Southern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Perry County man pleads guilty to federal child exploitation chargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Junction City, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
Since 2018, Clay Thomas Wolfe, 28, obtained child pornography from more than 250 victims via the mobile application Snapchat.
His plea includes a recommended sentence of 18 to 23 years in prison.
Wolfe pretended to be a 15-year-old female on Snapchat and used this persona to solicit child pornography from primarily middle school and high school aged boys. The victims who have been identified thus far reside in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Chillicothe, Ohio, and other various cities in the Southern District of Ohio and across the United States. Wolfe’s Snapchat account also contained sexually explicit photographs and videos of minor males as young as 10 and 11 years old.
The investigation was initiated in April 2022, when law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania learned that a sixth-grade student was sharing a nude photograph of a classmate that he received from Wolfe, who was pretending to be a teenage girl.
As part of his online persona, Wolfe – acting as the username “Ally” on Snapchat – sent the male victims photos and videos of pubescent female’s naked breasts and genitalia that he found on adult pornography sites or public social media accounts. Wolfe would also extort the victims by threatening to send the nude images of his victims to their friends and family unless they sent him additional images.
In total, Wolfe received approximately 850 images and 570 videos depicting child pornography.
Wolfe was arrested and charged federally in June 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Parker and Iatarola commended the cooperation of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and Perry County Prosecutor. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch and are representing the United States in this case.
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Furniture company employee sentenced to 5 years in prison for embezzling more than $26 million from employerRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Central Ohio man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 60 months in prison for embezzling more than $26 million from his Columbus employer.
As part of his sentence, Yi He, 36, of Powell, will pay restitution to his former employer and to the IRS, and he will forfeit a Tesla vehicle.
According to court documents, Yi was a long-time and trusted employee of a furniture company that provides furniture to retailers like Wayfair, Overstock, Kohls, Walmart and Ashley. Yi was solely responsible for payroll and payroll tax-related duties for the company.
From 2018 until 2022, Yi embezzled money from the company’s bank account into his own personal and financial investment accounts. Yi submitted false and fraudulent bank and financial statements to the company’s leadership to remain undetected.
For example, in one wire transfer in February 2022, Yi wired himself $100,000. Yi falsified that month’s bank account statement by removing the transaction entirely.
In total, Yi stole $26.5 million from the company.
Yi also helped oversee an employee incentive LLC that rewarded company employees with 10 or more years of service. The LLC offered employees a way to earn more and supplement retirement. Yi similarly embezzled from the LLC’s bank accounts. For example, in one wire transfer in April 2022, he paid himself $200,000 by falsely categorizing the transfer as “Rent.” In total, he stole $635,000 from the LLC.
Yi failed to accurately report his income to the IRS for tax years 2018 through 2021, causing a total tax loss of approximately $6.8 million.
Yi pleaded guilty in August 2023 to committing wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight is representing the United States in this case.
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Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man who allegedly served as straw purchaser for at least 21 firearmsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A grand jury has indicted a Cincinnati man with crimes related to illegal straw purchases of at least 21 firearms.
Timothy Moorman, Jr., 32, made his initial appearance in federal court in Cincinnati today. He is charged with one conspiracy count and 10 counts of making false statements on federal firearm forms.
According to the indictment, which was returned on March 12 and unsealed today, Moorman bought firearms at Cincinnati-area federal firearms licensees and then provided those firearms to co-conspirators the same day or within a few days. Those co-conspirators would then traffic the firearms outside of Ohio.
For example, it is alleged that at least nine firearms were recovered in connection with a crime in Canada less than two weeks after Moorman bought them. Two others were traced to crimes in Canada and Detroit within two months of purchase.
The charging document details that the firearms were purchased at Bass Pro Shops, Range USA – Cincy West, Range USA – Blue Ash, Target World and North College Hill Gun Store.
Moorman allegedly indicated on the required firearms forms that the firearms were for himself and no one else, despite actually acting as a straw purchaser.
Making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Defendant who admitted to filing thousands of COVID-relief applications sentenced to 6 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man who estimated he filed more than 3,000 fraudulent COVID-relief applications was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 72 months in prison.
The fraud scheme perpetuated by Ousmane Diane, 24, caused a loss of more than $908,000. He submitted applications for more than $2 million in funding.
Diane pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Diane used the identities of willing participants and stole identities to submit fraudulent federal fund applications. He submitted the fraudulent applications for both Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
Diane organized the scheme for more than a year and recruited his six co-defendants in this case and others into the scheme. The defendant referred to the pandemic as the “bandemic” in reference to the stacks of federal cash he received.
Diane even advertised his fraudulent filing service through social media by posting: “Hey My Name is Ous And I Sell Methods To Help You Get Approved For Funds!!!”
Diane and six others were indicted in February 2023. All have pleaded guilty.
“Mr. Diane stole critical taxpayer money intended to help families during an unprecedented national pandemic,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with Federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Shawn Rice, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG); and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati woman sentenced to 7 years in prison for crimes related to COVID-19 relief fraudRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman convicted at trial last summer of fraud crimes was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison.
Kelli Prather, 52, fraudulently requested more than $1.2 million in pandemic relief loans. She was convicted on all 14 counts following a trial in July 2023 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the trial, Prather applied for six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as part of the CARES Act COVID-19 pandemic relief. She claimed to own six businesses – Enhanced Healthcare Solutions, Life Skills Enhancement, Prather Property Management, Reliable Ambulette Services, Rich Glo Management Services and Tots R Us.
Separately, Prather also applied for eight Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). In three of the EIDL applications she filed in November 2020, she represented that the businesses were majority owned by her disabled nephew.
Prather sought more than $1.2 million in fraud relief and fraudulently received approximately $19,700. As part of her sentence, she will pay $19,682 in restitution.
The jury convicted her of bank fraud, making false statements in connection to credit or loan applications, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and other members of the Financial Crimes Working Group Pandemic Fraud Committee announced the sentence imposed today by Judge McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.
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Westerville man sentenced to 7 years in prison for possessing machine gun after prior felony convictionsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Raymond A. Small, 38, of Westerville, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison for possessing a fully-automatic weapon as a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents, from August to December 2022, Small was involved in numerous illegal narcotics and firearms transactions with an undercover agent. The transactions involved one machine gun and seven other guns.
Small regularly recruited others to participate in firearms trafficking, including recruiting two co-defendants in this case.
For example, Small and a friend met up with the undercover agent in August 2022 and brought with them Oxycodone pills and a machine gun that had no serial numbers. In October 2022, Small accompanied a second individual and met again with the undercover agent to sell the agent two pistols.
Small committed these crimes while on probation for prior drug and weapons offenses.
Small pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possessing a machine gun and possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Defendant sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering drug proceeds to Mexico through local cell phone store frontsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man who laundered drug proceeds from Columbus cell phone store fronts to Nayarit, Mexico, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison.
Cruz Alberto Perez-Nunez, 36, was the ninth federal defendant convicted in two related cases. He pleaded guilty in October 2023 to money laundering and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The defendant orchestrated teams of drug dealers in central Ohio and laundered the proceeds to Mexico.
In the fall of 2020 and spring 2021, eight original, federal defendants were sentenced to prison for the same conspiracy, in which they laundered $44 million in drug proceeds to Mexico through local cell phone store fronts. The stores sold few, if any, cell phones, and they conducted little, if any, legitimate business otherwise. The defendants received sentences ranging from five to 18 years in prison.
Perez-Nunez was a drug trafficker and regular “customer” of the cell phone store fronts who laundered his drug proceeds from Columbus to Nayarit, Mexico.
Perez-Nunez oversaw the narcotics-distribution operation of multiple teams of drug dealers in the Southern District of Ohio. In 2018, he oversaw the supply chain of heroin and directed and controlled drug-trafficking and money-laundering activities of individuals in and around Columbus. Perez-Nunez also set up living arrangements for the teams of drug traffickers.
Perez-Nunez and others coordinated with the owners of Los Rosales on Shady Lane Road, Los Rosales 2 on East Main Street and Express Cellular on Eastland Square Drive to send bulk money transfers to lists of names in Mexico. Thousands of illicit wire transfers were completed per year. Drug dealers from multiple narcotics-trafficking cells would drop large amounts of narcotics money at the stores, after which the store owners would falsify money sender names, addresses and phone numbers on the wire transfers to Mexico to conceal the nature of the proceeds.
In total, the joint state–federal efforts led to the prosecution of nine defendants federally and 35 defendants by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation and prosecution of these defendants removed approximately 34 kilograms of heroin, 516 grams of cocaine, 76 grams of fentanyl and 250 pounds of marijuana from Central Ohio streets. Additionally, investigators seized $458,500 in U.S. currency and a home valued at nearly $248,000 as part of the investigation and prosecution of these cases.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Division; Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant and officials with the Ohio HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Commission announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Jessica W. Knight are representing the United States in this case. Daniel J. Stanley, formerly with the office of Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack, also represented the United States in this case as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Co-leader of large-scale narcotics & human trafficking ring pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A leader in a case with 23 defendants involved in narcotics and human trafficking conspiracies pleaded guilty in federal court here today to drug, gun, human trafficking, and money laundering crimes.
From 2008 until June 2022, Cordell Washington, 37, of Pickerington, ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus with co-defendant Patrick Saultz. Their operations also included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, fraud and money laundering.
A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school. In October 2022, the government added 12 defendants and 28 new charges.
Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.
It is alleged that Saultz began distributing heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine from his residences on Vida Place and South Hague Street in Columbus as early as 2008. The drug trafficking organization sold drugs out of more than 20 Columbus residences to customers and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers who then trafficked those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and the Northern District of Ohio.
Most of the alleged drug dealing took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus at a residence on South Burgess. For example, one of Washington and Saultz’s numerous subordinates sold approximately $18,000 worth of narcotics per day from the location on South Burgess.
The case also involves the overdose death of at least one individual and the violent death of a second victim.
