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29 March 2024
Federal Jury Convicts Kissimmee Man of Attempting to Entice A Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a jury has found Damien Suhr (41, Kissimmee) guilty of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Suhr faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2024. Suhr was indicted on June 28, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, on May 27, 2023, the FBI was involved in an operation with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. As part of this operation, a profile was created by the FBI on a dating application (app). “Jack” and Suhr began exchanging messages on the dating app, then quickly switched to exchanging text messages in which “Jack” made clear to Suhr that he was 14 years old. For two weeks, Suhr spoke to “Jack” about engaging in sex with him. Suhr explained in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform on and with “Jack.” Additionally, he directed “Jack” to delete his text messages with Suhr to avoid detection by his mother or law enforcement. Suhr chose a location at a gas station that was convenient for him to meet “Jack” and sent messages to “Jack,” requesting that he wear a specific type of underwear to the meeting.
On June 9, 2023, Suhr went to the gas station to meet with “Jack.” Suhr was met and arrested by law enforcement officers. Evidence presented at trial showed that Suhr had previously exchanged messages with other online users about his desire to have sexual encounters with minors as young as 12 years old.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Dana Hill.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal Court Permanently Bars Michigan Women and Her Businesses Based on Fraudulent Conduct and Orders them to Disgorge Nearly $690,000Read the Press Release
A federal court in Detroit, has permanently barred Annetta Powell and her seven tax preparation-related businesses, Alliance Tax Services Inc., Nationwide Tax Services Inc., Tax Expert Stores Inc., United Tax Services Inc., Top Financial Specialists Inc., United Financial Team Corporation and Speedy Tax Stores Corporation, from preparing federal tax returns for others and from owning or operating a tax return preparation business. The court also ordered the defendants to disgorge $689,797.91 to the United States, representing the ill-gotten gains that the defendants received for preparing certain categories of fraudulently prepared returns from 2019 through 2021.
The order and the judgment of permanent injunction follow a twelve-day trial held from November 2023 to January 2024. The order, signed by U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith for the Eastern District of Michigan, notes that the “Defendants’ preparation of fraudulent returns was widespread” and that “all of Powell’s stores and many preparers routinely violated IRS rules and regulations.” According to the court’s order, Powell, through her several companies, operated up to five tax preparation stores in Detroit, Pontiac, and Flint, first under the name “The Tax Experts” and then, since 2021, under the name “Speedy Tax Stores.” The court found that the “harm caused by Defendants’ fraudulent tax preparation scheme was severe and widespread, occurring across five stores for nearly a decade.” The court concluded that the Defendants “prepared too many fraudulent tax returns with similar issues … for the pattern to have been random.”
In reaching its conclusion, the court noted that Powell refused to cooperate with the IRS investigation and took active steps to “thwart [the investigation] by altering customers’ files and returns and manipulating the use of an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), which is a number assigned to a taxpayer that the IRS uses to monitor the returns preparers submit. Powell could not obtain an EFIN because of her criminal record so her stores used EFIN numbers under someone else’s name. This misconduct, along with other past fraudulent conduct, led the court to determine that Powell “would likely find new ways to prepare fraudulent returns” if she were not permanently barred from doing so.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Bradley Sarnell, Elizabeth Kirby, Daniel Applegate, Thelma Lizama, Eric Ashby II and Steven Shashy of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Harland Lee Todd, 34, of Mount Hope, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 2, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Todd’s residence and seized 163 grams of cocaine, a Glock Model 30 .45-caliber pistol, a Mossberg model 702 .22-caliber rifle, a Remington model 870 12-gauge shotgun, 16 ammunition magazines, 634 rounds of ammunition and $2,468. Todd admitted that he possessed the cocaine and intended to distribute it, in addition to the 111 grams of cocaine that he had sold on five separate occasions.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Central West Virginia Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-124.
Drug Conspiracies Spanning from about May 2020 to about May 2023 that Involved over 35 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and other drugs from Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California to Northwest Iowa have been DismantledRead the Press Release
12 persons were federally indicted in the Northern District of Iowa, 11 of whom were convicted by plea or trial and sentenced, namely:
Jeffrey Linn (Cherokee, IA), 34 months’ imprisonment
Dustin Martinez (Sutherland, IA), 87 months’ imprisonment
Jason Werner (Cherokee, IA), 28 months’ imprisonment
Lauretta Payce (Fontana, CA), 64 months’ imprisonment
Christina Gianopoulos-Rohrer (Henderson, NV), 47 months’ imprisonment
James Conlan (Las Vegas, NV), 100 months’ imprisonment
Andrea Romo (Gardena, CA), 240 months’ imprisonment
Carl Thompson (Larrabee, IA), 45 months’ imprisonment
Craig Miller (Cherokee, IA), 36 months’ imprisonment
Lenora Jennings (Las Vegas, NV), 3 years’ probation
Sabrina Bradley (Pahrump, NV), 42 months’ imprisonment
Jerilynn Wilson (Las Vegas, NV), Acquitted
Two persons were charged and convicted in Nevada State District Court, namely:
Robert Randall (Encino, CA) and Robert Allen (Sylmar, CA). Two persons have been charged in Kansas State District Court, namely: Ricky Lincoln (Tucson, AZ) and Keven Jones (Tucson, AZ). Two remaining federal targets of these conspiracies continue to be investigated.
Over the course of the multi-jurisdictional investigation, various law enforcement agencies seized 46 pounds methamphetamine, ½ pound fentanyl (pills), ½ pound heroin and a firearm. Various defendants in the conspiracy, namely Martinez, Gianoplous-Rohrer, Payce, Thompson, Werner, Linn, Bradley, and Conlan also admitted to their involvement in the distribution of at least 30 more pounds of methamphetamine over about the same conspiracy time frame.
In the Northern District of Iowa, the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and USAO for NDIA assisted by the; Tri-State DEA Drug Task Force, USPIS, Cherokee Police Department, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, FBI Las Vegas, Southern Nevada High Impact Narcotics Task Force, Colorado State Patrol, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation HSI and USMS.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22-4066; 22-4049; 21-4032; and 22-4002. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
District Men Plead Guilty to Shooting Father and Minor Son in December 2018Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jamal Matthews, Darnell Savoy, and Stefon Freshley, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to the December 28, 2018 shooting of a father and son in the Clay Terrace neighborhood of Northeast, Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, the victims were in their SUV standing along the curb in the 200 block of 54th Street, Northeast, waiting for a friend to arrive so they could leave to attend a WWE wrestling event. As the victims waited, Matthews saw the SUV and mistook it for the same vehicle that shot at him and his cousin three days earlier. Matthews emerged from the Christmas Day shooting physically unharmed, but his cousin was killed.
Upon seeing the victims’ SUV, defendant Matthews immediately called another individual, who then called Freshley. Moments after speaking with that individual, Freshley and Savoy, who were a few blocks away, entered Savoy’s Nissan Altima and drove towards Matthews. Savoy was driving and Freshley was in the front passenger seat when they picked up Matthews at the corner of 54th and Clay Streets Northeast. Matthews got into the back seat of the Nissan Altima. Savoy drove into the 200 block of 54th Street Northeast. As they drove towards and past the victims’ vehicle, Matthews fired approximately 30 shots at the SUV. The minor victim was shot nine times, including in the head, abdomen, chest, and back. The adult victim sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and hand.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberley Nielsen and Sharon Donovan.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day in Prison for Felony Second-Degree Theft for Stealing Multiple Packages after Multiple Prior Theft ConvictionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dayvon Baker, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for one count of felony second-degree theft. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On February 9, 2024, Baker pleaded guilty to one count of felony second-degree theft. At today’s sentencing, Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Baker to 12 months and one day in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 17, 2023, the defendant went up to residences in Northwest Washington, D.C. and stole packages that been delivered to residents’ front doors. Baker was indicted on December 20, 2023, on three counts of felony second degree theft. Baker had multiple prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion, and was therefore subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaskin, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder for Stabbing of a Man in NorthwestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Melton, 55, of Washington, DC, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2024, to second degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) for stabbing a man, on January 14, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 14, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 a.m. on January 14, 2020, Melton approached his first victim in the 1800 block of Connecticut Ave. NW. The victim was approached by Melton, on foot, whom he recognized from college, thirty years ago, but did not know the defendant’s name. As they encountered each other, Melton stated, “do you want me to kill you in a church,” to which the victim asked who he was, and at which point, the defendant pulled out a knife from his pants pocket and attempted to stab him. He was able to escape that attack and Melton fled the scene.
Later that same day, at approximately 12:33 p.m., another victim encountered Melton in the 800 block of Vermont Ave., NW. This time Melton stabbed the victim in a vicious attack. When officers arrived at the scene, the victim was able to provide the name of his attacker before he lost consciousness. He was transported to a local hospital and has since recovered from his injuries.
At 2:33 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Virginia Ave., NW, where a man, the same victim who had been attacked by Melton earlier this day, was found suffering from multiple stab wounds to his body. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
This case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Liebman.
DC Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a ‘Ghost Gun’ While Trafficking Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ahmad Robertson, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for possession of an illegal “ghost gun” in furtherance of drug trafficking. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, of Homeland Security Investigations -Washington Field Office (HSI-DC), Acting Inspector in Charge Ajay Lall of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS), and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Robertson pleaded guilty on November 7, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the 66 month prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Robertson to serve 48 months of supervised release. Robertson has been in custody since June 1, 2023.
According to court documents, on June 1, 2023, officers from the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), HSI, USPIS, MPD, and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant on Robertson’s home and vehicle on the 100 block of Xenia Street, SE. Officers ordered the occupants to come out of the residence. After 15 minutes, Robertson exited the premises and police took him into custody. Officers searched Robertson and discovered two baggies of white powder in his pants pockets, which was later determined to be cocaine. Officers then searched Robertson’s vehicle and discovered a digital scale and a “ghost gun,” a privately manufactured AR-style pistol with no serial number, loaded with 28 rounds of 5.56 caliber ammunition.
When officers searched Robertson’s home, they recovered two additional firearms, extended magazines, assorted rounds of ammunition of various calibers, drug paraphernalia including additional digital scales, a blender with fentanyl residue, and fentanyl.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by HSI, USPIS, and MPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section and Trial Attorney Gaelin Bernstein of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Leiter.
Coventry Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN MATAVA, 60, of Coventry, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his receipt of COVID-19 relief funds.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive unsecured loans at an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds were to be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a certain period of time of receipt and used at least a certain percentage of the amount to be forgiven for payroll.
