Southern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jury convicts Cincinnati woman of crimes related to COVID-19 relief fraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Ohio today convicted Kelli Prather, 51, of Cincinnati of crimes pertaining to her request for more than $1.2 million in pandemic relief loans. She was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals after the jury returned its guilty verdicts.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the trial that began July 18, 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 $19,800.
The jury convicted her of six counts of bank fraud (punishable by up to 30 years in prison), one count of making false statements in connection to credit or loan applications (up to 30 years in prison), four counts of wire fraud (up to 20 years in prison), and three counts of aggravated identity theft (carrying a mandatory 2-year sentence to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed). The court will set a date for sentencing following a pre-sentence investigation.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General; and other members of the Financial Crimes Working Group Pandemic Fraud Committee announced the verdict at the conclusion of the trial before U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.
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Hocking County woman sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children as young as 3-years-oldRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Logan, Ohio, woman was sentenced in federal court here today to 480 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors as young as 3-years-old and possessing child pornography.
Carrie Daniels, 38, was charged federally in April 2022 along with her significant other, Robert Gemienhardt, 42. Gemienhardt was sentenced to 45 years’ incarceration in February 2023 for producing child pornography of a 3-year-old child and possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse, some of which depicted other minor children to whom the defendants had access.
The two defendants groomed minor victims, sexually abused the victims, and created child pornography of the abuse.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Kik messenger regarding Gemienhardt’s online child exploitation activities conducted at Daniels’s residence. The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office then began investigating the allegations and learned that four minor children lived in the home with Daniels and Gemienhardt.
Subsequent search warrants executed by the Hocking County Sherriff’s Office, in conjunction with the FBI, revealed that Daniels had produced child pornography of an approximately 3-year-old child and distributed the images she had produced to Gemienhardt. Those images were ultimately recovered on Gemienhardt’s phone. Daniels also photographed two of the minor children, who were 9 and 13 years of age at the time, nude in the bathroom. Daniels then sent those images of the minor children to Gemienhardt as well. Further evidence revealed that at times, Gemienhardt and Daniels acted together to produce child pornography through the grooming and sexual abuse of two of the minor victims to whom they had access between April and June of 2020.
Daniels and Gemienhardt, who was a registered sex offender in the state of Ohio, exchanged thousands of illicit text messages detailing their sexual fantasies about four separate minor victims.
Daniels pleaded guilty in October 2022 to sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Hocking County Sheriff Lanny E. North announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
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Butler Township man sentenced to 17 years in prison for gun, drug crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Timothy Jefferson, 46, of Butler Township, was sentenced in United States District Court here today to a total of 204 months in prison for dealing cocaine, meth, and fentanyl, and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug dealing.
Jefferson pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He received a sentence of 144 months for this crime. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, a crime that carries a mandatory sentence of five years in prison to be served consecutive to any other penalty.
According to court documents, from at least May 2021 until December 2021, Jefferson obtained bulk amounts of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine for resale and distribution in the greater Dayton area. Jefferson and others would travel out-of-state to receive the bulk amounts of narcotics, driving the drugs back to Southern Ohio and staying in hotels along the way.
“These drugs are very dangerous and pose a great risk to the safety of those who comes in contact with it,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Jefferson’s actions of maintaining firearms to protect himself and his drugs also created a great risk to the community.”
Jefferson was also sentenced to forfeit three firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, a Chevy El Camino and more than $55,000 in cash. He will be under court supervision for five years after he completes his prison term.
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); members of the Tactical Crime Suppression Unit; Kettering Police Chief Christopher N. Protsman; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, announced the guilty sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith is representing the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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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Grand jury indicts two central Ohio men for bank robbery, gun crime in connection with I-70 shootoutRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury here has returned a two-count indictment charging two central Ohio men with aiding and abetting bank robbery and aiding abetting the use of a firearm in a crime of violence.
Aden Abdullahi Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg and Fazsal M. Darod, 23, of Columbus allegedly committed the crimes on July 6th, robbing a Fifth Third bank in Hilliard. Columbus Police and other law enforcement officers encountered them on I-70 near downtown Columbus after the robbery. A shootout followed during which a Columbus Police officer was severely injured and a third person in the car with Darod and Jama was killed.
The United States Marshals’ Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team arrested Darod in the early morning hours of July 7 outside his Columbus residence. U.S. Marshals and Homeland Security Investigation agents arrested Jama at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on July 8 and is transporting him back to Ohio. Jama and Darod have been in custody since their arrests.
Aiding and abetting a bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a potential penalty of at least five years and up to life in prison.
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; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the United States Marshals in Columbus and Chicago; ICE and HSI Chicago; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; the Whitehall, Minerva Parka and Upper Arlington police departments; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the indictment returned yesterday. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton 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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Property company owner sentenced to prison for rental assistance fraudRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Tipp City man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 18 months in prison for defrauding a local non-profit organization. He was also ordered to pay $94,942 in restitution.
Antoine Draines, 43, defrauded Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (MVCAP) of rental assistance funds. MVCAP received federal funding as part of the CARES Act.
According to court documents, Draines controlled and operated Freedom for Living Property Management, LLC in Tipp City. The company owned and served as landlord of numerous rental properties in Dayton. According to Draines, he was, at one point, the second-largest individual owner of Section 8 housing units in Greater Dayton.
From at least June 2020 until December 2020, Draines lied to MVCAP so that he could improperly collect emergency rental assistance money for certain Freedom for Living properties. Draines knowingly sent false landlord statement forms concealing the critical fact that certain tenants were already having a substantial portion of their rent paid through federally funded housing vouchers.
Draines pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March 2023.
In addition, Draines fraudulently applied for and received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, resulting in Draines wrongfully collecting approximately $30,000.
“Through a cynical, opportunistic fraud scheme, Draines, sought to steal more than $150,000 from MVCAP by seeking emergency assistance that was not actually needed, or not actually used, to cover the rental obligations of existing tenants,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “The specific circumstances of Draines’ COVID-related fraud only make it worse. Draines targeted programs intended to aid those struggling to make ends meet in the face of the pandemic, converting a global health crisis into a chance at a quick buck.”
"Mr. Draines used his position during an unprecedented national pandemic to steal critical taxpayer money intended to help families," said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice. “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.”
“Antoine Draines defrauded the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) by filing false unemployment insurance (UI) claims. Draines stole benefits intended to assist those who became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and ODJFS to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Joining Parker in announcing the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose were Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter and Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi are representing the United States in this case.
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Former central Ohio man pleads guilty to fraud in applications for $1.1 million in COVID relief loansRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- James P. Dawson, 40, of Orlando, Florida pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making a false statement within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States related to five coronavirus relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans and four Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
According to court documents, beginning in April 2020 and continuing until October 2020, Dawson, while living in central Ohio, submitted five fraudulent applications to obtain PPP loans, two of which were approved and funded. He also submitted four fraudulent applications to obtain EIDLs. None of the EIDLs were funded, but he received three EIDL Advances. Dawson’s applications collectively sought over $1.1 million in fraudulent loans and the lenders disbursed over $200,000 as a result of his fraudulent loan applications.
The fraudulent PPP applications made several materially false representations regarding the operations of the businesses, including monthly payroll expenses and number of employees. The PPP applications also falsely represented that the businesses were in operation on February 15, 2020.
For example, Stadium Bar LLC was a business that ultimately opened as a sports bar. Despite Dawson's certification that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, the certificate of occupancy for the bar's location was not signed until March 20, 2020, the bar did not have a liquor license until May 26, 2020, and Dawson admitted in a law enforcement interview that it did not open until June 20, 2020.
Created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Paycheck Protection Program authorized qualifying small businesses to receive forgivable loans to help pay payroll costs, rent utilities, interest on mortgages, and other permissible expenses. The size of the PPP loan a particular business could receive was based in part on its average monthly payroll costs. PPP loans were entirely forgivable if the funds were used for specified expenses.
In order to obtain a PPP loan, a business was required to submit a loan application to an approved lender. The loan application was required to be signed by an authorized representative of the business and to contain certain information, such as average monthly payroll expenses and number of employees. Applicants were also required to provide supporting documentation, such as federal tax returns and other financial documentation. Any PPP loans that were funded by lenders were fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The CARES Act also expanded the EIDL Program, which authorized qualifying small businesses to receive loans to help pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The SBA also offered an EIDL Advance that was designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that were experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The EIDL Advance was considered a grant and was not required to be repaid. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.
Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Making a false statement within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States carries a maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Dawson will be sentenced on a date to be determined after the court completes a pre-sentence investigation.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Brady Ipock, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Central Regional Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States.
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Cincinnati man pleads guilty to illegally accessing email, social media accounts of hundreds of women to obtain sexually explicit photosRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to accessing the email and social media accounts of hundreds of women to search for sexually explicit photos of them.
Dwayne Curry, 34, admitted he identified women through the internet, television and in person and then intentionally sought to access their email and Snapchat accounts.
Curry used cryptocurrency to purchase passwords through various dark websites that sell stolen user account information.
The defendant then accessed the women’s Snapchat accounts to view and save their private photos.
In total, Curry unlawfully accessed at least 48 women’s Snapchat accounts and more than 300 email accounts. Some of the identified victims included a woman he met in person in Cincinnati, and two women he saw on television. The women resided in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Curry was charged by bill of information in May 2023.
Unauthorized access of a computer is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by FBI Knoxville and Cincinnati, the Knoxville (TN) Cyber Task Force and the University of Tennessee Police Department.
