Northern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Akron men sentenced to prison for having firearms and bringing heroin from Chicago to AkronRead the Press Release
Two Akron men were sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy that brought heroin from Chicago to be sold around Ravenna and Akron, law enforcement officials said.
Rashid Carter, 30 was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Laverne Fortson, 40, was sentenced to nine years in prison.
"These two used guns to protect their pipeline of heroin, and used drug houses to spread that heroin throughout Akron," said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
“ATF’s primary mission is to reduce violent crime,” said Donald Soranno, Special Agent in Charge for ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “The sentencing of these individuals, who brought guns and drugs into their community, sends the strong message that ATF, with our federal, state, and local partners, will not accept violence as the status quo.”
“These individuals collaborated to deliver poison to our streets and we collaborated to bring them to jail,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Cleveland office. “This case was another outstanding example of what can be accomplished when local, state and federal agencies work together to protect our community.”
Fortson and Carter received heroin shipments in 2013 and 2014. In turn, they provided the heroin to another dealer distribution in and around Akron and Ravenna, according to court documents.
Carter also purchased heroin from a supplier in the Chicago area for distribution in and around Akron. He and Fortson supplied heroin to several dealers in Akron, some of whom in turn distributed the drug to other dealers. Carter played a role in transporting the heroin and drug proceeds between Chicago and Akron. Fortson provided cash to facilitate the Chicago drug transactions, according to court documents.
Fortson and Carter owned and rented properties in Akron that they used to store, process, and distribute heroin, according to court documents.
It was part of the conspiracy that Fortson and Carter illegally use firearms to protect themselves and their drug proceeds, according to court documents.
Carter illegally possessed a Firestar, .45-caliber pistol, a Taurus, model 85, .38 special revolver and ammunition on June 6, 2014, despite previous convictions for possession of cocaine in Portage County and failure to comply with a police officer in Summit County.
Fortson illegally possessed a Harrington and Richardson 16-gauge shotgun and ammunition on June 18, 2014, despite a previous conviction for aggravated trafficking in Portage County.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Summit County Drug Unit, the Akron Police Department and the Portage County Drug Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Toepfer and M. Kendra Klump.
South Euclid woman sentenced to five years in prison for identity theft and fraudRead the Press Release
A South Euclid woman was sentenced to five years in prison for identity theft, wire fraud and bank fraud related to a $70,000 scheme, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati Field Office.
Keauna Smith, 29, pleaded guilty to seven counts earlier this year.
She stole the identities of 16 people between 2012 and 2104. She used these stolen identities to file 18 false tax claims of approximately $44,306. She had the money loaded onto prepaid debit cards and then withdrew the money at various ATMs, according to the court documents.
Smith also illegally obtained approximately $26,300 this year by taking checks from her employer, made them payable to herself and then forged the owner’s signature on the checks, according to court documents.
“This defendant is accused of stole from private citizens, the federal government and her employer,” Dettelbach said. “Her ride of theft ends in federal prison.”
“Individuals who commit identity theft and refund fraud of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Enstrom said. “Keauna Smith caused immeasurable hardship to innocent victims. IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to the pursuit of identity theft and, together with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will hold those who engage in similar conduct accountable.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
Norton man indicted for travelling to Honduras to sexually assault childrenRead the Press Release
Corey L. Bryant, 25, of Norton, Ohio, was indicted on charges of traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit sexual conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment charges that between on or about August 10, 2011 and May 21, 2012, Bryant, a citizen of the United States, traveled in foreign commerce, from the United States to Honduras, and engaged and attempted to engage in illicit sexual conduct with Minor #1, a person who was under 18 years of age. The indictment also charges that between on or about February 13, 2013 and November 26, 2014, Bryant, a citizen of the United States, traveled in foreign commerce, from the United States to Honduras, and engaged and attempted to engage in illicit sexual conduct with Minor #2, a person who was under 18 years of age. The indictment also charges that between on or about February 13, 2013 and November 26, 2014, Bryant, a citizen of the United States, traveled in foreign commerce, from the United States to Honduras, and engaged and attempted to engage in illicit sexual conduct with Minor #3, a person who was under 18 years of age.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Amy Larson of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The case was investigated by the Cleveland Office of Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from HSI Tegucigalpa and the HSI Transnational Criminal Investigative 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.
Middleburg Heights man charged with extortion and making threatsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging David Z. Zehnder, 45, of Middleburg Heights, with extortion and use of an electronic communication to threaten harm to a victim known to the grand jury, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that Zehnder extorted and attempted to extort money from the victim by threat of violence.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Linda H. Barr.
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.
Lakewood man indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Daniel J. Quellos, Jr., 39, of Lakewood, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment charges that from on or about January 9, 2015, through on or about April 3, 2015, Quellos knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also charges that on April 24, 2015, Quellos possessed a computer, an external hard drive, a USB storage device, numerous compact disks, and numerous printed pages, all that contained child pornography.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the United States Secret Service.
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.
Galion man faces child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Troy B. Schuuring, 39, of Galion, Ohio, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment charges that from on or about February 24, 2015, through on or about February 25, 2015, Schuuring knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also charges that on April 21, 2015, Schuuring possessed a computer that contained child pornography.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the Canton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Four Akron residents indicted for conspiring to harbor undocumented workers and hire them at restaurantRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging four Akron residents with conspiracy and harboring undocumented and illegal aliens in relation to their operation of a restaurant in Akron, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
Indicted are Chau Fang Lam, age 56, Rui Xu, age 27, Xin Hsu, age 33, and Zhou Qiang Zou, age 32.
Lam, Xu, Hsu, and Zou owned and operated the Royal Buffet and Grill restaurant in the Chapel Hill area of Akron, Ohio. Lam, Xu, Hsu, and Zou conspired to harbor and harbored at least 10 undocumented workers for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. The conspiracy included employing the undocumented workers at the Royal Buffet and Grill, where they worked for below minium wage or only for tips, according to the indictment.
The defendants also housed the undocumented worker at one of their residences on Annapolis Avenue in Akron and transporting them to and from the Royal Buffet and Grill as part of the conspiracy. At one time, Lam, Xu, Hsu, and Zou housed as many as 14 undocumented workers inside a single-family resident on Annapolis Avenue, according to the indictment.
Count 1 charges Lam, Xu, Hsu, and Zou with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, Count 2 charges Lam with harboring illegal aliens at her residence on Annapolis Avenue. Count 3 charges Xu with harboring illegal aliens at his residence on Annapolis Avenue. Count 4 charges Hsu and Xu with harboring illegal aliens by permitting them to be transported to and from their work at the Royal Buffet and Grill in their 2006 Dodge Caravan.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations in Cleveland.
If convicted, their sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including prior criminal records, if any, their role in the offenses and the unique 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.
Former National Guardsman charged with theft of public money and aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury today returned an indictment in U.S. District Court charging Jack Lori Reppart, 46, of Southington, Ohio, with theft of public money and aggravated identity theft, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Reppart, a former recruiting assistant with the Ohio Army National Guard based in Springfield, Ohio, is alleged to have used the means of identification of six individuals to steal approximately $14,000 from the Department of Defense between 2006 and 2011, according to the indictment.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number 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.