As part of his plea, Washington admitted to labor trafficking male drug addicts. The defendant provided the men with their drug of choice after the men completed construction or cleaning projects at residences owned by the drug trafficking organization. The men were recruited by Washington and some completed the work for him under serious threat of harm.
Washington would provide the addicts with advances on small amounts of drugs so they were well enough to perform physical labor. If Washington was not pleased with their work product, he would not complete the final drug payment and would threaten violence against them.
Washington used numerous methods to launder the group’s drug trafficking proceeds, including establishing front businesses that purported to be rental, repair and construction companies.
Washington pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, labor trafficking and concealment money laundering. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 15 years and up to life in prison.
As part of this case, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers have executed more than 20 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and seized more than $1.7 million in alleged drug proceeds. For example, while executing a search warrant at Car-Go storage units, law enforcement officials discovered approximately one million in bulk United States currency. Searches of additional residences yielded 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches and additional bulk amounts of cash.
As of today, 21 of the 23 defendants have pleaded guilty. One defendant, Carmella Brooks, has been sentenced and received a term of imprisonment of five years.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Repeat offenders sentenced to 10 years in prison for narcotics crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Columbus residents have each been sentenced to 120 months in prison for federal drug crimes. The defendants were previously convicted in the Southern District of Ohio in 2018.
Francisco Ruellas-Gonzalez, 31, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. He was sentenced in federal court today.
According to court documents, in 2022 and 2023, Ruellas-Gonzalez and his co-defendant Jaime Renteria, 33, used a residence on Clearhurst Drive as a drug stash house. The apartment had minimal furnishings and no electricity. At the time, the two defendants were residing on Athalia Drive in Columbus.
When law enforcement officers executed search warrants at the two residences and on the defendants themselves and their vehicles, they discovered approximately 448 grams of methamphetamine, 751 grams of fentanyl and/or a fentanyl analogue (including 1,449 tablets marked as oxycodone), 226 grams of heroin, and 12 grams of cocaine; five firearms and ammunition; and $28,925 in drug proceeds.
These are the defendants’ second federal drug trafficking convictions in less than five years. Ruellas-Gonzalez was sentenced in 2018 to serve 24 months in prison for distributing heroin and cocaine and was deported to Mexico for the fourth time. Renteria was sentenced in 2018 to 46 months in prison and was released early under the First Step Act in January 2022.
Renteria pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue and 100 grams or more of heroin. He was sentenced in January to 120 months in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Division; announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz is representing the United States in this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Longtime treasurer charged with stealing nearly $1 million in campaign fundsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man who served as a campaign treasurer for more than 100 candidates since the 1980s has been charged with wire fraud related to stealing nearly $1 million in campaign funds.
William Curlis, 76, was charged by a bill of information that was filed today. The United States also filed a plea document in this case today, which will be considered by the Court at a future plea hearing.
According to the court documents, from 2008 until June 2023, Curlis defrauded candidates of approximately $995,231 of campaign funds.
Curlis allegedly wrote checks from the bank accounts of certain candidates and one PAC to himself for personal use. It is alleged the defendant transferred funds between campaign accounts without candidates’ knowledge to conceal the deficit he created.
Curlis sold his home in 2016, allegedly to cover the cost of campaign expenses, to include campaign media costs and account balances, to prevent the discovery of his theft.
“As the campaign treasurer and only signatory on numerous bank accounts, Curlis took advantage of his trusted position and wrote checks to himself from the accounts of multiple candidates and one PAC,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “I urge candidates, PACs, and businesses alike to protect themselves from future fraud by examining their accounting processes for vulnerabilities and other blind spots. Embezzlement is often committed by persons who take advantage of the victim’s trust, and I encourage everyone to reassess from time to time the safeguards they have in place."
“The long-running fraud perpetuated by Curlis negatively impacted dozens of political campaigns in Ohio,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “While Curlis stole from campaigns and worked to conceal his theft, the fraud scheme collapsed and he is now being held accountable.”
“Fraud and abuse will not be tolerated in Ohio,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “When our Public Integrity Division became aware of this matter, we immediately began investigating and referred our findings directly to federal law enforcement. We will continue working alongside our partners to bring bad actors to justice and to root out any criminality in campaigns and elections.”
“This defendant believed he could outsmart his clients by shuffling funds while skimming off the top – a scheme that worked for a while, but he couldn’t outwit law enforcement,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Great work by BCI and our partners to unravel this embezzlement.”
Wire fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes agents and officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Columbus Division of Police and Ohio Auditor’s Office. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office was also an integral part of the investigation.
Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight is representing the United States in this case.
A bill of information is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Jackson County volunteer fire chief pleads guilty to mail fraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The chief of the Coalton volunteer fire department pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to using more than $200,000 in fire department funds for personal expenses.
Johnny Baker, 37, of Wellston, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud for the embezzlement, which included using fire department money to have items for his personal use shipped to his house via UPS.
Baker has worked for the volunteer fire department since 2009, filling various roles including secretary/treasurer, assistant fire chief, and as of January 2023, fire chief. Baker has been solely responsible for maintaining the department’s finances.
According to his court documents, from 2020 until 2023, Baker used a fire department credit card for personal expenses, including vacations and entertainment, sports tickets, a utility task vehicle, firearms, home utility payments, electronics and clothing. Baker was the sole user of the credit card during this time.
Baker admitted to paying the credit card bills with fire department funds that he raised from the local community through a pull-tab gaming system, which he initially implemented as a fundraiser. Several local businesses sold pull tabs to the community and sent the proceeds to Baker.
As part of his plea, Baker has agreed to pay approximately $226,000 in restitution.
Mail fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
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Former Pike County deputy sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for excessive use of forceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Pike County deputy was sentenced in federal court here today to 100 months in prison for committing civil rights violations while employed as a law enforcement officer.
In August 2023, Jeremy C. Mooney, 49, was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of violating a victim’s constitutional rights by pepper spraying and punching the victim in the head, while the victim was in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and posed no threat to himself or others. The jury found that Mooney’s offenses involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in bodily injury.
“This defendant is being sentenced for the violent assault of an inmate who was confined to a restraint chair and unable to protect himself or escape from the abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement officers. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect and serve.”
“Communities trust in law enforcement officers to uphold the rule of law and, as public servants, they must honor that responsibility, not deprive individuals of their civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Law enforcement officials who abuse their powers like Mooney did will be held accountable.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 18, 2019, Mooney transported the victim from the jail to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where he placed the victim in a restraint chair. The restraint chair secured the victim’s hands behind his back and prevented him from being able to move most of his body. For more than an hour, Mooney unlawfully used force against the victim on several occasions.
Mooney dragged the victim — who was in the restraint chair — outside and pepper sprayed him directly in the face. The victim writhed in pain and tipped the chair back off the curb, landing on his back. Mooney then stood over the victim and deployed the pepper spray directly into the victim’s face a second time. Mooney brought the victim back inside the building and walked away. Over the course of several minutes, Mooney returned to that part of the building, where the victim was still handcuffed and secured in the restraint chair and punched the victim in the head 11 times. Mooney punched the victim with enough force to break his own hand.
A former Pike County Sheriff’s Office supervisor, William Stansberry Jr., 47, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was also charged. Stansberry violated the victim’s constitutional rights by willfully failing to intervene to prevent Mooney’s conduct. He pleaded guilty in July 2023 to deprivation of civil rights under color of law and was sentenced on March 5 to six months in prison. Stansberry was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home detention.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are representing the United States in this case.
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Former Ohio Sheriff's Office Deputy Sentenced for Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate by Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Pike County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office deputy was sentenced today to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release for federal civil rights violations involving excessive force.
In August 2023, Jeremy C. Mooney, 49, was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of violating a victim’s constitutional rights by pepper spraying and punching the victim in the head, while the victim was in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and posed no threat to himself or others. The jury found that Mooney’s offenses involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in bodily injury.
“This defendant is being sentenced for the violent assault of an inmate who was confined to a restraint chair and unable to protect himself or escape from the abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement officers. The Justice Department will continue to prosecute law enforcement officers who willfully violate the civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect and serve.”
“Communities trust in law enforcement officers to uphold the rule of law and, as public servants, they must honor that responsibility, not deprive individuals of their civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “Law enforcement officials who abuse their powers like Mooney did will be held accountable.”
“As a law enforcement officer, Mooney had a duty to protect the civil rights of everyone in his community,” said Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “By abusing a person in his custody, he violated his oath and federal law. The FBI will continue to hold accountable rogue officers who commit civil rights violations and use excessive force against those they are sworn to protect.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 18, 2019, Mooney transported the victim from the jail to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where he placed the victim in a restraint chair. The restraint chair secured the victim’s hands behind his back and prevented him from being able to move most of his body. For more than an hour, Mooney unlawfully used force against the victim on several occasions.
Mooney dragged the victim — who was in the restraint chair — outside and pepper sprayed him directly in the face. The victim writhed in pain and tipped the chair back off the curb, landing on his back. Mooney then stood over the victim and deployed the pepper spray directly into the victim’s face a second time. Mooney brought the victim back inside the building and walked away. Over the course of several minutes, Mooney returned to that part of the building, where the victim was still handcuffed and secured in the restraint chair, and punched the victim in the head 11 times. Mooney punched the victim with enough force to break his own hand.
A former Pike County Sheriff’s Office supervisor, William Stansberry Jr., 47, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was also charged. Stansberry violated the victim’s constitutional rights by willfully failing to intervene to prevent Mooney’s conduct. He pleaded guilty in July 2023 to deprivation of civil rights under color of law and was sentenced on March 5 to six months in prison. Stansberry was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home detention.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Columbus man faces 20 to 23 years in prison as part of narcotics guilty plea involving killing of another Columbus residentRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to a drug crime and admitted to his role in the killing of a local man. The defendant is one of nearly two dozen individuals charged in a case involving a large-scale drug and human trafficking ring.