The PPP was overseen by the Small Business Administration, which has authority over all PPP loans. Individual PPP loans, however, were issued by private approved lenders, such as Celtic Bank, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2020, Matava applied to Celtic Bank for a $100,000 PPP loan for J.M. Builders LLC. The application submission included several false representations, including that J.M. Builders LLC had eight employees and an average monthly payroll of $40,000; that the monies would be used for payroll, lease, mortgage, interest, and utilities; and that the business owner was not subject to pending formal criminal charges. At the time of the PPP loan application, there were no records of payroll or employees with the Connecticut Department of Labor for J.M. Builders LLC, and Matava was subject to criminal charges in two pending cases related to arrests in 2017 and 2018.
On April 22, 2020, Celtic Bank disbursed $100,000 to a bank account for J.M. Builders LLC on which Matava was the signatory. The account was opened on April 21, 2020, and had a balance of $0 immediately prior to the loan funds being disbursed. Between April 2020 and January 2021, Matava used the funds primarily for personal expenditures, including $3,498 to pay a dog breeder, $4,777 for payments to an RV superstore in Connecticut, and legal fees, including a $2,000 retainer, for four court cases in Rockville, Connecticut.
In January 2021, Matava sought $100,000 in additional PPP funds from Celtic Bank, and included with the application several additional false statements and fraudulent tax documents. Celtic Bank denied the application.
Judge Dooley ordered Matava to pay restitution of $100,000.
Matava was arrested on January 7, 2023. On January 2, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction.
Matava is released on a $60,000 bond, in home detention. He is required to report to prison on May 13.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher W. Schmeisser and Sean P. Mahard.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for the Fourth Time for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — David Elliott Paulsen, 62, of Columbia, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials.*
Evidence presented to the court showed that in May 2023, Paulsen entered a residential reentry center to complete the remaining period of his incarceration from a 2014 conviction of possession of child sex abuse materials. Shortly thereafter, on July 13, 2023, Paulsen was found to be in possession of a contraband phone that contained over 1,200 images and at least one video of child sex abuse materials involving prepubescent girls and the sexual abuse of toddlers.
Paulsen has three prior federal convictions for possession of child sex abuse materials as well as one prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
United States District Court Judge Joseph Anderson sentenced Paulsen to 168 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child
Coconspirator in Agent’s ‘Secret Probation’ Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 70 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
The coconspirator in retired FBI agent William Stone’s scheme to con a local mother out of more than $700,000 by convincing her she was on “secret federal probation" was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Joseph Eventino DeLeon, 63, was indicted in December 2021. In February 2024, after 12 days of trial, a jury convicted him and Mr. Stone of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. (Mr. Stone was also convicted of five counts of wire fraud, one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, and one count of false impersonation of a federal officer.) Mr. DeLeon was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, who ordered him to pay $765,320.37 in restitution to his victim.
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Stone convinced his victim, C.T., that she was under “secret probation” for federal drug crimes in “Judge Anderson’s court in Austin, Texas.”
He and Mr. DeLeon told the victim that the fictious federal judge had appointed the two of them to administer the conditions of her six year “secret probation.” They required her to text them written reports of her daily activities, and to compensate them for their supervisory services, as well as any expenses they incurred. Copies of the five and six figure checks she wrote them were admitted into evidence at trial. Over the course of eleven months, C.T. gave Mr. Stone more than $700,000 and Mr. DeLeon more than $50,000.
Mr. Stone and Mr. DeLeon insisted that C.T. was prohibited from disclosing her probation status to anyone, and would risk imprisonment and loss of her children if she did not comply with the terms of her probation.
When C.T. began to question the situation, Mr. Stone assured her everything he’d done was “legit.”
In order to further convince her the probation was real, the defendants monitored her cell phone communications, conducted physical surveillance of her, stated they had discussed C.T.’s probation with a psychiatrist, enlisted another person to impersonate the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration “Intelligence Center” in a message inquiring about C.T., and even placed spoof calls between Mr. Stone, C.T., and the fictitious Judge Anderson.
They urged her to distance herself from her family, claiming her family members wanted to take her inheritance away from her, and persuaded her to transfer her inherited assets out of a trust and into an account under her own name. At one point, they claimed Judge Anderson would discharge C.T.’s probation if C.T. agreed to marry Mr. Stone. Mr. DeLeon even carried a weapon in C.T.’s home while purportedly providing “protective services” for her.
Mr. Stone was previously sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and taken into custody when sentenced, as was Mr. DeLeon.
The Texas Rangers and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Mr. Stone retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in October 2015. The Bureau provided valuable assistance during the trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenna Rudoff, Donna Strittmatter Max, and Marcus Busch prosecuted the case with the support of Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Miller and Appellate Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Pryor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is handling the forfeiture.
Ciudadano Peruano Extraditado Por Dirigir Un Centro De Atención Telefónica Desde El Que Amenazaban Y Estafaban A Consumidores De Habla Hispana En Los Estados UnidosRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia y el Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos dieron a conocer hoy que un residente de Lima, Perú, fue extraditado a los Estados Unidos y compareció por primera vez en el tribunal federal de Miami, en el día de la fecha, donde se lo acusó de dirigir un vasto complot dedicado a extorsiones y estafas.
José Alejandro Zuñiga Cano, 40 años, ciudadano de Lima, Perú, enfrentará cargos federales. Zuñiga fue detenido el 26 de febrero de 2023 por las autoridades peruanas en virtud de un pedido de extradición de los Estados Unidos. Desde entonces, permanece detenido en Perú.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, el acusado administró y dirigió centros de atención telefónica en Perú desde enero de 2014 hasta febrero de 2019. Supuestamente, el demandado y sus cómplices en Perú hacían llamadas telefónicas vía internet para contactar personas de habla hispana en los Estados Unidos. Desde los centros de atención telefónica, se engañaba a las víctimas diciéndoles que habían ganado sorteos de productos gratuitos, que incluían tablets con cursos de inglés. Muchos consumidores manifestaban su interés por recibir los productos gratuitos. En llamadas sucesivas, se les informaba a las víctimas que debían realizar pagos cuantiosos para recibir los productos. Cuando las víctimas se oponían, quienes llamaban los engañaban diciéndoles que habían incurrido en una conducta ilegal por no haber pagado o recibido los productos.
“La División de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia se compromete a perseguir y enjuiciar a los delincuentes internacionales responsables de estafar a consumidores vulnerables en los Estados Unidos, en cualquier lugar donde se encuentren. Agradezco a la República del Perú, y a la Policía Nacional del Perú, por su colaboración para extraditar a esta persona a fin de que enfrente cargos aquí en los Estados Unidos”, declaró el fiscal general principal adjunto, Brian M. Boynton, jefe de la División Civil del Departamento de Justicia. “El Departamento de Justicia y la policía de los Estados Unidos seguirán trabajando en estrecha colaboración con sus socios de las fuerzas de seguridad en todo el mundo para enjuiciar a los delincuentes que intentan estafar a víctimas estadounidenses desde el extranjero”.
“La colaboración entre países mejora los esfuerzos para fortalecer el estado de derecho. El Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos agradece a la República del Perú y a nuestros colegas de las fuerzas de seguridad que actuaron con determinación para desmantelar este complot dedicado a estafar consumidores estadounidenses a través del correo postal de los Estados Unidos y por vía telefónica. Juntos, enviamos un mensaje contundente, a nivel mundial, de que la justicia no tiene fronteras”, declaró Juan A. Vargas, Inspector encargado del Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos, División Miami.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, el acusado y sus cómplices fingían ser abogados, funcionarios judiciales, oficiales de policía y representantes de un supuesto “tribunal de delitos menores”. El acusado y sus cómplices engañaban a las víctimas diciéndoles que tenían una obligación contractual de pagar y recibir los productos y que habían causado problemas legales para ellos mismos y para terceros supuestamente por no haber cumplido esa obligación. La acusación formal establece que quienes hacían las llamadas también amenazaban a las víctimas, de manera fraudulenta, con juicios, detenciones, calificaciones negativas en sus informes crediticios o consecuencias por su condición de inmigrantes si no pagaban de inmediato los productos supuestamente entregados y los aranceles de cancelación. De acuerdo con la acusación formal, muchas víctimas terminaron pagando debido a estas amenazas infundadas.
En algunos casos, el acusado y sus cómplices revictimizaban a las mismas víctimas mediante una organización fraudulenta relacionada de “restitución de productos”. De acuerdo con la acusación formal, el acusado y sus cómplices hacían nuevas llamadas a víctimas que ya habían pagado y, fingiendo ser abogados de un tribunal de los Estados Unidos, declaraban falsamente que las víctimas tenían derecho a pagos de restitución que compensarían las pérdidas sufridas a manos del acusado y sus cómplices en la primera parte de la conspiración. El acusado y sus cómplices engañaban a estas víctimas diciéndoles que debían pagar un porcentaje de la restitución a un abogado que supuestamente había iniciado una causa judicial y que había logrado la restitución del producto en nombre de la víctima. En realidad, no existía ningún abogado, ninguna orden de restitución y no se devolvía ningún monto a las víctimas que realizaban estos pagos adicionales.
En noviembre de 2021, se presentó una acusación penal federal sobre 7 delitos contra el acusado en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Sur de Florida, que fue refrendada con la extradición del acusado a los Estados Unidos. El acusado enfrenta cargos de conspiración, fraude electrónico y extorsión. La acusación formal solo alega que se cometieron delitos. Si es condenado, Zuñiga enfrenta una pena máxima de 20 años de prisión. Un juez del tribunal federal de Distrito dictará sentencia después de considerar las Directrices para la Imposición de Condenas de los Estados Unidos y otros factores establecidos por ley.
Todos los acusados se presumen inocentes hasta que se demuestre lo contrario más allá de una duda razonable.
La fiscalía de la causa está a cargo del abogado sénior y coordinador de juicios penales internacionales, Phil Toomajian y de la abogada Carolyn Rice de la División de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia. El Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos investigó el caso. Asimismo, colaboraron intensamente la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales de la División Penal, la Fiscalía de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Sur de Florida, el Servicio de Seguridad Diplomática del Departamento de Estado, el Servicio de jefes de policía de los Estados Unidos, la Policía Nacional del Perú y la Fiscalía del Procurador General del Perú.
