Northern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Men from Ashtabula and Cleveland indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
Two men were indicted on firearms charges.
Christopher J. Alston, 33, of Ashtabula, was charged with being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Alston on January 24 possessed a loaded pistol after being previously convicted of robbery and trafficking in drugs, according to the indictment.
Joshua Walker, 32, of Cleveland, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Walker possessed shell casings from a 9 mm Luger on October 25, 2017, despite a previous conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, 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.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz (Alston) and John Hanley (Walker).
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.
Akron man indicted on charges that he robbed eight businesses in Akron or Cuyahoga FallsRead the Press Release
An Akron man was indicted in federal court on charges that he robbed eight businesses in Akron or Cuyahoga Falls.
Darrion L. Powers, 22, was indicted on six counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of bank robbery.
According to the indictment, Powers is accused of robbing the following locations:
On December 4, 2018, Powers robbed Ms. Julye’s Kitchen on S. Main Street in Akron.
On December 24, 2018, Powers robbed Marco’s Pizza on Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls.
On January 4, 2019, Powers robbed Huntington Bank on S. Arlington Street in Akron.
On January 29, 2019, Powers robbed Rocco’s Pizza on Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls.
On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Mark and Philly’s Pizza on Bailey Road in Cuyahoga Falls.
On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Italo’s Pizza on Brown Street in Akron.
On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Two Monks Brewing Co. on Massillon Road in Akron.
On February 12, 2019, Powers robbed PNC Bank on Massillon Road in Akron.
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 FBI, Akron Police, and Cuyahoga Falls Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly.
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.
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.
Ravenna man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for drug and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
A Ravenna man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for drug and firearms crimes.
Jesse Templeton, 37, was sentenced to 123 months in federal prison. A jury last year convicted Templeton on one count of possession with intent to distribute dimethyltrytapmine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Templeton on July 4, 2018, possessed more than 1,200 grams of dimethyltrytapmine and a Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol, according to court documents.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Daly and Aaron Howell following an investigation by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Lima man indicted on charges of using firearms while trafficking cocaineRead the Press Release
A Lima man was indicted on charges of using firearms while trafficking cocaine.
Gregory L. Buckmon, 36, was charged in a seven-count indictment with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Buckmon at different points in 2018 possessed cocaine and various firearms. It was illegal for Buckmon to possess firearms because of previous convictions for burglary, 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Matthew D. Simko.
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.
Youngstown man indicted on cocaine trafficking chargeRead the Press Release
A Youngstown man was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges.
A grand jury charged Frank Martinez, Jr., 33, with one count of with possession with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine.
Martinez knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine on March 7, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors are also seeking to forfeit a Glock 9 mm pistol seized on March 7, 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.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Youngstown Police Department, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI. 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.
Cleveland man indicted for allegedly committing five armed robberies in December 2018Read the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted for allegedly committing five armed robberies in December 2018.
Dwyon Moore, 50, was indicted on five counts of Hobbs Act robbery and five counts using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
Moore is accused of using a firearm to rob the following businesses in Cleveland: Wonton Gourmet on Payne Avenue on December 12; of D.O. Summers Cleaners and Laundry on Carnegie Avenue on December 14; Dark and Lovely Hair and Beauty on Cedar Avenue on December 14; Bo Loong on St. Clair Avenue on December 14, and Good Times Café on East 55th Street on December 14, according to the indictment.
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 record, if any, the defendant’s 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 Cleveland Division of Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’s Crime Strategies Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley.
An indictment is only an allegation 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.
Jury finds Warren man guilty of selling heroin that resulted in fatal overdose of womanRead the Press Release
A jury found a Warren man guilty of selling heroin that resulted in the overdose death of a woman, as well as other crimes.
John G. Simer II, 39, was found guilty of all 13 countss he faced, including: distribution of heroin that resulted in death, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of body armor.
Simer is scheduled to be sentenced July 17.
Simer sold heroin on March 20, 2017. A Warren woman ingested the heroin and died, according to court documents and trial testimony.
Simer possessed heroin and cocaine on April 19, 2017. He also possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol, 58 rounds of ammunition and body armor on that day, despite previous convictions for aggravated robbery and firearms offenses that made it illegal for him to have a firearm or body armor, according to court documents and trial testimony.
“Opioids and other drugs have caused a staggering amount of pain and death across our state, particularly in Trumbull County,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for people who sell heroin and profit off this epidemic.”
Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel said: "I hope this case serves as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks their criminal liability ends after they have sold their drugs. We will continue to investigate these overdose deaths and bring those responsible to justice. I would like to thank Detective Melanie Gambill and the Warren Street Crimes Unit for all of their hard work on this case."
This case was investigated by the Warren Police Department’s Street Crimes and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Segev Phillips.
Three Cleveland men indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
Three Cleveland men were indicted on firearms charges.
Leandre M. Jeter, 29 possessed a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 rifle and a RG Industries .22-caliber revolver on January 25, despite a previous convictions for aggravated robbery with a firearm specification and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the indictment.
Aaron Stallworth, 30, possessed a Taurus 9 mm firearm and 45 rounds of ammunition on November 23, 2018, despite a previous conviction for felonious assault, according to the indictment.
Roger Patrick, 29, possessed a SCCY 9 mm firearm and 10 rounds of ammunition on November 25, 2018, despite previous convictions for robbery with a firearm specification and drug trafficking, 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 violations. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and John C. Hanley.
An indictment is only an allegation 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.
Michigan man charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $12 million in VA construction contracts in Cleveland and Michigan by falsely claiming the company receiving the contracts was owned by a disabled veteranRead the Press Release
A Michigan man was charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $12 million in government construction contracts in Cleveland and Michigan by falsely claiming the company receiving the contracts was owned by a disabled veteran.
William Kozerski, 62, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was charged via criminal information with one count of wire fraud.
According to the information filed in federal court in Cleveland:
Congress established the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program to help service-disabled veterans by setting aside certain contracts for small businesses majority owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans
CA Services was a construction company based in Michigan. Kozerski and CA Services held out that a service-disabled veteran was the owner and primary manager of CA Services when, in fact, the disabled veteran was not.
Kozerski, between 2007 and 2015, fraudulently claimed CA Services met the requirements of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program in order to obtain approximately $11.8 million in contracts for work at VA Medical Centers in Cleveland, Detroit and Ann Arbor.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors uniqueto 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.
The investigation was conducted by Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veteran Affairs – Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service -- Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea Rice and Robert Kern.
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.
Massillon man indicted for selling heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs over the dark web, as well as on firearms charges and for operating a drug houseRead the Press Release
A Massillon man was indicted for selling heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs over the dark web, as well as on firearms charges and for operating a drug house.
Landon Thomas Willoughby, 25, was indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, attempted distribution of methamphetamine, distributing controlled substances by means of the Internet, maintaining a drug-involved premises and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to the indictment:
Willoughby conspired with others to create accounts on dark net marketplaces such as Dream Market and Empire Market, from which he sold heroin, methamphetamine, Xanax, Klonopin and Valium. He used encryption and Virtual Private Networks in an effort to protect the anonymity of the conspirators.
Willoughby utilized the U.S. postal system and private carriers for distributing drugs. He used digital currency such as Bitcoin to launder the drug profits.
The conspiracy took place between October 2018 and February 25, 2019, according to the indictment.
He used the location at 533 Tremont Avenue SW, Upper, in Massillon to manufacture, distribute and store methamphetamine and other drugs. He possessed a Hi Point 380 pistol, a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun and a Smith & Wesson pistol on February 25 in furtherance of drug trafficking, 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 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.
This case was investigated by the U.S Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Massillon Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Segev Phillips and Matthew Cronin.
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.
Lorain man indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
A Lorain man was indicted on child pornography charges.
Dylan T. Flanigan, 46, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Flanigan knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place in November 2018, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that on or about February 22, 2019, Flanigan possessed a computer which contained child pornography.
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 Danielle K. Angeli following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brunswick 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.
Jury finds Toledo pastor guilty of sex trafficking of a minor and other crimesRead the Press Release
A jury found a Toledo pastor guilty of sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said.
Anthony Haynes, 40, is scheduled to be sentenced June 17. A jury found him guilty of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking, child exploitation and obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation following a trial that began on Monday.
Two other pastors -- Kenneth Butler and Cordell Jenkins – previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the sex trafficking conspiracy involving minors.
Haynes, Butler and Jenkins sexually assaulted a juvenile girl beginning in 2014 through 2017, according to 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 routinely gave the victim money after the acts and told her not to say anything. He told her that if she said anything, it would ruin his family and his church, according to court documents.
Haynes also facilitated the victim being sexually exploited by other men, including Jenkins, according to trial testimony and court documents.
