Northern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Texas man indicted for having nine pounds of heroinRead the Press Release
A Texas man was indicted after federal court after being arrested with nearly four kilograms of heroin, law enforcement officials said.
Adan Gilberto Munoz, 33, of El Paso, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute 3,996 grams of heroin and one count of using a telephone to facilitate commission of a felony.
Munoz was arrested on Aug. 8 after being pulled over by an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper in Medina County. Munoz told the trooper he did not have his driver’s license on him and was shaking and trembling, according to court documents.
OSHP used a canine to sniff around Munoz’s car and then searched the automobile. Troopers found four bricks of drugs that later tested to be heroin. Each brick of heroin weighed between 998 and 999 grams, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
“Law enforcement did a tremendous job of keeping thousands of doses of heroin off the streets,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
“With unified efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, we will continue to combat drug trafficking and remove criminals from our communities making it safer for the citizens of Ohio,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon said: “The seizure of four kilograms of heroin is significant. In this era of daily heroin related overdoses, nothing is more important than bringing the people that are distributing this poison within our communities to justice.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Darden following an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
Medina man sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for stealing from construction companyRead the Press Release
A Medina man was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for stealing $245,000 from his employer and using the money to pay for a country club membership, vehicles and purchases at Victoria’s Secret and GNC, law enforcement officials said.
Brian K. Stepp, 51, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements on loan application.
“This defendant is a serial fraudster who caused a business to close and 80 employees to lose their jobs,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “He used this company’s coffers as his own personal bank.”
“Mr. Stepp conspired in a variety of fraudulent financial schemes to steal money for car and country club membership purchases and exorbitant retail purchases,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office. “The FBI will continue to root out financial fraudsters and hold them accountable for their criminal actions.”
Stepp worked at Variety Contractors, Inc., a company based in Medina County that provided general contracting services for large public and commercial retail construction projects in Ohio and other states.
Stepp joined the company as vice president with the plan to eventually buy the company. He served as acting president but never purchased the company, according to court documents and statements
Stepp incorporated S&S Kelsey LN, a shell company that did not engage in any actual business. He submitted a variety of fake invoices from S&S and other vendors to Variety Contractors of goods and services that were not provided. Stepp caused Variety Contractors to make payments on those fraudulent invoices, according to court documents.
For example, in September 2014, a check request for $31,500 was made for payment to G.C.I. for “Deposit for Exterior Metal Panels”. Three days later, a check in the same amount made payable to Ganley, which Stepp used to partially pay for a 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup truck that he purchased in his wife’s name, according to court documents.
Stepp also fraudulently used a company credit card to pay for personal expenses, such as membership and related fees at Weymouth Country Club, payments made to purchase vehicles to himself and his family, local hotel charges, legal fees, and charges at stores including Victoria’s Secret and GNC, according to court documents.
The loss to Variety Contractors was $245,120. The company went out of business in 2015 and approximately 80 employees lost their jobs, according to court documents and statements
Stepp also made numerous false statements in attempting to get several loans, according court documents.
Stepp, while on supervised release, also hired someone to break the jaws of two people who had been critical of him, according to court documents.
U.S. District Judge Chirstopher Boyko sentenced Stepp to six years in prison for fraud, to be followed by six months for violating the terms of his supervised release in hiring someone to assault others.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Lutzko and Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Two men indicted for 11 armed robberies across Cleveland areaRead the Press Release
A 17-count indictment was filed in federal court charging two men for nearly a dozen armed robberies in Northeast Ohio, law enforcement officials said.
Richard Glenn, Jr., 40, of Maple Heights, and Brandon Williams, 35, of Euclid, are charged with using firearms to rob banks, drug stores and convenience stores in South Euclid, Euclid, Wickliffe, Lyndhurst, Cleveland, Bedford Heights and Maple Heights.
The locations and dates of the robberies detailed in the indictment are listed below:
Aug. 9: Walgreens, 2135 Warrensville Center Road, Warrensville Heights (Glenn and Williams).
Aug. 15: Euclid Mart, 26610 Lakeshore Blvd. Euclid (Williams).
Aug. 17: Walgreens, 20485 Euclid Ave., Euclid (Glenn).
Aug. 21: Ohio Savings Bank, 29169 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe (Williams).
Aug. 23: U.S. Bank, 5695 Turney Road, Garfield Heights (Glenn).
Aug. 25: Chase Bank, 5400 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst (Williams).
Aug. 29: Dollar General, 9111 Miles Road, Cleveland (Glenn).
Aug. 31: A&M Food Mart, 25600 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights (Glenn and Williams).
Sept. 5: Dollar Bank, 240 E. 228 Street, Euclid (Williams).
Sept. 11: Chase Bank, 5435 Northfield Road, Bedford Heights (Williams).
Sept. 11: Dollar Bank, 5180 Warrensville Center Road, Maple Heights (Williams)
The charges include Hobbs Act robberies, bank robberies, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and being felons in possession of firearms.
Glenn has prior felony convictions in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for aggravated robbery and drug possession that make it illegal for him to have a firearm. Williams has felony convictions in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for robbery, burglary, grand theft and arson that make it illegal for him to have a firearm, according to the indictment.
“These defendants used firearms to rob 11 stores and banks all over the east side of Greater Cleveland,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Our law enforcement partners did a tremendous job bringing this violent crime spree to an end. Now this duo will be held accountable for terrorizing our neighbors.”
“Williams and Glenn put everyday citizens’ lives in peril with their gun-wielding robberies,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “For these dangerous crimes they are facing a significant amount of time in a federal penitentiary. The FBI will continue to work aggressively with our local law enforcement partners to ensure violent criminals like these are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and police departments from Cleveland, Bedford Heights, Euclid, South Euclid, Garfield Heights, Lyndhurst, Maple Heights, Wickliffe and Willoughby Hills, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Pinjuh.
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 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.
Six people indicted for illegally reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
Six people were indicted for illegal reentry into the United States after being found in Ohio, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Ignacio Mendoza-Arriaga, 31, a Mexican citizen, was found in Youngstown after being deported to Mexico in 2008 following a felony conviction.
Reinaldo Herrerra-Herrerra, 36, a Mexican citizen, was found in Youngstown after being deported to Mexico in 2011.
Christian Euceda-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, was found in Ohio after being deported from the U.S., in 2012.
Jorge Manuel Ramos-Cruz, 49, a Mexican citizen, was found in Ohio after being deported four times in 2009 and 2010.
Wilson Antonio Miranda-Rivera, 36, a citizen of Honduras, was found in Ohio after being deported four times between 2002 and 2014.
Abelardo Beltran-Arriola, 31, a citizen of Mexico, was found in Ohio after twice being deported, in 2008 and 2011.
The Arriaga and Herrerra cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karrie D. Howard following an investigation by the Youngstown Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
The Lopez case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman following an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Cruz case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Beeson following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
The Rivera case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman following an investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
The Arriola case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Weldon following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
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.
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.
Salvadoran citizen charged with usurping identity of Puerto Rican manRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Jose E. Carrillo-Abrego, 33, a citizen of El Salvador, with usurping the identity of a Puerto Rican man to conceal his illegal presence in the United States, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Kern and Elliot Morrison are prosecuting the case following an investigation by the United States Border Patrol.
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.
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.
Postal Service letter carrier and Euclid man indicted for receiving two kilograms of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier and a Euclid man were indicted for a conspiracy in which they received more than two kilograms of methamphetamine from California, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.
Marquacia Deshawn Morris, 26, of Woodmere, and Devon Williams, 23, of Euclid, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of methamphetamine. Kevin Williams, also 23 and of Euclid, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
A package containing 2214 grams of methamphetamine was mailed from California to Beachwood on Sept. 7. Four days later, Morris, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, accepted the package and began her daily assigned mail route, according to the indictment.
