District of Rhode Island
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Final Defendant in Conspiracy to Manufacture, Import, and Sell Counterfeit Military Clothing and Gear Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Terry Roe, 49, of Burlington, ND, the final defendant to be sentenced in a wide-ranging conspiracy that developed, manufactured, and imported $20 million worth of Chinese-made counterfeit U.S. military uniforms and gear that were passed off as genuine American-made products to the U.S. military was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Roe, a now-former manager at a North Dakota supplier that purchased counterfeit clothing and gear from members of the conspiracy, acted as the point-of-contact with personnel at military Base Supply Centers. According to documents filed with the court many of the counterfeit goods acquired and sold by the North Dakota supplier, for which Roe acted as a middleman, were ultimately worn or carried by American airmen. Roe pleaded guilty in February 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and traffic in counterfeit goods.
On October 13, 2022, Ramin Kohanbash, 52, Brooklyn, NY, a clothing and goods wholesaler who directed the effort to design, manufacture, import, and distribute counterfeit products that lacked crucial safety features or failed to meet safety specifications, therefore endangering the health and safety of the military personnel who wore them, was sentenced to forty months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $20 million in proceeds that he obtained from the sale of the counterfeit goods.
Additionally, according to court documents, Kohanbash paid Roe for his role in the conspiracy. Roe collected over $60,000 from Kohanbash during the conspiracy, including a $39,617 kickback from Kohanbash that resulted from an overcharge to Roe’s employer. Roe also collected a $5,000 payment from Kohanbash within weeks of a trademark holder’s discovery and complaints that counterfeit jackets had been provided to Air Force Base Supply Centers endangering the military personnel who wore them.
Roe was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to twenty-four months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Restitution as it pertains to this defendant will be determined at a later date by the court.
A third defendant, Bernard Klein, 41, of Brooklyn, was sentenced in April 2021 to eighteen months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release; ordered to pay a fine of $15,000; and to pay restitution in the amount of $400,000. In tandem with the criminal case, Klein also entered into a civil settlement agreement under which he has paid $348,000 to resolve liability to the United States under the federal False Claims Act for goods sold to certain government purchasers.
As part of this effort, the United States has also reached three separate settlements under the federal False Claims Act in connection with this conduct. These civil settlements, with Klein, Kohanbash, and the Dakota Outerwear Company of Minot, ND, have recovered a total of $2,042,398 for these defendants’ roles in a scheme to procure and sell counterfeit, and in some cases, defective and nonconforming goods, to federal purchasers.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert, Richard B. Myrus, and Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New England Regional Investigations Office; Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement Fraud Detachment 6, Joint Base Andrews, MD; Homeland Security Investigations, Newark, NJ; and Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office.
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Cumberland Man Indicted, Arraigned on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Cumberland man indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography turned himself in to the United States Marshal Service today and was arraigned in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Robert Aprea, 58, was charged by way of an indictment on October 12, 2022, with four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was unsealed today at Aprea’s arraignment in U.S. District Court. He was released on unsecured bond.
It is alleged that in January 2022, Aprea participated in an online chatroom where, on three different dates, he allegedly uploaded multiple images of child pornography. Aprea’s alleged activity on the social media platform was brought to the attention of the Cumberland Police Department by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, who, in turn, brought it to the attention of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
On March 3, 2022, members of ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Aprea’s residence and of his digital devices, and allegedly discovered over 3,000 images depicting child pornography, including images of prepubescent minors.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
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Convicted Felon Awaiting Trial Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl, Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man currently on bail while awaiting trial in Rhode Island state court on drug trafficking charges, and who is also currently on probation in four separate state court cases, has been ordered detained in federal custody as the result of an unrelated FBI Safe Street Task Force and Providence Police Narcotics Unit Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into his alleged dealing of fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills, as well as for allegedly being in the unlawful possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in court documents that on at least seven occasions between June 9 and October 6, 2022, Keurys Pena, 33, sold an individual fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder in quantities that ranged from 1.66 grams to 238.5 grams; and on September 8, 2022, he allegedly sold the same individual a 9mm handgun. It is alleged that, in total, Pena sold the individual 909.4 grams of narcotics for $14,770.
On Tuesday, FBI agents and Providence Police detectives executed court-authorized searches of Pena’s residence and a drug stash house that he allegedly operated in Pawtucket. From the stash house, law enforcement seized over 500 grams of fentanyl in pill and powder form; cutting agents; scales, sifters, and other packaging materials; and parts to a pill press used to make counterfeit narcotics containing fentanyl. Ammunition, an unsecured firearm, and a pill press were allegedly seized from Pena’s residence.
Pena is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Stacey P. Veroni.
According to court records, Pena has been convicted multiple times in state courts on drug trafficking charges. Additionally, he has been convicted on firearm, assault, domestic assault, forgery, breaking and entering, and assault/escape of an inmate charges.
United States Attorney Cunha, the FBI, and the Providence Police Department thank the North Providence Police Department and the Pawtucket Police Department for their assistance on Tuesday during the execution of the search warrants.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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United States Resolves Construction and Procurement Investigation into Route 6/10 Project; Former Superintendent to Plead Guilty; Massachusetts Construction Company to Pay $1.5 Million in Connection with False StatementsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today the resolution of federal criminal and civil investigations into Barletta Heavy Division, Inc., the Massachusetts construction firm responsible for construction of the Route 6/10 Interchange Project, and Dennis Ferreira, former Superintendent for the project.
These resolutions involve a criminal plea, a civil resolution that will recover more than twice the amount paid by the government as a result of the conduct, and a non-prosecution agreement with the construction firm.
Federal investigations into contracting and procurement on portions of the federally-funded 6/10 project centered on false statements made by a project superintendent and the company in connection with the project, as well as billing submissions made to the federal government for stone and dirt that was transported from sites in Boston and Pawtucket and used in portions of the 6/10 Project as fill. This fill, which was required to either be used at its original location, or subjected to additional testing and handling, did not meet the requirements of the contract.
Ferreira, the former project superintendent, will plead guilty in federal court to charges of making false statements; under a separate agreement, Barletta will pay a criminal fine of $500,000, return $1,000,000 to the government, make factual admissions, and undertake a series of monitoring, reporting, and compliance measures.
“When federal tax dollars fund work in our communities, we expect that the government will get what it bargains for,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “In this case, that didn’t happen. Today’s resolution should serve as a reminder to any company or corporate official that, when the government is footing the bill, false statements have consequences.”
As part of the resolution, as detailed in documents filed in federal court, Ferreira will plead guilty to an Information that charges him with three counts of making a false statement in connection with a federally funded highway project. These charges stem from Ferreira’s decision to import railroad ballast (loose stone) from a Barletta project site in Massachusetts, and soil from the Pawtucket/Central Falls Rail Station and Bus Hub Project, a separate Barletta job site in Rhode Island, to the 6/10 Project to be used as fill. It is alleged in the Information that
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In July of 2020, Ferreira caused an environmental report to be sent to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) that falsely represented the origin and environmental quality of the stone imported from Massachusetts.
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In September of 2020, during meetings with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and RIDOT officials, Ferreira falsely represented the origin and environmental quality of the imported stone and falsely stated that none of the material imported from Pawtucket was used on the Project. and
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Ferreira allegedly caused a letter to be sent to RIDOT officials which falsely stated that the stone imported from Massachusetts had been tested prior to being brought to Rhode Island.
The United States has separately entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement with Barletta Heavy Division, Inc., in connection with the series of false statements that were made in the summer of 2020 to FHWA and RIDOT Officials. These statements were meant to conceal the fact that Barletta had imported regulated material in violation of a Soil and Materials Management Plan, which was part of the contract governing the 6/10 Project. Under the Agreement, Barletta accepts responsibility for the actions of its employees and admits to the facts that constitute making false statements in connection with a federally funded highway project. In addition to paying a $500,000 criminal fine, the agreement requires Barletta to implement ongoing monitoring, reporting, and compliance measures for a period of three years; failure to comply with these conditions will make the company subject to prosecution for the conduct set forth in an agreed-upon Statement of Facts.
Additionally, Barletta has entered into a False Claims Act settlement that resolves allegations that the company knowingly submitted claims for payment for work on the project in connection with the movement of dirt that did not comply with contract requirements, in violation of the federal and Rhode Island state False Claims Acts. Barletta will pay $1,000,000 to the government, representing more than twice the government funds paid as a result of the relevant claims.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dulce Donovan and Bethany Wong are handling the prosecution and litigation of these matters.
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with the assistance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Law Enforcement.
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Dominican National Admits to Participating in Conspiracy to Import Large Quantities of Cocaine from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national admitted to a federal judge on Monday that, while visiting Providence in March 2022, he participated in a criminal drug conspiracy that law enforcement alleges imported multiple packages containing a kilogram or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Rafael Fleury Munoz, 22, admitted that he was driven to at least two locations by other members of the conspiracy and instructed to retrieve packages of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico via the U.S. Postal Service.
Munoz admitted that, on March 26, 2022, he attempted to retrieve a Priority Mail parcel from a U.S. Postal carrier that was sent to a residence in Providence and addressed to another person. Munoz was unsuccessful. U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents later determined that the parcel contained 1.15 kilos of cocaine. Two days later, Munoz was driven by a member of the conspiracy to a residence in Johnston where he retrieved a package addressed to him that was shipped from Puerto Rico and that contained 1.07 grams of cocaine.