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Dayton man sentenced to 2 years in prison for stealing checks from U.S. MailRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Keith Dujuan Calahan, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for receiving and unlawfully possessing materials stolen from the U.S. Mail, including approximately 250 checks. Callahan intended to use the stolen mail matter to perpetrate more than $250,000 in fraud.
Local law enforcement began placing GPS tracking devices inside “dummy” packages in collection boxes outside the Dabel Post Office in Kettering, and, in May 2022, three such packages were stolen.
According to court documents, law enforcement tracked the GPS locations of the stolen packages and set up surveillance around an apartment complex Dayton. Three individuals were subsequently arrested, including Calahan. Calahan had two trash bags full of stolen mail matter, including two of the dummy packages.
While executing a search warrant at Calahan’s apartment, investigators discovered 250 stolen checks, nearly $1,700 in cash, a $1,000 money order and two firearms. Two weeks prior to his arrest, Calahan had fraudulently deposited a $6,100 check, which had been stolen from the U.S. Mail and altered to reflect a different payee.
Calahan pleaded guilty in February 2023 to receipt and possession of stolen mail.
“The theft of mail can be hugely disruptive to the lives of those whose private communications are stolen, opened, and exploited,” said United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This sentence should be a warning to anyone tempted to break into a collection box in search of easy money that doing so comes with considerable consequences.”
Parker and Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; announced the judgment issued on July 13 by U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter is representing the United States in this case.
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Licking County man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting minor boys he met through church youth groupRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Licking County man was sentenced in federal court here today to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors and soliciting child pornography from dozens of other minor boys through the mobile application Snapchat.
Matthew I Reif, 27, of Newark, Ohio, victimized at least 52 minor boys, some of whom he had access to through his role in a local youth church group. The exploitation of these minor males took place both in the community and online between October 2020 and July 2022.
“Reif exploited his victims’ vulnerabilities through their religion, their financial limitations and their youth for his own perverted fantasies,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “For the well-being of those children whom he has already harmed, and to prevent the mental, psychological or physical damage to any additional children, Reif must be kept away from society for a significant period of time.”
According to court documents, Reif offered gifts and money to minor boys and, in exchange, requested the minors engage in sex acts with him or for him. Reif used text messaging and Snapchat to communicate with his victims, some of whom he only had access to online and had not met in person. The defendant would pose as a female named “Nicole” via Snapchat to obtain child sexual abuse material from the minor males. Twelve of the identified victims in this case indicated they sent photos or videos to Reif on Snapchat when they were between 14 and 17 years old, believing Reif to be a female.
The defendant also contacted minor males he knew from the community, posing as himself and garnering their trust through his position in a Heath, Ohio, church. Reif would then screen record any pornographic content he received from the minors via Snapchat. In addition, Reif was trusted with some of the victims on overnight stays, during which he surreptitiously recorded the victims with a hidden camera that he placed in different bathrooms. Reif saved the images and videos he created and obtained and then organized the content by the name of the male minor depicted.
Reif pleaded guilty in December 2022 to sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
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2 Central Ohio men arrested in robbery incident that resulted in shooting of Columbus police officerRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Central Ohio men have been arrested and charged federally for their alleged roles in robberies that resulted in the July 6 shooting of a Columbus police officer.
Aden Abdullahi Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg, was arrested this afternoon at Chicago O’Hare International Airport by United States Marshals and HSI agents. Jama had purchased a flight leaving at 12:35pm for the country of Turkey.
Fazsal M. Darod, 23, of Columbus, was arrested in the early morning hours of July 7 outside his residence in Columbus by the United States Marshals’ Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team.
Both men are charged with aiding and abetting a bank robbery and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to affidavits filed in support of criminal complaints, on July 6 at approximately 2:13pm, Jama, Darod and a third suspect allegedly stole a black Porsche SUV from Byer Imports Car Lot on North Hamilton Road in Columbus.
The defendants then allegedly participated in a robbery at approximately 4pm at the Fifth Third Bank on Hilliard Rome Road in Hilliard. An armed suspect stole thousands of dollars before fleeing in a black Porsche SUV.
A few minutes later, Columbus police officers encountered the stolen vehicle and suspects on Interstate 70 East near West Mound Street. During the encounter, a Columbus police officer was struck by gunfire and seriously wounded. One of the suspects was also shot and died at the scene.
Jama and Darod allegedly fled from the scene on foot and avoided immediate apprehension.
Officers recovered two firearms from the scene: a Glock handgun with an extended magazine and a semiautomatic handgun.
Aiding and abetting a bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a potential penalty of at least five years and up to life in prison.
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; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the United States Marshals in Columbus and Chicago; ICE and HSI Chicago; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; the Whitehall, Minerva Parka and Upper Arlington police departments; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is 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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Former chair of Ohio Republican Party sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in racketeering conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 51, of Bexley, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court today to 60 months in prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy.
A jury found Borges and former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 63, of Glenford, Ohio, guilty of violating the racketeering statute. The verdict was announced on March 8 following a six-week trial.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Borges conspired with others to violate the racketeering statute in a conspiracy involving nearly $61 million in bribes paid to a 501(c)(4) entity to pass and uphold House Bill 6, a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.
“Borges willingly joined the criminal enterprise knowing its members were involved in a bribery conspiracy. He personally sought out, solicited, and bribed an individual for insider information,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Borges has been involved in politics and worked with public officials for more than 20 years. He knew exactly where the lines were when he decided to cross them and participate in a criminal enterprise. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that illegal conduct.”
Borges’ primary role in the enterprise was to deprive Ohioans of the opportunity to overturn what Borges knew was corrupt legislation. He was budgeted $25,000, which he laundered through his own bank accounts, to bribe a political operative for secret, real-time information.
The defendant created a new entity – 17 Consulting Group LLC – and agreed to funnel $1.62 million to 17 Consulting that had already been laundered through Householder’s 501(c)(4), Generation Now.
Borges gave the operative a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum. Borges paid himself $360,000 of the laundered money.
Campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. They await sentencing. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others.
Householder was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday to 240 months in prison. Both he and Borges have been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
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Former Ohio House Speaker sentenced to 20 years in prison for leading racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million in bribesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 64, of Glenford, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court here today to 240 months in prison for leading a racketeering conspiracy to receive nearly $61 million in bribes to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout. The Court remanded Householder to the custody of the U.S. Marshals at the conclusion of sentencing.
"Larry Householder led a criminal enterprise responsible for one of the largest public corruption conspiracies in Ohio history," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Elected officials owe a duty to provide honest services to their constituents – transparency, integrity and accountability are foundational principles of democracy. Householder once held one of the three most powerful offices in the State of Ohio. Now, because of his corruption, he will serve a substantial prison sentence.”
“The people of Ohio are the true victims of Larry Householder’s corrupt scheme to increase his power and pass a billion-dollar corporate bailout,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “While we hope this sentence clearly demonstrates that corruption does not pay, the FBI will continue to investigate and pursue those who abuse their positions and take advantage of the public.”
A jury found Householder and former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 50, of Bexley, Ohio, guilty of participating in a racketeering conspiracy. The verdict was announced in March, following a six-week trial that included more than 1,000 exhibits and 25 witnesses.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Householder and his enterprise conspired to violate the racketeering statute through honest services wire fraud, receipt of millions of dollars in bribes and money laundering.
Householder and his conspirators exploited the lack of transparency in 501(c)(4) entities to bury their corrupt and complex scheme to accept nearly $61 million in bribes to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from March 2017 to March 2020, the enterprise traded millions of dollars in bribery campaign donations in exchange for Householder’s and the enterprise’s help in passing House Bill 6. The defendants then also worked to corruptly ensure that HB 6 went into effect by defeating a ballot initiative to overturn the legislation.
In March 2017, Householder began receiving quarterly $250,000 payments from the related-energy companies into the bank account of his 501(c)(4), Generation Now. Team Householder spent millions of the company’s dollars to support Householder’s political bid to become Speaker, to support House candidates they believed would back Householder, and for their own personal benefit.
The United States detailed that Householder spent more than half a million dollars of the dark money to pay off his credit card balances, repair his Florida home and settle a business lawsuit.
Borges used approximately $366,000 for his personal benefit.
Borges was budgeted $25,000 to bribe an Ohio Republican operative to try to save House Bill 6. Borges gave the man a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum. Borges is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow.
Householder’s longtime campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others. Longstreth and Cespedes await sentencing; their hearings have not yet been scheduled.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
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Columbus man sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexually exploiting three minorsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 37-year-old Columbus man was sentenced today to 540 months in prison for coercing at least three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit activity for the purpose of producing images and videos of the acts. Two of those victims were offered cash and gifts to entice them into performing and/or engaging in sexually explicit acts with him.
Raymond L. Williams committed this exploitation between 2016 and July 2022.
Court documents say that the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received a CyberTipLine report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images depicting child sexual abuse had been uploaded to an online account that was traced to one of the victims, an approximately 14-year-old minor male. Investigators interviewed the minor victim who said the images and videos were created for Williams and that his chats with Williams took place through third party messaging apps.
The investigation further revealed that Williams would provide sex toys to the minor victim to use in the sexually explicit conduct by leaving them in hiding places around the downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Law enforcement then assumed the identity of the minor victim in online platforms and began communicating with Williams, setting up a meeting at the library in which Williams expected to engage in sexual intercourse with the minor. Upon his arrival, Williams was placed under arrest by the ICAC task force and his electronic devices were seized. Williams has been in custody since his arrest.