She diverted from her daily mail route on Sept. 11 and travelled to 27020 Cedar Road in Beachwood, where she met Devon Williams. He accepted the package and transported it to 440 Richmond Park East in Richmond Heights, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Willoughby Hills Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.
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.
Four Akron men indicted for distributing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
Four Akron men were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, law enforcement officals said.
Named in the five-count indictment are: Michael E. Davis, 47; James E. Sanders, 50; Christopher J. Proctor, 50, and Rashaad M. Thomas, 40. All four are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Thomas was charged with an additional count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Davis and Sanders were also charged with being a felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by members of the Akron/Summit County HIDTA Initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Drug Unit, Springfield Township Police Department, Copley Township Police Department, New Franklin Township Police Department, Stow Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Tallmadge Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, Reminderville Police Department, Silver Lake Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, and Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. 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 with history of violence indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Delamon A. Marshall, 38, of Akron, with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition as an armed career criminal and two counts of possessing of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Marshall had a Glock 9 mm pistol and ammunition on Feb. 22, despite prior convictions for bank robbery and two counts of domestic violence which made it illegal for him to have a firearm. He also possessed a Ruger 9 mm pistol and ammunition on March 17, according to the indictment.
The investigation was conducted by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Copley Police Department, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for the Ohio Attorney General, Akron Police Department and the Summit County Coroner’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa Riley.
If convicted, the defendant’s 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two from Northwest Ohio indicted for having methamphetamineRead the Press Release
Two men from Northwest Ohio were indicted in federal court for attempting to distribute methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Eric D. Mason, 28, of Lima, and Kasey J. Hutchinson, 25, of Findlay, were each indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The men possessed approximately 54 grams of methamphetamine on Sept. 6, according to the indictment
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Weldon
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.
Toledo man indicted for armed robbery of Jimmy John's sandwich shopRead the Press Release
A Toledo felon was indicted for using a firearm during the robbery of a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop last month, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, Toledo Police Chief George Kral and Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Columbus Field Division.
Mark Larkett, 29, was indicted on one count each of Hobbs Act robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Larkett used a firearm on Sept. 25 to rob the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop at 405 Adams Street in Toledo. He possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol on that date despite a prior conviction for robbery, according to the indictment
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Toledo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Weldon.
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.
Akron man sentenced to life in prison for shooting woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National ParkRead the Press Release
An Akron man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting a woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park last year, law enforcement officials said.
DeZay M. Ely, 28, was previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Ely attempted to kill a woman on July 3, 2016, by shooting her in the head, according to court documents.
U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson sentenced Ely to 20 years in prison for attempted murder, to be followed by a consecutive sentence of life in prison for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
“This defendant took a firearm into a national park and tried to murder a young woman,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “He left her with lifelong, serious injuries. Our community is a safer place with him behind bars.”
Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office, said: “Law enforcement is pleased that Dezay Ely will be spending the rest of his life in prison for the horrific crime he committed against an innocent victim. The collaboration between the FBI, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Service, BCI and the public was invaluable to identifying and holding Ely accountable for this senseless crime.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and Linda Barr following an investigation by the FBI, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Attorney General announces reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods to reduce rising tide of violent crimeRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said: “This is another welcome tool that allows us to help our local partners work with federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime.”
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams said: “The City of Cleveland, Division of Police is grateful to hear of the possibility of funding through federal grants from our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office. These federal funds could go a long way in terms of allowing the Division of Police to expand not only in terms of staffing, but also in the purchase of new technology and equipment.”
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
North Royalton man sentenced to prison for tax fraudRead the Press Release
A North Royalton man was sentenced to jail for fraudulently claiming more than $133,000 in tax refunds to which he was not entitled, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation.
Amin Mohammad, 45, was sentenced to five months incarceration and five months of house arrested. He was also fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $133,414 in restitution.
Mohammad previously pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of public funds.
Mohammad operated a gas station and other energy-related businesses in the Cleveland area. He incorporated Goojee, Inc. in 2007 and Mejri Oil, Inc. in 2010. Neither company had a specific business purpose and bank accounts for the companies had minimal activity, according to court documents.
Mohammad falsely reported the companies sold a combined 833,495 gallons of kerosene in tax year 2010. He falsely claimed fuel tax credits to which he was not entitled, seeking a $68,240 tax refund on behalf of Goojee and a $65,174 tax refund on behalf of Mejri, according to court documents.
"Today’s sentencing marks the successful end of an investigation that uncovered a fraudulent fuel tax credit scheme,” Korner said. "We want everyone to take advantage of the deductions and credits to which they are entitled by law; however, no one is entitled to defraud the government."
Assistant U.S Attorney Robert J. Patton is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the IRS-CI.
Justice Department awards nearly $2 million to combat opioids in Northern OhioRead the Press Release
The Justice Department recently awarded nearly $2 million in grants to the Northern District of Ohio to help combat the opioid epidemic.
In 2016, nearly 60,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 52,000 overdose deaths the year before. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. The opioid epidemic, a public health crisis, is also a growing public safety crisis.
“Today, we are facing the deadliest drug crisis in American history,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “These trends are shocking and the numbers tell us a lot– but they aren’t just numbers. They represent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends. And make no mistake combatting this poison is a top priority for President Trump and his administration, and you can be sure that we are taking action to address it. We are announcing that we will be awarding millions in federal grants to help law enforcement and public health agencies address prescription drug and opioid abuse. This is an urgent problem and we are making it a top priority.”“These dollars will support efforts to make law enforcement more efficient and precise as we try to stem the tide of death and suffering caused by opioids throughout our country, state and region,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “These grants will help prosecutors and police work more effectively to prosecute drug dealers who kill people while also supporting drug courts which help people get the treatment they need.”
Awardees in the Northern District of Ohio include:
Case Western Reserve University, $975,401 from the National Institute of Justice to study the Cuyahoga County Heroin Involved Death Investigations protocol. The protocol was developed in 2014 for help medical examiners and law enforcement with the collection and preservation of evidence in opioid-involved death incidents. The purpose is to improve the group’s ability to secure faster indictments and more successful manslaughter or federal “death specification” prosecutions.
Cleveland Municipal Court, $400,000 from the Bureau of Justice Affairs for drug court and/or veteran’s treatment court.
Marion Municipal Court, $338,931 from the Bureau of Justice Affairs for drug court and/or veteran’s treatment court.
City of Youngstown, $240,000 from the Bureau of Justice Affairs for drug court and/or veteran’s treatment court.
Additionally, the Justice Department awarded $1 million to the Supreme Court of Ohio to assist leverage information about prescribing practices to identify potential solutions and $399,918 to the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy to help develop and maintain centralized databases to collect and analyze prescription data.
Brunswick man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for having 136,000 images and 1,000 videos of child sex abuseRead the Press Release
A Brunswick man was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for having more than 100,000 images and 1,000 videos of child sex abuse, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Scott M. Wroten, 54, was sentenced to 136 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Wroten knowingly received approximately 136,000 computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including sexual abuse and beastiality. These files were collected between 2011 and 2016, according to court documents.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Cleveland office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Brunswick Police Department and the Wickliffe Police Department.
Toledo felon indicted following arrest with crack cocaine and 13 firearms, including unregistered sawed-off shotgunRead the Press Release
A Toledo man arrested with 13 firearms was indicted on firearm and drug charges, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Toledo Police Chief George Kral.
Markein Cargill, 46, was indicted on one count each of possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony; possessing an unregistered short-barrelled shotgun; possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine; and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
Cargill on Sept. 1, 2017, was arrested with 13 firearms, including a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with no serial number. Cargill was not allowed to possess firearms because of previous convictions for crimes involving heroin and cocaine, according to the indictment.