Munoz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
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Career Offender in the U.S. Illegally Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking, Firearm, and Immigration ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national previously deported in 2004 following his conviction and incarceration on drug trafficking charges was sentenced on Monday to ten years in federal prison on illegal reentry, drug trafficking, and firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Stevens Morales Rivera, 47, was arrested by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force in October 2021, following a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into his renewed drug trafficking activity. A court-authorized search of the defendant’s residence at the time of his arrest yielded 13 pounds (6.53 kilograms) of cocaine; 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of fentanyl; a 25 caliber, semi-automatic handgun; a pill press; and $8,995 in cash. The drugs and firearm were located unsecured and easily accessible in a bedroom adjacent to a room where two small children were present when law enforcement entered the residence.
At the time of his arrest, Morales Rivera was found to have fingerprints on file with law enforcement under a different name. He was also found to have criminal records under two names, including a conviction in Massachusetts for trafficking cocaine, and he had previously been deported and reentered the United States illegally.
Morales Rivera pleaded guilty on April 7, 2022, to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; and illegal re-entry to the United States following removal. He was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of federal supervised release. He will face deportation proceedings once he completes his term of incarceration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General; Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the East Providence, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments; and Amtrak Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
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Rhode Island Law Enforcement Nets More Than $1.2 Million in Justice Department GrantsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced that the City of Central Falls has been awarded nearly $1.2 in grant funding through the Justice Department’s Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office) Cops Hiring Program (CHP), and that the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety has been awarded $84,187 in support of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.
Central Falls is one of just 180 law enforcement agencies across the country selected to share in $139 million in direct funding from the COPS Program to hire additional law enforcement professionals. The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance award of $84,187 in support of the PSN Program to the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety is in support of community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district.
“As law enforcement agencies across the nation continue to experience recruitment and retention challenges, we are proud to provide these resources to help alleviate those challenges confronting the profession,” said COPS Office Acting Director Robert Chapman in announcing the CHP grants to bolster the number of officers on the street.
In announcing the PSN grants, Office of Justice Programs Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg commented , “Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
“These grant awards support two critical aspects of the Justice Department’s efforts to ensure safety and effective law enforcement in our community, by funding targeted efforts to address gun crimes, and by promoting effective, responsive policing that responds to community needs and conditions,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “The Department is proud to partner with local law enforcement in these critical efforts.”
COPS Hiring Program
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers and deputies to enhance their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 180 agencies awarded grants today, nearly half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 30 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 26 will focus on other areas of violence; and 28 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Cumberland Man Admits to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Cumberland man whose email and IP address were used to access and view child pornography pleaded guilty today in federal court to a charge of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Patrick K. Newton, 27, was found on March 30, 2022, by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents and members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to be in possession of child pornography stored on electronic media storage devices belonging to him.
In January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided HSI with information they obtained from a Canadian-based online messaging and chat service that, on multiple dates, an IP address and email, later determined by law enforcement to belong to Newton, was used on multiple dates to access and view child pornography.
At the time of the court-authorized search of Newton’s residence in March 2022, a preliminary forensic audit of a thumb drive belonging to Newtown was found to contain videos depicting child pornography.
Newton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
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Senior Prosecutors Named to Lead U.S. Attorney’s Criminal DivisionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha has named two senior prosecutors to lead the United States Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division.
Lee H. Vilker, a federal prosecutor since 1999, has been appointed Criminal Chief. Mr. Vilker, who most recently served as the Office’s Deputy Criminal Chief, joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island in June 2002, after serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey for nearly three years. In his more than two decades as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Vilker has specialized in investigating and prosecuting complex fraud cases, to include Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, and corporate embezzlement. Mr. Vilker has also successfully prosecuted a wide range of complex narcotics offenses and crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Mr. Vilker is a 1990 graduate of Brandeis University and received his law degree from New York University School of Law in 1993, where he received the annual American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni, a prosecutor for nearly thirty years, has been appointed by U.S. Attorney Cunha to serve as Deputy Criminal Chief for Violent Crime and Narcotics. In addition to her criminal trial responsibilities prosecuting violent crime, human trafficking, and complex fraud and narcotics trafficking cases, Ms. Veroni has served as the United States Attorney’s Offices’ Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator.
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office in 2019, Ms. Veroni served as a state prosecutor for twenty-five years in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. In her distinguished career as a state prosecutor, Ms. Veroni was the lead prosecutor in more than 100 criminal jury trials, including prosecutions for murder, gang violence, sexual assault, drug offenses, robberies, domestic violence, organized crime, and child molestation. In her tenure as a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Veroni served, at various times, as Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, Chief of the Narcotics & Organized Crime Division, and Chief of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit.
Ms. Veroni, a 1990 graduate of Boston College, received her law degree from Suffolk University in 1993.
“Lee Vilker and Stacey Veroni are profoundly experienced, thoughtful, and effective prosecutors, with a history of accomplishment across virtually every area of criminal enforcement,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Prosecutors of their caliber are essential to this Office’s efforts to expand the scope, impact, and reach of our work to secure justice and public safety, and I am grateful for their service in these important roles.”
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Leader of a Conspiracy to Manufacture, Import, and Sell Counterfeit Military Clothing and Gear SentencedRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Brooklyn, NY, clothing and goods wholesaler who directed the development, manufacture, and importation of $20 million worth of Chinese-made counterfeit U.S. military uniforms and gear that were passed off as genuine American-made products has been sentenced to forty months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit the $20 million in proceeds that he obtained from the sale of the counterfeit goods, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Ultimately, substandard, counterfeit goods manufactured in China were sold to the U.S. government to be worn or carried by Airmen in the U.S. Airforce. Some of these products lacked crucial safety features or failed to meet safety specifications, endangering the health and safety of the military personnel who wore them. At least 13,332 counterfeit jackets not resistant to enemies’ night vision goggles and 18,597 non-flame resistant hoods were among the counterfeit products that entered the military supply chain destined for U.S. Air Force bases around the world.
Ramin Kohanbash, 52, sentenced on Wednesday to forty months in federal prison, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods. Kohanbash will also be required to make restitution to the individual companies victimized by his conduct, including a Rhode Island company that reported a loss of more than $639,000 in profits and significant damage to its relationships with long-standing military clients due to the distribution of counterfeit products distributed by Kohanbash. The specifics of his restitution obligations will be determined at a later date.
“American servicemen and women risk their lives every day in defense of the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “But the risks they face should never come from the uniforms they wear, and the equipment they carry. In this case, Defendants’ actions did exactly that, substituting substandard, foreign-made knockoffs for American products. I am tremendously pleased that the defendants charged in this matter are being held accountable for their actions.”
"The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. "Supplying counterfeit products to the DoD endangers the lives of American service members and betrays the public's trust. This investigation and subsequent prosecution demonstrate DCIS' ongoing commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who defraud the DoD accountable."
A co-defendant in this matter, Bernard Klein, 41, of Brooklyn, was sentenced in April 2021 to eighteen months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release; ordered to pay a fine of $15,000; and to pay restitution in the amount of $400,000. In tandem with the criminal case, Klein also entered into a civil settlement agreement under which he has paid $348,000 to resolve liability to the United States under the federal False Claims Act for goods sold to certain government purchasers.
A third defendant, Terry Roe, 49, of Burlington, North Dakota, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2022. He pleaded guilty in February 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and traffic in counterfeit goods.
According to information provided to the court, Kohanbash worked collaboratively with Roe and Klein to provide samples of actual military uniforms and gear to manufacturers in China, including sample tags and labels that depicted trademarks of fifteen companies who make products for the military in the United States. The Chinese manufacturers then counterfeited the products, tags, and trademarks. The counterfeit products were shipped to Kohanbash’s New Jersey warehouse and sold to the United States military and its suppliers, including a North Dakota supplier where Roe was employed.
According to court filings, Kohanbash and Klein strategized on how to subvert Chinese and American customs to ensure that the counterfeit military uniforms and gear were successfully imported from China into the United States and received at Kohanbash’s New Jersey warehouse. The bogus goods were then sold to the United States military and its suppliers. Additionally, Kohanbash and Roe deceived personnel at military Base Supply Centers by including false certification letters claiming that the goods were manufactured in the United States. U.S. laws require that products sold to the U.S. military and certain other government buyers be manufactured in the United States or certain other designated countries; China is not one of those countries.
The Kohanbash, Klein, and Roe prosecutions are part of a group of parallel criminal and civil enforcement actions undertaken by the United States Attorney’s Office to bring to justice individuals and companies involved in the production, marketing, and sale of counterfeit goods to military and government purchasers.
As part of this effort, the United States has also reached three separate settlements under the federal False Claims Act in connection with this conduct. These civil settlements, with Klein, Kohanbash, and the Dakota Outerwear Company of Minot, ND, have recovered a total of $2,042,398 for these defendants’ roles in a scheme to procure and sell counterfeit, and in some cases, defective and nonconforming goods, to federal purchasers.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert, Richard B. Myrus, and Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New England Regional Investigations Office; Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement Fraud Detachment 6, Joint Base Andrews, MD; Homeland Security Investigations, Newark, NJ; and Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office.
