Republic – into the United States for profit. Placencia-Guaillas admitted that he had smuggled other people across the border in the past.

Placencia-Guaillas will be taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation proceedings following his release from prison.

Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shane Millan, age 53, of Jefferson County New York, pled guilty today in federal court in Syracuse to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Vance Kuhner, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, New York, NY, made the announcement.

In pleading guilty today, Millan admitted that, while acting under color of law as a Border Patrol Agent, he willfully deprived multiple victims of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches when, during virtual processing concerning their admission to the United States, he commanded the victims to expose their bare chests to him via webcam. Millan further admitted that he told these women that his requests were for legitimate searches incident to admission into the United States, but he knew his demands to see the victims’ breasts were for his own gratification.

Millan is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025, by United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks. At sentencing, he faces up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $200,000. 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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – A Hogansburg, New York, woman pled guilty today for her role in a deadly smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River.

According to court documents, Janet Terrance, age 45, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, age 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, age 43, both of whom reside on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation in New York, entered guilty pleas on January 23, 2025, and October 8, 2024, respectively

Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, stated: “The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions. They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.”

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon said: “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit. Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.”

According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted to working with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (“the AMIR”) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall, Ontario, to Cornwall Island, Ontario, and then into the Northern District of New York. According to court documents, the HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall, Canada, before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.  Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into the Northern District of New York.

In late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four from Cornwall, Canada, into the Northern District of New York for private financial gain. The Romanian family consisted of a mother, father, a one-year-old boy, and a two-year-old girl. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall, Canada.

Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result.

HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling. Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them.  HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.”

Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp stated: “The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe. By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.”

Montour pled guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, alien smuggling for financial gain, and alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces the maximum term of life in prison.

Sharrow and Terrance each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling.  Additionally, Sharrow and Terrance each pled guilty to alien smuggling for financial gain. Each of those counts carries a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt and Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.

HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Surete Du Quebec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests.

The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

A New York woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River.

According to court documents, Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2024, respectively.

“The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.”

“A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon for the Northern District of New York. “Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.”

According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow worked with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island, and then into northern New York. The HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into New York.

Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted in their plea agreements that in late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four — mother, father, one-year-old boy, and two-year-old girl — from Cornwall into New York. The children were Canadian citizens. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall.

Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result.

“The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo. “Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. ICE HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.”

“The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe,” said Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp. “By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.”

Montour pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and three counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory penalty of life in prison on the alien smuggling resulting in death counts.

Sharrow and Terrance pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, respectively, and each to four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy counts and two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts.

A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests.

Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Newcombe, age 41, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today to 1 year of probation, and ordered to pay $34,583.21 in restitution, for health care fraud.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), New York Regional Office, made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Newcombe admitted that from approximately April 2020 through April 2023, he acted as the office manager and health care claims biller for two physicians’ practices in Plattsburgh through a company that he formed called SJ Healthcare Management Services, LLC (SJHMS).  SJHMS charged a fixed monthly fee under which Newcombe performed various management, administrative, and billing services for the practices.  He admitted that he submitted false and fraudulent claims to public and private insurers on behalf of those practices for services that, in some instances, were never provided and, in other instances, were provided at lower reimbursement rates than the amounts billed.  For example, Newcombe admitted that he submitted claims to insurers for medical procedures that were purportedly performed by a provider on him but which, in fact, never occurred.

The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adam J. Katz prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, age 38, and a citizen of Nicaragua residing in Albany, was charged today with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury.  Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

According to a complaint filed in federal court today, Garcia Rojas entered the United States illegally in 2023 and has been subject to removal proceedings since that date while residing in the United States.  Yesterday, the Rotterdam Police Department contacted HSI to inform agents that Garcia Rojas and another illegal alien had been charged with the New York State misdemeanor offenses of petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child.  Given the nature of the state charges, both aliens were subject to immediate detention under the newly enacted Laken Riley Act.  HSI obtained administrative warrants to arrest the pair and promptly went to the Rotterdam Police Department to effectuate the arrests before the subjects were released on the state charges. 