He also possessed with intent to distribute nearly 10 grams of crack cocaine, 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 agencies in this case are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Toledo Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Hood.
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.
Salvadoran national in Cleveland indicted on firearms and identity theft chargesRead the Press Release
A Salvadoran national was indicted on firearms and identity theft charges, law enforcement officials said.
Carlos Amaya-Melendez, 38, is a citizen of El Salvador but was living in Cleveland. He used the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico to obtain an Ohio driver’s license in 2009. It was renewed in 2015, according to court documents.
He also possessed a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition while not a citizen of the U.S., according to the indictment.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Morrison and Robert Kern.
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 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.
Eight from Ohio indicted for Social Securiy fraud after collecting benefits of the deceasedRead the Press Release
United States Attorneys Justin E. Herdman and Benjamin C. Glassman announced charges brought in eight separate Social Security fraud and other benefits cases statewide.
The cases are part of the national Social Security Administration (SSA) Fraud Prosecution Project, a collaboration with SSA’s Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice. From early 2016 to date, Special Assistant United States Attorneys around the country have secured over 300 federal convictions, leading to judicial orders for more than $34 million in restitution to SSA and other agencies.
In Ohio, eight individuals were charged this month with stealing Social Security and other retirement benefits totaling more than $796,000. The defendants illegally collected Social Security benefits that were paid to a deceased relative or friend in seven of the eight cases. In one case, the defendant stole the identity of a living 65-year-old doctor and used it to collect the doctor’s Social Security benefits.
In the Northern District of Ohio, Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti indicted three cases.
Norman C. Thompson, III, 47, of Chagrin Falls, is charged for allegedly wrongfully converted his deceased mother’s Title II disability benefits. Every month after his mother’s death, defendant intercepted checks from the Social Security Administration issued to his mother. Thompson signed his mother’s name and his own to endorse and deposit the checks, causing a total loss of approximately $39,000.
From approximately November 2011 through May 2017, James C. Bohanon, Jr., 69, of Cleveland, allegedly wrongfully received and converted to his own use approximately $48,000 from his deceased wife’s Supplemental Security Income. In addition, he received financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was obligated to report his income accurately to his residential property management each year. Bohanon concealed his receipt of his deceased wife’s Social Security benefits from HUD, and, as a result, received approximately $38,500 in Housing Assistance Payments to which he was not entitled.
Alturik R. Plummer, 51, of University Heights, allegedly wrongfully converted his deceased grandmother’s Title II Retirement Insurance benefits from approximately August 2013 through October 2016, causing a loss of approximately $45,000.
“These defendants stole tens of thousands of dollars from taxpayers,” said Herdman, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to root out fraud, including those who steal from Social Security.”
In the Southern District of Ohio, Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is prosecuting five cases.
Jesse Larry, 71, of Columbus, Curtis Joash, 73, of Cincinnati and Dolores Stacy, 70, of Hamilton were each charged by criminal complaint for allegedly illegally collecting Social Security benefits paid to their respective mothers after their deaths. Each defendant was a co-signatory on their mother’s savings or checking account, allowing them to withdraw the Social Security money each month.
Larry collected $273,000 in benefits that were paid to his mother after she died in 1993, Joash collected nearly $188,000 since his mother’s death in 1990 and Stacy collected nearly $121,000 since her mother died in 2005.
Era Jenkinson, 42, of Columbus, was also charged by criminal complaint for allegedly illegally collected nearly $29,000 in Social Security benefits that were paid to her for the benefit of another person.
Jenkinson had been serving as the person’s representative payee, and therefore was responsible for notifying Social Security when the person died in 2015. Instead, it is alleged that Jenkinson spent the benefits on her own expenses after the person died. In April 2017, Jenkinson allegedly had a friend pose as the deceased person in a telephone call with a Social Security employee in an attempt to convince Social Security that the person was still alive.
Chucky Scott, 25, of Columbus, was charged by a Bill of Information. Scott is scheduled to plead guilty in U.S. District Court next week, and, according to the plea agreement, filed a claim for retirement benefits using the identity of a 65-year-old doctor, but using Scott’s own address to receive the payments. In this manner, Scott illegally collected approximately $14,500 in Social Security benefits.
“Taking Social Security benefits intended for another is a theft from all of us,” said Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Through our partnership with the Social Security Administration, the Southern District of Ohio is cracking down on this fraud as never before.”
Through its Fraud Prosecution Project, the Department of Justice and SSA pool legal resources to prosecute individuals who defraud Social Security programs. SSA’s Office of the General Counsel currently employs agency attorneys to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys in 13 United States Attorney Offices, two of which are located in the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, to lead these prosecution efforts.
For more information on SSA’s Fraud Prosecution Project and the agency’s other anti-fraud efforts, please visit https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.
U.S. Attorneys for Southern, Northern Ohio Announce Charges in 8 Social Security Fraud CasesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Glassman and Justin E. Herdman announced charges brought in eight separate Social Security fraud and other benefits cases statewide.
The cases are part of the national Social Security Administration (SSA) Fraud Prosecution Project, a collaboration with SSA’s Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice. From early 2016 to date, Special Assistant United States Attorneys around the country have secured over 300 federal convictions, leading to judicial orders for more than $34 million in restitution to SSA and other agencies.
In Ohio, eight individuals were charged this month with stealing Social Security and other retirement benefits totaling more than $796,000.
“Taking Social Security benefits intended for another is a theft from all of us,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Through our partnership with the Social Security Administration, the Southern District of Ohio is cracking down on this fraud as never before.”
The defendants illegally collected Social Security benefits that were paid to a deceased relative or friend in seven of the eight cases. In one case, the defendant stole the identity of a living 65-year-old doctor and used it to collect the doctor’s Social Security benefits.
In the Southern District of Ohio, Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is prosecuting five cases.
Jesse Larry, 71, of Columbus, Curtis Joash, 73, of Cincinnati and Dolores Stacy, 70, of Hamilton were each charged by criminal complaint for allegedly illegally collecting Social Security benefits paid to their respective mothers after their deaths. Each defendant was a co-signatory on their mother’s savings or checking account, allowing them to withdraw the Social Security money each month.
Larry collected $273,000 in benefits that were paid to his mother after she died in 1993, Joash collected nearly $188,000 since his mother’s death in 1990 and Stacy collected nearly $121,000 since her mother died in 2005.
Era Jenkinson, 42, of Columbus, was also charged by criminal complaint for allegedly illegally collected nearly $29,000 in Social Security benefits that were paid to her for the benefit of another person.
Jenkinson had been serving as the person’s representative payee, and therefore was responsible for notifying Social Security when the person died in 2015. Instead, it is alleged that Jenkinson spent the benefits on her own expenses after the person died. In April 2017, Jenkinson allegedly had a friend pose as the deceased person in a telephone call with a Social Security employee in an attempt to convince Social Security that the person was still alive.
Chucky Scott, 25, of Columbus, was charged by a Bill of Information. Scott is scheduled to plead guilty in U.S. District Court next week, and, according to the plea agreement, filed a claim for retirement benefits using the identity of a 65-year-old doctor, but using Scott’s own address to receive the payments. In this manner, Scott illegally collected approximately $14,500 in Social Security benefits.
In the Northern District of Ohio, Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti indicted three cases yesterday.
Norman C. Thompson, III, 47, of Chagrin Falls, is charged for allegedly wrongfully converted his deceased mother’s Title II disability benefits. Every month after his mother’s death, defendant intercepted checks from the Social Security Administration issued to his mother. Thompson signed his mother’s name and his own to endorse and deposit the checks, causing a total loss of approximately $39,000.
From approximately November 2011 through May 2017, James C. Bohanon, Jr., 69, of Cleveland, allegedly wrongfully received and converted to his own use approximately $48,000 from his deceased wife’s Supplemental Security Income. In addition, he received financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was obligated to report his income accurately to his residential property management each year. Bohanon concealed his receipt of his deceased wife’s Social Security benefits from HUD, and, as a result, received approximately $38,500 in Housing Assistance Payments to which he was not entitled.