Dustin A. Speakman, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 of an elementary school. As part of his plea, Speakman admitted to his role in the death of one victim which occurred during the time he was operating a drug distribution house. His plea includes a sentencing recommendation of 20 to 23 years in prison.
Speakman, who is also known as “Dawg,” is one of 23 defendants charged in a narcotics and human trafficking case that involves at least two deaths.
According to court documents, from 2008 until June 2022, lead defendants Patrick Saultz and Cordell Washington ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus that included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and money laundering.
Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.
Speakman joined the drug trafficking organization after being released from jail in 2022, where he was housed with Saultz. Speakman was a mid-level drug distributor for the group out of residences on South Ogden and South Warren.
As part of his guilty plea, Speakman admitted to severely beating one of his drug runners in May 2022 and then providing him with free drugs to make up for the attack. Witnesses said the male was beaten by Speakman and then given cocaine and fentanyl as compensation. Shortly after, the victim began to seize and foam at the mouth and did not respond to Narcan. The victim was driven to an alley near Grant Hospital where he was found unconscious by Columbus Fire Department personnel with severe trauma to the face and head. His cause of death was ultimately determined to be blunt force trauma caused by Speakman.
“Any loss of life is significant,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Our office will continue to work to hold perpetrators of illegal drug trafficking accountable and secure justice for victims of violent and drug-related deaths.”
As of today, 18 of the 23 defendants have pleaded guilty. One defendant, Carmela Brooks, has been sentenced and received a term of imprisonment of five years.
U.S. Attorney Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Canal Winchester man sentenced to prison for making interstate threats to law enforcement, court officials & businesses, calling in bomb threats to local schoolsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Canal Winchester man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 60 months in prison for making interstate threats to local law enforcement, court officials, businesses and schools.
Yousif Mubarak, 27, was convicted following a jury trial in August 2023 of seven counts of making interstate threats.
“Threats are more than mere words, they have significant consequences, as illustrated by the sentence imposed today,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in September 2021, Mubarak made at least 87 threatening phone calls from the state of Washington, where he resided for a short time, to a Franklin County Municipal Court Judge who previously presided over his court case.
Mubarak told the Judge that he would find her, that he had private investigators following her and that she should watch for cars following her. Mubarak said, “I will find you even if that means I die,” and threatened to kill the Judge himself. In many of the messages, Mubarak identified himself by name and left his callback number.
Beginning on Sept. 12, 2021, and continuing until the early morning hours of Sept. 13, 2021, Mubarak also placed numerous threatening calls to businesses and schools in the Canal Winchester and Pickerington areas.
He called to make threats to employees at the Brew Dog, Home Depot and Best Western businesses in Canal Winchester.
On Sept. 12, 2021, at about 10pm, officers and agents with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police and FBI visited the last known address of Mubarak in Canal Winchester. Mubarak observed the officers in his Ring doorbell camera and taunted the officers throughout the interaction.
Twenty minutes later, Mubarak called a dispatcher in Fairfield County and told her, in part, “you can die” and “she would get two bullets in the head.” The defendant called the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office more than 100 times in a 12-hour span.
Around 7am on the morning of Sept. 13, 2021, Mubarak called in a bomb threat to Canal Winchester Middle School. He told a school employee: “I have placed several bombs in your building” and “I would get your women and children out now.”
Approximately 20 minutes later, Mubarak called Pickerington North High School and said there were two suicide bombers inside the school.
Mubarak was charged federally and arrested on Sept. 22, 2021. A federal grand jury indicted him in November 2021 and that indictment was superseded in June 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Fairfield County Sheriff Alex Lape; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica W. Knight and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati healthcare staffing company agrees to pay $9.25 million to resolve visa fraud investigationsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati-based healthcare staffing company has agreed to pay $9.25 million and to pledge an additional $8 million for related healthcare projects to resolve civil and criminal investigations into the company’s visa sponsorship program.
Health Carousel, LLC, is a privately held healthcare staffing company that offers workforce placements for healthcare professionals. Health Carousel recruits healthcare professionals including nurses and physical therapists who are foreign nationals to come to the United States to work through Passport USA, and the staffing company sponsors the individuals’ visa applications.
The global resolution resolves criminal fraud and civil False Claims Act allegations that Health Carousel submitted false visa immigrant applications and caused false statements to be made to government officials while recruiting nurses, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to the United States. The allegations included that Health Carousel provided fraudulent job placement letters so that visas would be approved more quickly, even though individuals had not yet been placed with a specific health care facility.
As part of reaching a global resolution, the company has performed extensive remedial measures to address compliance gaps and pledged an additional $8 million to address harm caused by its prior practices.
This pledged commitment will be distributed to various non-governmental and non-profit organizations including:
- $3 million to promote the sustainability, development and ethical recruitment of healthcare professionals;
- $3 million to strengthen healthcare access and infrastructure in developing countries where Health Carousel recruits healthcare professionals;
- $750,000 to promote healthcare access in the United States for rural and underserved communities;
- $750,000 to support immigrant communities in the United States; and
- $500,000 to support public health projects in Central and Southern Ohio.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will ensure that companies that attempt to skirt immigration laws will be appropriately addressed,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Through these agreements, we ensure the financial accountability that Health Carousel faces will resolve both civil and criminal allegations and will improve healthcare access in underserved communities here in Ohio and across the United States, as well as in developing countries where Health Carousel operates.”
“It is essential for companies to follow the rules when it comes to recruiting workers to the United States,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. ”Given the inherent risks associated with working in the medical field, we need to ensure that there are no shortcuts, and everyone is held accountable under the law.”
This matter was investigated by agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, as well as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of State, National Visa Center, Fraud Prevention Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Horwitz and Ebunoluwa Taiwo are representing the United States in these matters.
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Grand jury indicts Butler County man for sexually exploiting toddler on SnapchatRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Middletown man has been indicted for sexually exploiting a toddler. The defendant shared the alleged sexually explicit conduct on Snapchat.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Daveion Wright, 31, on March 20.
According to the indictment, on at least five instances in January 2024, Wright sexually exploited a 2-year-old victim and shared the explicit conduct on Snapchat.
Law enforcement officials ask members of the public to call the FBI at 513-979-8821 if you believe you have information related to victimization of other minors by Wright.
Sexually exploiting a minor is a federal crime punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison.
Wright has also been charged locally and those charges remain pending.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Middletown Acting Police Chief Eric Crank announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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California man sentenced to federal prison for defrauding local business out of $10 millionRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A California man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 51 months in prison for embezzling more than $10.2 million from his employer and violating orders of the Court in a related civil lawsuit against him.
Brinson Caleb Silver, 43, of Culver City, California, used his position as a high-level executive to create a scheme involving shell companies, inflated contracts and a stolen identity.
Silver pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count each of wire fraud and contempt of court. As part of his sentence, Silver is ordered to pay more than $10.2 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Silver was the Chief Marketing Officer of Root, Inc., an online car insurance company based in Columbus. From November 2021 through November 2022, Silver entered into contracts with four vendors for marketing services. Silver directed the vendors to send a portion of their contract proceeds to bank accounts in the names of businesses that Silver owned and controlled. Those diverted payments totaled more than $10.2 million.
Silver used the millions he embezzled to buy a $1.4 million dollar yacht, a Mercedes-Benz G550 for nearly $165,000, an amphibious plane, luxury watches and other items.
As a result of his fraud scheme, in February 2023, Root sued Silver. As the civil case progressed, Silver violated multiple court orders. For example, he flouted an order entered by the Court in his civil suit that limited him to financial transactions no greater than $5,000. In addition, Silver failed to appear in court for a hearing related to his civil suit and instead spent lavishly while traveling the globe.
His expenditures in February and March 2023 violated the Court’s orders and include $20,000 on plastic surgery, nearly $25,000 at Indonesian businesses (including $8,000 at a luxury resort in Bali) and in withdrawals made in Indonesia, and more than $88,000 through PayPal to individuals. Silver also withheld from the Court information about a $1.8 million house he owned in California. Before the civil or criminal cases were filed, Silver also made two phone calls to an “international relocation” company and asked for citizenship within a country that would not extradite him to the United States, and a foreign bank account that the United States could not freeze.
Silver was charged criminally and arrested in June 2023. A grand jury indicted him in October 2023, and, in November 2023, a superseding information was filed to which he pleaded guilty.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and David J. Twombly are representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati woman pleads guilty to Social Security number fraudRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to committing Social Security number fraud. The defendant stole the identity of a deceased child and used it to avoid a pending criminal prosecution and to obtain thousands of dollars in government benefits.
Christina Vaskovsky, 56, pleaded guilty to five counts of Social Security number fraud. She was charged and arrested in November 2023.
According to court documents, Vaskovsky was indicted in Hamilton County in July 2008 for allegedly stealing $14,500 from her employer. Vaskovsky failed to appear at her trial scheduled in December 2008. A nationwide warrant was issued for her arrest.
In 2010, Vaskovsky obtained a new Ohio driver’s license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a child who was born the same year as Vaskovsky but who died in 1977.
The defendant then began using the child’s identity in a variety of contexts over a span of 13 years, including:
- Receiving $19,570 in food stamp benefits;
- Filing bankruptcy to discharge nearly $128,000 in debt;
- Obtaining Social Security disability benefits totaling nearly $39,000;
- Providing the false identity upon being arrested for shoplifting in Kentucky;
- Applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan;
- Receiving more than $11,600 in unemployment benefits;
- Obtaining Supplemental Security Income disability benefits totaling $4,833; and
- Receiving Medicare benefits under the stolen identity totaling more than $116,000.
The plea agreement recommends a sentence of 12 to 30 months in prison. As part of her plea, Vaskovsky has agreed to pay nearly $191,000 in restitution to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the USDA Office of Inspector General, Ohio BMV Investigations, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Marshals Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
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5 Central Ohioans plead guilty in narcotics & human trafficking case that charged 23 total defendantsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five individuals from Central Ohio have pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to charges stemming from a narcotics conspiracy. The guilty pleas involve an overdose death, sex trafficking and money laundering.
