Southern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
FirstEnergy charged federally, agrees to terms of deferred prosecution settlementRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – FirstEnergy Corp. has been charged federally with conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud and has agreed to pay a $230 million monetary penalty. The company signed a deferred prosecution agreement that could potentially result in dismissal of the charge.
The charge and agreement stem from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing public corruption prosecutions. In today’s court filings, FirstEnergy Corp., an Akron, Ohio-based public utility holding company, admits it conspired with public officials and other individuals and entities to pay millions of dollars to public officials in exchange for specific official action for FirstEnergy Corp.’s benefit.
FirstEnergy Corp. acknowledged in the deferred prosecution agreement that it paid millions of dollars to an elected state public official through the official’s alleged 501(c)(4) in return for the official pursuing nuclear legislation for FirstEnergy Corp.’s benefit.
The company also acknowledged that it used 501(c)(4) entities, including one it controlled, to further the scheme because it allowed certain FirstEnergy Corp. executives and co-conspirators to conceal from the public the nature, source and control of payments.
FirstEnergy Corp. further acknowledged that it paid $4.3 million dollars to a second public official. In return, the individual acted in their official capacity to further First Energy Corp.’s interests related to passage of nuclear legislation and other company priorities.
FirstEnergy Corp. has cooperated substantially with the government, and according to the deferred prosecution agreement, the company must continue to cooperate fully with the United States in all matters related to the company’s conduct described in the agreement and other conduct under investigation by the government, among other obligations.
For example, within 60 days of today’s filing, FirstEnergy Corp. must pay $115 million to the United States and $115 million to the Ohio Development Service Agency’s Percentage of Income Payment Plus Plan, a program that provides assistance to Ohioans in paying their regulated utility bills.
Other terms in the agreement include publicly disclosing on its website any FirstEnergy Corp. contributions to 501(c)(4) entities and entities known by FirstEnergy Corp. to be operating for the benefit of a public official, either directly or indirectly, and making various provisions to improve corporate compliance moving forward.
As part of the agreement, FirstEnergy Corp. admitted to the facts alleged in the Information and outlined in the Statement of Facts, which detail actions by FirstEnergy Corp. executives to pay money to public officials in return for official action. As a corporation, FirstEnergy Corp. is responsible for the acts of its current and former officers, directors, employees and agents.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charge and agreement. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Huber Heights man sentenced to statutory maximum 20 years in prison for possessing more than 3,400 images of child pornographyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Huber Heights man who possessed more than 3,400 images and 800 videos of child pornography has been sentenced to 240 months in prison, the maximum sentence provided under federal law for possession of child pornography.
Stephen E. Kirby II, 38, was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release as a sex offender.
According to court documents filed when Kirby pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of possession of child pornography, Kirby used multiple internet message services to receive and distribute child pornography files and to communicate with others about the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. One of the people Kirby contacted in 2019 was actually an undercover FBI agent investigating child pornography trafficking. Kirby was taken into custody following his plea and remains in custody.
“Kirby received the maximum sentence because of the brazen and flagrant way he committed his crimes, resuming his criminal behavior about a month after the Bureau of Prisons released Kirby following his 2013 conviction for distribution of child pornography,” said Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Kirby demonstrated that nothing short of prison would keep him from engaging in child sexual exploitation crimes. Federal law is set up to deal harshly with repeat offenders who victimize children.”
Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), joined Acting U.S. Attorney Patel in announcing the sentence handed down July 20 by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Highland County man charged with attempted hate crime related to plot to conduct mass shooting of women, illegal possession of machine gunRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged a local, self-identified “Incel” with attempting to conduct a mass shooting of women and with illegally possessing a machine gun.
Tres Genco, 21, of Hillsboro, Ohio, allegedly plotted to commit a hate crime, namely, a plan to shoot women at a university in Ohio. He was arrested by federal agents today.
Genco identified as an Incel or “involuntary celibate.” The Incel movement is an online community of predominantly men who harbor anger towards women. Incels advocate violence in support of their belief that women unjustly deny them sexual or romantic attention to which they believe they are entitled.
According to the indictment, Genco maintained profiles on a popular Incel website from at least July 2019 through mid-March 2020. Genco was a frequent poster on the site.
In one post, Genco allegedly detailed spraying “some foids and couples” with orange juice in a water gun. Foids is an Incel term short for “femoids,” referring to women. According to the charging document, Genco compared his “extremely empowering action” to similar conduct by known Incel Elliot Rodger. In May 2014, Rodger killed six people and injured 14 others, including shooting individuals outside a University of California, Santa Barbara sorority house. Prior to his mass attack, Rodger shot a group of college students with orange juice from a water gun.
Genco also allegedly wrote a manifesto, stating he would “slaughter” women “out of hatred, jealousy and revenge…” and referring to death as the “great equalizer.” As part of this investigation, law enforcement agents discovered a note of Genco’s that indicated he hoped to “aim big” for a kill count of 3,000 people with a reference to the same date as Elliot Rodger’s attack, and intended to attend military training. The investigation revealed that the day he wrote his manifesto, he searched online for sororities and a university in Ohio.
It is alleged that in 2019, Genco purchased tactical gloves, a bulletproof vest, a hoodie bearing the word “Revenge,” cargo pants, a bowie knife, a skull facemask, two Glock 17 magazines, a 9mm Glock 17 clip, and a holster clip concealed carry for a Glock.
Genco attended Army Basic Training in Georgia from August through December 2019. He was discharged for entry-level performance and conduct.
In January 2020, Genco allegedly wrote a document entitled “isolated” that he described as “the writings of the deluded and homicidal.” Genco signed the document, “Your hopeful friend and murderer.”
The charging document alleges Genco conducted surveillance at an Ohio university on Jan. 15, 2020. That same day, he allegedly searched online for topics including “planning a shooting crime” and “when does preparing for a crime become an attempt?”
On March 12, 2020, Highland County sheriff’s deputies responded to Genco’s residence. At the residence, in the trunk of Genco’s vehicle, police officers found, among other things, a firearm with a bump stock attached, several loaded magazines, body armor and boxes of ammunition. Inside the residence, police officers found a modified Glock-style 9mm semiautomatic pistol, with no manufacturer’s marks or serial number, hidden in a heating vent in Genco’s bedroom.
Genco is charged with one count of attempting to commit a hate crime and one count of illegally possessing a machinegun. The hate crime charge is punishable by up to life imprisonment. The machinegun charge is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
16 charged in narcotics, firearms conspiraciesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 16 individuals in narcotics and firearms conspiracies.
The alleged narcotics conspiracy involves 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine and 10 grams or more of LSD, as well as detectable amounts of MDMA, DMT, marijuana and ketamine. Defendants are also alleged to have conspired to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The grand jury originally charged the two individuals allegedly involved in an Aug. 7, 2020 chase through Cincinnati that resulted in the deaths of two bystanders in Newport, Kentucky. The original indictment was returned Aug. 26, 2020. Mason Meyer, 29, and Kirsten Johnson, 23, both of Cincinnati, were charged federally with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Meyer is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. In Campbell County, Kentucky, Meyer is charged with two counts of murder, endangerment, and fleeing and evading.
Ongoing investigation led to the additional defendants and charges. The second superseding indictment charges 14 additional defendants. As charged in the latest indictment, the narcotics conspiracy is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
According to court documents, officials with the ATF, Cincinnati Police and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force were surveilling Meyer in Cincinnati on Aug. 7, 2020 when Meyer drove away.
Cincinnati Police officers attempted to stop Meyer when he fled, causing a police chase through Cincinnati and into Covington and Newport, Kentucky.
Local court documents detail that Meyer’s vehicle struck and killed a couple dining on the patio of Press on Monmouth in Newport, Kentucky. Two other pedestrians were struck and suffered minor injuries.
At the time of the chase, court documents allege Meyer and Johnson possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two loaded handguns and a loaded rifle.
Those currently charged in the case include:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Mason Meyer
29
Cincinnati
Kirsten Johnson
29
Cincinnati
Ryan Haskamp
33
Cincinnati
William Keith Jenkins
34
Cincinnati
Michael Alden Mobley
39
Ghent, Ky.
Michael Tyler Boeh
32
Cincinnati
Victoria Stauffer
27
Cincinnati
Quincy Pemberton
30
Cincinnati
Damon Gene Wade
28
California, Ky.
Kelly Marie Smart
32
Cincinnati
Kevin Patrick Thiery
41
Cincinnati
Crystal Randall
33
Cincinnati
Rory Hartmann
27
Cincinnati
Julie Renae Wetzel
31
Cincinnati
Ashley Long
27
Cincinnati
Haley Pennington
23
Moraine, Ohio
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and agencies with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force (DART) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Oakley, Jennifer K. Weinhold and Ashley N. Brucato 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.
# # #
Final defendant pleads guilty in meth conspiracy punishable by 10 years up to life in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of six defendants in a Columbus-to-West Virginia methamphetamine ring pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to a drug conspiracy crime punishable by 10 years up to life in prison.
Marvin C. Bozeman, II, 31, of Las Vegas, served as the group’s methamphetamine supplier.
According to court documents, in spring 2019, Columbus Division of Police officers received information from law enforcement in West Virginia that large amounts of methamphetamine were being transported from Columbus to be distributed in West Virginia.
Further investigation revealed the defendants were distributing large quantities of the drug and using various residences in Central Ohio to store and distribute the methamphetamine. Drug premises included residences on Rumsey Road, Lock Avenue and Esther Drive, among others.
