Northern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Henry County man charged with coercion and/or enticement for allegedly attempting to persuade several Asian minors he met online to engage in sexual activityRead the Press Release
A Henry County man was charged in federal court with one count of coercion and/or enticement for allegedly attempting to persuade several Asian minors he met online to engage in sexual activity.
Thomas E. Oberhaus, 56, of Napoleon, is accused of engaging in this behavior between 2013 and 2016, according to the criminal information.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Guatemalan citizen living in New Philadelphia previously convicted of creating fake identity documents indicted for making false claim of citizenship and illegally reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
A Guatemalan man living in New Philadelphia was indicted for making a false claim of United States citizenship, as well as illegally reentering the country.
Julio Tzip-Yac, 40, aka Jean Carlos Mercado-Alvarez and Luis O. Hernandez, falsely represented himself to be a U.S. citizen on May 25, 2018. He was able to obtain an Ohio driver’s license while falsely using the identity of an individual in Puerto Rico, according to court documents.
Tzip-Yac was found to be in New Philadelphia on May 25, 2018, despite having been previously deported. Tzip-Yac was previously sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after being found guilty of one count of possession of a document making implement and four counts of transfer of identification documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Damoun Delaviz following an investigation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Philadelphia Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Elyria man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting a 12-year-old he met onlineRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting a 12-year-old and related child pornography crimes.
Christopher Goodin, 33, was ordered to pay $150,156 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Goodin controlled multiple social media accounts which he used to communicate with a young girl in Utah between June and August 18, 2018. With one account, Goodin posed as a young girl who was harassed and threatened by an older man. With another account, Goodin posed as the older man, according to court documents.
Goodin, posing as both the older man and young girl, told the victim that he would stop harassing the young girl if the victim sent sexually explicit photos to him, which the victim did, according to court documents.
A search in October 2018 of Goodin’s home on Kentucky Drive in Elyria resulted in the recovery of: a cell phone with 716 images and 126 videos of suspected child pornography, including bestiality, infants and toddlers, bondage and fetish videos; a laptop computer with 63 videos and 32 images of child pornography, as well as 661 images and 14 videos of another child victim; and an SD card with 844 image files and 761 video files of suspected child pornography, according to court documents.
“This defendant is a predator who tricked unsuspecting children into sending him graphic images by posing as someone else,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This case is a disturbing and stark reminder that people online are rarely who they claim to be, and parents need to know who their children are communicating with.”
“The FBI is pleased with the 25-year sentence given to Mr. Goodin today,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith. “Individuals who exploit children deserve to spend a significant time behind bars. Parents are urged to be aware with whom their children interact with online. Children should be loved, cherished, and protected not used for the benefit of someone’s sexual gratification.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Macedonia man who defrauded elderly people out of nearly $575,000 sentenced to more than six years in prisonRead the Press Release
A Macedonia man who claimed to be a financial planner but defrauded three elderly people out of nearly $575,000 was sentenced to more than six years in prison.
William E. Callam, 61, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay $574,146 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud.
“The conduct of this defendant is reprehensible. He stole the life savings of three elderly people to feed his own greed and lifestyle,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting older Americans and holding accountable anyone who would defraud them.”
“Callam will be serving a significant amount of time behind bars for victimizing elderly folks out of their life savings,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith said. “The FBI will continue efforts to hold criminals accountable for preying on others for their own greed.”
According to court documents:
Callam held himself out as a financial planner and investment advisor. He operated Blackstone Real Estate Group LLC.
Callam represented to three people from Lake County that Blackstone was in the business of financing loans for the purpose of rehabilitating commercial property, with the loans secured by mortgages on the property. He promised investors safe investments with an annual return of six percent, and stated the investments were very liquid.
Callam caused investors to liquidate their annuities, insurance policies and other retirement assets to invest those funds in Blackstone. He created false statements purporting to reflect investors’ earnings. Instead, he used their money to maintain his personal lifestyle and enrich himself and family members.
A married couple was defrauded out of $381,571 while another person was defrauded out of $192,575 as a result of Callam’s scheme.
Callam has a history of defrauding people. He was convicted in 2007 of defrauding two senior citizens out of $68,000. Later that year he was convicted of defrauding four other people out of $49,000 in a similar scheme. He was later convicted of defrauding another person out of $55,000, according to court documents.
Callam targeted the victims in the most recent case because they were elderly and trusted him. As a result of his fraud, the victims cannot pay for medical care, struggle to pay for prescription medication and other bills, and have suffered emotional stress, according to court documents.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Miller following an investigation by the FBI.
Four people indicted for their roles in conspiracy to distribute 16 pounds of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
A nine-count indictment was filed charging four people for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute 16 pounds of methamphetamine.
Indicted are: Rafael Smith, 47, of Covington, Virginia; Robert Coore, 46, a Jamaican national; Shuree Jefferson, 41, of Garfield Heights, and Jeffrey Westmoreland, 30, of Rock Creek.
All four are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as additional charges of possession or distribution of methamphetamine. Coore is also charged with illegal reentry, as he was in the United States on March 20, 2019, after having been deported to Jamaica on January 25, 2018.
According to court documents:
Coore and Smith met numerous times in March and April 2019 with an undercover agent at locations in Beachwood, Independence, Brooklyn, Cleveland and elsewhere to sell large amounts of methamphetamine.
Coore stated he traveled to California to arrange for bulk shipments of drugs to the Cleveland area. Coore and Smith requested the undercover agent’s help in locating a warehouse with a loading dock and town motor capable of offloading a tractor trailer upon arrival in Northeast Ohio.
Coore was arrested on April 23 with four pounds of methamphetamine. A search of a residence in Aurora resulted in the arrest of Smith, and seizure of approximately three pounds of methamphetamine.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit $nearly $48,000 in cash seized as part of the investigation.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cleveland Division of Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wooster man with domestic violence conviction indicted for firearms violations, including having two illegal components used to turn firearms into fully automatic machine gunsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging a Wooster man with firearms violations, including having two illegal components used to turn firearms into fully automatic machine guns.
Kenneth L. McKinley, 31, was indicted on one count each of illegal possession of machine guns, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and receipt and possession of unregistered firearms.
The indictment alleges that McKinley possessed on March 12, 2019 a black Glock-type, select-fire conversion device, with no serial number or manufacturer markings, and a silver Glock-type, select-fire conversion device, with no serial number or manufacturer markings, both and each designed and intended solely and exclusively, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun.
McKinley was prohibited from having firearms or ammunition because of a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence in Wayne County Municipal Court, but possessed 50 rounds of Winchester brand, .22 caliber ammunition, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges McKinley knowingly received and possessed two firearms, those being, a black Glock-type, select-fire conversion device, with no serial number or manufacturer markings, and a silver Glock-type, select-fire conversion device, with no serial number or manufacturer markings, both and each designed and intended solely and exclusively, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
“In addition to the fact that a convicted domestic abuser is not allowed to have firearms or ammunition, these specific parts are illegal and put the public at risk,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute all firearms violations, and especially to stop the flow of these parts into the country.”
“The possession of illegal firearms is a violation of federal law and a threat to public safety,” said Jonathan T. McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities.”
“Keeping weapons out of the wrong hands is critical to keeping our communities safe and to prevent gun violence, we are committed to remaining vigilant to ensure firearms and any firearm parts are acquired while abiding federal laws,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio presented awards to honor exceptional advocacy, support and legal work in 2018Read the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio presented awards to honor exceptional advocacy, support and legal work on behalf of the district’s six million residents in 2018.
“These awards recognize the best efforts put forth by our office on behalf of the citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Whether it’s combating violent crime, protecting taxpayers, trying to curb the tide of the opioid epidemic, just to name a few, these employees embody the best of public service.”
Details of the award winners are below:
Assistant United States Attorney of the Year: Patricia Fitzgerald was recognized for exceptional overall performance, taking into account all the required responsibilities in the performance of the person’s duties, which demonstrates a superior commitment to the interests of justice, and the mission of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Support of the Year: Janeth Herman was recognized for exceptional overall performance, taking into account all the required responsibilities in the performance of the person’s duties, which demonstrates a superior commitment to the interests of justice, and the mission of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Administrative Support of the Year: Judy Spar was recognized for exceptional overall performance, which demonstrates a superior commitment in the execution of the person’s duties.
Bill Edwards Career Award: Lisa Hammond Johnson and Robert Kern were recognized as an AUSA with more than 15 years of experience who has demonstrated superior professionalism in the execution of the AUSA’s duties, and excellence in leadership and mentorship throughout the person’s career.
Roberta Sladick Career Award: Marilyn McKean was recognized as a support staff person with more than 15 years of experience who has demonstrated superior professionalism in the execution of the support staff’s duties, and excellence in leadership and mentorship throughout the person’s career.
Excellence in Criminal Advocacy: Megan Miller was recognized for exceptional advocacy. Nominees were considered for their professionalism, the difficulty of the legal arguments briefed or argued, and any other challenging case-related circumstances, regardless of verdict or court opinion.
Excellence in Civil Advocacy: Angelita Cruz Bridges was recognized for exceptional advocacy. Nominees were considered for their professionalism, the difficulty of the legal arguments briefed or argued, and any other challenging case-related circumstances, regardless of verdict or court opinion.
Excellence in Criminal Support: Sarah VanDromme was recognized for exceptional overall performance.
Excellence in Civil Support: Linda Bartolozzi was recognized for exceptional overall performance.
Excellence in Paralegal Support: Sarah Perkins was recognized for exceptional overall performance.
Excellence in Administrative Support: Heidi Lyons was recognized for exceptional overall performance.