A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school. In October 2022, the government added 12 defendants and 28 new charges.
According to court documents, from 2008 until June 2022, lead defendants Patrick Saultz and Cordell Washington ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus that included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, fraud and money laundering.
Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.
It is alleged that Saultz began distributing heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine from his residences on Vida Place and South Hague Street in Columbus as early as 2008. The drug trafficking organization sold drugs out of more than 20 Columbus residences to customers and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers who then trafficked those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and the Northern District of Ohio. Most of the alleged drug dealing took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus.
The defendants who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., on March 13 through today include:
Name
Age
City of residence
Tyler N. Bourdo
30
Columbus
Priscilla L. Washington
59
Columbus
Michael D. Burton
40
Columbus
Gabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe
36
Canal Winchester
Brittany A. Williams
38
Columbus
Bourdo admitted to distributing fentanyl and cocaine base that resulted in death, conspiring to commit sex trafficking, and conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of an elementary school. Bourdo’s plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 20 to 25 years in prison.
According to Bourdo’s plea agreement, on Oct. 14, 2021, an individual was found deceased in an alley between Bourdo’s primary residence and a drug distribution house. The woman was found with a needle in her hand and another needle in her pocket and had been dead for approximately 18 hours.
Further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 10, 2021, the woman had overdosed on crack cocaine and fentanyl at one of the organization’s drug houses that Bourdo supplied on North Warren. Witnesses on site immediately placed the woman in a bathtub and soaked her in cold water. The witnesses provided multiple rounds of Narcan, CPR and chest compressions, eventually resuscitating her. The woman left and, over the next 48 hours, met up with Bourdo on more than one occasion to get and use more drugs.
Video surveillance of the alley shows Bourdo walking to the deceased woman’s body just moments before police personnel arrived to attempt (unsuccessfully) to obtain her phone to prevent further investigation into her death.
As part of his plea, Bourdo admitted to coercing adult drug-addicted females into performing commercial sex acts by using violence as well as providing and then withholding or threatening to withhold narcotics and lodging.
Coconspirators used residences on Racine, South Eureka, South Ogden and North Ogden avenues, Vida Place and Chestershire Road for the drug-addicted females to reside in. Various women engaged in a cycle where they would be allowed to stay at one of the residences, receive a “get well” amount of drugs, go work the street and have sex for money in order to pay the debt from the small hit of drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house. Some of the drug-addicted women brought in hundreds of dollars per day for the organization.
Bourdo entered his guilty plea before the court on March 13.
Priscilla Washington, drug ringleader Cordell Washington’s mother, was associated with the narcotics conspiracy for a number of years. She pleaded guilty today to using a facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering, a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Priscilla Washington often communicated with coconspirators via phone or internet, participating in the group’s illicit conduct, and allowed her home – which her son purchased for her in 2017 – to be a safe house for the lead defendants. When investigators searched Priscilla Washington’s home on Smith Road, they discovered 32 firearms, more than $143,000 in cash and bulk amounts of fentanyl and cocaine.
Burton pleaded guilty on March 13 to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of an elementary school (five to 80 years in prison) and illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon (up to 15 years in prison).
Burton became a source of supply for the conspiracy in 2021. He would provide bulk amounts of cocaine to the drug trafficking organization on a routine basis.
Gabriel Smith pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and alprazolam within 1,000 feet of an elementary school (five to 80 years in prison). Smith trafficked drugs on behalf of the organization, including in Morgantown, West Virginia. In addition, he was the group’s main source of supply for Perc30 pills.
Williams pleaded guilty on March 14 to conspiring to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of an elementary school (one to 40 years in prison) and conspiring to launder money (up to 20 years in prison). Williams admitted to purchasing illegal narcotics on a daily basis. She participated in transporting drugs on behalf of the organization and collected rent checks from the defendants’ purported rental homes. Williams would collect the “rent” in cash each month and obtain cashier checks or money orders for the organization.
As part of this case, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers have executed more than 20 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and seized more than $1.7 million in alleged drug proceeds. For example, while executing a search warrant at Car-Go storage units, law enforcement officials discovered approximately one million in bulk United States currency. Searches of additional residences yielded 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches and additional bulk amounts of cash.
As of today, 17 of the 23 defendants have pleaded guilty. One defendant, Carmella Brooks, has been sentenced and received a term of imprisonment of five years.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Southwest Ohio man sentenced to prison for $8.6 million investment fraud scheme that defrauded Pike County investorsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Southwest Ohio man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 24 months in prison for orchestrating an investment fraud scheme in Pike County and for failing to remit money withheld from employee paychecks to employee retirement funds.
Robert W. Walton, Jr., 55, of Loveland, Ohio, was also ordered to pay more than $8.6 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Walton committed two distinct financial crimes that resulted in a total loss of $8,657,603. He defrauded investors in a company he co-founded and stole retirement funds of its employees.
Walton engaged in a scheme to defraud investors of Hadsell Chemical Processing, LLC (HCP) and related entities. Walton was the president of HCP and fraudulently sought investments in the form of promissory notes from dozens of victim investors.
Walton claimed the notes were personally guaranteed by a prominent local business owner when in fact they were not. Walton repeatedly forged the business owner’s signature from 2012 through 2015 without the business owner’s authority on several loan documents and promissory notes.
Walton falsely represented his company’s future revenues from another business to be in the millions by creating fake invoices. The actual total legitimate business revenue HCP had with that other business was approximately $50,000. He provided the fake invoices to investors. Walton also provided investors with falsified profit and loss statements, including one that changed HCP’s net income from a loss of approximately $800,000 to a profit of nearly $395,000.
Walton also engaged in Ponzi-type activity by paying earlier investors with money received from new investors.
During part of his employment at HCP, Walton was responsible for approving the remittance of employee retirement funds to an employee benefit plan sponsored by HCP. Walton failed to remit approximately $53,000 withheld from employees’ paychecks, failing to transfer the funds into employee retirement funds.
Walton pleaded guilty in March 2023 to wire fraud and embezzling from employee benefit plans.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; and L. Joe Rivers, Regional Director, United States Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Cincinnati Regional Office, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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Jury finds Dayton men guilty on all counts in case involving murder of DEA task force officerRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted two Dayton men on all counts in a case involving the 2019 death of Dayton Police Detective and DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio.
Nathan Goddard, 44, was found guilty of murder. He and Cahke Cortner, 44, were also found guilty of multiple narcotics and firearms crimes. Goddard was found guilty of seven total counts and Cortner of four.
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Feb. 26 before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman.
“Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio dedicated his life to protecting the great people of Dayton and DEA will be forever grateful that his passion for narcotics enforcement led him to us,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “TFO DelRio was a mentor and coach to many in law enforcement, and so much more at home as a husband, a father, and a friend. Our hearts are heavy tonight after reliving the events of November 7, 2019, but more determined than ever to continue our mission of keeping Americans safe in his honor. We will never forget his sacrifice.”
“We stand with the DelRio family and our law enforcement partners, and we recognize that DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio sacrificed his life to protect this community. We will never forget his ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This case is a reminder that, as public servants, law enforcement officers do a dangerous job every day. Today’s guilty verdicts should also serve as a reminder to perpetrators of violent crime that we see these matters through to the end and we will hold you accountable.”
“The Dayton Police Department is pleased to see that the jury has found Nathan Goddard and Cahke Cortner guilty in the tragic shooting of Detective Jorge DelRio,” said Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal. “This verdict marks a significant step towards closure for Detective DelRio's loved ones, our department, and our community. We extend our gratitude to the U.S. Attorney's Office for their diligent efforts throughout this case. It is imperative that those who inflict harm in our community are held accountable, and we anticipate that the sentencing will reflect this principle.”
“Today’s verdict clearly illustrates the resolve of the federal government, state and local law enforcement, to hold accountable anyone who chooses to undermine the rule of law. It also brings some semblance of closure to the DelRio family,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “TFO Jorge DelRio made the ultimate sacrifice serving Dayton, a city to which he dedicated more than 30 years of his life as a law enforcement professional. TFO DelRio’s courage and dedication to the City of Dayton, the State of Ohio and the country will never be forgotten.”
“While we all continue to mourn the death of Detective Jorge DelRio, this verdict is an important step forward, holding accountable those who are responsible for his death,” stated FBI Cincinnati Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura. “Detective DelRio is a hero who gave his life protecting the community and he will never be forgotten.”
“These individuals are responsible for the death of Detective Jorge DelRio, who was working to keep our community safe from dangerous drug traffickers,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “As a Dayton Police Detective and DEA Task Force Officer, Det. DelRio was a selfless hero who gave his all, and ultimately his life, to protect the citizens of this nation. ATF is honored to have played a role in holding to account those responsible for Det. DelRio’s sacrifice. I hope this verdict brings some measure of closure to the family of Det. DelRio and sends a message to criminals that law enforcement will be relentless in our pursuit of justice.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 4, 2019, Goddard murdered Det. DelRio while Det. DelRio and others were executing a federal search warrant at 1454 Ruskin Road in Dayton.
During the execution of the search warrant, Det. DelRio and other officials announced themselves and entered the home at approximately 6:50pm. Det. DelRio descended the stairway to the basement of the residence, immediately came under gunfire from the basement, and was struck and killed.
As the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, from 2018 until November 2019, Goddard and Cortner participated in a narcotics conspiracy involving kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. The defendants kept firearms – including handguns fitted with laser sights – to protect the illegal drugs and their illicit proceeds.
In the residence they used, officials discovered 10 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, 50 to 60 pounds of marijuana, and more than $55,000 in cash.
Goddard and Cortner were originally charged in this case on Nov. 6, 2019, and were charged by superseding indictment in July 2022.