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.
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.
“We are gratified by the jury’s verdict and relieved these men can no longer prey on children,” Herdman said. “I am 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."
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.
Company based in Mahoning County charged with misprision of a felonyRead the Press Release
Extrudex Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum manufacturing company in Mahoning County, with a parent company in Canada, was charged by information for misprision of felony in connection with a conspiracy to obstruct justice related to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
As charged in the information, from April 1, 2016, through January 1, 2018, 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 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.
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 culpability 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 information is only an accusation 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 for robbing banks in Cleveland, Lakewood and EastlakeRead the Press Release
A Columbus man was indicted for robbing banks in Cleveland, Lakewood and Eastlake.
Andre Harris, 59, was indicted on three counts of bank robbery.
He is accused of robbing the Key Bank at 3601 Chester Ave. in Cleveland on February 8, the Fifth Third at 14800 Madison Ave. in Lakewood on February 11 and Chase Bank at 35400 Vine Street in Eastlake on February 15, according to the indictment.
“Bank robberies are not just crimes against financial institutions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “They leave bank employees and customers shaken not just in the moment, but sometimes for years after. The FBI will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to address these violent crimes.”
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors uniqueto 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 robberies were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Ranya Elzein.
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.
Berea man indicted after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit imagesRead the Press Release
A Berea man was indicted in federal court after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit images.
Cody Swinnerton, 24, of Berea, was indicted on three counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents:
The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip that Swinnerton appeared to be enticing and coercing minors to produce sexually explicit images. Swinnerton controlled multiple accounts and targeted minors between the ages of 12 and 15 on Instagram and Facebook.
Swinnerton contacted the victims’ friends and family to coerce the victims into producing more images. He also threatened the victims in an effort to get them to produce sexually explicit images. Further investigation revealed potential victims in Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, Australia, Austria and France.
A search warrant was executed at the home where Swinnerton lives in Berea on January 25. Relatives said Swinnerton was on vacation in Australia at the time. A review of his computer revealed several images of child pornography.
These alleged crimes took place between 2013 and 2018, according to court documents.
“This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are communicating with. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute these predators.”
“This case is a disturbing reminder that international borders are no longer a hindrance for online predators,” said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. “However, this arrest should assure victims around the world that Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the international law enforcement community are committed to aggressively targeting those engaged in these heinous acts.”
"Swinnerton groomed and gained the trust of these young boys, then turned against them for his own gratification," said David Frattare, Ohio ICAC commander. "Victims often get caught up in this vicious cycle and feel they have no option but to comply."
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 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 is ongoing
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI-Canberra, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.
A charge is only an allegation 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.
Mexican national indicted for aggravated identity theft and making a false claim of U.S. citizenshipRead the Press Release
A Mexican national was indicted on charges of aggravated identity theft and making a false claim of United States citizenship.
Javier Sanchez-Cruz, 38, knowingly and willfully claimed and represented himself to be a United States citizen when, in fact, he was a citizen of Mexico. In the course of committing this crime, he possessed and used the identity of a United States citizen, according to the indictment.
Sanchez-Cruz lived in New Philadelphia using the identity of a resident of Puerto Rico, according to court documents
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a 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 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 was conducted by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement/Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz.
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 woman sentenced to prison for making a straw purchase of two firearms that were purchased with money from a robbery and used in additional violent crimesRead the Press Release
A Cleveland woman was sentenced to three months in prison for making a straw purchase of two firearms that were purchased with money from a robbery and used in additional violent crimes.
Tyla Spencer, 22, was sentenced to three months in prison after previously pleading guilty to making false or fictitious statements to purchase firearms.
Spencer went on January 2, 2018, to the Cleveland Armory in Valley View with Lashawn Davis and a juvenile. Spencer bought them a Glock 9 mm and Glock .40-caliber handgun with cash that Davis and the juvenile got from robbing a check-cashing store in Cleveland the day before, according to court documents.
Spencer falsely stated she was the true buyer of the firearms when, in fact, she was purchasing the firearms on behalf of the males. Davis and the juvenile then used the firearms in a bank robbery and carjacking in February, according to court documents and statements in court.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the FBI, the Cleveland Division of Police and the Valley View Police Department.
This case 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.
Pair from the Mahoning Valley indicted for sexually exploiting a minorRead the Press Release
A pair from the Mahoning Valley were indicted for sexually exploiting a minor.
Candis Sue Marie Wynn, 32, of Girard, and Daniel Robert Parker, 32, of Youngstown, were charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt and distribution of child pornography and possessing child pornography.
Wynn and Parker coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. This took place between November 30, 2018 through January 8, 2019, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that between those dates, Wynn and Parker received and distributed visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit. Wynn possessed in January 2018 a Moto Z cellular phone and another a cellular phone that contained child pornography, 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 maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik. The case was investigated by TFO Brenda Golec, Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force, Cleveland Office.
An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Five men charged in 71-count indictment with defrauding federal agencies by paying bribes and fraudulently obtaining at least $15 million in government contracts they were not entitled to though disabled-veteran set asides and other programsRead the Press Release
Five men were charged in a 71-count indictment with engaging in conspiracies to defraud several federal agencies by paying bribes and fraudulently obtaining at least $15 million in government contracts they were not entitled to though disabled-veteran set asides and other programs.
Indicted are: James A. Clark, 61, of Chipley, Florida, who owned several businesses, including Enola Contracting Services, Inc.; Eric L. Hogan, 59, of Bonaire, Georgia, who owned P&E Construction, LLC; Kenneth A. Latham, 73, of Albany, Georgia, who was employed by the U.S. Navy as a civilian engineering technician; James K. Alford, 55, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, who owned K&S Constructors, Inc., and Harvey Daniels, Jr., 40, of Marianna, Florida, who owned HDJ Security, Inc.
The charges include conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to submit false claims, false claims and major fraud.
Construction projects detailed in the indictment include contracts at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, the VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and the NASA Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio.
According to the indictment:
Federal departments and agencies, as directed by Congress, work with the Small Business Administration to award portions of contracts to small businesses, with specific goals for small disadvantaged business, including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Businesses must register and meet a number of criteria to be classified as small disadvantaged business – also known as the 8(a) program -- such as being at least 51 percent owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Businesses must also meet a number of criteria to be classified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, such as being at least 51 percent owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability who controls the management and daily operations of the company. Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses are permitted to enter into joint ventures with other companies but must meet specific requirements to do so.
The defendants and others engaged in several criminal schemes designed to deprive the government of its right to honest services of its employees through bribes and kickbacks, and to submit false claims and defraud the United States by obtaining government contracts set aside for qualified companies to which they were otherwise ineligible to obtain by fraudulently using proxy and pass-through companies.
P&E, through Hogan and Clark, made false statements, misrepresentations and omissions of facts. Hogan on several occasions certified P&E was a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. It also registered as a joint venture with Enola, with Hogan listed as president and Clark as vice president of the joint venture. HDJ Security was enrolled in the 8(a) program. Daniels self-identified as the president of HDJ, the sole owner of the company and to be socially disadvantaged.
In one scheme, Latham accepted a series of bribes and kickbacks from Hogan and Clark -- including cash, meals, a hunting trip, a fence, and an all-terrain vehicle -- in return for Latham using his official position with the Navy to benefit Hogan, Clark and their businesses. These benefits included assistance in finding and securing government contracts, approval of invoices for payments to pass-through companies used by Hogan and Clark to obtain set-aside contracts for which their companies were not otherwise eligible, and concealing Clark and Hogan’s use of pass-through companies to obtain bonding.
Another scheme involved defrauding the VA and the TK by fraudulently representing that P&E and Hogan independently qualified for the service-disabled veteran-owned small business program despite Clark’s involvement in providing bonding for and equity ownership in P&E.
Clark, Hogan, Alford, Daniels and others defrauded the government by using purported service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and 8(a) businesses as proxies to bid on and obtain set-aside contracts.
Arrow Construction, which was registered in the 8(a) program, was awarded a $2.8 million contract for work at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, in September 2011. Clark and Arrow officials Kent Reynolds and Jennifer Dillard (who both have been previously charged in the Northern District of Ohio) agreed that about 90 percent of the value of the contract was passed through to Clark and Enola, in violation of the 8(a) program.
HDJ was awarded a contract for work at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, in September 2012. HDJ was paid approximately $2.6 million. Clark, Hogan and Daniels agreed to pass through approximately 95 percent of the value of the contract to Clark, Hogan, Enola and P&E, in violation of the terms of the 8(a) program.
The VA in June 2011 awarded a contract to P&E Construction for work at the VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The VA paid P&E approximately $4.5 million that the company would not have received if the VA knew P&E was acting as a pass-through for K&S and that it was back-bonded by Clark and Enola.