New AUSA Award: Ranya Elzein was recognized for exceptional overall performance for a person with less than five years of experience who demonstrates a superior commitment and significant growth in the execution of the person’s duties.
New Support Award: Albion Manellari was recognized for exceptional overall performance for a person with less than five years of experience who demonstrates a superior commitment and significant growth in the execution of the person’s duties.
Jane Corrigan Award: Torrey Steele is recognizes as the supportive staff member who is always professional, ready to help other in the performance of their duties, who expresses a “can-do” attitude, and whose demeanor is always engaging.
Massillon man indicted on one count of enticementRead the Press Release
A Massillon man was indicted on one count of enticement.
Nathan Benedum II, 53, knowingly attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce an individual who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to engage in illegal sexual activity with him in April 2019, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Canton resident extradited from Vietnam to face child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
A former Canton resident was extradited from Vietnam to face child pornography charges.
The two-count indictment was unsealed Wednesday upon the extradition of Larry P. Smith from Vietnam. Smith, 67, was indicted on one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Smith knowingly received and distributed numerous computer filed containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in October 2013. On November 20, 2013, Smith possessed several laptops, an Apple computer and hard drives that contained images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity, according to the indictment.
Smith lived in Canton at the time of the alleged offenses, then moved to Florida prior to his indictment. He was located in Vietnam and was returned to the United States Wednesday. He is scheduled to appear in federal court later this afternoon in Seattle.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Canton Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Elyria man indicted on charges of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and crack cocaineRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was indicted on charges of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and crack cocaine.
The four-count indictment alleges that Terry L. Jackson, Sr., on February 26, 2019, sold crack cocaine and possessed four grams of fentanyl, 17 grams of cocaine and 1.5 grams of methamphetamine.
This case is one of dozens prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), in in which any cases involving heroin, fentanyl or any synthetic opioid are prosecuted in federal court. Lorain County is one of 10 communities around the nation selected as a pilot for Operation SOS. The program demonstrates the Justice Department’s continued to commitment to working with local partners to make our community safer.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Elyria Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Kolansky and Vasile Katsaros.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Elyria man indicted for bringing 14-year-old girl from California to Ohio to engage in unlawful sexual activity, as well as child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was indicted for bringing a 14-year-old girl from California to Ohio to engage in unlawful sexual activity, as well as child pornography charges.
Jeremy L. Cruz, 39, was indicted on one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography.
Cruz, between April 13 through April 18, 2019, knowingly transported a 14 year-old girl, in interstate commerce from California to Ohio, with the intent that such 14 year-old girl engage in sexual activity, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that from on or about January 1, 2017 through on or about April 15, 2019, Cruz knowingly received visual depictions of a real minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The indictment also charges that from April 13 through April 18, 2019, Cruz did knowingly transported numerous visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Cleveland and Los Angeles offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Avon Lake Police Department, Elyria Police Department, Sheffield Lake Police Department and Santa Maria (California) Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cleveland man already in federal custody for drug trafficking charged for attempting to possess more than 300 grams of fentanyl, as well as escapeRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man already in federal custody for drug trafficking was charged with attempting to possess more than 300 grams of fentanyl, as well escape.
Rayshawn Ligon escaped from Oriana House Residential Reentry Center on March 2, 2019, while in the custody of Federal Correctional Institution McKean, according to the indictment.
On March 1, Ligon attempted to possess with the intent to distribute 331 grams of fentanyl, according to the indictment.
According to court documents: agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package addressed to a home on East 78th Street in Cleveland that contained blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl. Investigators replaced the pills with inert ones and inserted a tracking device into the package before trying to make a controlled delivery.
The package was delivered to the East 78th Street address on March 1. Ligon arrived at the house in a Jeep, then left minutes later with the package. Ligon drove to a residence on East 246th Street in Euclid, went inside with the package, then walked outside with the opened package.
Investigators attempted to stop Ligon. He drove away at a high rate of speed, threw the package out the window (later recovered), apparently lost control of the Jeep and ran over a real estate sign, and then ran away. Police had the vehicle towed and recovered Ligon’s driver’s license and birth certificate from the Jeep, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Burke and Danielle Angeli.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Florida man arrested in Bryan, Ohio, and charged in federal court with attempting to hire someone to murder a social workerRead the Press Release
The FBI, Bryan Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office announced this morning that a Florida man was arrested and charged in federal court with attempting to hire someone to murder a social worker.
David Culver, 35, of Fountain, Florida, was charged with one count of use of interstate facilities for murder for hire. He was arrested in Bryan, Ohio, and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Toledo on Monday at 12:30 p.m.
According to an affidavit filed in the case:
On May 16, the Bryan Police Department received information from an individual identified in court documents as C1 that Culver wanted to have a social worker murdered.
Culver was previously convicted of endangering children and is classified as sex offender. C1 stated Culver has family in Bryan. C1 understood the targeted social worker was involved in an investigation which resulted in the removal of Culver from his children.
Culver texted C1 on May 15: “I did move to Florida, I came back up here an ram into some shit. But do u still have any contacts with some bad people? I need a huge favor.” C1 responded, “Like?” and “I can get them.” Culver’s telephone replied, “I need to get rid of some ASAP.” C1 asked, “Rid as in how?” Culver’s telephone responded, “None breathing.” C1 asked, “What happen.” Culver’s telephone replied, “I’ll call u here in a little while and we can talk then over the phone.”
Culver agreed to pay $1,000 to have the social worker murdered. Culver sent a screenshot with the name of a child protective service’s investigator assigned to the case involving Culver.
On May 18, an undercover Bryan police officer posing as a hitman with Culver at the McDonalds restaurant in Bryan. Culver confirmed he had money and referenced the targeted woman as the person responsible for taking his kids. When asked what kind of proof Culver was looking for to confirm the job was completed, Culver referenced wanting a photo and said he wants her to disappear, according to the affidavit.
Culver provided the undercover officer $200 as down payment for the hit and was taken into custody.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
A charge is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Toledo pastor sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, while another Toledo pastor sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for similar crimesRead the Press Release
A Toledo pastor was sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, while another Toledo pastor was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for similar crimes, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said.
Cordell Jenkins, 48, was sentenced to life in prison. Kenneth Butler, 39, was sentenced to 210 months in prison. They previously pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to sex traffic children, sex trafficking of children and related charges.
“These sentences for two men who abused their positions of authority to prey on children are richly deserved,” Herdman said. “I remain in awe of the courage of the victims and the dedication of our law enforcement personnel in bringing these men to justice.”
"Our children should not be bought, sold or traded,” Smith said. “They should not be used for financial or personal gain. The children who are victimized in the vicious world of sex trafficking deserve justice. In federal court in Toledo, justice was served. Pastor Anthony Haynes violated every trust bestowed on him - as a leader of the church, he was responsible for helping those in need. Especially children. As we saw this week, he violated that trust in the worst way imaginable. Today we are thankful for the law enforcement partnerships that led to this verdict."
Jenkins repeatedly sexually exploited the minor at his home on Barrington Drive, at his office at Abundant Life Ministries and at a motel in Toledo. He paid her and referred to the payment as “hush money.” He often recorded these interactions with his cellular telephone, according to court documents.
Another pastor, Anthony Haynes, was convicted this year by a jury of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking, child exploitation and obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation following a trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Haynes, Butler and Jenkins sexually assaulted a juvenile girl beginning in 2014 through 2017, according to trial testimony and court documents.
The girl was 14 when the conduct began and she was in the custody of Haynes. Some of this conduct took place at Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo, where Haynes was pastor at the time. Haynes used his cellular telephone to record these sexual assaults, according to trial testimony and court documents.
Haynes also facilitated the victim being sexually exploited by other men, including Jenkins, according to trial testimony and court documents.
Jenkins also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts in March 2017, according to court documents.
Butler also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts from 2015 through 2017, according to court documents.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Freeman and Alissa Sterling following an investigation by the FBI’s Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of members of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Lima Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Lucas County Sheriff’s Office.
Six Akron men sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to bring more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine from California and sell it in the Akron areaRead the Press Release
Six Akron men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to bring more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine from California and sell it in the Akron area.
Ugunda Sanders, 46, was convicted following trial and was sentenced more than 15 years in prison.
Rashaad M. Thomas, 41, was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. Michael E. Davis, 49; was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. James E. Sanders, 52, was sentenced to 10 years in prison; Christopher J. Proctor, 51, was sentenced to more than three years in prison and Reuben Simmons, 32, was sentenced to less than three years in prison.
All five previously pleaded guilty to their crimes related to methamphetamine distribution. Members of the conspiracy traveled between Cleveland and Los Angeles to obtain large amounts of methamphetamine, which they distributed in the Akron area, according to court documents.
“Methamphetamine is a growing threat in Northern Ohio,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We are now seeing meth that is cheaper and more pure than versions of the drug seen in the past. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of this dangerous narcotic into our community and prosecute those who profit from it.”
The investigation was conducted by members of the Akron/Summit County HIDTA Initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Drug Unit, Springfield Township Police Department, Copley Township Police Department, New Franklin Township Police Department, Stow Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Tallmadge Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, Reminderville Police Department, Silver Lake Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, and Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian.
Eight people from Northwest Ohio indicted for firearms violations or armed robbery charges as part of a continued collaborative effort to reduce violent crime in the Toledo areaRead the Press Release
Eight people from Northwest Ohio were indicted for firearms violations or armed robbery charges as part of a continued collaborative effort to reduce violent crime in the Toledo area.
Among those indicted are people accused of illegally having firearms after domestic violence convictions, making illegal straw purchases of firearms, possessing stolen firearms, armed robbery and other offenses.