Goddard was convicted of murdering a federal law enforcement officer who was engaged in the performance of official duties, which is punishable by up to life in prison. He was also convicted of three counts of federal narcotics crimes (10 years up to life in prison), one count of intentionally killing someone while engaged in a drug crime (20 years up to life in prison), one count of discharging a firearm resulting in murder (10 years up to life in prison) and during a drug trafficking crime (10 years up to life in prison), and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (up to 10 years in prison).
Cortner was convicted of two counts of federal narcotics crimes (10 years up to life in prison), one count of participating in a drug trafficking crime that caused death (20 years up to life in prison), and one count of using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
Their co-defendant Lionel Combs III, 45, pleaded guilty just before the start of trial to maintaining a drug premises, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court at future hearings based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. announced today’s verdict. U.S. Attorney Parker recognized the critical assistance of the Criminal Interdiction Team of Central Oklahoma (CITCO).
Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Christina E. Mahy, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claypoole from the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
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New York man sentenced to prison for possessing incendiary device he ignited near victim’s Butler County homeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A New York man was sentenced in federal court here today to 46 months in prison for possessing an unregistered incendiary device. The defendant took a two-hour flight to light a woman’s car on fire.
Farhan Jami, 29, of East Meadow, New York, constructed an incendiary device, placed it on top of a vehicle’s hood and ignited the device. The fire destroyed the vehicle and damaged the side of the nearby Butler County house, which was occupied at the time of the fire.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Jami flew from New York to Ohio and brought thermite (an incendiary powder) and sparklers with him on the flight.
In the early morning hours of May 16, 2023, Jami traveled to a residence in Butler County and constructed an incendiary device using the thermite, sparklers and a ceramic pot. He placed the device on the hood of a car at the home and lit the sparklers. He left as the fire began.
Home security footage showed Jami wearing a hat, surgical mask and gloves while placing and lighting the device before walking away.
While responding to the scene, officers located Jami in a vehicle nearby. His shirt and pants had red residue on them consistent with thermite. Officers also discovered the lighter, hat, mask and gloves used during the crime, as well as a bag of thermite.
Jami was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in October 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy S. Mangan and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.
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Grand jury indicts 2 Central Ohio women in $2.8 million in COVID-relief fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged two Central Ohio women with crimes related to fraudulently receiving more than $2.8 million total in covid-relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Lorie A. Schaefer, 62, of Westerville, allegedly received nearly $1.9 million in covid-relief funds by fraudulently claiming an affiliation with an Ohio pizza company.
According to the indictment, Schaefer opened new bank accounts in December 2020 prior to registering a fictitious business name with the State of Ohio in March 2021.
It is alleged that Schaefer fraudulently claimed affiliation with the Flying Pizza restaurants in Dayton, Centerville and Fairborn. When notified that a PPP loan for nearly $1.9 million had been filed in the name of Flying Pizza, individuals at the family-owned business said their restaurants could not justify such a large loan.
Schaefer claimed to have 98 employees and allegedly submitted altered bank records as part of her application. Schaefer also claimed the business was established in March 2021, even though the original Flying Pizza was established in 1984. Additionally, she claimed not to be under indictment despite having pending theft charges in Meigs County. Schaefer allegedly attached multiple fraudulent documents to her PPP application, including a bank statement, tax records, and a letter from the IRS.
Bank records indicate Schaefer improperly used PPP funds for personal expenses, for example, nearly $26,000 on liposuction, a $10,000 check for a “newborn baby gift,” and more than $900,000 to purchase and renovate a condominium in Westerville. Schaefer also allegedly made purchases at Wayfair, Lamps Plus, Kroger, KFC, Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s and Olive Garden. Evidence also suggests Schaefer used the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles in Ohio and property in Australia for her personal use.
Schaefer allegedly assisted co-defendant Latisha C. Holloway, 42, of Reynoldsburg, in fraudulently receiving more than $980,000 in PPP loans.
Holloway allegedly claimed to own a business called Jaguar Logistics, LLC. Holloway stated on loan application documents that she had 76 employees and had a total gross income of $4.9 million. Her loan application was submitted within a month of Schaefer receiving PPP loans and records indicate Holloway wired Schaefer $180,000 after receiving her own loan money. According to court records, Holloway similarly attached fraudulent documents to her PPP loan, including a bank statement and tax records.
Both defendants allegedly collected unemployment benefits after receiving federal covid-relief funds.
Finally, it is alleged that Schaefer used another individual’s Social Security Number to apply for and receive an additional $20,800 in PPP funds for “LS Associates,” a corporation established by Schaefer.
The indictment charges each woman with two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and money laundering carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Schaefer and Holloway were arrested in August 2023 and originally charged at that time by criminal complaint.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Cincinnati man pleads guilty to fentanyl crime, money launderingRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in U.S. District to charges related to trafficking fentanyl and laundering the proceeds.
Nathaniel Williams, 44, admitted he possessed with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and committed money laundering. His plea agreement includes a recommended 10-year prison sentence.
According to court documents, in August 2023, Williams told an undercover agent that he had bulk amounts of cash from trafficking fentanyl and was looking for ways to transfer the money into the banking system.
Williams provided cash from his narcotics sales to the undercover agent, who then wired $15,120 of the funds into Williams’s bank account via a wire transfer. Williams withdrew $10,000 of the funds in cash a few days later.
On Oct. 18, 2023, agents discovered more than $44,000 in cash at Williams’s residence while executing a search warrant. Officials also recovered approximately 527 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl mixtures in a secret furniture compartment.
Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced the guilty plea entered on March 11 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Westerville man sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for $1.8M fraud schemesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Prince Oduro, 34, of Westerville, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 102 months in prison for wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering.
As part of his sentence, Oduro will pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution.
After being arrested in this case, Oduro was initially released from custody. He continued to defraud a victim of romance fraud while on release, causing an additional $709,500 in loss.
According to court documents, Oduro was involved in multiple fraud and money laundering schemes for several years, including through his employment at a bank and via online romance scams.
In 2015, while Oduro worked for JPMorgan Chase Bank in Columbus, he stole a customer’s bank information before calling to gain access to the account and fraudulently opening a PayPal account. Oduro transferred a total of $12,500 of the customer’s money to the PayPal account before withdrawing it in cash for himself. He attempted an additional $8,000 transfer but it was denied.
In 2016 and 2017, Oduro stole the personal information of at least four other victims. He would then open PayPal accounts linked to the stolen information and use the accounts to launder the proceeds of online romance scams. In total, through March 2020, Oduro received and laundered at least $1 million in fraud proceeds.
Victims sent money to individuals who they believed needed a medical operation, had been an American soldier in Afghanistan, were building roads in Dubai, had access to gold or silver, or other schemes. Oduro then laundered the fraudulent proceeds.
For example, one victim was told her late husband had allegedly stored valuable artwork and other items in Atlanta. The story seemed plausible to the victim because her husband had traveled extensively. The victim sent a total of $390,300 to bank accounts controlled by Oduro to receive her husband’s purported assets.
When law enforcement executed a search warrant on Oduro’s phone, they found messages in his WhatsApp messenger stating:
“This is the only business in America I can do and make 20k in a month and not get arrested…I’m locating money, I’m not fraud anyone…It’s called money laundering.”
Oduro was arrested in February 2022 and pleaded guilty in January 2023.
After being arrested and even after pleading guilty, Oduro continued his romance fraud. Before his arrest, he had caused approximately $1.1 million in loss. He caused an additional $709,500 in loss after his arrest. After investigators discovered the fraud, Oduro was arrested in November 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; announced the sentence imposed on March 7 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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Grove City man sentenced to 9 years in prison for firearms, narcotics & fraud crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A large-scale narcotics trafficker was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 108 months in prison for drug and gun crimes and wire fraud.
Dylan D. Polk, 31, of Grove City, was charged federally in October 2022.
Polk, who is also known as “Dunk,” pleaded guilty the evening before his jury trial was scheduled to begin in October 2023.
According to court documents, in October 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at a property associated with Polk. During the search, they discovered more than a kilogram of fentanyl and a bulk amount of cocaine. Investigators also discovered five firearms, including a converted Glock-pistol fully automatic weapon and an AR style rifle.
As a previously convicted felon, Polk was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Additionally, Polk committed fraud related to employment assistance and pandemic relief assistance. He fraudulently collected public employment assistance funds although he was not working. Specifically, Polk reported income from Our Lady of America Farms in 2020; however, records indicate that company was dissolved in 2018. Polk also claimed to be a barber for three years and, in 2020, received more than $12,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance. Polk was incarcerated from 2016 until 2020 and not employed.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Final defendant sentenced in narcotics case involving 76 kilograms of fentanyl, California-to-Ohio drug operationRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of 11 defendants convicted of crimes as part of a national narcotics distribution operation bringing drugs into Central Ohio from California was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today.
The organization was led by Isabel Odir Castellanos, of Los Angeles, and involved the seizure of 76 kilograms of fentanyl, as well as the seizure and forfeiture of seven firearms, vehicles and nearly $650,000 in cash. Castellanos was sentenced in June 2023 to 21 years in prison.
Today, co-defendant Justin M. Berrien, 44, of Springfield, Ohio, was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
The defendants were arrested in June 2022.
According to court documents, Castellanos transported narcotics from Los Angeles to Columbus via semi-truck. Castellanos is a business owner of a transportation company and a semi-truck driver who frequently travels across the United States.
Castellanos delivered the narcotics to a co-defendant’s residence in Columbus, which served as a stash house. Co-conspirators then delivered the drugs to mid-level retail distributors like Berrien. Those mid-level retailers then sold the drugs in Central Ohio, Youngstown, Springfield, and in West Virginia.
Castellanos would then collect the drug proceeds before returning to California.
Many of the individual drug transactions charged involve tens of thousands of dollars. For example, one drug transaction detailed in an affidavit describes a co-defendant transporting 5,000 fentanyl pills to another co-defendant’s home in Columbus in exchange for $36,000.