Alturik R. Plummer, 51, of University Heights, allegedly wrongfully converted his deceased grandmother’s Title II Retirement Insurance benefits from approximately August 2013 through October 2016, causing a loss of approximately $45,000.
“These defendants stole tens of thousands of dollars from taxpayers,” said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to root out fraud, including those who steal from Social Security.”
Through its Fraud Prosecution Project, the Department of Justice and SSA pool legal resources to prosecute individuals who defraud Social Security programs. SSA’s Office of the General Counsel currently employs agency attorneys to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys in 13 United States Attorney Offices, two of which are located in the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, to lead these prosecution efforts.
For more information on SSA’s Fraud Prosecution Project and the agency’s other anti-fraud efforts, please visit https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.
# # #
Stow attorney charged with tax violationsRead the Press Release
An attorney from Stow was indicted on tax charges, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.
Gregory T. Plesich, 72, was indicted on one count of attempt to evade and defeat the payment of taxes.
Plesich worked as an attorney for Lawrence and Angela Tipton, an Ohio couple that was eventually convicted of tax crimes. They operated a trucking business and other business ventures but did not pay a substantial amount of their taxes, according to the indictment.
In 2004, the IRS filed tax liens against Lawrence Tiption. The IRS did the same against Angela Tipton in 2011. By 2012, their combined tax liabilities, including interest and penalties, was more than $1.7 million, according to the indictment.
Plesich aided and abetted the Tipton’s evasion of taxes by allowing them to use his business account as if it where their personal bank account. The Tiptons gave checks to Plesich, which he deposited into his business account, then wrote checks from the account payable to the Tiptons, according to the indictment.
This took place numerous times in 2013 and 2014, according to the indictment.
Lawrence Tipton was sentenced last year to more than two years in prison while Angela Tipton was sentenced to home confinement.
This case was investigated by the IRS and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Mark Bennett.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.
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.
Kent man indicted on tax chargesRead the Press Release
A Kent man was indicted for filing false tax returns, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.
Davood Haghighi, 59, was indicted on two counts of willfully making and subscribing to a false tax return. Haghighi filed false tax returns for calendar years 2010 and 2011, 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.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.
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 firing shotgun in Euclid carjackingRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted in federal court for firing a shotgun during a carjacking in Euclid, law enforcement officials said.
Cody M. Coats, 25, was charged in a three-count indictment with carjacking, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Coats used an Itahca short-barreled shotgun when he carjacked someone and stole their 2005 Chrysler Crossfire outside a Euclid bar on Aug. 14, 2017, according to the indictment.
He ultimately crashed the car on East 222nd Street near Lakeshore Boulevard following a police chase and was arrested.
Coats possessed a shotgun and 20 12-gauge shotgun shells despite a prior conviction for burglary, according to the indictment.
“In the course of committing a robbery, this defendant fired a shotgun and crashed a stolen car near a busy intersection,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will work with all of our law enforcement partners to ensure violent individuals with firearms cannot prey on law-abiding citizens.”
“ATF is committed to combating gun violence in our communities,” said Trevor Velinor, ATF Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, including the Euclid Police Department, to arrest violent criminals and make our communities safer.”
“We are pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has adopted this case,” Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said. “The officers and detectives of the Euclid Police Department did an outstanding job with the apprehension and investigation. We must all work together to send the message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our communities.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and Euclid Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Joseph M. Pinjuh.
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, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.
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.
Delphos man charged with child pornography crimeRead the Press Release
A Delphos man was charged via criminal information with possession of child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Vernon Murray, 67, possessed and had access to numerous digital files containing images of children being sexually abused and exploited. This took place between 2009 and 2015, according to the criminal information.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alissa M. Sterling following an investigation by the FBI.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. 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 sentenced to nearly three years in prison for illegal demolition of former factoryRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for violating the Clean Air Act by failing to remove asbestos prior to demolishing a former factory in Cleveland, law enforcement officials said.
William S. Jackson, 47, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $7.8 million in restitution by U.S. Senior District Judge Donald C. Nugent.
Christopher Gattarello leased the former National Acme facility at 170 East 131st Street in Cleveland in June 2011. The 570,000 square-foot facility was built in 1917 and was used for manufacturing for nearly a century. It is located near many homes and a school. Gattarello represented to the lessor that paper and cardboard waste would be recycled at the facility.
In July 2011, a company estimated removing asbestos from the facility would cost $1.5 million.
Around August 2011, Gattarello directed paper and cardboard waste, as well as municipal garbage, be delivered to the facility for recycling. Over the next several months, more garbage, paper and cardboard were delivered than could be handled, and Gattarello had the waste moved inside. By April 2012, most of the facility was filled with garbage.
Gattarello entered into a contract to purchase the facility in 2012. Gattarello intended to demolish the facility and sell any metal removed as scrap.
Jackson operated a Cleveland building demolition company. In July 2012, he submitted a notice of demolition with the Cleveland Division of Air Quality stating there was no asbestos in the National Acme facility. About 10 days later, the CDAQ rejected Jackson’s notice because it was incomplete and stated demolition “may not begin” until a proper notice was submitted and approved. About 10 days after that, on July 21, 2012, Jackson began demolition at Gattarello’s direction.
Asbestos fibers were released into the environment during demolition. Debris accumulated outside the facility from demolition and asbestos in the piles were exposed to the wind and elements.
Gattarello was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his crimes earlier this year.
“This defendant knowingly ignored regulations designed to protect the public’s health and safety,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “He and his co-defendants caused irreparable harm to a Cleveland neighborhood.”
“The defendants in this case put unsuspecting workers at great risk and threatened the health and safety of the community when they failed to follow proper procedures for removing asbestos,” said Scot Adair, Acting Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “This case demonstrates that EPA and its law enforcement partners will prosecute those who willingly break environmental laws in an attempt to cut costs.”
“It is both illegal and inexcusable to dump thousands of tons of garbage near a residential neighborhood,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “Residents were subjected to environmental and health hazards and deserve to see those accountable brought to justice.”
“Let these sentencings stand as a warning to those who victimize the public that whether you are the main perpetrator of a fraud, or merely assist in its facilitation, the law will hold all guilty parties accountable,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “The successful prosecution of these individuals is a direct result of the excellent partnership that federal, state and kocal law enforcement has in combating violations of federal law."
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Beeson and Chelsea Rice following an investigation by the U.S. and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.
Warren man indicted for selling heroin that resulted in fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
A Warren man was indicted on charges that he sold heroin that resulted in the overdose death of a woman earlier this year, law enforcement officials said.
John G. Simer II, 38, was charged in a seven-count indictment. The charges include 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 sold heroin on March 19, 2017. One day later, a Warren woman ingested the heroin, resulting in her fatal overdose, according to the indictment.
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 the indictment.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit the firearm, ammunition, body armor and $1,000 in cash seized on April 19.
“Heroin has 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.”
This case was investigated by the Warren Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, particularly Detectives Melanie Gambill and Chad Shrader. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Marisa T. Darden.
The charge for heroin distribution that resulted in death can carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.
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.
Hudson man indicted for claiming false tax credits for undocumented workers from offices in Canton and AkronRead the Press Release
A Hudson man was indicted on 30 counts of aiding and abetting in filing false tax returns, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.
Sergio Gardea, 43, operated a tax preparation business, the Centro San Jose, from an office in Canton. He opened a second location in Akron in 2013. He prepared taxes mainly for Spanish-speaking workers and undocumented immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico who worked on farms or in farm-related factories in Stark County, according to the indictment.