P&E submitted a winning bid in February 2013 for a contract for construction services at the NASA Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio. NASA paid P&E approximately $5.6 million that the company would not have received if NASA knew it was acting as a pass-through for K&S and that P&E was back-bonded by Clark and Enola.
“These programs were created to help companies owned by disabled veterans and other struggling small businesses,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “The defendants in this case took advantage of these programs to fraudulently obtain taxpayer money.”
Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said: “The VA’s Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Program supports qualified veterans who have served and sacrificed for their country. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who wrongfully and fraudulently exploit these federal contracting opportunities that are meant only for service-disabled veterans.”
“I commend the outstanding investigative efforts of the NASA OIG, NCIS, DCIS, SBA-OIG, VA-OIG, DCAA, and AFOSI Agents, and the work of the USAO for the Northern District of Ohio,” said NASA Inspector General Paul Martin. “Their teamwork uncovered evidence of a criminal scheme that prevented legitimate small businesses from obtaining lucrative contracts that the defendants obtained through fraud.”
"The acceptance of bribes and kickbacks is both a violation of law and the trust the Department of the Navy places in its employees," said NCIS Director Andrew Traver. "NCIS will continue to protect the Department of the Navy from these fraudulent schemes to ensure readiness of the fleet."
"Protecting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD's) contracting process and ensuring the integrity of DoD employees are top investigative priorities for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)," stated Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. "Today's indictment of five individuals, including an employee of the U.S. Navy, is the direct result of a joint investigative effort and demonstrates the DCIS' ongoing commitment to work with its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office to identify, investigate and prosecute those who seek to fraudulently profit at the expense of the DoD's procurement system."
"Conspiring to commit fraud is no way to gain or extend access to SBA’s set-aside contracting programs,” said SBA Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “OIG is committed to rooting out fraud in SBA’s programs and bringing those responsible to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
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.
This case was investigated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veterans Affairs -- Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration -- Office of Inspector General, Defense Contract Audit Agency and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Alejandro A. Abreu.
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.
Five from New York indicted for defrauding elderly victim in OhioRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Haki Toplica, 24, Luisa Rivera Goris, 22, Kathryn Lissette De La Torre, 24, Haider Islam, 21, and Robert Rosso, 27, all of New York, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.
The defendants conspired to defraud and take money and property from a 69-year-old victim in Ohio by making false statements regarding fictitious fees and costs associated with purported loans by collecting money from the victim, and obtaining titles to property owned by the victim. This took place between June 2018 through about September 26, 2018, according to the indictment.
For example, Toplica told the victim around June 2018 that in order to obtain a $475,000 loan to pay off his creditors, the victims would have to pay fees associated with the loan via wire. The loan fees were fictitious, according to the indictment.
A month later, Toplica told the victim the victim would have to pay a $100,000 fee to obtain a $3 million loan. There was no loan, according to the indictment.
In August 2018, the victim signed over approximately 55 vehicles and equipment to Toplica to secure a $10 million loan that did not exist, 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 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.
The investigation was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. 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.
####
Twenty-two people indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, heroin, fentanyl analogues including carfentanil and other drugs, which they sold in Euclid and Cleveland to customers from across Northeast OhioRead the Press Release
Twenty-two people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, heroin, fentanyl analogues including carfentanil and other drugs, which they sold in Euclid and Cleveland to customers from across Northeast Ohio.
Named in the 42-count indictment are: Joseph P. Gray, Jr., 30; Malcolm Gibson, 26; Samuel Gibson, 26; Mark Evans, 44; Westley Siggers, 37; Raqwan Ofield, 22; Paul Bell, 33; Larry Jackson, 30; Ricky Jackson, 29; Brendan Craig, 29; Aaron Crosby, 29; Chino Massey, 30; Shondell Mack, 28; Lejon Kidd, Jr., 22; Da’eon Gray, 22; Aminah Colvin, 25; Shanita Jennings, 29; Leanna Nabulsi, 27; George Salem, 22; Jeffrey Auvil, 36; William Bloomfield, 33, and Christina Gordenier, 42.
According to the indictment:
Gray led a drug trafficking organization that sold heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues (such as carfentanil or acetylfentanyl), crack cocaine and powder cocaine. It concentrated on customers from the east side of Cleveland, Euclid and Lake County. The “heroin” sold by the group was generally fentanyl, fentanyl analogues or a mixture of those drugs and heroin.
Members of the conspiracy used phones in the names of other people to avoid detection by law enforcement. They shared a single “customer phone” that was passed between members of the conspiracy so that customers could obtain drugs at any hour, day or night.
Siggers, Ofield, Ricky Jackson, Crosby, Massey, Kidd and other members of the organization primarily sold to their own customer bases, but coordinated with Gray to keep an inventory of drugs available for sale. The Gray organization discussed not keeping a large inventory of drugs on hand because of the legal and financial risk. They often re-supplied in small quantities, sometimes on a daily basis.
They directed customers to specific locations where they would meet and sell drugs, including a residence on Arcade Avenue in Cleveland, a residence on Huntmere Avenue in Cleveland, the parking lot of a Family Dollar Store in Cleveland and the intersection of East 246th Street and Ellsworth Avenue in Euclid.
They also used a commercial property on Holmes Avenue in Cleveland as a centralized location to weigh and package drugs, conduct drug transaction and counting and dividing drug trafficking profits.
The drug organization accepted payments in cash, through the purchase of gasoline and other goods, and through digital payment services such as Cash App.
Gray and others possessed and used firearms to protect their drug trafficking activities.
Siggers in January 2018 possessed six grams of cocaine and four grams of a mixture of carfentanil, heroin and cocaine in Willoughby.
Siggers also sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues on June 6, 2018 in Wickliffe, and the buyer overdosed. When officers attempted to stop Siggers, he fled. He possessed 29 grams of fentanyl analogues and nearly five grams of cocaine
Gray on January 8, 2019, possessed a loaded Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol, two grams of crack cocaine and nearly five grams of fentanyl analogues when he was arrested Cleveland after fleeing from law enforcement. Gray was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On January 10, 2019, Gray, Crosby, Ofield and Gray and others possessed at the shop on Holmes Avenue a money counter, a scale, drug packaging materials and a range of drugs, including approximately 37 grams of crack cocaine, four grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, one gram of a mixture of fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin, one gram of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine.
“These defendants sold deadly drugs, including fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin, to customers who came into Cleveland and Euclid from across the region,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will aggressively prosecute those who seek to profit from this drug epidemic that has affected so many of our friends and neighbors.”
“This investigation is a result of the dedication of the men and women of the Cleveland OCDETF Strike Force,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon. “Their efforts have resulted in the arrests of individuals who had no regard for the destruction their drug trafficking actions inflicted on northeast Ohio communities. DEA’s goal is to keep the public safe from the dangers of drug abuse. DEA will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who look to exploit the vulnerabilities of others are brought to justice.
Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said: “The Euclid Police Department would like to thank our federal, state, county and local partners. I want to specifically recognize the DEA and our task force partnership with that organization. Law enforcement has an obligation to address the dysfunction, chaos and danger created by those who choose to traffic in drug and gun violence. The Euclid Police Department will continue to proactively address those who participate in illicit and violent activities which have an adverse and negative impact on our community. Euclid is a diverse community of good, hardworking and caring residents. We will continue to work with any individual, group or organization that shares the mission of making Euclid a safe and vibrant community for all.”
"The importance of collaboration and teamwork in law enforcement operations cannot be understated," said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. "This particular investigation spanned multiple counties, cities and communities and would not have come together so comprehensively without the partnerships between the agencies you see here today. The hard work of the investigators, detectives, agents and attorneys has paid off in the indictment announced today."
The case remains under investigation.
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 was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Euclid Police Department, and the Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network, which includes the police departments of Lyndhurst, Highland Heights, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village and Richmond Heights. This case was investigated as part of the Cleveland Strike Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Elliot Morrison.
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 guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Toledo man currently serving 18 years in state prison for shooting at police officers indicted in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and heroinRead the Press Release
A Toledo man currently serving 18 years in state prison for shooting at police officers was indicted in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and heroin.
Jayvon Wynne, 23, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Others previously indicted in for their alleged roles in the conspiracy include:
Terrance Allen, 25; Nathaniel Barringer, 23; Chad Burkholder, 34; Megan Champion, 40; Ryin Douglas-Reed, 28; Laurie Lehman, 49; Donte Walker, 30, and Russell Watson, 37, all of Toledo.
All are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and 400 grams of fentanyl. The conspiracy took place from March 2018 through this month, according to the indictment.
Wynne possessed a Glock 9 mm pistol on July 25, 2017, which he used in furtherance of drug trafficking. On the same day, he possessed more than five grams of heroin, according to the indictment.