El Departamento de Justicia continúa investigando y acusando formalmente a sospechosos en otras causas similares que incluyen amenazas contra residentes de habla hispana de los Estados Unidos. Si usted o alguien que conoce tiene más de 60 años y sufrió una estafa económica, cuenta con la asistencia de profesionales expertos en la Línea gratuita nacional de atención para adultos mayores: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Esta línea gratuita del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos, administrada por la Oficina de Asistencia para Víctimas de Delitos, brinda ayuda personalizada a las personas que llaman mediante la evaluación de las necesidades de la víctima y la identificación de los próximos pasos correspondientes. Los administradores del caso identifican los organismos en los que corresponde hacer la denuncia, proporcionan información a quienes llaman para ayudarlos a presentar la denuncia, ponen en contacto a las personas que llaman directamente con los organismos correspondientes y ofrecen recursos y derivaciones, caso por caso. El primer paso es presentar la denuncia. Denunciar puede ayudar a las autoridades a identificar a quienes cometen delitos y denunciar determinadas pérdidas económicas por estafa lo antes posible puede aumentar la probabilidad de recuperar lo perdido. La línea gratuita está disponible de lunes a viernes de 10:00 a. m. a 6:00 p. m. hora del este de los Estados Unidos, en inglés, español y en otros idiomas.
Para obtener más información acerca de las gestiones del Departamento para ayudar a los adultos mayores estadounidenses, visite su página web de la Iniciativa de Justicia para los Adultos Mayores. Para obtener más información acerca de la División de Protección al Consumidor y sus gestiones para la aplicación de la ley, visite su sitio web en https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Los consumidores pueden presentar sus reclamaciones ante la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC) en https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ o por teléfono llamando al 877-FTC-HELP. El Departamento de Justicia ofrece varios recursos relacionados con la victimización de personas mayores por estafas a través de su Oficina de Asistencia a las Víctimas de Delitos, a la que se puede acceder en https://www.ovc.gov.
Para obtener más información sobre la División de Protección al Consumidor y sus medidas de lucha contra el fraude, visite su sitio web en www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.Chilton County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Firearm Used in a ShootingRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On March 27, 2024, a federal jury convicted 57-year-old Alvin Lee McCary, a resident of Chilton County, Alabama, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.
According to court records and evidence presented during McCary’s trial, on July 22, 2020, law enforcement responded to a Clanton residence following reports of a shooting. Deputies arrived at the scene and found that the shooting victim had multiple gunshot wounds, including one on his face. According to the victim and witnesses, following an argument, McCary had shot the victim and then fled. Deputies found shotgun shell casings at the scene. Law enforcement officers found McCary at his Chilton County residence but did not immediately locate a shotgun. A few days later, investigators discovered a shotgun and ammunition at the bottom of a well. The well was located in a wooded area behind the McCary’s residence. McCary has previous felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Following this conviction, McCary faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine McCary’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. If the judge determines that the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 qualifies in McCary’s case, McCary will face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
This case was prosecuted as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Ashley J. Avera prosecuted.
Charlotte Man Charged with Falsely Impersonating A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A newly-unsealed criminal indictment charges William Mohr Eubank, 37, of Charlotte, with multiple counts of falsely impersonating a federal officer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment was returned on March 19, 2024, and was unsealed upon Eubank’s initial court appearance.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, between 2021 and 2024, Eubank falsely claimed to be a federal law enforcement officer on multiple occasions. Specifically, in April 14, 2021, Eubank purported to be a U.S. Department of Justice law enforcement officer working on a Joint Counterterrorism Task Force in order to obtain a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe outfitted with law enforcement emergency lights, siren, console, and partition push bar. The indictment further alleges that, on May 19, 2021, Eubank falsely claimed to be the Deputy Director of the Community Emergency Response Team for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and made false statements to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) in order to obtain CMPD radio codes for his handheld radio and his “DHS-issued” Chevrolet Tahoe. The indictment also alleges that, on January 21, 2024, Eubank pretended to be a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations and made false statements to Sugar Mountain police officers about working with and for various federal law enforcement agencies.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eubank had his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez ordered that Eubank remain in custody until his detention hearing.
U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and HSI for their investigation of the case and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, the Sugar Mountain Police Department, the Avery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
California Man Sentenced for Attempting to Illegally Export Firearms and Night Vision Rifle Scopes to the Sultanate of OmanRead the Press Release
Fares Abdo Al Eyani, 41, of Oakland, California, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to export defense articles and attempting to export defense articles.
“Mr. Al Eyani admitted to conspiring to smuggle restricted arms, ammunition, and other defense material to a foreign country and has now been held to account,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The unlawful trafficking of U.S. weapons overseas represents a threat to public safety and national security and will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
“Enforcing the nation’s export laws is an important objective for my office,” said U.S Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California, “Because controlling our ports prevents the proliferation of weapons, protects our national security, furthers our foreign policy, and maintains our business competitiveness.”
“The illicit export of weapons overseas will not be tolerated by the FBI and anyone attempting to do so will be held accountable,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Our office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting our U.S. technology and citizens from anyone who tries to evade our laws and threaten our national security.”
“The sentencing of El Anayi for attempting to illegally export firearms and night vision rifle scopes to The Sultanate of Oman underscores the serious ramifications for international arms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco. “Such actions not only pose significant risks to national security but also contribute to destabilizing regions and potentially fueling conflicts. It's crucial for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and prosecute individuals involved in such activities to prevent the illicit proliferation of weapons and technology. This case highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating arms trafficking and enforcing export control regulations. Justice has been served with the hard work and dedication of HSI, and partner organizations FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations San Francisco, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Justice Department’s National Security Division.”
According to court documents, Al Eyani acquired no less than four firearms with magazines and ammunition, and at least 44 rifle scopes, monoculars, and goggles with night vision capabilities in 2019. In November 2019, Al Eyani attempted to send the firearms to the Sultanate of Oman in shipping containers departing from the Port of Oakland. He concealed the firearms by disassembling them, wrapping them in aluminum foil, and then secreting them within automobiles inside the shipping container. Then, in December 2019, Al Eyani attempted to export the 44 rifle scopes, monoculars, and goggles to the Sultanate of Oman in two shipping containers departing from the Port of Oakland. Law enforcement searched the containers and seized the firearms, magazines, and ammunition, as well as the 44 rifle scopes, monoculars, and goggles with night vision capabilities, thereby thwarting Al Eyani’s unlawful scheme.
The commercial export of arms, ammunitions, implements of war and defense articles and services from the United States is governed by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and its attendant regulations, the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The AECA authorizes the President, among other things, to control the export of “defense articles” deemed critical to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. The AECA also authorizes the President to designate goods as “defense articles,” require licenses for the export of such articles, and promulgate regulations for the export of such articles. By executive order, the President has delegated this authority to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Accordingly, the DDTC has promulgated regulations under the AECA, known as the ITAR. The ITAR defines a “defense article” as any item on the United States Munitions List (USML). Persons desiring to export items on the USML from the United States to a place overseas must first register with the DDTC and obtain individual export licenses prior to any shipment abroad.
Court documents establish that the items Al Eyani attempted to export — four firearms, magazines, ammunition, and night-vision rifle scopes — were defense articles prohibited from export without a license by the AECA and the ITAR. Al Eyani did not have a license to export the defense articles.
In a separate sentencing, Al Eyani’s wife, Saba Mohsen Dhaifallah, 42, also of Oakland, was sentenced to three years of probation for making false statements to FBI special agents during the investigation of this matter.
The FBI, HSI, and CBP investigated the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California’s National Security and Cybercrime Section is prosecuting the case in consultation with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DANIEL STEPHEN WRAY, a/k/a “Danny,” a/k/a “Tubs,” a/k/a “El Gordo,” age 35, a resident of Chula Vista, California, pleaded guilty on March 27, 2024 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2021, at the direction of WRAY, WALTER ALVAREZ TIRADO, a drug courier, traveled from Kentucky and bound for New Orleans to deliver fifty pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of TIRADO’s vehicle in Pearl River, La. Following the stop, officers searched TIRADO’s luggage, and discovered fifty pounds of methamphetamine.
WRAY faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mansatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Boston Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and cocaine.
Jovani Santiago, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release. In March 2021, Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
In August 2020, Santiago sold approximately 500 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in a Roxbury apartment. During a subsequent search of Santiago’s residence, a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun and ammunition were seized. The investigation also determined that Santiago conspired with others to distribute seven kilograms of cocaine for $250,000 in Massachusetts and New York.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Billings man admits payroll check scheme to defraud Crow TribeRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man on Thursday admitted to a scheme in which he defrauded the Crow Tribe by receiving checks from the tribe’s payroll account, forging the payees and having the payees cash the checks, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Jonathan Cleve Brien, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Brien faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Brien was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in May 2019, Brien received checks from the Crow Tribe payroll account. Brien forged the payees on the checks and had those people cash the checks at various entities. A cooperator involved in methamphetamine in Billings admitted to law enforcement to being involved a check fraud scheme and that Brien informed the cooperator that he had access to a Crow Tribe account, which allegedly contained millions of dollars. On two occasions, the Brien brought the cooperator a signed Crow Tribe payroll check made payable to them in the amount of approximately $900. The cooperator deposited one of the checks into a personal bank account but withdrew most of the money as cash and split the money with Brien. The cooperator subsequently cashed the second check at a bank and again gave most of the cash to Brien. When interviewed, Brien initially denied knowledge of the checks, then admitted to receiving the Crow Tribe payroll checks and giving them to various people who were involved with him in using meth. He made the checks for about $900 because he thought tribe’s payroll account would have $900 in it and that it would be less suspicious if he kept the amount under $1,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
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Bellingham, Washington drug dealer sentenced to ten years in prison for distributing fentanyl while possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 39-year-old Bellingham, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for drug distribution and firearm crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Daniel Faix was arrested in April 2023, and pleaded guilty in January to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of firearms, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “You were caught and charged, and returned to dealing drugs.”
“When Mr. Faix encountered law enforcement in late December 2022, he was carrying thousands of fentanyl pills, and drug proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “But one arrest didn’t stop him, and four months later a search of his RV home turned up thousands more pills and four guns he kept to protect his drug business. Spreading such poison in our community while illegally
possessing guns, and the defendant’s extensive criminal history, merits a ten-year-prison term.”