Gardea obtained individual tax identification numbers for undocumented immigrants in order to file taxes on their behalf. These are numbers used by people unable to obtain a Social Security number but are still required to file U.S. tax returns, according to the indictment.
Gardea also obtained individual tax identification numbers for dependents who lived outside of the U.S. Taxpayers are allowed to claim the child tax credit, but only if their dependents live in the U.S. for the entire year or much of the year, according to the indictment.
Gardea filed tax returns for clients in which he claimed child tax credits when those dependents lived outside the U.S., according to the indictment.
“This defendant fraudulently claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds,” Herdman said. “He will be held accountable for his actions.”
“Based on the allegations in the indictment, it is unfortunate to see that so many fraudulent tax returns were filed by Gardea, especially when filing a tax return is one of the biggest financial transactions a taxpayer makes each year,” Korner said.
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 matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Riley following an investigation by the IRS.
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.
Van Wert man indicted for child pornographyRead the Press Release
A Van Wert man was indicted for crimes involving child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Roy Allen Nichols, 54, was charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography
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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman following an investigation by the FBI in Lima.
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.
Three Ohio men indicted for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
Three Ohio men were charged in federal court with child pornography crimes, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Indicted are; Donald Neff, 51, of Kent; Brian Ake, 43, of Massillon, and Roland Wolfe, 52, of Cleveland. The cases are unrelated.
Neff was charged with receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possessing child pornography between November 2016 and June 2017.
Ake was charged with accessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and destruction of property. He accessed with intent to view numerous digital files containing visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct between Oc. 24, 2014, through March 4, 2015. He also destroyed digital files on a cellular phone on Dec. 1, 2015, after a search for property by an FBI agent, according to the indictment.
Wolfe knowingly received numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between Oct. 19, 2016, through Jan. 20, 2017. Wolfe also possessed a Dell laptop computer and five USB storage devices, each of which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.
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.
The Neff case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough following an investigation by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
The Ake cased is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan after an investigation by the FBI.
The Wolfe case is being prosecuted by Sullivan after an investigation by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Cleveland State University Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Solon man charged with defrauding the Cleveland Clinic out of $2.7 millionRead the Press Release
A Solon man was charged in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the Cleveland Clinic out of more than $2.7 million, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Gary Fingerhut, 57, was charged via criminal information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and one count of making false statements.
Fingerhut worked at Cleveland Clinic Innovations, which assisted doctors and other Clinic personnel with inventing medical products and marketing those products, typically through the formation of a spin-off company. Fingerhut was hired as general manager of information technologies in 2010 and became executive director in 2013. The Clinic terminated his employment in June 2015, according to the information.
In 2012, the Cleveland Clinic Innovations formed a subsidiary company known as Interactive Visual Health Records (IVHR), to develop a visual medical charting concept of certain Clinic physicians into a functioning, marketable product. Fingerhut hired an individual identified in court documents as W.R. to work as a consultant and then chief technology officer at IVHR to develop the product, according to the information.
Fingerhut and W.R., as a condition of their employment, were prohibited from receiving any financial benefit or having any personal or familial financial interests in companies the Clinic did business with, unless they were expressly disclosed to, and approved by, the Clinic. Fingerhut underwent formal training on the Clinic’s ethics and compliance polices and requirements, according to the information.
W.R. and others caused to be incorporated a shell company known as iStarFZE LLC (ISTAR) that did not actually perform or provide any goods or services. It was established in the name of a nominee owner. W.R. caused ISTAR to establish a web site and email addresses and a mailing address in New York City, according to the information.
W.R. caused ISTAR to submit a bid to the Clinic to develop and design IVHR’s software and to increase the price the Clinic paid for the software design and development, all without disclosing W.R.’s financial interest in ISTAR, according to the information.
W.R. periodically paid Fingerhut a “referral” or “commission” fee in return for Fingerhut not disclosing the fraud scheme, according to the information.
Fingerhut accepted nearly $469,000 in these payments from W.R. between August 2012 and November 2014. During that time, Fingerhut, W.R. and others diverted more than $2.7 million from the Clinic, according to the information.
The investigation is ongoing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Flannery and Rebecca Lutzko following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Holland man indicted for selling fentanyl, heroin and cocaineRead the Press Release
A nine-count indictment was filed charging a Holland man with trafficking heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Terrance Lewis, 27, distributed more than 290 grams of fentanyl, 87 grams of heroin and three grams of cocaine between November 2015 and April 2017, 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 in Toledo. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman.
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.
Cleveland man with carfentanil, heroin, crack cocaine and a gun indictedRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted on drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
Alonzo Hill, 52, was indicted on one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute heroin and carfentanil, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Hill had three grams of heroin and carfentanil, six grams of crack cocaine, a Glock .45-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 27, 2017, despite convictions for attempted robbery and assault on a police officer, according to the indictment.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police.
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 on heroin and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted on heroin and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
Brandon Parker, 31, was indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Parker had more than four grams of heroin on July 15, 2017, and a Harrington & Richardson 20-gauge shotgun, a .357-caliber revolver and ammunition, despite prior convictions for drug trafficking and having a weapon under disability. He also had a Ruger .38-caliber pistol and ammunition on Nov. 29, 2016, according to the indictment.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police.
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 selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted for selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Cleveland man last year, law enforcement officials said.
Derek Hamilton, 24, was charged in a 10-count indictment with distribution of furanyl fentanyl that resulted in a death, distribution of furanyl fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, firearms offenses and other crimes.
Hamilton sold furanyl fentanyl on Aug. 2, 2016, that resulted in the overdose death of a Cleveland man one day later, according to the indictment.
Hamilton possessed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and a mix of cocaine and fentanyl on Aug. 9, 2017.
“Opioids have caused a staggering amount of pain and death across our state, particularly in Cuyahoga 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.”
“Arresting drug dealers will not ease the pain of those left behind in the wake of a fatal overdose, but it does send a clear message that those dealers will face consequences for their illegal and deadly activities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon. “DEA’s top priority is to work with our partners in law enforcement and stop the trafficking of heroin and other opioids in our communities.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Justin Seabury Gould following an investigation by the DEA and Cleveland Division of Police.
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Canadian man indicted for sexual exploitation of a minorRead the Press Release
A Canadian man indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit Office.
Joseph B. Haggerty, 49, of New Brunswick, is accused of coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. This took place between May 14 and July 15, 2017, according to the indictment.
Haggerty was arrested last month at a park in Rocky River. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Austin, Texas, received a tip that Haggerty had been soliciting nude images from children. Haggerty was scheduled to fly to Cleveland from Toronto on Thursday. HSI agents in Cleveland followed him upon his arrival in Ohio to Linden Park in Rocky River, where he met a minor female, according to a court documents.
The minor he met in Rocky River told agents she met Haggerty on Kik in December 2016 and they subsequently communicated via Skype. She said the calls would last hours and Haggerty would direct her to strip naked and engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the affidavit.
The girl told her relatives she was going on a camping trip for the weekend but actually planned to go a hotel with Haggerty, according to the affidavit.
HSI agents contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, which executed search warrants at Haggerty’s home. They found nude images of the Ohio minor, contact information for the child in Texas, as well as evidence of an estimated five other potential victims.
The investigation is ongoing.
“This defendant preyed upon children,” Herdman said. “This case is another stark reminder to parents that they need to know who their children are communicating with on social media and in real life.”
“Through our partnerships with state, local, federal and international law enforcement agencies, HSI will continue to vigorously investigate child exploitation cases like this one to ensure that special agents continue to serve as a powerful barrier between predators and children," said Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit Office, which includes Ohio.
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 HSI’s Cleveland and Austin offices, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rocky River Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
An indictment is a charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cleveland Heights man sentenced to 32 years in prison for carjackings in ClevelandRead the Press Release
A Cleveland Heights man was sentenced to 32 years in prison for six carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
Tervon’tae Taylor participated in six carjackings in July and August 2015, often brandishing a firearm during the crime.