Indicted are: Brock Andrzejak, 23, of Toledo; Marco Roane, 35, of Sandusky; Teresa Jackson, 46, of Sandusky; Filmel Williams, Jr., 19, of Toledo; Joseph Mathis, 42, of Toledo; Willie Hall, 31, of Toledo; Marcus Bailey, 34, of Toledo, and James Robert Morgan, 33, of Bryan.
“These cases involve people who are not allowed to have firearms because of past crimes, such as domestic violence, as well as people lying to get guns or obtaining stolen weapons,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will continue to work with police and federal agencies through Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Public Safety Partnership programs to make Toledo and Northwest Ohio safer.”
“Reducing gun crime is one of ATF’s core missions,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “We are committed to working with our partners at the federal, state, and local level to investigate crime guns as well as identify and remove the most violent criminals from our streets.”
“While any one of these individual indictments on their own may not seem like a significant blow to overall violent crime, it is the totality of these cases that shows the significant work local and federal law enforcement partners are doing on a daily basis to make Toledo safer” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. “As we have stated many times in the past, we appreciate our federal partnerships and we will continue to help bring federal cases against those who wish to do others harm in our community.”
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Toledo is also a National Public Safety Partnership city, in which the Justice Department selects cities for increased training and technical assistance focused on violent crime. Toledo, as a PSP city, was also selected last year for more than $492,000 in federal funding to pay for hardware and software designed to improve information-sharing capacity.
Andrzejak is charged with interference with commerce by threats of violence and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Andrzejak is accused of pointing a rifle at a cashier while robbing the Stop and Go on Bennett Road in Toledo.
Williams is charged with four counts of possession of stolen firearms and ammunition and three counts of possession of a firearm by a person adjudicated to be mentally defective. Williams on January 2, 2019, possessed a .45-caliber pistol, a 7.62x39mm rifle, a 5.56 pistol and ammunition, knowing the firearms were stolen. He also possessed firearms despite having been adjudicated by the Wayne County (Michigan) Probate Court to be mentally defective, according to the indictment.
Morgan was charged with possession of a firearm by a person with prior misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Morgan, at various points in 2018 and 2019 possessed a Ruger .22-caliber pistol, a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, a German Sports Guns .22-caliber pistol and a Hermann Weihrauch .38-caliber revolver, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to the indictment.
Mathis is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mathis possessed Taurus .380-caliber pistol and six rounds of ammunition on March 14, 2019, and a Smith & Wesson .380-caliber pistol and 34 rounds of ammunition on September 16, 2018, despite previous convictions for drug trafficking and possession of crack cocaine, according to the indictment.
Hall is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hall possessed a Smith & Wesson 40-caliber pistol and six rounds of ammunition on March 22, 2019, despite previous convictions for robbery, attempted burglary and having a weapon under disability, according to the indictment.
Roane and Jackson are charged with four counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Jackson falsely represented that she was the buyer of four firearms – a Savage Arms 5.56 rifle, a Glock 9 mm pistol, a Taurus 9 mm pistol and a Radical Firearms 5.56 pistol – between August 2017 and January 2019, when, in fact, Roane was the true buyer of the firearms, according to the indictment.
Bailey is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bailey had a 9 mm pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on March 20, 2019, despite previous convictions for burglary and tampering with evidence, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Toledo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Simko, Robert Melching and Ashley Futrell.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nine people, most from Toledo, indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl in Northwest OhioRead the Press Release
Nine people, most from Toledo, were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl in Northwest Ohio.
Named in the eight-count indictment are: Pedro Negrin, 59, Santino Montoya, 26, Aurelio Seoane-Armada, 59, Jamel Gaines, 30, Corey Goings, 48, Nathaniel Houle, Jr., 22, Korey Parker, 29, all of Toledo; Francisco Cabrera-Hernandez, 35, of Casa Grande, Arizona; and Luis Perez-Rodriguez, 31, of Phoenix.
All nine defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl.
Goings is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, for allegedly having a Springfield Armory .45-caliber pistol despite a previous drug conviction. Various defendants are charged with additional drug counts, including Cabrera-Hernandez and Perez-Rodriguez being charged with possession with intent to distribute 11 kilograms of cocaine.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit more than $407,000 seized as part of the investigation, as well as a firearm and two vehicles installed with after-market traps.
“These defendants trafficked in large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, drugs that have taken so many lives and destroyed so many families in Ohio,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who profit from this drug crisis.”
“These individuals brought danger and violence to our communities through their illegal drug dealing behavior,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith. “Collaborative law enforcement efforts will continue daily to combat the for profit distribution of illicit life robbing narcotics.”
Toledo Police Chief George Kral said: “Here is yet another example of exemplary police work and collaborations between local, state, and federal law enforcement. As a result of this investigation, ten individuals, mostly from Toledo, were arrested and a substantial amount of dangerous drugs are off of our streets. Toledo is a safer community with the individuals behind bars. I look forward to continuing our long standing relationship with our federal partners."
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agencies in this case are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling and Matthew D. Simko.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Marion man indicted for lighting a fire in the Kenton Walmart which caused $3.5 million in damageRead the Press Release
A Marion man was indicted in federal court for lighting a fire in the Walmart in Kenton, which caused an estimated $3.5 million in damage.
Caleb T. Poole, 27, was indicted on one count of destroying or damaging property used in interstate commerce.
According to court documents:
An explosion and fire were reported on May 6 at the Walmart on East Columbus Street in Kenton. Police and fire responded and, after controlling the fire, determined the fire originated within a shopping cart that contained two thermoses, toilet paper, a lighter and remnants of an aerosol spray can.
A review of Walmart security videos show a man determined to be Poole using a credit card to buy two thermoses. He exited the store and walked to the gas station across the street, where he filled the thermoses with gasoline. Poole then reentered the store and was observed picking up toilet paper and hairspray, then walking with the items to the origin area of the fire. Video surveillance shows the fire starting in the area with flames rising as high as 20 feet, according to court documents.
Poole is in custody. The investigation is ongoing.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency in this case is the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, the Kenton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Weldon and Matthew D. Simko are handling the case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Richmond Heights woman sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $531,000 in restitution for preparing false tax returnsRead the Press Release
A Richmond Heights woman who operated a tax preparation business was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution for preparing false tax returns.
Karla Jenkins, 48, previously pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent return and one count of making and subscribing a false income tax return.
Jenkins operated Vertical Tax Service LLC from an office on Mayfield Road in South Euclid. Jenkins prepared false tax returns on behalf of Vertical Tax Service clients, including taking false, inflated and/or improper deductions for medical and dental expenses, charitable contributions and other miscellaneous expenses, according to court documents.
The clients received the majority of the refund but Jenkins received a portion of the refund as her tax preparation fee. This took place between at least 2012 and 2015, according to court documents.
"Those who cheat on their taxes are cheating the American public," U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.
“Karla Jenkins owned a tax preparation business that blatantly ignored the tax laws by preparing false tax returns and misusing her electronic filing privileges,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “Dishonest return preparers use a variety of methods to cheat the government, including falsifying information on the tax returns to generate larger refunds for their clients. Criminal Investigation will continue to ensure that all tax practitioners, tax preparers and others who practice in the tax law profession adhere to professional standards and follow the law.”
Jenkins was ordered to pay $531,240 in restitution.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Miller following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
U.S. Attorney recognizes the service of police officers during National Police Week, particularly Officers Mathew J. Mazany and Vu X. NguyenRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed,
declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the hard work, dedication and commitment of police officers from around the country. Here in Northern Ohio, we particularly recognize the sacrifice of Cleveland Police Officer Vu Nguyen and Mentor Police Officer Mathew Mazany, both of whom we lost during 2018 while they were on-duty and keeping our community safe,” Herdman said.
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including two officers here in the Northern District of Ohio -- Mentor Officer Mathew J. Mazany and Cleveland Officer Vu X. Nguyen.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers were formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. The Candlelight Vigil was one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Cleveland man indicted for having unlicensed machine gunRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted in federal court for having an unlicensed machine gun.
Toriano A. Leaks, Jr., 20, was indicted on two counts of illegal possession of a machine gun.
Leaks on April 10 possessed a Glock .40-caliber that had been modified into a machine gun. He also possessed a select fire auto-sear, which is used exclusively for converting a weapon into a machine gun, according to the indictment.
Leak also possessed 21 rounds of ammunition and three magazines, with capacities of 15, 20 and 30 rounds of ammunition, according to court documents.
The investigation is ongoing.
“Adding this specific part to a handgun to make it fully automatic makes that firearm illegal and puts the public at risk,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute all firearms violations, and especially to stop the flow of these parts into the country.”
“The possession of illegal firearms is a violation of federal law and a threat to public safety,” said Jonathan T. McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities.”
Bedford Police Chief Martin Stemple said: “In reference to the Toriano Leaks arrest and indictment: Officer Stanton while patrolling the City of Bedford, observed a vehicle with some seemingly minor traffic violations, and conducted a traffic stop. Through some keen observations and excellent police work, Officer Stanton developed a routine traffic stop into an arrest of a dangerous individual. Because of the Officer's relentless determination, the individual's true identity was learned, a weapon and ammunition along with narcotics were all confiscated. The weapon was modified to fire fully automatic, and was found under the driver's seat, fully loaded with high-capacity magazines. This incident just goes to show the dangers our officers face, even on something that appears to start out as a minor traffic violation.”
“Keeping weapons out of the wrong hands is critical to keeping our communities safe and to prevent gun violence, we are committed to remaining vigilant to ensure firearms and any firearm parts are acquired while abiding federal laws,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bedford Police Department Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three indicted for drug conspiracy involving thousands of THC cartridges used with vaping devicesRead the Press Release
Three people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute THC.