Co-conspirators charged in this case include: Joseph Brian Howard, Timothy D. Copley, Samantha Howard, Darin T. Copeland and Charlee Ann Blankenship. They have each pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
Bozeman admitted to supplying Howard with packages containing pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas. Portions of the drugs were then redistributed amongst co-conspirators and throughout the region. Bozeman used the United States Postal Service to send nine-to-10-pound packages of methamphetamine in the mail. The local drug traffickers paid him approximately $1,000 per pound.
The narcotics conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Elizabeth Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
President of ice cream manufacturer pleads guilty to $1.8 million fraud, tax crimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Timothy L. Miller, 55, of Gahanna, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud and two counts of filing a false income tax return. Miller was charged by Bill of Information on April 26, 2021.
According to court documents, from July 2015 through December 2017 Miller was president of Big Drum USA LTD, an ice cream manufacturer located in Columbus, Ohio. Miller fraudulently withdrew $1,797,127.49 from a Big Drum bank account. The withdrawals consisted of the purchase of cashier’s checks made payable directly to casinos, debit card transactions involving hotels and casinos, and cash withdrawals in Ohio, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Pennsylvania, California, and Ontario, Canada. Miller concealed his actions by logging the transactions as “petty cash” or “loans” in the ledgers of Big Drum.
In addition, Miller filed false tax returns for the 2016 and 2017 tax years that failed to report the funds that he fraudulently withdrew from Big Drum, which resulted in the loss to the IRS of $674,873.35.
Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Filing a false income tax return carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. The plea agreement mandates that Miller pay restitution to Big Drum in the amount of $1,797,127.49 and $674,873.35 to the IRS.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the plea entered before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brenda S. Shoemaker and David J. Twombly. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
# # #
Brown County, Ohio man sentenced to 17 years in prison for distributing images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Wayne Cusimano, 55, of Hamersville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 204 months in prison for distributing child pornography through Kik messenger chat groups.
According to court documents, from January through September 2018, Cusimano belonged to online chat groups dedicated to the trading of child pornography. Cusimano posted images and videos to the groups depicting adults sexually abusing minor children.
In one chat group, Cusimano served as the group’s administrator. He promoted others in the group, banned users, and vetted individuals who sought to join the group.
Cusimano pleaded guilty in January 2021 to two counts of distributing child pornography.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Vance Callendar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the sentence handed down July 15 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Matthew Singer are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Murder victim’s ex-wife sentenced to 35 years in prison for interstate stalking resulting in deathRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A 37-year-old Centerville woman was sentenced in federal court today to 420 months in prison for interstate stalking that resulted in her ex-husband’s death.
Tawnney Caldwell accepted responsibility for her role in the August 2017 murder of Robert Caldwell. She pleaded guilty in federal court in October 2020.
According to court documents, around 6pm on August 15, 2017, Robert Caldwell and his three minor children left a counseling appointment in Riverside, Ohio. While crossing the parking lot, Robert Caldwell was shot multiple times by an assailant in front of his children and died at the scene. The assailant is alleged to be co-defendant Sterling Roberts.
Tawnney Caldwell is the ex-wife of the murder victim and was the girlfriend of Sterling Roberts at the time of the incident.
She and the murder victim had an ongoing dispute regarding the custody of their children and Tawnney Caldwell had talked to Sterling Roberts on at least two occasions (while Roberts was incarcerated in Montgomery County) about killing Robert Caldwell.
Tawnney Caldwell collaborated with others, including Sterling Roberts; his brothers, Chance Deakin and Christopher Roberts; Chandra Harmon (Tawnney’s mother); and James Harmon (Tawnney’s step-father), to plan, execute and cover-up the violent crime resulting in the death of Robert Caldwell.
Sterling Roberts is scheduled for jury trial in U.S. District Court on March 7, 2022. Each of the other defendants has pleaded guilty in this case.
Vipal J. Patel, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Riverside Police Chief Frank Robinson and Sugarcreek Township Police Chief Michael Brown announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith, Sheila G. Lafferty and Kevin Koller are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Columbus man who led online car sales scam sentenced to more than 14 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The leader of an online car sales scam that cheated hundreds of victims around the country out of more than $10.6 million total was sentenced in federal court today to 170 months in prison.
Terry J. Boutwell, 38, of Columbus, and others, pretended to part of an eBay program in order steal money through fake car sales.
Boutwell pleaded guilty in July 2019 to conspiring to commit money laundering. As part of his sentencing, he is ordered to pay $10,639,225.91 in restitution.
Court documents outline that Boutwell and others operated the scheme from 2015 until October 2018. He and the other co-conspirators were part of a network that attracted online customers through fraudulent postings for vehicle sales.
Defendants communicated with victims through email and phone, posing as employees of eBay, and used third parties to open bank accounts in the names of shell corporations that appeared to be affiliated with eBay. They instructed victims to wire funds to various third-party bank accounts they set up. They claimed to be affiliated with eBay’s Buyer Protection Program, when in fact, no such relationship existed.
Accounts in Boutwell’s control received more than $10.6 million from more than 850 victims around the country.
“Boutwell and his co-conspirators may have been dedicated to carrying out this sophisticated scheme, but our law enforcement partners on all levels throughout the country were just as dedicated to getting justice for the hundreds of victims who lost hard-earned money to this criminal conspiracy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Now, through restitution, we hope to get that money back to them. In the meantime, Boutwell will be serving a lengthy stay in federal prison.”
“This case serves as an unfortunate reminder that scammers will find new and sinister ways to relieve you of your hard-earned dollars,” Patel added. “Any attempt to communicate or make payment outside of an online merchant’s existing system should be met with extreme skepticism and caution.”
Two co-conspirators have also been sentenced in this case. Tiffany A. Strobl, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution. Shalitha R. Schexnayder, 41, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced to six months of home confinement as part of five years of federal probation.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Noah Litton is representing the United States in this case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patel recognized the assistance of United States Secret Service in Toledo, Ohio and Miami, Florida; the FBI’s Baltimore field office; United States Postal Inspection Service in Detroit; New York State Police; the Canton, Ohio, Butler Village, Ohio, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Marlboro Township, New Jersey and Janesville, Wisconsin police departments; and the Walworth County, Wisconsin and Clarke County, Alabama sheriff’s offices.
# # #
Central Ohio man pleads guilty to five armed robberies at Dayton dollar storeRead the Press Release
DAYTON – David Joseph Carter II, 21, of Powell, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to robbing a local Dollar General store five times while armed.
According to his plea, Carter robbed the Dollar General store on Salem Avenue in Dayton on Feb. 3, 8, 13, 28 and March 7, 2021. Shortly after he stole $471 from the store on March 7, the Dayton Police Department’s Violent Offenders Unit conducted a search warrant at an apartment where Carter was residing and discovered the clothing and shoes he wore during the most recent robbery.
Carter admitted to brandishing a firearm and stealing cash from the store on each of the five occasions.
The defendant pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by threats or violence and to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Carter faces a minimum of seven years and up to a lifetime in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
# # #
Former bookkeeper of federally funded Washington Court House domestic violence shelter pleads guilty to misusing shelter funds for personal expensesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The former bookkeeper of My Sister’s House, a now-shuttered domestic violence shelter in Washington Court House, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two counts related to stealing funds from the federally funded shelter.
Jaime Cardinal, 45, of Washington Court House, was arrested in July 2020, along with Crystal Chrisman, 53, of Columbus, the former executive director of the shelter.
Cardinal admitted that she and Chrisman spent tens of thousands of dollars intended for the operation of the shelter on personal expenses, including food, a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios for the defendants’ daughters, and thousands of dollars in purchases from Avon, Thirty-One and iTunes.
Cardinal’s plea details that, between January 2014 and October 2016, she misused debit cards connected to the shelter’s bank accounts to make hundreds of personal purchases at restaurants, auctions, craft stores and bowling alleys, among other places – including purchases made when few, if any, victims were living at the shelter. For example, in March and April 2016, when no victims were in the shelter, Cardinal and Chrisman charged more than $6,000 to the shelter’s debit cards for food at restaurants and grocery stores, car repair and fuel for personal cars, weight-loss supplements, and other personal expenses.
Due to the thefts, which totaled more than $50,000, My Sister’s House fell behind on payroll and on paying taxes. In November 2016, the shelter’s board placed all employees on administrative leave pending investigation. The domestic violence shelter never reopened.
Cardinal faces a prison sentence of up to five years in prison for conspiring to commit theft and up to 10 years in prison for committing theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Under the plea agreement, Cardinal has agreed to pay $25,000 in restitution.
My Sister’s House received more than $10,000 annually in federal grant funds, including grants under the Violence Against Women Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Victims of Crime Act. The grants are intended to be used to pay for salaries and benefits of staff and for shelter operations, including supplies and shelter maintenance.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Sixteen charged with gun crimes in third round of Cincinnati gun violence reduction initiativeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Sixteen people living in Cincinnati have been arrested and charged with federal gun crimes in the third wave of federal cases filed as part of Cincinnati’s initiative to reduce gun violence.
Fifteen are convicted felons. They are all charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a crime punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.
The defendants include one man, Carl Godfrey, who is now also facing state charges as part of a murder-for-hire plot. Another defendant, Kendall Black, led police on a six-mile chase last October that ended in a crash. Other defendants have been connected to incidents of shots fired and dealing illegal drugs including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The Gun Crimes Task Force, which includes the Cincinnati Police and ATF, recovered stolen weapons and stolen CPD body armor during this third wave.
One defendant, Darius Hillman-Carter is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime, punishable by a minimum of five years in federal prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel, ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the cases today. In late September, the officials announced gun-related charges filed against 16 other individuals in Cincinnati. Charges against twenty more were announced in November.
The aim of the initiative is to identify repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution.