According to records filed in the case, Faix was one of six people charged federally in a months-long investigation of fentanyl dealing in Whatcom County. The ring was actively moving fentanyl from the Seattle area to redistributors in Bellingham. Law enforcement officers observed various drug transactions and interdicted the drug loads. In one instance, law enforcement was called to a mini-mart where two people involved with the drug ring overdosed on fentanyl and had to be revived and transported to the hospital.
In asking Judge Jones to impose the ten-year-sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs wrote to the court, “The Court is certainly aware of the dangers that these drugs – particularly fentanyl – pose to those who use them. And Faix must be aware of the harm caused by these drugs as his own life has been consumed and upended by drug use. Ultimately, Faix – for whatever reason – was willing to personally profit from the distribution of an addictive and often deadly controlled substance.”
One other member of the drug ring has been sentenced: 33-year-old Ahbdurman Ahmed of Seattle was sentenced in January 2024 to six years in prison. On Wednesday, defendant Natasha Parkhill, 38, of Bellingham, pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in July. Defendant Mohamed Abdirisak Mohamed, 35, of Seattle pleaded guilty in January and is scheduled for sentencing in June. Defendant Matthew Anderson, 35, of Bellingham, is scheduled for trial in July. Defendant Robel Sisay Gebremedhin, A/K/A Robel Sisay Gebremedhui, 41, of Burien, WA is being sought by law enforcement.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, and the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Quantel O. Saunders, 29, of Beckley, was sentenced today to three years and ten months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 19, 2022, law enforcement officers observed Saunders with a firearm tucked in the front of his waistband outside a service station on the 200 block of North Eisenhower Drive in Beckley. Officers stopped Saunders as he was entering his vehicle and recovered a Ruger-57 5.7x28mm handgun from the driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle. Saunders admitted to the officers that he possessed the firearm.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Saunders knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm by a prohibited carrier and three counts of wanton endangerment with a firearm in Raleigh County Circuit Court on August 3, 2015.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Parsons prosecuted the case.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-108.
Alex Murdaugh to Be Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh, 55, of Hampton, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on 22 charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering. Murdaugh pleaded guilty in September 2023. Read the previous release here.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel will impose the sentence.
WHEN: Monday, April 1, 2024, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: United States District Courthouse
The hearing will be held in Courtroom 3 and Courtroom 1 will serve as overflow space
83 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina
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NOTE: United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs along with Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office and SLED Chief Mark Keel, will be available outside the courthouse following the hearing. The hearing could last approximately three hours. No cameras or cell phones are allowed in the federal courthouse.
Alabama Resident Sentenced to 30 Years for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Dennis Hebert, age 39, of Phenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to 360 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
On May 17, 2023, Hebert was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury.
The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on July 21, 2021, Hebert engaged in a sexual act with a minor victim who had not reached 10 years of age. The United States also presented evidence that Hebert had previously sexually abused another child under the age of 10. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hebert will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
28 March 2024
Zuni Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Contact of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a Zuni man after he pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in Indian Country. Upon his release from prison, Phillip Edward Lahi, Sr., 72, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, will be subject to five years of supervised release with standard sex-offender-specific conditions, and must register as a sex offender. Lahi, Sr. must also pay a fine of $83,400.00 to offset the costs associated with his incarceration and supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to publicly available court records, between November and December of 2021, Lahi, Sr. engaged in sexual contact with Jane Doe, a child relative under the age of 12.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Woman who embezzled nearly $400,000 from Renton, Washington company sentenced to 10-month prison termRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 32–year-old Des Moines, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 months in prison for her scheme to steal nearly $400,000 from her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Trixie Dela Cruz was employed by a Renton, Washington company that administers employee benefits for employers nationwide. Within six months of her hiring and immediately after she had been promoted, Dela Cruz began her embezzlement scheme. Judge Lauren King sentenced Dela Cruz to three years of supervised release to follow the prison term, saying Dela Cruz had “abused the trust” of her employer with a scheme that “involved planning and continuous affirmative conduct.”
According to records filed in the case, Dela Cruz was hired by the company in October 202o and in March 2021, was promoted to Account Associate. In that role, she managed client accounts and approved claims for benefits. Using her access, she created a duplicate account for a deceased employee of one of the clients. She connected the profile to her own bank account and then submitted and approved 58 fraudulent claims totaling $397,942. Dela Cruz would activate the profile for the fraudulent claim and then deactivate it so no record would show up for her company.
In January 2022, the company discovered the fraud and dismissed Dela Cruz. The company reimbursed the client for the fraudulent claims. Forensic analysis indicated Dela Cruz spent the money on gambling, cash application transfers to family and friends, and to pay for jewelry, travel, car payments and other shopping.
Judge King ordered full restitution to Dela Cruz former employer and its insurance company, which paid the bulk of the company’s losses.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Jensen.
Waterloo Man Sentenced to Prison for Shooting at Crowd Outside of BarRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who shot at a crowd outside a Waterloo nightclub was sentenced today to more than five years in prison.
O’Shea Taelly Wright, age 27, from Waterloo, received the prison term after a November 3, 2023, guilty plea to possession of ammunition by a felon.
Information disclosed during the plea and sentencing hearing revealed that Wright was involved in a fight outside a Waterloo nightclub on December 31, 2022. Multiple people were involved in the fight. During the fight, Wright walked to the SUV he had arrived at the nightclub in and retrieved a firearm from the front passenger seat. Wright then fired multiple shots toward a group of people fighting nearby. No one was shot or injured by Wright. At the time, Wright was a felon based on a drug conviction and was on probation for that felony conviction.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wright was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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 case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2036.
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Waterloo Felon Returned to Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who illegally possessed a firearm shortly after his release from federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison. Shaquan Coffer, age 25, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 26, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at Coffer’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings established that, in 2018, Coffer was sentenced in federal court to 34 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release after a conviction on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Coffer has an extensive prior criminal history in state court, including convictions for possessing a firearm by a felon, first-degree harassment, escape from custody, and theft. In early March 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons released Coffer after he completed his federal sentence, and he began his three-year term of supervised release.
On April 2, 2023, Cedar Falls Police Department (“CFPD”) officers were dispatched to investigate a domestic assault in a moving vehicle. Coffer’s girlfriend had called 911, because Coffer, the passenger in the vehicle, had kicked and cracked her windshield during an argument in the vehicle. When the CFPD officers attempted to conduct a pat-down search of Coffer, he fled the scene on foot. During a foot chase, Coffer tossed a firearm on the ground in the driveway of a local business. The firearm was stolen and loaded with an extended magazine.
Coffer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Coffer was sentenced to a total of 85 months’ imprisonment, 71 months for one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and an additional 14 months for violating the terms of his supervised release. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Coffer is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 23-CR-2025 and 18-CR-2041.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Virginia Man Charged for Attempted Church ShootingRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Rui Jiang, 35, of Falls Church, Virginia, with attempting to obstruct the congregants of the Park Valley Church in Haymarket, Virginia, in the free exercise of their religious beliefs. The indictment charged that his attempted act involved a dangerous weapon and an attempt to kill, and included both a threats count and a firearms violation.
According to court documents, Jiang began posting online threats against the Park Valley Church on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023. On the morning of Sept. 24, 2023, police began searching for Jiang in response to a concerned citizen’s call about his online posts. Police officers located Jiang at the front entrance to the Park Valley Church while Sunday services were underway. Jiang was armed with a semiautomatic handgun and two full magazines of ammunition. During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered five copies of a letter, each signed, which read in part, “To the families of those men about to be slain – I am sorry for what I have done and about to do. May your tears not be cried in vain, but to celebrate how your loved ones had lived.” Jiang was arrested and detained by state authorities on Sept. 24, 2023.
If convicted of all counts, Jiang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of FBI Washington Field Office, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth for Prince William County, Virginia, made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Prince William County, Virginia, and Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr. for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Utah Residents Accused of Running a COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme Face Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Three Tooele County residents accused of running a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud ring will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today following a federal indictment. The indictment, returned by a grand jury on Feb. 28, 2024, includes charges of wire fraud and aiding and abetting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Halee Ann Mehlbauer, 38, Timothy George Lopez, 62, and Rick A. Bolton, 65, of Tooele, allegedly ran a PPP Loan fraud ring from July 2020 to January 2022. Mehlbauer, Lopez, and Bolton fraudulently applied for at least 10 PPP loan applications and five PPP loan forgiveness applications that attempted to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (SBA) of approximately $422,242.50. These were funds Congress allocated for the SBA to provide low-interest loans to eligible small businesses experiencing financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When applying for the loans, Mehlbauer, Lopez, and Bolton used fictitious businesses that did not exist before the pandemic hit, and therefore did not qualify for PPP loans. The defendants also exaggerated and fabricated the number of employees, average monthly payroll, and gross income of their fictitious businesses. Mehlbauer, Lopez and Bolton also submitted fake tax forms and payroll tax forms to support their fabricated payroll and gross income. The defendants never filed the fake tax forms they submitted to their lenders with the IRS. Mehlbauer also transferred at least $49,475.02 of PPP loan funds to herself in checks. The defendants spent the rest of the fraudulently obtained PPP loan funds on unauthorized personal expenses, including debt payments, car expenses and gambling.
By lying on the PPP loan applications, Mehlbauer, Lopez and Bolton fraudulently obtained at least approximately $195,930.50 in PPP loan funds and obtained forgiveness of at least approximately $155,477.50 of their approved PPP loans, that they were not eligible to receive.
Mehlbauer, Lopez and Bolton are charged with seven counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting. Mehlbauer is also charged with money laundering. Their initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
The Utah Federal COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is investigating the case, which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of Inspector General’s U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The public is encouraged to share information about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program or other SBA programs by submitting a complaint here.
On May 17, 2021, the 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 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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Announces $3.1 Million False Claims Act Settlement with Radiology Company and Its CEO for Fraudulent Billing PracticesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”); Brian J. Solecki, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the U.S. Department of Defense - Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”); and Christopher Algieri, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (“VA OIG”), announced today that the United States has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against THE RADIOLOGY GROUP LLC and its CEO, ANAND LALAJI.
THE RADIOLOGY GROUP is a teleradiology company based in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides diagnostic radiology services to hospitals, urgent care centers, and primary care physician centers located across the country. The settlement resolves claims that THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI violated the False Claims Act by fraudulently billing federal health care programs when the U.S.-based radiologist just “rubber stamped” interpretation reports prepared by contractors in India who were not permitted to practice medicine in the United States or bill federal health care programs. The Government further alleges that THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI misrepresented who actually rendered the radiology services when seeking payments and improperly sought reimbursement for services furnished entirely by persons located outside of the United States in violation of applicable statutes and regulations.