The other defendants in this case include:
Name
Age
City of residence
Sentence imposed
Susana M. Orellana
41
Columbus
87 months in prison
Martel D. Owens
40
Springfield
72 months in prison
Jermaine A. Peterson
39
Springfield
60 months in prison
Kelvin Battle
49
Springfield
60 months in prison
Carl Jenkins
55
Wadestown, W.Va.
60 months in prison
Dwayne S. Childs
35
Columbus
48 months in prison
James I. Sheets
51
Fairview, W.Va.
30 months in prison
Darrell Peterman Sr.
62
Youngstown
24 months in prison
Linda M. Houle
49
Springfield
Three years supervised release
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Springfield Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter is representing the United States in this case.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Former local non-profit VP sentenced to 3 years in prison for wire fraud, identity theftRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The former vice president of a Cincinnati nonprofit and manager of a purported staffing corporation was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Teela Gilbert, 37, of Cincinnati, served as the vice president, academic affairs advisor and office manager of Hope 4 Change, a nonprofit organization that provided housing and care for adults with developmental disabilities, drug addiction problems and mental disorders.
She also managed the operations of Black Wall Street Cooperative, a corporation registered with the state of Ohio that purported to create employment and business opportunities for low-income individuals.
Gilbert and co-defendant Barry Rene Isaacs – the founder, owner, CEO and president of Hope 4 Change and founder of Black Wall Street Cooperative – induced payments for false invoices to a company.
Specifically, Gilbert submitted more than 30 fraudulent invoices totaling approximately $246,000 for services not actually performed by Black Wall Street Cooperative. Her fraudulent invoices named individuals who did not work for the corporation, including the identity of one woman who had died in 2019.
According to co-defendant Isaacs’s court documents, Hope 4 Change withheld FICA taxes from its 120 to 180 employees’ paychecks but did not pay over the employment taxes to the IRS for five quarters in late 2013 and 2014. Isaacs also fraudulently applied for an auto loan and credit card using someone else’s social security account number.
Isaacs caused Hope 4 Change to spend thousands of dollars for clothing, massages, beauty care, travel and personal vehicles for Isaacs and Gilbert and their family. He was sentenced in November 2021 to 48 months in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General announced the sentence imposed on March 5 by U.S District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo is representing the United States in this case.
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Father & son sentenced to federal prison for dealing drugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A father and son were sentenced in U.S. District Court to serve 24 years and eight years in prison, respectively, for trafficking multiple kilograms of methamphetamine.
Eric Dewayne Turner, Jr., 33, was sentenced in federal court today to 97 months in prison. His father, Eric Dewayne Turner, Sr., 50, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 16 to 290 months in prison.
Turner, Sr. led a drug trafficking organization and sold large quantities of methamphetamine to undercover agents on four occasions. These controlled purchases, plus a fifth transaction that was not completed, involved nearly eight kilograms of pure methamphetamine.
Turner, Sr. pleaded guilty in May 2023 to the six counts with which he was charged in a bill of information.
He admitted his guilt to four counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possessing with intent to distribute the drug and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.
Turner, Jr. conspired with his father and others from September 2022 through January 2023 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the narcotics. Turner, Jr. personally participated in two of the drug transactions, transporting packages of methamphetamine for his father to sell to the undercover agents.
When the son was arrested, he possessed more than $16,000 in suspected drug trafficking proceeds.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Division; announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez is representing the United States in this case.
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Dayton man sentenced to prison for possessing stolen mailRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Jayon Everett Perrin, 22, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 32 months in prison for unlawfully possessing stolen mail.
According to court documents, in October 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perrin’s Dayton apartment and discovered a postal service key, a United States Postal Service logo jacket, $6,000 in cash, more than 500 checks, and approximately 15 debit or credit cards.
The checks had payable amounts ranging from approximately 50 cents to $282,000. The stolen mail also included sensitive forms and documents, such as a federal tax return, payment slips for medical and dental bills, and a loan-forgiveness application.
Perrin also possessed equipment and supplies for cloning debit and credit cards and altering stolen checks.
Perrin was charged federally in October 2022 and pleaded guilty in September 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the sentence imposed on March 5 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorneys Rob Painter and Elizabeth L. McCormick are representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man sentenced to prison for submitting false PPP loan applicationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 18 months in prison for committing wire fraud as part of a scheme to fraudulently obtain a Covid relief loan.
Kelton McClarrin, 33, received nearly $21,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under false pretenses and used the money for personal expenditures including jail commissary services, CashApp, Grubhub, DoorDash, Facebook purchases and hotels.
According to court documents, McClarrin applied for a Covid relief loan on May 16, 2021, falsely claiming in the application that he was the sole owner of a business named “Kelton McClarrin.” McClarrin claimed his business was established in 2019 and had a gross income of $100,000 for that year. McClarrin also submitted a forged bank statement in support of the loan application.
McClarrin was sentenced to two years in prison in a Hamilton County case on May 7, 2019. He remained incarcerated until Nov. 17, 2020, when he was paroled to a halfway house. He used the address of the halfway house as his business address on the loan application.
In April 2022, McClarrin applied for loan forgiveness for the $21,000 PPP loan. He stated on the application forms that he had 20 employees and had spent $20,000 of the loan on payroll costs.
McClarrin was arrested in August 2023 and pleaded guilty in October 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed on March 5 by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. The case was investigated by the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
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California man pleads guilty to transporting Highland County minor interstate to engage in criminal sexual activityRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A California man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to transporting a minor interstate to commit third degree rape of the Ohio teenager.
Alex Roman Nguyen, 29, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to transportation with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of up to 151 months in prison.
According to court documents, Nguyen met a 15-year-old girl from Hillsboro, Ohio, online and traveled from San Diego to Ohio to meet her in July 2022. Nguyen drove the minor to Kentucky to attempt to purchase airplane tickets and engaged in sex acts with the minor while in Kentucky.
Unable to obtain flight tickets, Nguyen and the minor boarded a Greyhound bus bound for San Diego and traveled on it until they were apprehended by law enforcement in El Paso, Texas.
Nguyen was charged by criminal complaint in the Southern District of Ohio the next day.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Hillsboro Police Chief Eric Daniels announced the guilty plea entered on March 4 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man pleads guilty to armed robbery of postal carrierRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Lamarion Gray, 19, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to armed robbery of a United States postal carrier.
The agreement calls for a sentence of 80 to 100 months in prison.
Gray is one of at least a dozen defendants charged in the Southern District of Ohio since 2022 with crimes related to postal robberies.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, Gray used a handgun and robbed a postal carrier for the carrier’s arrow key and vehicle key.
At approximately 4:30pm, Gray approached the mail carrier who was delivering mail by foot near Cliffside Drive in Cincinnati. Gray displayed a firearm and demanded the keys.
Video surveillance of the armed robbery was obtained by nearby residences.
When federal agents executed a search warrant on Gray’s vehicle, they discovered a postal arrow key and vehicle key, the gloves consistent to those used during the robbery, and a gold-colored barrel for a handgun consistent with the firearm used during the robbery.
Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; and Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
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Toledo man sentenced to decade in prison for armed robbery in Columbus, during which he shot a victimRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Juarvez Reemos Juan Whitfield-Neeley, 25, of Toledo, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 121 months in prison for armed robbery.
According to court documents, in March 2020, Whitfield-Neeley shot three people during two separate robberies.
“For the sake of a few dollars, Whitfield-Neeley forever altered the life of at least three victims through gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “The resulting federal cases against him should send a clear message to Whitfield-Neeley and others that it is not worth it, and you will ultimately pay by serving time in federal prison.”
While robbing the Berkeley & Main Market in Columbus on March 15, 2020, he shot the store clerk in the back of the knee. A brief struggle ensued, and a gun in the clerk’s pocket fell to the floor. Whitfield-Neeley stole the clerk’s gun and fled.
Two weeks later, in Toledo, Whitfield-Neeley used the gun he had stolen from Columbus and fired several shots at two clerks in a corner store in Toledo. He shot both clerks in the torso, stole a gun from one of the injured clerks and took the cash from the register.
In June 2020, Whitfield-Neeley was charged in the Southern District of Ohio for the Columbus robbery and shooting. He was later taken into custody in the Northern District of Ohio, where he pleaded guilty to crimes associated with the Toledo robbery and was sentenced there to 207 months in prison. The defendant will serve his sentence for the Southern District of Ohio consecutively to the sentence he is already serving.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Twombly and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
Highland County man sentenced to more than 6 years in prison for attempting hate crimeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A local, self-identified “Incel” was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 80 months in prison for attempting to conduct a mass shooting of women.
Tres Genco, 24, of Hillsboro, Ohio, admitted he plotted to commit a hate crime, namely, a plan to shoot women at a university in Ohio. He was arrested by federal agents in July 2021 and has remained in custody since.
“Genco intended to carry out a devastating mass murder of innocent women in this state for no other reason than the fact that he hated them. Everybody deserves to live without threats of violence or fearing acts of terror,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Genco’s sentence reflects the need to protect the community from him for a significant period of time. I thank each of our law enforcement partners for working together to keep our community safe.”
“Genco plotted to violently attack women and was motivated by his personal hatred,” stated FBI Cincinnati Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura. “Law enforcement, working together, stopped his deadly attack from happening. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and community partners to disrupt threats and prevent violence in our community.”
Genco identified as an Incel or “involuntary celibate.” The Incel movement is a predominantly male online community that harbors anger towards women, fueled by their inability to convince women to engage in sexual activity with them.
According to court documents, Genco maintained profiles on a popular Incel website from at least July 2019 through mid-March 2020 and posted more than 450 times on the site. More than 3,000 items on Genco’s two phones contained the word “Incel.”
In one online post, Genco detailed spraying “some foids [women] and couples” with orange juice in a water gun. Genco compared his “extremely empowering action” to similar conduct by known Incel Elliot Rodger. In May 2014, Rodger killed six people and injured 14 others, including shooting individuals outside a University of California, Santa Barbara sorority house. Prior to his mass attack, Rodger shot a group of college students with orange juice from a water gun. Rodger also emailed a 107,000-word manifesto to multiple media outlets before his mass shooting.