“These defendants worked together to sell large amounts of fentanyl, which has killed so many of our neighbors,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will work with federal agents and police officers to prosecute those who would profit from this drug epidemic.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith said: “This group of individuals brought drugs and violence to the streets of our community. Collaborative law enforcement actions will hold them accountable for the danger they have caused.”
“This is just another example of how the Toledo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation work together to keep all Toledoans safe,” Toledo Police Chief George Kral said. “This operation has identified numerous individuals who, through their actions, have victimized and harmed many. The City of Toledo is a safer place with these people behind bars. Those in our community who continue to sell drugs, carry firearms and victimize others should take notice of these arrests. We now hope that the judiciary will impose the harshest of sentences if convictions are realized.”
"This is yet another example of TPD, working in conjunction with our State and Federal law enforcement partners, taking the most dangerous individuals off of Toledo's streets" said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. "This four year investigation culminated in at least thirty charges on nine different defendants. These individuals posed a clear and present danger to the citizens of this city. As shown by one of the defendants, Jayvon Wynnne, who, in addition to this case, was convicted of shooting at a TPD detective on the night of December 6, 2018. TPD will never stop identifying, investigating, and assisting in the prosecution of Toledo's most prolific offenders."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Toledo Police Department, the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force and Northwest Ohio Violent Crime Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alissa M. Sterling.
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 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 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.
North Royalton man sentenced to prison and ordered to repay $245,000 he fraudulently received from Social Security and Ohio Workers’ CompensationRead the Press Release
A North Royalton man was sentenced to seven months in prison and ordered to repay the $245,000 he fraudulently received from Social Security and Ohio Workers’ Compensation.
Louis C. Cooper, 57, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government property.
Cooper fraudulently collected benefits from Social Security and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation while concealing his employment as a general contractor. Cooper had been entitled to disability payments from a work-related injury in 1996. However, Cooper was required to report to both agencies whether he returned to work, which would terminate his ability to receive continued payments from both agencies, according to court documents.
Cooper developed a scheme where he could conceal his income as general contractor by asking his clients to not pay him directly. For the past eight years, Cooper earned at least $185,000 as a general contractor, but reported to both agencies numerous times that he was too injured to work in order to fraudulently secure an additional $245,000 total from both agencies, according to court documents.
Special Agents Kelly Clark from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and Mike George from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Special Investigations Department, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting the case.
Mansfield man with long criminal record sentenced to 15 years in prison for firearms crimeRead the Press Release
A Mansfield man with a long criminal record was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a firearms crime.
James D. Butler, 56, was sentenced after a jury last year found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Butler possessed a Walther 9 mm pistol and ammunition, on Aug. 24, 2017, despite prior convictions for aggravated arson, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, according to the indictment.
Butler was arrested after the owner of Madison Sporting Arms in Mansfield complained Butler stole the firearm from his store and showed a police officer video surveillance that recorded the theft, according to court documents.
This case was investigated by the Mansfield Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Howell and Peter Daly.
Jury convicts Beachwood woman of stealing the identities of more than a dozen people and filing false tax returnsRead the Press Release
A jury convicted a Beachwood woman of stealing the identities of more than a dozen people and filing false tax returns.
Aesha Johnson, 41, was convicted on all 29 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Her daughter, Brittany Williams, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy.
Williams and Johnson, when she was living in West Virginia, conspired together to use stolen identities to file false tax returns with the IRS, seeking tax refunds. Johnson acquired many of these identities through a previous criminal fraud scheme, according to the indictment.
Johnson and Williams used an address associated with the family on East 142nd Street in Cleveland as the address of record for many of the false tax returns. They often communicated with each other using a code that referred to the victims using numbers 1 through 31, and created and used fictitious email accounts in the names of the victims to communicate with the IRS, according to the indictment
Williams filed the false tax returns online, obtained prepaid debit cards in the names of the identity-theft victims and requested the IRS deposit the refunds onto those cards. Williams then withdraw cash or made purchases with the cards, according to the indictment.
“This pair stole people’s identities then used it to steal from taxpayers,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.
“The defendant who perpetrated this scheme systemically defrauded the government, the taxpaying public, and their identity theft victims,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Cincinnati Field Office. “This guilty verdict should serve as a stern warning for those engaging in similar conduct: you will be caught, and you will be held accountable.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Cronin and Justin Seabury Gould following an investigation by the IRS.
Wooster man indicted after making threats purporting to be from women associated with an adult websiteRead the Press Release
A Wooster man was indicted in federal court after making threats purporting to be from women associated with an adult website.
Christopher Smallwood, 25, was indicted on one count of interstate transmission of a threat and one count of willfully making a threat.
Smallwood made a series of reports to the online ATF tip website about threats to kill people with explosives and firearms, to destroy government buildings and declarations of allegiance to terrorist organizations. Smallwood purported these threats came from women associated with the website myfreecams.com, according to the indictment.
This took place between September 1 and November 14, 2018, 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 was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. 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.
Struthers man indicted for failing to register as a sex offenderRead the Press Release
A Struthers man was indicted for failing to register as a sex offender.
Dustin M. Wynn, 22, was arrested last month on a probation violation warrant out of West Virginia. Wynn is a convicted sex offender who failed to register despite living in the Youngstown area for more than four months, 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.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason 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.
Man indicted for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine from house in ToledoRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was indicted for trafficking large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Rudy Torres, 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining drug-involved premises.
Torres conspired with others to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams of methamphetamine. He also used a residence on Upton Avenue in Toledo as part of his drug trafficking, 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 case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney 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.
Jury convicts Willard man of receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
A jury convicted a Willard man of child pornography crimes.
Karl J. Rogers, 34, is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Rogers was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography. He knowingly received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between October and December 2017, according to trial testimony and court documents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mansfield Police Department and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
Former Toledo police officer charged in federal court with possession of a stolen firearmRead the Press Release
A former Toledo police officer was charged in federal court with possession of a stolen firearm.
Curtis Stone, 56, of Delta, was in possession of a Taurus .380-caliber pistol on December 4, 2018, that was previously recorded as being destroyed by the Toledo Police Department.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court:
Toledo police officers recovered a loaded Canik 9 mm pistol during a traffic stop in September 2018. Officers charged an occupant of the car with having a weapon under disability since he had previous convictions for drug and gang offenses.
An ATF task force officer subsequently investigated the incident and discovered the firearm had previously been recovered by Toledo police in 2015 and marked as destroyed in February 2016 by Stone, who was assigned to the Toledo Police Department’s property room at the time.
Stone retired from the Toledo Police Department in January 2018.
Toledo police obtained and executed a search warrant for Stone’s residence in Delta on December 4, 2018. They recovered the Taurus .380-caliber pistol, ten miscellaneous magazines for firearms, miscellaneous ammunition and two Toledo Police Department evidence tags/labels.
The Taurus pistol found in Stone’s home was previously recorded in Toledo Police Department property room records by Stone as having been destroyed.
“Any time a former police officer, like this defendant, appears to have broken the law, we will hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “His conduct is not representative of the vast majority of police officers, who go to work every day looking to make their community safer.”
“This case is a disappointing example of an individual that violated the public’s trust as well as the trust of his colleagues,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to fight crime, wherever it leads. Toledoans should rest assured, the Toledo Police Department is a top-notch police organization that will hold those who fall short accountable.”
The matter remains under investigation.
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 was investigated by the Toledo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.
A charge is only an allegation 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.
Euclid man indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, extortion and possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
Tyrin Davis, 20, of Euclid, was indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, extortion and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents:
The Toronto (Canada) Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit contacted Homeland Security Investigations after learning the 13-year-old had been enticed and extorted into sending multiple sexually explicit images of herself via Instagram and Snapchat. The girl and her mother approached the Toronto Police Service in May 2018 to report the ongoing extortion.
The suspect told the girl he would pay $1,000 if she were to send nude photos of herself. The girl stated her parents were going through a rough time financially and she thought that by sending the photos, she could do her part to help.
She sent a few nude photos, at which point the suspect began to send messages asking for more. The girl later said that the suspect told her that if she did not send more, he would put the ones she already sent online for the world to see. As a result, she sent more photos of herself to the suspect.
Once the victim realized things had gone too far, she attempted to stop communication with the suspect. The suspect sent nude photos of her to several of her friends on Instagram. The suspect also communicated with the victim’s cousin on Instagram and stated that if the cousin did not send nude pictures of herself, the suspect would post more nude photos of the 13-year-old online.
Investigators eventually traced the messages to the 13-year-old victim to an IP address assigned to Tyrin Davis on Chestnut Lane in Richmond Heights. Davis subsequently moved to Euclid.