Under the settlement approved yesterday by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI will pay a total sum of $3.1 million, of which $2,678,387.21 will be paid to the United States with the remainder being paid to various states. As part of the settlement, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI also made extensive factual admissions regarding their conduct. Among other things, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI admitted that they failed to ensure that their U.S.-based radiologists were conducting a meaningful and adequate review of draft interpretations of radiology scans prepared by India-based contractors. THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI also admitted that, on numerous occasions, they submitted claims to federal health care programs where the radiologist who reviewed and interpreted the imaging was someone other than the individual listed on the claim for reimbursement.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The Radiology Group failed to put in place appropriate safeguards to ensure that their U.S.-licensed radiologists adequately reviewed non-credentialed contractors’ findings before transmitting the reports to physicians who relied on the findings to make patient care decisions. This Office is committed to holding healthcare providers accountable when they violate clear rules and regulations designed to ensure the integrity of taxpayer funded healthcare programs and protect patient quality of care.”
HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz said: “As part of the settlement, The Radiology Group and Anand Lalaji admitted that they failed to ensure that their U.S.-based radiologists were conducting a meaningful and adequate review of draft radiology interpretation reports. Defendants potentially jeopardized patients’ health by taking shortcuts when it came to ensuring that important radiological tests were done and reviewed properly. Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.”
VA OIG Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri said: “The VA OIG is dedicated to ensuring veterans receive the quality health care they deserve, and we will continue to work to make certain that VA healthcare programs are not compromised by fraudulent billing practices. The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
Diagnostic radiology involves the diagnosis of diseases and injuries using imaging techniques, such as Computed Tomography scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and ultrasounds. Radiologists review the generated images and prepare written reports summarizing their findings (an “Interpretation Report”). Health care providers rely on these Interpretation Reports when diagnosing patient conditions and when making important decisions regarding patient medical care.
THE RADIOLOGY GROUP is a teleradiology practice that provides diagnostic radiology services to hospitals, urgent care centers, and primary care physician offices (the “Referring Providers”) located throughout the United States. The Referring Providers transmitted imaging to THE RADIOLOGY GROUP so that THE RADIOLOGY GROUP could review the images and prepare Interpretation Reports. Using online-based teleradiology platforms, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP sent the images to contractors located outside the United States, who would conduct initial reviews of the imaging and prepare draft Interpretation Reports. After that process was complete, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP’s U.S.-based radiologists were supposed to conduct an independent and separate review of the imaging and make all necessary changes to the Interpretation Reports before transmitting them to the Referring Provider. The final Interpretation Reports were signed by the U.S.-based radiologist, who was responsible for the Interpretation Report’s content.
THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI knew that contractors located in India who prepared draft Interpretation Reports were not permitted to practice medicine in the United States or bill federal health care programs. Nevertheless, certain radiologists at THE RADIOLOGY GROUP merely “rubber stamped” the draft reports and transmitted them to the providers without conducting a meaningful and adequate review of the findings. For instance, one radiologist (“Radiologist A”) approved, signed, and transmitted to providers over 100,000 Interpretation Reports and frequently approved draft CT scan reports in less than 30 seconds.
THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI also understood that they were prohibited by federal health care program rules from submitting claims for reimbursement for radiology services if the radiologist listed as the rendering provider on the claim for reimbursement had not actually rendered the services. THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI, however, consistently submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims for payment to federal health care programs that identified either LALAJI or the other owner of THE RADIOLOGY GROUP as the rendering provider, even though they had not in fact rendered the radiology services for which reimbursement was sought. Further, on numerous occasions, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims for payment for diagnostic radiology services provided by a radiologist who resided and worked in the United Kingdom, in violation of relevant Medicare regulations.
As part of the settlement, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI admitted and accepted responsibility for certain conduct alleged by the United States, including the following:
- THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI knew that they could not bill federal health care programs for the radiology services unless a U.S.-based and licensed radiologist reviewed all of the images associated with the scan, reviewed the Interpretation Report prepared by the individual in India, and made any necessary changes to the Interpretation Report. However, there were some instances when this did not occur.
- For example, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP employed a U.S.-based radiologist (“Radiologist A”) who repeatedly approved Interpretation Reports prepared by non-licensed individuals in India without reviewing relevant images associated with the scan and without conducting any meaningful review of the report or properly considering whether any changes needed to be made to it.
- THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI failed to ensure that their U.S.-based radiologists were conducting a meaningful and adequate review of the draft interpretations of scans prepared by the non-licensed contractors in India.
- On numerous occasions, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI submitted claims to federal health care programs where the radiologist who reviewed and interpreted the imaging was someone other than the individual listed on the claim.
- THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI understood that Medicare did not pay for medical services rendered by individuals located outside of the United States. Nonetheless, on numerous occasions, THE RADIOLOGY GROUP and LALAJI submitted claims to Medicare for diagnostic radiology services rendered in the United Kingdom by a radiologist employed by THE RADIOLOGY GROUP who lived there.
In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.
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Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HHS-OIG, DCIS, and VA-OIG, and thanked the Wisconsin Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit for their extensive collaboration in the investigation and resolution of this case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles S. Jacob is in charge of the case.
Two Indicted for $9.4 Million Fraud Against AHCCCS's Insurance Program for Native AmericansRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Earlier this month, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 30-count indictment against Kenneth Harrison, 44, and Courtney Haywood, 38, of Las Vegas, Nevada on 30 felony counts related to their Arizona-based company, Aurtism, LLC, which was used to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) of over $9.4 million. Harrison and Haywood made their initial appearances on the charges in federal court in Phoenix Wednesday.
The indictment alleges that Harrison and Haywood committed conspiracy, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft by using Aurtism to fraudulently bill AHCCCS’s American Indian Health Program for mental health services they claimed were provided to indigent Native Americans during 2020 and 2021. The indictment alleges that, in addition to overbilling for patients that Aurtism treated, Harrison and Haywood billed for patients Aurtism never treated—such as those who received treatment in residential facilities, were in prison or jail, or deceased. Aurtism billed AHCCCS for more than $9.4 million in less than two years. Of the payments received from AHCCCS, Harrison spent $2.7 million on residential real estate, $763,000 on luxury cars, and nearly $1 million on retail purchases and travel. Haywood spent much of the $3.4 million he received from the AHCCCS payments on real estate, cars, retail purchases, and travel.
A conviction for conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a conviction for healthcare fraud or money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a conviction for aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two years in prison. Each conviction also carries a maximum fine of up to twice the amount of financial loss to AHCCCS and mandates full restitution to AHCCCS.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
Harrison- IndictmentCASE NUMBER: CR-24-00393-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-039_Harrison# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Philadelphia Men Admit Roles in Conspiracy to Burglarize United Parcel Service Warehouses Across United States, Stealing over $1.6 Million in PackagesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Three Philadelphia men pleaded guilty today to their roles in a conspiracy to burglarize approximately 55 United Parcel Service (UPS) warehouses across the United States, resulting in the theft of over $1.6 million worth of merchandise, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Sekou Fofanah, 20, Shamaire Brown, 19, and Quamaire Brown, 19, all of Philadelphia, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to informations charging each with one count of conspiracy to commit cargo theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 2021 through April 2023, Fofanah, Shamaire Brown, Quamaire Brown, as well as co-defendant Aboudramane Karamoko, and others, conspired to commit burglaries of UPS facilities throughout the United States, including warehouses in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Rhode Island. The defendants gained access to the UPS facilities by breaking the window of the loading bay door or by prying open the loading bay door. Once inside, they sought parcels marked with “lithium-ion battery” warnings, which indicated that the packages contained high-value electronic devices such as a cell phones. Fofanah, Shamaire Brown, Quamaire Brown, admitted that they participated in the burglary of at least 55 UPS facilities and stole items valued at approximately $1.6 million.
The charge of conspiracy to commit cargo theft carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation. He also acknowledged South Brunswick Police Department; Warwick, Rhode Island, Police Department; Clarkstown, New York, Police Department; Livonia, Michigan, Police Department; HSI State College; State College, Pennsylvania, Police Department; New York State Police; Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia and Rhode Island; New Jersey State Police; Philadelphia Police Department; Pennsylvania State Police; Ohio State Highway Patrol; Taylor Police Department; Brookfield Police Department; Summit County Prosecutor’s Office; and Centre County District Attorney’s Office, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges against Karamoko remain pending, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
sbrown.information.pdf qbrown.information.pdf fofanah.information.pdfThree Jamestown residents charged with drug and sex trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 45, Cora Waddington, 24, Kelvin O. Thomas, 41, all of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion, sex trafficking by force and coercion, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. In addition, defendants Mendoza and Waddington are charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and Mendoza is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Maeve E. Huggins, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Mendoza, Waddington, and Thomas conspired to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Jamestown area, using a residence on West Main Street in the Town of Ellicott, NY, to conduct their drug trafficking activities. In addition, between October and December 2022, the defendants are accused of conspiring to force individuals to engage in commercial sex acts.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson; the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division; and the Town of Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This investigation is also assisted by the Western New York Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-disciplinary task force that brings law enforcement and social service agencies together to identify and investigate human trafficking utilizing a victim centered and trauma informed response, was also part of this effort.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Three East Idaho Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Separate Sex Crimes Involving Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the outcomes in three separate East Idaho cases in which the defendants were sentenced to 21 years, 10 years, and 5 years in federal prison, respectively, for sex crimes against minor children.
“No one in Idaho law enforcement will tolerate this abhorrent conduct, and my Office is proud to continue our tradition of sending these types of offenders to federal prison, out of state, for long periods of time,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.
On March 26, 2024, Jared Michael Crow, 24, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 257 months in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court records, on March 9, 2022, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Crow after receiving a report that he was having sexual conversations with minors at a high school in Idaho Falls. The case was referred for further investigation to the Idaho Crimes against Children Task (ICAC) Taskforce and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Eight minor-aged victims between the ages of 14 and 16 were identified. The investigation revealed that Crow followed a consistent predatory pattern of contacting minor females and providing alcohol, vape pens, and cash in exchange for sexually explicit images and sexual encounters.