Further investigation and forensic analysis of those devices identified two additional victims who stated that Williams offered them cash or gifts in exchange for sexual acts occurring between the time frame when the victims were 11 through 17 years of age. Investigators found images, videos, and text messages with the victims on phones seized from Williams further confirming the statements of all three victims. Williams pleaded guilty in March 2023 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He was sentenced today to 360 months on each count of sexual exploitation of a minor and 540 months on the coercion and enticement of a minor charge, with each count to run concurrently.
“Predators are looking for underaged people they can manipulate and exploit,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Sexual abuse is never contained to a present moment. It lingers across a child’s lifetime and has pervasive, long-term ramifications.”
Parker was joined by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and agencies participating in the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children task force in announcing the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
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Dayton man sentenced to 17 years in prison for narcotics, gun crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 204 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute bulk amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Laramie Lawson, 37, possessed more than 5.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 500 grams of fentanyl and three firearms, magazines, and ammunition.
“To others who may consider going down the same path as Lawson: dealing drugs may seem like easy money, but it is not worth it to lose your liberty,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
In January 2021, law enforcement encountered Lawson at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport with more than $19,000 in cash concealed in his carry-on bag. The day before, Lawson had purchased a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. He was unemployed at the time.
During a later investigation by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force, task force members executed a search warrant at Lawson’s residences on Stolz Avenue and Sylvan Drive.
At the Stolz Avenue location, they discovered: 5,405 net grams of methamphetamine, 5.64 net grams of fentanyl and 2.79 net grams of cocaine. The bulk amounts of methamphetamine were in an upstairs bedroom closet as well as a kitchen cabinet. Handguns were discovered on top of the refrigerator near the methamphetamine and in an armrest of the living room recliner.
While searching the residence on Sylvan Avenue, investigators discovered bulk amounts of fentanyl and a loaded handgun in the primary bedroom.
Lawson was charged by criminal complaint in October 2022 and indicted by a grand jury in December 2022. He pleaded guilty to three federal drug counts in March 2023.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and other members of the FBI’s Southern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
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6 men convicted of conspiring to traffic gunsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of six conspirators responsible for trafficking more than 100 firearms pleaded guilty in federal court here today.
Jadden I. Bedell, 21, of Cleveland, admitted to his role in the conspiracy involving 114 guns.
According to court documents, between January and May 2022, the defendants illegally dealt in firearms without a federal firearms license. Many of the firearms were resold in Cleveland and Rochester, New York, and have been recovered in connection with other crimes and shootings.
Two defendants – Brian R. Cunningham, 43, of Marysville, Ohio, and Tyson Rathburn, 47, of Ashville, Ohio – purchased the guns at licensed firearms dealers in the Southern District of Ohio, including at Frazier Firearms LLC, George Washinguns LLC and Rural King. The pair sometimes used straw purchasers to obtain guns. The defendants then listed the firearms for sale online at marked-up prices.
The four other co-conspirators completed a series of trips from Cleveland to Columbus to purchase the firearms from Cunningham and Rathburn. Two of those customer co-defendants, Charles L. Jackson, 28, of Rochester, New York, and Anthony D. Redmond, 59, of Cleveland, were prohibited from possessing firearms because they had previously been convicted of or are currently under indictment for felony crimes.
Beddell, Jackson, Redmon and Martino D. Lorenzi, 35, of Cleveland, met with Cunningham and Rathburn multiple times at gas stations and stores in the Southern District of Ohio to purchase handguns.
For example, on March 19, 2022, Beddell and Jackson met Rathburn near a gas station in Marengo, Ohio, to buy 42 firearms for $14,000 total.
In May 2022, Beddell, Jackson and Lorenzi purchased 16 firearms from an undercover ATF agent.
Each of the six defendants has pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal in the business of firearms without a license, which is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Jackson has been sentenced to 51 months in prison, and his five co-defendants await sentencing.
Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing is 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; and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); announced the guilty plea offered today. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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U.S. Attorney warns about rise in online impersonators exploiting childrenRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced today that his office and law enforcement agencies are seeing an increase in cases involving impostors posing as others, especially as children or teens on social media and online gaming platforms, persuading victims to provide sexual or intimate personal information, and using that information to threaten or intimidate their victims.
Parker urged parents and caregivers to take steps to help young people identify the impostors and avoid becoming victims.
“Social media has opened up a whole new realm of child exploitation opportunities,” Parker said. “An online predator can easily amass victims across the United States by pretending to be someone they aren’t. Offenders will tell fictitious stories and create personas to manipulate and coerce victims.”
Parker offered the following guidance to parents and child caregivers:
- Know what devices your child is using and their passcodes to access the devices;
- Become familiar with the online games and the social media your child uses, and the privacy settings in the games and apps;
- Set limits on the time your child spends online;
- Talk with your child about the dangers of sharing personal information or images online and how those images can damage their mental health and reputation; and
- Watch for sudden changes in a child’s behavior such as isolation, missing school, losing interest in friends, becoming obsessive about their phone, and being angry or upset after they’ve been online.
Parker also emphasized that parents need to maintain open lines of communication with their children letting their child know that the parent will be monitoring the child’s online activity to protect their child. “Assure your child that they can come to you and talk judgment-free about their online activity, who they’ve met, and what they discuss,” Parker said.
Parker cited recent cases of a 28-year-old high school coach accused of impersonating a 15-year-old girl and persuading his victims to send sexually explicit photos which he distributed over the internet, and a convicted sexual offender who allegedly worked with his girlfriend claiming that the only way he could get life-saving surgery for his mother was to sell sexually explicit images and videos of minor victims. Defendants in all criminal cases should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Parker said these two cases, like many child exploitation cases, started with caregivers or other adults notifying local law enforcement of their concerns. He urges any parents who suspect their children could be victims of online exploitation to contact their local law enforcement agency. Many local agencies participate in Internet Crimes Against Children task forces that unite federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute cases of child exploitation.
To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
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Doctor Convicted of Illegally Distributing Opioids and Other DrugsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Columbus convicted an Ohio doctor yesterday for illegally prescribing buprenorphine and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Eskender Getachew, 58, of Galena, unlawfully prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines to his patients. This included prescribing Subutex, which has a high risk of abuse and diversion, to patients for whom the drug is not indicated. The number of pills Getachew prescribed depended on the amount of money patients paid at their office visits. Getachew was aware of several reports that patients were selling their Subutex, but his prescribing continued unabated.
The jury convicted Getachew of 11 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. 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.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. 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 DEA Detroit Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Timothy Landry and Samantha Stagias of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past four years, ARPO has charged over 115 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. To date, more than 80 ARPO defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Assistant high school volleyball coach arrested on federal child exploitation chargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An assistant volleyball coach at New Lexington High School was arrested by federal agents today on charges claiming he sexually exploited minors and distributed, received and possessed child pornography.
Clay Thomas Wolfe, 28, of Junction City, Ohio, allegedly obtained child pornography from more than 100 victims via the mobile application Snapchat since 2018.
The defendant appeared in federal court in Columbus at 1pm today.
It is alleged Wolfe pretended to be a 15-year-old female on Snapchat and used this persona to solicit child pornography from middle school and high school boys. The known victims resided 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 of age.
Wolfe – acting as the username “Ally” on Snapchat – allegedly sent the male victims a photograph of a pubescent female’s naked breasts and images and videos of female genitalia as part of his persona.
According to Snapchat records, between March 2022 and January 2023, Wolfe engaged in online communications with more than 100 other Snapchat users. A forensic review of Wolfe’s iCloud account also allegedly revealed more than 100 photos and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Sexual exploitation of a minor is a federal crime punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years in prison. Distribution and receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory term of imprisonment of five years up to 20 years’ incarceration.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the charges with the assistance and 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.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Grand jury indicts repeat sex offender & his girlfriend for using ruse of dying relative to coerce minor victim into creating child pornographyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A 35-year-old repeat sex offender and his girlfriend have been charged federally with crimes related to coercing a minor female into producing child pornography. It is alleged the defendants used a ruse to trick the victim into believing that one defendant’s mother was dying and, to pay for life-saving surgery, the victim needed to send sexually explicit pictures and videos of herself to a third party over the internet.
John Brickhouse, 35, and Nina Darling, 26, both of Junction City, Ohio, are charged in a 19-count superseding indictment. The case was unsealed today.
According to court documents, the couple conspired for approximately seven months to coerce a minor girl, whom Brickhouse had met online, into producing and sending child pornography.
It is alleged that Brickhouse and Darling told the victim that Brickhouse’s mother had two weeks left to live, but that a third party had agreed to pay for life-saving surgery if the victim created and sent sexually explicit images and videos of herself in exchange.
The third party – “Michael Jones” – was in actuality a fictitious persona created by Brickhouse and Darling. It is alleged that Darling, at Brickhouse’s request, posed as “Michael Jones” in order to convince the victim that Brickhouse’s mother’s life could be saved if only the victim created and sent child pornography. Darling also allegedly posed as Brickhouse’s dying mother and Brickhouse’s aunt as part of this deception.
The victim, believing that she was acting to save Brickhouse’s mother’s life, created and sent the child pornography as requested. Brickhouse and Darling allegedly obtained and then distributed the child pornography to others, including to registered sex offenders.
In a separate scheme, Brickhouse allegedly coerced a different minor victim into producing child pornography.
Brickhouse is a registered sex offender whose most recent conviction was in 2015 for sexually assaulting a child. His multiple sexual offenses against children date back to 2009 and involve victims as young as 3 years old. Brickhouse committed many of the alleged crimes while he was in custody for his prior sexual offenses against minors.