Ashland man faces additional bank robbery chargesRead the Press Release
A grand jury returned a four-count superseding indictment charging Jordon Louis Dongarra, 33, of Ashland, Ohio, with two counts of bank robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The superseding indictment filed today alleges that Dongarra robbed the First Merit Bank, located at 1277 Ashland Road, in Mansfield, Ohio, on December 18, 2014; and the Fifth Third Bank, located at 28880 Lorain Road, in North Olmsted, Ohio, on December 30, 2014. Both banks are federally insured financial institutions. An indictment alleging Dongarra robbed the North Olmsted Fifth Third Bank was originally returned on February 25, 2015.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Seabury Gould and Miranda E. Dugi, and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Olmsted 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.
U.S. settles with Marathon Petroleum Corp. to cut harmful air emissions at facilities in Ohio, Kentucky and IndianaRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation today that resolves various alleged Clean Air Act violations at ten Marathon facilities and requires Marathon to take steps to reduce harmful air pollution emissions at facilities in three states. The Department of Justice and EPA allege that Marathon failed to comply with certain Clean Air Act fuel quality emissions standards and recordkeeping, sampling and testing requirements. These violations may have resulted in excess emissions of air pollutants from motor vehicles, which can pose threats to public health and the environment. Marathon self-reported many of these issues to EPA.
Under a consent decree lodged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Marathon will spend over $2.8 million on pollution controls to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds on 14 fuel storage tanks at its distribution terminals in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
Marathon will also pay a $2.9 million civil penalty and retire 5.5 billion sulfur credits, which have a current market value of $200,000. Sulfur credits are generated when a refiner produces gasoline that contains less sulfur than the federal sulfur standard. These credits can be sold to other refiners that may be unable to meet the standard.
“The changes required by this settlement will positively impact air quality in communities across the Midwest,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “All Americans deserve to enjoy the benefits of clean air, land, and water. These benefits spring from our nation’s bedrock environmental laws and we will use them vigorously in the pursuit of environmental justice.”
“Fuel standards established under the Clean Air Act play a major role in controlling harmful air pollution from vehicles and engines,” said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “If unchecked, these pollutants can seriously impair the air we breathe, especially during summer months when they can reach higher levels. This settlement incorporates innovative pollution control solutions to reduce air pollution in overburdened communities.
“This agreement will help reduce air pollution emissions in Ohio and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio. “We’re pleased this settlement will protect the air we breathe while promoting the use of next-generation technology.”
In their complaint, The Justice Department and EPA allege that Marathon:
- Produced about 356 million gallons of reformulated gasoline at its Texas City, Texas, refinery during 2007 that did not meet Clean Air Act standards for reducing volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds are one of the primary constituents of smog and react in sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion and can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Children, the elderly and people who have lung diseases such as asthma are particularly prone to these problems.
- Produced more than 40 million gallons of gasoline at the Texas City, Texas, refinery in 2009 that exceeded standards for sulfur levels. The goal of the Clean Air Act program that regulates sulfur in gasoline is to minimize emissions from vehicles and to ensure emissions control systems function effectively.
- Sold about 12 million gallons of gasoline that contained elevated levels of ethanol. Excess ethanol in gasoline can harm emission control components on some vehicles and engines.
- Sold about 1 million gallons of gasoline at its Tampa, Florida, terminal in 2013 that exceeded standards for volatility, known as the Reid Vapor Pressure, that help control ground level ozone during summer months. Gasoline with higher volatility results in increased emissions of volatile organic compounds, which contribute to the formation of ground level ozone.
- Failed to comply with numerous sampling, testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements for fuel production. EPA discovered these violations during inspections of Marathon refineries and laboratories in 2008 and 2009. The sampling, testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the fuels program provide the foundation for EPA’s compliance program.
Marathon will also install geodesic domes, fixed roofs, or secondary rim seals and deck fittings on 14 fuel storage tanks at several of its fuel distribution terminals in order to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds. Marathon is also required to use innovative pollutant detection technology during the implementation of the environmental mitigation projects. Marathon will use an infrared gas-imaging camera to inspect the fuel storage tanks in order to identify potential defects that may cause excessive emissions. If defects are found, Marathon will conduct up-close inspections and perform repairs where necessary.
EPA’s Next Generation Compliance Strategy promotes advanced emissions and pollutant detection technology so that regulated entities, the government and the public can more easily see pollutant discharges, environmental conditions and noncompliance. Many of the facilities where the pollution controls will be installed are located in areas that may present environmental justice concerns.
More information about EPA’s Next Generation Compliance Strategy is available at: http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/next-generation-compliance.
The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30 day public comment period and is available on EPA’s website at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Former employee at Parma Public Housing Agency charged with stealing $232,000Read the Press Release
A former employee at Parma Public Housing Agency was charged with stealing more than $232,000 from the agency, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Amy Belz, 34, of Brunswick, Ohio, was charged with one count of theft of government funds via criminal information.
“This defendant is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars that was meant to be used to help people obtain housing,” Dettelbach said. “Public employees who steal from taxpayers will be held accountable for their actions.”
The information charges that between 2008 and 2014, while Belz was program manager of the Parma Public Housing Agency, she stole $232,407.48 by writing 138 checks to herself, money which was provided to Parma from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In order to conceal her theft of funds from Parma Public Housing Agency and HUD, Belz made the checks out to herself, but typed vendor names on the carbon copies in the Parma Public Housing Agency check registers. Belz then created false invoices from these legitimate Parma Public Housing Agency vendors, attached them to the false carbon copies, and placed them in the Parma Public Housing Agency files to make it appear that the vendor was paid for work, knowing that such was never actually ordered or completed, according to the information.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the 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 United States Attorney Adam Hollingsworth after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General and the Parma Police Department.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Contractor charged with bribery of postal managerRead the Press Release
A contractor for the U.S. Postal Service’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Cleveland was charged with bribing a public official, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Monica Weyler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General Eastern Area Field Office.
Andrew Maloney, Jr., 37, of Bedford Heights, was charged by criminal information with a single count of bribery of a public official.
The information charges that Maloney received a contract for vehicle maintenance and repair with the Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance Facility at 1801 Broadway Avenue in Cleveland. The information alleges that the Facility’s manager, Kevin R. Hood, used his position to extort cash bribes and vehicle repair services from Maloney in exchange for work under the contract. According to the information, Maloney made cash payments and provided free services to Hood between May 2011 and December 2013 to secure and maintain the contract.
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. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antoinette T. Bacon and Miranda E. Dugi following an investigation by special agents of the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General.
McGuffy man charged with failing to register as sex offenderRead the Press Release
An indictment was filed charging Terry Joe Higdon, 47, of McGuffy, Ohio, with failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
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, and 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 U.S. Marshal Service. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
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.
Indiana couple charged with transporting and coercing minor to engage in illicit conductRead the Press Release
An Indiana couple was indicted for transporting a minor over state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Nicholas Lawler, 25, and Brittany Lawler, 23, both of Anderson, Indiana, were indicted on one count of transportation of a minor and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity between January 1, 2015 and April 3, 2015.
If convicted, the defendants sentences will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, and 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.
This case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the Tiffin Police Department and the Anderson (Indiana) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Elyria man indicted for sending letter purporting to contain anthraxRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a federal indictment charging Drew D. Manns, 31, of Elyria, with using the United States Postal Service to make threats with a white powdery substance, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Manns sent Summit County Clerks and Prosecutor’s Office letters including a white powdery substance, and identified the substance as anthrax in the body of the accompanying letters, according to the indictment.