“These child predators sought to exploit the most vulnerable, committing grave injustices that robs the victims of their youth,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Through our law enforcement and private sector partnerships, we will relentlessly pursue those that commit child exploitation crimes, ensuring they face the full extent of the law.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Crow be placed on supervised release for fifteen years following his prison sentence.
In a separate case, Shawn Michael Young, 50, of Pocatello was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, on March 26, 2024. According to court records, in April 2018, the Chubbuck Police Department received a report that child pornography had been found on a cell phone belonging to Young. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reviewed the files on Young’s phone. A total of 4,438 images of child pornography, including prepubescent children, were identified on the phone. In an interview, Young admitted to downloading and viewing images of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Young to be placed on supervised release for fifteen years after the end of his prison term.
“Shawn Young contributed to the proliferation of a deplorable crime. Every time an image is shared or viewed, that child continues to be victimized,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting our children from those who prey on our most vulnerable.”
In another separate case, Bradley Allen Pedersen, 41, of Rupert, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor on March 25, 2024. According to court records, between August and September 2022, Pedersen communicated via the internet with an individual that was portrayed to be a 14-year-old female. That individual was actually an undercover investigator with the Rupert Police Department and Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. During the online exchange, the investigator, posing as the child, informed Pedersen of the child’s name, where she lived, and that she was a 14-year-old female. Pedersen repeatedly requested to meet the child for sex. On September 16, 2022, Pedersen traveled to meet the 14-year-old female at a pre-arranged location. Pedersen was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Pedersen’s prison sentenced to be followed by ten years of supervised release.
The Crow case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. The Young case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, the Chubbuck Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Pedersen case was investigated by the Rupert Police Department and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett and former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shirts prosecuted these cases.
These case were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Tax Preparer Sentenced to 3 Years in $6.7 Million Tax FraudRead the Press Release
A Waxahachie tax preparer was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison and ordered to pay more than $6.7 million in restitution to the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Bachary Rushid McGruder, the 45-year-old owner of M&M Enterprises and Consulting, TX, was indicted in November 2021 and pleaded guilty in November 2023 to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn.
During tax years 2015 through 2018, Mr. McGruder knowingly prepared more than 1,000 fraudulent tax returns for his clients, including fictitious Schedule A itemized deductions like gifts to charity, unreimbursed employee expenses (UEBE), and home mortgage interest; false Schedule C business losses; and false Residential Energy Credits (REC).
He included the false statements on clients’ tax returns without their knowledge, and had clients sign forms justifying the deductions and credits without explaining the forms’ contents to clients.
Mr. McGruder made his profits from the false tax returns by charging unusually exorbitant fees which were deducted from the individual tax refunds, charging clients as much as $2,800 for preparing their returns.
The fraud resulted in a tax loss of $6.73 million.
IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Detzky prosecuted the case.
Swiss commodities trading company pleads guilty to foreign bribery schemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Trafigura Beheer B.V. (Trafigura), an international commodities trading company with its primary operations in Switzerland, pleaded guilty today and will pay over $126 million to resolve an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), stemming from the company’s corrupt scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian government officials to secure business with Brazil’s state-owned and state-controlled oil company, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (Petrobras).
Trafigura pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Trafigura will pay a criminal fine of $80,488,040 and forfeiture of $46,510,257. The department will credit up to $26,829,346 of the criminal fine against amounts Trafigura pays to resolve an investigation by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for related conduct.
“Our office will continue to target anyone who uses the Southern District of Florida to further foreign corrupt practices and bribery schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our Criminal Division colleagues to identify and prosecute those responsible, including both individuals and corporations.”
“For more than a decade, Trafigura bribed Brazilian officials to illegally obtain business and reap over $61 million in profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty plea underscores that when companies pay bribes and undermine the rule of law, they will face significant penalties. The department remains determined to combat foreign bribery and hold accountable those who violate the law.”
According to court documents, between approximately 2003 and 2014, Trafigura and its co-conspirators paid bribes to Petrobras officials in order to obtain and retain business with Petrobras. Beginning in 2009, Trafigura and its co-conspirators, who met in Miami to discuss the bribery scheme, agreed to make bribe payments of up to 20 cents per barrel of oil products bought from or sold to Petrobras by Trafigura and to conceal the bribe payments through the use of shell companies, and by funneling payments through intermediaries who used offshore bank accounts to deliver cash to officials in Brazil. Trafigura profited approximately $61 million from the corrupt scheme.
“Trafigura’s corrupt practices violated the FCPA, and today’s resolution demonstrates that there are steep penalties for any company that tries to bribe government officials,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
The department reached this resolution with Trafigura based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Trafigura received credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation and affirmative acceptance of responsibility, which included (i) providing timely updates on facts learned during its internal investigation; (ii) making factual presentations to the department; (iii) facilitating the interviews of employees and agents, including an employee located outside the United States, and arranging for counsel for employees where appropriate; (iv) producing relevant non-privileged documents and data to the department, including documents located outside the United States in ways that navigated foreign data privacy laws, accompanied by translations of certain documents; and (v) providing all relevant facts known to it, including information about individuals involved in the conduct. However, and particularly during the early phase of the department’s investigation, Trafigura failed to preserve and produce certain documents and evidence in a timely manner and, at times, took positions that were inconsistent with full cooperation.
Trafigura also engaged in remedial measures, including: (i) developing and implementing enhanced, risk-based policies and procedures relating to, among other things, anti-corruption, use of intermediaries and consultants, third party payments, and joint venture and equity investment risk assessment; (ii) enhancing processes and controls around high-risk transactions; (iii) investment of additional resources in employee training and compliance testing; (iv) enhancing ongoing compliance monitoring and controls testing processes; and (v) proactively discontinuing the use of third-party agents for business origination. However, Trafigura was slow to exercise disciplinary and remedial measures for certain employees whose conduct violated company policy.
In addition, Trafigura’s prior misconduct, though not recent, includes a 2006 guilty plea by Trafigura AG for violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 542 (entry of goods by means of false statements); as well as Trafigura’s 2010 conviction of violating Netherlands export and environmental laws in connection with the discharge of petroleum waste in Côte d’Ivoire. While Trafigura ultimately accepted responsibility for its criminal conduct in this investigation, its early posture in resolution negotiations also caused significant delays and required the department to expend substantial efforts and resources to develop additional admissible evidence before Trafigura constructively reengaged in agreeing to a negotiated resolution. Accordingly, the department determined that the appropriate resolution in this case was for Trafigura to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. The criminal fine calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 10% reduction off the fifth percentile of the applicable guidelines fine range, which accounts for Trafigura’s cooperation and remediation, as well as its prior history.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI’s International Corruption Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli S. Rubin and Joshua Paster, Trial Attorneys Natalie Kanerva and Clayton P. Solomon, and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Brazil, Switzerland, and Uruguay provided assistance in the matter.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Swiss Commodities Trading Company Pleads Guilty to Foreign Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Trafigura Beheer B.V. (Trafigura), an international commodities trading company with its primary operations in Switzerland, pleaded guilty today and will pay over $126 million to resolve an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), stemming from the company’s corrupt scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian government officials to secure business with Brazil’s state-owned and state-controlled oil company, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (Petrobras).
Trafigura pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Trafigura will pay a criminal fine of $80,488,040 and forfeiture of $46,510,257. The department will credit up to $26,829,346 of the criminal fine against amounts Trafigura pays to resolve an investigation by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for related conduct.
“For more than a decade, Trafigura bribed Brazilian officials to illegally obtain business and reap over $61 million in profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty plea underscores that when companies pay bribes and undermine the rule of law, they will face significant penalties. The department remains determined to combat foreign bribery and hold accountable those who violate the law.”
“Our office will continue to target anyone who uses the Southern District of Florida to further foreign corrupt practices and bribery schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our Criminal Division colleagues to identify and prosecute those responsible, including both individuals and corporations.”
According to court documents, between approximately 2003 and 2014, Trafigura and its co-conspirators paid bribes to Petrobras officials in order to obtain and retain business with Petrobras. Beginning in 2009, Trafigura and its co-conspirators, who met in Miami to discuss the bribery scheme, agreed to make bribe payments of up to 20 cents per barrel of oil products bought from or sold to Petrobras by Trafigura and to conceal the bribe payments through the use of shell companies, and by funneling payments through intermediaries who used offshore bank accounts to deliver cash to officials in Brazil. Trafigura profited approximately $61 million from the corrupt scheme.
“Trafigura’s corrupt practices violated the FCPA, and today’s resolution demonstrates that there are steep penalties for any company that tries to bribe government officials,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
The department reached this resolution with Trafigura based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Trafigura received credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation and affirmative acceptance of responsibility, which included (i) providing timely updates on facts learned during its internal investigation; (ii) making factual presentations to the department; (iii) facilitating the interviews of employees and agents, including an employee located outside the United States, and arranging for counsel for employees where appropriate; (iv) producing relevant non-privileged documents and data to the department, including documents located outside the United States in ways that navigated foreign data privacy laws, accompanied by translations of certain documents; and (v) providing all relevant facts known to it, including information about individuals involved in the conduct. However, and particularly during the early phase of the department’s investigation, Trafigura failed to preserve and produce certain documents and evidence in a timely manner and, at times, took positions that were inconsistent with full cooperation.
Trafigura also engaged in remedial measures, including: (i) developing and implementing enhanced, risk-based policies and procedures relating to, among other things, anti-corruption, use of intermediaries and consultants, third party payments, and joint venture and equity investment risk assessment; (ii) enhancing processes and controls around high-risk transactions; (iii) investment of additional resources in employee training and compliance testing; (iv) enhancing ongoing compliance monitoring and controls testing processes; and (v) proactively discontinuing the use of third-party agents for business origination. However, Trafigura was slow to exercise disciplinary and remedial measures for certain employees whose conduct violated company policy.
In addition, Trafigura’s prior misconduct, though not recent, includes a 2006 guilty plea by Trafigura AG for entry of goods by means of false statements; as well as Trafigura’s 2010 conviction of violating Netherlands export and environmental laws in connection with the discharge of petroleum waste in Côte d’Ivoire. While Trafigura ultimately accepted responsibility for its criminal conduct in this investigation, its early posture in resolution negotiations also caused significant delays and required the department to expend substantial efforts and resources to develop additional admissible evidence before Trafigura constructively reengaged in agreeing to a negotiated resolution. Accordingly, the department determined that the appropriate resolution in this case was for Trafigura to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. The criminal fine calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 10% reduction off the fifth percentile of the applicable guidelines fine range, which accounts for Trafigura’s cooperation and remediation, as well as its prior history.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI’s International Corruption Unit.