“We are committed to getting guns out of the hands of people who have already been convicted of violent crimes and are prohibited under federal law from owning, possessing or controlling firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Enforcement is not the only answer to reducing violent crime facing our communities, but without enforcement, there is no answer.”
“ATF’s core mission is to investigate criminal cases against individuals who illegally possess and use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland H. Herndon, Jr. “We will continue to work with our partners in the greater Cincinnati area to ensure that persons who foster violence in our communities are dealt with accordingly.”
Those charged include:
Name
Age
BLACK, Kendall
30
BRYANT, Daniel
36
COACH, Nygel
31
COLVIN, Mashi
26
EVANS, Sa-Thon
40
FERGUSON, Marvin
39
GODFREY, Carl
21
HILLMAN-CARTER, Darious
22
HUBBARD, Brandon
31
JACKSON, Michael
37
LIGON, Leonard
32
MALONE, Dallis
37
MOYE, Matthew
48
RILEY, Carlito
23
RILEY, Kiontay
24
STUCKEY, Timothy
31
Patel also acknowledged the participation of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters for sharing their expertise and information in building federal cases against the defendants.
Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Brucato, Julie Garcia, Timothy Oakley, Anthony Springer, Ebunoluwa Taiwo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Stachowiak with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office and Zach Kessler with the Cincinnati Law Department are representing the United States in the cases.
# # #
20-year prison sentence for Cincinnati man who sold fentanyl-laced heroinRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI - A 46-year old Cincinnati man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for selling heroin laced with fentanyl to three people who overdosed on it.
Darrell R. Seay was sentenced yesterday. He pleaded guilty on March 25 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury.
Court documents reveal that Seay came under investigation by the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition (now known as the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition) after Cincinnati Police responded to triple, non-fatal overdoses on January 14, 2020 and learned that Seay had sold one of the victims the fentanyl-laced heroin just before all three victims ingested the substance and overdosed. The three victims overdosed at the residence where he sold it (two in the house and one in the front yard). All three victims were administered Narcan at the scene, were transported to a nearby hospital and survived.
After further investigation, agents obtained a search warrant for the Seay’s residence. When searched on February 21, 2020, law enforcement seized more than half a kilogram of cocaine, approximately 65 grams of fentanyl, more than $75,000 in U.S. currency, two semi-automatic pistols, and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking, including digital scales. The guns were found in the wardrobe in the second-floor bedroom where the defendant and his wife sleep. In that wardrobe agents also found baggies of white powder individually wrapped into approximately 10-20 different bags of equal weight, indicative of further drug distribution to customers. Although the guns were not loaded, there were two loaded magazines in that same wardrobe that could properly attach to the firearms seized.
"Drug dealers prey on the addicted and we will hold dealers accountable," said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel in reminding people of the Fentanyl in Narcotic Drugs (FIND) Awareness project launched last December. “Street drugs are laced with fentanyl, which makes addiction even more deadly and peddling such drugs all the more dangerous.”
“This sentencing is the result of great police work in Hamilton County and individuals, like Mr. Seay, who choose to deal drugs in this community will have to answer for their crimes,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug and the three victims in this case could have easily joined the tens of thousands who have already lost their lives to this public health crisis.”
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer K. Weinhold prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
# # #
Columbus man pleads guilty to invading homes of Dayton-area drug dealersRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Columbus, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in multiple home invasions in the greater Dayton region.
William Anthony-Lee Baylor, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act.
According to court documents, Baylor, co-defendant Kieran Chandre Furnace and others conspired to commit home invasions of Dayton-area drug dealers.
Baylor admitted to taking part in armed robberies of drug dealers to steal from their illicit drug inventories and cash proceeds of drug dealing. The co-conspirators also stole vehicles, jewelry, clothing, shoes and firearms.
For example, in January 2019, Baylor acknowledged that he and others forced entry into a residence in Trotwood. While inside the home, defendants bound up the ankles and wrists of two individuals, forced them to lie face down on the floor, and brandished firearms towards the individuals.
As part of Baylor’s global plea agreement, he also admits his guilt to five local charges in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas: two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of theft and one count of kidnapping.
Baylor faces up to 20 years in prison on his federal charge. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Charges remain pending against Furness, who is alleged to have invaded at least five Dayton-area homes as part of this conspiracy.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; Trotwood Police Chief Erik Wilson; and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck, Jr. announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Jefferson County man charged with operating binary options fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury here has indicted William T. Caniff, Jr., 52, of Toronto, Ohio alleging multiple wire fraud and money laundering charges related to a binary options fraud scheme.
Binary options are a type of options contract in which the payout depended on the outcome of a yes/no proposition, typically related to whether the price of a particular asset would rise above or fall below a certain amount. A binary option did not give the holder the right to buy or sell the underlying asset. Instead, the holder received a pre-determined amount of money or nothing at all.
According to the indictment, it is alleged that Caniff and another individual formed Berkley Capital Management, LLC in January 2016 which purported to be in the business of trading binary options. Berkley Capital Management was the general partner for Bbot 1 LP (Bbot) which was created in January 2016 and Berkley II LP (Berkley II), which was created in August 2017. Bbot 1 LP and Berkley II LP were established as an investment pool that would offer participants the opportunity to trade binary options in a pool with other participants.
Caniff was the designated trader for Bbot and Berkley II. Caniff established bank accounts for Berkley Capital Management, Bbot 1, and Berkley II and had control of the bank accounts.
The indictment alleges that Caniff knowingly made and caused to be made materially false representations to investors to fraudulently obtain and retain money, including false representations about the risks involved with the investments, the expected and actual returns on investments, and the ways investor funds would be used and were used. Caniff created or caused to be created false documents in order to mislead investors, including false account statements.
The indictment also alleges that, even though Bbot and Berkley II received more than $4 million in funds from investors, Caniff caused only $85,000 of the funds to be invested through Nadex, an online binary options exchange. Caniff fraudulently misappropriated at least $2 million of investors’ funds for his own benefit and the benefit of a business partner, the indictment charges.
If convicted of wire fraud, Caniff faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Money laundering is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the charges.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Federal officials close review of fatal shooting of Samuel DuBoseRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, in consultation with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced today they have concluded their review of the July 2015 fatal shooting of Samuel DuBose by former University of Cincinnati police officer Raymond Tensing without filing criminal charges against the former officer. The FBI has similarly concluded its investigation.
Justice Department officials have notified Mr. DuBose’s family of this decision via the family’s counsel.
Federal civil rights statutes – which are written by Congress – require federal authorities to prove beyond a reasonable doubt unanimously to a jury of twelve that a defendant willfully used unreasonable force with the specific intent of violating a victim’s constitutional rights. To establish willfulness beyond a reasonable doubt, federal authorities would be required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the former officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is one of the highest standards of intent imposed by law.
# # #
Man pleads guilty to hate crime that involved antisemitic threats to neighbors, breaking their windowRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court to criminally interfering with the right to fair housing. The charges stem from antisemitic threats the defendant made to his neighbors.
According to court documents, Douglas G. Schifer, 66, threatened neighbors and their guests because of their religion during an outdoor gathering at the neighbors’ residence on Nov. 7, 2020.
Plea documents detail that Schifer stated in part, “all you f***ing people, it’s no wonder Hitler burned you people in ovens, “f***ing Hitler should have gassed you,” and “Jews burn, you belong in ovens.”
Plea documents say that Schifer also said to the neighbors, “f***ing dog” and “I will poison your dog if it comes back to the fence.” Schifer admitted to threatening to shoot the neighbors and their dog, and to “burn to the ground” a garage the neighbors were remodeling into an apartment.
Schifer shouted other antisemitic slurs, obscenities and other derogatory language about their religion at his neighbors and their guests on Nov. 7, 2020. He also broke one of their windows and spat on one of the neighbors. He also made reference to gassing Jewish people, chopping them up, and burning them in ovens.
Schifer was charged by a federal criminal complaint in March. Schifer faces up to one year in prison and a possible fine of up to $100,000.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered into on Monday, June 28 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill, and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Jury convicts Westerville man of sexually exploiting a five-year oldRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A United States District Court jury has convicted Christopher M. Sammons, 28, of four counts related to creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a five-year old. Sammons faces at least 15 years in prison.
The jury reached the verdict late Friday, June 25 following a trial that began on June 21 before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on March 11, 2019, an undercover FBI agent in Little Rock, Arkansas, received a message from Sammons regarding sexual interest in children.
Throughout their conversations, Sammons encouraged the undercover agent to “just make some homemade stuff” when discussing the availability of child pornography.
Sammons detailed sexually abusing a then five-year-old victim and also offered to “share her next time if you’re interested in a long-term thing.” Sammons sent the agent child pornography files and suggested plans for he and the agent to exchange videos of them sexually abusing minors.
Based on IP address information, the investigative lead was forwarded to FBI Columbus and a Task Force Officer here began communicating with Sammons. Sammons told the task force officer he had been sexually abusing the victim for a year.
The jury convicted Sammons of one count of sexually exploiting a minor (punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison), two counts of making a notice for child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison) and one count of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).
Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati District; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced today’s verdict. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch, Legal Director of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Human Trafficking Initiative, represented the United States in this case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
# # #
Owner of haunted house equipment supplier pleads guilty to tax crimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, OHIO – David Fachman, 59, of New Albany, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of willful failure to pay over tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to court documents, since at least 1998 Fachman owned and operated The Scarefactory, Inc., a haunted house and special effects supplier in Columbus, Ohio. As the owner, Fachman always maintained financial and administrative control over the business. From at least January 1, 2015 and continuing until in or about December 31, 2018, Fachman withheld and collected the trust fund portion of the employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks but failed to file timely and to remit the payment to the IRS. Scarefactory was required to make deposits of the federal employment taxes to the IRS for all employees on a periodic basis. Fachman had a corporate responsibility to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over business’ payroll taxes and failed to do so.