After the arrival of federal agents, Garcia Rojas was placed inside the back seat of a federal law enforcement vehicle, in handcuffs.  While inside, he managed to get one of his hands out of the handcuffs, got out of the vehicle, and began to walk away.  A HSI Special Agent confronted Garcia Rojas and attempted to place him back under arrest.  Garcia Rojas aggressively fought back, hitting the agent in the jaw and throwing him into a door.   Ultimately, it took at least 6 law enforcement officers and the use of a taser to subdue and rearrest Garcia Rojas.  During the assault, Garcia Rojas inflicted bodily injuries on the HSI Special Agent, including a bruise on the jaw, abrasions and cuts on the hands and knees, and injuries to the back.  Garcia Rojas told authorities during processing late yesterday that he was a police officer in Nicaragua, where he trained others on the use of defensive tactics.

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

The charge filed against Garcia Rojas carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.  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. 

Garcia Rojas initially appeared today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 10.

HSI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rotterdam Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrell Bell, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Bell was on parole in January 2024 when law enforcement searched his home in Schenectady and discovered nearly 1,800 fentanyl pills in his bedroom and over $90,000 throughout the home.

At sentencing scheduled for July 9, 2025, Bell faces a minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and a term of supervised release after imprisonment of between 4 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Bell has also consented to the forfeiture of the currency seized from his home.

FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Daniyan, a/k/a “Bamikole Laniyan,” a/k/a “David Enfield,” a/k/a “Africa,” age 60, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today in connection with his role in bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies led by Oluwaseun Adekoya, age 39, also a Nigerian citizen, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey.  Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Daniyan pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. Daniyan admitted that, working with Adekoya, he obtained the personal identifying information of people residing all over the United States and recruited lower-level conspirators to impersonate those people using fake driver’s licenses to fraudulently obtain cash, checks, and loans at their financial institutions and obtain merchandise using credit at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue.  Daniyan also admitted to conspiring with Adekoya and others to launder the proceeds of their bank fraud by, among other things, using fraudulently obtained funds to purchase additional fake driver’s licenses and depositing fraudulently obtained checks into accounts in the names of identity-theft victims that were controlled by coconspirators.  Daniyan admitted that the bank fraud conspiracy netted over $1.7 million in fraud proceeds, and was perpetrated in the Northern District of New York and all over the country. 

According to documents previously filed in the case, Daniyan, a citizen of Nigeria, has been living in the United States without authorization under numerous aliases since at least the 1990s when he was first investigated, charged, and convicted in another federal district under the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen. 

The following defendants are charged as follows in the superseding indictment: 

• Adekoya is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft;
• Kani Bassie, age 36, of Brooklyn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
• Davon Hunter, age 27, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft;
• Jermon Brooks, age 20, of Richmond, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft;
• Christian Quivers, age 20, of Richmond, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft; and
• Crystal Kurschner, age 44, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

As to these defendants, the charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. These remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI-Albany, which began after the May 2022 arrest of Daniyan, Gaysha Kennedy, age 46, of Brooklyn, and Victor Barriera, age 64, of the Bronx, New York, by the Cohoes Police Department after the trio traveled to the Capital Region to commit bank fraud. 

Adekoya, Daniyan, Kennedy, and Barriera were originally indicted, along with coconspirators Jerjuan Joyner, age 50, of Brooklyn, Akeem Balogun, age 56, of Brooklyn, Danielle Cappetti, age 46, of the Bronx, and Lesley Lucchese, age 53, of Brooklyn, in connection with the conspiracy in an indictment returned in December 2023. 

Sherry Ozmore, Kennedy, Barriera, Joyner, Balogun, Cappetti, and Lucchese have pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy.