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Taunton Man Detained in Rhode Island on Federal Enticement, Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Taunton, MA, man has been ordered detained in federal custody on charges that he allegedly traveled to Rhode Island to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor, and that he received and possessed child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in court documents that Paul Fredericks, 36, after engaging in more than two weeks of online conversations with a person he believed to be the father of nearly a nine-year-old girl, arranged to meet with the father and, later, with then his prepubescent daughter with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The person Fredericks was communicating with was, in fact, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Fredericks and the “father” of the young girl agreed to meet in a Providence parking lot on October 5. At that meeting, Fredericks allegedly discussed with the “father” ways he could prepare his daughter for sex, and suggested that they meet five days later to engage in sexual activity. Prior to the conclusion of the that meeting, Fredericks was arrested by members of the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Fredericks was found to be carrying a condom and lubricant in a vest pocket.
A brief forensic audit of Fredericks cell phone at the time of his arrest allegedly revealed evidence that Fredericks had received and stored images of child pornography on his phone.
Fredericks is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor; interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; receipt of child pornography; and possession of child pornography. He was ordered to remain in federal custody following a preliminary and detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Providence on Tuesday.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in Wide-Ranging Efforts to Protect Older AdultsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.
“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”
“As our work over the past year reflects, this Office will not sit by while the vulnerable are victimized and their hard-earned savings are stripped away by fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “We, and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute scams targeting older Americans and to hold the perpetrators accountable. If you think you can help yourself to someone else’s livelihood without consequences, think again.”
During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged. Nineteen of these defendants, charged by the United States Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island, appeared in federal court in Providence on charges that they allegedly perpetrating one or more romance, grandparent, tech support, or government imposter scams that defrauded at least 133 known victims of nearly seven million dollars.
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s elder fraud efforts, it engages in a vigorous outreach program in the community and with industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization.
The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams.
The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.
Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov and United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/elder-justice.
Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Pawtucket Man Admits to Trafficking Crack Cocaine and Powder Cocaine While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Appearing before a federal judge today, a Pawtucket man has admitted that he trafficked crack and powder cocaine while on federal supervised release, having completed a term of incarceration on federal gun and drug charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to charging documents, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation in March 2022, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and Pawtucket Police detectives witnessed Estefano J. Lobo, 30, make a hand-to-hand crack cocaine delivery to another person. Estefano was arrested a short time later and was found to be carrying 1.35 grams of crack cocaine and $580 in cash. A court-authorized search of his residence resulted in the seizure of 98.45 grams of cocaine powder, 19.44 grams of crack cocaine, $7,652 in cash, and, among other items, tools associated with processing cocaine powder into cocaine base. Following his arrest, Lobo admitted to agents that for the previous several months he had been processing cocaine powder into crack cocaine and distributing it. At the time, Lobo was serving a four-year term of supervised release as a result of a prior conviction in the District of Rhode Island.
Estefano, detained in federal custody since his arrest on March 16, 2022, was charged by indictment with possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute; he pleaded guilty today to both of those charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2023. Each count is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years of incarceration to be followed by a life term of federal supervised. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah.
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Rhode Island Man Convicted of Defrauding Investors and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A West Warwick man who conducted a decade-long Ponzi scheme that left some investors empty-handed and the Government seeking tax payments due to the Internal Revenue Service pleaded guilty this afternoon in federal court in Providence to wire fraud and tax evasion.
According to court documents, between 2008 and 2018, Thomas Huling, 58, orchestrated a scheme that raised approximately $14 million, and caused losses of more than $6 million to his victims. Huling defrauded investors by promoting several investment projects, including high-yielding bond trading platforms; a car emissions reduction technology; and an online advertising and marketing company. He solicited funds for these investments by representing, among other things, that the money would be used for the particular project he was promoting, and that the investments would achieve substantial returns with little or no risk within a short period of time. To enhance his credibility and build trust, Huling incorporated religion, the possibility of charitable good works, and association with well-known individuals into his sales pitches.
In truth, and contrary to his promises, Huling diverted investor money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included high-end vehicles, membership and golf fees at multiple country clubs, gambling, clothing, restaurants, vacations and travel, as well as improvements to his residence. He created and used multiple shell companies; opened over 50 bank accounts; and he engaged in convoluted financial transactions between various accounts before ultimately using the funds personally. When investors contacted Huling with concern about the status of their investments, Huling lulled them with false excuses and promises, and at other times avoided their calls. To appease certain investors, Huling used money raised from new investors to pay off earlier investors.
According to court documents, at the same time that Huling was defrauding his investors, he was also committing tax evasion. Between 2009 and April 2018, Huling reported no taxable income, paid no income taxes, and for certain years filed false and fraudulent individual and corporate income tax returns. To further hide his income, Huling used nominee bank accounts, and paid for personal expenses using cash and corporate debit cards. He also manipulated the books and records of his companies to record sham loans, titled personal assets in the name of shell companies, and made false statements to IRS special agents as to his income, expenses, and business activities.
Huling’s guilty plea is announced by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Huling is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for committing wire fraud, and five years in prison for committing tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and other monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Chief John Kane of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert of the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the matter.
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West Greenwich Man Detained in Seizure of Six Ghost Guns, Three Silencers, and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A West Greenwich man, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition, is detained in federal custody after federal agents allegedly seized six “ghost guns,” three silencers, and more than one thousand rounds of ammunition from his home, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in court documents that in July, the United States Postal Inspection Service identified the residence of Walter Garbecki, 37, as being associated with at least seven purchases and deliveries of kits and firearm parts used to assemble “ghost guns,” firearms without serial numbers and other manufacturer or importer markings, rendering them difficult to trace by law enforcement officials. Additionally, it is alleged, Garbecki placed and received at least seven orders for various types of ammunition.
On September 20, 2022, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service executed a court-authorized search of Garbecki’s residence and seized four fully functioning ghost guns and two in various stage of assembly, three silencers, approximately 1,500 rounds of ammunition, and various parts and kits used to assemble “ghost guns.”
According to court records, Garbecki, was previously convicted in Rhode Island state court on charges of sale or possession of silencers; unlawful devices attached to a semi-automatic weapon allowing automatic fire; possession of a firearm while delivering or manufacturing a controlled substance; and drug trafficking. He was released from the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions in September 2020 and is currently on state probation until September 2030.
Garbecki is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of firearms/ammunition by a felon and receive/possession of firearm silencers not registered. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
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Cumberland Man to Plead Guilty in Largest Meth-Laced Pill SeizureRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – According to documents filed in federal court in Rhode Island, a Cumberland, RI, man has agreed to plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in connection with the seizure of approximately 660,500 methamphetamine-laced counterfeit Adderall® pills, the largest known seizure of its kind in the country, announced United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha.
Dylan Rodas, 27, has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on March 28, 2022, as an expansive Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation continues following the seizure of approximately 660,500 methamphetamine-laced counterfeit Adderall® pills, weighing a total of approximately 660 pounds; approximately eleven kilograms of methamphetamine powder; 1,000 fake Oxycodone fentanyl-laced pills; two motorized pill presses; 250 grams of cocaine; $15,000 in cash; and seven handguns, including two “ghost guns." This is believed to be the largest seizure of counterfeit Adderall pills to date, and among the largest single methamphetamine seizures by DEA’s New England Field Division.
In remarks delivered today at a press conference to announce the seizure, charges, and plea agreement, United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha remarked that “the quantity of methamphetamine represented by this seizure – methamphetamine that was packaged and ready to flow out onto the street, to devastating effect in our communities – is staggering.”
Addressing the burgeoning trafficking of methamphetamine into Rhode Island and New England, United States Attorney Cunha commented that, “…for a long time, we here in New England have been spared the full impact of methamphetamine, a drug that has blighted lives in so many other communities across the country. Those days, I regret to say, are over, with meth increasingly making its presence felt in Rhode Island and across the Northeast.” Mr. Cunha added, “This prosecution, which involves the seizure of what I can only term industrial scale quantities of meth, is a wake-up call that we cannot be complacent- that we cannot treat meth as a problem that happens elsewhere.”
“DEA is committed to investigating individuals like Mr. Rodas who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs, like the fake pills containing methamphetamine in this case, to the citizens of Rhode Island,” said DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take methamphetamine off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in Rhode Island and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.
A federal information is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The defendant's sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of members of the Cranston, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, Woonsocket and Amtrak Police Departments; and the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General.
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United States Attorney's Office and DEAThree Charged in Alleged Conspiracies to Defraud Land Rover DealershipsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Three Rhode Island men are charged in federal court in Providence with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for their alleged participation in schemes to defraud Land Rover dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to the charging documents, dealerships in Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, each delivered a vehicle to a buyer who claimed to have secured more than $100,000 in online dealer financing. In each instance, an investigation determined that online credit applications were submitted using a stolen identity. The “buyer” of each vehicle took delivery after presenting a driver’s license that depicted their own photograph and the stolen identity used to secure financing.
It is alleged that on April 25, 2022, Dennis Odoom, 24, of Pawtucket, took custody of a Land Rover from a Rhode Island dealer, financed for more than $120,559 with the use of a stolen identity; and on May 10, 2022, Roy Sweets, 25, of Providence, took custody of a Land Rover from a New Hampshire dealership, financed for $111,183 with the use of a stolen identity. It is further alleged that two days after the delivery in New Hampshire, a person, posing as the “brother” of the New Hampshire buyer, attempted to take possession of a vehicle after a dealer financing application had been submitted online and approved. The delivery was halted when a dealership employee determined that the driver’s license presented by the buyer may have been altered. Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 25, of Providence, was arrested by Bedford, NH, Police when he appeared at the dealership to take possession of the vehicle.
Federal arrest warrants were later issued for the three men. Roy Sweets and Dennis Odoom were arrested on Monday by agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Adalberto Mauricio Romero turned himself in on Tuesday to the United States Marshals Service. The three men were released on unsecured bond after appearing in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr., and William J. Ferland.