Indicted are Frank Altieri, 25, of Brooklyn, Florida; and David Bruell, 28, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, and James Campbell, 35, of Boynton Beach, Florida. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute tetrahydrocannabinol and one count of possession with intent to distribute tetrahydrocannabinol.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit nearly $1.5 million seized during the investigation.
According to court documents:
Campbell came to Cleveland to engage in narcotics trafficking, and met with Altieri on April 11 at a Holiday Inn Express, where they transferred numerous boxes containing THC cartridges. Campbell then drove to a house on Elsetta Avenue in Cleveland, where he understood the boxes of THC cartridges would be removed and picked up.
During surveillance of the house on Elsetta, a Nissan Altima arrived at the home and people in the car were believed to move the boxes into the home. A subsequent search of the home on Elsetta resulted in the recovery of approximately 5,888 THC cartridges, according to court documents.
A search of Bruell’s residence on Brandywood Drive in Pepper Pike resulted in the recovery of additional THC cartridges and cash. The same Nissan Altima seen at the home on Elsetta was at the Pepper Pike home, according to court documents.
A subsequent search of Bruell’s CubeSmart rental units in Columbus and Warrensville Heights resulted in the recovery of marijuana and at least 1,700 THC cartridges, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland OCDETF Strike Force, including representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cleveland HIDTA, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Montville Township Police Department and the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Stow man indicted for having methamphetamine, heroin and fentanylRead the Press Release
A Stow man was indicted in federal court for having methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl.
David Thomas, Jr., 29, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
Thomas had more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 12 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin on February 23, 2019, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the FBI and South Euclid Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burke.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Five Canton men indicted for stealing 22 firearms from Canton gun storeRead the Press Release
Five Canton men were indicted in federal court for allegedly stealing dozens of guns from a firearms store in Canton in February.
Four of the defendants were also indicted on charges of conspiring to steal firearms from another Canton firearms store.
Robert Clark, Jr., 18, Marquelis Thomas, 21, Shymeik Barkley, 18, God Gibson, 18, and Jamaryon Frazier, 18, were each indicted on one count of theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer.
Clark, Thomas, Gibson and Frazier are also indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer.
The five men are accused of stealing 22 firearms from Elite Security Consultants LLC on February 2, 2019.
Clark, Thomas, Gibson and Frazier are also accused of conspiring to steal firearms from Stark Arms on February 2, 2019. The men parked at Stark Arms, on Cleveland Avenue S.W., wearing gloves and covering their faces and attempted to gain entry by throwing a heavy metal object at the business’s window, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton Police Department and Stark County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ohioans turned in 50,000 pounds of prescription medication as part of DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
With enthusiastic participation nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners have now collected nearly 12 million pounds of unused or expired prescription medications over the course of 17 successful DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events. During the 17th semiannual event on April 27, the Take Back initiative saw new records for the numbers of law enforcement partners, collection sites. Together with these local, state, tribal and federal partners – more than 5,000 total – at nearly 6,400 collection sites, DEA collected and destroyed close to 469 tons of potentially dangerous unwanted drugs.
This brings the total amount of drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 11,816,393 pounds, or 5,908 tons.
The Detroit Field Division, servicing Michigan and Ohio collected a total of 75,514 pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs. The state of Michigan collected 23,692 pounds and the state of Ohio 50,821 pounds.
“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman said. “Properly disposing of these pills is one important step anyone can take to get involved in turning the tide on the opioid epidemic that has caused so much pain here in Ohio.”
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events have been extremely successful not only in getting unused drugs out of the house, but also in raising awareness of their link to addiction and overdose deaths. The public has embraced the opportunity these events provide to remove medicines languishing in the home that are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse and theft. Public demand for safe and secure drug disposal has also resulted in a significant increase in year-round drug drop boxes at law enforcement facilities, pharmacies, and elsewhere, making drug disposal even more convenient.
Complete results for DEA’s spring Take Back Day are available at www.DEATakeBack.com. Video of DEA’s Take Back Day collections being weighed and destroyed is available at https://youtu.be/5y_LCuJvWRs.
DEA’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 26, 2019.
Men from Mansfield and Perry indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Men from Mansfield and Perry were indicted in federal court on child pornography charges.
Indicted are: Christopher Coffer, 41, of Mansfield, and Anthony V. Coladangelo, 50, of Perry. Their cases are not otherwise related.
Coffer was charged with knowingly transporting, shipping, receiving, distributing, reproducing for distribution, possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Coffer knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between May 15, 2016 through February 22, 2018, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that on or about April 4, 2018, Coffer possessed a computer which contained child pornography.
Coladangelo was charged with receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography.
Coladangelo knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between January 7, 2019 through February 24, 2019, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that on or about April 16, 2019, Coladangelo knowingly possessed a computer that contained an image of child pornography, and at least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (Coladangelo).
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Danielle K. Angeli, Brian Deckert and Michael A. Sullivan.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Columbus man indicted on drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl and methamphetamineRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Andre Little, 33, of Columbus, with distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 11, 2019 and April 5, 2019, Little knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl.
The indictment further alleges that on or about April 11, 2019, Little knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Owner of Canton company that manufactures American flags sentenced to two years in prison for failing to pay $162,000 in taxesRead the Press Release
The owner of a Canton company that manufactures American flags was sentenced to two years in prison for failing to pay more than $162,000 in payroll taxes.
Richard Spencer, 52, was ordered to pay $197,040 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to failure to account for, collect and pay over employment taxes.
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said: “This defendant did not paying over taxes he collected from his employees, and intentionally misclassified others to avoid taxes. This defendant benefitted from being able to say that his flags were made in America, but he failed to meet his obligations to his employees and the American taxpayer.”
“Richard Spencer did not have any problems with earning income from manufacturing the American flag, but he did have problems with paying employment taxes to the IRS that he withheld from his employees,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “What is very disturbing about this case is that an IRS audit disclosed that Richard Spencer improperly treated employees as contractors and even after learning the results of the audit he continued to misclassify his employees and continued to fail to pay the employment taxes.”
Spencer controls RS Sewing, which manufactures American flags. Spencer oversaw production, source materials, paperwork and the company’s financial operations, according to court documents.
Spencer, beginning around 2008, reclassified some of his workers from employees to independent contractors. Following an audit in 2011, Spencer was informed he improperly classified the workers as independent contractors, and a penalty was assessed against Spencer. He continued to misclassify some employees and failed to pay employment taxes, according to court documents.
Spencer classified some workers as independent contractors and others as employees, although all RS Sewing workers were required to clock in and out, were paid wages by the hour, were provided materials to make the flags by RS Sewing and were otherwise treated the same by managers, according to court documents.
Spencer from 2012 through 2015, Spencer failed to withhold taxes from workers he knowingly and willfully misclassified as independent contractors. For workers classified as W-2 employees, Spencer withheld federal income, Social Security and Medicare taxes from employees but never paid the money to the IRS, according to court documents.
Overall, he failed to collect, account for and pay over approximately $162,728 of federal employment taxes, according to the indictment.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. It was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Henderson and Robert Kern.
Toledo man indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanylRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
Donald Fuller, 49, possessed with the intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and at least 400 grams of fentanyl between 2016 and 2019, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Toledo Police Department and the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Alissa M. Sterling.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The last of four defendants was sentenced to prison their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the MetroHealth Hospital System and others through a series of bribes and kickbacksRead the Press Release
The last of four defendants was sentenced to prison their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the MetroHealth Hospital System and others through a series of bribes and kickbacks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars related to the hospital’s dental program.
Yazan B. Al-Madani, 35, of Westlake, was sentenced to sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on Thursday.
Former hospital Chief Operating Officer Edward R. Hills, 59, of Aurora, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.
Sari Alqsous, 35, of Cleveland, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Tariq Sayegh, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced to five years in prison.
A jury last year found all four men guilty of criminal charges following a trial that lasted several weeks.
“These defendants stole from a hospital that serves the most needy in our community,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These prison sentences underscore that people who abuse positions of trust to enrich themselves will be held accountable for their crimes.”
“Mr. Hills and his associates will now serve time behind bars for their roles in defrauding our healthcare system,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. “The investigation revealed these individuals engaged in a pervasive pattern of fraud, betraying the MetroHealth Hospital System, its employees, and our community. The collective efforts of the FBI, IRS, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Office of the Inspector General, United States Attorney's Office, and MetroHealth officials led to the disruption of this destructive illegal activity. "
“Today’s sentencing marks the end of this major health care fraud case that had such a negative impact on our community. These defendants conspired to misuse their position of trust for their own personal gain and obstructed justice by telling witnesses to not to cooperate with law enforcement and this is what ultimately lead to the downfall of these defendants,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “These types of investigations are often solved most efficiently through a multiple-agency approach to crime fighting.”
“These four criminals hit Ohio’s taxpayers and healthcare system right in the teeth,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “With today’s sentence, justice struck back. I’m pleased our Bureau of Criminal Investigation could assist our law enforcement partners who investigated and prosecuted this case.”
Hills worked in various capacities at MetroHealth, including as Chief Operating Officer and Director of MetroHealth Dental. He also served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 through July 2013. Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh are dentists who worked for MetroHealth.