The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marisa T. Darden.
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.
Three Toledo men indicted for making and passing counterfeit billsRead the Press Release
A three-count indictment was filed charging three Toledo men with crimes related to counterfeiting, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Lafoe D. White, 23; Myron A.L. Haskins, 26; and Raymond C. Armstrong, 56, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, counterfeiting obligations or securities of the United States, and uttering counterfeit obligations or securities of the United States.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges that in January 2015, White, Haskins and Armstrong conspired to manufacture and possess counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes and then attempt to pass the counterfeit notes at retail establishments.
On or about January 22, 2015, Myron A.L. Haskins possessed an inkjet printer, linen paper and counterfeit $5, $10, and $20 Federal Reserve Notes. On or about January 22, 2015, Lafoe D. White gave counterfeit $10 Federal Reserve Notes to Raymond C. Armstrong. On or about January 22, 2015, Raymond C. Armstrong attempted to pass counterfeit $10 Federal Reserve Notes at a retail store in Boardman, Ohio, according to the indictment.
Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about January 22, 2015, White and Haskins did counterfeit, falsely make and forge counterfeited $5, $10, and $20 Federal Reserve Notes.
Count 3 of the indictment alleges that on or about January 22, 2015 White, Haskins and Armstrong attempted to pass counterfeited obligations at a Wal-Mart in Boardman, Ohio.
If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, a defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Boardman Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three Cleveland women indicted for $165,000 check-kiting schemeRead the Press Release
A 32-count federal indictment was filed charging three Cleveland women for their roles in a $165,000 conspiracy to pass fraudulent checks and then withdrew the money, sometimes at a Cleveland casino, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office.
Devinne P. Hollie, 29, Sade Philpott, 29, and Shanita Hollie, 28, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of bank fraud.
The Hollies and Philpott, acting with co-conspirators not yet charged, engaged in a check-kiting scheme in which they fraudulently obtained funds from financial institutions by depositing multiple counterfeit and forged checks into co-conspirators’ bank accounts, according to the indictment.
They then withdrew the proceeds from those accounts at ATMs, through debit card purchases, and by making withdrawals at a local casino, according to the indictment.
“This group passed bad checks and stole from banks,” Dettelbach said. “They may be trading their time at a glitzy casino for the comforts of a federal prison.”
“These women believed they had found a shortcut to put money in their pockets and now they will have to pay for their criminal behavior,” Anthony said. “The FBI will continue this investigation in order to bring all individuals involved in this group to justice.”
In most instances, the Hollies and Philpott found a co-conspirator who was willing and able to open a checking account at a bank. Once these co-conspirators obtained debit cards and PINs for the accounts, they passed these items on to the defendants, who then deposited forged and counterfeit checks into the bank accounts. These deposits typically occurred late at night or in the early morning hours, when the banks were closed and could not detect that the checks were counterfeit and forged, according to the indictment.
The defendants and co-conspirators would then often meet at the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cleveland, where the co-conspirators would use Total Rewards Cards from the casino linked to their bank accounts to make large scale cash withdrawals from the casino’s cage, according to the indictment.
The Hollies, Philpott and their co-conspirators made deposits of counterfeit and forged checks on approximately 31 different occasions. The false and fraudulent deposits totaled approximately $165,000, and the banks lost approximately of $120,000.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of the factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, the defendants’ roles in the offense and the characteristics of the criminal conduct. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Carmen Brown, following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Strongsville man faces child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Ross J. Cozens, 68, of Strongsville, was charged with receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The Indictment charges that from on or about September 22, 2007, through on or about June 16, 2014, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Cozens knowingly received, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and which files had been shipped and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The indictment also charges that on December 16, 2014, Cozens possessed a computer, an external hard drive and a USB storage device, each that contained child pornography.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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.
Leetonia man charged with sexually exploiting minorsRead the Press Release
Lucas J. Ippolito, 41, of Leetonia, Ohio, was charged with transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sex, sexual exploitation of a child and receipt, distribution and possession of sexually exploitive visual depictions of minors, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment charges that on or about January 23, 2015, Ippolito knowingly transported an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, that is a 15-year-old girl, in interstate commerce from Pennsylvania to Ohio, with the intent that such 15-year-old girl engage in sexual activity for which Ippolito could be charged with a criminal offense.
The indictment also charges that on or about on or about February 14, 2015, March 14, 2015 and April 3, 2015, Ippolito knowingly transported an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, that is a 13-year-old girl, in interstate commerce from Pennsylvania to Ohio, with the intent that such 13-year-old girl engage in sexual activity for which he could be charged with a criminal offense.
The indictment also charges that between December 3, 2014 and March 9, 2015, Ippolito persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced the two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
The indictment also charges that from on or about January 6, 2015, through on or about April 7, 2015, Ippolito knowingly received and distributed, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Lastly, the indictment charges that on or about March 30, 2015, Ippolito knowingly possessed three computers and a cellular phone, each containing child pornography, and at least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Youngstown office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former National Guardsman from Akron pleads guilty to theft of public fundsRead the Press Release
Former Army National Guard soldier Ryan Patrick Breiding, 29, of Akron, has pleaded guilty to theft of public money, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The theft of Department of Defense funds, which occurred between 2008 and 2010, totaled approximately $27,000.
The Army National Guard established the Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (G-RAP) to aid in its recruiting efforts. G-RAP was designed to offer monetary recruiting incentives to part-time soldiers to identify and encourage individuals to serve in the Army National Guard and other military branches, according to court documents.
Breiding fraudulently submitted 14 potential soldiers through his online G-RAP account from July 2006 to November 2010. None of the 14 potential soldiers provided his or her information to Breiding. Breiding submitted fabricated details of his relationship with these potential soldiers in order to receive recruiting incentives to which he was not entitled. Breiding received $27,000 belonging to the United States to which he was not entitled because of the inappropriately procured personal information and fabricated relationship details he provided, according to court documents.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.
Breiding will be sentenced on July 8, 2015, at 11:30 a.m., before United States District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan. His 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.
Federal inmate charged with having drugs in prisonRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Albert Hewins, 30, an inmate in FCI Elkton, with possessing contraband in prison, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that on or about May 23, 2014, Hewins, an inmate in FCI Elkton, Elkton, Ohio, possessed prohibited objects - five suboxone strips containing buprenorphine, a Schedule III narcotic drug.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cleveland woman indicted for improperly cashing $338,000 worth of Social Security checks over 24 yearsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury indicted Carolyn Freeman, 61, of Cleveland for theft of government funds, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that Freeman fraudulently cashed Social Security widow’s benefits checks from November 1989 until April 2014, taking a total of $338,504 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti and Assistant United States Attorney M. Kendra Klump.
If convicted, the Court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum. 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.
Toledo man sentenced to 27 years in prison for operating chop shopRead the Press Release
Nine men from northwest Ohio were sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to transport nearly $2.3 million worth of semi-trucks, trailers and cargo stolen in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, law enforcement officials said.
Sentenced this week were:
Michael Wymer, 56, of Toledo: 27 years in prison.
Robert W. Debolt, Jr., 50, of Toledo: 10 years in prison.