The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
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Grand Jury Indicts Registered Sex Offender for Allegedly Enticing a Minor; Launching a Murder-for-Hire Plot to Kill the VictimRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned a three-count indictment charging a 28-year-old registered sex offender with allegedly enticing a 12-year-old Rhode Island girl to engage in sexual activity and later launching a murder-for-hire plot from within the state prison where he was being held on related state charges in an alleged scheme to eliminate her as a witness, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
The indictment alleges that, beginning on December 3, 2021, Chandler John Cardente communicated repeatedly with the minor female via social media, prior to having sexual contact with her on December 10, 2021. Cardente was subsequently arrested and detained in state custody.
It is further alleged in the indictment that, while being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, Cardente communicated by telephone with another person. During these communications, Cardente expressed his intent that the victim be murdered, and offered $200 in cash and equipment worth $1,500. It is alleged in the indictment that Cardente told the other person that the victim needed “to end up dead” because she was “a witness.”
The grand jury indictment charges Cardente with enticement of a minor; committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender; and interstate murder-for-hire. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Enticement of a minor is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to life in federal prison, with a minimum mandatory term of incarceration of ten years; committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender is punishable by a consecutive term of ten years of incarceration to any sentence imposed for enticement of a minor; interstate murder-for-hire is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to ten years imprisonment. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case in U.S. District Court is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah and Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; the Burrillville, Warwick, and Cranston Police Departments; Rhode Island State Police; and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit.
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Guilty Plea in Woonsocket Arson CaseRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A 23-year-old man charged with setting fires in three locations inside a Woonsocket mill-type building in April 2019 today pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of arson, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jacob E. Lahousse admitted that he set the fires after climbing a ladder and entering the rear of the building, which houses at least two businesses.
According to charging documents and information presented to the court, video surveillance shows Lahousse walking around the inside of building collecting various items and placing them into bags. About two hours after entering the building, Lahousse is seen on surveillance video destroying several video surveillance cameras. Lahousse then set three separate fires in the building that night: one inside a desktop computer on the basement level, one to a piece(s) of fabric on the basement level, and one on a loveseat in a first-floor office.
After receiving a fire alarm activation from the building, Woonsocket firefighters discovered smoke in the building and water flowing from sprinkler heads. They extinguished the small fire inside the desktop computer and smoldering papers on a desk in a first-floor office. Investigators also observed evidence of forced entry, smashed computers, ransacked offices in the form of papers strewn all about, and an attempted forced entry into a safe.
In the office that sustained fire damage a handwritten note was posted on the wall that stated, “[i]n case you decided 2 call the feds I got pics of the fam.” On the desk next to the note was an empty picture frame that previously contained a family photo.
Lahousse was identified as the individual depicted in the video surveillance by numerous individuals. On July 14, 2019, he was arrested by Blackstone, MA, police and found to be in possession of two checkbooks in the name of the owner of one of the businesses inside the Woonsocket building where he had set the fires.
Lahousse is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2022. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Arson is punishable by statutory penalties of between five and twenty years of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Woonsocket Police Department; and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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Providence Man Admits Role in Scheme to Defraud Home DepotRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, having been charged for his role in a scheme that defrauded Home Depot out of approximately $600,000 in tools and building supplies, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to charging documents, Luiyi Taveras-Garcia, 35, participated in a wide-ranging scheme that uses stolen or fraudulently created business credit accounts to purchase more than $600,000 in building, roofing, electrical, plumbing and other contractor supplies from Home Depot stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Additionally, Taveres admitted to a federal judge that he purchased construction materials for use in his roofing business from another member of the conspiracy who obtained the materials from Home Depots with the use of stolen credit information.
Taveres is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2020. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A second defendant charged in this matter, Abel Bier Romero, 29, of Cranston, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William F. Ferland.
The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, with the assistance of the Smithfield Police Department.
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Texas Woman Admits to Collecting $1.26 Million in Romance Scam ProceedsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Houston, TX, woman today admitted to a federal judge in Providence, RI, that she participated in a conspiracy that scammed unsuspecting and trusting victims of more than $2.6 million dollars through internet-based “romance scams,” and that she personally collected more than $1.26 million dollars in cash, checks, money orders, and wire transfers from individuals from across the United States, and deposited the funds into bank accounts she controlled, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Dominique Golden, 31, admitted that, as part of the scam, she opened mailboxes and bank accounts in the names of fake individuals and businesses for the purpose of receiving and depositing “romance scam” victim funds. From approximately February 4, 2018, through December 12, 2018, she collected and deposited a total of $1,263,822.54 into bank accounts she controlled.
A United States Postal Inspection Service investigation determined that, collectively, members of the conspiracy defrauded victims of approximately $2,619,839.
To carry out the scheme, members of the conspiracy contacted victims via the internet and app-based communication platforms, cultivated relationships of trust, convinced the victims that money was needed, and then directed the victims to send money via mail or wire transfer to various persons, including Golden. Golden was aware that other members of the conspiracy contacted and developed relationships with the victims for the sole purpose of perpetrating the scam.
Golden pleaded guilty today to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2022. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.
According to a plea agreement filed in this matter, Golden will forfeit all interest in any fraud-related assets traceable or derived from her criminal conduct; this includes a 2018 Bentley Bentayga; a 2017 Mercedes E-Class; a gold oyster perpetual women’s Rolex watch; a gold oyster perpetual men’s Rolex watch; a gold and diamond Rolex bezel; a 16” gold rope chain with a diamond coin pendant; a 24” gold rope chain; three firearms; and $11,731 seized from her home and from the Bentley.
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Johnston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man who admitted to possessing more than 2,000 videos and images of child pornography has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jon Knowles, 49, admitted to a federal judge in May that he employed a computer software program to download encrypted “pieces” of files used to assemble digital files. In June and August of 2021, Knowles used the software program to download and assemble at least three sexually explicit video files depicting prepubescent females.
On November 17, 2021, FBI agents conducted a court-authorized search of Knowles’ residence and seized several electronic devices. A forensic audit of the devices resulted in the discovery of 2,075 videos and 342 images of child pornography.
Knowles pleaded guilty on May 9, 2022, to a charge of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to thirty-six months in federal prison to be followed by ten years of federal supervised release and ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment as required by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
The matter, investigated by the FBI, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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Four Georgia Men Sentenced in Bank Fraud Conspiracy That Exploited Providence Area HomelessRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Four Georgia men who admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that they participated in a scheme that exploited Providence-area homeless and transient individuals by recruiting them to cash hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit business checks at banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, have been sentenced to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Cortavious Benford, 27, and Michael Williams, 27, of Atlanta; Austin Weaver, 27 of Decatur; and Jalen Ronald Stanford 28, of East Point, admitted that they created counterfeit checks, generally in the amount of $2,000 or more, made payable to homeless individuals who agreed to be driven to banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine to cash them. These individuals were often paid approximately $100 for each check that they successfully cashed.
A United States Secret Service investigation determined that between October 2018 and February 2021, approximately $677,687 worth of counterfeit checks were presented to banks throughout the four states by members of the conspiracy, causing actual losses to financial institutions of nearly $481,000. Several homeless individuals were arrested as they attempted to cash counterfeit checks.
On February 5, 2021, Williams and Benford recruited and drove a homeless person to a Providence bank to cash a check, threatening to injure the man if he failed to provide them with all the proceeds. From inside the bank, the man pointed to a vehicle that was parked outside of the bank as containing individuals who recruited him and provided him with the counterfeit check. Providence Police located the vehicle a short distance away and arrested Williams and Benford. They were found to be in possession of $12,000 in cash.
A court-authorized search of a Providence residence that law enforcement determined the four men used when in Rhode Island resulted in the seizure of a computer which had a program used to design and print checks; a printer; blank check stock; and an envelope containing numerous stolen checks and approximately $5,000 in cash.
Weaver and Stanford were arrested on later dates.
The four men were convicted in federal court in Rhode Island on a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Cortavious Benford was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months in federal prison; Austin Weaver was sentenced on July 15, to 30 months of incarceration; Jalen Ronald Stanford was sentenced in June to 24 months in prison; and Michael Williams was sentenced in February to 41 months imprisonment. Each of the defendants has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $480.943.71 jointly and severally with each other.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Providence, RI, and Medway, MA, Police Departments for their assistance to the United States Secret Service in the investigation of this matter.
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‘Drug Runner’ Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man who admitted to being a “drug runner,” delivering crack cocaine at the direction of a person who took steps to disguise his own involvement in the trafficking conspiracy by having others deliver his drug orders, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Michael Fernandes, 36 pleaded guilty on April 7, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and three counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, admitting that he delivered a total of 104.72 grams of crack cocaine at the direction of, Anthony Medeiros, 31, of Woonsocket.
According to charging documents, during an FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the sale of crack cocaine in and around Woonsocket in early 2020, agents developed information that Medeiros arranged at least four sales of crack cocaine, utilizing text messaging, phone calls, and Snapchat. On each occasion, in an effort to insulate himself from responsibility for his role in trafficking crack cocaine, Medeiros utilized a “runners” to deliver the drugs that he sold. In at least three instances he used Fernandes to make deliveries; in another instance he allegedly had his girlfriend make a delivery.
Anthony Medeiros pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; and two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He was sentenced on August 1, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
Fernandes was sentenced today by District Court Judge McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release - the first six months of supervised release to be served at the Neil J. Houston House, a residential reentry center located in Pawtucket.