If convicted as charged, Brickhouse faces 25 years up to life in prison and Darling faces between five and 30 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Mahy and Kelly K. Rossi are 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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Justice Department Secures Settlement with Dayton, Ohio, Police Department to Ensure Non-Discriminatory Treatment of People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it entered into a settlement agreement with the City of Dayton, Ohio, and the Dayton Police Department (DPD) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to resolve allegations that DPD discriminated against a driver during a traffic stop.
The ADA requires that cities, law enforcement agencies and other public entities provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in their services, including policing. The ADA also requires a police department or other public entity to reasonably modify its practices when necessary to avoid discrimination.
This agreement resolves a complaint by a driver who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair who was pulled over by DPD officers. The officers ordered him to get out of his car, but he did not have his wheelchair with him. He told the officers that he could not get out safely without his wheelchair. Over his protests, the officers ordered him out, and refused his request that they call a supervisor. The officers also did not call for assistance or equipment to enable the driver to safely exit. Instead, they pulled him out of his car onto the ground, handcuffed him and dragged him to a police car.
“No one should be subjected to discriminatory treatment during police interactions and that includes people with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Law enforcement agencies and their officers are required to make reasonable modifications to their policies and procedures when interacting with people with disabilities and failure to do so may violate federal civil rights law. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce the ADA to ensure that police officers are not discriminating against people with disabilities.”
“Ensuring that law enforcement officers understand the scope of the ADA will only positively impact their connection with the people in the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “There are so many people with different disabilities whom officers may find themselves interacting with on even a daily basis, so having them trained in this area is imperative.”
The two-year agreement requires DPD to modify its policies to be consistent with the ADA, provide training for police about how to better interact with individuals with disabilities, and to report on its progress to the Justice Department.
This matter was handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the ADA website at www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Justice Department Secures Settlement with Dayton, Ohio, Police Department to Ensure Non-Discriminatory Treatment of People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it entered into a settlement agreement with the City of Dayton, Ohio, and the Dayton Police Department (DPD) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to resolve allegations that DPD discriminated against a driver during a traffic stop.
The ADA requires that cities, law enforcement agencies and other public entities provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in their services, including policing. The ADA also requires a police department or other public entity to reasonably modify its practices when necessary to avoid discrimination.
This agreement resolves a complaint by a driver who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair who was pulled over by DPD officers. The officers ordered him to get out of his car, but he did not have his wheelchair with him. He told the officers that he could not get out safely without his wheelchair. Over his protests, the officers ordered him out, and refused his request that they call a supervisor. The officers also did not call for assistance or equipment to enable the driver to safely exit. Instead, they pulled him out of his car onto the ground, handcuffed him and dragged him to a police car.
“No one should be subjected to discriminatory treatment during police interactions and that includes people with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Law enforcement agencies and their officers are required to make reasonable modifications to their policies and procedures when interacting with people with disabilities and failure to do so may violate federal civil rights law. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce the ADA to ensure that police officers are not discriminating against people with disabilities.”
“Ensuring that law enforcement officers understand the scope of the ADA will only positively impact their connection with the people in the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “There are so many people with different disabilities whom officers may find themselves interacting with on even a daily basis, so having them trained in this area is imperative.”
The two-year agreement requires DPD to modify its policies to be consistent with the ADA, provide training for police about how to better interact with individuals with disabilities, and to report on its progress to the Justice Department.
This matter was handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the ADA website at www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Clermont County woman sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for COVID-19 relief fraudRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kasey Hamer, 37, of Batavia, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 55 months in prison for pandemic relief fraud.
As part of her sentence, Hamer was ordered to pay more than $185,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Hamer orchestrated a scheme to defraud several programs administered by the Small Business Administration designed to provide COVID-19 relief.
Hamer purported to assist family members and friends to apply for several CARES Act loans. Using the names, social security numbers and other identifiers of others, Hamer significantly overstated the gross revenues, monthly payroll, and/or number of employees for the businesses filed. Hamer then controlled disbursements of the loan funds that were issued to family and friends.
For example, in June 2020, Hamer falsely claimed that a relative ran an event planning business that generated gross revenues of nearly $105,000 and employed 15 people. Hamer knew this information was false.
Hamer also filed numerous fraudulent loan applications in her own name. For example, in one application, Hamer falsely claimed to make over $8,000 per month as a marketer.
In total, Hamer and her associates requested more than $1 million in relief loans and received more than $150,000 in SBA program funds. Hamer used the funds she received for purchases at restaurants and retail stores, online gambling and gambling.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed June 7 by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo represented the United States in this case.
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Former Cincinnati city councilman pleads guilty to accepting bribesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former Cincinnati city councilman pleaded guilty in federal court here today to honest services wire fraud.
Jeffrey Pastor, 39, of Cincinnati, admitted he deprived the citizens of Cincinnati of their right to honest services by a public official by accepting bribes in exchange for official action.
According to his plea agreement, between June 2018 and January 2019, Pastor accepted and agreed to accept things of value in exchange for favorable official action by Pastor relating to two development projects in the city.
For example, in September 2018 Pastor and his associate flew to Miami, Florida, on a private plane to meet with investors regarding a real estate development project. Pastor never paid for or disclosed the trip. During the trip, Pastor explained he would ensure favorable action on behalf of the city for the project and could receive money through his associate’s non-profit entity (which had been incorporated two weeks prior). Pastor discussed “compensation” and agreed to accept $15,000 for helping with the project. He said the purpose of his associate’s entity was to “sanitize” the money.
After flying back to Cincinnati, Pastor called the investor to “negotiate a monthly retainer” and said that $15,000 would be the retainer fee for providing official action.
On Oct. 4, 2018, Pastor accepted $15,000 in cash. After receiving the money, Pastor continued to solicit additional payment from the investor and others.
Pastor and Tyran Marshall were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2020. Charges remain pending against Marshall, including conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery, attempted extortion and money laundering.
Pastor’s plea agreement would allow for a prison sentence of up to 24 months.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer are representing the United States in this case.
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Jury finds Maryland man guilty of sexually exploiting Ohio teensRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted a 72-year-old Annapolis, Maryland, man of numerous child exploitation and pornography crimes.
The jury announced their guilty verdicts on all eight counts yesterday after deliberating for approximately 45 minutes following the trial against Bernhard Jakits. The trial began on May 22 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in January 2019, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office received information relating to two potential exploitation victims. Forensic examination of cell phones and other electronic devices revealed that Jakits had communicated via text message with two teenaged victims and coerced them to send nude photographs of themselves.
In December 2018 and January 2019, Jakits sexually exploited a 15-year-old female to create child pornography. Jakits also attempted to exploit a 13-year-old female in January 2019.
The defendant coerced the two teenaged victims and used the chat app TextNow to obtain pornographic images of the minors in exchange for money. Jakits sought to video chat with the victims and offered them thousands of dollars, but the minors declined.
Jakits met the minor victims based on his relationship with their mother, during which he paid the mother to engage in sex acts via video chats.
Jakits owned homes in both Maryland and California. He traveled extensively around the world on his yacht after running and selling a yacht brokerage business.
The defendant was indicted in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in January 2023.
Jakits faces a minimum prison sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. 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; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff David M. Lucas announced the verdict. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorneys Emily K. Czerniejewski and Kevin A. Koller are representing the United States in this case.
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Butler County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating pornography of young boys through online gaming systemRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Butler County man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison for producing child pornography.
Jason Thomas Gmoser, 43, of Hamilton, used a webcam while playing Playstation games online to film and record sexually explicit videos of himself and minor males.
According to court documents, Gmoser was identified through an FBI Violent Crimes Against Children investigation as an administrator of an online bulletin board service specializing in the advertisement and distribution of child pornography.
Gmoser possessed more than 900 video files recorded between approximately November 2011 and September 2014 in computer folders called “Movies (PS3)” and “Movies (Skype).”
For example, one sexually explicit video in the PS3 folder was more than 18 minutes long and featured an 8-year-old boy and an 11-year-old-boy.
Gmoser traveled outside of Ohio to the 8-year-old victim’s home on multiple occasions. While there, Gmoser took the boy to the movies, out to eat, and purchased items for him and his family, including a Playstation. Gmoser recorded and saved 448 sexually explicit videos of the victim from March 2013 until September 2014 through the Playstation network. Gmoser offered Playstation gift cards to the boy for exposing himself.
As part of this case, the government seized 18 hard drives, three computers, two web cameras and multiple memory sticks and thumb drives.
Gmoser pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Ohio in December 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Oakley are representing the United States in this case.
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35-year prison sentence for Colerain Township man convicted at trial of taking sexually explicit photographs of victims ages 9 & 12 while they sleptRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 420 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting children and possessing child pornography.
Nicholas J. Veerkamp, 32, of Colerain Township, Ohio, was convicted following a jury trial in October 2022. Veerkamp sexually exploited a 9-year-old victim and a 12-year-old victim and kept images of the exploitation.
“This defendant has shown a consistent pattern of sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “In his current federal case, Veerkamp creeped into the bedrooms of minor girls and took sexually explicit photos of them. There is no place in society for someone engaging in this conduct that’s so harmful to our children.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, in August 2017, Veerkamp sexually exploited a 12-year-old victim to create three images of child pornography.
In October 2017, Veerkamp sexually exploited a 9-year-old child for the purpose of making child pornography. Veerkamp created 19 images of the victim, including images in which he exposed the child’s genitals while the victim slept.
The defendant also possessed other images of minor females on his electronic devices.
Veerkamp was convicted of sexual imposition in 2016 for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, and as a result, was required to register as a sex offender.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey’s Regional Electronics Crimes Investigations unit and other members of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children task force announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man sentenced to 13 years in prison for fentanyl crime, violating supervised releaseRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Michael Anderson, 48, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 156 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it. He was also on supervised release in another federal case.