Gary J. Wymer, Sr., 61, of Rossford, Ohio: five years in prison.
John Debolt, 45: five years in prison.
Earl Beebe, 39: five years in prison.
Terrance Wymer, 30, of Toledo: five years in prison.
Gary Wymer, Jr, 29: four years in prison.
Terry Wymer, 52, of Toledo: three years, six months in prison.
Joe McKinney, 77: one year, eight months in prison.
“This was a highly organized group that stole from people throughout the Midwest,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “The scale of their predatory behavior is reflected in the sentences. The FBI, Ohio State Patrol and all the law enforcement partners involved in this investigation did a tremendous job shutting down this ring.”
“These defendants operated a truck and cargo-theft ring, stealing from Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, which resulted in a multi-million dollar losses,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Northern District of Ohio. “This case was a true collaborative effort by all participating agencies, and we are committed to holding accountable those individuals who engage in this organized criminal activity.”
U.S. District Judge James Carr also ordered the defendants to pay nearly $2.3 million in restitution.
Overall, 13 people pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.Greg Rose, Diana Vannes and Shawn Wymer are scheduled to be sentenced later this month for their roles, and Anthony Wymer is scheduled to be sentenced June 1.
From at least August 2012 through February 2013, the defendants operated a chop shop located at 642 Sterling Street in Toledo, while Gary Wymer and others operated another chop shop at 2322 Consual Street in Toledo, according to court documents.
The defendants dismantled stolen semi-trucks, trailers and cargo, transport the pieces and parts of said stolen items between the two chop shops and the ultimately destroy or scrap the stolen goods. They also received stolen motor vehicles and parts with the intent to sell or dispose of them, according to court documents.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Alissa Sterling following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Owner of restaurants in Stark and Summit counties sentenced to nearly three years in prison for fraud and hiring undocumented workersRead the Press Release
A Uniontown man was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to hire undocumented workers at a chain of restaurants in Stark and Summit counties and pay them less than minimum wage and sometimes only in tips, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District.
Miguel Castro, 44, was sentenced to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi. Castro owned the “Mariachi Locos” and “Mariachi Cocos” chain of restaurants with locations in Akron, Stow, Tallmadge and North Canton. He previuosly pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens.
Castro was also ordered to forfeit $100,000 and pay $7,792 in restitution.
His wife, Monica Castro, 44, was sentenced to three months of incarceration and five months of home detention after previously pleading guilty to related crimes.
“These restaurant owners took advantage of their workers’ immigration status for their own profit,” Dettelbach said. "They ignored the laws and regulations, and now must be held accountable for their actions."
The Castros owned the restaurants since 2002. They defendants engaged in the practice of hiring undocumented workers who were illegally present in the United States and conspired to shield these workers from detection by paying them in cash, excluding them from payrolls, leasing housing for the workers and aiding the workers in obtaining fraudulent work documentation, according to court documents.
They also used the U.S. mail to submit false wage reports to the state of Ohio. The defendants’ employment practices enabled them to enrich themselves because they paid the undocumented workers less than minimum wage and did not pay these workers for overtime hours worked. In some cases, the defendants paid these workers only the tips that the workers received from their customers, according to court documents.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Tripi, following a joint investigation by agents of Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor -- Office of Inspector General.
U.S. Attorney Dettelbach appointed to Attorney General Lynch's Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, is one of six new members appointed to the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch this week. Besides Dettelbach, the following appointments became effective April 29, 2015:
- U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly for the District of Connecticut;
- U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge for the Western District of Arkansas;
- U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman for the District of New Jersey;
- U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin II for the Southern District of West Virginia; and
- U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
“The distinguished women and men who serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee provide invaluable advice and wise counsel that help shape the Justice Department’s approach to combating crime, violence, and injustice in every community across the country,” said Attorney General Lynch. “They help introduce new ideas, formulate innovative policies, and design fresh strategies. They foster collaboration across our U.S. Attorney’s Offices and with Main Justice. And, in all of their work, they seek to strengthen and improve law enforcement efforts at every level. As a former chair of the AGAC, I am proud to welcome six outstanding new members to the Committee, and I look forward to all that we will achieve, with their help, in the days ahead.”
Dettelbach and Fishman are the only U.S. Attorneys to have served on the Advisory Council for both Attorney General Lynch and former Attorney General Eric Holder.
"I am deeply honored to be appointed to Attorney General Lynch's Advisory Committee," Dettelbach said. "The Department of Justice has many proud traditions, but making sure that leading law enforcement people not just from inside the Beltway, but from across the nation have a significant role in guiding policy is one of its proudest. Working side by side with them is a rare opportunity."
Attorney General Lynch also thanked U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe for the District of the Virgin Islands for serving on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee for the past two years.
A brief bio on each new appointee is below:
Deirdre Daly was presidentially appointed and sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut on May 28, 2014. Daly previously served as the U.S. Attorney in an acting or interim capacity since May 14, 2013. Between July 2010 and May 2013, she was the First Assistant U.S. Attorney during which time she assisted in the oversight of both the Criminal and Civil Divisions. From 1985 to 1997, Daly was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she prosecuted a wide range of cases from racketeering and murder to corruption and fraud and later served as the Assistant-In-Charge of White Plains Office for three years. After leaving the Justice Department, Daly was a partner at Daly & Pavlis LLC, a Connecticut law firm with a practice focused on corporate and commercial litigation, white-collar criminal investigations, SEC enforcement actions and corporate internal investigations and monitoring.
Steven Dettelbach was presidentially appointed and sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in September 2009. Dettelbach previously served for over 12 years as a career federal prosecutor. During those years, he worked at the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, U.S. Attorneys Offices in Maryland and Washington, D.C. and from 2003 to 2006 in the Northern District of Ohio, as a member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Strike Force. Dettelbach also was detailed to serve as Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2001 to 2003. Formerly, Dettelbach was a partner at the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP.
Conner Eldridge was presidentially appointed and sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas on December 21, 2010. Eldridge is the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country. Eldridge serves as co-chair of the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, which is composed of twenty law enforcement agencies and Department of Justice components and works to increase collaboration in addressing the threat of Domestic Terrorism. While serving as U.S. Attorney, Eldridge has tried five cases to jury verdict. He previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Arkadelphia (Clark County), Arkansas, as Counsel and, later, Chief Executive Officer of Summit Bank, a community bank then serving central and southwest Arkansas, also in Arkadelphia, as a clerk to federal District Judge G. Thomas Eisele and as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln and former U.S. Congressman Marion Berry, both of Arkansas.
Paul Fishman was presidentially appointed and sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey on October 14, 2009. Fishman previously served as a member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorney's (AGAC) from 2009-2013. He served as Vice-Chair of the AGAC from 2009-2011 and Chair from 2011-2012. After graduating from law school, he clerked for the Honorable Edward R. Becker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1983 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he was a senior adviser to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. on a variety of law enforcement, policy, legislative, national security and international matters, as well as on specific investigations and prosecutions. In addition to his public service, from 1998 - 2009 Fishman was a partner in the law firm of Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman.