Genco wrote a manifesto, too, stating he would “slaughter” women “out of hatred, jealousy and revenge…” and referring to death as the “great equalizer.” The investigation revealed that the day he wrote his manifesto, Genco searched online for two sororities, including one at The Ohio State University. His Google searches included “sorority osu” and “ohio state university sororities.”
As part of this investigation, law enforcement agents discovered a note of Genco’s that indicated he hoped to “aim big” for a “huge!” kill count of 3,000 people with a reference to the same date as Elliot Rodger’s attack. The note said Genco intended to attend military training.
In 2019, Genco purchased tactical gloves, a bulletproof vest, a hoodie bearing the word “Revenge,” cargo pants, a bowie knife, a skull facemask, two Glock 17 magazines, a 9mm Glock 17 clip, and a holster clip concealed carry for a Glock.
Genco attended Army Basic Training in Georgia from August through December 2019. He was discharged for entry-level performance and conduct.
On Jan. 11, 2020, Genco wrote a note on his phone entitled “isolated” that he described as “the writings of the deluded and homicidal.” Genco signed the document, “Your hopeful friend and murderer.”
On Jan. 15, 2020, the defendant wrote another note on his phone that appears to document surveillance of an unidentified school. He wrote: “10:53 am, fairly busy, Wednesday, Students seem fairly nerdy, some hipster dull kids as well. The track is primarily unused. Ages vary. The average appears to be early 20s. Car quality is generally mid lower tier. Some sort of building behind the college look into it. They have no check of any sort entering the building. I wasn’t questioned at all. Backpacks are very common.”
That same day, Genco searched online for topics including “planning a shooting crime” and “when does preparing for a crime become an attempt?”
On March 11, 2020, Genco screenshotted information on his phone about radio codes for Columbus police and The Ohio State University police. He also accessed the Facebook pages for one of the university’s sororities.
The next day, on March 12, 2020, Highland County sheriff’s deputies responded to Genco’s residence. At the residence, in the trunk of Genco’s vehicle, police officers found, among other things, a firearm with a bump stock attached, several loaded magazines, body armor and boxes of ammunition. Inside the residence, police officers found a modified Glock-style 9mm semiautomatic pistol, with no manufacturer’s marks or serial number, hidden in a heating vent in Genco’s bedroom. As part of his plea, Genco admitted that he possessed both firearms in furtherance of his plot.
Genco pleaded guilty in October 2022 to one count of attempting to commit a hate crime.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.
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Pharmacy Owner and Operations Manager Convicted of $2.3M Ohio Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted an Ohio pharmacist and his operations manager, a pharmacy technician, yesterday for conspiring to defraud Ohio’s Medicaid program.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathanael Thompson, 45, of Westerville, owned four pharmacies in Columbus, Ohio. Sanam Ahmad, 34, of Galena, managed the pharmacies. Thompson and Ahmad conspired to charge Medicaid for a particular manufacturer’s omeprazole, a type of proton pump inhibitor, which was reimbursable at a significantly higher rate than most omeprazole. In reality, the dispensed medication was generic omeprazole purchased at big-box warehouse retail stores. In addition, to maximize profits, Thompson’s pharmacies put in place certain protocols to dispense omeprazole as though a doctor had prescribed the drug even when there was no prescription.
The jury convicted Thompson and Ahmad of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and two counts of defrauding Medicaid. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and each health care fraud charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Region, Special Agent in Charge Jeff Krafels of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and Director Steven W. Schierholt of the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, USPS-OIG, Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kathryn Furtado and Leslie Fisher of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Jefferson County man pleads guilty to federal crimes related to $4.9 million investment fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Toronto, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to crimes related to a multi-million investment scheme that victimized at least 65 individuals.
William T. Caniff, Jr., 54, admitted to committing wire fraud and money laundering.
According to court documents, Caniff executed an investment scheme through a business he helped establish called Berkley Capital Management, LLC purportedly to trade binary options.
Binary options are a type of options contract in which the payout depends on the outcome of a yes/no proposition. For example, a person may invest in a binary option related to whether a company’s stock reaches a certain value, but the binary option does not give the investor any property interest in the company’s stock itself.
From March 2016 through December 2018, Caniff’s investment funds received more than $4.9 million from investors, most of whom were Dutch nationals. Caniff misappropriated approximately $2.3 million of the investors’ funds for his own personal benefit like the purchase a residence, car payments and credit card payments.
Caniff used new investments to make payments to past investors and invested only $85,000 in binary options.
As part of his scheme, Caniff fraudulently obtained membership to the North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. (Nadex), an online binary-options exchange headquartered in Chicago. He lied about having been convicted of multiple felonies to be approved as a Trading Member on Nadex.
Parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of 30 months in prison. As part of the plea, Caniff has agreed to pay approximately $2.3 million in restitution.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
The United States Attorney’s Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation thanked the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigative Service and the Dutch Ministry of Justice for their assistance in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight are representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man pleads guilty to committing federal hate crime by physically assaulting Asian American student based on raceRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to committing a federal hate crime by physically assaulting a victim based on the victim’s race.
Darrin Johnson, 27, admitted to physically attacking an Asian American victim on Calhoun Street at the University of Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2021.
“I remain steadfast in the belief that hate has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “We will continue to use our federal law enforcement authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes like the one committed by Johnson.”
According to court documents, Johnson made racist comments toward the victim, including, “Go back to your country…You brought the kung flu here…You’re going to die for bringing it.”
After threatening to kill the victim, Johnson punched the victim on the side of his head. The force of the punch caused the victim to fall and hit his head on the bumper of a parked car. Johnson continued his attack on the victim, who was bleeding on the ground, until two bystanders intervened and restrained Johnson.
The victim suffered multiple injuries, including an orbital contusion, facial lacerations and acute head injury.
In October 2021, Johnson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and criminal intimidation for the incident and was sentenced to serve 360 days in county jail.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022.
The parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of up to 22 months in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter is representing the United States in this case.
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Grand jury indicts 2 local men in narcotics conspiracy, gun crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted two local men with crimes related to trafficking narcotics and illegally possessing firearms.
Raymond Gerard McClure, 42, of Dayton, and Christopher Michael Doerr, 32, of Middletown, are charged in an 8-count indictment.
According to the charging document, the defendants conspired from October 2023 until February 2024 to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
The drugs included 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
On Feb. 7, it is alleged Doerr possessed bulk amounts of narcotics within 1,000 feet of Middletown Early Learning Center and Oakland Park.
McClure and Doerr are each charged with illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime and in furtherance of a serious drug offense.
The narcotics conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by at least five and up to 40 years in prison. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a serious drug offense carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Division; and Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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New York man charged with sexually exploiting Clinton County minorRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A New York man was arrested on federal charges alleging he traveled to Ohio to sexually exploit a minor victim.
Noah Knight, 30, of Yonkers, New York, is charged by criminal complaint with aggravated sexual abuse and production of child pornography. He was arrested in Yonkers yesterday.
According to the charging documents, Knight met the 11-year-old victim on Snapchat and came from New York to visit her. Knight allegedly had sex with the victim multiple times that day. Knight allegedly took the victim to Wilmington Cinemas and Walmart, and his CashApp account shows purchases made at both locations.
It is alleged that Knight, who is also known as Noah Matos, made video recordings of his sexual abuse of the child.
Knight appeared in federal court in New York today and will ultimately be transported to the Southern District of Ohio to face his charges.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Wilmington Police Chief Ron Fithen announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Gaffney Painter and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Columbus man pleads guilty to sex trafficking women through force, fraud & coercionRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to sex trafficking and racketeering.
The parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of more than 19 years up to 25 years in prison for Terrael A. Alls, 29.
According to court documents, in February 2022, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force received a tip from a Columbus Division of Police emergency operator. According to the tip, an individual had contacted authorities after receiving a business card from a man advertising a modeling agency. The caller received the card at the Red Roof Inn on Renner Road in Columbus. The business card was for a company called Elite Diamond Studios and the advertised phone number were ultimately linked to Alls’s as well as various online sex escort advertisements.
Alls, who is also known as “Rell” and “Ace,” recruited women under the guise of modeling for him as a photographer. He served as a pimp for his victims, advertising them for sexual escort services on various websites. Alls transported his victims to and from hotels while giving them drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, then later using their drug dependency against them to continue profiting from their commercial sex acts. Alls was frequently physically abusive to his victims as well. For example, he fired a gun near a victim’s head and threatened to pistol-whip her. He also punched the victims and slammed them onto tables.
Alls kept the proceeds of the victims’ sexual encounters.
A forensic examination of Alls’s digital devices revealed location data or WiFi logins at several hotels, including Scarlet Inn in Worthington, Motel 6 in Grove City and Red Roof Inn in Columbus. The defendant’s laptop had more than 42,000 sexually explicit images, videos and advertisements to include images and videos of the victims identified in this case.
Alls was arrested in March 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
The case was investigated by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, The Ohio State University Police Department, Marysville Division of Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Cincinnati woman pleads guilty to laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammersRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammers.
Pamela Moore, 65, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. She was charged by a bill of information last month.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Moore’s personal and business bank accounts with multiple banks received more than $8 million in criminally derived funds. Moore personally received $1.7 million of the funds, which she used or converted to Bitcoin at the direction of the scammers.
For example, Moore maintained multiple business bank accounts for PSM Custom Designs and Jewelries and used the purported jewelry business accounts solely for money laundering.
The parties involved in Moore’s case have recommended a sentence of up to three years in prison. As part of her plea, Moore will pay $1,680,900 in restitution. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.
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Columbus man pleads guilty to fraud crimes related to stealing identities for lines of creditRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to fraud crimes related to stealing identities to get more than $100,000 in fraudulent lines of credit.