According to court documents, on Nov. 1, 2021, Anderson possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and maintained his apartment as a place to manufacture, store and distribute drugs.
Hamilton County Heroin Task Force officers were investigating the overdose deaths of Anderson’s significant other and the baby she was carrying. They discovered a kitchen blender, hand press, scale and multiple bags of controlled substances. Investigators identified Anderson’s DNA on the packages that included fentanyl, heroin and xylazine.
Anderson had been sentenced in July 2017 to five years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. His current offense violated his supervised release.
This case was prosecuted as part of the DEA’s Operation Overdrive, a data-driven, intelligence-led approach to combatting overdose deaths and drug-related violent crime. Cincinnati and Dayton were included in the 34 cities selected in Phase 1 of the operation.
“I commend the dedicated work across federal, state and local law enforcement to identify and investigate cases through Operation Overdrive, and my office’s attorneys who prosecute such cases,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker
U.S. Attorney Parker; Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge; Amberley Village Police Chief Richard L. Wallace and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the sentence imposed on May 16 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon is representing the United States in this case.
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7 defendants convicted of crimes related to multi-state narcotics, money laundering conspiraciesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final defendant charged in narcotics and money laundering conspiracies pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today. Seven defendants are responsible for conspiring to traffic thousands of oxycodone pills and more than three kilograms of methamphetamine into Ohio from Florida and California, and for conspiring to launder more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds.
Michael J. Moore, 47, of Inglewood, California, admitted to conspiring to launder the proceeds of methamphetamine and oxycodone trafficking. Moore also pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the drugs.
As part of Moore’s plea, the parties involved have recommended a range of 11 to 16 years in prison.
According to court documents, from at least 2015 through at least 2018, Moore and six women conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone. The defendants illegally diverted and transported oxycodone pills from Florida to Ohio and from California to Ohio. They trafficked methamphetamine from California to Ohio.
For example, Moore obtained fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions in Florida on approximately 10 occasions between 2015 and 2016, allowing him to obtain more than 1,000 pills.
Lower-level members of the conspiracy fraudulently obtained a substantial number of pills, providing them to higher-level members and keeping the balance of the pills as payment to feed their addictions.
In total, the group obtained and distributed between 5,656 and 100,000 30-milligram oxycodone pills, which were then sold for between $20 and $30 per pill.
Moore also admitted to being involved in the shipping and distribution of at least 3,114 grams of methamphetamine that was approximately 98 percent pure.
Moore and the others conspired to launder the drug proceeds by opening bank accounts at several financial institutions, making money transfers, and concealing cash and flying it on commercial flights.
The other defendants convicted in this case include:
Name
Age
City
Sentence Imposed
Mykell Reeneesha Uneek Hawes
33
Cerritos, California
Pending sentencing
Brandy Monique Casey
44
Inglewood, California
Pending sentencing
Marisa A. Wallace
29
Columbus, Ohio
72 months in prison
Angela N. Faber
41
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
48 months in prison
Heather M. Russell
36
Columbus, Ohio
48 months in prison
Janette M. Breckenridge
33
Columbus, Ohio
48 months in prison
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Whitehall Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man arrested, charged with sex trafficking & exploiting teensRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man today on charges alleging he sexually trafficked and exploited two teenage girls.
Kelly Richards, 42, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati at 1:30pm today. His case was unsealed at that time.
Richards is also known as “Scorpio” and has a tattoo of a scorpion on the left side of his face.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, investigators were alerted in March 2023 that two juveniles had been screened as potential sex trafficking victims.
It is alleged that Richards picked up two minor victims who had fled a group home in Dayton and drove them to an apartment complex in Cincinnati. At the apartment, Richards allegedly provided the minors with cocaine before sexually assaulting them.
Richards also allegedly enticed the females into having sex with other men for money that was paid to Richards. It is alleged the defendant created prostitution advertisements online with explicit pictures of the minor victims and used physical violence against them. According to the affidavit, one victim was prostituted up to four times per day in hotels and homes.
Sexually exploiting children is a federal crime punishable by a range of 15 to 30 years in prison. Sex trafficking children carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and other members of the FBI’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is 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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U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – In honor of this week as National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker recognizes the service and sacrifice of all law enforcement officers in the Southern District of Ohio.
“I ask the public to join me in thanking the many men and women of law enforcement who nobly and honorably serve their profession and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “Our law enforcement officers are public servants, who are tasked with serving our communities knowing their commitment to do so could cost them their lives. They have taken a solemn oath to protect us with the same vigor that they would their own families.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, hundreds of names of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These names are then read aloud during the annual Candlelight Vigil to memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year marked the 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil.
At this year’s candlelight vigil, Clark County Deputy Matthew Eugene Yates’s name was read aloud. Deputy Yates was killed in the line of duty on July 24, 2022.
The schedule of National Police Week events is available on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial website.
You can view U.S. Attorney Parker’s entire message to law enforcement officers on the Southern District of Ohio’s Facebook page.
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Cincinnati man sentenced to one year & one day in prison for pandemic relief fraudRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Marcus Hawkins, 35, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 12 months and one day in prison for COVID-19 relief fraud.
As part of his conviction, Hawkins will pay $60,000 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.
According to court documents, Hawkins applied for several loans in July 2020 under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which was expanded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide payments for businesses temporarily experiencing a loss due to the pandemic.
At the time, Hawkins was self-employed, occasionally doing business as DSR Studio or DSR Studios.
In one application, Hawkins claimed his business – DSR Studio – was in the agriculture industry and employed 10 workers.
Less than three weeks later, Hawkins submitted another false application, claiming his business – DSR Studios – was in the entertainment services industry and employed five workers. In reality, Hawkins did not have any employees. In both applications, Hawkins fraudulently inflated the gross revenues of the business.
The Small Business Administration initially funded an advance in the amount of $10,000 for the business, but later determined the applications were duplicative and likely fraudulent and declined to fund the requested loan amounts. Hawkins also fraudulently applied for a loan under the entity name Road Runner Development LLC and received $50,000.
Hawkins pleaded guilty in July 2022 to making false statements to the federal government.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and other members of the Financial Crimes Working Group Pandemic Fraud Committee announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo is representing the United States in this case.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Dog Fighting OffensesRead the Press Release
An Ohio man pleaded guilty to two counts of raising and training dogs for the purpose of dog fighting.
Michael Valentine, 40, of Bidwell, Ohio, admitted to raising and training over fifty dogs near his home in Gallia County, Ohio. According to court documents, law enforcement first investigated Valentine for dog fighting offenses in 2019 following a dog attack on a small child living with the defendant. That investigation led to a search warrant of the defendant’s residence and the seizure of 40 dogs. The search also recovered numerous items of dog fighting paraphernalia, including treadmills, veterinary supplies, and dog fighting videos.
On March 8, 2022, a second search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence as part of a fentanyl-distribution investigation. That search revealed substantial evidence of drug distribution, as well as two assault-style rifles. In addition, a search of a nearby parcel of land revealed an additional 11 dogs, which the defendant was keeping for purposes of dog fighting.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Pakiz, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Marous for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting this case.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and the FBI.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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 the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Previously convicted felon sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for possessing firearmRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Markeith Ford, 32, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 66 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
As a previously convicted felon, Ford is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2022, plain clothes officers from the Crime Gun Information Center (CGIC) identified Ford at the rear of a property on Race Street. Ford was wearing a black outfit, camouflage mask and latex gloves.
When a patrol vehicle arrived, Ford immediately fled on foot, carrying a firearm in his left hand. He threw the gun toward a fire escape on a building. Ford was eventually caught and placed into custody, and the firearm – which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition – was recovered. Ford also had a black magazine with 10 rounds of ammunition in a front pants pocket.
Ford pleaded guilty in June 2022 to illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime.
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 Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.
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Former Belmont County attorney sentenced to 5 years in prison for stealing more than $800,000 from elderly victim with dementiaRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Belmont County attorney was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 60 months in prison for committing mail fraud related to stealing more than $882,000 from an elderly woman with dementia while purporting to act in her best interests under a Power of Attorney.
From 2012 through August 2019, Mark Alan Thomas, 63, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, defrauded a client and took the victim’s money without her knowledge or permission to use it for his own benefit.
As part of his sentence, Thomas is required to pay $882,502 in restitution.
“Thomas’s grave abuse of power over this vulnerable victim demands today’s serious punishment,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said. “The victim in this case was 86 years old, exhibiting symptoms of dementia, and living in a senior-care facility. She trusted Thomas, and Thomas abused that trust to steal her money for more than seven years. His actions to take advantage of her were utterly shameful.”
According to court documents, Thomas improperly used the victim’s Power of Attorney and his status as a lawyer – even after his law license was revoked in 2015 – to convince various entities, including banks and life insurance companies, to transfer the victim’s money for his use.
In May 2012, a family member of the victim obtained a separate Power of Attorney for the victim, and Thomas drafted a revocation of the family member’s Power of Attorney for the victim to sign. Thomas acted as the notary to verify the victim’s signature on the revocation.
Furthermore, Thomas falsely told a banker he needed $200,000 from the victim’s investment account to set up an educational fund that the victim wanted to establish. Once he received the money from the bank, Thomas transferred the money to himself instead.
In January 2014, Thomas cashed more than $290,000 of the victim’s U.S. Treasury Bonds, then subsequently transferred $200,000 into his law firm’s bank account, and eventually into his own personal bank account.