For example, on October 31, 2018, Fachman had an obligation to file a Form 941 and pay over $26,226.02 in employee withheld federal employment taxes. Fachman failed to file timely and to pay $26,226.02 of those taxes over to the IRS.
In total, Fachman failed to pay over employee and employer federal employment taxes totaling $547,854.73.
Willful failure to pay over tax carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"Business owners have a responsibility to collect and turn over all IRS employment taxes," said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. "Employment fraud can also impact employees who may see future benefits affected such as Social Security, Medicare or Unemployment Compensation."
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica Knight and was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation.
# # #
Guatemalan man who was extradited to Ohio pleads guilty in Colombia-to-America cocaine conspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to charges related to a Colombia-to-America cocaine conspiracy.
In March 2020, Jose Luis DeLeon-Baltazar, 40, was extradited to Columbus from Bogota, Colombia. He is the second defendant to be extradited to the United States in this case.
As part of his plea, DeLeon-Baltazar admitted he conspired with others to ship hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, via sea and land, through Central America and Mexico to the United States.
DeLeon-Baltazar, also known as “Enano,” was indicted in September 2018. Specifically, DeLeon-Baltazar pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute at least five kilograms or more of cocaine on the high seas, which is a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, as part of the conspiracy individuals would use “load” coordinators to assist with logistics of cocaine shipments, locate drivers and boat operators for narcotic-laden vehicles and vessels, and secure shared investments from multiple co-conspirators in specific cocaine shipments. Fishermen and other commercial maritime laborers were allegedly recruited by conspirators to transport cocaine and refueling vessels.
Conspirators allegedly paid a “tax” or “fee” to send cocaine through areas controlled by a different drug trafficking organization or cartel.
Members of the conspiracy allegedly shared information on the activities and locations of law enforcement and military personnel assigned to interdict narcotics shipments. It is alleged co-conspirators also sheltered individuals who were at risk of extradition to other countries.
Low-level co-conspirators would allegedly take responsibility for an entire load of seized cocaine to free higher-level members.
Specifically, DeLeon-Baltazar received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported on go-fast speed boats from Colombia into Guatemala. Once the cocaine arrived in Guatemala, DeLeon-Baltazar hid the cocaine in buildings in Tecun Uman, Guatemala until the cocaine was transported across Guatemala’s northern border into Mexico. On May 19, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a go-fast boat that contained 880 kilograms of cocaine approximately 400 miles south of the Guatemal/Mexico. That shipment was to be received by DeLeon-Baltazar in Guatemala where he would store it until it was to be transported to Mexico.
Additional cocaine shipments seized in this case thus far include:
- 720 kilograms of cocaine seized by the United States Coast Guard northwest of the Galapagos Islands on Aug. 18, 2017; and
- 34 kilograms of cocaine seized by the Guatemalan Policia National Civil in San Marcos, Guatemala on or about Nov. 26, 2017.
Four defendants were transported to Ohio for prosecution in September 2017, following the 720 kilogram seizure near the Galapagos Islands. That seizure alone included more than 1,584 pounds of cocaine, equaling an approximate street value of $25 million.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Richard S. Fambro announced the plea offered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey, Elizabeth R. Rabe, and Kelly A. Norris are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Trotwood woman sentenced to prison for accepting Social Security payments, COVID-19 stimulus money on behalf of deceased brotherRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Karen Lamb, 61, of Trotwood, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to six months in prison followed by six months in home detention for stealing Social Security benefits and COVID-19 stimulus money in the name of her deceased brother. Lamb was also ordered to repay the money she stole.
According to court documents, Lamb fraudulently obtained nearly $223,000 in Social Security payments and $1,200 in COVID-19 stimulus money.
Lamb’s brother died in 2004, when he was a recipient of Social Security benefits. Lamb did not notify Social Security or the bank of her brother’s death, and instead continued to receive his payments into a shared bank account. Lamb updated the address associated with the bank account to her own physical address.
“This sentence demonstrates that concealing someone’s death to gain access to their Social Security’s benefits is a Federal crime, and one that the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will continue to fight,” said Andrew Boockmeier, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA OIG Chicago Field Division. “The collaborative efforts of our auditors and investigators uncovered this nearly 16-year ruse. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry for working with us to hold this individual accountable.”
The theft in this case was detected through an audit by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General. The United States Secret Service also assisted with this case.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed yesterday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Local man sentenced to prison in chop shop conspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal at least 35 vehicles to dismantle and sell their parts, causing more than $300,000 in loss.
Mike Silva, 31, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of conspiring to operate a chop shop and violate the Clean Air Act. Silva operated an autobody shop that served as the chop shop where stolen vehicles were dismantled.
As part of his sentence, Silva is ordered to pay approximately $301,000 in restitution.
Conspiracy leader James A. Imes, 51, of Columbus, was sentenced in July 2019 to 120 months in prison. His wife, Tina Imes, 41, was sentenced in September 2020 to 36 months in prison. The couple was ordered to pay approximately $550,000 in restitution. Co-defendant Scottie Johnson was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay approximately $263,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, from January 2013 until April 2014, defendants stole at least 35 vehicles to dismantle them and sell their parts throughout the Midwest, earning $10,000 to $15,000 per week. Co-conspirators operated chop shops in three locations on the West side of Columbus to traffic the car parts.
Most of the vehicles were sold as parts or scrap to salvage yards. More valuable parts were sold on Craigslist through posts advertised in cities across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.
During the destruction of the vehicles, HCFC refrigerant chemicals were released into the atmosphere when vehicle air conditioning tubes were cut.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Laurie A. Stevenson; and Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey and Special Assistant United States Attorneys J. Michael Marous, Christopher N. St.Pierre and Heather Robinson are representing the United States in this case.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Ohio EPA Special Investigations Unit, as well as the assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police Auto Theft Unit and Ohio State Highway Patrol Theft and Fraud Unit.
# # #
Man who volunteered as church bus driver sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a minorRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Warren County man who met his victims through his volunteer work as a church bus driver was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 360 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor under the age of 12.
A federal grand jury charged Jory Leedy, 51, of Franklin, Ohio, in April 2016. Leedy pleaded guilty in June 2019 on the day he was scheduled to begin a jury trial.
According to court documents, Leedy sexually abused at least two minor boys as young as 7 and 8 years old. Leedy met the minors through a religious organization in Dayton, where he volunteered as a bus driver. The children rode the bus, along with their mother, to the ministry on Sunday. Thereafter, Leedy stopped by the residence to play with the boys and eat dinner with the family. Leedy stopped volunteering as a bus driver shortly after.
Leedy began going to the residence on a nightly basis. He began buying the minors clothes and games. Eventually, Leedy ingratiated himself into the family, taking the boys to church in Cincinnati and on trips to the zoo, Cincinnati Reds games and Kings Island. He began taking the boys on vacations out of state. For example, Leedy took the victims to religious concerts and to Disney World.
Leedy arranged for the purchase of a car for the family. He helped enroll the boys in a private school. Further, Leedy assisted the family in securing another home that was owned by a friend of his; Leedy paid for part of the rent.
Leedy had provided the victims’ family with a fake name. His true identity was discovered during an altercation with the victims’ father in which the police were called. Police advised the parents of Leedy’s true identity and that he was a registered sex offender.
The victims told police the abuse took place over the course of two years and occurred in different states, including Kentucky, Florida and New York.
In addition, Leedy admitted in court documents that between 1999 and 2001 he sexually abused a then-minor relative when he would take the boy on trips for sporting events.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmain McGuffey and other members of the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations (RECI) Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Black. OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy and Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Dayton man charged with dealing fentanyl cocaine mixture that caused multiple fatal and nonfatal overdosesRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged a Dayton man with distributing fentanyl and cocaine that resulted in five overdoses in the late hours of New Year’s Eve and into the early hours of New Year’s Day 2019.
Kelsey V. Williams, Jr., 40, was arrested on Tuesday in Minnesota. He appeared in federal court in Minnesota today for a detention hearing and his case was unsealed here this afternoon.
According to the indictment returned on May 25, on New Year’s Eve 2018 and New Year’s Day 2019, the defendant allegedly distributed a fentanyl and cocaine mixture responsible for three fatal and two nonfatal overdoses.
Distributing a controlled substance that results in death or serious bodily injury is a federal crime punishable by 20 years up to life in prison.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Ryan A. Saunders are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation S.O.S. In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the launch of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S), a program aimed at reducing the supply of synthetic opioids in 10 high impact areas and identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.
# # #
8 charged in fentanyl distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged eight individuals in a narcotics conspiracy involving at least 14 kilograms of fentanyl destined for resale in Clark, Greene, Hamilton and Montgomery counties.
The indictment was returned on June 8 and unsealed today.
Each of the defendants is charged with conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, a crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
The 13-count indictment alleges that between December 2020 until June 2021, the defendants used a network of sellers in southern Ohio to distribute kilogram quantities of opioids from supply sources in Mexico and the western United States. The co-conspirators allegedly used a series of properties throughout southern Ohio to process, store, and distribute controlled substances and their resulting cash proceeds.
As part of the conspiracy, one defendant, under the guise of her profession as a truck driver, transported thousands of dollars in cash to sources of drug supply in Mexico and the western United States.
Those charged include:
Name
Also Known As
Age
Residence
Clemente Quezada
38
Fairborn, Ohio
Isai David Navarro-Rivas
Pollo
44
Calexico, Calif.