At sentencing on July 10, 2025, Daniyan faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison for the bank fraud conspiracy, 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy, and a mandatory consecutive term of 2 years in prison for his conviction of aggravated identity theft; as well as an order of restitution of at least $1,776,705.43 and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years.  Daniyan also agreed to forfeit nearly $100,000 in proceeds of the bank fraud conspiracy seized by federal authorities. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Following his term of imprisonment, Daniyan will be placed into immigration removal proceedings.

FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York, Newark, Richmond and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Brooklyn/Queens, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General; New York law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police; Cohoes PD; Colonie PD; Elmira PD; Corning PD; Plattsburgh PD; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; Alabama law enforcement agencies including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Gasden PD, and Rainbow City PD; Georgia law enforcement agencies including the Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrow PD; Kansas law enforcement agencies including Lawrence PD and Overland Park PD; New Hampshire law enforcement agencies including Rochester PD, Manchester PD, and Amherst PD; the Delaware State Police; Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin law enforcement agencies including Onalaska PD and Eau Claire PD; and Indiana law enforcement agencies including the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jade A. Pittsley, age 34, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced today to 8 years in prison following her guilty plea to escaping from federal custody and possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

As part of her prior guilty plea, Pittsley admitted that in November 2023, while she was serving a federal term of imprisonment for a drug offense involving methamphetamine, she was under the supervision of a halfway house.  Pittsley was directed to return to the halfway house but never did.  Days later, law enforcement found Pittsley carrying methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in her purse.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release to begin after Pittsley is released from prison.

HSI and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case with assistance from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Kristen Grabowski prosecuted this case. 

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kenneth Koegel, Jr., 40, of Baldwinsville, New York was sentenced today to 45 years in federal prison and lifetime supervised release following his conviction by guilty plea to seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of commission of a felony offense involving a minor by a registered sex offender, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of receipt of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Koegel admitted that he was convicted in 2004 in Monroe County Court of sexual abuse in the first degree for exposing his penis to a 6-year-old girl in a public park and touching her vagina with his hand and that he was required to register as a sex offender because of that conviction. He then admitted that, starting in or about 2014 and continuing until October 2022, he sexually abused a girl from the time she was approximately 2 years old until she was approximately 9 years old. During that time, Koegel created numerous sexually explicit images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of his victim, including Koegel subjecting her to multiple sex acts. He also used a social messaging application to distribute the material he produced to someone else, with whom he also traded thousands of other child pornography files.

In addition to the 45-year imprisonment term and lifetime supervision, the district court also ordered Koegel to pay $12,000 in restitution and a $1,000 special assessment. Koegel will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force – comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Patrick Civitello, age 19, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for assaulting a 15-year-old boy in retaliation for the boy’s mother testifying in a federal criminal trial.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Patrick Civitello is the son of Jeffrey Civitello Sr. and the younger brother of Jeffrey Civitello Jr., both of whom were convicted of federal drug trafficking charges following a jury trial in Albany in April 2023. A witness, identified in the indictment as V-1, testified at that trial.

In pleading guilty, Patrick Civitello admitted that on the evening of May 19, 2024, while at a restaurant in Glenville, New York, he observed V-1, who was with her 15-year-old son (“V-2”). At the time he observed V-1, Patrick Civitello was speaking on the phone with Jeffrey Civitello Jr. (who was incarcerated), and Patrick Civitello told his brother that he had just seen V-1 walk into the restaurant. Patrick Civitello then said “I gotta rag this bitch, I gotta call you back,” meaning that he intended to retaliate against V-1 for her trial testimony. Jeffrey Civitello Jr. responded, “Ok run down, but do it away from everyone if you could.”

V-1 and V-2 then exited the restaurant and headed to their vehicle in the parking lot. Patrick Civitello, who was following V-1 and V-2 out of the restaurant, briefly stopped in the parking lot to remove his watch and a cross-body bag. Having placed those items on the ground of the parking lot, Patrick Civitello charged in the direction of V-1 and V-2. He punched V-2 in the head, and continued to punch and kick V-2 after V-2 fell to the ground. V-2 suffered minor abrasions and bruises, including to his head, neck, and hand. 