Booth Goodwin II was presidentially appointed and sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia on May 27, 2010. From January 2001 until he was sworn in as U.S. Attorney, Goodwin was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. Prior to that, Goodwin practiced for five years with the Charleston law firm of Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP where he engaged in commercial and personal injury litigation, closed multi-million dollar bond transactions, filed reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and handled numerous commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Kenneth Polite was presidentially appointed and sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana on September 20, 2013. Polite currently serves as a member of the AGAC's Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee and Smart on Crime Working Group. Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Polite was a shareholder at Liskow & Lewis, where he headed the white collar criminal defense group and served as the Firm's hiring partner. From 2007 to 2010, Polite served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. There, he prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal offenses, including organized crime, public corruption, narcotics and firearms trafficking, money laundering and identity theft. Polite was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, first in the Delaware office's corporate litigation practice from 2000 to 2001, and later, in the New York office's white collar criminal defense group from 2002 to 2006.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee will now include the following individuals:
- U.S. Attorney John F. Walsh for District of Colorado, Chair;
- U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian for the Northern District of New York, Vice Chair;
- U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter for the District of Montana;
- U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly for the District of Connecticut;
- U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty, II for the District of Maine;
- U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio;
- U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge for the Western District of Arkansas;
- U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon for the Northern District of Illinois;
- U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer for the Southern District of Florida;
- U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman for the District of New Jersey;
- U.S. Attorney R. Booth Goodwin II for the Southern District of West Virginia;
- U.S. Attorney Barry R. Grissom for the District of Kansas;
- U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey for the Eastern District of Kentucky;
- U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade for the Eastern District of Michigan;
- U.S. Attorney Zane D. Memeger for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;
- U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson for the District of Idaho;
- U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite for the Eastern District of Louisiana;
- U.S. Attorney Vincent Cohen, Jr. for the District of Columbia, ex officio;
- Criminal Chief Thomas Eicher for District of New Jersey, ex officio;
- Appellate Chief Sandra Glover for District of Connecticut, ex officio; and
- Civil Chief Thomas Walsh for the Northern District of Illinois, ex officio.
The AGAC was created in 1973 to serve as the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and to advise the attorney general on policy, management and operational issues impacting the offices of the U.S. Attorneys.
Former aid worker from Summit County charged with sexually abusing minors in HondurasRead the Press Release
A Summit County man who worked at a homeless shelter for youths in Honduras was arrested and charged in federal court with engaging in sex with minor victims.
Corey Bryant, 25, of Norton, was arrested Wednesday afternoon following a search of his residence. Bryant charged in U.S. District Court with travelling to a foreign country to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors.
Bryant, while working at a Honduran homeless agency as far back as 2011, engaged in sexual conduct with three minor victims -- including one as young as 9 years old, according to the criminal complaint.
Bryant was initially ordered held without bond and was ordered to appear at a subsequent bond hearing on May 4, 2015.
During the search of his residence, HSI special agents seized two thumb drives, two cell phones and a laptop computer. The devices will undergo computer forensic examination.
The federal charges are the product of an ongoing probe initiated after an anonymous tip was received December 2014 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Tip Line website.
The investigation is being handled by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, HSI Tegucigalpa, and the Norton Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The federal prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
A charges is only charge an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
Former Youngstown resident indicted for fraudulent purchase of a dozen homes in Mahoning CountyRead the Press Release
A 12-count federal indictment was filed charging a former Youngstown man with fraud related to the purchase of a dozen homes in Mahoning County, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Steven D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office.
R. Allen Sinclair, 51, of Suwanee, Georgia, was indicted on 12 counts of financial institution fraud.
Sinclair was the owner and operator of Newport Investments, LLC and Newport Development, Inc. in Youngstown. He advertised that the company was in the business of buying, renovating and selling residential real estate properties, according to the indictment.
Sinclair, through his companies, solicited money from investors, promising them annual returns of about 10 percent and telling them their funds would be used for the acquisition and renovation of properties in Youngstown. Five investors invested a total of approximately $147,000, according to the indictment.
Sinclair knew that the properties needed little or no renovation. Instead, he converted the money for his personal use, according to the indictment.
Beginning in 2005, Sinclair acquired the 12 properties – in Youngstown, Canfield, Struthers and Austintown -- through land trusts he created for each property. Sinclair fraudulently misled the sellers into believing the land trusts had assumed the mortgage payments. After making minimal monthly payments, Sinclair then stopped paying the mortgages and did not notify the sellers, who were unaware they were still obligated to the loans, according to the indictment.
As a result, the properties went into foreclosure, causing substantial losses to the lenders and the federal agencies that insured them, according to the indictment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Patton and Derek Kleinmann following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- Office of Inspector General and the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lorain man indicted for child pornographyRead the Press Release
James J. Paterson, 49, of Lorain, was charged with receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The Indictment charges that from on or about September 10, 2010, through on or about November 17, 2014, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Paterson knowingly received, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and which files had been shipped and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The indictment also charges that on March 30, 2014, Paterson possessed two computers that contained child pornography.
If convcited, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the Elyria Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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 faces drug and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Tremaine D. Cowan, 24, of Cleveland, with possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine and with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about February 22, 2015, Cowan possessed with intent to distribute less than 28 grams of crack cocaine.
Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about February 22, 2015, Cowan possessed a Smith & Wesson, model 642, .38 caliber revolver; a Beretta, model 950BS, .22 caliber semi-auto pistol; and ammunition, after having been convicted of felonious assault, escape and receiving stolen oroperty, all in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wellsville Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Toledo man sentenced to 12 years in prison for child pornographyRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Jason H. Quinney, 40, was living in a YMCA shelter near two schools when he shared images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced Quinney to 150 month in prison.
The investigating agency in this case is the United States Secret Service, Toledo, Ohio. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Freeman.
Three Mexican nationals indicted for distributing black tar heroinRead the Press Release
A 24-count federal indictment was filed charging three Mexican nationals for conspiring to sell black tar heroin across Northern Ohio, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.
Victor Morales-Garcia, 38, of Columbus, Mario Perez Sanchez, age unknown, and Pedro Ortega-Gomez, 36, both of Madison, Ohio, are charged with conspiring to sell black tar heroin in Lake, Cuyahoga, Erie and Huron counties.
The men had a base of customers from Huron County who travelled on a daily basis to purchase the heroin. Most of these sales took place between the far west suburbs of Cuyahoga County to Painesville in Lake County, according to court documents.
This group utilized numerous men to act as couriers as deliver the heroin to customers. Many of these couriers were brought illegally to the United States from the Nayarit/Tepic area of Mexico to the Painesville area with the promise of working on a farm or in an automobile garage. Once in Ohio, these individuals became couriers for the drug trafficking group, according to court documents.
On April 6, law enforcement officials stopped a car being driven by Gomez and discovered a large bag of heroin, all individually packaged in small balloons. Subsequent searches led to the discovery of a .22-caliber revolver, numerous wire transfer receipts showing thousands of dollars being wired to Mexico, drug ledgers and cash, according to court documents.
“This is a drug trafficking group whose tentacles spread from Mexico to all over Northern Ohio,” Dettelbach spread. “They preyed on people for profit.”
“These three defendants operated a revolving door distribution center of black tar heroin,” Anthony said. “This is another great example of the tireless, collaborative efforts by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force to take suppliers of dangerous narcotics off our streets. “
This case is the being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. The NOLETF is a task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the police departments of Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Lakewood, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Shaker Heights. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives, which supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
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.