Juana Elvira-Arrechea Gilbert
60
San Diego
Edson Cruz-Medina
32
Springfield, Ohio
Tiun Todd
Tito Todd
37
Cincinnati
Jonathan Lopez
31
Cincinnati
Mark Turner
42
Xenia, Ohio
Erick Collins
Erick Johnson
36
Cincinnati
“This is a sophisticated, alleged drug trafficking organization that stretched from the Mexican border to southern Ohio. We believe this group, and others who we are working to bring to justice, are responsible for trafficking a significant amount of fentanyl into southern Ohio,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “Fentanyl remains a significant threat to this region. DEA and our law enforcement partners are intensifying efforts to go after those who exchange the suffering of thousands for their own personal gain.”
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Richard S. Fambro; and Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Defendant on federal supervised release pleads guilty to drug crimeRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man on supervised release from a prior federal case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to dealing methamphetamine near Austin Landing in Miamisburg.
Terry Scott Jones, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In March 2021, officers with the City of Moraine executed a search warrant in Jones’ hotel room at the Home2Suites at Austin Landing. Detectives discovered more than 89 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.
Just one year prior, in March 2020, Jones was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee.
Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
# # #
Registered sex offender sentenced to 29 years in prison for soliciting and producing child pornography from teenage boys on social mediaRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Brendan J. Eardly, 50, of Troy, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 348 months in prison for producing child pornography by enticing juvenile males to send him sexually explicit videos and images via social media.
According to court documents, between October 2015 and August 2018, Eardly created multiple social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Kik Messenger and communicated with more than 60 juveniles worldwide.
Eardly told some of the minors that he could be their “gay mentor,” someone whom they could talk to about sex, and someone who could provide them advice about sex. The defendant sent and requested nude and sexually explicit images to and from the minors.
For example, Eardly sent videos and images of himself to a 13-year-old male in Utah. Eardly purchased gifts for the boy and coerced him into sending at least 8 images and two videos of child pornography.
Eardly similarly victimized teenage males in Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, California and New York. He sometimes sent the child pornography obtained from one victim to other victims with whom he was communicating.
At the time of his instant offense, Eardly was required to register as a sex offender as the result of a prior sex conviction in Miami County.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Troy Police Chief Charles Phelps; and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) announced the sentence imposed Friday evening by U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Laura I. Clemmens is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Lewis Center man pleads guilty to COVID-relief fraud scheme & laundering more than $2.4M related to online romance scamsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lewis Center man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in conspiring to launder the proceeds of online romance scams for roughly two years. He also admitted to fraudulently misapplying CARES Act loan funds to buy himself boats while out on release from his initial charges.
Eric Ahiekpor, 50, was indicted by a grand jury in June 2020 and charged by a superseding bill of information in May 2021.
In total, as part of the romance scams, bank accounts under Ahiekpor’s control received more than $2.4 million in criminally derived funds.
Kwame Yeboah, 37, of Columbus, has also pleaded guilty in the money laundering scheme. Robert Asante, 36, of Canal Winchester, was charged in the money laundering scheme and is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, individuals committing fraud created several profiles on online dating sites. They then contacted men and women throughout the United States and elsewhere, with whom they cultivated a sense of affection, and often, romance.
After establishing relationships, perpetrators of the romance scams requested money, typically for investment or need-based reasons, and provided victims with account information and directions for where money should be sent. In part, these accounts were in the names of Ahiekpor and his co-defendants, in the names of the defendants’ family members, and in the names of the defendants’ companies. The funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the perpetrators of the romance scams.
Ahiekpor is not accused of committing romance fraud. Instead, by pleading guilty he admits that he helped the perpetrators of the romance fraud move the fraud proceeds from the United States to Ghana.
While he was on release in the romance scam case, in a separate and unrelated scheme, Ahiekpor obtained a coronavirus relief loan for $150,000 and fraudulently misapplied the loan proceeds. In June 2020, Ahiekpor submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) on behalf of Premier Choice Health Services, a business he owned.
The EIDL Program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The EIDL Program was expanded under the CARES Act. EIDL proceeds can be used for working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. EIDL proceeds cannot be used for the applicant’s personal benefit.
One day after receiving the relief funds, Ahiekpor bought a 2017 Sun Tracker “Fishin’ Barge 22 DKX” boat for $32,000, motor and boat trailer. Shortly thereafter, he also purchased a 1995 Sea Ray Sundancer boat. He continued to fraudulently misapply the EIDL proceeds after his release from his money laundering charges.
Conspiracy to launder money and wire fraud are federal crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine, as well as forfeiture of any proceeds involved in the crimes.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting 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 plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
3 Cincinnati men plead guilty in narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The lead of three defendants charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today.
Derek (Duke) Ragan, 51, appeared in U.S. District Court today to enter his guilty plea for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
Co-defendants Anthony (Pea Head) Sanderson, 65, and Lawrence (LB) Bell, 68, have also pleaded guilty in this case.
The three were charged in 2019 after an extensive investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. In 2010, police seized more than $1 million in cash, along with guns and drugs from Ragan’s residence “Duke’s Place.” Ragan forfeited the million dollars in that local case as part of his plea to local gambling charges.
According to court documents in the current case, the co-conspirators brought fentanyl and other drugs into the Cincinnati area, where they were further processed, cut, combined, packaged and stored prior to distribution. The defendants used “Duke’s Place” on Oliver Street in Cincinnati to distribute the illegal opioids.
As part of his plea, Ragan admitted to eight specific occasions in which he conspired to sell anywhere between 28 and 283 grams of fentanyl. Each transaction involved between $2,800 and $28,000 worth of narcotics.
Ragan, Sanderson and Bell will be sentenced at future court hearings. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant is determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Cincinnati nightclub owner pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearms, underreporting taxesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati nightclub owner pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to federal firearms and tax crimes.
Julian Rodgers, 45, of Cincinnati, was charged by a bill of information on March 31.
He admitted to underreporting his income by at least $100,000 and to illegally possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony crime.
According to his plea agreement, Rodgers reported his 2017 income as approximately $90,000. He did not report at least $105,107.92 in additional income that year, causing a tax loss of nearly $36,000.
Financial records show Rodgers spent money in 2017 on personal expenditures out of his business bank accounts, including payments on a Porsche and gambling expenses at a casino.
In August 2018, federal agents advised Rodgers that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. When agents executed a search warrant at Rodgers’ residence in October 2018, they discovered two firearms, a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and a 40-caliber handgun.
Possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Filing a false income tax return carries a potential penalty of up to three years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation; and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan and Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Cincinnati man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting 16-year-oldRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for sex trafficking and creating child pornography of a 16-year-old victim.
Ismail Salaam, 38, was convicted after a jury trial in November 2018. He was charged by a criminal complaint in September 2016 and indicted by a grand jury in October 2016 and January 2017.
“Salaam physically abused, prostituted and sexually exploited a 16-year-old female. When the victim attempted to stop the abuse, Salaam became violent, choking the victim and pulling her hair,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Our community is surely safer with Salaam serving a lengthy sentence in federal prison.”
According to court documents and testimony at trial, Springdale officers responded to the La Quinta Motel in Springdale in September 2016 in response to a report of a juvenile runaway in the motel. Officers discovered Salaam there with the 16-year-old juvenile runaway.
It was further discovered that Salaam had been with the minor girl for the previous three weeks. Salaam paid for food, hairstyling, manicures and clothing for the victim.
Salaam took explicit photographs of the girl and attempted to have the victim post an advertisement on Backpage.com in the escorts section.
Salaam coordinated encounters with at least two men, in which the victim was to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for money. In text messages, Salaam instructed the victim to flirt with the men, offer sexual acts, and collect money and marijuana. In one instance, an adult male had intercourse with the victim and provided $100, which the girl provided to Salaam.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Springdale Police Chief Thomas Wells announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Black. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer and Kyle J. Healey and OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Dayton residents charged in identity & financial fraud schemeRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged two Daytonians with federal crimes related to identity fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft of U.S. mail, Social Security fraud and access device fraud. The defendants allegedly conspired to steal checks, credit cards, debit cards, bank account information and Social Security numbers to enrich themselves.
Myrtle Lynn “Mi Mi” Jackson, 38, and Joshua Dylan “Jo Jo” Chapman, 29, each appeared in federal court today, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter B. Silvain, Jr. ordered them both detained pending trial. The case has been assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.
According to the 17-count indictment returned on May 11, the defendants stole victims’ personal information from occupied and unoccupied residences, vehicles and mailboxes. Jackson and Chapman then allegedly used stolen credit cards, debit cards and checks to illicitly acquire cash, drugs, and other goods and services.
The charging document alleges the co-conspirators used victims’ information to fraudulently apply for personal loans, student loans, unemployment benefits, credit cards, debit cards and checks.
Jackson and Chapman allegedly used the proceeds of their fraud scheme to buy illicit drugs and make purchases at Walmart, Dollar General, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lees Famous Chicken. It is alleged the fraudulent funds were also used to pay for motel rooms and for gambling activities at a casino in Dayton.
No trial date has been set yet.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges and commended the investigation of the United States Secret Service and Dayton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Cincinnati political consultant pleads guilty to embezzling $1.4M from Congressional campaignRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A political and media consultant pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud and falsification of records related to the embezzlement of more than $1.4 million from a United States Congressional campaign.
A bill of information was filed on April 27 charging James R. Schwartz II, 41, of Cincinnati.
According to court documents, from approximately 2011 through 2019, Schwartz worked as a consultant on behalf of a Congressional campaign through his companies Fountain Square Group LLC and Prime Media LLC. Schwartz also served as the de facto treasurer for the campaign.