FBI agents arrested Patrick Civitello on June 13, 2024, on a criminal complaint. As he was being transported to the FBI Albany Field Office, he asked agents, “Don’t you think the witness deserved it?” and “What do you expect when you betray family and people you trust?”

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino called the assault an “attack on the justice system” that sends “a chilling message to anyone who might be subpoenaed to trial” to testify. She ordered Patrick Civitello to pay a $5,000 fine and to serve a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.

The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Glenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Dustin Segovia prosecuted this case.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Francisco Montalvo-Grenada, age 26, and a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Montalvo-Grenada admitted that on May 15, 2023, he traveled from North Carolina to Northern New York, along with four co-conspirators, and smuggled 16 citizens of Mexico who had illegally entered the United States from Canada.  Following Montalvo-Grenada’s sentence, he faces deportation to Mexico by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers. 

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Attorney General Pamela Bondi has appointed John A. Sarcone III as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Sarcone will start on March 17.

As United States Attorney, Mr. Sarcone will serve as the Northern District of New York’s chief federal law enforcement officer, supervising an office of 49 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, 4 Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, 41 support staff members, and 9 contract support staff members. He will be responsible for prosecuting federal criminal offenses and representing the United States in civil litigation in the Northern District of New York and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Sarcone stated: “Coming from a humble, blue-collar background – growing up in Croton-on-Hudson, having the same teachers at Croton High School as my parents had, and with my grandmother and children also graduating from that school, and having worked full-time while going at night to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University– I am deeply humbled and honored to have been named U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. 

“I shall carry out my duties faithfully and with steadfast dedication to our nation, community, and the citizens of the Northern District of New York. 

“Thank you, Attorney General Bondi, for trusting me to carry out this important mission and most importantly thank you President Trump for once again having faith and confidence in me to do my part to accomplish one of your most important tasks – to restore public confidence and trust in our government and the Department of Justice.”

Mr. Sarcone, who will be based in Albany, has been a dedicated public servant and lawyer for many years. From 2018 to 2021, Mr. Sarcone served as Northeast and Caribbean Regional Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration, overseeing a large team responsible for federal buildings and facilities, procurement, and IT initiatives, and working with dozens of federal agencies and courthouses, including in the Northern District of New York. Earlier in his career, he served as Town Attorney in Eastchester, New York, and General Counsel to the United Federation of Special Police Officers, Inc. and to the Association of Commuter Rail Employees.

Mr. Sarcone also founded and built a general practice law firm, providing advice to small businesses and family-owned corporations, handling large real estate transactions, and litigating and arbitrating in areas including business and construction disputes, insurance defense, and toxic torts.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gabriel Charron, age 53, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced today to 132 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for the attempted online enticement of a minor.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

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

Charron will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

FBI Albany investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mauro Esparza-Gutierrez, age 39 and a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

Esparza-Gutierrez, who worked at the Saratoga Race Course, admitted to working with a co-conspirator to distribute methamphetamine in the summer of 2024, in Saratoga Springs, New York. Esparza-Gutierrez admitted that his co-conspirator sent methamphetamine shipments in horse trailers to Esparza-Gutierrez, who then sold the methamphetamine. Esparza-Gutierrez acknowledged that he was personally responsible for distributing approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy. 

At sentencing on July 1, 2025, Esparza-Gutierrez faces a maximum term 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. 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.

Esparza-Gutierrez is the second defendant to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Saratoga Springs during the 2024 track season. Nelson Moran, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty to methamphetamine charges on October 9, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing.

The DEA and Saratoga Springs Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting this case. 

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Paul Geer, age 57, of Hancock, New York, was convicted today by a federal jury after a two-week-long trial on two counts of coercing and enticing two separate children to travel across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual activity and two counts of transporting the children across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with those children.  The jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on two additional counts. 

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Craig Tremaroli made the announcement.