Trial Attorneys Natalie Kanerva and Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli S. Rubin and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Brazil, Switzerland, and Uruguay provided assistance in the matter.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Information Plea AgreementStockton Beekeeper Charged with Conspiring to Receive and Sell Smuggled Illegal PesticidesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Paulo Perez-Mendoza, 44, of Stockton, charging him with conspiring to receive and sell smuggled pesticides into the United States and the unlawful distribution and sale of unregistered pesticides, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 1, 2019 and March 18, 2024, Perez recruited another individual to smuggle illegal pesticides into the United States from Mexico and deliver them to Perez at his residential business, Perez Generation Honeybee Ranch, in Stockton. Between Sept. 9, 2020, and July 12, 2022, Perez purchased the Mexican pesticides 1,000 to 1,500 liters at a time and paid a total of approximately $476,680 for the banned product. Perez resold the pesticides to beekeepers in other states, including Oregon, Washington, Georgia, and Florida.
Only pesticides registered with the EPA may be imported or sold in the United States. They must bear their EPA registration number on their labels, preceded by the phrase “EPA Registration No.” or “EPA Reg. No.” In addition, all required information on a label must appear in the English language. The pesticides involved in this conspiracy were primarily Taktic and Bovitraz, which contain the active ingredient amitraz at an emulsifiable concentration of 12.5%, which, in this form, is an unregistered pesticide in the United States.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Perez is scheduled for arraignment on March 29, 2024. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of the unlawful sale and distribution of pesticides. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Statesville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
STATESVILLE, N.C. – Jessie Leroy Glass, Jr., 50, of Statesville, was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession and receipt of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Glass to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and to pay $5,000 in fines and $6,000 in restitution.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to trial evidence, witness testimony and filed court documents, between January and February 2020, Glass received and possessed images and videos of child pornography. As trial evidence established, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into Glass after an individual alerted law enforcement about Glass’s possession of child pornography. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered two cell phones associated with Glass. A forensic analysis of the cell phones revealed that they contained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. In June 2023, a federal jury convicted Glass on all counts.
The Court ordered that Glass not possess electronic devices while he was out on bond both before and after the jury convicted him at trial. At today’s sentencing hearing, the Court granted the government’s request for a higher sentence after the Court found that Glass violated the conditions of his bond on two occasions by possessing electronic devices, including cell phones, that he hid from his supervising probation officer. One of the secret cell phones that Glass possessed after his conviction and while he was on bond contained cartoon images depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Glass is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI, HSI, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kimlani Ford and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, Crashed Stolen Vehicle Through a Restaurant During Police ChaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun following a shooting incident that ended with the defendant crashing the stolen vehicle he was driving through an unoccupied restaurant, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of February 15, 2023, officers with the St. Paul Police Department responded to a shots-fired 911 call in the area of Luella Street North and Wilson Avenue. Witnesses reported hearing automatic gunfire coming from a black Jeep traveling westbound on Wilson Avenue that was apparently chasing another Jeep. Within a few blocks of the area, officers located a black Jeep with a rear window that appeared to have been shot up. When officers turned around in their squad car to follow the Jeep, it led officers on a high-speed chase until it eventually hit another vehicle and crashed through the Ox Cart Ale House restaurant in St. Paul, which was unoccupied at the time. Officers saw Moeshea Isiah Hart, 19, exit the Jeep and detained him. On the floor of the restaurant, near the Jeep’s driver’s side door, officers recovered a loaded Glock model 45 9mm pistol with an inserted high-capacity magazine and an attached switch, a conversion device that turns a handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. Approximately 11 9mm discharged cartridge casings were located in and around the driver’s area of the Jeep, including one outside the Jeep on the floor of the restaurant. Police later determined that the Jeep had been reported stolen from St. Paul in December 2022.
Hart pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to one count of possession of a machine gun. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Paul Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Repeatedly Robbing QuikTrip StoresRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a man who repeatedly robbed St. Louis area QuikTrip stores to 20 years in prison.
Terrence Gleason, now 53, of Bel Ridge, Missouri, stole cigarettes from or robbed three QuikTrip stores, including one in Bel Ridge that he victimized three times.
On Dec. 5, 2021, at about 2:30 a.m., Gleason entered the QuikTrip at 9099 Natural Bridge in Bel Ridge, walked behind the counter and began filling a bag with cartons of cigarettes. When the clerk tried to activate an alarm, Gleason lifted his shirt to show a holstered handgun. Gleason then left with the stolen cigarettes.
Gleason returned about 24 hours later. The same clerk was working. Gleason had one hand in the front pocket of his coat and the clerk believed Gleason was armed because of his actions the night before. Gleason demanded cigarettes and left with multiple cartons.
On Dec. 10, 2021, at about 3:00 a.m., Gleason and another man entered the QuikTrip at 5909 Howdershell Road in Hazelwood. The pair walked behind the checkout counter and began removing cartons of cigarettes. When an employee tried to trigger the alarm, Gleason’s accomplice pulled back his jacket, displayed a firearm and said, “Press something, I dare you.” Gleason and the man left with multiple cartons of cigarettes.
On Dec. 11, 2021, at approximately 4:12 a.m., Gleason returned to the Bel Ridge QuikTrip, walked up to the counter, reached over it, and opened a drawer where cigarette cartons were stored. He grabbed several cartons, then approached the clerk who witnessed the two prior incidents and said, “I need Newports,” while grabbing at his waistband. The clerk, who believed Gleason had a gun and tried to comply, said they were out. Gleason walked behind the counter, grabbed several packages of other cigarettes and left.
On Dec. 12, 2021, at about 4:30 a.m., Gleason entered the QuikTrip located at 11150 St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann and robbed the store at gunpoint, taking $85 from one cash register.
Gleason pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three robbery charges, one charge of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The FBI, the Normandy Police Department, the St. Ann Police Department, and the Hazelwood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
San Francisco Man Sentenced for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rondell Cramer, 45, of San Francisco, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully dealing in firearms, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 1, 2022, while driving in Fairfield, Cramer was pulled over for driving a vehicle without a license plate. The officer arrested Cramer, who was then wanted on two outstanding felony warrants. A search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of a Glock 9 mm caliber firearm, as well as a bill of sale for another firearm and stolen merchandise, much of which still had antitheft tags on them. Cramer is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition because he has previously been convicted of six felony offenses, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A search of Cramer’s phones revealed multiple conversations showing that Cramer was buying firearms in Arizona under an alias, and then selling them in California. Follow-on investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) confirmed that Cramer had been trafficking firearms since at least August 2020.
This case was the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Department of Justice 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
The Sacramento Region/San Francisco Bay Area Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force is one of five cross-jurisdictional strike forces launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in July 2021 to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country. Each strike force is led by designated U.S. Attorneys, who collaborate with the ATF and with state and local law enforcement partners within their own jurisdiction as well as law enforcement partners in areas where illegally trafficked guns originate. The strike forces use the latest data, evidence, and intelligence from crime scenes to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes, and are an important part of the Department’s Comprehensive Violent Crime Reduction Strategy.
Samuel Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years for His Orchestration of Multiple Fraudulent SchemesRead the Press Release
Samuel Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF, 32, of Stanford, California, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $11 billion in forfeiture for his orchestration of multiple fraudulent schemes. Bankman-Fried, who was the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research, misappropriated billions of dollars of customer funds deposited with FTX, defrauded investors in FTX of more than $1.7 billion, and defrauded lenders to Alameda of more than $1.3 billion. Bankman-Fried was previously found guilty on two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, following a one-month trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence.
“There are serious consequences for defrauding customers and investors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, “Anyone who believes they can hide their financial crimes behind wealth and power, or behind a shiny new thing they claim no one else is smart enough to understand, should think twice. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their outstanding work in bringing Mr. Bankman-Fried to justice.”
“The FBI will aggressively investigate individuals, like Samuel Bankman-Fried, who engage in fraudulent schemes at the expense of the American public and our financial systems,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We are proud of the successful collaboration that ended this massive mismanagement and misappropriation of billions of dollars. Today's sentencing should serve as a warning to others looking to use fraudulent means for personal gain — there are consequences for your actions.”
“Samuel Bankman-Fried orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in history, stealing over $8 billion of his customers’ money,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “His deliberate and ongoing lies demonstrated a brazen disregard for customers’ expectations and disrespect for the rule of law, all so that he could secretly use his customers’ money to expand his own power and influence. The scale of his crimes is measured not just by the amount of money that was stolen, but by the extraordinary harm caused to victims, who in some cases had their life savings wiped out overnight. As a result of his unprecedented fraud, Bankman-Fried faces 25 years in prison and forfeiture of over $11 billion dollars. Today’s sentence will prevent the defendant from ever again committing fraud and is an important message to others who might be tempted to engage in financial crimes that justice will be swift, and the consequences will be severe.”
According to the allegations contained in the indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and matters included in public filings:
Samuel Bankman-Fried was the founder and chief executive officer of FTX, an international cryptocurrency exchange. From 2019 to 2022, Bankman-Fried was the leader and mastermind of a scheme to defraud customers of FTX by misappropriating billions of dollars of those customers’ funds. Bankman-Fried took FTX customer funds for his personal use, to make investments and millions of dollars of political contributions to candidates from both parties, and to repay billions of dollars in loans owed by Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading fund that Bankman-Fried also founded. Bankman-Fried also defrauded lenders to Alameda and equity investors in FTX by providing them false and misleading financial information that concealed his misuse of customer deposits.
Samuel Bankman-Fried repeatedly told his customers, his investors, and the public that customer deposits into FTX were kept safe and were held in custody for the customers, that customer deposits were kept separate from company assets, and that customer deposits would not be used by FTX. He also repeatedly claimed that his trading company, Alameda, did not have any privileged access to FTX and did not receive special treatment from FTX. Those statements were false, and Bankman-Fried in fact channeled billions of dollars in customer deposits from FTX to Alameda, and then used those funds to make investments for his own benefit, to make political contributions, and to spend on real estate, among other expenditures. He employed a variety of fraudulent means to perpetrate this fraud. For instance, Bankman-Fried directed co-conspirators to alter FTX’s computer code to allow Alameda to withdraw effectively unlimited amounts of cryptocurrency from the exchange. Bankman-Fried also made false statements to financial institutions to conceal his misuse of customer dollar deposits. And he directed the creation of false financial statements for Alameda’s lenders, inflated FTX’s revenues and profits in numbers provided to investors, and backdated contracts and other documents to conceal his fraudulent conduct.