According to court documents, testimony and documents presented at trial:
Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani engaged in a racketeering conspiracy from 2008 through 2016 involving a series of elaborate bribery conspiracies, witness tampering and other crimes. These bribes include Hills soliciting cash, checks, a $3,879 Louis Vuitton briefcase, a 55-inch television, airline flights and use of a downtown apartment from Alqsous, Al-Madani and others. In return, Hills took official actions on their behalf, including allowing them to work at their private dental businesses during regular business hours while receiving a full-time salary from MetroHealth.
Alqsous, Al-Madani and others gave cash, checks and other things of value to Hills beginning in 2009. Evidence included text messages and meetings, often at expensive restaurants, which resulted in cash being deposited into Hills’ bank accounts.
Alqsous sent a text message to Al-Madani and another person in 2013 that stated: “With 22nd of October approaching we ll be celebrating Dr hills bday earlier this year…1000 dollars each is the gift from the 3 sons their father.” Later that day, $3,000 was deposited into Hills’ bank account.
In 2012, Alqsous rented and lived in an apartment at the Perry Payne apartment building in downtown Cleveland. When he bought a residence, Hills instructed Alqsous to continue paying rent and other bills at the Perry Payne building, even though Alqsous would no longer be living there. Hills used the Perry Payne apartment to house an associate and for his own personal use in 2013 and 2014 while Alqsous, acting on Hills’ orders, continued to pay rent and other bills.
Hills instructed Alqsous to purchase furniture for the apartment for Hills’ personal use. Alqsous sent Hills a text in 2013 stating: “I bought your bedroom yesterday…there is mirrors everywhere…You will like it.”
Hills became interim President and CEO of the MetroHealth Hospital System in December 2012. Around that time, he told Alqsous, Al-Madani and others that he wanted a specific Louis Vuitton briefcase because his predecessor had a similar briefcase.
Alqsous texted a photo of the briefcase to Hills and wrote: “The guys are also very excited about their raise haha.” Hills responded with: “Thanks I’m so excited to have my bag to start my new job as #1.” Later that day, Alqsous, Al-Madani and others purchased the briefcase for $3,879 from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beachwood and later presented it to Hills.
As director of MetroHealth Dental, Hills was responsible for determining monthly bonuses for dentists who produced receipts in excess of their monthly salary and benefits. Dentists typically received a monthly bonus totaling 25 percent of the monies they generated for excess receipts.
Between 2010 and 2014, Hills regularly upwardly adjusted the bonuses of Alqsous, Al-Madani and others, by a total of approximately $92,829.
Hills also allowed Alqsous, Al-Madani and others to retain full-time salaries and benefits at MetroHealth without requiring them to work full-time hours, thus allowing them to operate private dental clinics. Hills, acting at the request of Alqsous and Al-Madani, provided MetroHealth dental residents to practice at those private clinics during regular business hours. Neither Alqsous nor Al-Madani paid wages or salaries to the resident dentists.
Additionally, Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh solicited and accepted bribes totaling tens of thousands of dollars from prospective candidates to the MetroHealth Dental residency program.
In a typical year, the MetroHealth Dental residency accepted four to six candidates for the residency program from a pool of 40 to 60 applicants. Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani each had the authority to influence the selection of dental residents, and Hills had final decisional authority over who was selected for the residency program.
Alqsous and Sayegh often identified and selected candidates who were from Jordan or trained at a Jordanian dental school, telling them they would have to pay a “donation” to MetroHealth to be considered. Alqsous and Sayegh directed the candidates to pay the “donation” directly to them, and in some cases, told the candidates a portion of the money would go to Hills.
Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani solicited at least $75,000 in bribes from resident dentist candidate between 2008 and 2014.
In another conspiracy, Al-Madani and Alqsous paid bribes to Hills in exchange for him taking actions to refer Medicaid recipients to private dental clinics owned by Al-Madani and Alqsous instead of MetroHealth. All three took steps to conceal this activity by claiming kickback checks totaling $17,600 written to Hills were for “consultation fees” or “professional fees”.
Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani also conspired to obstruct justice, instructing people not to cooperate with law enforcement after becoming aware of the federal investigation in 2014.
Hills also made false statements on tax returns, failing to claim approximately $165,751 in unreported income stemming from bribes, kickbacks and other things of value between 2011 and 2013.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani, Michael L. Collyer and James Lewis following an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.
South Carolina man indicted in federal court in Cleveland on charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justiceRead the Press Release
A South Carolina man was indicted in federal court in Cleveland on charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justice.
Anthony Ingram, 32, was arrested in Kentucky. He has been indicted on one count of kidnapping and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to the indictment:
Ingram on August 10, 2018, kidnapped a person identified in the indictment as H.K. for the purpose of sexually assaulting her. He used a semi-trailer truck to transport her from Michigan to Ohio as part of the kidnapping.
Ingram also discarded a cellular phone, clothing and towel on August 10, 2018, for the purpose of making them unavailable for any court proceeding, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol, with assistance from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Daly.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Men from Akron, Youngstown and Sandusky indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
Four people were indicted in federal court for firearms offenses.
Daemonte D. Sims, 27, of Akron, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Sims possessed a Kel-Tec 9 mm pistol and ammunition on January 6, despite previous convictions for robbery, according to the indictment.
Lester Walker, Jr., 27, of Youngstown, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Walker possessed a Professional Ordnance 5.56-caliber pistol on October 10, 2018, despite a previous conviction for assault, according to the indictment.
Davontiere D. Hollinshed, 27, of Akron, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hollinshed possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and ammunition on March 29, despite a previous conviction for felonious assault, according to the indictment.
Dean Lamont Swain, 36, of Sandusky, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Swain possessed 56 grams of fentanyl, 226 grams of cocaine and a Ruger .45-caliber handgun on December 7, 2018, despite a previous conviction for robbery, according to the indictment
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique
to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
These cases were investigated by the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Akron Police Department (Sims) and the Norton Police Department (Hollinshed). They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damoun Delaviz, Christopher J. Joyce and Jason M. Katz.
They are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The program was reinvigorated 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Elyria man arrested on child pornography charges after search for missing juvenileRead the Press Release
On April 18, 2019, Jeremy L. Cruz, 39, of Elyria, was taken into custody by Cleveland Division FBI agents, and Sheffield and Avon Lake Police Department officers at a residence in Sheffield Lake, Ohio.
Santa Maria Police Department, in California, asked the public for assistance in a missing 14 year old juvenile case, she had been missing since April 15th. Through initial investigative work, Santa Maria Police Department determined the missing juvenile had been communicating with an adult male she had met online, the adult male was soon identified as Jeremy Cruz of Elyria.
On April 18th, at approximately 3:30am, law enforcement located Cruz at a family member’s residence in Sheffield Lake. The missing juvenile was also present. Cruz was placed into custody without incident and transported to the Sheffield Lake Police Department. The juvenile female was reunited with her family in California.
Law enforcement conducted a digital forensic examination of Cruz’s cellular phone and discovered numerous photos of what is believed to be child pornography.
Cruz has been held in local custody since April 18th and was transferred to federal custody this morning. He has been charged with interstate transport of child pornography. He will have his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg’s courtroom.
This case was investigated by the Santa Maria Police Department, FBI – Los Angeles Division, Sheffield Lake Police Department, Avon Lake Police Department, Elyria Police Department, Lorain Police Department and the Cleveland Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Ohio.
A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Youngstown man indicted for trafficking crack cocaineRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa, 33, of Youngstown, with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and use of the mail in causing or facilitating the commission of a felony.
The indictment alleges that on or about April 3, 2019, Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.
The indictment also alleges that on or about April 3, 2019, Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa did knowingly and intentionally use the mail in facilitating the commission of a felony.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Postal Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two men with prior homicide convictions sentenced to prison for firearms and drug crimes after search of Canton home revealed guns, drugs and body armorRead the Press Release
Two men with prior homicide convictions were sentenced to prison for firearms and drug trafficking charges crimes.
Maurice A. Stewart, 42, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison this week. A jury previously convicted him of drug trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of firearms.
William W. Moore, 38, was sentenced to 63 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges.
A third man, Jason E. Cousins, 47, was sentenced to 73 months in prison. Cousins was found guilty of a firearm offense following a trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court:
U.S. Marshals were searching for Moore, who was wanted on drug and firearms warrants out of West Virginia, when they tracked him to a home in Canton on November 17, 2016.
A search of the home resulted in the recovery of nearly eight pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, $10,904 in cash, two loaded handguns, a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun, an AR-15 rifle and body armor.
The evidence at trial connected all three men to items recovered at the residence.
Moore was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous conviction for murder.
Stewart was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous conviction involuntary manslaughter.
Cousins was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of previous convictions for possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Peter Daly following an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Canton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Two Canadian men indicted for selling carfentanil, fentanyl and heroin over the Internet and shipping the drugs to Europe, Canada and the U.S., including OhioRead the Press Release
Two Canadian men were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to sell carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs over the Internet and ship the drugs to locations in Europe, Canada and the United States, including Northern Ohio.
Named in the 10-count indictment are Robert Mitrache, 34, of Chateauguay, and Louis-Vincent Bourcier, 30, of Mercier. They are charged with conspiracy to import controlled substances, distribution of furanyl fentanyl, distribution of heroin and methamphetamine, and other charges.
According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland:
Mitrache and Bourcier were among the people who controlled the Pharmaphil vendor account that operated on dark net marketplaces such as AlphaBay, Dream Market, the Majestic Garden and other marketplaces.
The Pharmaphil account served as an online storefront that trafficked narcotics such as fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin and methamphetamine to locations in Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria and other countries. The organization had more than 1,500 confirmed sales across multiple dark net marketplaces, according to the indictment.
Mitrache, Bourcier and others used various methods designed to protect the anonymity of buyers and sellers from law enforcement and other organizations. These methods included internally hosted message boards, using encrypted messaging applications, and proxies, which bounced network traffic from one computer to another.