Medeiros’s girlfriend, Mariah Raymond, 28, of Woonsocket, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.
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Providence Man Sentenced, Faces Deportation for Possessing Nearly 2 Kilos of CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national, who was detained moments after he claimed a package containing nearly two kilograms of cocaine shipped through the U.S. Postal Service, was sentenced on Tuesday to sixteen months in federal custody and faces deportation, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Robinson Padilla-Rosario, 38, was arrested in April 2021, moments after he claimed a package at a Providence post office that U.S. Postal Inspectors and Rhode Island State Police determined contained two “bricks” of cocaine powder. The “bricks” were concealed inside a heavily wrapped package whose contents had been wrapped in duct tape, spray foamed, and wrapped again with birthday gift wrap.
According to charging documents, on April 17, 2021, two days after a Postal Service employee was unable to make a controlled delivery of the package to a Providence residence addressed to a “Jose Azcona,” Padilla-Rosario, claiming to be Azcona, retrieved the package from the post office. He was detained as he left the post office and was found to be in possession of a fake Rhode Island driver’s license bearing his photograph, the name Jose A. Azcona, and the address to which the package had been mailed.
Investigators discovered evidence on a cellphone in Padilla-Rosario’s possession that he had been using an app to communicate with a person in Puerto Rico; those communications included an image of the Postal Service redelivery slip for the package containing the cocaine.
Padilla-Rosario pleaded guilty on May 11, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and using a communication device to facilitate the commission of a drug felony. In federal custody for approximately sixteen months since the time at which he was initially charged, Padilla Rosario was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to time served followed by two years of federal supervised release. As Padilla Rosario was illegally present in the United States following a prior unlawful entry and voluntary departure in 2004, he has separately been taken into the custody of immigration authorities for the purpose of effecting his removal from the United States.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
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Rhode Island Woman Admits to Falsifying Military Service; False Use of Military Medals; Identity Theft; and Fraudulently Collecting More Than $250,000 in Veteran Benefits and Charitable ContributionsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island woman today admitted to a federal judge that she falsely claimed to be a cancer-stricken U.S. Marine decorated with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and that she used those claims, the stolen identities of actual veterans, and fraudulent documents that she created to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable benefits and services intended for injured veterans, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Sarah Jane Cavanaugh, 31, admitted that she falsely portrayed herself as a wounded veteran who had served overseas and been awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, replicas of which she purchased and publicly displayed on a U.S. Marine uniform she wore at public events.
A search of Defense Department records indicates Cavanaugh never served in any branch of the U.S. military.
Additionally, Cavanaugh admitted that, while employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs at the Rhode Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center, she used her position as a licensed social worker, to gain access to documents, personal information, and medical records belonging to a Marine and a Navy veteran who was battling cancer. Cavanaugh admitted that she used this information to create fraudulent documents and medical records in her own name, indicating that she was an honorably discharged Marine stricken with cancer. In addition, Cavanaugh admitted that she created and used fraudulent documents in various schemes to obtain more than $250,000 in cash, charitable donations, and services reserved for injured veterans.
“Every day, thousands of American men and women honorably serve this country in uniform,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “They sacrifice for our safety, putting themselves in harm’s way, often without praise or public recognition, and they deserve our thanks and our respect. This Defendant sought to trade on that respect -- respect she did not earn, evoked by a uniform to which she had no claim -- by pretending that she was a United States Marine battling stage IV cancer, in order to trick generous members of the public into lining her pockets. Her conduct is disgraceful, and it richly warrants her conviction today as a federal felon.”
“What Sarah Cavanaugh did is despicable and an insult to the brave men and women who have selflessly risked their lives, and made real sacrifices in service to this country,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Now this fraudster is a convicted felon for claiming valor where there is none, and for swindling more than a quarter of a million dollars in benefits and charitable donations from unsuspecting citizens who wanted nothing more than to help deserving veterans.”
Under the terms of a plea agreement reached on July 1, 2022, Cavanaugh has agreed that the final amount of restitution owed to her victims will be determined by the Court at the time of sentencing; she has also agreed, however, that $82,489.73, which represents her proceeds from her recent sale of real estate, will be applied towards her restitution obligations. At the time of sentencing, Cavanaugh faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment, which will be served consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment that the Court may impose. Cavanaugh’s final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Cavanaugh is scheduled to be sentenced on November10, 2022.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron. The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service; and the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
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Woonsocket Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man who led a crack cocaine distribution operation, and who attempted to disguise his involvement by having others deliver drugs that he had arranged to sell, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to court documents, during an FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the sale of crack cocaine in and around Woonsocket in early 2020, Anthony Medeiros, 31, arranged at least four sales of crack cocaine, utilizing text messaging, phone calls, and Snapchat.
On each occasion, in an effort to insulate himself from responsibility for his role in trafficking crack cocaine, Medeiros utilized a “runner” to deliver the drugs that he sold. In at least one instance, Medeiros had his girlfriend deliver crack cocaine that he had arranged to sell.
Arrested and detained in federal custody in October 2020, and indicted in November 2020, Medeiros pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; and two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by 4 years of federal supervised release.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.
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Cranston Man Admits to Role in Drug Trafficking Organization That Shipped More Than 50 Kilos of Cocaine into Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man today admitted to a federal judge that he played a long-running role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that U.S. Postal Service Inspectors determined shipped or attempted to ship a total of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine into Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Nelson Santos Carvalho, 47, admitted that he provided members of the DTO in Puerto Rico residential and business addresses in Rhode Island to use for shipping U.S. Priority mail parcels, each containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine; discussed arrival dates and retrieval of the parcels with co-conspirators; retrieved the packages from locations throughout Rhode Island, including his work address; transported the cocaine to co-conspirators in Rhode Island; and performed other functions as needed to facilitate the operations of the DTO.
Carvalho is the fourth defendant to admit his role in this DTO that operated in both Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
According to charging documents, for more than 18 months, beginning in January 2018, Carvalho provided the DTO with various Rhode Island addresses at which he and other persons known to him lived and worked. At least eleven of the parcels were shipped to Women and Infants Hospital where Carvalho was employed as a mail clerk, addressed to names provided to the DTO by the defendant. Carvalho retrieved the packages from the post office and provided them to other co-conspirators.
Based on the packages seized, the known size and weights of many of the parcels not intercepted, and positive K9 alerts on packaging materials discarded by DTO members, the DTO is believed to have shipped and/or attempted to ship approximately 51 kilos of cocaine into Rhode Island.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, Carvalho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2022. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-conspirators George Mojica, 42, Angel Delgado, 25, and Arcadio Torres, 30, of Central Falls, previously admitted to a federal judge that they participated in the conspiracy and performed various functions to assist the DTO. Mojica and Delgado were sentenced in May to serve seven years and five years in federal prison respectively; Torres is awaiting sentencing.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
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Former Newport Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A 41-year-old man who accessed and uploaded child pornography while boarding in a Newport residence has been sentenced to forty-two months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In May 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified by a social media platform that a user utilizing the online platform had uploaded child pornography. A court-authorized search of the user’s account revealed eleven images of child pornography and thirteen child pornography videos. Agents traced the IP address associated with the account to a Newport residence.
On October 27, 2020, agents executed a court-authorized search of the residence and arrested Craig M. Mulvey, 41, after locating images and videos of child pornography on his laptop computer. He was residing in a bedroom of the residence in exchange for performing odd jobs for the residence’s owner and occupant.
Mulvey pleaded guilty on August 6, 2021, to possession of child pornography.
On October 23, 2021, Mulvey was arrested by Providence Police on a Rhode Island state charge of domestic violence – simple assault and/or battery 3rd+ offense. At a bond revocation hearing two days later in U.S. District Court, Mulvey consented to detention in federal custody.
Mulvey was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to forty-two months of incarceration to be followed by eight years of federal supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Milind M. Shah.
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Chad Brown Gang Leaders Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – Four Chad Brown gang members who participated in a racketeering enterprise that targeted rival gang members with gun violence as part of what federal court filings described as “a vigilante justice system imposed and administered by themselves,” were sentenced today to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
Delacey Andrade, 28, was sentenced to eleven years of incarceration; Kendrick Johnson 31, was sentenced to six years imprisonment; Keishon Johnson, 32, was sentenced to twelve years in prison; and Montrel Johnson, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
The four men pleaded guilty on March 1, 2022, to participating in the activities of a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO).
According to court documents, the defendants “anointed themselves guardians of the neighborhood . . . and reserved the use of force to themselves to extract revenge on perceived enemies. In doing so, they reigned terror on innocent bystanders through a cycle of violence with no purpose.”
“Under the pretense of dispensing justice, these defendants inflicted terror and violence on the people of Providence to serve the ends of their criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “Today, they faced the actual justice that their conduct richly deserves, and our community is safer for it. This prosecution tackled violence that has stemmed from generations of feuding between rival gangs in the city of Providence.”
“This case is an example of how this Office, working with our partners in law enforcement over the past several years, has focused its resources to target those who are driving violent crime,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. “Thanks to this investigation and prosecution, some of the worst perpetrators of violent crime in Providence will now find themselves behind bars – and for a significant period of time. I am particularly grateful for our partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office and the strong work by federal law enforcement and the Providence Police Department in this case.”
“I praise the Investigators of the Providence Police Department and our Law Enforcement partners, including the US Attorney’s Office, for their tireless work in carrying this case to justice,” said Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. “These are the types of coordinated efforts that keep communities safe from ongoing and future senseless gun violence.”