The plea document details that Schwartz embezzled funds from the Congressional campaign by writing checks to himself and his companies from the campaign that were for more money than he and his companies had actually earned. He allegedly concealed the embezzled funds by misrepresenting the amounts paid to him and his companies in reports to the Federal Election Commission. It is alleged that Schwartz fabricated bank statements and other documents in submissions to the Federal Election Commission in order to conceal his embezzling.
Committing wire fraud and falsifying records in a federal investigation are crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
11 indicted in international fentanyl distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted 11 people, including seven from Cincinnati, for engaging in an international conspiracy to distribute the deadly drug fentanyl.
“These charges disrupt an alleged fentanyl pipeline that stretched from a source cartel in Mexico, through California and Arizona and onto the streets of Cincinnati,” Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel said. “We hope this investigation saved countless lives by preventing fentanyl from reaching our community’s streets.”
A 29-year-old Cincinnati man, Tyree Cushan Yisrael, was the final defendant to be arrested today.
Local and federal investigations started in 2019 and included the DEA Cincinnati field office, the FBI and the Hamilton County Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU). Gilberto Ojeda-Avila of Tolleson, Arizona, was believed to be a source of supply who helped coordinate the transport of illicit drugs from Arizona to local distributors in the Cincinnati area, including Kenneth Green and Richard Sommerville.
On Memorial Day weekend in 2020, investigators stopped cars driven by Georgina Tapia-Llamas and Nancy Osorio-Duarte in Cincinnati and allegedly found more than four kilograms of fentanyl hidden in the front bumper and wheel wells of the car driven by Osorio-Duarte.
Further investigation helped identify several alleged prolific Cincinnati distributors. Execution of search warrants at several locations in the Cincinnati area last October and November resulted in the seizure of more than 13 additional kilograms of fentanyl, at least 17 guns and more than $1 million in alleged drug proceeds.
The fentanyl seized was allegedly being sold for approximately $65,000 per kilogram, giving the quantity of drugs in this case an estimated street value of at least $1.1 million.
“Fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin and has claimed far too many lives, not just here in Southern Ohio, but across the nation,” said Cincinnati District Office Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “Through the cooperation between law enforcement entities, we were able to halt the distribution of a significant amount of this potentially deadly substance and thwart an allegedly major drug trafficking organization.”
The final indictment was returned on March 31, 2021.
The indictment charges the following with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance:
Name
Age
City of residence
Gilberto Ojeda-Avila
24
Tolleson, Arizona
Georgina Tapia-Llamas
43
Tolleson, Arizona
Selma Valenzuela-Garibaldi
41
Phoenix
Kenneth Eugene Green
56
Cincinnati
Richard Charles Sommerville II
37
Cincinnati
Gabriel Thomas
36
Cincinnati
Nancy Osorio-Duarte
41
Phoenix
Tyree Cushan Yisrael
29
Cincinnati
Antonio Lamont Brumfield
22
Cincinnati
Chavez Foggie
23
Cincinnati
Isis Allen
29
Cincinnati
Each of the defendants is charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
“The FBI is proud to have worked alongside our federal and local partners to bring to justice those who harm our communities by distributing this deadly drug,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “We remain committed to getting fentanyl, and those who distribute it, off the streets.”
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Weinhold is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Indiana man charged with illegally selling fireworks in OhioRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Paul Eberhard, 64, of Shelbyville, Indiana, with crimes related to illegally dealing in fireworks.
The investigation began after the July 4, 2020, death of a Mt. Healthy man. According to reports, the man died after being struck in the head by a fireworks explosive. The Hamilton County Bomb Squad confiscated fireworks from the scene.
According to the indictment, between 2018 and 2020, Eberhard illegally sold display fireworks. He is charged with two federal crimes: dealing in explosive materials without a license and distributing explosive materials to a person without a permit or license. Each crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Display fireworks are large fireworks designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, deflagration or detonation. Display fireworks contain more than 50 milligrams of flash powder for ground devices, and more than 130 milligrams of flash powder for aerial explosives. Under federal law, a person must have an ATF license or permit to receive or use display fireworks. Individuals with only a permit, like Eberhard, are prohibited from selling or distributing display fireworks.
Eberhard’s case was unsealed this afternoon during his initial appearance in federal court.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges and commended the work of the Mount Healthy, North College Hill and Shelbyville police departments, the sheriff’s office bomb squads from Hamilton and Butler counties, and the Hamilton County Coroner. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Lacey Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
An Indiana man pleaded guilty today to three felony counts of illegally harvesting American paddlefish and its roe.
According to court documents, on three separate days in December 2015 and February 2016, Joseph R. Schigur, a licensed commercial fisherman, and his deckhand, harvested 96 American paddlefish from the Ohio waters of the Ohio River that he knew were closed to commercial fishing. After capturing the paddlefish using gill nets, Schigur transported each catch to his shop in English, Indiana, where the roe was extracted from the females and processed to make caviar and the carcasses were carved up into smaller portions, commonly referred to as “bullets.” The caviar and bullets were then stored in freezers on site for future sale to out-of-state customers. Schigur’s three fishing trips resulted in approximately 1,400 pounds of fish meat and 72 pounds of caviar, most of which was sold to commercial vendors in New York City. To conceal his illegal harvests, Schigur falsified monthly reports of commercial fish harvest and daily roe harvest reports by claiming he caught the paddlefish in Kentucky waters.
Schigur pleaded guilty to three felony counts of Lacey Act violation before the Honorable Judge Douglas R. Cole in the Southern District of Ohio. A sentencing date will be set upon completion of a presentence report. Schigur faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 criminal fine, and a possible order requiring restitution payable to the State of Ohio.
Special agents of the Fish and Wildlife Services and law enforcement officers from both the Ohio and Indiana Department of Natural Resources investigated the case.
Trial Attorney R.J. Powers of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section (ECS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Clemmens of the Southern District of Ohio prosecuted the matter with the assistance of paralegal Samantha Goins of ECS.
Miamisburg man who solicited more than 170 minors online sentenced to 25 years in prisonRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A Miamisburg man was sentenced in federal court in Dayton today to 300 months in prison for attempting to coerce a minor while registered as a sex offender.
Steven Shawn Smith, 48, pleaded guilty to the crime in January 2021.
According to court documents, Smith created nine online dating profiles with the names “Sammy” and “Shaw.” From April 2020 through October 2020, Smith communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor online and by text messages. Smith requested nude images from the undercover agent on multiple occasions. The defendant also sent images of his nude genitalia to the undercover agent.
In one communication, when the undercover agent refused to send nude photos, Smith said, “I know that you don’t want to send me those pictures but I was hoping that you would understand just how much it would mean to me and how close it would bring us.”
Court documents detail that Smith discussed meeting with the purported minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and sent the officer $75 via Cash App so that the purported minor could buy a one-way bus ticket to Ohio. Smith was arrested in October 2020, shortly after sending the money to the undercover agent.
In addition to communicating with the undercover agent, Smith messaged more than 170 other online users who identified themselves as minors. He received sexually explicit images from at least 21 of the purported minors and sent nude images of himself to at least 70 users.
Smith was convicted in 1994 in Athens County Common Pleas Court of one count of rape of a child, and as a result, is required to register as a sex offender.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Laura I. Clemmens and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Six defendants charged with selling millions of dollars’ worth of psychedelic mushrooms onlineRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged six individuals with selling liquid psychedelic mushrooms online to customers all over the country, including at least one identified customer in Columbus, Ohio.
The six defendants were charged by criminal complaint in April with attempting and conspiring to manufacture, distribute and dispense controlled substances using cryptocurrencies via the dark web. The group was allegedly orchestrating millions of dollars of online drug sales.
In the indictment filed today, the defendants are charged with one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a psychedelic mushroom analogue. Each of the defendants faces up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, between November 2013 and April 2021, co-conspirators sold liquid psychedelic mushrooms in nine milligram vials for approximately $20 each on the darknet through the moniker TRIPWITHSCIENCE.
In this case, the government seeks to forfeit the profits of the alleged drug scheme, as well as a 2016 Tesla Model-X Wagon and land in Brighton, Colorado valued at more than $1.5 million.
Those charged include:
Name
Age
Residence
James Verl Barlow
44
Las Vegas
Matthew Taylor Barlow
35
Murray, Utah
Ronald Royal Edward Brust
45
Las Vegas
Jennifer Helen Campbell
42
Murray, Utah
Monet L. Carriere
32
Las Vegas
Tony Du Phan
44
Memphis, Tenn.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lisa B. Mendelsohn, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA; Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. The case was investigated by the South-Central Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Cyber Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Lancaster man sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for attempting to sexually coerce a minorRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A prior sex offender who was on parole supervision at the time of his latest offense was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 186 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for attempting to sexually coerce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
According to court documents, in May 2020, officers with the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were conducting undercover online chats to identify individuals who were attempting to solicit and engage in illegal sexual activity with minors.
An officer posing as a juvenile on a social media application received a message from Larry Richard Dickerson, 56, and the two became in regular contact. Dickerson requested nude photos of the purported teenager. In one instance, he asked her to send a shirtless picture with the name “Rick” written across her chest so that he could be sure she was not a “cop.”
In a phone call with the undercover officer, Dickerson asked numerous questions about the supposed 15-year-old’s sexual history and preferences. The defendant asked the undercover officer to describe what her pubic region looked like. The two made a plan to meet to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Dickerson and the officer decided to meet first in public before going somewhere private to engage in sex. Law enforcement observed Dickerson arrive at the designated meeting place and he was subsequently arrested.