Members of the conspiracy laundered its drug profits through a variety of means, including maintaining and using digital currency such as bitcoin, according to the indictment.
The conspiracy took placed between at least May 2015 through December 16, 2017, according to the indictment.
Both defendants are currently incarcerated in Canada.
“This case is a stark reminder of the way deadly narcotics are bought and sold has changed dramatically,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Law enforcement has adapted too and are working to arrest and prosecute those who sell opioids and other drugs over the Internet.”
“The charges against these defendants should make it abundantly clear that those who distribute deadly drugs via the Dark Net are not out of reach of law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “HSI is committed to targeting the unlawful sale of opioids, following the money trails and leveraging our international and local partnerships to dismantle drug smuggling rings and stop this opioid crisis from spreading any further.”
“Battling the distribution of synthetic opioids in the U.S. is one of the Postal Inspection Service’s highest priorities,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke. “The indictment proves postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners remain steadfast in dismantling dark net vendors of illicit and dangerous items. This should serve as an example to criminal groups using the dark net that we are unwavering in our mission to identify and disrupt their illegal activity.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said: "These two defendants believed that by utilizing the dark web and sophisticated cyber techniques their dangerous, world wide drug dealing would go undetected by law enforcement - they were wrong. Collaborative law enforcement techniques identified these two and now they will be held accountable for selling and distributing deadly controlled substances."
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations as part of “Operation Darkness Falls,” a joint operation targeting people and organizations that sell fentanyl and other drugs over the dark net. Also involved in this investigation were the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Justice Department’s Special Operations Division and federal law enforcement in the District of Arizona. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Cronin and Daniel Riedl.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations operating domestically and internationally. The principle mission of the OCDETF Program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Twenty people indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to obtain large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and sell the drugs to customers on the west side of ClevelandRead the Press Release
Twenty people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to obtain large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and sell the drugs to customers on the west side of Cleveland.
Named in the 27-count indictment are: Alquin Wells, 37, of Sheffield Lake; Ronelle Davis, 28, of Sheffield Lake; Malcolm Collins, 46; Travon Gales, 24, of Maple Heights; Ronnie Edgell, 54; Lashaun Moncrief, 36; Matthew Kucera, 46; Amber Moore, 35, of Parma; Gloria Hrdy, 29; Patricia Truman, 28; Molly Medlik, 24; Cody Ray Lee, 25; Lisa Goforth, 27; Shaunna Collier, 23; Virginia May, 37; Tamie Seitz, 49; John Dickson, 39, of Brunswick; Elizabeth Gallagher, 30; Bobbi Boylan, 34, and Imani Nicholson, 23, of Sheffield Village. All are from Cleveland unless otherwise noted.
All 20 are indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.
Goforth and Boylan are charged with distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and acetylfentanyl with a potential sentencing enhancing for selling drugs that resulted in serious bodily injury on March 1.
Gales, Wells and Collins also were indicted for firearms crimes. Davis and Nicholson were indicted for conspiracy to launder money.
An additional defendant, DeMarco Clayton, 24, of Sheffield Lake, faces firearms and drug charges for allegedly having heroin, a revolver and ammunition on April 3. Clayton is forbidden from having firearms or ammunition because of numerous previous convictions, according to the indictment.
According to the indictment:
Wells and Davis obtained ounce quantities of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, which they sold to other dealers and customers in Cleveland. Specifically, Wells and Davis sold drugs to Collins, Gales and Moncrief.
Wells, Davis, Collins and Gales also sold heroin and fentanyl to Edgell, Kucera, Moore, Hrdy, Truman, Medlik, Lee, Goforth, Collier, May, Seitz, Dickson and Gallagher, who sold the heroin and fentanyl to others.
Wells, Gales and others carried firearms to protect themselves, their drugs and their drug proceeds. Wells and Davis used Davis’ residence in Sheffield Lake to store the drugs, process the heroin and fentanyl and store the profits of their drug sales, according to the indictment.
The conspiracy took place between September 2017 and April 2019, according to the indictment.
Wells was shot three times during a suspected home invasion on November 10, 2017. Two unidentified males took Wells’ gold Range Rover. The vehicle was later found burned on East 32nd Street in Cleveland, according to the indictment.
The indictment details numerous occasions when Wells met customers in the parking lots of fast food restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and other stores to make hand-to-hand drug transactions.
Boylan and Goforth on March 1 sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and acetylfentanyl to someone identified as T.M., which caused T.M. to overdose and suffer serious bodily injury, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors are seeking to seize six firearms and more than $44,000 seized as part of the investigation.
“This group is accused of selling deadly drugs, illegally carrying firearms, laundering their drug profits and contributing to this scourge that has killed thousands of Ohioans,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said: “This group of individuals brought deadly drugs, firearms and danger to the public. Law enforcement's collaborative efforts have thwarted their criminal behavior for a safer community.”
“The collaborative efforts of the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force have once again resulted in taking criminal activity off of the streets of our communities,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “We hope that these arrests indictments serve as a warning to those intending to participate in future illegal activities.”
“Today’s indictment demonstrate that IRS agents will continue to follow the money trail to disrupt the flow of ill-gotten gains that are the lifeblood of criminal enterprises,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley said: “The Lakewood Police Department values its participation in the Northeast Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. Working with our partners from federal, state and other local agencies is a requirement to shut down these drug networks that have no jurisdictional boundaries. We are committed on the law enforcement end to stopping the delivery of these deadly drugs to our communities.”
“Opioid-abuse is a public health crisis severely impacting our nation’s veterans” said Special Agent in Charge Gregg Hirstein, Department Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. “We will investigate and seek prosecution against anyone illegally purveying these deadly products.”
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, their roles in the offense and the characteristics of the criminal conduct. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. The NOLETF is a task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and the police departments of Euclid, Lakewood, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Moreland Hills. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives, which supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations operating domestically and internationally. The principle mission of the OCDETF Program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Strongsville man charged for allegedly defrauding companies, churches, schools and others out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for work on playground renovations and installations he never completedRead the Press Release
A Strongsville man was charged in federal court after he allegedly defrauded companies, churches, schools and others out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Christopher M. Hardin, 37, was charged via criminal information with one count of mail fraud.
According to the information:
Hardin established American Safety Surface & Recreation LLC (ASSR) in 2011 with its principal place of business being Broadview Heights. ASSR was a playground surfacing company that operated in several states, including Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa, California, New York, Texas and elsewhere.
Hardin, between September 2011 and November 2016, defrauded clients out of approximately $172,964 by obtaining deposits for promised work on playground renovations and installations that he never completed.
Hardin ordered and obtained approximately $261,083 in playground equipment and materials from OTS Company, based in South Carolina, for which payment was not made.
Hardin subcontracted approximately $270,127 of playground renovations and installation projects to MJD’s Property Solutions, LLC, for which payment was not made.
According to the information, Hardin fraudulently misrepresented to clients the use of project deposits, the timing of project completion and issues causing delays in projects, when Hardin knew he was using client funds for purposes other than what he had promised, including purchasing a vehicle, restaurant and bar purchases, and clothing unrelated to ASSR projects
As a result of Hardin’s scheme, the following customers sustained losses in the approximate amounts listed below for deposits they provided to Hardin for work that was never performed: Plainview Co-Op Nursery School ($28,755); Hudson Valley SportsDome, Inc. ($28,380); Saint Bellarmine Church ($21,375); St. Stephan of Hungary School, New York, New York ($18,450); St. Paul Lutheran Church & School, Ogden, Utah ($6,550); the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, Ohio ($15,900); Norbeck Montessori, Rockville, Maryland ($6,000); Village of Dolgeville, New York ($4,000); Northfield Presbyerian Daycare Center, Northfield, Ohio ($7,125); All Kids First I & II, Vineland, New Jersey ($9,500); NORWESCAP,Inc.,Phillipsburg, New Jersey ($2,475); John Link, Thompson, Ohio ($300); Little Wonders Daycare, San Mateo, California ($6,629); Lorene Cosimo, Cummings, Iowa ($1,825) Jan & Niles Davies Learning Center, and West Haverstraw, New York: $15,700, according to the information.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ravenna man indicted for allegedly robbing four stores in Portage County earlier this yearRead the Press Release
A Ravenna man was indicted in federal court for robbing four stores in Portage County earlier this year.
Matthew L. Shilling, 31, was charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of bank robbery.
The indictment alleges Shilling robbed the following locations: Circle K on East Main Street in Ravenna on February 15; BP gas station on State Highway 14 in Ravenna on February 18; Circle K on West Main Street in Ravenna on March 1 and Chase Bank on Waterloo Road in Randolph on March 5.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI, Ravenna Police Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Joyce.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fairview Park man indicted for assaulting federal officers and illegally having a firearm after he allegedly had a firearm and struck task force officers who were trying to arrest himRead the Press Release
A Fairview Park man was charged with assaulting federal officers and illegally having a firearm after he allegedly had a firearm and struck task force officers who were trying to arrest him.
Kevin W. Walker, 33, on March 6 struck two police officers working with the U.S. Marshals as part of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force with his vehicle, according to the indictment.
Walker also possessed a Taurus 9 mm firearm and ammunition on March 6. Walker was prohibited from having the firearm and ammunition because of previous convictions for domestic violence, aggravated assault, and other crimes, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique
to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Zarzycki and Danielle Angeli.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Extrudex Aluminum, Inc. pleaded guilty to misprision of a felonyRead the Press Release
Extrudex Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum manufacturing company in Mahoning County, with a parent company in Canada, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in connection with a conspiracy to obstruct justice related to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The company is scheduled to be sentenced August 1.