“ATF is committed to the removal of violent repeat offenders who victimize and threaten the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson of the ATF Boston Field Division “Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to those who commit violent crimes that you will be held accountable and brought to justice.”
According to charging documents and information presented to the court, members and associates of the Chad Brown gang perpetrated frequent acts of violence against rival East Side gang members dating back to 2013; those acts included drive-by shootings and illegal drug sales. An escalation of hostilities began in 2013 when a Chad Brown member, Jose “Hova” Sanchez, was shot to death on June 22, 2013. In retaliation, two East Side members Ryan “Moondo” Almeida, and Nelson “Vamp” Sanchez, were shot to death in a thirty-day period beginning on Christmas Eve Day in 2013. While the defendants in this case were not charged in federal court with those killings, they mark the beginning of the time-period charged in the RICO count and provide context for the specific racketeering acts committed by the defendants.
The RICO charge focused on four shootings in 2016 and 2017. Each of the defendants was charged with involvement in one or more of these shootings. Specifically, the charges and supporting evidence were as follows:
- Delacey Andrade, Montrel Johnson and Keishon Johnson were charged with the attempted murder of an East Side gang member on October 22, 2016, in a drive-by shooting. The shooting occurred after Montrel Johnson and the East Side gang member had a confrontation inside the Walmart on Silver Spring Street in Providence. Andrade, Keishon Johnson and Montrel Johnson were in a gold Nissan Maxima that fired multiple gunshots into the victim’s car, hitting the victim three times and causing life threatening injuries. The shooting occurred on the two-year anniversary of a Chad Brown gang member’s shooting death, and shortly after the murder trial of the East Side gang members charged with his killing.
- Later in the evening of October 22, 2016, Andrade and Keishon Johnson were in the same gold Nissan Maxima on Appian Street in Providence when they fired multiple gunshots into a vehicle driven by a woman they mistakenly identified as East Side rivals. Earlier that week, Kendrick Johnson had sent Andrade a text to be on the lookout for a similar vehicle containing East Side members who had driven through Chad Brown.
- On June 19, 2017, Andrade and Kendrick Johnson were involved in a gun battle with East Side gang members outside the Tomato City Pizza restaurant on Douglas Avenue in Providence. East Side gang members shot at the residence of Montrel Johnson in Chad Brown earlier that day; Keishon Johnson sent a text identifying the shooter’s vehicle to Andrade. Andrade and Kendrick Johnson then encountered the vehicle outside Tomato City and both sides exchanged gunfire. Andrade and Kendrick Johnson crashed their vehicle and fled the scene. Andrade’s DNA on the gun found at the scene and Kendrick Johnson’s DNA on the steering wheel of the vehicle.
- On August 19, 2017, Keishon Johnson and two other Chad Brown members were arrested by Providence Police following a drive-by shooting on Hendrick Street in Providence. Expelled shell casings found at the scene as well as two firearms later recovered were ballistically matched. Subsequent investigation established that one of the two firearms, a .40 caliber silver Beretta handgun, was used in the three of the four shootings underlying the RICO count (Walmart, Appian and Hendrick).
In addition, the evidence established that Kendrick Johnson and Andrade engaged in illegal drug and liquor sales, including distributing cocaine and marijuana. The investigation also established Keishon Johnson’s role in a marijuana distribution conspiracy involving Chad Brown members.
This prosecution arose from a Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Providence Police and Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms (ATF) investigation. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
The case was prosecuted jointly in federal court by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul F. Daly, Jr., and John P. McAdams, and Special Assistant United States Attorney James Baum of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.
United States Attorney Cunha recognizes and thanks the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the member agencies of the ATF Task Force; the Providence, Pawtucket and North Providence Police Departments; the Rhode Island State Police; the Rhode Island Department of Corrections; and the United States Marshals Service for their close collaboration, support, and ongoing efforts in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
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New York Man Admits Pivotal Role in iPhone Theft ScamRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A New York man who played a pivotal role in a conspiracy that defrauded AT&T out of between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of Apple iPhones obtained from Walmart stores in Rhode Island and elsewhere pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Christopher Sanchez Matos, 34, of Bronx, NY, admitted to a federal judge that, in some instances, he supplied members of a conspiracy with personal identification information for AT&T Wireless customers. Posing as authorized AT&T customers, Sanchez and others obtained iPhones from Walmart stores without paying for them, aside from applicable sales tax.
According to court documents, for each Apple iPhone obtained through the scheme, the group member would receive money from a retail store in the Bronx.
Matos is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2022. Co-conspirators Ruben Gomez, 24; Oliver Mercedes, 24; and Javier Rodriguez, 26, all from Bronx, NY, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah. The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
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Former Newport Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Chelmsford, MA, man found by members of law enforcement to be in possession of more than 800 images of child sexual abuse while he was living in Newport, RI, in October 2020, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to court documents, in August 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received information that an IP address utilized by William H. Normandin, 44, had been flagged for association with child pornography. During a court authorized search of Normandin’s residence in October 2020, members of law enforcement seized Normandin’s cellphone, which was found to contain over 800 images of child pornography involving prepubescent minors.
Normandin, arrested on October 29, 2020, by HSI agents and members of the ICAC, pleaded guilty in federal court on August 17, 2021, to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years of federal supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Milind M. Shah and John P. McAdams.
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Woonsocket Businessman Sentenced for Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Woonsocket businessman described in court documents as a “vital cog” in a tax fraud conspiracy that defrauded the United States of millions of dollars was sentenced today to three years probation, the first fifty-two weekends to be served in detention at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jesus Jose Mendez, 44, co-owner of J&J Drywall, Inc., a subcontracting business incorporated in Massachusetts and operating in Rhode Island, and his fugitive business partner, paid the bulk of their employees, mostly undocumented workers, cash “under the table,” skirting tax laws and unemployment programs.
According to court documents, from 2013 to 2017, Mendez and his business partner, Jamie Zambrano, 37, of Woonsocket, allegedly used check-cashing businesses to cash more than 600 business receipt checks totaling more than $16 million dollars. While under law enforcement surveillance, Mendez and Zambrano allegedly cashed checks at a Rhode Island check-casher, then travelled to construction sites carrying backpacks full of cash, which they left at the construction sites to be used to pay their employees.
During the same period, Mendez and Zambrano made just over $4 million in deposits in the business’s bank accounts, frequently structured in amounts of less than $10,000. Most of the remaining millions were allegedly used to fund a cash payroll for under-the-table laborers. With the exception of a small number of employees placed on an official payroll and paid by check, it is alleged that income and employment taxes were not withheld or paid to the IRS, and unemployment contributions were not made.
The IRS calculated the total federal tax loss at $2,821,463; the Massachusetts Department of Labor calculated a loss of unemployment contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at $62,730. At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., ordered Mendez to pay the full amounts due the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Labor.
Zambrano is currently a fugitive facing an indictment charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States (IRS); 17 counts of failure to collect and pay over taxes; tax evasion; and eight counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Labor-Management Standards in Boston and the Rhode Island State Police.
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Warwick Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Warwick man who admitted to distributing child pornography and, according to court filings, admitted to law enforcement officers that he previously molested a prepubescent child, was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Owen Batista, 27, previously admitted to a federal judge that in August 2020, he posted a link in an online child pornography chat group that, when clicked, directed users to an online storage folder containing images and videos of child sexual abuse. Working in an undercover capacity, a Salt Lake City, Utah, law enforcement officer accessed the link, which was found to contain 738 mp4 video files. Eighteen of the video files were downloaded as a sample; seventeen of them depicted sexual abuse of children.
In October 2020, after it was determined by law enforcement that Batista was the administrator of the files, FBI agents in Providence executed a court-authorized search warrant at Batista’s residence; videos of child sexual abuse, including a collage of images depicting children between the ages of 2 to 10 years old being abused, were discovered on an electronic device belonging to Batista.
According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, when asked if he had ever had inappropriate contact with a child, Batista stated that approximately one year prior he had an “opportunity” alone with a 5-year-old female and that he “took advantage of the moment.” Batista admitted to making multiple videos of this abuse, and to sending these images to another individual. Further investigation determined that Batista had been communicating online with other individuals about the sharing of videos of child sexual abuse. One such person was later identified as a New York man, who was subsequently arrested by the FBI and charged in New York with distribution of child pornography.
Batista was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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Rioter Sentenced to Federal Prison for Torching Providence Police CruiserRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Cranston, RI, man who admitted to torching a Providence Police cruiser when he sprayed a flammable liquid into the cruiser during a June 2020 riot in downtown Providence, fueling and intensifying a fire that ultimately destroyed the vehicle, was sentenced today to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Nicholas L. Scaglione, 32, previously admitted to a federal judge that he climbed atop the unoccupied police cruiser; threw an object at the vehicle; joined with others in an unsuccessful attempt to flip the vehicle onto its side; and ultimately sprayed a flammable liquid into the vehicle, intensifying a small fire already burning. The fire consumed the vehicle, rendering it unrecognizable.
Scaglione pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022, to conspiracy to commit arson.
“This defendant chose to quite literally fan the flames of a riot,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Incinerating a police car, he needlessly endangered the lives of law enforcement and the public, and dishonored the proud legacy of Americans who have worked for change through peaceful means. Arson is not advocacy. Today’s sentence should make it abundantly clear that this type of lawless conduct cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”
“Nicholas Scaglione’s reckless and violent behavior deprived others of their right to peacefully protest, contributed to chaos, inspired lawlessness, and put the safety of police officers and the public in danger,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence makes it crystal clear to others that we have zero tolerance for anyone committing violence in our communities, especially when that violence is directed towards police.”