“This case demonstrates the danger posed by the Internet, particularly for teens posting photos and communicating with people they don’t really know,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are talking to.”
"These cases are a painful reminder that we can never have enough conversations with our children about the potential dangers of the internet,” said Homeland Security Investigations' Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “Through our iGuardian educational program, HSI is fully committed to ensuring that parents and young people have all the information they need when it comes to online safety.”
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 case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Toronto Police Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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.
Akron man pleaded guilty to launching denial of service attacks that shut down web sites for the city of Akron and the Akron Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
An Akron man pleaded guilty to launching denial of service attacks that shut down web sites for the city of Akron and the Akron Police Department.
James Robinson, 33, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1. He pleaded guilty to damaging protected computers.
According to court documents filed in the case:
Servers hosting web sites belonging to the city of Akron were victims of an active distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on Aug. 1, 2017. Two website domains appeared to be the target of the attacks: akronohio.gov and akroncops.org.
The DDoS attack ultimately overwhelmed the web sites with network traffic and rendered them unavailable to users.
A tweet that same day from @AkronPhoenix420 took credit for targeting the Akron web sites, including a link to a youtube video and a screenshot showing akronohio.gov was not accessible. The tweet included hashtags #Anonymous and #TangoDown.
The video showed a static image of an individual in a Guy Fawkes mask making statements including “it’s time we teach the law a lesson,” “Akron PD abuses the law” and “this week the city of Akron experienced system failures on multiple domains including their emergency TCP ports.”
The subsequent investigation identified attacks coming from an Internet connection registered to James Robinson and that Robinson’s phone was associated with the Twitter account @AkronPhoenix420.
@AkronPhoenix420 also claimed credit for many other DDoS attacks including many in 2018 that bore similar characteristics to the Akron attacks. Targets of those attacks web site domains and servers hosted by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Information Security Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Treasury and others. Multiple DDoS attacks have been claimed by AkronPhoenix420, including many in 2018.
Law enforcement authorities got a search warrant for Robinson’s house on Edison Avenue in Akron in May 2018. Agents located a Guy Fawkes mask and a cell phone with a cracked screen similar to a phone seen in tweets by @AkronPhoenix420. Robinson stated he was responsible for the DDoS attacks against the Department of Defense, city of Akron and others, according to court documents.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Treasury. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Daniel J. Riedl.
Former Allen County Sheriff pleads guilty to extortion and soliciting bribesRead the Press Release
The former Allen County Sheriff pleaded guilty to for asking for and taking bribes from people arrested in prostitution stings, suspected gamblers and others.
Samuel A. Crish, 56, is scheduled to be sentenced later this year. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of extortion and soliciting bribes.
“The conduct Mr. Crish admitted to is as offensive as it is audacious,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Demanding bribes from gamblers and johns arrested in prostitution stings reads like something out of a bad movie. This defendant let down the people of Allen County and the men and women who served with him at the Sheriff’s Office. He does not represent the vast majority of law enforcement, and he will now be held accountable for his crimes.”
“Mr. Crish tarnished his badge when he chose to use his official capacity to influence criminal investigations and to protect self-interests,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith. “As a law enforcement officer and county sheriff sworn to uphold the law, his conduct was abhorrent. We are pleased that Mr. Crish has now accepted responsibility for his actions.”
Court documents detail Crish extorting or soliciting tens of thousands of dollars from several people between 2012 and 2016.
According to court documents:
Crish joined the Allen County Sheriff’s Office in 1991, where he held numerous positions, including commander of the office’s Investigative Division and the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force (WCOCTF). He was elected sheriff in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
In June 2012, Crish approached a person identified in the charges as Person 1 and asked Person 1 for $8,000, falsely stating he needed the money to cover medical bills. Person 1 gave Crish the money in cash in an alley behind the sheriff’s office in July 2012.
Two months later, Person 1 applied for the position of nurse at the Allen County Jail, which Crish oversaw. Based on conversations with Crish, Person 1 understood the job was theirs. Crish stated in October 2012 he would try to hire Person 1 as nurse. In the same conversation, he stated he needed $42,000 to pay his debts and asked if Person 1 could help.
Person 1 took out a home equity line of credit and, on Oct. 12, 2012, gave Crish a check for $42,000 in the alley behind the sheriff’s office. Crish agreed to repay the money in monthly increments of $480. On Dec. 15, 2012, Person 1 was hired by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office to work as the nurse at the county jail.
Person 3 operated a used car business and was arrested by members of the sheriff’s office and WCOCTF on Aug. 19, 2015 during a prostitution sting. He was charged with solicitation in Lima Municipal Court.
Crish visited Person 3’s business several times in August and September 2015, at one point asking Person 3 for a $7,000 loan. Person 3 gave Crish a check for $7,000 on Sept. 25, 2015.
Crish met with prosecutors and law enforcement officials about Person 3’s case on Nov. 24, 2015, and demanded the Lima City Attorney’s Office drop the charges. The solicitation case was dismissed on Feb. 18, 2016. Eight days later, Crish texted Person 3 to meet, where they discussed the dismissal of Person 3’s case.
Person 4 operated a used car business in Elida, Ohio. Crish asked Person 4 in September 2015 to work as an informant. He also asked Person 4 to loan him $10,000.
Person 4 gave Crish $10,000 in cash on Nov. 3, 2015. The next day, Person 4 was arrested at a motel in Lima as part of a prostitution sting operation. Following his arrest, Person 4 asked to speak to Crish. All of the other men arrested were charged.
Crish visited Person 4’s business on Nov. 5, 2015, and told him not to worry about the arrest because he was working for Crish.
Crish visited Person 4’s business again on Nov. 17, 2015, and asked for $500. Person 4 insisted Crish would have to pay back the $500, unlike the previous $10,000. Crish called Person 4 in May 2016 and told him he was “fine” referring to the charges for the prostitution arrest.
Person 5 owned a grocery store in Allen County. Crish stopped by Person 5’s business in October 2015 to ask for a loan. Crish inferred during the visit that an agency was coming to investigate Person 5’s business for suspected illegal gambling operations, but that Crish could stop the investigation if Person 5 provided Crish with a loan.
Person 5 gave Crish a $2,000 loan in October 2015, which Crish repaid without interest.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.
Youngstown man charged with drug and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging a Youngstown man with drug and firearms crimes.
Chad A. Little, 34, was charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Youngstown Police Department executed a search warrant on Little’s residence on East Philadelphia Street on November 7, 2018. They found heroin, crack cocain, fentanyl and a gun in various locations inside and outside of the house, 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 members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Youngstown Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.
Pennsylvania man indicted for making threats to shoot students at Parma High SchoolRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man was indicted in federal court after making threats to shoot students at Parma High School.
Russell D. Miley-Cruz, 21, of Scranton, was indicted on one count of transmission of an interstate threat and one count of obstruction of justice. He was arrested Friday.
Miley-Cruz communicated a threat on April 11, 2018 via Snapchat. The threat stated: “Don’t go to Parma High School tomorrow friend, we are about to shoot that (expletive) up alright man? Don’t tell cops and you will be fine,” according to the indictment.
Miley-Cruz, between April 11 and May 1, 2018, provided a false phone number to law enforcement, denied using a specific email address and Snapchat user name, and made other false statements for the purposes of hindering and delaying the law enforcement investigation into the threats made against Parma High School, according to the indictment.
“This defendant made threats that caused panic and led to hundreds of students missing classes at Parma High School,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This case is another reminder that making threats, online or in person, is always a bad idea.”
“Making threats to commit a school shooting are not taken lightly by law enforcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith. “This individual induced fear in school personnel, students and their parents at Parma High School and wasted valuable law enforcement resources, and then he lied about being involved. Miley-Cruz will now answer to federal charges in a court of law. #Thinkbeforeyoupost.”
Parma Police Chief Joseph Bobak said: "This individual caused fear and panic in our community by targeting and threatening school children. These threats affected students and staff at Parma High School for several days as frightened parents pulled their kids out of school. Parma Police detectives, working alongside special agents from the FBI, diligently pursued all available leads on this case culminating in today's arrest. I would like to thank the FBI for working together with our department to identify and arrest this individual. Without their assistance and resources, this outcome might not have been possible."
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 was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Parma Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.
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.
Men with convictions for attempted murder with a firearm and abduction among five people indicted in federal court for firearms crimesRead the Press Release
Five people – including men with convictions for attempted murder with a firearm and abduction -- were indicted in federal court for firearms crimes.
Indicted are: Malik Abdul Aziz, also known as Tommie Beaman, 48, of Cleveland; Tonio Burton, 28, of Cleveland; Diablo Tate, 38, of Euclid; Hannibal Yarbo, 27, of Cleveland, and Johnny L. Geiger, Jr., 22, of Maple Heights.