According to court documents, in 2016, Thomas wrote letters to three life insurance companies purporting to be the victim asking to cash out the victim’s policies and direct all correspondence to Thomas.
Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021 and pleaded guilty in August 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. The Ohio Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Unit and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Twombly and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
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Fairfield County man pleads guilty to armed bank robberies in Athens, MariettaRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A career bank robber pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to armed bank robberies in Athens and Marietta in 2020. The plea includes an agreed-upon sentence of more than 13 years in federal prison.
William E. Johnson, 58, of Lancaster, admitted to committing armed robberies in August 2020 in Athens and October 2020 in Marietta.
Johnson’s plea agreement details that on Aug. 17, 2020, he brandished a firearm at Hocking Valley Bank on East State Street in Athens. Johnson wore a prosthetic forehead and nose, skin-toned arm sleeves/gloves, makeup and a COVID mask, all designed to disguise his appearance.
Johnson ordered employees to get on the floor and then emptied several drawers of cash. In total, he took more than $25,000. After stealing the cash, he tied the employees’ hands with zip ties. Johnson ordered the bank manager to give him the keys to the bank manager’s car and the manager complied. Johnson fled the bank in the stolen vehicle.
On Oct. 22, 2020, Johnson robbed the Citizens Bank on North Second Street in Marietta. Johnson was wearing a full-length Halloween-style mask that made him appear to be an old man and wore a red hood pulled up around his face.
Johnson possessed a gun and forced his way behind the tellers’ counter. He emptied several drawers, stealing $11,390.
At the time, Johnson had a warrant out for his arrest for a pending indictment for a bank robbery in Williamstown, West Virginia.
Law enforcement officers spotted Johnson driving in West Virginia on the evening of the Marietta bank robbery and pulled him over. Johnson attempted to flee on foot, telling officers they would have to kill him to take him into custody again. Officers tased Johnson and placed him under arrest.
Officers searched Johnson’s vehicle and located more than $9,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, zip ties and his disguises.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; the Athens, Marietta, Williamstown, W.Va. and Parkersburg, W.Va. police departments; the Washington County and Wood County, W.Va. sheriff’s offices; and the West Virginia State Police announced the guilty plea entered on April 27 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Licking County man sentenced to prison for committing $1.5 million in fraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jeremie Adam Elkins, 46, of Newark, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 43 months in prison for causing more than $1.5 million in fraud in connection with access devices. Elkins committed wire fraud and illegally possessed a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony crime.
According to court documents, from July to October 2020, Elkins used his Verizon company-issued credit card to pay for personal expenses like hotels/resorts, restaurants, bars, pawn shops and auction houses. Elkins had been employed as a Network Engineer at Verizon, Inc.
Elkins also used an old Verizon work order number to place multiple fraudulent orders with vendor W.W. Grainger, Inc. Grainger provides tools and equipment for Verizon service vans.
Elkins placed 46 unauthorized orders to Grainger and personally picked up most of the equipment, which totaled approximately $936,000. He used the illicit proceeds to purchase two boats and a motorcycle.
The defendant placed an additional 20 unauthorized orders to Grainger, for items totaling nearly $954,000, but never obtained the equipment.
As part of his sentence, Elkins will pay nearly $24,000 in restitution to Verizon and more than $936,000 in restitution to Grainger.
When he was arrested in August 2021, Elkins illegally possessed a pistol and admitted to investigators that he has sold 15 to 20 firearms. Elkins was previously convicted of a felony crime in Licking County, prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. and commended the investigation by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brenda S. Shoemaker is representing the United States in this case.
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Pickerington man pleads guilty to setting fire to local churchRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Pickerington man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to committing a civil rights violation by burning a house of worship.
Benjamin Darrell Ruckel, 25, pleaded guilty to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act.
A federal bill of information charges Ruckel with setting fire to the Mount Zion Church in Baltimore, Ohio, on Nov. 27, 2021. During an arraignment hearing this morning before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison, the defendant admitted to intentionally setting the fire because of the religious character of the church.
“The defendant in this case is being held accountable for the devastating church arson that impacted an entire community of worshipers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that religious practice is protected from forceful interference and will continue to prosecute those who commit acts of violence against houses of worship because of their religious character.”
“Every resident in the Southern District of Ohio should be free to worship without any criminal acts occurring against them or the place in which they come together to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Combatting these types of unlawful acts is a priority for my office, and together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to vigorously use every criminal enforcement tool at our disposal to address civil rights violations.”
“Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation, and the FBI will continue to protect the rights of Americans to worship safely,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “As the lead agency for investigating criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes, the FBI works closely with law enforcement, religious organizations, and community groups to reduce civil rights abuses.”
According to court documents, Ruckel broke the windows of the church and spread accelerant before setting the church ablaze, causing extensive damage.
Violating the Church Arson Prevention Act is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Parker and Special Agent in Charge Rivers announced today’s guilty plea. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. The FBI Cincinnati Division investigated the case.
Information related to potential civil rights violations in the Southern District of Ohio can be submitted online here: /media/1227446/dl?inline.
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Ten charged with conspiring to make straw purchases of firearms allegedly bought with stolen credit card informationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested nine individuals for crimes relating to a conspiracy to buy firearms online and have them shipped to Cincinnati-area federal firearms licensees (FFLs). It is alleged that more than 70 firearms were bought with stolen credit card information and picked up, or attempted to be picked up, at local FFLs via straw purchases that hid the identity of the true buyer. Several of the defendants are also charged with COVID-relief crimes totaling more than $120,000 in alleged loss.
A total of 10 defendants were charged in two related indictments returned on April 12. The indictments were unsealed on April 21.
One defendant, Roderico Allen, 26, of Cincinnati, remains a fugitive. Law enforcement authorities ask anyone with information related to Allen’s whereabouts to call the ATF at 513-684-3354.
“These cases allege conspiracies that endangered our communities through straw firearms purchases, and several defendants are also alleged to have exploited pandemic relief,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not waver in our determination to prosecute those who illegally purchase firearms and those who defrauded relief programs meant to help struggling Americans during the pandemic. Straw purchasers are as much a part of the problem of violence we are seeing on our streets as those who pull the trigger.”
Jones et al.
In one indictment, six individuals are charged with conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm from an FFL.
According to the indictment, from April 2022 through at least July 2022, the six conspired to make false statements to an FFL about the identity of the true buyer of the firearms, including on ATF Form 4473, which a buyer must fill out when purchasing a firearm.
Members of the conspiracy allegedly used stolen credit card information to buy firearms online from out-of-state FFLs, including Guns.com. The firearms were then shipped to Cincinnati-area FFLs for pickup. Members of the conspiracy allegedly bought the firearms in the names of other members of the conspiracy, who then falsely represented to local FFLs that they were the true buyers of the firearms and were not obtaining the firearms for anyone else.
It is alleged that the conspirators had 60 firearms shipped to the Southern District of Ohio and succeeded in obtaining at least 38 of those firearms.
The 23-count indictment charges:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Zephaniah Jones
20
Cincinnati
Nehemiah Jones
23
Atlanta, GA
Jerin Johnson, Sr.
35
Cincinnati
Cedric Conyers
34
Cincinnati
Aneesah Williams
27
Cincinnati
Mykia Melton
25
Cincinnati
Zephaniah Jones is also charged with three counts of unauthorized use of an access device and three counts of aggravated identity theft relating to his alleged use of stolen credit card numbers to buy firearms.
Four defendants – Zephaniah Jones, Nehemiah Jones, Mykia Melton and Jerin Johnson, Sr. – are also accused of fraudulently obtaining a total of five Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- It is alleged that Zephaniah Jones fraudulently applied for and obtained more than $20,000 in PPP loans. Zephaniah Jones allegedly falsely stated he was the sole owner of Jones Lawncare LLC, a business he allegedly falsely claimed was in operation in February 2020 and had $99,000 in gross income in 2020.
- Co-defendant Nehemiah Jones allegedly obtained two fraudulent PPP loans by falsely claiming to own a business called “massage on air” and falsely representing that the business earned $98,000 in gross income in 2020. Nehemiah Jones received two PPP loans totaling more than $40,000.
- Mykia Melton allegedly received nearly $21,000 in PPP loans by falsely claiming she owned a clothing and accessories wholesaler called “Kia’s Drip.” It is alleged she falsely claimed the business had $100,000 in gross income in 2020.
- Jerin Johnson, Sr. allegedly falsely claimed his handyman and contracting business grossed nearly $98,000 in income in 2020. He allegedly received a $20,000 PPP loan.
Allen et al.
The four defendants included in the second indictment are also charged with conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm from an FFL.
According to that indictment, from May 2022 through at least June 2022, the four defendants engaged in a conspiracy using the same fraud scheme as the Jones defendants. These defendants allegedly caused 14 firearms to be shipped to the Southern District of Ohio and obtained nine of them.
The individuals charged in this 10-count indictment include:
Name
Age
City of Residence
*Roderico Allen
26
Cincinnati
Tyler Sneed
25
Cincinnati
Kazyra Robertson
24
Cincinnati
Jaidah Jones
22
Columbus
*Fugitive
Roderico Allen is also charged with aggravated identity theft and unauthorized use of an access device relating to his alleged use of a stolen credit card number in May 2022.
Jaidah Jones is also charged with PPP fraud. She allegedly received approximately $20,000 after falsely claiming to own a shoe store, stating the shoe store earned $200,000 in gross income in 2020.
Conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm is a crime punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, and making such false statements is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Unauthorized use of an access device is a crime punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. A conviction for aggravated identity theft requires a mandatory two-year prison term in addition to any other sentences imposed. Making false statements to an agency of the United States is punishable by up to five years in prison.
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); Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge; and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey 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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Two Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Plot to Attack Power Grids in the United StatesRead the Press Release
Two men were sentenced in federal court today to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance white supremacy.
Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, and Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of Katy, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. Cook was sentenced was sentenced to 92 months in prison and Frost was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was also charged and pleaded guilty in February 2022 in connection with the scheme and will be sentenced at a later date.
“These defendants plotted armed attacks against energy facilities to stoke division in furtherance of white supremacist ideology and now they are being held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate the use of violence to advance any extremist ideology and we remain determined to protect our communities from such hateful acts of terror.”
“At the root of every terrorist plot – whether foreign or domestic – is hate,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “As a society, we must be vigilant against online radicalization, which is a powerful tool used by extremists to recruit both juveniles and adults.”
“The defendants in this case conspired to provide material support to terrorism by putting plans in place to damage America’s infrastructure, motivated by their adherence to racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist ideology,” said Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “When individuals move from espousing ideas to planning or committing acts of violence, the FBI will investigate and take action to disrupt their plans. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the commitment we have to working with our partners to bring violent extremists to justice and to protect our communities.”
According to court documents, in fall 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group. Frost shared the idea of attacking a power grid with Cook, and within weeks, the two began efforts to recruit others to join in their plan.
As part of the recruitment process, Cook circulated a book list of readings that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism. By late 2019, Sawall – a friend of Cook’s – joined the conspiracy and assisted Cook with online recruitment efforts, operational security and organization.
As part of the conspiracy, each defendant was assigned a substation in a different region of the United States. The plan was to attack the substations, or power grids, with powerful rifles. The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region. They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression.
In February 2020, the co-conspirators met in Columbus, Ohio, to further discuss their plot. Frost provided Cook with an AR-47 and the two took the rifle to a shooting range to train.
Frost also provided Cook and Sawall with suicide necklaces during the Columbus meeting. The necklaces were filled with fentanyl and were to be ingested if and when the defendants were caught by law enforcement. Both Cook and Sawall expressed their commitment to dying in furtherance of their mission.
Upon arriving in Columbus, Sawall and Cook purchased spray paint and painted a swastika flag under a bridge at a park with the caption, “Join the Front.” The defendants had additional propaganda plans for their time in Ohio, but they were derailed during a traffic stop, during which Sawall swallowed his suicide pill but ultimately survived.
Court documents detail that Cook and Frost continued to travel together after their Ohio meeting, and drove to Texas in March 2020. Cook stayed in different cities with various juveniles who he was attempting to recruit for their plot.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Columbus, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Houston. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Northern District of Indiana provided valuable support.
2 men sentenced to prison for domestic terrorist plans to attack power gridsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two men were sentenced in federal court here today for conspiring to attack power grids throughout the United States to promote their white supremacy ideology.
Christopher Brenner Cook, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 92 months in prison. Jonathan Allen Frost, 25, of Katy, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was also charged and pleaded guilty in February 2022. His case remains pending.
Cook and Frost engaged in a plot to attack the country’s energy infrastructure, damage the economy, and stoke division in American society in the name of white supremacy. “Revolution is our solution” was a recurring theme in the defendants’ communications to one another.
“These defendants plotted armed attacks against energy facilities to stoke division in furtherance of white supremacist ideology and now they are being held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate the use of violence to advance any extremist ideology and we remain determined to protect our communities from such hateful acts of terror.”
“At the root of every terrorist plot – whether foreign or domestic – is hate,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “As a society, we must be vigilant against online radicalization, which is a powerful tool used by extremists to recruit both juveniles and adults.”
“The individuals sentenced today created a suicide pact to sow hatred and commit terrorist acts intended to destabilize our country,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “Through rigorous investigation and law enforcement partnerships, their radical plan was halted. Today’s sentence is a message to anyone with similar plans that they will be disrupted and held accountable for conspiring to commit violence.”
According to court documents, in fall 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group. Frost shared the idea of attacking a power grid with Cook, and within weeks, the two began efforts to recruit others to join in their plan.
As part of the recruitment process, Cook asked literary questions and circulated a book list of readings that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism.
The conspirators had a separate propaganda group named “The Front” that planned to take credit for the power grid attack should it occur successfully. The defendants also created exclusive subgroups for individuals who passed the defendants’ additional screenings. The first subgroup was called “Lights Out.”
As part of the conspiracy, each defendant was assigned a substation in a different region of the United States. The plan was to attack the substations, or power grids, with powerful rifles. The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region. They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression.
The defendants’ commitment to their radical ideology turned from ideas to concrete actions in furtherance of the attacks.
In February 2020, the co-conspirators met in Columbus, Ohio, to further discuss their plot. Frost, who had obtained several untraceable automatic rifles, provided Cook with an AR-47 and the two took the rifle to a shooting range to train.
Frost also provided Cook with a suicide necklace during the Columbus meeting. The necklace was filled with fentanyl to be ingested if and when the defendants were caught by law enforcement. Cook expressed his commitment to dying in furtherance of the mission.
Upon arriving in Columbus, Cook and Sawall purchased spray paint and painted a swastika flag under a bridge at a park with the caption, “Join the Front.” The defendants had additional propaganda plans for their time in Ohio, but they were derailed during a traffic stop.
Court documents detail that Cook and Frost continued in furtherance of the conspiracy to travel together after their Ohio meeting, and traveled to Oklahoma and Texas in March 2020, where Cook stayed in different cities with various juveniles he was attempting to recruit for their plot.
Frost circulated a “meetup guide” to the group with guidance on recruiting juveniles to their cause because “[T]hey are 99% not a Fed…”
When law enforcement searched each defendant’s residence, they discovered multiple firearms, chemicals, components capable of building explosives, violent extremist Nazi material, and information about U.S. power infrastructure and substations.
The men were each charged by a Bill of Information and pleaded guilty in February 2022 to conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica W. Knight and Trial Attorney Justin Sher with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division are representing the United States in this case.
U.S. Attorney Parker commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Columbus, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Houston, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Northern District of Indiana.
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Former insurance agent sentenced to prison for defrauding victims by creating life insurance policies in their names without their knowledgeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former insurance agent was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for defrauding dozens of victims in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas.
Seneca Birchmore, 45, of Cincinnati, committed aggravated identity theft. Birchmore also fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Protection Program loans.
As part of his sentence, Birchmore was ordered to pay nearly $147,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Birchmore lost his license as an insurance agent in 2019 because he was writing unauthorized insurance policies so that he could collect the commissions.
After losing his license, Birchmore then stole the identities of two other insurance agents and used those identities to write more life insurance policies for customers who did not want them. Birchmore had the commissions from dozens of local victims’ policies deposited into his own bank accounts.
Local law enforcement departments received complaints from victims that money was being automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts for insurance policies they never ordered. Many of the victims are senior citizens, and most reside in Dayton, Englewood, Middletown and Cincinnati.
The commissions for Birchmore’s original fraudulent insurance policies under his own name as an agent totaled more than $8,000. The commissions for policies created under the stolen identities of other agents totaled more than $93,000.
“This case is based plainly on Birchmore’s greed combined with his wanton acts to take advantage of some of society’s most vulnerable people, the senior customers,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Unfortunately, the victims in the case are not only the customers, but also the insurance agents whose identities he stole as well as the insurance companies he caused to pay the fraudulent commissions.”
As part of his conviction, Birchmore was ordered to pay the following restitution:
- Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company: $34,820.37
- Columbian Life Insurance Company: $16,604.01
- Transamerica Life Insurance Company: $4,671
- Mutual of Omaha: $2,104.65
- Great Western Insurance Company: $16,303.17
- Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company: $8,826.84
- American General Life Insurance Company: $2,718.45
- Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company: $17,906.07
- Integrity Market: $1,000.00
- U.S. Small Business Administration: $41,665
In a separate scheme, Birchmore fraudulently obtained two COVID Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling more than $40,000. Birchmore claimed on both loan applications that he owned a business in his name and stated his gross income for 2019 was more than $13 million. No such business existed.
The defendant was charged federally and arrested in June 2022. He pleaded guilty in January 2023.
“I commend the diligence of the Ohio Department of Insurance's investigatory team for bringing detailed aspects of this case to light, and the work of the partner agencies to ensure accountability for breaking the law,” said Ohio Department of Insurance Director Judith L. French. “Insurance crimes are serious. They negatively impact consumers and also drive up the cost of insurance for all Ohioans.”
U.S. Attorney Parker and Director French were joined by the Social Security Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret ServiceOhio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Marshals Service, Butler County Sheriff’s Office and Cincinnati Police Department in announcing the sentence imposed on April 13 by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry represented the United States in this case.
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Butler County man charged with distributing child porn via encrypted instant message applicationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A criminal complaint charging David John Frahm, 62, of Trenton, Ohio, with distribution of child pornography alleges that he used an encrypted instant message application to pursue adults with access to minor children for the purposes of engaging in sexual acts and shared sexually explicit images of children.
Court documents allege that Frahm used the app to gain access to chat rooms where people discussed child sexual abuse and shared photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. During one of those visits, Frahm allegedly shared three images with an undercover Homeland Security investigator who was in the chat room.
Agents arrested Frahm on April 7. Frahm had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz on April 10 and was ordered to remain in custody pending trial. Frahm’s case was unsealed today.