Four defendants, all from Cleveland, have already been sentenced for their roles in the case.
Kenneth Jackson, Jr. was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison. Antowine Palmer was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. He is also serving 15 years in state prison for convictions for manslaughter and felonious assault.
D’wan Dillard, Jr. was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. Calvin Rembert was sentenced to six years in prison.
Some of defendants were members of the Heartless Felons street gang and were feuding with a different set of Heartless Felons. The defendants planned to do drive-by shootings aimed at members of the rival group, so they went to Tremont to steal a car so they would be unrecognizable during the drive-by shootings.
“These defendants have collectively been sentenced to more than 130 years in prison,” Herdman said. “With our federal, state and local partners, we are committed to pursuing those who target our citizens with violence and fear, whether they’re online, overseas or on the streets of Cleveland.”
“These men terrorized victims and the city with their dangerous, gun-wielding car thefts,” Anthony said. “The Violent Crime Task Force and our local partners are committed to aggressively investigate predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against our citizens.”
“The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe for all who live, work and play in our city,” Williams said. “These sentences send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland Division of Police.
Seventeen indicted in federal court for conspiracy to cook crack cocaine and sell it in Medina CountyRead the Press Release
Seventeen people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to purchase large amounts of powder cocaine, cook the drug into crack cocaine and then sell it in and around Medina County, law enforcement officials said.
Indicted in federal court are: Troy Bankhead, 47, of Cleveland; Dona Battle, 44, of Cleveland; William Battle, 45, of Cleveland; Aaron Watson, 31, of Medina; Anthony Patterson, 50, of Columbia Station; Carlos Tripp, 44, of Medina; Dale Lind, 58, of Medina; Douglas Cameron, 48, of Medina; Erica Latten, 29, of Cleveland; Fannie Tripp, 60, of Medina; Felicia Finowski, 49, Columbia Station; Jennifer Cayce, 38, of Medina; Jermaine Tripp, 36, of Medina; John Spickler, 38, of Brunswick; John Wise, 53, of Medina; Michael Powell, 52, of Medina, and Raymel King, 30, of Cleveland.
Twelve other people have been charged state court.
According to the six-count indictment unsealed today:
Bankhead sold large amounts of powder cocaine to Dona Battle between August 2016 and February 2017. Battle then cooked the cocaine into crack cocaine at 26799 Royalton Road, Columbia Station (the residence of Patterson and Finowski), 5651 Columbia Road, Medina (the residence of Cameron and Cayce) and 1406 West 75th Street, Apartment 3, Cleveland (the residence of Latten).
Dona Battle then sold the crack cocaine to several other dealers, including Watson, Lind, Carlos Tripp, William Battle, Raymel King and Jermaine Tripp, who then sold it to drug users.
Dona Battle used 417 Bronson Street, Apartment A, Medina (the residence of Fannie Tripp) and 997 Substation Road, Brunswick (the residence of Spickler) as drug houses from which he could sell crack and powder cocaine.
Spickler, Latten, Wise, Patterson and Finowski also provided transportation for Battle to obtain crack and powder cocaine for further distribution.
These cases are the result on an 18-month investigation, which was a cooperative effort between the DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Medina County Drug Task Force. The investigation consisted of undercover purchases of drugs, the execution of search warrants, and other investigative techniques.
This investigation resulted in several significant seizures including more than 37 pounds of cocaine, $516,975 in cash, a tractor-trailer, five other vehicles and five firearms.
“This organization used homes and apartments to cook crack cocaine, which it sold in and around Medina,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “It was a spoke in a larger organization that trafficked a lot of cocaine. These defendants will now be held accountable for their actions.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon said: “Putting a stop to this criminal conspiracy is significant. The seizure of 37 pounds of cocaine and over half a million dollars of drug-dealing proceeds indicates that this group was connected with drug traffickers at the highest levels. Halting their activities makes everyone in the region safer. The efforts of the Medina County Drug Task Force and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been particularly integral to this investigation’s success.”
“I created a specialized unit at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to focus on large-scale drug trafficking operations, and we are pleased that we were able to work with local and federal authorities to help bring down this drug trafficking organization,” said Ohio Attorney General DeWine. “These drugs have no place on our streets, and our agents will continue to work diligently to investigate those who are pushing drugs in Ohio.”
“This investigation was initiated by agents from the Medina County Drug Task Force and Cleveland office of the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Gary Hubbard, director of the Medina County Drug Task Force. “The intent was to address local drug trafficking issues in the city of Medina with a focus on repeat drug trafficking offenders. The hard work and commitment by all of the agents involved resulted in one of the largest drug trafficking investigations and narcotics seizures in Medina County history. This investigation lead to the seizure of the 17 kilos of cocaine, six ounces of heroin and over $500,000 in U.S. currency that was first reported in February 2017. The success of this case was made possible by the longstanding partnerships between the Medina County Drug Task Force, DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the many other law enforcement agencies involved.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Medina County Drug Task Force, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Police Department, National Guard Intelligence, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Lorain County Drug Task Force, Lake County Narcotics, Akron Police Department, Summit County Drug Unit, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals and Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network Drug Enforcement Unit, with assistance from the Medina County Prosecutor’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Stark County man sentenced to more than three years in prison for dumping wastewater in Tuscarawas RiverRead the Press Release
A North Lawrence man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for dumping wastewater into tributaries of the Tuscarawas River.
Adam D. Boylen, 46, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of violating the Clean Water Act by making unpermitted discharges. U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi sentenced him to 42 months in prison and ordered him to pay $85,338 in restitution.
“This defendant intentionally dumped waste into a tributary of the Tuscarawas River, killing fish and other aquatic life,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “We will always protect our waterways and environment.”
“Protecting our water is critical, both for the health and safety of our citizens and our wildlife,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “We will continue to assist in this case and others like it to protect Ohio.”
“The defendant's deliberate and illegal dumping of wastewater killed thousands of fish and wildlife and harmed the quality of local waterways,” said Scot Adair, Acting Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “Today's sentence reinforces EPA's commitment to work with its law enforcement partners to pursue egregious environmental crimes and the individuals who commit them.”
“Today’s sentencing concludes a successful investigation and prosecution of the multiple discharges into waters of the state, which violated the federal Clean Water Act,” said Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler. “We will continue to work with our partners at the local, state and federal agencies to make sure that public health and the environment is protected and responsible parties are held accountable.”
Boylen was a driver employed by an Ohio-based trucking company. Boylen’s job was to load wastewater generated from corporate facilities into a tanker truck and to drive the wastewater to a designated facility located in Pennsylvania for proper disposal. The wastewater contained surfactants capable of killing vegetation and fish, according to court documents.
Instead of delivering the wastewater to Pennsylvania, Boylen drove the tanker truck to remote locations in Tuscarawas County and central-eastern Ohio and emptied the wastewater containing surfactants into waters of the United States, according to court documents.
Boylen is charged with dumping the wastewater into two different tributaries of the Tuscarawas River, a wetland adjacent to the Tuscarawas River, and the Beach City Reservoir, on numerous occasions between April 18 and May 4, 2016.
White foam flowed down tributaries and streams as a result of Boylen’s actions. In one instance, the foam traveled four miles downstream from the location where the tanker truck was emptied. Vegetation was killed at all the locations. Approximately 709 fish were killed in one of the tributaries, and collectively, approximately 3,231 minnows, crayfish, frogs, and tadpoles were killed, according to court documents.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson. The case was investigated by the United States and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies, the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Sheriff’s Offices, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Offices, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Owner of Mayfield Heights company charged with failing to pay over $420,000 in taxes he withheld from employeesRead the Press Release
The owner of a Mayfield Heights company was charged with failing to pay over more than $420,000 in taxes he withheld from his employees, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.