Sheffield Lake woman sentenced to 12 years in prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
A Sheffield Lake woman was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison for producing and possessing images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.
Megan A. Boyer, 24, was sentenced to 150 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts.
From February 27, 2013, through on or about February 13, 2014, Boyer did use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce a two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and such visual depiction was produced or transmitted using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer, according to court documents.
Boyer is further charged with possessing a Verizon HTC cell phone, a removable secure digital card (SD card), and several Polaroid photographs that contained child pornography on February 13, 2014, according to court documents.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Elyria Office.
AUSA Mark Bennett honored for prosecuting mortgage-fraud casesRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark S. Bennett was honored this week for his work prosecuting mortgage-fraud cases by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General.
Bennett has prosecuted nearly 100 defendants involved in mortgage fraud. Northeast Ohio is recognized as one of the areas hardest hit by the mortgage-fraud crisis that swept the country in the early 2000s.
“Your efforts have truly made a difference to the public,” Nicholas Padilla, Jr., the deputy assistant Inspector General for HUD, said in presenting the award.
“Mark has been tenacious in seeking justice for the victims of mortgage fraud, and those who caused so much hardship in our city,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach.
Among the cases Bennett has prosecuted:
United States v. Thomas France: France, of Strongsville, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution for fraud involving six properties in Medina. France was part of a group that sold the homes at fraudulently inflated purchase prices. All the homes eventually went into foreclosure, resulting in a loss of approximately $3.3 million.
United States v. Anthony Viola and Uri Gofman: Viola, a real estate company owner from Cleveland Heights, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison and real estate owner Uri Gofman, of Beachwood, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. A jury convicted Viola and Gofman of multiple counts related to the fraudlulent sale of 34 homes, resulting in a loss of more than $3 million.
United States v. Romero Minor, et. al: Minor, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for fraud involving $7.5 million and 48 properties in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. Minor recruited straw buyers to “purchase” properties in their names. Minor represented to the straw buyers that he needed individuals like them with good credit to apply for mortgage loans on properties in their names as a way of helping other individuals in the community with bad credit who could not purchase homes in their own names, He then conspired with others to prepare and submit fraudulent mortgage loan applications to various mortgage lenders knowing that they contained false information. Minor received thousands of dollars at closing from the mortgage proceeds with the assistance of the title agents. Overall, nine people were convicted of crimes for their roles in the scheme.
Bennett, 45, joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2007. He previously worked for the Ohio Attorney General. He is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and serves on the Legal Aid Society’s board.
Travelling minister and Georgia man indicted for their roles in $4.8 million tax fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
An 11-count criminal indictment was filed charging a travelling minister from Arkansas and a Georgia man for their roles in a $4.8. million tax refund scam, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.
Allen D. Miles, 57, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Ve Sayavong, 37, of Jonesboro, Georgia, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges that Miles and Sayavong, acting together with Zinara Highsmith -- who has previously pleaded guilty for her role in the conspiracy -- engaged in a false tax refund scheme in which approximately 2,750 false income tax returns were filed, netting false income tax refunds of approximately $4.8 million.
Miles, the travelling minister, obtained personal identification information from congregants by telling them that he could help them obtain money from an alleged government stimulus fund program. Miles did not tell congregants that income tax returns were going to be filed on their behalf. After he obtained the information, Miles forwarded it to Highsmith, and then Highsmith, Sayavong and others created the false income tax returns that generated refunds based on certain credits for which the taxpayers did not qualify, like the American Opportunity Credit, Making Work Pay Credit, and Earned Income Credit, according to the indictment.
For each refund, Miles collected a $125 commission and Highsmith received $275, from which she paid Sayavong and others; the taxpayers received the balance. Miles received approximately $240,000 and Sayavong received $178,000 for their efforts in the refund scam, which operated between March and July 2011, according to the indictment.
"These defendants were part of a scheme in which they took advantage of their victims' faith and tax credits designed to help the least among us," Dettelbach said.
“This investigation uncovered a fraudulent scheme that attempted to generate millions of dollars,” Enstrom said. “These defendants used deceit and fraud to line their pockets with stolen federal tax refunds and they will be held accountable for their actions.”
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of the factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the criminal conduct. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Toledo woman charged for home loan-modification schemeRead the Press Release
A two-count criminal information was filed charging Toledo woman with participating a fraudulent home loan modification conspiracy, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Constance Kanary, 52, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of mail fraud.
Kanary operated a purported loan-modification operation called Making Home Affordable USA (MHAUSA) from March 2012 through April 2013. The business was primarily located at 120 10th Street in Toledo and used other names, including Federal Home Savings Solutions, National Mortgage Relief Center and others, according to the information.
Kanary was a sales agent at the company. As part of her job, she contacted homeowners in need of loan modifications and encouraged them to participate in the company’s “Home Saver Program” in which they were told to stop paying their mortgages and instead pay a percentage to MHAUSA to demonstrate they could reliably make reduced monthly payments. The participants were also told there was a flat fee, between $495 and $795, for the service, according to the information.
Kanary deposited these monies into an account at Bank of America and spent the money on the scheme’s expenses and made cash withdrawals from the account, 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 agencies in this case were the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Toledo Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- Office of Inspector General. The case is being handled by Assistant United States 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.
Jamaican national charged with illegally reentering the countryRead the Press Release
Andrew Parker, 40, a Jamaican national living in Cleveland, was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that the defendant was found in the Akron area after having been deported from the United States in 1997 and without having received permission to reenter the United States.
The United States Immigration and Customs Service conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miranda E. Dugi.
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.
Cleveland man sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for firearms trafficking, said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach and Donald Soranno, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.
Moises Perez, 45, previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan determined Perez should be classified as an armed career criminal and sentenced him to 210 months in federal prison.
Perez sold a Ruger 9 mm pistol, an H&R .22-caliber revolver and 94 rounds of ammunition to an undercover agent in August 2014. Perez was forbidden from possessing firearm or ammunition because of nearly two-dozen convictions, including felony convictions for burglary, attempted felonious assault, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, attempted felonious assault with a firearm, attempted intimidation, drug trafficking, robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court documents.
“Cleveland is a safer city because this defendant is off the street,” Dettelbach said. “He has a history of violent crime going back 30 years. This operation is the result of tremendous work by the ATF, Cleveland police and all our law-enforcement partners.”
“This case represents one more step to create a ripple effect to stifle violent crime,” Soranno said. “Individuals who are illegally possessing firearms and specifically engaging in illegally trafficking firearms are at the epicenter of violence in our communities. By attacking the tools of the trade and removing illegal firearms from the streets, we all help make our streets safer for everyone.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Kelly L. Galvin. It was part of “Operation Samson II,” an enhanced-enforcement initiative targeting the criminal possession, use and sale of firearms in Greater Cleveland. The operation resulted in 60 people being indicted and 110 firearms seized.
This initiative was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
Cleveland man indicted for cashing $175,000 worth of dead mother's Social Security checksRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury indicted Marion Sobkowiak, 66, of Cleveland, for theft of government funds, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that Sobkowiak fraudulently cashed his deceased mother’s Social Security widow’s benefits checks from January 1998 until April 2014, taking a total of $175,477 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miranda E. Dugi and Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti.