Distribution of child pornography is punishable by a range of five years up to 20 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; and the Lebanon Police Department announced the charge and the arrest. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is 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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2 Central Ohio men charged with armed robbery of mail carrierRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two local men were arrested by federal agents on allegations they robbed a mail carrier at gunpoint 10 days ago.
Mahad S. Jama, 21, of Westerville, and Da’mon D. May, 18, of Columbus, appeared in federal court today at 1:30pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson.
According to the criminal complaints, on April 4 at 3:20pm, Jama and May robbed at gunpoint a USPS letter carrier who was sitting in his work vehicle on Sawmill Road in Dublin.
“We continue to investigate a network of individuals involved in robbing or stealing U.S. Postal Service keys for the purposes of accessing mail collection boxes to steal checks,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “As today’s charges show, our law enforcement agencies will work swiftly to identify those allegedly involved in this brazen conduct. We will not tolerate violence in any form, including against Postal workers who are simply trying to fulfill such an important role in serving the community.”
Jama allegedly approached the USPS vehicle, brandished a handgun that May provided him, and demanded the carrier’s U.S. Postal Service key.
Postal Inspectors executed searches at Jama’s and May’s residences yesterday. May was in possession of a firearm and the USPS key. Jama was found to have checks in names other than his own both on his person and in his home.
Aggravated robbery of a Postal employee is a federal crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is 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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Chicago man who illegally possessed firearm during home burglary in Cincinnati sentenced to more than 7 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Chicago man who committed a home burglary in Cincinnati while illegally possessing two firearms before leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit was sentenced in federal court to 87 months in prison.
Terrance Lorenzo White, 28, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime.
According to court documents, on Aug. 21, 2020, deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about an attempted robbery at a residence. When deputies responded to the residence, witnesses said White was armed and threatened to shoot up the house. He had stolen marijuana and cash and was driving a white Jeep.
As deputies were assessing the crime scene, White drove past in the white Jeep and law enforcement pursued him. White led the deputies on a high-speed vehicle pursuit and crashed his Jeep before attempting to flee on foot.
White had two loaded firearms, a black ski mask and marijuana in his vehicle.
While he was out on bond in this case, White was convicted in Chicago of aggravated battery against a victim 60 years or older. He was sentenced in December 2022 to six months in prison.
Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant is 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; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Warren County Sheriff Larry L. Sims announced the sentence imposed on April 11 by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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Belmont County sex offender sentenced to 15 years in prison for distributing, receiving child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 42-year-old convicted sex offender from Flushing, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court today to 180 months in prison for distributing and receiving child pornography.
Joshua E. Green was also sentenced to serve his time in a prison facility that provides sexual offender treatment and serve 20 years under court supervision after completing his prison sentence.
“Repeat offenders who have shown that they remain a threat to the children around them must be kept away from society for a significant period of time,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.
According to court documents, the investigation into Green began when he distributed images of himself to an undercover FBI agent posing as a 12-year-old female. Green admitted that in September 2021, he engaged in conversations through an online messenger app with the purported 12-year-old female and distributed sexually explicit images of himself along with pictures of his face. These images ultimately led to the identification of Green as a registered sex offender.
Further investigation revealed that Green had also distributed child sexual abuse material in January 2022 and February 2022 via the mobile application Kik.
A search warrant was executed at Green’s residence and numerous digital media devices were seized which contained additional evidence of his child exploitation activities.
Green pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2022, to distributing and receiving child pornography after being convicted of an offense relating to the sexual abuse of a minor. His prior conviction stemmed from a 2014 case in Belmont County Common Pleas Court in which he pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and pandering obscenity involving a minor.
Court documents also say that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received tips from Kik messenger regarding Green’s online child exploitation activities.
Parker was joined by J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office; and Belmont County Sheriff David M. Lucas in announcing the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Southern Ohio woman sentenced to prison for embezzling $700k from employerRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Sardinia, Ohio, woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to serve 28 months in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from the family-owned business for which she worked. She was also sentenced to pay restitution to the company.
Tina Coday-Townes, 49, pleaded guilty on October 20, 2022, to wire fraud.
According to court documents, Coday-Townes previously served as the office manager for a business in Clermont County. In that role, she was responsible for accounts payable and bookkeeping, including inputting and sending data to a third-party payroll company.
The defendant admitted that from 2013 until 2019, she wrote checks using an employers’ signature stamp to pay off her personal credit cards. Coday-Townes made false entries into the accounting database, indicating the checks were to vendors rather than to her personal credit cards.
In addition, Coday-Townes entered overtime hours for herself, even though she was ineligible for overtime as a salaried employee.
Her sentence calls for her to pay $697,000 in restitution to her former employer, $11,500 to the State of Ohio for fraudulently paid unemployment benefits, and $35,000 to West American Insurance Company.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case.
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Cincinnati man pleads guilty to Covid relief fraudRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI– A man who filed for relief under the Paycheck Protection Program and fraudulently claimed that he was running a business during the time he was incarcerated pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of wire fraud.
Willie Boyce, 41, agreed to pay $41,040 in restitution, in addition to any time he may serve in federal prison.
According to court documents, Boyce was incarcerated in Hamilton County from March 2018 until September 2020, when he was released to a halfway house.
Boyce acknowledged that he applied electronically for two PPP loans in April 2021, claiming he owned a business that provided taxi and ridesharing services.
In his applications, Boyce fraudulently claimed a gross income of $98,500 for 2019 even though he was in prison for the entirety of that year. Boyce used his halfway house address as the business address and submitted a forged bank statement.
Boyce claimed the money was for payroll for his company, and received payments on April 20 and May 5, 2021, but withdrew or spent all the money by the end of May 2021, on non-business-related transactions including payments to Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Expedia, Hampton Inn and Delta Airlines.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, in coordination with U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Investigations and Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ebunoluwa Taiwo is representing the United States in this case.
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Former D.A.R.E. officer sentenced to over 15 years in prison for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A former longtime Beavercreek police officer was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 181 months in prison for committing two federal child pornography crimes.
Kevin A. Kovacs, 60, of Fairborn, was arrested in April 2020 and indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2020. He pleaded guilty in February 2022 to transporting and possessing child pornography.
“The law holds everyone accountable, no matter who they are or what their profession is,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “As a law enforcement officer, Kovacs should have been a trusted member of society, but instead he victimized children. He deserves this time in federal prison.”
Kovacs was employed as a police officer with the Beavercreek Police Department from 1992 until his retirement in 2018. He spent the last six years of his police career as the D.A.R.E. officer in the Beavercreek City Schools.
According to court documents, between April 2015 and July 2017, Kovacs uploaded more than 300 images and 2,200 videos depicting child pornography to his Dropbox account. Videos featured the sexual abuse of children as young as toddler-aged. One video depicted a toddler lying on a diaper whose arms and legs were bound by black tape.
Kovacs also used online messenger, social media, cloud storage and email accounts to transport and possess child pornography.
In total, as of December 2019, Kovacs possessed more than 780 images and 5,100 videos of child pornography.
He was further sentenced to 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term and ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution to victims.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Fairborn Police Chief Terry Bennington and Beavercreek Police Chief Jeff Fiorita announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.
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Columbus man arrested, charged with trafficking multiple victims for sex through violence and the use of drugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A 28-year-old Columbus man was ordered detained after he appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge here today after a criminal complaint charging him with sex trafficking was unsealed.
The complaint alleges that Terrael Alexander Alls, aka “Ace” and “Rell” engaged in sex trafficking by means of force, threats, fraud, and coercion. Alls was arrested on March 31, 2023 in Licking County and appeared in federal court for his initial appearance on April 3.
According to court documents, an email tip received by the Columbus Division of Police regarding possible sex trafficking in Columbus was sent to the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force investigation, which spanned the course of one year, ultimately led to All’s arrest.
“Court records contain disturbing testimony by two of the numerous victims as they describe what they’ve been through,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “I admire their courage to come forward and encourage anyone else who may be a victim to reach out to law enforcement.”
“Human traffickers control their victims with abuse, fear and intimidation – which are difficult to overcome,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Now that this defendant is in custody, we’re asking potential victims to contact law enforcement with any information about the case. If you’ve seen something, now is the time to say something.”
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation or knowledge of additional victims of human trafficking is encouraged to contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446) or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 and request to be connected with a member of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, formed under the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Licking County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Adult Parole Authority, The Ohio State University Police Department, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office.
Sex trafficking by means of force, threats, fraud, and coercion is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Parker and Ohio Attorney General Yost announced the unsealing of the complaint and the detention ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson, who set a preliminary hearing for April 17, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer Rausch are representing the United States.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Jury finds Cincinnati man guilty of gun crimes, dealing drugs from his Betts Avenue homeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted a Cincinnati man of one drug and two firearms crimes. The defendant was found guilty on all counts as charged.
Ieben Ewing, 39, is convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and illegally possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon. He will face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
The verdict was announced on March 29 following a trial that began on March 27 before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Ewing distributed bulk amounts of narcotics from his residence on Betts Avenue in Cincinnati.
While executing a search warrant at Ewing’s home in March 2022, investigators discovered 770 grams of powder cocaine, 100 grams of crack cocaine, $75,000 in cash and various firearms. The firearms included an AK-style gun with a 100 round “drum” style magazine attached.
“The residents of the North College Hill community should not have to tolerate the illegal activities of Ieben Ewing in their neighborhood. Now he is looking at a lengthy prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
As a previously convicted felon, Ewing is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Ewing was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022.
Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future sentencing hearing.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Hamilton County Charmaine McGuffey and members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Regional Narcotics Unit announced the guilty verdicts. Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Dornette and Timothy D. Oakley are representing the United States in this case.
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