Extrudex, through its employees, concealed felony obstruction of justice offenses from Extrudex management in Canada and further failed to inform law enforcement of the commission of those offenses. This took place between April 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018, according to a criminal information
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Henderson and Om Kakani.
DEA and partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday April 27Read the Press Release
With robust public participation over the course of 16 prior events, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens. In continuation of this effort, DEA and its national, tribal and community partners will hold the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country on Saturday, April 27. The service is free and anonymous.
Now in its ninth year, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds (more than 5,400 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)
"Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends," said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "Helping people keep their loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications is just one of many ways that DEA is working to break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country."
“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Properly disposing of these pills is one important step anyone can take to get involved in turning the tide on the opioid epidemic that has caused so much pain here in Ohio.”
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.
National Take Back Day has received enthusiastic public support since its inception in 2010. Last October, the public turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,800 of its local and tribal partners.
Akron man was charged with bank fraud and possession of fentanylRead the Press Release
An Akron man was charged in federal court with bank fraud and possession of fentanyl.
Ramon J. Wright, Jr., 31, was charged via criminal information with one count of bank fraud and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Wright possessed more than 22 grams of fentanyl on August 30, 2018, according to the information.
Wright, in August and September 2017, allegedly helped two people obtain fraudulent bank loans totaling $71,300 by using fraudulent and falsified documents that misrepresented the other person’s employment, income and utility account information, according to the information.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Akron Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Akron man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for having a firearm while trafficking a mix of fentanyl and cocaineRead the Press Release
An Akron man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for having a firearm while trafficking a mix of fentanyl and cocaine.
Lamar Harris, 34, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. Harris was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and 60 months for possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
Harris pleaded guilty earlier this year. He was found with more than 16 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine on January 31, 2018, as well as a loaded .45-caliber pistol, according to court documents.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Medina County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick P. Burke.
Justice Department releases reports focused on improving safety and wellness of the nation's 800,000 law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. "In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us."
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said: "We owe it to the men and women who protect us to understand the challenges they face on the job and away from it, and ways we as a Department and a country can better support them.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Two Romanian Cybercriminals Convicted of All 21 Counts Relating to Infecting over 400,000 Victim Computers with Malware and Stealing Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted two Bucharest, Romania, residents of 21 counts related to their scheme to infect victim computers with malware in order to steal credit card and other information to sell on dark market websites, mine cryptocurrency and engage in online auction fraud, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio.
Bogdan Nicolescu, 36, and Radu Miclaus, 37, were convicted after a 12-day trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit service marks, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 12 counts each of wire fraud. Sentencing has been set for Aug. 14, 2019 before Chief Judge Patricia A. Gaughan of the Northern District of Ohio.
According to testimony at trial and court documents, Nicolescu, Miclaus, and a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty, collectively operated a criminal conspiracy from Bucharest, Romania. It began in 2007 with the development of proprietary malware, which they disseminated through malicious emails purporting to be legitimate from such entities as Western Union, Norton AntiVirus and the IRS. When recipients clicked on an attached file, the malware was surreptitiously installed onto their computer.
This malware harvested email addresses from the infected computer, such as from contact lists or email accounts, and then sent malicious emails to these harvested email addresses. The defendants infected and controlled more than 400,000 individual computers, primarily in the United States.
Controlling these computers allowed the defendants to harvest personal information, such as credit card information, user names and passwords. They disabled victims’ malware protection and blocked the victims’ access to websites associated with law enforcement.
Controlling the computers also allowed the defendants to use the processing power of the computer to solve complex algorithms for the financial benefit of the group, a process known as cryptocurrency mining.
The defendants used stolen email credentials to copy a victim’s email contacts. They also activated files that forced infected computers to register email accounts with AOL. The defendants registered more than 100,000 email accounts using this method. They then sent malicious emails from these addresses to the compromised contact lists. Through this method, they sent tens of millions of malicious emails.
When victims with infected computers visited websites such as Facebook, PayPal, eBay or others, the defendants would intercept the request and redirect the computer to a nearly identical website they had created. The defendants would then steal account credentials. They used the stolen credit card information to fund their criminal infrastructure, including renting server space, registering domain names using fictitious identities and paying for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which further concealed their identities.
The defendants were also able to inject fake pages into legitimate websites, such as eBay, to make victims believe they were receiving and following instructions from legitimate websites, when they were actually following the instructions of the defendants.
They placed more than 1,000 fraudulent listings for automobiles, motorcycles and other high-priced goods on eBay and similar auction sites. Photos of the items were infected with malware, which redirected computers that clicked on the image to fictitious webpages designed by the defendants to resemble legitimate eBay pages.
These fictitious webpages prompted users to pay for their goods through a nonexistent “eBay Escrow Agent” who was simply a person hired by the defendants. Users paid for the goods to the fraudulent escrow agents, who in turn wired the money to others in Eastern Europe, who in turn gave it to the defendants. The payers/victims never received the items and never got their money back.
This resulted in a loss of millions of dollars.
The Bayrob group laundered this money by hiring “money transfer agents” and created fictitious companies with fraudulent websites designed to give the impression they were actual businesses engaged in legitimate financial transactions. Money stolen from victims was wired to these fraudulent companies and then in turn wired to Western Union or Money Gram offices in Romania. European “money mules” used fake identity documents to collect the money and deliver it to the defendants.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Romanian National Police. Senior Counsel Brian Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Brian McDonough of the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case. The Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this case.
Jury convicts two Romanian nationals of crimes related to their scheme to infect computers with malware in order to steal credit card and other information to sell on dark market websites, mine cryptocurrency and engage in online fraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted two Romanian nationals of 21 counts related to their scheme to infect victim computers with malware in order to steal credit card and other information to sell on dark market websites, mine cryptocurrency and engage in online auction fraud.
Bogdan Nicolescu, 36, and Radu Miclaus, 37, were convicted after a 12-day trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit service marks, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 12 counts each of wire fraud.
The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith.
“The evidence at presented at trial set out an international criminal enterprise with victims around the world, including people here in Northern Ohio,” Justin Herdman said. “While they stole millions of dollars, what they thought was a veil of anonymity was no protection against law enforcement, who worked diligently to track them down and bring them to justice in an American courthouse.”
"This conviction reveals the dynamic landscape in which international criminals utilize sophisticated cyber methods to take advantage of and defraud, unsuspecting victims,” Smith said. “Despite the complexity and global character of this type of investigation, this judgment demonstrates the commitment by the FBI and our partners to aggressively pursue the individuals responsible, anywhere in the world, and bring them to justice.”
According to testimony at trial and court documents, Nicolescu, Miclaus, and a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty, collectively operated a criminal conspiracy from Bucharest, Romania. It began in 2007 with the development of proprietary malware, which they disseminated through malicious emails purporting to be legitimate from such entities as Western Union, Norton AntiVirus and the IRS. When recipients clicked on an attached file, the malware was surreptitiously installed onto their computer.
This malware harvested email addresses from the infected computer, such as from contact lists or email accounts, and then sent malicious emails to these harvested email addresses. The defendants infected and controlled more than 400,000 individual computers, primarily in the United States.
Controlling these computers allowed the defendants to harvest personal information, such as credit card information, user names and passwords. They disabled victims’ malware protection and blocked the victims’ access to websites associated with law enforcement.
Controlling the computers also allowed the defendants to use the processing power of the computer to solve complex algorithms for the financial benefit of the group, a process known as cryptocurrency mining.
The defendants used stolen email credentials to copy a victim’s email contacts. They also activated files that forced infected computers to register email accounts with AOL. The defendants registered more than 100,000 email accounts using this method. They then sent malicious emails from these addresses to the compromised contact lists. Through this method, they sent tens of millions of malicious emails.
When victims with infected computers visited websites such as Facebook, PayPal, eBay or others, the defendants would intercept the request and redirect the computer to a nearly identical website they had created. The defendants would then steal account credentials. They used the stolen credit card information to fund their criminal infrastructure, including renting server space, registering domain names using fictitious identities and paying for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which further concealed their identities.
The defendants were also able to inject fake pages into legitimate websites, such as eBay, to make victims believe they were receiving and following instructions from legitimate websites, when they were actually following the instructions of the defendants.
They placed more than 1,000 fraudulent listings for automobiles, motorcycles and other high-priced goods on eBay and similar auction sites. Photos of the items were infected with malware, which redirected computers that clicked on the image to fictitious webpages designed by the defendants to resemble legitimate eBay pages.
These fictitious webpages prompted users to pay for their goods through a nonexistent “eBay Escrow Agent” who was simply a person hired by the defendants. Users paid for the goods to the fraudulent escrow agents, who in turn wired the money to others in Eastern Europe, who in turn gave it to the defendants. The payers/victims never received the items and never got their money back.
This resulted in a loss of millions of dollars.
The Bayrob group laundered this money by hiring “money transfer agents” and created fictitious companies with fraudulent websites designed to give the impression they were actual businesses engaged in legitimate financial transactions. Money stolen from victims was wired to these fraudulent companies and then in turn wired to Western Union or Money Gram offices in Romania. European “money mules” used fake identity documents to collect the money and deliver it to the defendants.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Romanian National Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Brian McDonough and Senior Counsel Brian Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this case.
Jury convicts Elyria man of illegally having handgunRead the Press Release
A jury convicted an Elyria man of illegally having a firearm and ammunition.
Gregory Raymore, 32, was convicted of one county of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a four-day trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 17.