Dickerson has two prior child sex offense convictions. In 2002, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison in the District of South Carolina on a child pornography charge. In 2018, he was convicted in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas with three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, based on his communications with a 13-year-old girl via MeetMe, and his subsequent meeting with and sexual abuse of the child.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Franklin County ICAC partnering agencies announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Mexican citizen charged with using disabled veteran’s Social Security number for benefitsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Mexican citizen was arrested in Warren County this morning on federal charges claiming he stole the identity of a disabled United States veteran.
Fernando Arroyo-Alonso, 58, appeared in federal court this afternoon. He is charged by criminal complaint with false representation of a Social Security number.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Arroyo-Alonso submitted an online application for Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits using the identity of a disabled veteran who also receives Title XVI Supplemental Security Income and Veterans Affairs benefits.
The defendant allegedly used the victim’s identity, date of birth and Social Security number to obtain an Ohio driver’s license in the victim’s name. In actuality, the victim does not reside in Ohio.
Arroyo-Alonso allegedly obtained a criminal record while using the victim’s identity.
Using another person’s Social Security number is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Boockmeier, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), announced the charges. The U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Ohio BMV and the Hamilton Township Police assisted with this investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
大学研究员为帮助中国发展科学水平，在申请经费时说谎被判入狱Read the Press Release
华盛顿 — 俄亥俄一名与中国关系密切的风湿病学教授和研究员因向联邦政府作虚假陈述而入狱 37 个月。这是其在免疫学研究实施欺诈计划的一部分。作为判决的一部分，郑也被勒令向国立卫生研究院（NIH）支付 340 多万美元的赔偿金以及向俄亥俄州立大学支付约 41.3 万美元的赔偿金。
来自希里厄德现年 58 岁的郑颂国在 2020 年 5 月 22 日星期五乘坐包机抵达阿拉斯加州安克雷奇后，在准备登上另一架飞往中国的包机时被捕。被捕时，郑随身携带三个大包、一个小手提箱和一个公文包，其中包括两台笔记本电脑、三部手机、数个 USB 驱动器、几根银条、其家人的过期中国护照、在中国的房产契约和其他物品。他被带回俄亥俄州南区并于 2020 年 7 月 7 日首次在哥伦布市出庭。
郑于2020 年11 月认罪，并承认他在申请中说谎，以便利用NIH 提供的约410 万美元资金发展中国在风湿病学和免疫学领域的专业水平。
这是又一起涉及中国政府千人计划的案件。郑选择说谎并向美国研究资助机构隐瞒自己参与这项计划，他将在联邦监狱中度过未来的 25 个月。” 负责国家安全事务的助理司法部长约翰•德梅斯（John C. Demers）还表示： "联邦研究经费是由美国纳税人为美国社会的利益提供的，而不是送给中国政府的非法礼物。”“当联邦资金用于研究时，因向美国人民做到完全透明，我们将继续追究那些选择谎报外国政府关系，以欺诈为目的获取资金的人的责任。”
联邦调查局反情报司助理主任艾伦·科勒（Alan E. Kohler Jr.）表示: “多年来，被告隐瞒参与中国政府人才招聘计划，避而不谈自己与中国至少五家研究机构的关系。郑贪婪地占用联邦研究经费，导致他人无法获得关键且对医学进步有支持作用的研究资助。联邦调查
局将继续追捕这些人，无论天涯海角，即便是在午夜阿拉斯加的飞机上。”“我们希望对郑的判决能阻止其他人与中国所谓的 ‘千人计划 ’或任何相关项目有任何联系。”美国代理联邦检察官俄亥俄州南区, 维帕尔·帕特尔（Vipal J. Patel）表示：“盗亦有道，但应外国政府要求齐力窃取我国的创新和技术而实行盗窃，闻所未闻，无以复加。”
联邦调查局辛辛那提探员主管克里斯·霍夫曼 (Chris Hoffman) 说：“郑今天判决实锤来自中国政府的持续威胁即窃取美国纳税人资助的研究。郑未能披露其外国资金和支持，破坏了信任原则，损害了美国人民赋予我们研究机构的信誉，同时也触碰了美国学术体系的核心价值底线即公开性和透明化。此次判刑应起到威慑作用，也凸显出联邦调查局保护我国的研究和技术的决心。 美国联邦调查局承诺将继续长期与伙伴合作，对那些不守诚信的人进行调查，因为他们使美国大学正在从事的高端工作陷入阴霾。”
美国卫生与公众服务部芝加哥地区监察长办公室的探员主管拉蒙特·普格三世（Lamont Pugh III）表示：“在寻求国立卫生研究院的拨款资金时，报告潜在的利益冲突对于确保公众对所开展的研究及其利用方式的信任至关重要。”“作出虚假陈述以掩盖潜在的利益冲突违反了这种信任和法律。”监察长办公室致力于查明和调查个人蓄意不报或伪造有关其研究支持来源的信息以确保纳税人的钱用之得当。
据法庭文件显示，郑曾是一名内科教授，曾经领导俄亥俄州立大学和宾夕法尼亚州立大学的小组进行自体免疫研究。根据他的认罪，郑为隐瞒其参与中国人才计划，以及他与中国政府控制的中国大学的联系和合作，在 NIH 的赠款申请中提供了虚假和误导性陈述。
法庭文件也显示，自 2013 年以来，郑一直在参与一项中国人才计划，该计划由中国政府设立，旨在招募具备知识或外国技术知识产权的个人。从那时起，郑就开始利用在美国进行的研究为中国谋利。郑即没有向其美国雇主也没有向国立卫生研究院披露利益冲突或他对外国的承诺。
美国代理联邦检察官帕特尔感谢了联邦调查局安克雷奇分局的协助。他们逮捕并问询了郑，在郑被拘留期间执行了多次法院命令。帕特尔也感谢了美国阿拉斯加地区检察官办公室的帮助。
该案由联邦调查局与卫生和公共服务部监察长办公室调查。美国助理检察官道格拉斯·斯奎尔斯（Douglas W. Squires）和 S.费特·希米尔 (S. Courter Shimeall) 、美国特别助理检察官克里斯托弗·圣皮埃尔和国家安全司反情报和出口管制科庭审律师马修·麦肯齐代表美国处理此案。美国地区首席法官阿尔格农·马布尔利 Algenon L. Marbley 于今日宣判
University researcher sentenced to prison for lying on grant applications to develop scientific expertise for ChinaRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China was sentenced to 37 months in prison for making false statements to federal authorities as part of an immunology research fraud scheme.
As part of his sentence, Song Guo Zheng, 58, of Hilliard, was also ordered to pay more than $3.4 million in restitution to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and approximately $413,000 to The Ohio State University.
Zheng was arrested Friday, May 22, 2020, after he arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, aboard a charter flight and as he prepared to board another charter flight to China.
When he was arrested, Zheng was carrying three large bags, one small suitcase and a briefcase containing two laptops, three cell phones, several USB drives, several silver bars, expired Chinese passports for his family, deeds for property in China and other items.
He was transported to the Southern District of Ohio and made his first federal court appearance in Columbus on July 7, 2020.
Zheng pleaded guilty in November 2020 and admitted he lied on applications in order to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from NIH to develop China’s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology.
Zheng was a professor of internal medicine who led a team conducting autoimmune research at The Ohio State University and Pennsylvania State University. According to his plea, Zheng caused materially false and misleading statements on NIH grant applications, seeking to hide his participation in Chinese Talent Plans and his affiliation and collaboration with a Chinese university controlled by the Chinese government.
“In yet another case involving the Chinese Government’s Thousand Talents program, Song Guo Zheng will spend the next 37 months in a federal prison because he chose to lie and hide his involvement in this program from U.S. research funding agencies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “American research funding is provided by the American taxpayer for the benefit of American society—not as an illicit gift to the Chinese Government. The American people deserve total transparency when federal dollars are being provided for research, and we will continue to hold accountable those who choose to lie about their foreign government affiliations in an attempt to fraudulently gain access to these funds.”
“For years the defendant concealed his participation in Chinese government talent recruitment programs, hiding his affiliations with at least five research institutions in China," said Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. "Zheng greedily took federal research dollars and prevented others from receiving funding for critical research in support of medical advances. The FBI will continue to pursue people wherever they may be, even on a plane, in Alaska, in the middle of the night.”
“We hope Zheng’s prison sentence deters others from having anything to do with China’s so-called ‘1000 Talents Plan’ or any of its variations, said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Stealing is stealing, but stealing at the behest of a foreign government’s concerted effort to pilfer our nation’s innovations and technology takes things to a new and significantly worse level.”
“Zheng’s sentencing today is a recognition of the constant threat posed by the Chinese government to steal research funded by American taxpayers,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “Zheng’s failure to disclose his foreign funding and support damages the trust and undermines the credibility the American people place in U.S. research, while abusing the openness and transparency that is a core value of U.S. academia. This sentence should serve as a deterrent and underscores the FBI’s commitment to work with our partners to investigate individual’s whose actions throw a cloud over the cutting-edge work being done at U.S. universities.”
“Reporting potential conflicts of interest when seeking grant funding from the National Institutes of Health is imperative in ensuring the public’s trust in the research being conducted and how it is utilized,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “Making false statements to conceal potential conflicts violates that trust and the law. The OIG is committed to identifying and investigating instances where individuals intentionally fail to report or falsify information regarding their sources of research support in order to ensure the proper use of taxpayer dollars.”
According to court documents, since 2013, Zheng had been participating in a Chinese Talent Plan, a program established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with knowledge or access to foreign technology intellectual property. Since that time, Zheng used research conducted in the United States to benefit the People’s Republic of China. Zheng failed to disclose conflicts of interest or his foreign commitments to his American employers or to the NIH.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patel acknowledged the assistance of the Anchorage FBI Division who arrested Zheng, interviewed him and executed multiple warrants while he was detained, and the assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas W. Squires and S. Courter Shimeall, Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher N. St. Pierre, and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division are representing the United States in this case. Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley imposed the sentence today.