If convicted, the court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum. 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 man charged with robbing Public Square bankRead the Press Release
A grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Richard Gruly, 67, of Cleveland, with one count of bank robbery, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that Gruly robbed the US Bank, 200 Public Square, in Cleveland, a federally insured financial institution, on May 15, 2013.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique 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 Brian M. McDonough following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cleveland Division.
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 charged with bank fraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Kenneth L. Jefferson, 60, of Cleveland, with unlawful possession of a postal key and eight counts of bank fraud, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges Jefferson defrauded Key Bank, Charter One Bank and U.S. Bank through misrepresentations relating to numerous checks.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines that includes a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cronin is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial where it is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Akron woman charged with making false statements to get disability paymentsRead the Press Release
Allison A. Thompson, 49, of Akron, Ohio, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for making false statements to obtain federal disability benefits, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that the defendant submitted false statements in connection with the application for and receipt of compensation, benefit, and payment under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act in 2012 and 2013.
The United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miranda E. Dugi.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s applicable U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range, 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.
Akron man faces several charges related to child pornographyRead the Press Release
David T. Beiter, 54, of Akron, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, transferring obscene material to a juvenile and enticement, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The Indictment charges that from on or about February 9, 2015 through on or about March 19, 2015, Beiter knowingly used a device connected to the Internet, to attempt to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a 12-year-old girl to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. The indictment also charges that on or about February 9, 2015, Beiter used a facility and means of interstate commerce, that is, a device connected to the Internet, to knowingly attempt transfer obscene matter, that is, a visual depiction purportedly of his ejaculating penis, to an individual who he knew had not attained the age of 16 years, that is, 12-year‑old girl. The indictment also charges that from on or about February 1, 2014, through on or about March 20, 2015, Beiter knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lastly, the indictment charges that on March 20, 2015, Beiter possessed a computer that contained child pornography.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. The case was investigated by the Akron, Ohio and Richmond, Virginia Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Middlesex County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Kirtland Hills police chief sentenced to two years in prison for stealing $80,000 from the villageRead the Press Release
The former police chief of Kirtland Hills was sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding the village out of at least $80,000 by making unauthorized purchases of clothing, tools and goods for his own personal use, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office.
Gerald Smith, Jr., 57, of Kirtland, previously pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of destruction, alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation.
To date, Smith has paid $140,503, which covers the amount he stole and the village's related legal expenses. He was ordered to pay an additional $9,034 in restitution.
“Mr. Smith used the village treasury as his own personal checkbook,” Dettelbach said. “He violated the public's trust."
“When any law enforcement officer crosses the line of being a law-abiding citizen to becoming a law-breaking citizen it is disheartening," Anthony said. "The FBI will continue to pursue and bring to justice those in a position of trust and authority that violate that trust by breaking the law."
Smith joined the Kirtland Hills police department in 1978 and served as chief from 1988 until April 4, 2014. In this capacity, Smith was authorized to reimburse officers for work-related expenses and use village funds to procure necessary supplies, including the use of several village credit cards or lines of credit, according to the information.
The department also had petty cash fund, maintained in Smith’s office, in which employees submitted receipts with their name and the purpose of the expense written on it, for which they were then reimbursed, according to court documents.
Smith made approximately $80,000 in personal expenditures using village credit cards between 2007 and 2014. Some of the items were used to partially furnish his Florida condominium. Items purchased include ceiling fans, plumbing supplies, vacuum cleaners, children’s lunch boxes and story books, clothing, televisions, book shelves, personal hygiene items, firearms, car repairs and more, according to court documents.
Smith concealed these purchases by making false entries on receipts to make it appear they were made by others or made for official police business. By spreading the purchases out among different funds, he prevented the village from readily noticing large amounts of expenditures from one particular fund, according to court documents.
For example, Smith went on a hunting trip to Pennsylvania in 2007. While on vacation, he made the following purchases on a Kirtland Hills credit card: knife sharpening ($70), items at an Army Navy store ($269.96), and items at a sporting goods store, including Pro Hunter pants and jacket and a shirt ($209.97). He then falsely wrote on the receipt that the sporting goods clothing was SWAT clothing for a Kirtland Hills officer, according to court documents.
In 2007, Smith ordered several items online, including a $107.96 pair of women’s tan Ugg boots with the village Mastercard. Smith falsely wrote on the receipt “Road Dept Boots and Boots for (a Kirtland Hills police officer),” knowing the officer did not receive the boots, according to court documents.
Smith also obtained Kirtland Hills money by submitting false claims to the petty cash fund. When Kirtland Hills officers went out to lunch, or when Smith took personal trips with officers and the group stopped for food, Smith at times asked for the receipts. He then submitted the receipts for petty cash reimbursement under the officers’ names but without their knowledge, taking the cash for himself, according to court documents.
On March 17, 2014, Smith was placed on leave by Kirtland Hills and required to surrender his access badges, keys and all village property. He was also served by FBI agents with a federal grand jury subpoena, which required the production of certain documents and items.
On March 20, 2014, Smith secretly brought more than 50 items from his residence to a village storage shed and placed the items on the shelves, to give the appearance that these items belonged to the Village of Kirtland Hills. Among the items Smith returned were a drill, heater, dehumidifier, air purifier, camouflage tarps, socket set, channel locks, extension cords, hammer, hand saw and other items, according to court documents.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Richfield man charged for sale of unregistered securities in which investors lost $7 millionRead the Press Release
A Richfield man was charged in a criminal information with selling unregistered securities in which dozens of investors lost about $7 million, law enforcement officials said.
Jerry A. Cicolani, Jr., 51, worked to recruit investors to KGTA Petroleum, Ltd., which was operated by Kenneth A. Grant and others. Grant and others marketed the company to investors as a petroleum company that earned profits by buying and reselling various crude oils and refined fuel products.
Cicolani was a licensed registered representative with PrimeSolutions Securities, Inc., which had officers in Akron and was registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Cicolani concealed his outside business interests from PrimeSolutions and had his commissions from KGTA paid to outside entities, according to the information.
KGTA issued securities which were required to be issued with the Securities and Exchange Commission. At no time did Cicolani, or anyone to his knowledge, file any documentation related to the KGTA with the SEC, according to the information.
Cicolani received approximately $5 million in commission fees for enlisting 39 investors, who collectively lost $7 million from their investments with KGTA in unregistered securities, according to the information.
In a related case, Kelly C. Hood, 36, of Naples, Florida, was charged with one count of structuring. Hood, at Cicolani’s direction, structured commission payments made to himself and Cicolani for the sale of unregistered securities of KGTA. This was done to evade bank reporting requirements, according to the information.
Grant has previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud and one count of money laundering for his role in the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 20.
These case are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bennett and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Kleinmann following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
A charge 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.
Pair who worked in Toledo real estate business indicted for $1.5 million conspiracyRead the Press Release
Two people who worked in the real estate business in the Toledo area were indicted for their roles in a $1.5 million conspiracy to defraud several banks, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Timothy R. Bradley, 40, now of Cary, N.C., and Martha E. Ednie, 53, of Toledo, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of bank fraud.
Bradley worked as a real estate agent working for various brokerages in the Toledo area, while Ednie was a mortgage broker who operated Apex Mortgage Company. Beginning in 2005, Bradley and Ednie conspired with others to obtain fraudulent mortgage loans by concealing the true purchase price from banks making the loans, according to the indictment.