Daniel Day, 59, was charged via criminal information with 17 counts of failure to pay over taxes.
Day was the sole owner and operated or Academy Answering Service, a telephone messaging service provider. Day retained a payroll company, which prepared and provided payroll checks for Day to give to his employees. The company withheld the proper amount of taxes from each employee and prepared documents for Day to make AAS’ quarterly employment tax payments to the IRS, according to the information.
In 2008, Day directed the payroll company to discontinue making quarterly employment tax problems to the IRS due to “cash flow problems.” Day then failed to make payments of AAS employee taxes between 2008 and 2013, according to the information.
Day collected but did not pay over approximately $420,286 in employee taxes, according to the informnation.
This case was investigated by the IRS – Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.
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 charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lorain man and federal prison inmate indicted in murder-for-hire conspiracyRead the Press Release
A Lorain man and an inmate at a federal prison in New Jersey were indicted for their conspiracy to commit murder for hire and to distribute cocaine, law enforcement officials said.
Indicted are Eduardo Rios Velasquez, 36, of Lorain, and Angel Cordero, 36, an inmate at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution.
Velasquez and Cordero had previously been incarcerated together. Cordero was in contact with Velasquez in the summer of 2017 through a contraband cellular phone that had been smuggled into Fort Dix, according to court documents.
Cordero put Velasquez in contact with another inmate. Velasquez offered to pay the other inmate money if he could provide Velasquez with the address for a woman identified in court documents as T.G. Cordero told the inmate that Velasquez had been hired to kill T.G, according to court documents
Additionally, another person supplied Velasquez with large shipments of cocaine, with Cordero serving as the broker in the deals. Federal law enforcement authorities intercepted a kilogram of cocaine in July that was being shipped to Velasquez, according to court documents.
“This was a tremendous effort by law enforcement to avert a tragedy,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
“These two individuals are alleged to be so bold as to hire a hitman and order the movement of cocaine, all while serving time for past crimes. Even behind bars, they continue to show a blatant disregard for authority,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “It is with the investigative know-how and collaboration with our law enforcement partners, like the FBI, that we can ensure these perpetual criminals face additional charges for their actions.”
“This individual is being held accountable for his ruthless willingness to kill someone for money,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI Cleveland Division commends the collaboration between the law enforcement agencies involved in disrupting this conspiratorial murder for hire.”
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, each 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian McDonough, Brad Beeson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral Mehta following an investigation by the New York Department of Homeland Security, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Felons from Youngstown and Cleveland indicted for firearms offensesRead the Press Release
Two people were indicted for firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
Charles L. Pete, 23, of Youngstown, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges Pete possessed a Norinco, model MAK90, 7.62 mm rifle and ammunition on Aug. 7, 2017, after having been convicted of drug trafficking and other offenses in 2015.
Andre Ellison, 29, of Cleveland, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The indictment alleges Ellison possessed ammunition on June 20, 2017, after having been convicted of felonious assault and domestic violence in 2011.
The cases are not related.
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 Pete case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz.
The Ellison case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant. U.S. Attorney Megan Miller.
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 stealing $77,000 in federal grants designed to help Native AmericansRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted on charges that he stole more than $77,000 in federal grants designed to help Native Americans, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
A three-count indictment charges Robert Roche, 70, with one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of theft from programs receiving federal funds.
“Mr. Roche took tens of thousands of dollars earmarked for Native American children and families and put the money in his own pockets,” Herdman said.
“Federal funds provided through the Circles of Care grant administered by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration are precious and invaluable to the communities and individuals they serve,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The embezzlement, stealing, or intentional misappropriation of these funds is inexcusable and will not be tolerated. The OIG will continue to identify, investigate and seek the prosecution of those individuals who improperly enrich themselves with vital taxpayer dollars.”
Roche served as executive director of the American Indian Education Center (AIEC), a Parma-based nonprofit established in 1995 to support Native American causes in Northeast Ohio, according to the information.
Craig McGuire operated McGuire & Associates LLC, a company that wrote grant applications and provided evaluation services. Roche entered into an agreement with McGuire & Associates in April 2011 to draft grant proposals on behalf of the AIEC. Later that year, McGuire submitted an application on behalf of the AIEC to receive a Circle of Care grant, offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant was designed to provide Native American communities with the tools and resources to design programs to support mental health and wellness for children and families, according to the indictment.
The AIEC’s application contained numerous false statements including: misrepresenting the date the AIEC was established; falsely claiming the AIEC had a wellness department and a “Positive Paths” afterschool program serving 500 children when no such department or program existed; fraudulently listing people the AIEC allegedly employed and mischaracterizing the description of the AIEC’s building and alleged physical amenities, according to the indictment.
SAMHSA awarded the AIEC a Circle of Care grant on Sept. 1, 2012 of approximately $302,340 for FY 2012. On June 26, 2012, SAMHSA awarded the second year of a Circle of Care grant in the amount of $308,040 for FY 2013, according to the indictment.
The AIEC received approximately $482,766 from SAMHSA from 2011 through 2013. The AIEC did not receive full funding because SAMHSA placed it in “high risk” status, according to the indictment.
Roche paid himself through AIEC on several occasions as a project coordinator for the Circle of Care project. Roche was not identified as the project coordinator on the grant application and such payments were precluded by regulation, according to the indictment.
Roche and McGuire embezzled at least $183,703 from the SAMHSA grant. Roche converted approximately $77,097 of that money for his own personal use, according to the indictment.
McGuire pleaded guilty earlier this year to crimes related to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
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 for trafficking heroin and cocaineRead the Press Release
An Akron man was indicted for trafficking heroin and cocaine, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Mark E. Jones, 44, with possession of approximately 230 grams of heroin and approximately 374 grams of cocaine.
Jones was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 3, 2017. Agents from the DEA and the Summit County Drug Unit served a search warrant at a residence in Akron where they located and seized both cocaine and heroin, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Teresa L. Riley following an investigation by the DEA and Summit County Drug Unit.
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.
Lima man charged with falsely overstating assets to bankRead the Press Release
Terry J. Ellis, 77, of Lima, was charged via criminal information with making a false report to a bank, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ellis in 2010 willfully and falsely overstated assets in relation to a line of credit. Ellis told JPMorgan Chase Bank that assets were approximately $2.3 million when in truth, as Ellis knew, the assets were approximately $1.9 million, according to the information.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General, Export-Import Bank. case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.
An information 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.Brunswick couple sentenced to prison for obstructing federal investigationRead the Press Release
A Brunswick couple was sentenced to prison for obstructing an investigation.
Eric Dentz was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after previously being found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses and failure to file taxes.
Rebecca Dentz was sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of destruction, alteration and falsification of records and false statements to federal agents
The Dentz’s repeatedly obstructed an investigation into themselves and their companies Dentz Painting Incorporated and Global Contracting Service,. Eric Dentz threatened agents with physical violence after they attempted to serve subpoenas and obtain documents relevant to the investigation,. Additionally, Rebecca Dentz repeatedly lied to agents about her and Eric Dentz’s involvement with Global and the location of records responsive to the subpoena, according to court documents.
During proceedings held before United States District Chief Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., Eric and Rebecca Dentz continued to obstruct justice by lying about the status and condition of the records. Specifically, the Dentzs lied by stating that the records sought by the grand jury were destroyed in a flood and later supplied agents and the court with a fake cleaning invoice in an attempt to support their false claims. Further investigation revealed that the invoice had been fabricated at Eric and Rebecca Dentz’s request. The Dentzs also obstructed and delayed the investigation by falsely stating that third parties possessed the records sought by the grand jury when those individuals in fact had no such records, according to court documents.