The evidence at trial proved that, while Geer was a teacher at the Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York, he imposed various disciplinary sanctions on students that were tantamount to torture. The sanctions Geer imposed on students included depriving children of food or forcing children to eat food that had been regurgitated, binding children in rugs and leaving them in isolated rooms for extended periods of time and forcing children to perform forced physical labor. The evidence at trial further proved that, in 1994 and 2001, Geer used his position of authority and his ability to impose these brutal sanctions to coerce two students to travel with him, on separate occasions, to Maine and Toronto, Canada. The evidence at trial also proved that Geer transported the students across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity with them. While on those trips, Geer raped or otherwise sexually abused each of the two children.

Geer was taken into custody following the verdict. 

At sentencing currently scheduled for July 9, 2025, in Albany, New York, the two counts of coercion and enticement each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. The two counts of transporting children across state lines each 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 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance New York State Police and the Colonie, New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone, Adrian S. LaRochelle, and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, and led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shelbra Long, age 58, of Edinburg, Texas, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.  Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isabel Douroupis, of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED OIG) – Eastern Regional Office, made the announcement.

Long admitted to engaging in a decade-long scheme to apply for admission and financial aid to online colleges in the names of purported students who had their identities stolen.  After the Department of Education disbursed the financial aid to a school, Long and her coconspirators withdrew the purported student from enrollment. The schools refunded the balance of the financial aid that had not been used to bank accounts controlled by the conspirators.  The Department of Education awarded $466,430 in aid based on the scheme, of which it disbursed $211,820.

Long faces up to 20 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 June 26, 2025. Long has agreed to pay $211,820 in restitution to the Department of Education and to forfeit an additional $52,304.  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.

ED OIG investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kenneth Moore, age 42, of New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday to serve 3 years in prison after being convicted at trial of two counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

At trial in October 2024, the government established that on June 20, 2023, Moore traveled from New Jersey to an area just south of the border in Clinton County, New York, to pick up several aliens who had illegally crossed into the United States at a place other than a Port of Entry. Moore anticipated being paid $3,000 for his services but was quickly apprehended by agents from the United States Border Patrol.

Jurors could not reach a verdict on one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, and that count was dismissed at sentencing.

In addition to the 36-month prison term, Moore was sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release.

United States Border Patrol investigated this case with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen J. Vickey and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted this case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean A. Walter, age 30, of Humble, Texas, pled guilty today to stealing business checks out of the U.S. Mail by repeatedly and unlawfully entering a mail sorting facility in Albany.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Region; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Walter admitted that on six occasions in 2023 and 2024, he unlawfully entered the USPS Albany Processing and Distribution Center (PDC) on Karner Road, in order to steal mail that he believed contained business checks. For instance, at approximately 12:56 a.m. on January 23, 2024, Walter entered the Albany PDC by forcefully pulling up a retractable overhead door to the facility. Once inside, he went to a large room where USPS employees were sorting mail and then stole a variety of mail. Walter placed the stolen mail in his backpack and exited the Albany PDC at around 2:31 a.m. He then re-entered the Albany PDC two more times that night and stole more mail on each occasion.

According to the criminal complaint in this case, Walter was arrested on May 14, 2024, after being confronted by security guards inside of the Albany PDC and fleeing to a nearby motel.

The mail that Walter stole included checks drawn on bank accounts belonging to entities in Upstate New York, including a town government, a bank, a volunteer fire department, and several small businesses. Walter sold these stolen checks to others and understood that these checks would then be altered and forged in ways that allowed them to be successfully negotiated by people other than the checks’ intended payees. In pleading guilty, Walter admitted to causing losses totaling at least $242,159.76.

Walter also admitted that on two occasions in 2022, he unlawfully entered the USPS North Houston PDC (in Texas) and stole business checks.

Walter faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, when United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentences him on June 30, 2025. Walter may also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

USPS-OIG and USPIS investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Enrique Diaz-Perez, age 38, a Guatemalan national, was sentenced to serve 14 months federal prison yesterday for illegally reentering the United States after previously being convicted of illegal reentry in 2024.  Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Thomas P. Brophy, Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, (ICE-ERO) Buffalo, NY made the announcement.