“These cases demonstrate again why firearms enforcement is vital to making our community safer,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These defendants include people convicted of attempted murder, abduction and other crimes. These defendants have no business carrying firearms or ammunition.”
“ATF’s core mission is reducing violent gun crime in our communities,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon. “We work side by side with our federal, state, and local partners to follow the gun and remove the most violent criminals from our streets.”
Aziz on December 28, 2018, possessed .32-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for attempted murder with a firearms specification, aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, felonious assault with a firearms specification, kidnapping with a firearms specification, aggravated robbery with a firearms specification and attempted burglary, according to the indictment.
Burton on December 10, 2018, possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for drug trafficking, assault on a police officer and drug possession, according to the indictment.
Tate on October 4, 2018 possessed a DPMS AR-15 rifle and 26 rounds of ammunition despite previous convictions for drug trafficking, assault on a police officer and drug possession, according to the indictment.
Yarbo on January 16, 2019, possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun and 18 rounds of ammunition, despite previous convictions for abduction and drug trafficking, according to the indictment.
Geiger on June 7, 2018, made false and fictitious statements when attempting to purchase a Taurus 9 mm pistol from Point Blank Range and Gun Shop in Mentor, namely that he was the actual buyer of the firearm, and that he had never been convicted of a felony, 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 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.
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.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police and the Euclid Police Department. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin, John Hanley, Kathryn Andrachik, Scott Zarzycki and Payum Doroodian.
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.
Jury finds Oregon man guilty of cyberstalking and making threats for numerous threats he made to his former co-workers and law enforcement officialsRead the Press Release
A jury found an Oregon man guilty of cyberstalking and making threats related to numerous threats he made to his former co-workers and law enforcement officials.
Michael A. Hagar, 48, is scheduled to be sentenced later this year. A jury found him guilty of one count of cyberstalking and two counts of interstate threatening communication after a weeklong trial.
Hagar was employed at a Goodyear store in Salem, Oregon, from 2011 through 2013. He was employed by Eaton in Portland, Oregon, from 2014 through 2015. He was involuntarily terminated from both positions, according to court documents and trial testimony.
Hager sent numerous threatening e-mails to at least seven former co-workers at Eaton and Goodyear in 2015 and 2016, as well as threatening emails to law enforcement officials in Oregon. The e-mails he sent traveled through Eaton and Goodyear data centers in Northeast Ohio, according to court documents and trial testimony.
In 2016, Hagar was personally served with a temporary stalking protective order ordering him to stop any contact with an Eaton employee identified as R.G. He was also arrested for trespassing on Goodyear property in Oregon, according to court documents and trial testimony.
On May 30, 2016, he sent an email to R.G. and Oregon law enforcement officials with the subject line: “I AM GOING TO RUIN EVERYONE OF YOU(R) LIVES,” according to court documents and trial testimony.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Om Kakani following an investigation by the FBI.
Four Cleveland men indicted for their roles in a conspiracy in to sell large quantities of cocaine in Greater ClevelandRead the Press Release
Four Cleveland men were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy in to sell large quantities of cocaine in Greater Cleveland.
Named in the seven-count indictment are: Angel Rios, 36; Jamie Hernandez-De La Paz, 37; Felix Cruz, 37, and Edwin M. Tavarez, 44. Each is indicted with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilogram of cocaine.
Rios and Cruz are charged with maintaining a drug house on Hodgson Avenue which they used to store and sell marijuana.
De La Paz is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Cruz is charged with a being a felon in possession of a firearm. He possessed a Glock pistol and ammunition on February 1 despite a previous drug conviction, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit two firearms and nearly $100,000 in cash seized during the investigation.
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 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Darden and Patrick Burke.
A charge is only an allegation 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 indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was indicted on child pornography charges.
Brian Louk, 58, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Louk knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between August 6 through December 10, 2018, according to the indictment.
The indictment also charges that on or about January 18, 2019, Louk possessed a computer that contained child pornography.
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 Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force.
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.
Forty-three people indicted in federal court for their roles in two separate conspiracies to sell large amounts of drugs in the Mansfield areaRead the Press Release
Forty-three people were indicted in federal court for their roles in two separate conspiracies to sell large amounts of drugs in the Mansfield area.
Twenty-three people were charged in a 42-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana, and other charges. They are: Noel Mott, 43; Donald Abrams, 59; Felicia McPherson, 37; Ivan Troup, 34; Devon Troup, 27; Deshawn Dowdell, 23; Markell Boyd, 39; Dennis Carter, 47; Marcus Caldwell, 40; Terrence Sudberry, 45; Robert Boone, 24; Kristopher Herron, 47; Jason Reid, 36; William Norris, 45; Rayshaun Walker, 25; Cynthia Huffman, 22; Tessa Christy, 36; Seth Wells, 23; Miranda Hamilton, 23; Ashlie Smith, 33; Megan Moritz, 30; Taryn Ohl, 32, and Mykel Smith, 25.
Twenty people were charged in a 61-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and methamphetamine, and other charges. They are: Juan Westberry, 38; Rashad Keith, 27; Lamar Johnson, 30; Torme Johnson, 30; Ryan Schroeder, 38; Kelly Adkins, 31; Marquis Allen, 26; Tevron Allen, 23; Anthony Balg, 38; Darryl Ballinger, 24; Kelly Burns, 30; Andrew Cotton, 32; Rory Hamm, 49; Phillip Moxley, 36; Amanda Pierce, 34; Santreas Sanks, 29; Derrick Snelling, 27; Kevin Thomas, 29, and Rachel Thompson, 34.
All of the defendants are from the Mansfield or the nearby area except for Donald Adams, Felicia McPherson and the Troups, who are all from Detroit.
Approximately 36 additional people were charged with drug crimes in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas.
In the Mott indictment, the conspirators obtained heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and marijuana from suppliers in Detroit and Mansfield, which they then sold in Mansfield. This took place between January 2016 through the present, according to the indictment.
Mott, Wells, Boone, Moritz, Hamilton and Smith traveled to Detroit to obtain large quantities of oxycodone, which they redistributed in Mansfield. Mott also obtained large quantities of heroin and fentanyl from Dowdell, Troup and others that he redistributed in in Mansfield. He also obtained fentanyl and worked with other dealers to redistribute the drugs in Mansfield, according to the indictment.
Mott is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors are seeking for forfeit 14 firearms seized as part of the investigation, according to the indictment.
Huffman helped coordinate and secure Wells to serve as a driver for oxycodone resupply runs to Detroit, according to the indictment.
In the Westberry indictment, the defendants conspired together between 2015 and the present to obtain large amounts of heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and methamphetamine to sell in the Mansfield area, according to the indictment.
Westberry obtained heroin, which he distributed to Keith, Lamar Johnson, Torme Johnson, Schroeder and Garrison, who in turn sold the heroin to other customers, according to the indictment.
Keith and Lamar Johnson obtained heroin, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and cocaine, which they then sold to other dealers, who distributed the drugs in the Mansfield area, according to the indictment.
Members of the conspiracy operated drug houses at locations on Rembrandt Street, Helen Avenue, Dunbilt Court, Bowman Street and West 3rd Street in Mansfield and Eckstein Road in Crestline for the purpose of storing and distributing the drugs, according to the indictment.
“These two groups sold a wide array of dangerous drugs in and around Mansfield, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “These cases are a great example of law enforcement working together to arrest dangerous people and help make Mansfield a safer community.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said: “Collaborative law enforcement efforts have disrupted two significant drug trafficking organizations that were profiting from the addiction of our community members. The individuals arrested today brought danger and violence to our streets and they will now be held accountable for their criminal activity.”
“These are significant arrests of drug dealers who have been trafficking and dealing dangerous and deadly drugs to our citizens here in Richland County,” said Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon. “Again, I can’t say enough about how well federal, state and local law enforcement agencies work so well to together here in Richland County to accomplish great things.”
Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz said: “This major drug sweep is made possible because of the collaboration within our community, local law enforcement counterparts, FBI and DEA counterparts, Richland County prosecutors, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Attorney’s Office. We all share a common goal of making our community a safer place to live and work.”
"This multi-agency Title III investigation provided a glimpse into the dangerous underworld members of the Westberry organization have created for the Mansfield and the wider Richland County communities," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon. "Today's arrests signal an important step in our continuing fight to protect our neighborhoods from violent drug traffickers."
“These arrests will have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the Mansfield community,” said U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott. “The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to work with its federal, state and local partners on large scale operations such as this to keep our communities safe.”
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 violations. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, METRICH Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and Ohio State Highway Patrol. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vasile Katsaros and 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.