Providence Police Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., added, “The Providence Police Department is appreciative of the collaboration of our law enforcement partners in holding this defendant accountable for his actions.”
According to court documents, in a text message, Scaglione took responsibility for what he did and defiantly professed that he would do it again: “But that police cruiser that went up in flames last night can be replaced... I was pissed. I’ve been pissed. That was pent up years of rage and frustration with the way I’ve seen and been treated by police. That cop car can be replaced. Peoples lives cannot... Then I go out fighting and standing up for [sh*t] I believe in. Cuz I know for a fact if it was you or anyone else I was close to I’d burn the whole police force down and not even blink.”
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy sentenced Scaglione to 36 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of federal supervised release. Scaglione was ordered to pay restitution to the Providence Police Department in the amount of $52,166.80.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by the Providence FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, Providence Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Rhode Island State Police for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
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Rhode Island Woman to Admit to Falsifying Military Service; False Use of Military Medals; Identity Theft; and Fraudulently Collecting More Than $250,000 in Veteran Benefits and Charitable ContributionsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – According to a signed plea agreement filed today in U.S. District Court in Providence, a Rhode Island woman who, it is alleged, falsely claimed to be a cancer-stricken U.S. Marine decorated with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and who allegedly used those claims to fraudulently gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable benefits and services reserved for injured veterans, will plead guilty to charges of fraud, aggravated identity theft, forgery, and fraudulent use of medals, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged that Sarah J. Cavanaugh, 31, of East Greenwich, who, a search of Defense Department records indicates never served in any branch of the U.S. military, used her position as a licensed social worker, employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs at the Rhode Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center, to gain access to documents, personal information, and medical records belonging to a Marine and an actual cancer-stricken Navy veteran. She allegedly used the information to create fraudulent documents and medical records in her name, claiming that she was an honorably-discharged Marine stricken with cancer. It is further alleged that Cavanaugh used the fraudulent documents in various schemes to obtain more than $250,000 in cash, charitable donations, and services reserved for injured veterans.
It is further alleged that Cavanaugh, who portrayed herself as a wounded veteran who served overseas, fraudulently held herself out to be a recipient of a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, replicas of which she purchased and publicly displayed on a U.S. Marine uniform she wore at public events.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron and investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service; and the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
A defendant’s sentence is determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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North Providence Man Sentenced for Defrauding COVID-Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man who was receiving COVID-relief unemployment benefits in Rhode Island, and fraudulently applied for and collected more than $20,000 in unemployment benefits from two other states, has been sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
Derrick Gadson, 35, pleaded guilty in federal court in April to two counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money, admitting to a federal judge that, while collecting unemployment benefits in Rhode Island in June 2020, he began filing for benefits in Massachusetts and Arizona, fraudulently claiming that he lived and worked in both states. The fraudulent applications were filed in names other than his own.
Gadson collected a total of $20,727 in federally funded unemployment insurance benefits that he was not entitled to receive.
At sentencing on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Gadson to eighteen months of incarceration in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Gadson was ordered to pay restitution totaling $20,727.
This case, as well as other instances of criminal activity related to fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits are being investigated jointly by the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. Cases are jointly reviewed, charged, and prosecuted by a team of prosecutors that include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton, Stacey P. Veroni, and G. Michael Seaman, and Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General John M. Moreira, chief of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.
Rhode Islanders who believe their personal identification has been stolen and used to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits are urged to contact the Rhode Island State Police at [email protected] or the FBI Providence office at (401) 272-8310.
In May 2021, the United States Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID- 19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Three Plead Guilty in Grandparent Scheme Targeting Rhode Island SeniorsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Appearing before a federal judge in Providence, three individuals today admitted that they participated in a “Grandparent Scam” that defrauded fourteen Rhode Island seniors out of a total of more than $350,000, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
The victims, who ranged from seventy-nine to ninety-four years of age, were contacted by telephone by callers impersonating family members or attorneys. These callers falsely told the victims that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail. The victims were directed to gather cash for these fake bail payments, and told to provide the money to a courier that would be sent to their home.
Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, and Diego A. Alarcon, 22, of Union City, NJ; and Jason Hatcher, 40, of New York, NY, admitted that in June 2021, they traveled to New England to participate in the scam. Hatcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft; Alarcon and Valdez-Espinosa each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“Few things are more frightening than thinking a family member is in trouble,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “These defendants exploited that fear to steal from loving grandparents and line their own pockets. Thanks to superb investigative work by our local law enforcement partners and the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased that, with today’s guilty pleas, each of these defendants will answer for their fraud.”
“These three took advantage of a grandparent’s love for a grandchild to fleece them of their hard-earned money. They caused the victims to believe a loved one was in legal trouble or in danger, using fear as a weapon to turn a profit,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations New England Field Office. “HSI works every day alongside our partners to uncover scams like this one to help keep our seniors safe.”
According to court documents and information presented to the court, victims were scammed out of a total of $350,815. In at least one instance, a family member intervened leading to the arrest of Valdez-Espinosa who was posing as a courier. Scammers defrauded the victims out of between $9,500 and $85,000.
Valdez-Espinosa, Alarcon, and Hatcher will be sentenced on October 11. 2022. Their sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Christine D. Lowell.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Barrington, Cranston, Coventry, Cumberland, East Providence, Hopkinton, Johnston, North Kingstown, Smithfield, and Warwick Police Departments for their investigative assistance and assistance provide residents in their community victimized by this scam.
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Accounts Payable Clerk Sentenced for FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – An accounts payable clerk who misappropriated more than $300,000 belonging to a Providence small business for his own personal use was sentenced on Wednesday to eighteen months of incarceration, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Grant Devillez, 38, of Dayville, Conn., pleaded guilty in January to each of the ten counts of wire fraud with which he had previously been charged by federal indictment. No plea agreement was filed in this matter.
At the time of his guilty plea, Mr. Devillez admitted that, from at least February 2016 through July 2018, he engaged in a scheme to defraud Décor Craft, Inc., of nearly $303,000, by transferring funds from the business’ bank account to his own personal bank accounts; to creditors for personal bills; and to the bank account of another individual.
Mr. Devillez also admitted that when given access to the business’ bank account to make authorized payments to vendors, he often made partial payments or no payments at all, instead transferring the funds for his own use. To cover his criminal conduct, he altered company records to reflect that full payment had been made to the vendors.
U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Devillez to eighteen months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release – the first six months to be served in a half-way house; and to pay restitution totaling $302,995.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by the FBI.
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Warwick Man Convicted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man previously convicted and sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery admitted to a federal judge on Wednesday that he illegally possessed a firearm; that gun was discharged by a juvenile in the man’s home, resulting in a self-inflicted gunshot wound, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Branden Eddie Smith, 37, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to information presented to the court, on March 21, 2022, Warwick police and emergency services were called to a Warwick residence several hours after a juvenile discharged a firearm, causing a self-inflicted wound to his knee. The juvenile ultimately told police that, earlier in the evening, he was handling what he believed to be an unloaded firearm; the gun was in fact loaded, however, and when the juvenile pulled the trigger, the firearm discharged sending a bullet through his knee.
Warwick police executed a court-authorized search of the residence and located the firearm, a Glock 42 semi-automatic pistol, as well as eight rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. The gun and ammunition were found inside a safe in the defendant’s bedroom.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2022. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Smith was previously convicted of bank robbery in U.S. District Court in the District of Nevada in 2017 and sentenced to fifty-six months in prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell.
The matter was investigated by the Warwick Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
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Thai National Sentenced for Trafficking Meth and Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Thai national who stored more than a thousand counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and/or fentanyl in a child’s backpack inside the apartment he shared with his three young children has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Davith Hoy, 42, was arrested in March 2021, and pleaded guilty on March 16, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to information presented to the court, Hoy wholesaled methamphetamine and fentanyl pills to other distributors. His criminal activity came to light after, Ronald M. Kramer, 38 of Providence, allegedly a dealer whom Hoy was supplying, was arrested and imprisoned in an unrelated case. It is alleged that, in monitored telephone calls made from inside the ACI, Kramer contacted his girlfriend, Rebecca L. Beauchamp, 37, of North Providence, and arranged for her to meet with Hoy and receive a supply of meth pills.
According to court documents, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents surveilled Hoy as he allegedly met with Beauchamp and delivered the pills. On March 19, 2021, ATF agents searched a residence Hoy shared with his three young children and discovered a large quantity of fentanyl and methamphetamine pills that Hoy stored inside a child’s Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles backpack. Agents seized more than one thousand pills along with parts of a pill press and other items used to manufacture meth and fentanyl pills. The pills were manufactured to mimic the appearance of the prescription drug Adderall.
Hoy was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 87 months in federal prison to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
Kramer and Beauchamp are currently awaiting trial in U.S. District Court on methamphetamine trafficking charges. Kramer also faces a federal charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. In all instances, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William F. Ferland.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks investigators at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
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Providence Man Sentenced in Fraudulent Checks, Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man who led a counterfeit check scheme that defrauded banks of tens of thousands of dollars has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Terrance Richardson, 30, pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and twelve counts of bank fraud.