As a part of his earlier plea, Diaz-Perez admitted that he was removed from the United States in 2009 following his conviction in Massachusetts for assault with a dangerous weapon.  Diaz-Perez was again removed from the United States in February 2024, following his conviction in federal court in Syracuse for illegal reentry. On August 27, 2024, Diaz-Perez was located in Syracuse and arrested. At the time, Diaz-Perez was working in Little Falls, New York.  Diaz-Perez will be subject to deportation again at the conclusion of his prison sentence. 

In addition to the 14-month federal prison sentence, Diaz-Perez was also sentenced to a consecutive 4-month term of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release from his prior illegal reentry offense. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security-ICE-ERO investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted the case.   

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Devere Williams, age 36, of Troy, New York, was charged last week by indictment for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.  

The charges filed against Williams carry a prison term of at least 5 year and up to life in federal prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Williams was arraigned today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista, and will continue to be detained pending a hearing on February 21.  The FBI is investigating this case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting this case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Troy Alexander Mendez, age 25, a resident of California, was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison for distributing controlled substances. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Mendez admitted that, in August 2023, he sold and shipped over 300 grams of methamphetamine via the U.S. Postal Service to a customer in the Syracuse, New York area. Law enforcement intercepted the package and identified Mendez as the source of the shipment. At the sentencing hearing, the evidence established that Mendez also sold drugs on other occasions and possessed multiple firearms in connection with that drug activity.

Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release to begin after Mendez is released from prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case, with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Carla B. Freedman announced the conclusion of her tenure as United States Attorney, effective immediately.

Ms. Freedman was sworn in on October 8, 2021. Ms. Freedman previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Syracuse office of the Northern District of New York from 2007 through 2021.  She was a Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney and the Narcotics Chief from February 2018 through 2021.  She also served as Deputy Narcotics Chief from 2016 through 2018.

Ms. Freedman stated: “For over 17 years, I have had the honor and privilege of working at the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, first as an Assistant United States Attorney, and for the past three years, leading the office as the United States Attorney. During my tenure I have had the good fortune to work with some of the finest public servants in my office as well as with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. I could not be more proud of the work and accomplishments we have achieved in the pursuit of justice, always with integrity and commitment to the rule of law.”

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon now serves as Acting United States Attorney.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Diego Guisao-Zapata, age 41, a citizen of Colombia, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Guisao-Zapata, an illegal alien who entered the United States unlawfully in 2023, admitted that on August 25, 2024, he traveled to the northern border in Churubusco, New York, where he smuggled two people – one from Mexico, the other from the Dominican Republic – into the United States for profit. Guisao-Zapata admitted that he had smuggled other people across the border in the past.

Guisao-Zapata will be taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for removal proceedings, following his release from prison.

United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Dion, age 47, of Greenwich, New York, pled guilty today to charges that he distributed and possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

Dion admitted that from July 2023 to January 2024, he distributed images and videos of CSAM via an encrypted chat messenger to another person, and possessed images of CSAM on five electronic devices on February 28, 2024, when his residence was searched. He also admitted that he produced morphed images of CSAM by using non-pornographic images of known children and superimposing the faces of those children onto other images of CSAM he found on the Internet to create an adapted or modified depiction of an identifiable minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Dion possessed more than 130,000 images of CSAM across his devices.

Sentencing is currently scheduled for June 13, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Dion faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Dion may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and forfeit the devices used in the offenses. Dion will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI and NYSP are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

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.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William Seneca, Sr., age 65, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child sexual abuse material. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Seneca admitted that, from approximately 2000 through 2008, he engaged in sexual conduct with a minor male child, starting when the child was about seven years old. On several different occasions during that period, Seneca created sexually explicit images depicting that child. Seneca also admitted that, on at least one occasion, he distributed the material he created to someone in Canada.

In addition to the terms of imprisonment and supervised release, the district court also ordered Seneca to pay $1,141.14 in restitution to the victim, and he will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the New York State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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