Parma man sentenced to more than two years in prison for making false statements in order to collect $47,000 in Social Security fundsRead the Press Release
A Parma man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for making false statements in order to collect $47,000 in Social Security funds.
David Fievet, 53, was sentenced to 28 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government property, Social Security fraud and obstruction of justice.
His wife, Gerolyn Fievet, 54, was sentenced to five years of probation. She previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The Fievets conspired to wrongfully receive 88 monthly Supplemental Security Income checks between January 2010 and April 2017, totaling $47,556, for the benefit of the couple’s disabled son. In order to obtain more benefits than they were legally entitled, the Fievets falsely reported David was not living in the family home when, in fact, he was. Fievet was working as a firefighter at the time, according to court documents.
Special Agent Kelly Clark from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian prosecuted the case.
Former Mahoning County judge pleaded guilty to charges stemming from stealing at least $100,000 from a former clientRead the Press Release
A former Mahoning County judge pleaded guilty to charges stemming from stealing at least $100,000 from a former client.
Diane Vettori-Caraballo, 50, of Youngstown, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of structuring cash deposits, and one count of making false statements to law enforcement. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 13.
Her husband, Ismael Caraballo, pleaded guilty to a tax count.
Vettori-Caraballo stole between $100,200 and $328,000 in cash that was in the home of a client when that client died in March 2016, according to the indictment.
Vettori-Caraballo was elected to position of judge in Mahoning County Court #3 – Sebring Court in 2002, with jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal and traffic charges and other matters in Sebring and Beloit Villages and Berlin, Green, Goshen,, Ellsworth, Smith and Washingtonville Townships. She was reelected in 2006 and 2012, according to the indictment.
She also provided estate planning services to Robert Sampson, including drafting his will. On Nov. 20, 2015, Vettori-Caraballo filed an application in Mahoning County Probate Court to administer Sampson’s estate. The application stated Sampson died without a will. The probate court, unaware of Sampson’s will, appointed Falgiani as the administrator three days later, according to the indictment.
Sampson died in 2015 and his closest living relative was his sister, Dolores Falgiani. Vettori-Caraballo prepared Falgiani will on Nov. 3, 2015. The will made 16 specific bequests to relatives and friends and bequeathed the rest of the estate to Animal Charity Human Society of Boardman and the Angels for Animal Charity in Canfield, according to the indictment.
Sometime in October or November 2015, Falgiani stated she was in possession of several shoeboxes of cash stored at her residence. Falgiani was found dead in her home on March 10, 2016, according to the indictment.
Vettori-Caraballo filed an application in Mahoning County Probate Court to probate Falgiani’s estate on March 24, 2016. On May 2, she reported having found cash in the residence and depositing the $20,000 into the estate, according to the indictment.
Vettori-Caraballo filed a notice of newly discovered assets with the court on several subsequent occasions in 2016 and 2017. Each time, she failed to disclose the cash she had stolen, according to the indictment.
Vettori-Caraballo also structured deposits of the cash she stole into five different banks within four weeks to avoid regulations that require banks to report cash transactions over $10,000 to the IRS. In addition, Vettori-Caraballo lied to the FBI when she was confronted about the theft and the structuring of cash deposits, according to court documents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Alex Abreu.
Former school IT manager sentenced to 11 years in prison for having child pornographyRead the Press Release
A Massillon man who worked as a school information technology manager was sentenced to 11 years in prison for possessing child pornography.
Andrew A. Shonk, 37, previously pleaded guilty to receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Shonk knowingly received numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between 2013 and 2018. Shonk also possessed two USB storage devices that contained child pornography, according to court documents.
Shonk worked as an IT manager at Rootstown and then Hudson schools during the time of his crimes, according to court documents.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the Canton Police Department and the Jackson Township Police Department.
Euclid woman sentenced to nine years in prison for a scheme in which she fraudulently enrolled students in community colleges to defraud the Department of Education out of $1.8 millionRead the Press Release
A Euclid woman was sentenced to more than nine years in prison for a scheme in which she fraudulently enrolled students into Ohio community colleges to defraud the U.S. Department of Education out of $1.8 million.
Basheera Perry, 45, was sentenced to 114 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution. She previously pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including conspiracy, wire and mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
"These programs were designed to help make college more affordable to people who want an education, but this defendant used them to enrich herself," U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. "She was a one-stop shop for fraud."
According to court documents:
Perry conspired with others between 2009 and 2017 to defraud the U.S. Department of Education. Perry would use the fraudulent students’ name, date of birth and social security to enroll them in community colleges, including Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College, Owens Community College and others.
She then applied for financial aid on behalf of the students, which came in the form of loans, Pell and other grants. Many of the “students” participated in the scheme for money and did not have any intention of going to school or using the financial aid for school-related purposes. Also, many did not have a high school diploma or GED, making them ineligible to receive the financial aid.
Perry, her recruiters and the fraudulent students split the proceeds of the financial aid. The Department of Education sent the money to the colleges, which in turn would send the excess financial aid to the “students” via check or debit cards to addresses controlled by Perry.
Perry charged the students fees to complete their academic coursework -- $1,000 for two courses, $1,500 for three courses and $2,000 for four courses. She also charged $500 to make counterfeit GED certificates or high school diploma transcripts. She also created other false documents, such as death certificates, medical records and police reports, for use in academic appeals if the “students” received notification of lack of satisfactory academic progress needed to receive financial aid.
She also participated Section 8 housing fraud between 2012 and 2017.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration -- Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education -- Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service and Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Kern and Danielle Angeli.
Berea man charged after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit imagesRead the Press Release
Cody Swinnerton, 24, of Berea, was charged in federal court with sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit images.
According to an affidavit in the case:
The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip that Swinnerton appeared to be enticing and coercing minors to produce sexually explicit images. Swinnerton controlled multiple accounts and targeted minors between the ages of 12 and 15 on Instagram and Facebook.
Swinnerton contacted the victims’ friends and family to coerce the victims into producing more images. He also threatened the victims in an effort to get them to produce sexually explicit images. Further investigation revealed potential victims in Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, Australia, Austria and France.
A search warrant was executed at the home where Swinnerton lives in Berea on January 25. Relatives said Swinnerton was on vacation in Australia at the time. A review of his computer revealed several images of child pornography.
“This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are communicating with. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute these predators.”
“This case is a disturbing reminder that international borders are no longer a hindrance for online predators,” said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. “However, this arrest should assure victims around the world that Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the international law enforcement community are committed to aggressively targeting those engaged in these heinous acts.”
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI-Canberra, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.
A charge is only an allegation 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.
Maple Heights man faces additional charges of making threats against the President and his family, as well as providing material support to al QaedaRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was filed charging a Maple Heights man attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda, as well as making threats against the President, threats against the family of the President and false statements to law enforcement.
Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, aka Abdur Raheem Rafeeq, aka Salah ad-Deen Osama Waleed, 49, has been in custody since July, when he was arrested after allegedly planning a terrorist attack in Cleveland. He was previously indicted on one count of attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda.
Pitts on June 15, 2018, did knowingly and willfully make a threat to kidnap and inflict bodily harm upon Donald J. Trump, specifically that he would “get” the President by cutting off the President’s head and hands, according to the indictment.
Pitts on June 15, 2018 also knowingly and willfully made threats to kidnap and inflict bodily harm upon members of the President’s family, specifically that “…a better way to get, to get him is to kill his kids. Kill his daughter, son-in-law. Kill ‘em all. He (the President) come out ‘cause you start killing his kids, chop their heads off…you send his kids back,” according to the indictment.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, between 2015 and 2017, Pitts expressed anti-American sentiments and expressed a desire to recruit people to kill Americans. The defendant expressed a desire to meet with an al Qaeda “brother” and in June he was introduced to an FBI employee acting in an undercover capacity (UCE), who Pitts believed was such a “brother.”
Pitts and the UCE met in Walton Hills, Ohio, where they discussed launching an attack for al Qaeda during the July 4th holiday.
Pitts said: “I’m trying to figure out something that would shake them up on the 4th of July.” He later stated: “What would hit them at their core? Blow up in the, have a bomb blow up in the 4th of July parade.”
Pitts and the UCE searched Google for a map of downtown Cleveland. After learning the fireworks would be launched from Voinovich Park, Pitts said: “Oh there you go. Oh yeah.” He was also pleased the park was near the U.S. Coast Guard station, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Celebrezze Federal Building.
The meeting concluded with Pitts indicating to the UCE that he would travel to downtown Cleveland soon to take photographs and videotape footage as part of surveillance efforts of Voinovich Park and the U.S. Coast Guard station. He also expressed a desire to take a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard station to gain as much information as he could about the layout of the facility.
The UCE texted Pitts later on June 22 and where he indicated al Qaeda “brothers” would provide Pitts with a bus pass and cellular phone.