Raymore possessed a .45-caliber handgun and 22 rounds of ammunition. Lorain police officers responded to a fatal shooting in an alleyway outside a bar in May 2018. The murder investigation led to the recovery of a firearm and ammunition near the crime scene that contained Raymore's DNA, although it was not the firearm that caused the death, according to trial testimony.
Raymore was not allowed to possess the firearm or ammunition because of multiple previous convictions, including for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, possession of drugs and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to trial testimony and court documents
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Zarzycki and Maggie Kane following an investigation by the Lorain Police Department and FBI.
Former Chief Operating Officer of MetroHealth Hospital System sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the hospital and others through a series of bribes and kickbacksRead the Press Release
The former Chief Operating Officer of MetroHealth Hospital System was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the hospital and others through a series of bribes and kickbacks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars related to the hospital’s dental program.
Edward R. Hills, 58, of Aurora, was sentenced to 188 months in prison. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
A jury previously found Hills, Sari Alqsous, 34, of Cleveland, Yazan B. Al-Madani, 34, of Westlake, and Tariq Sayegh, 38, of Cleveland, guilty of criminal charges following a trial last year. The other three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
“Dr. Hills violated the trust of taxpayers and the leadership of a hospital dedicated to serving the least among us,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Dr. Hills earned this prison sentence by putting his greed above all else, soliciting and taking cash, rent payments, plane tickets, an expensive briefcase and other items as bribes.”
"Mr. Hills will now serve his deserved sentence for defrauding our healthcare system,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. "The investigation and subsequent prosecution of Hills and his associates revealed these individuals had engaged in a pervasive pattern of fraud, betraying the MetroHealth Hospital System, its employees, and our community. The collective efforts of law enforcement and MetroHealth officials led to the disruption of this destructive illegal deceit. "
“Misusing their position of trust for their own personal gain and obstructing justice by telling witnesses to not to cooperate with law enforcement is what ultimately lead to the downfall of these defendants,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “The success of this case is a direct result of the excellent partnership amongst IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.”
“These four criminals hit Ohio’s taxpayers and healthcare system right in the teeth,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “With today’s sentence, justice struck back. I’m pleased our Bureau of Criminal Investigation could assist our law enforcement partners who investigated and prosecuted this case.”
Hills worked in various capacities at MetroHealth, including as Chief Operating Officer and Director of MetroHealth Dental. He also served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 through July 2013. Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh are dentists who worked for MetroHealth.
According to court documents, testimony and documents presented at trial:
Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani engaged in a racketeering conspiracy from 2008 through 2016 involving a series of elaborate bribery conspiracies, witness tampering and other crimes. These bribes include Hills soliciting cash, checks, a $3,879 Louis Vuitton briefcase, a 55-inch television, airline flights and use of a downtown apartment from Alqsous, Al-Madani and others. In return, Hills took official actions on their behalf, including allowing them to work at their private dental businesses during regular business hours while receiving a full-time salary from MetroHealth.
Alqsous, Al-Madani and others gave cash, checks and other things of value to Hills beginning in 2009. Evidence included text messages and meetings, often at expensive restaurants, which resulted in cash being deposited into Hills’ bank accounts.
Alqsous sent a text message to Al-Madani and another person in 2013 that stated: “With 22nd of October approaching we ll be celebrating Dr hills bday earlier this year…1000 dollars each is the gift from the 3 sons their father.” Later that day, $3,000 was deposited into Hills’ bank account.
In 2012, Alqsous rented and lived in an apartment at the Perry Payne apartment building in downtown Cleveland. When he bought a residence, Hills instructed Alqsous to continue paying rent and other bills at the Perry Payne building, even though Alqsous would no longer be living there. Hills used the Perry Payne apartment to house an associate and for his own personal use in 2013 and 2014 while Alqsous, acting on Hills’ orders, continued to pay rent and other bills.
Hills instructed Alqsous to purchase furniture for the apartment for Hills’ personal use. Alqsous sent Hills a text in 2013 stating: “I bought your bedroom yesterday…there is mirrors everywhere…You will like it.”
Hills became interim President and CEO of the MetroHealth Hospital System in December 2012. Around that time, he told Alqsous, Al-Madani and others that he wanted a specific Louis Vuitton briefcase because his predecessor had a similar briefcase.
Alqsous texted a photo of the briefcase to Hills and wrote: “The guys are also very excited about their raise haha.” Hills responded with: “Thanks I’m so excited to have my bag to start my new job as #1.” Later that day, Alqsous, Al-Madani and others purchased the briefcase for $3,879 from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beachwood and later presented it to Hills.
As director of MetroHealth Dental, Hills was responsible for determining monthly bonuses for dentists who produced receipts in excess of their monthly salary and benefits. Dentists typically received a monthly bonus totaling 25 percent of the monies they generated for excess receipts.
Between 2010 and 2014, Hills regularly upwardly adjusted the bonuses of Alqsous, Al-Madani and others, by a total of approximately $92,829.
Hills also allowed Alqsous, Al-Madani and others to retain full-time salaries and benefits at MetroHealth without requiring them to work full-time hours, thus allowing them to operate private dental clinics. Hills, acting at the request of Alqsous and Al-Madani, provided MetroHealth dental residents to practice at those private clinics during regular business hours. Neither Alqsous nor Al-Madani paid wages or salaries to the resident dentists.
Additionally, Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh solicited and accepted bribes totaling tens of thousands of dollars from prospective candidates to the MetroHealth Dental residency program.
In a typical year, the MetroHealth Dental residency accepted four to six candidates for the residency program from a pool of 40 to 60 applicants. Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani each had the authority to influence the selection of dental residents, and Hills had final decisional authority over who was selected for the residency program.
Alqsous and Sayegh often identified and selected candidates who were from Jordan or trained at a Jordanian dental school, telling them they would have to pay a “donation” to MetroHealth to be considered. Alqsous and Sayegh directed the candidates to pay the “donation” directly to them, and in some cases, told the candidates a portion of the money would go to Hills.
Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani solicited at least $75,000 in bribes from resident dentist candidate between 2008 and 2014.
In another conspiracy, Al-Madani and Alqsous paid bribes to Hills in exchange for him taking actions to refer Medicaid recipients to private dental clinics owned by Al-Madani and Alqsous instead of MetroHealth. All three took steps to conceal this activity by claiming kickback checks totaling $17,600 written to Hills were for “consultation fees” or “professional fees”.
Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani also conspired to obstruct justice, instructing people not to cooperate with law enforcement after becoming aware of the federal investigation in 2014.
Hills also made false statements on tax returns, failing to claim approximately $165,751 in unreported income stemming from bribes, kickbacks and other things of value between 2011 and 2013.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani, Michael L. Collyer and James Lewis following an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.
Eleven people from the Mahoning Valley indicted for their roles distributing crack and powder cocaine in the Youngstown areaRead the Press Release
Eleven people from the Mahoning Valley were indicted for their roles distributing crack and powder cocaine in the Youngstown area.
Several people also face related firearms charges.
Named in a 45-count indictment are: Robert Taylor, 58, of Youngstown; Raymond L. Rue, 39, of Liberty; Sadiya Az-Zahra Sow, aka Tina Robinson, 47, of Youngstown; Daniel M. Ortello, Jr., 30, of Niles; Terrell D. Green, 46, of Youngstown; Dewon R. Dawson, 35, of Youngstown; Darrell Dawson, 46, of Youngstown, and Bradley E. Weitzel, 61, of Butler, Pennsylvania.
All eight people are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Taylor and Dewon Dawson also face firearms charges.
The indictment alleges that from in or around August 2017 through June 2018, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Youngstown area.
According to the indictment, Taylor supplied cocaine to Sow, Rue, Ortello and Green for distribution in the Youngstown area. Sow supplied cocaine to the Dawsons and Weitzel for distribution in Youngstown and Western Pennsylvania.
Rue and Dewon Dawson cooked powder cocaine into crack cocaine, according to the indictment.
In a separate four-count indictment, Robin Rutledge, 48, of Youngstown, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, as well as firearms crimes.
Another 26-count indictment charges Nicki L. Warfield, 42, of Warren, John Weaver, Jr., 62, of Warren, and the aforementioned Sadiya Az-Zahra Sow with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
Warfield, Weaver and Sow conspired to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Warren and Youngstown areas between December 2017 through May 2018, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit approximately 22 firearms, ammunition and $258,324 seized as part of these investigations, according to court documents.
“These defendants are accused of bringing large amounts of cocaine into the Mahoning Valley, which they sold for profit,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Taking this group off the street, along with the dozens of firearms associated with them, will make Youngstown, Warren and the entire region safer.”
“This network of individuals brought danger and violence to our communities through their trafficking of illegal drugs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI's well established law enforcement network, through long standing task force partnerships, have disrupted this illegal business and these defendants will be held accountable in court.”
“The success of this law enforcement operation and others like it, would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (MVLETF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation,” said Sergeant Laurence McLaughlin, Commander of the MVLETF. “The Youngstown FBI office and MVLETF have a long history of working together and continue to have a positive impact in reducing narcotics trafficking and violence within Mahoning Valley. The MVLETF is thankful for their professional working relationships with the Department of Justice and the FBI.”
“There is no place in our community for those who use firearms for violent, criminal purposes,” said Kyle Walton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure those individuals are brought to justice.”
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique
to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
These case are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. They were investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Youngstown Police Department.
The MVLETF is comprised of agents and officers from the Austintown Police Department , ATF, FBI , Hubbard City Police Department, Liberty Township Police Department, Poland Township Police Department, Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, Springfield Police Department, Struthers City Police Department, Vienna Township Police Department, Youngstown City Police Department and Youngstown State University Police Department .
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.