Eric Dentz also repeatedly failed to file income tax returns with the IRS over several years, according to court documents.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Om Kakani, following an investigation by the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Twenty people from Youngstown indicted laundering $16 million obtained through computer hacking and other fraudRead the Press Release
Twenty people from the Youngstown area were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to launder $16 million obtained through computer hacking and other fraud, law enforcement officials said.
Indicted are: Julius Smith Williams, 46; Jamal Perry, 37; Joseph Joe III, 40; William Howell, 47; Terry Marlowe, 53; Emmett Conner, 44; Sterling Green, 47; Keisha Johnson, 32; Kayla Neeley, 29; Isiah Patterson, 29; Donald Washington, Jr., 43; Terrance Phillips, 41; Steve Croom, Jr., 40; Crystal Jefferson, 39; Dulcinea Purdue, 32; Terrance Howard, 43; Cobie Phillips, Jr., 41; Ray Wynn, 43; Jermaine Donlow, 45, and Semira Stone, 29.
They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The defendants are accused of working as conspirators in an international fraud organization with conspirators operating from Canada, Africa and other parts of the United States.
These 20 defendants were recruited and managed by a mid-level operator identified in court documents as Z.H. He operated in and around Youngstown, Columbus and Atlanta. Working at Z.H.’s direction, the defendants established shell companies and business bank accounts used to receive and launder at least $16 million obtained through various fraud schemes, according to the indictment.
The larger conspiracy involved several different fraud schemes designed to dupe unsuspecting law firms, businesses and people to think they were engaging in legitimate business or financial transactions when, in fact, they were not. These schemes often involved computer hacking, spoofed emails and computer takeovers, according to the indictment.
Z.H. provided the conspirators in Canada and elsewhere with the numbers and other information about the accounts opened by the defendants. The victim funds were transferred into the bank accounts. Then the defendants, working at Z.H.’s direction, transferred the fraudulently obtained money out of the accounts, typically in multiple smaller transactions designed to conceal the source of the proceeds and hinder efforts to recover the money, according to the indictment.
The defendants shared in the proceeds of the fraud schemes, typically commensurate with their respective roles, according to the indictment.
Ten other people have already pleaded guilty to criminal informations for their roles in the conspiracy.
“These defendants were a vital cog in an international theft ring,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “They laundered millions of dollars of stolen money and now have to answer for their actions.”
“These individuals took great efforts devising various fraudulent schemes in an effort to conceal the illegal source of their money,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners through long term investigations, such as this one, to ensure fraudsters are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s offices in Youngstown, Buffalo and Tampa, as well as by the Toronto Police Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranya Elzein and Paul Flannery.
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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cleveland gang members sentenced to 64 and 14 years in prison for carjackings in Tremont neighborhoodRead the Press Release
Two Cleveland gang members were sentenced to more than 64 and 14 years in prison for their roles in carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
Kenneth Jackson, Jr., 20, and Antowine Palmer, 24, were convicted earlier this year of an armed carjacking in July 2015. Jackson was also convicted of carjacking a couple the following day. The jury found Jackson brandished a firearm in both attacks while Palmer used a firearm in the first carjacking.
Jackson was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison by U.S. Chief Judge Patricia A. Gaughan.
Palmer was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. That sentence will be served after he completes a seven-year prison sentence in state court for felonious assault. He still has a murder trial pending in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Tervon’tae Taylor, of Cleveland Heights, D’wan Dillard, Jr.,and Calvin Rembert, both of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in carjackings in and around Tremont in the summer of 2015.
According to evidence and testimony introduced in the week-long trial:
Palmer and Jackson were members of the Heartless Felons street gang. They were feuding with a different set of Heartless Felons. The defendants planned to do a drive-by shootings aimed at members of the rival group, so they went to Tremont to steal a car so they would be unrecognizable during the drive-by shooting.
Palmer, Jackson, Taylor and Rembert saw a man loading a GMC Denali in the early morning hours of July 25, 2015. They held a loaded gun to the victim’s head, pistol-whipped him and stole his vehicle, his wallet and his cellular phone. The defendants used his credit cards to make purchases at a Wal Mart.
Jackson was involved in additional carjacking the following day when he pointed a loaded firearm at a couple in Tremont.
Dillard was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. Rembert was sentenced to nearly six years in prison. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12 and faces a guideline range of up to 40 years in prison.
“These defendants preyed on innocent people who were simply working, trying to make a living, or otherwise enjoying our city,” Herdman said. “As the judge noted during the hearing, people who terrorize a neighborhood will be held accountable for their actions.”
“These men terrorized victims and the city with their dangerous, gun-wielding car thefts,” Anthony said. “The Violent Crime Task Force and our local partners are committed to aggressively investigate predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against our citizens.”
“The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe for all who live, work and play in our city,” Williams said. “These sentences send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland Division of Police.
Toledo man indicted for having images of child sexual exploitation and rapeRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was indicted for receipt and distribution of child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Russell Smith, 50, received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, This took place between at least March 15 and August 10, 2017, according to the indictment.
Smith possessed more than 20 computer files and images of children, some as young as eight years old, being sexually abused and/or raped, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service in Toledo and is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman
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.
Garfield Heights man sentenced to 11 years in prison for pointing a gun at the head of a teller during bank robberyRead the Press Release
A Garfield Heights man was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for using a firearm to rob the Key Bank on Turney Road, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Levert A. Bates, 54, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison He previously pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Bates and Marc A. Montgomery robbed a Key Bank in Garfield Heights on November 30, 2016. robbers stole approximately $55,376 from the bank and pointed a gun at the head of a teller during the robbery, according to court documents and statements.
“The defendant’s actions put people’s lives in danger and traumatized the victims,” Herdman said. “Sending this defendant back to prison helps make our commuity safer.”
"The actions of these two individuals brought great fear to the bank employees and customers that day,” Anthony said. “Law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to identify individuals that choose to commit such violent actions and ensure they are held accountable.”
Montgomery was previously convicted for his role in the robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Garfield Heights Police Department.
Justin E. Herdman sworn in as United States Attorney for the Northern District of OhioRead the Press Release
Justin E. Herdman has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Herdman was nominated by President Donald Trump on June 12 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 3. He took the oath of office from U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Gaughan.
“I am humbled and honored to be returning to an office that I love,” Herdman said. “I am excited to work with the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek justice every day for the people who live in Northern Ohio. We face serious challenges in our region, including the opioid epidemic and violent crime, but we will endeavor daily to make our community safer.”
As U.S. Attorney, Herdman supervises the prosecution of federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States. The office covers Ohio’s northern 40 counties, which includes Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown. Herdman oversees a staff of approximately 160 employees.
Herdman, of Chagrin Falls, was an Assistant United States Attorney from 2006 through 2013, serving as Deputy Chief of the National Security, Human Rights, and Organized Crime Unit. He was responsible for investigating and prosecuting national security crimes, including the successful trial and appeal of a homegrown terror cell that sought to support al Qaeda. He was also part of the prosecution team of five self-proclaimed anarchists convicted of attempting to use explosives to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge.
Immediately prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Herdman was a partner at Jones Day, where he represented businesses and individuals under investigation.
Before returning home to the Cleveland area, Mr. Herdman was an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, working for the legendary District Attorney for the borough of Manhattan, Robert M. Morgenthau, where Mr. Herdman prosecuted a wide range of violent crime and identity theft cases.
He serves as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserve and is a former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He is a graduate of Kenston High School. He earned his B.A. from Ohio University, his M.Phil. from the University of Glasgow, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.Wooster woman indicted for having methamphetamine and a firearmRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Samantha Foster, 30, of Wooster, with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
Foster was arrested on two separate occasions, first by the Ohio State Patrol and then by Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. Foster was also in possession of ammunition to a rifle on her second arrest.
The investigations were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Medway Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ohio State Patrol and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
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 matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Riley.
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.