On June 25, Pitts met with an FBI confidential human source (CHS) in Maple Heights, Ohio, who provided Pitts with a bus pass and a phone Pitts could use to communicate with the UCE. The bus pass was provided to Pitts, as he requested, so he could travel to downtown Cleveland to conduct surveillance for the July 4th attack.
On June 26, Pitts contacted the UCE via text message and relayed that he had completed the reconnaissance of the designated spots in downtown Cleveland and that he desired to “destroy the government.”
Pitts also indicated he intended to travel to Philadelphia, since Philadelphia is his hometown and he knows it best. Pitts indicated it was his “job” to “go look at the base of the ground” and that it was up to other “brothers” to complete other parts of the job.
On June 27, Pitts met with the CHS and turned over the phone that contained the reconnaissance photos and videos, so they could be provided to the al Qaeda brothers.
Later on June 27, Pitts and the UCE met in Maple Heights then drove to downtown Cleveland, where they discussed the impending July 4th bombing.
“And I’m gonna be downtown when the – when the thing go off. I’m gonna be somewhere cuz I wanna see it go off,” Pitts said.
A search of the phone that Pitts provided to the CHS revealed that he made two videos in which he pledged allegiance. He stated, in part: “We serve Allah . . . We fight our enemies. We destroy them and destroy those who try to oppose…”
The phone also had four videos taken by Pitts that show him walking down East 9th Street in Cleveland, pointing out potential targets such as the federal building, the Coast Guard station and St. John’s Cathedral, which he said could be taken “off the map.”
On July 1, Pitts met with the UCE in Garfield Heights, Ohio, for Pitts to explain his plan for Philadelphia. Pitts said he planned to travel there to conduct reconnaissance for a future attack in Philadelphia. Pitts stated a truck bomb packed with explosives, such as the one used in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, would be the best way to cause maximum damage.
Pitts was reminded by the UCE that people would die and body parts would by flying around. Pitts responded “I don’t care” and that he had “no regrets,” would be able to “go to sleep” and “I don’t give a (expletive).”
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI-Cleveland Division’s Joint Terrorism Task. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Baeppler and Matthew Shepherd of the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorney Paul Casey of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
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.
Nine people – including men with previous convictions for attempted murder, domestic violence and felonious assault with a firearm -- indicted for firearms crimesRead the Press Release
Nine people – including men with previous convictions for attempted murder, domestic violence and felonious assault with a firearm -- were indicted in federal court for firearms crimes.
Indicted are: Darien L. Griffin, 22, of Cleveland; Deangelo Harris, 26, of Cleveland; Larrell Hazzard, of Cleveland; Deayre Horton, 32, of Cleveland; Anthony King, 25, of Canton; Treavon McCullough, 36, of Toledo; Anthony J. Schaffer, 32, of Canfield, and John Joseph Smoter, 39, of Ravenna.
“These cases demonstrate again why firearms enforcement is vital to making our community safer,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These defendants include people convicted of attempted murder, domestic violence, felonious assault with a firearm and other crimes. These defendants have no business carrying firearms or ammunition.”
“ATF’s core mission is reducing violent gun crime in our communities,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon. “We work side by side with our federal, state, and local partners to follow the gun and remove the most violent criminals from our streets.”
Griffin possessed a Glock .45-caliber pistol and ammunition on December 28, 2018, despite having previously been convicted of attempted felonious assault and robbery, according to the indictment.
Harris possessed 18 rounds of 9 mm ammunition on December 1, 2018, despite a previous conviction for felonious assault with a firearms specification, according to the indictment.
Hazzard possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun on December 5, 2018, despite a previous conviction for aggravated assault, according to the indictment.
Horton possessed a Taurus 9 mm pistol and ammunition on October 26, 2018, despite previous convictions for robbery and two counts of attempted murder with a firearms specification, according to the indictment.
King possessed a Beretta 9 mm pistol and ammunition on August 8, 2018, despite a previous conviction for robbery, according to the indictment.
McCullough possessed a CZ 9 mm pistol on May 27, 2018, despite previous convictions for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other crimes, according to the indictment.
Schaffer possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and ammunition on January 16, 2019, while being on supervised release for a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the indictment.
Smoter on January 8, 2019, possessed 14 firearms and ammunition, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, 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 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.
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.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Lorain Police Department, the Toledo Police Department, the Elyria Police Department, the Akron Police Department and the Portage County Parole Authority. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter E. Daly, Payum Daroodian, John C. Hanley, Jody King, Alissa Sterling, David M. Toepfer and Scott Zarzycki.
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.
Euclid man arrested after he directed a 13-year-old girl to send him nude photos of herself and threatened to share the photos with her friends if she did not send moreRead the Press Release
A Euclid man was arrested after he directed a 13-year-old girl to send him nude photos of herself and threatened to share the photos with her friends if she did not send more.
Tyrin B. Davis, 20, was charged in U.S. District Court in Cleveland with one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
“This case demonstrates the danger posed by the Internet, particularly for teens posting photos and communicating with people they don’t really know,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are talking to.”
"These cases are a painful reminder that we can never have enough conversations with our children about the potential dangers of the internet,” said Homeland Security Investigations' Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “Through our iGuardian educational program, HSI is fully committed to ensuring that parents and young people have all the information they need when it comes to online safety.”
According to an affidavit filed in the case:
The Toronto (Canada) Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit contacted Homeland Security Investigations after learning the 13-year-old had been enticed and extorted into sending multiple sexually explicit images of herself via Instagram and Snapchat. The girl and her mother approached the Toronto Police Service in May 2018 to report the ongoing extortion.
The suspect told the girl he would pay $1,000 if she were to send nude photos of herself. The girl stated her parents were going through a rough time financially and she thought that by sending the photos, she could do her part to help.
She sent a few nude photos, at which point the suspect began to send messages asking for more. The girl later said that the suspect told her that if she did not send more, he would put the ones she already sent online for the world to see. As a result, she sent more photos of herself to the suspect.
Once the victim realized things had gone too far, she attempted to stop communication with the suspect. The suspect sent nude photos of her to several of her friends on Instagram. The suspect also communicated with the victim’s cousin on Instagram and stated that if the cousin did not send nude pictures of herself, the suspect would post more nude photos of the 13-year-old online.
Investigators eventually traced the messages to the 13-year-old victim to an IP address assigned to Tyrin Davis on Chestnut Lane in Richmond Heights. Davis subsequently moved to Euclid.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Toronto Police Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
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.
A charge is only an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Canadian man sentenced to 11 years in prison for sending scores of messages over social media attempting to coerce an 11-year-old from Ohio to engage in sexual activityRead the Press Release
A Canadian man was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for sending scores of messages over social media attempting to coerce an 11-year-old from Ohio to engage in sexual activity.
Daniel Jason Wnek, 28, of Toronto, pleaded guilty last year to one count of coercion and/or enticement of a minor.
Wnek contacted the victim, identified as H.M., via Instagram in 2017. Wnek used the photograph of a younger male and falsely told H.M. he was 14 years old. Wnek eventually switched their communication to Snapchat, according to court documents.
Wnek eventually sent messages to H.M. that were sexual in nature, such as: “Would u lie on top of me when we meet?” and “Yea x we can take our pants off n I’ll bring a blanket,” according to court documents.
Wnek on Nov. 2, 2017 sent H.M. a sexually explicit photo via Snapchat. He also suggested picking her up, engaging in sexual activity and asked H.M. to send him sexually explicit photos of herself, according to court documents.
H.M.’s family contacted police and on Nov. 3, in the presence of law enforcement, another person posing as H.M. engaged in a Snapchat conversation with Wnek. He continued to solicit H.M. for sex, sent H.M. sexually explicit images and asked H.M. to send him sexually explicit images of her, according to court documents.
On Nov. 13, Wnek advised who he thought was H.M. that he planned to travel to Disney World in Florida for his birthday. Wnek was arrested after traveling from Toronto to Orlando, according to court documents.
“This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media by posing as people different from who they truly are,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are communicating with.”
“Daniel Jason Wnek traveled thousands of miles in order to meet up with a child for sex after luring the child online,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “We must protect our children from online predators. The FBI will continue to pursue these vicious criminals and is pleased that Mr. Wnek will not be able to threaten children's innocence or lives any longer.
The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman
Men from Navarre and Huron indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Two men were indicted for child pornography crimes.
David Nestor, 39, of Navarre, was indicted on one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Nestor received and distributed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct between October and December 2018, and possessed those images on January 22, 2019.
Jordan Coffman, 23, of Huron, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Coffman, in 2015, possessed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
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 Nestor case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Skutnik following an investigation by the FBI. The Coffman case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman following an investigation by the FBI.
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.