# # #
Press release translation
University Researcher Sentenced to Prison for Lying on Grant Applications to Develop Scientific Expertise for ChinaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An Ohio man and rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China was sentenced to 37 months in prison for making false statements to federal authorities as part of an immunology research fraud scheme. As part of his sentence, Zheng was also ordered to pay more than $3.4 million in restitution to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and approximately $413,000 to The Ohio State University.
Song Guo Zheng, 58, of Hilliard, was arrested Friday, May 22, 2020, after he arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, aboard a charter flight and as he prepared to board another charter flight in order to flee to China. He was carrying three large bags, one small suitcase and a briefcase containing two laptops, three cell phones, several USB drives, several silver bars, expired Chinese passports for his family, deeds for property in China and other items. He was transported to the Southern District of Ohio and made his first federal court appearance in Columbus last July.
Zheng pleaded guilty last November and admitted he lied on applications in order to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from NIH to develop China’s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology.
“In yet another case involving the Chinese government’s Thousand Talents program, Song Guo Zheng will spend the next 37 months in a federal prison because he chose to lie and hide his involvement in this program from U.S. research funding agencies,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “American research funding is provided by the American taxpayer for the benefit of American society — not as an illicit gift to the Chinese government. The American people deserve total transparency when federal dollars are being provided for research, and we will continue to hold accountable those who choose to lie about their foreign government affiliations in an attempt to fraudulently gain access to these funds.”
“For years the defendant concealed his participation in Chinese government talent recruitment programs, hiding his affiliations with at least five research institutions in China,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Zheng greedily took federal research dollars and prevented others from receiving funding for critical research in support of medical advances. The FBI will continue to pursue people wherever they may be, even on a plane, in Alaska, in the middle of the night.”
“We hope Zheng’s prison sentence deters others from having anything to do with China’s so-called ‘1000 Talents Plan’ or any of its variations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel for the Southern District of Ohio. “Stealing is stealing but stealing at the behest of a foreign government’s concerted effort to pilfer our nation’s innovations and technology takes things to a new and significantly worse level.”
“Zheng’s sentencing today is a recognition of the constant threat posed by the Chinese government to steal research funded by American taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman for the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. “Zheng’s failure to disclose his foreign funding and support damages the trust and undermines the credibility the American people place in U.S. research, while abusing the openness and transparency that is a core value of U.S. academia. This sentence should serve as a deterrent and underscores the FBI’s commitment to work with our partners to investigate individual’s whose actions throw a cloud over the cutting-edge work being done at U.S. universities.”
“Reporting potential conflicts of interest when seeking grant funding from the National Institutes of Health is imperative in ensuring the public’s trust in the research being conducted and how it is utilized,” said Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, Chicago Region. “Making false statements to conceal potential conflicts violates that trust and the law. The OIG is committed to identifying and investigating instances where individuals intentionally fail to report or falsify information regarding their sources of research support in order to ensure the proper use of taxpayer dollars.”
According to court documents, Zheng was a professor of internal medicine who led a team conducting autoimmune research at The Ohio State University and Pennsylvania State University. According to his plea, Zheng caused materially false and misleading statements on NIH grant applications, seeking to hide his participation in Chinese Talent Plans and his affiliation and collaboration with a Chinese university controlled by the Chinese government.
According to court documents, since 2013, Zheng had been participating in a Chinese Talent Plan, a program established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with knowledge or access to foreign technology intellectual property. Since that time, Zheng used research conducted in the United States to benefit the People’s Republic of China. Zheng failed to disclose conflicts of interest or his foreign commitments to his American employers or to the NIH.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patel acknowledged the assistance of the Anchorage FBI Division who arrested Zheng, interviewed him and executed multiple warrants while he was detained, and the assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas W. Squires and S. Courter Shimeall, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher N. St. Pierre, and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie with NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are representing the United States in this case. Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley imposed the sentence today.
View this press release in Mandarin
here.Acting U.S. Attorney recognizes police week, honors law enforcement who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in 2020Read the Press Release
DAYTON – In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“We join the nation in honoring the selfless men and women who sacrificed their lives or were injured in the line of duty. To them, we owe our deepest gratitude and respect,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patel.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60% succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
“Today, with heavy hearts, we join the nation and our law enforcement partners as we pay tribute to fallen heroes whose names will be read during a virtual candlelight vigil – including Kaia Grant and Adam McMillen of the Southern District of Ohio – who were killed in the line of duty in 2020. And we continue to honor Dayton detective and DEA task force officer Jorge Del Rio, who was killed in the line of duty in 2019,” Patel said.
Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil today, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.
###
Accountant admits to providing false information to IRSRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI, OHIO – Ronald R. Geesner, 66, of Cincinnati, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to providing a false statement to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to court documents, since March 2017 Geesner has served as the in-house accountant/bookkeeper at two Cincinnati businesses. When questioned about his role as the internal accountant/bookkeeper of the businesses, Geesner lied to IRS agents to conceal his true earnings. As a result of his concealment the Social Security Administration (SSA) had paid Geesner $31,525 in SSA benefits to which he was not entitled.
False Statement or Representation to an Agency of the United States carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“When bookkeepers and accountants are interacting with the IRS, it is important for them to provide accurate and honest information,” said Lisa B. Mendelsohn, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Those who provide false information will be held accountable.”
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Lisa B. Mendelsohn, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the plea entered before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration.T&A Crips member who killed rival gang member, shot at potential witness pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of 19 defendants charged in a Columbus gang-related racketeering conspiracy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today for his part in furthering the violence of the local Crips gang.
Jonathan Dantzler, 28, admitted to murdering a rival gang member and to shooting at a potential witness in 2012. He is one of 19 defendants charged in 2018 as part of the local gang T&A Crips.
T&A Crips derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside. T&A controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.
Specifically, the co-conspirators in this case are charged with five murders:
the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;
the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;
the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5th Avenue;
the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and
the murder of Deaonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.
As part of his plea, Dantzler admitted to shooting Franky Tention in 2012. According to court documents, Dantzler shot at the victim because he was a member of the rival “Milo Bloods” gang and was driving into T&A territory in a “sign of disrespect.”
Dantzler also discharged a firearm into the residence of a potential witness to intimidate her from cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
Parties involved in Dantzler’s case have recommended a sentence of 30 years in prison. The defendant is currently serving multiple life sentences at the local level for separate murder convictions.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Local man sentenced to prison for unlawfully possessing pipe bombRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A Kettering man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a pipe bomb.
Michael J. Rhea, 27, pleaded guilty in February 2021 to possessing an unregistered explosive device and to illegally possessing the explosive device as a frequent user of controlled substances.
According to court documents, in March 2020, officers with the Kettering Police Department encountered Rhea, who had a warrant out for his arrest. Officers explained to Rhea that he was going to be detained and discovered three methamphetamine pipes and a pipe bomb on Rhea and in his vehicle.
The Dayton Police Department’s Regional Bomb Squad was called to the scene and safely removed the pipe bomb, which had a protruding fuse and was filled with powder and BBs.
During a prior arrest, Rhea told law enforcement he uses methamphetamine daily.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl and Kettering Police Chief Christopher N. Protsman announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller and Deputy Criminal Chief Dominick S. Gerace are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Ohio man sentenced to prison for mailing explicit threats to judgesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shawn R. Marshall, 40, formerly of Akron, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 46 months in prison for mailing threatening communications from prison.
In 2016, Marshall was incarcerated with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Lucasville, Ohio, serving a 16-year sentence for rape and kidnapping.
According to court documents, in April 2016, Marshall mailed a letter to a judge in Hamilton, Ohio, which contained the following threat: “In the name of Allah, I am going to hunt you down and cut your f***ing head off.” The letter was signed, “ISIS.”
In June 2016, Marshall mailed a second threatening letter, this time to the Ohio Supreme Court, threatening to rape the female justices on the Court. Marshall included a drawing of an anarchist symbol that matches a tattoo on his chest, and also put bodily fluids wrapped in plastic in the envelope to help identify himself and make the threat more credible. DNA testing confirmed the bodily fluids belonged to Marshall.
During law enforcement interviews, Marshall also admitted to sending threats to media outlets in Dayton and Cincinnati. Additionally, he admitted sending a letter to a Cleveland, Ohio, courthouse that included a mouse head.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight is representing the United States in this case.
Two Cincinnati men charged federally with 2015 cold-case murderRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged two Cincinnati men with using a firearm to commit a murder during the commission of a crime of violence.
Jordan Wimberly, 32, and Ryan Carter, 28, allegedly killed Lerois Harris during a robbery on January 29, 2015.
Wimberly was transferred into federal custody from state incarceration on March 12, 2021; on March 18, 2021, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie K. Bowman ordered him detained pending trial. Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Cincinnati Police officers arrested Carter yesterday. He appeared in federal court at 1:30pm today, and his case was unsealed at that time.
A conviction for killing someone with a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and is punishable by up to life in prison or the death penalty.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Dayton man pleads guilty to robbing credit union at gunpointRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Samuel Hayes, 61, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
The parties involved in Hayes’s case have recommended a sentence of 141 months in prison.
According to court documents, on Jan. 11, 2020, Hayes robbed a credit union at gunpoint. Hayes entered the Universal One Federal Credit Union on Harshman Road in Dayton and pointed the firearm directly at credit union tellers and customers. Hayes stole $3,770 during the robbery.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 3.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.
# # #