The true purchase price was represented by an “addendum” to the real estate contract, which lowered the purchase price. These addendums were signed near the time of closing and were concealed from the lenders. Unbeknownst to the lenders, they were loaning the home purchasers between 82 percent and 135 percent of each home’s value based on the adjusted addendum purchase price, according to the indictment.
Bradley was listed as the real estate agent on the contracts and Ednie secured financing in her role as mortgage broker. Bradley and others attracted buyers to the scheme by advertising the properties as good sources of rental income and assuring cash back at closing, 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 Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Toledo. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Gene Crawford.
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 pleads guilty to operating dog-fighting ventureRead the Press Release
An Akron man pleaded guilty in federal court to operating a dog-fighting venture and related counts, law enforcement officials said.
Alvin Banks, 56, is scheduled to be sentenced June 30. He pleaded guilty to five counts: sponsoring and exhibiting a canine in an animal fighting venture; buying, selling, delivering, possessing, training and transporting canines for participation in an animal fighting venture; attending an animal-fighting venture; being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute less than 50 marijuana plants.
The plea was announced by Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office, Akron Police Chief James Nice, Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry and Summit County Prosecutor Sherry Bevan Walsh.
Banks is the last of 10 people to plead guilty in federal court related to a dog-fighting operation uncovered in Akron last year.
Federal and local authorities raided a home on Cordova Avenue in Akron on Nov. 15, 2014 as part of an investigation into dog fighting. In addition to firearms, narcotics and more than $52,000 in cash, investigators discovered a blood-stained 16x16 foot ring used as part of an animal fighting venture, as well as two “break sticks” used to pry a dog’s mouth and teeth off another dog when the fight is finished. They also found eight pit bull or pit bull mixes, two of which were covered in blood and had fresh wounds from a fight that occurred just prior to the execution of the search warrant, according to court documents.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Akron Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office and the Humane Society of Greater Akron. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Linda H. Barr.
Warren man indicted on heroin and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging a Warren man with heroin distribution and illegal possession of a firearm, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ricardo B. McKinney, 29, faces two counts of distribution of less than 100 grams of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
The alleged crimes took place earlier this year, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the Defendant’s role in the offenses and the unique characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Riedl. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Youngstown Resident Office, and the Warren Police Department, which recovered approximately 1657.2 grams of heroin and two handguns.
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.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and IRS remind people that violating tax laws can bring serious consequencesRead the Press Release
Several people have been found guilty and sentenced for violating federal tax laws over the past few months, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Cincinnati Field Office.
As the 2015 tax filing deadline approaches, these cases serve as reminders that there are civil and sometimes criminal penalties to filing erroneous tax returns.
“Tax day is not fun, but the vast majority of Americans who properly report and pay their fair share need to know that we will aggressively prosecute those who shirk or flaunt their obligations,” Dettelbach said.
“The April 15th tax deadline is fast approaching and to build faith in our nation’s tax system, honest taxpayers need to be reassured that everyone is paying their fair share as our system of taxation depends on voluntary compliance by each and every citizen,” Enstrom said. “IRS Criminal Investigation, together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will investigate and prosecute those who violate our tax system. The joint announcement of these criminal cases should serve as a warning to anyone who might consider evading their federal tax obligations.”
Details on a few cases over the past year:
Brian D. Krantz, 48, of Twinsburg, was sentenced last year to nearly five years in prison for his role in a $8.8 million conspiracy in which he filed false income tax returns claiming refunds to which he was not entitled. Based on those false claims, the U.S. Treasury issued 17 refund checks totaling approximately $3.6 million payable to Krantz and various corporations he controlled, according to court documents.
Sean Houston, 46, of Cleveland, was charged in a 33-count indictment with preparing dozens of false tax returns and falsely claiming more than $133,000 in refunds. In 2010, Houston prepared false tax returns, listing fictitious wages and income-tax withholdings when he knew no wages had been earned and no taxes withheld. The returns also claimed “making work pay” tax credits to which the claimants were not entitled, according to the indictment.
John J. Manore III, 58, of Toledo, was indicted this year on three counts of filing false tax returns. Manore filed tax returns from 2009 through 2011 in which he significantly underreported the amount of taxable income he earned, according to the indictment.
Ghana Johnson, 45, of Pepper Pike, was indicted for claiming $476,000 in fraudulent tax refunds for herself and others. She electronically filed 106 tax returns for 2010 and 2011 in which she falsified wage income, federal income tax withholdings, dependents, exemptions and tax credit information in order to obtain income tax refunds for which neither Johnson nor the individuals she prepared the income tax returns for were entitled, according to the indictment.
Zinara M. Highsmith, 35, of Fayetteville, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced in June for filing approximately 2,750 tax returns containing false refund claims of more than $4.8 million. Highsmith ran the Atlanta-based tax-preparation business WE XL LLC. In 2011, Highsmith partnered with a minister in Arkansas in a scheme to file false tax returns. The minister’s role was to recruit and obtain personal identification information from claimants and to provide the information to Highsmith, who was responsible for the preparation of the false returns. The minister did this by inducing other ministers and church leaders in various states, including Ohio, to solicit members of their congregations to apply for benefits under the so-called government stimulus program. Nearly 1,000 false claims were made on behalf of people living in Northeast Ohio, resulting in false claims of nearly $1.7 million, according to court documents.
Walter Berkovic, of Monsey, N.Y. pleaded guilty last month to one count of failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) with the IRS disclosing that he had a financial interest in an UBS financial account in a foreign country for the 2004-2008 income tax years. Citizens and U.S. residents are obligated to report their income from any source, including dividends and interest, regardless of whether the source of their income is from within or outside the U.S. In addition, on Schedule B of the IRS Form 1040, the taxpayer must indicate whether at any time during the calendar year the taxpayer had an interest in or signature authority over a financial account in a foreign country. If this is the case, the taxpayer must indicate the name of the particular country in which the account was located and the taxpayer must file a FBAR for an account with a value of more than $10,000. UBS is a bank with its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Between 1991 and 2008, Berkovic had a financial interest in or signature authority over two undeclared accounts at UBS with a value of approximately $713,000. The IRS Criminal Investigation Office in Akron investigated the Berkovic case.
Mexican national indicted for illegally transporting seven undocumented peopleRead the Press Release
A grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a Mexican national with illegally transporting seven undocumented people, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Enrique Luis Lopez-Rodriguez, 29, was found transporting six Mexican citizens and one Guatemalan citizen on March 17 in Richland County, according to the indictment.
He was charged with illegally reentering the country after officials had previously deported him from the United States.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cronin. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations – Immigrations and Custom Enforcement and the Richland County Sheriff’s 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.
Man indicted for armed robbery of the same Richmond Heights bank he robbed years earlierRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging two Northeast Ohio men with multiple criminal counts related to a bank robbery in Richmond Heights last year, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The grand jury charged Larry Hewitt, 47, of Garfield Heights, with armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in commission of a bank robbery, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The grand jury charged Marcus Wright, 33, of Cleveland, with armed bank robbery. The charges stem from the November 6, 2014, robbery of the Ohio Saving Bank branch located at 720 Richmond Road, Richmond Heights, Ohio
In 2000, Defendant Larry Hewitt pleaded guilty to robbing the same bank.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cronin is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Richmond Heights Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial where it is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.