At the time of his guilty plea, Richardson admitted that beginning in as early as April 2020, he conspired with others to create and deposit counterfeit checks drawn on the accounts of actual businesses. The counterfeit checks were typically deposited into the accounts of individuals who agreed to participate in the conspiracy in exchange for a cash payment. Many of those individuals were solicited through Facebook.
In many instances, soon after the counterfeit checks were deposited, the proceeds were quicky withdrawn from ATMs before banks could determine that the checks were fraudulent. Banks deemed some of the checks to be fraudulent prior to any money being withdrawn.
At sentencing on Friday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., sentenced Richardson to sixty months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Ricardson was ordered to pay restitution to banks totaling $83,296.51, representing the actual loss to banks as a result of his criminal conduct.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the FBI, United States Secret Service, Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence and Bethel CT, Police Departments.
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Pawtucket Man Sentenced in Stolen ID, Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man has been sentenced to thirty months in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to create fraudulent drivers’ licenses and credit cards he and others used to rent cars and hotel rooms and to make multiple purchases throughout New England, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Hugh A. Martin, 33, and two other men were arrested by Warwick Police in the early morning hours of July 3, 2020, when they were found sleeping in a vehicle with a stolen license plate. A bundle of eleven counterfeit credit cards were found tucked inside Martin’s sock.
According to court documents, among the items recovered from the vehicle were eighteen mobile phones, a notebook containing handwritten entries of numerous identities and related personal identifying information, computers, a printer, SD cards, a laminating machine, a magnetic strip reader capable of reading and transferring data to the back of credit cards, and approximately $13,000 in crisp, clean U.S. currency in large denominations.
Martin pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022, to conspiracy to possess fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices; possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices; and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on Thursday to 30 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.
In November 2021, while on bail on state charges brought as a result of his initial arrest by Warwick Police in July 2021, Martin was found by a New York City Police Officer seated in a parked vehicle that displayed no registration plates. Martin was charged with criminal possession of a handgun, after the officer located a fully loaded semiautomatic handgun under the driver’s seat. A detainer has been lodged with the U.S. Marshals service, seeking Martin’s return to New York for prosecution on the firearm charge.
Courtney Hilaire, 29, of Providence, convicted for his role in the credit card fraud conspiracy and for fraudulently seeking more than $3.3 million dollars in small business loans earmarked for businesses impacted by the pandemic, was sentenced on May 5, 2022, to 60 months in federal prison.
A third defendant remains a fugitive.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William J. Ferland. Martin’s criminal conduct was investigated by the Warwick Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Pawtucket Police Department.
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Registered Sex Offender Convicted for a Third Time on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Christopher J. Skinner, 33, of Providence, a registered sex offender previously convicted on child pornography charges in 2010 and in 2014, and incarcerated, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence today to a charge of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that six files of child sexual abuse material and been uploaded. A Homeland Security Investigations agent viewed one of the files and determined that it contained images of child pornography. Further investigation by a State Police detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force determined that the images were uploaded from an IP address assigned to Skinner’s residence.
On February 16, 2022, law enforcement executed a federal warrant to search Skinner’s residence. A forensic review of Skinner’s phone identified approximately 29 images containing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in 2010, Skinner was convicted of possession of child pornography by the United States Air Force and sentenced to 2 years of confinement and dishonorable discharge from the Air Force; and in 2014, Skinner was convicted of possession of child pornography in Rhode Island state court and sentenced to 10 years of incarceration - 3 years to serve.
Skinner has also been convicted of failure to register as a sex offender.
At sentencing on October 6, 2022, Skinner faces a statutory penalty of a minimum of 10 years of incarceration to be followed by a term of up to lifetime supervised release. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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Drug Trafficking Organization Leader Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A twice-deported Dominican national living in Providence who led a drug-trafficking organization that imported millions of doses of Mexican-sourced cocaine and fentanyl was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Providence to fifteen years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Eighteen kilos of fentanyl, enough to yield 9,000,000 lethal does; nearly twenty kilograms of cocaine; and one kilogram of heroin were seized as a result of a DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force and Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force investigation into the drug trafficking activity of 47-year-old Juni Rafael Jimenez-Martinez.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDEFT) investigation, dubbed “Operation Seek and Destroy,” determined that Jimenez-Martinez attempted to insulate himself from the drug trafficking operation by using trusted friends and associates to carry out much of the organization’s day-to-day business, while he oversaw and directed the importation, transportation, storage, and distribution of kilos of drugs. Jimenez-Martinez coordinated the movement of the drugs through various U.S. cities, as well as their shipment into New York City, where they were stored. At Jimenez-Martinez’s direction, the drugs were later transported elsewhere for distribution, including into Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized drug shipments in St. Louis, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Jimenez-Martinez, convicted of drug trafficking in 2009 in federal court in the Southern District of New York and sentenced to 65 months of incarceration, has been detained in Rhode Island since his arrest in this matter on June 6, 2019. He pleaded guilty on October 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and being an alien who reentered the United States illegally after having been removed.
Jimenez-Martinez was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith to 180 months of incarceration to be followed by ten years of federal supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Massachusetts State Police; DEA Strike Force in Watertown, MA; DEA Annandale HIDTA Group in VA; and the DEA Westchester, NY, Resident Office for their assistance in this investigation.
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Two Detained on Meth Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Two men were detained in federal custody today, following their arraignment in U.S. District Court in an ongoing Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task investigation that has resulted in the seizure of more than one pound of methamphetamine to date, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Charles Bersch, 38, of Providence, RI, and Peter Walkovich, 37, of Pepperell, MA, are charged by way of federal criminal complaints with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to charging documents, it is alleged that, on May 23, 2022, at the direction of members of the Safe Streets Task Force, a vehicle carrying Bersch and Walkovich was stopped in Cranston; allegedly inside the vehicle were three backpacks and a camouflage bag, each containing, among other items, significant quantities of crystal meth. It is alleged that during the traffic stop and during a subsequent court-authorized search of the vehicle law enforcement seized a total of 491.9 grams of crystal meth; approximately 75 grams of fentanyl; nearly 48 grams of fentanyl laced cocaine; and more than $21,700 in cash.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Pawtucket Man Charged for Allegedly Traveling to the Dominican Republic to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man who traveled repeatedly to the Dominican Republic, where he allegedly had sexual contact with a minor, has been charged in federal court in Providence with engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in charging documents that Miguel Angel Montero, 42, a naturalized United States citizen who was born in the Dominican Republic (DR), traveled several times to the DR between 2009 and 2013. During those visits, Monteiro is alleged to have had illicit sexual contact with a minor female on numerous occasions; as a result of this conduct, the alleged victim gave birth to a child fathered by Montero at the age of 15.
Montero is currently detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions, having been convicted at trial in Rhode Island state court on a charge of first-degree child molestation, in a separate matter.
The case in U.S. District Court is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and John P. McAdams.
The matter charged in federal court was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pawtucket Police Department. U.S Attorney Cunha thanks the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General for their assistance in advance of this case being charged in U.S. District Court.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Georgia Man Sentenced in Bank Fraud Scheme that Exploited Homeless IndividualsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Georgia man who solicited, transported, and paid homeless individuals from the Providence area to cash hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit business checks in four New England states was sentenced today to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jalen Ronald Stanford, 28, of Riverdale, GA, and others, created counterfeit checks generally in the amount of $2,000 or more. The checks were made payable to homeless individuals who agreed to be driven to banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine to cash them. These individuals were often paid approximately $100 per check that they successfully cashed. From October 2018 through February 2021, numerous homeless individuals were arrested at banks throughout the region as they attempted to cash some of the counterfeit checks.
A United States Secret Service investigation determined that approximately $677,687 worth of counterfeit checks were presented to banks throughout the four states, causing actual losses to financial institutions of nearly $481,000.
Stanford pled guilty on March 10, 2022, to conspiracy to commit band fraud. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Stanford was ordered to pay restitution to financial institutions totaling $480,943.71.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Providence and Medway, MA, Police Departments for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
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Johnston Man Admits to Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man who arranged for the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl pills plead guilty today in federal court in Providence to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and to distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Johnathan King, 31, admitted to the court that on May 25, 2021, he arranged to sell and have delivered 4,000 fentanyl pills to a person who arranged for the purchase while under surveillance by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force. King sold the same individual an additional 1,000 fentanyl pills on two dates in June 2021.
King, detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 20, 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2022. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl are punishable by statutory penalties of a minimum of ten years of incarceration; a term of life with a mandatory minimum term of supervised release of five years; and a fine of $10,000,000. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H Vilker.
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West Warwick Man Sentenced for Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A West Warwick man who arranged for the sale of substantial quantities of fentanyl-laced counterfeit OxyContin to an undercover member of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force was sentenced today to four years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Richard Delsanto, 29, pleaded guilty in February to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to the court documents, in April and May 2021, a member of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force engaged in a series of text messages with Richard Delsanto, 29, to arrange for the purchase of 1,000 counterfeit OxyContin pills known to contain fentanyl. Delsanto delivered the pills on May 4, in exchange for $5,000. Nine days later, the undercover DEA Task Force officer arranged for a second delivery. As Delsanto arrived at an agreed-upon meeting location, members of the DEA Drug Task Force stopped Delsanto’s vehicle and seized approximately 3,000 pills containing fentanyl. Additionally, 700 fentanyl additional pills were seized from Delsanto’s residence during a court-authorized search that followed his arrest.
Delsanto pleaded guilty on February 16, 2022, to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of federal supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General; Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the East Providence, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments; and Amtrak Police Department.
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