Siyuan Ye, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to his plea agreement, between January 2022 and August 2023, Ye stole the identities of at least 15 victims. Ye repeatedly obtained Ohio and Florida driver licenses of other individuals without their authorization and then used the licenses to fraudulently obtain credit from retailers in the victims’ names.
He used the fraudulent credit to purchase a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, three motorcycles and a variety of electronics.
For example, in April 2023, Ye used a stolen identity and fraudulent line of credit to purchase $8,400 worth of goods from a Micro Center in Columbus. Ye bought graphics cards, laptops and an Apple watch.
That same month, Ye used the same Ohio victim’s identity to buy a Suzuki motorcycle at Iron Pony Motorsports in Westerville.
As part of his plea, Ye has agreed to pay more than $115,000 in restitution. Parties involved in his case have recommended a sentence of 24 to 36 months in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati woman pleads guilty to making false racial discrimination claims against landlord to federal agentsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati tenant pleaded guilty in federal court today to making false statements accusing her landlord of violating the Fair Housing Act.
Dermisha Pickett, 33, fabricated messages from her landlord stating the landlord did not want Black tenants.
According to court documents, in February 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office was forwarded several text messages purportedly sent by the Cincinnati-area landlord as part of a civil rights report. The U.S. Attorney’s Office referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) to investigate the claims.
The investigation revealed that the landlord owns more than 100 properties, including 56 properties rented through HUD’s housing choice voucher program. Many of his tenants appear to be Black/African American.
In March 2023, Pickett met with HUD agents and provided the agents with numerous discriminatory messages purportedly made by Pickett’s landlord. Pickett also claimed to receive a call from the landlord as she arrived at the meeting and placed the call on speaker phone.
Pickett told agents that she had attempted to pay her portion of the rent but that her landlord returned it, stating he did not want to rent to Black individuals.
In a later interview with the landlord, the landlord told agents he did not want to continue to rent to Pickett because she was causing extensive damage to the property.
Phone records and forensic analysis indicate that no text messages were exchanged during the time periods Pickett claimed. It is alleged that Pickett used mobile applications to fabricate the text messages.
“False reports to law enforcement undermine legitimate reports of racial discrimination and could discourage victims from coming forward for fear that they will not be believed,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This office will continue to do its due diligence when presented with any potential civil rights violations.”
“Making false reports of racial discrimination is unacceptable and can have tangible effects on other tenants who rely on HUD-assisted housing,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the HUD Office of Inspector General. “In this case, if the landlord had violated the Fair Housing Act, his participation in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program may have been revoked, causing the displacement of approximately 50 families who rely on the Housing Choice Voucher program. These families would have been forced to uproot their families to find new homes, incurring non-reimbursable expenses.”
Pickett was charged by criminal complaint in August 2023.
Making a false statement to federal officers is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region announced the guilty plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo is representing the United States in this case.
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Columbus man sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for committing 6 robberiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court today to 171 months in prison for committing six robberies in Columbus in September and October 2020.
Ronald Lee Jacobs, 46, was convicted following a jury trial in August 2023 of six counts of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
At the time of the robberies, Jacobs was under supervision with the State of Ohio after serving a nine-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a firearm specification.
According to court documents and trial testimony in his current case, Jacobs committed at least six recent robberies, including:
- Hampton Inn on South Hamilton Road on Sept. 5, 2020,
- Wing Snob on North High Street on Sept. 12, 2020,
- United Dairy Farmers on North High Street on Sept. 24, 2020,
- Shell Gas Station on South Hamilton Road on Sept. 30, 2020,
- Wing Snob on North High Street on Oct. 8, 2020, and
- Walgreens on East Livingston Avenue on Oct. 12, 2020.
During the robberies, Jacobs typically wore either an inside-out gray sweatshirt or a dark sweatshirt, dark pants and used a blue bandana. Jacobs was employed at a glue factory and, during multiple robberies, had visible glue splatters on his clothing. He called off work for one robbery and left during his shift to commit another one of the robberies.
In jail calls, Jacobs discussed the firearms he used and said he committed the robberies because he was “broke” and needed to pay child support.
“There’s no excuse for committing dangerous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “There are numerous resources available to assist individuals who are returning to our communities from periods of incarceration. In this case, we are grateful that no one was seriously harmed or killed by Jacobs’s actions and his sentence reflects the fact that bad choices often have serious consequences.”
Jacobs was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in November 2020. In March 2021, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Jacobs and that indictment was superseded in September 2021.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Grand jury indicts 2 brothers & their father in narcotics, obstruction of justice conspiraciesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted two brothers and their father, charging them with crimes related to conspiracies to distribute narcotics and obstruct justice.
Chase Alexander Crump, 34, of Centerville, Colin Tanner Crump, 32, of Centerville, and Mark Crump, 56, of Englewood, were arraigned in federal court Monday and today.
Chase and Colin Crump are charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
According to court documents, the brothers conspired to distribute more than two kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 100 grams of fentanyl analogue, and cocaine. It is alleged the drug trafficking took place between November 2023 and January 2024 in Miamisburg, Englewood, Franklin, Centerville and Cincinnati.
The brothers are also charged with maintaining a drug premises on River Downs Drive in Centerville. Law enforcement agents discovered approximately half a kilogram of fentanyl analogue at the residence. While executing a search warrant at the defendants’ parents’ house near Oberer Field in Englewood, agents discovered additional fentanyl and a firearm.
After the FBI arrested Chase and Colin Crump in January 2024, it is alleged they conspired with their father, Mark Crump, on jail calls to obstruct the investigation. For example, they allegedly conspired to destroy Chase Crump’s burner phone. All three defendants are charged with conspiring to obstruct justice, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit; and members of the Warren County Drug Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Dayton man sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamineRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Dlaquan Cantrell, 33, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 132 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in fall 2022, Cantrell sold narcotics to an undercover officer on four occasions. Prior to the meetups, Cantrell used FaceTime, voice calls and text messages to set up the drug transactions. For example, in one FaceTime call, Cantrell opened a shoe box and showed the undercover officer a large amount of drugs and cash.
Cantrell sold drugs in the parking lots of local establishments like Applebee’s and Kohl’s.
When law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence at which Cantrell was staying, officers discovered hundreds of grams of marijuana hidden in a Lego box in a child’s room, as well as fentanyl, a stolen, loaded firearm and magazine attachment. Cantrell also hid $8,000 in cash inside a child’s teddy bear.
The fentanyl Cantrell sold was mixed with Xylazine.
Cantrell was arrested in October 2022 and pleaded guilty in September 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and members of the Warren County Drug Task Force announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case.
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Columbus man sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for attempting to support terrorist plot to murder former PresidentRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Iraqi citizen living in Columbus was sentenced in federal court here today to 178 months in prison for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization as part of a plot to murder former United States President George W. Bush.
Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab, 53, believed the former President was responsible for killing many Iraqis and breaking apart the entire country of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The defendant’s own life changed during and after the war and he proudly assisted in this plot.
Shihab originally entered the United States in September 2020 and primarily resided in Columbus from December 2020 until his arrest in May 2022. Throughout much of that time, Shihab attempted to provide material support to terrorists in furtherance of a plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush.
Shihab hoped to smuggle at least four Iraqis associated with ISIS into the United States with the goal of completing the assassination. In fact, in the fall of 2021, Shihab believed he successfully smuggled an ISIS member into the United States for a fee of $40,000. Shihab accepted tens of thousands of dollars for the purported smuggling. In reality, the individual was fictitious, and the interaction was coordinated under the direction of the FBI.
In furtherance of the assassination plot, Shihab traveled to Dallas in February 2022 to conduct surveillance of locations associated with the former President. For example, he recorded videos of the front access gate and surrounding area leading into the neighborhood of the former President’s home.
In March 2022, Shihab met with others in a hotel room in Columbus to look at sample firearms and law enforcement uniforms.
Shihab required the use of burner phones, encrypted communication applications and code names as plans evolved.
Shihab was arrested by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force agents in May 2022. He pleaded guilty in March 2023 to attempting to provide material support to terrorists. Shihab was also sentenced today to a lifetime of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, National Security Division; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight and Trial Attorney Frank Russo from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division are representing the United States in this case.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Charges, Including a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Violation, for Threatening a Reproductive Health Services ClinicRead the Press Release
An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor charge under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits a person from intentionally interfering with or intimidating any person because that person is providing reproductive health services. Mohamed Waes, 33, of Columbus, also pleaded guilty to felony charges of communicating interstate threats and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2022, Waes intentionally interfered with and intimidated employees of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio by threatening over the phone to burn down their building because they were providing reproductive health services.
“Threatening to burn down facilities that provide reproductive health services is not just unlawful, it’s conduct that frightens and obstructs patients and providers of reproductive services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the FACE Act to protect all patients who seek reproductive health services and to protect all staff and facilities that provide these services.”
“We will hold accountable individuals who make threats of force against health service providers and institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will do our part in charging those who break federal laws. As a society, we must handle our disagreements in a more civil way than threats of violence and intimidation.”
“Mohamed Waes made a credible threat to commit violence and harm others,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights violations and work with our partners to keep the community safe.”
“Waes played a crucial role in a business email compromise scheme by attempting to launder nearly $2 million in fraud proceeds,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Cincinnati Field Office. “IRS:CI remains committed to following the money and bringing those who launder illegal proceeds to justice.”
According to court documents, Waes also conspired with others from on or about March 21, 2019, through on or about March 4, 2020, to launder funds using business email compromise (BEC) fraud schemes. As part of this conspiracy, scammers created fake email domains which mimicked legitimate email domains and then sent emails to various companies impersonating vendors and asking that payments be made on actual invoices to bank accounts controlled by Waes and others. Waes attempted to launder a total of $1,972,792.84 in BEC proceeds, of which he successfully laundered $273,982.08.
A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office and IRS:CI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Rausch and Peter Glenn-Applegate for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.