Judge Kaplan authorized the government to use the funds recovered through the forfeiture process to provide compensation to victims of Bankman-Fried’s crimes.
The FBI investigated the case.
The Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, with assistance from the office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering and Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Units are handling the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Danielle Sassoon, Samuel Raymond, Thane Rehn, and Danielle Kudla are prosecuting the case.
Samuel Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced that SAMUEL BANKMAN-FRIED, a/k/a “SBF,” was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for his orchestration of multiple fraudulent schemes. The defendant, who was the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research, misappropriated billions of dollars of customer funds deposited with FTX, defrauded investors in FTX of more than $1.7 billion, and defrauded lenders to Alameda of more than $1.3 billion. BANKMAN-FRIED was previously found guilty on two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering following a one-month trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Samuel Bankman-Fried orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in history, stealing over $8 billion of his customers’ money. His deliberate and ongoing lies demonstrated a brazen disregard for customers’ expectations and disrespect for the rule of law, all so that he could secretly use his customers’ money to expand his own power and influence. The scale of his crimes is measured not just by the amount of money that was stolen, but by the extraordinary harm caused to victims, who in some cases had their life savings wiped out overnight. As a result of his unprecedented fraud, Bankman-Fried faces 25 years in prison and forfeiture of over $11 billion. Today’s sentence will prevent the defendant from ever again committing fraud and is an important message to others who might be tempted to engage in financial crimes that justice will be swift, and the consequences will be severe.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “There are serious consequences for defrauding customers and investors. Anyone who believes they can hide their financial crimes behind wealth and power, or behind a shiny new thing they claim no one else is smart enough to understand, should think twice. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their outstanding work in bringing Mr. Bankman-Fried to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Sam Bankman-Fried was justly sentenced to significant time behind bars for his multibillion-dollar defrauding of FTX customers. The FBI will remain relentless in our efforts to ensure the perpetrators of fraud—no matter the nature—face appropriate punishment in the criminal justice system.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and matters included in public filings:
BANKMAN-FRIED was the founder and chief executive officer of FTX, an international cryptocurrency exchange. From 2019 to 2022, BANKMAN-FRIED was the leader and mastermind of a scheme to defraud customers of FTX by misappropriating billions of dollars of those customers’ funds. BANKMAN-FRIED took FTX customer funds for his personal use, to make investments and millions of dollars of political contributions to candidates from both parties, and to repay billions of dollars in loans owed by Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading fund that BANKMAN-FRIED also founded. BANKMAN-FRIED also defrauded lenders to Alameda and equity investors in FTX by providing them false and misleading financial information that concealed his misuse of customer deposits.
BANKMAN-FRIED repeatedly told his customers, his investors, and the public that customer deposits into FTX were kept safe and were held in custody for the customers, that customer deposits were kept separate from company assets, and that customer deposits would not be used by FTX. He also repeatedly claimed that his trading company, Alameda, did not have any privileged access to FTX and did not receive special treatment from FTX. Those statements were false, and BANKMAN-FRIED in fact channeled billions of dollars in customer deposits from FTX to Alameda, and then used those funds to make investments for his own benefit, to make political contributions, and to spend on real estate, among other expenditures. He employed a variety of fraudulent means to perpetrate this fraud. For instance, BANKMAN-FRIED directed co-conspirators to alter FTX’s computer code to allow Alameda to withdraw effectively unlimited amounts of cryptocurrency from the exchange and made false statements to financial institutions to conceal his misuse of customer dollar deposits. He also directed the creation of false financial statements for Alameda’s lenders, inflated FTX’s revenues and profits in numbers provided to investors, and backdated contracts and other documents to conceal his fraudulent conduct.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, BANKMAN-FRIED, 32, of Stanford, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and over $11 billion in forfeiture. Judge Kaplan authorized the Government to use the funds recovered through the forfeiture process to provide compensation to victims of BANKMAN-FRIED’s crimes.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, with assistance from the Office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering and Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Danielle Sassoon, Samuel Raymond, Thane Rehn, and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution.
Russian National Sentenced to 15 Years for $11 Million Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Russian national was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to file thousands of federal income tax returns that claimed more than $11 million in fraudulent refunds.
Anton Vikharev, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Vikharev to pay $2,020,569 in restitution and to forfeit to the government $537,000.
On July 26, 2023, Vikharev pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Vikharev admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by filing false and fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen identities from January 2015 through March 1, 2018.
In this scheme, 7,167 false and fraudulent tax returns were filed for tax years 2011- 2016. The returns, which used the stolen names and Social Security numbers of other people, claimed $11,178,361 in fraudulent refunds. The Internal Revenue Service actually paid at least $2,020,569 in fraudulent tax refunds.
Fraudulent refunds were deposited into bank accounts the conspirators controlled. Vikharev’s role in the conspiracy was to withdraw fraudulent tax refunds from bank ATMs in cash, launder the cash through gold purchases and through high volume cash deposits into other accounts, and send the stolen money to Russia via wire transfers. Conspirators bought gold bullion with some of the proceeds. After the proceeds were laundered, conspirators wired at least $1,411,082 to accounts in Russia. Vikharev personally received $156,120 in proceeds wired to Russian bank accounts in his control.
Vikharev laundered some of the proceeds from the fraud conspiracy by purchasing a total of $537,000 in gold, some of which was sold with the proceeds wired to co-conspirators in Russia, which is the basis for the forfeiture money judgment.
Vikharev left the United States in early July 2017. He exited the United States at the southern border into Mexico. From Mexico, Vikharev flew to Cuba and then to Russia. On June 4, 2021, Vikharev was arrested in Toronto, Canada. Vikharev was detained in custody while he litigated extradition to the United States for approximately two years.
According to court documents, Vikharev, a Russian citizen, originally came to the United States on June 12, 2012, on a student visa that expired on Sept. 9, 2012. Vikharev stayed illegally in the United States for five more years. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Vikharev agreed to a judicial order of removal from the United States following incarceration.
Two co-defendants in this case are last known to be in Russia, which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
Robeson County Murder Suspect Accused of Shooting Sheriff’s Deputies Charged in Five Count Federal IndictmentRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Robeson County murder suspect accused of shooting two Robeson County Sheriff’s deputies now faces five federal charges including one drug trafficking charge, three charges related to firearms, including possession of a machine gun, and carjacking with intent to cause serious bodily injury. The carjacking charge was included in a previous criminal complaint. Shawn Tobin Locklear, Jr., age 20, faces a minimum of 40 years and a maximum of life in prison if convicted of all crimes.
“Violence towards law enforcement will never be tolerated in North Carolina. We will use every resource necessary to hold accountable anyone who endangers police or first responders,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The conduct alleged in the indictment endangered the lives of two Robeson County Deputies and this indictment should serve as a warning to anyone who would consider similar conduct.”
According to the indictment, Locklear is alleged to have possessed marijuana, and a machine gun in September of 2023. The indictment and previous complaint further allege that Locklear shot and injured two Robeson County Sheriff’s deputies who were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on him. After being struck by gunfire, both deputies took cover behind their patrol car. Locklear is then alleged to have entered the driver’s side of the patrol car and put the car into reverse as one deputy was located on the ground behind the patrol vehicle. The deputy was able to push himself partially out of the way before Locklear drove over his leg with the car. Locklear was able to drive away in the patrol vehicle and fled the scene. The incident was captured on the deputies’ body cameras. Locklear is also alleged to have discharged a firearm on the date of the carjacking.
Locklear faces the following federal charge:
- Possession with intent to distribute marijuana;
- Possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;
- Possession of a machinegun;
- Carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury; and
- Discharging a firearm in conjunction with a crime of violence.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Foxx and Robert Dodson are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:24-cr-00033-FL-BM.
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Repeat Felon Who Possessed Stolen Gun and Drugs Sentenced to over Nine Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Wilmington man was sentenced on March 25, 2024, to more than nine years in federal prison for his 2021 possession of a stolen gun in the area of 24th and Carter Streets in Wilmington. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents, Jethroe Tickles was arrested by the Wilmington Police Department after police found a stolen gun in his possession during a traffic stop. While searching the car, officers also found approximately one ounce of marijuana, a pill bottle containing 113 Ecstasy pills, 57 Hydrocodone pills, Alprazolam, and other miscellaneous pills. Upon searching Mr. Tickles, officers recovered more than $3,000 in cash. At the sentencing hearing, the government highlighted Mr. Tickles’ criminal convictions, which prohibit him from possessing firearms.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The combination of guns and drugs fuels the violence in our communities. This sentence reflects the severity of Mr. Tickles’ disregard for the rule of law. Our prosecutors will continue to partner with the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Explosives to protect our communities from gun violence and to hold individuals who choose to violate the law accountable.”
“The combination of drugs and firearms is one that is destined to end in violence. It is not a matter of if, but when someone will end up hurt or worse,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue working every day to identify, investigate, and incarcerate the individuals who threaten violence in our communities.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Welsh prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-0023 (MN).
Readout of Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force’s Summit in AtlantaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) hosted a summit today where procurement officials and law enforcement partners from across the Atlanta metropolitan area convened to raise awareness of collusion, corruption and fraud schemes that target government spending. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber for the Northern District of Georgia, PCSF Director Daniel W. Glad, Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure and Vijay N. Rao of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and federal law enforcement partners were joined by representatives from state and local government agencies.
During the summit, U.S. Attorney Buchanan and Director Glad reflected on the PCSF’s growth and success since its inception in 2019. They detailed additional resources the department has dedicated to combat procurement collusion and emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships and a whole-of-government response to persistent threats in government spending. They also sharpened the PCSF’s focus on the challenges, risks and opportunities posed by significant government spending in and around the Atlanta metropolitan area under the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which will provide billions in federal spending in Georgia over the next several years.
U.S. Attorney Buchanan and Director Glad also outlined the ways that federal, state and local government agencies can partner with the PCSF to address these emerging threats. Other topics discussed at the summit included ways that government agencies can strengthen their procurement processes to better protect taxpayer funds and meet the mission to provide services to residents. Summit participants included representatives from the FBI, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Department of the Army Criminal Investigative Division, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Transportation and City of Atlanta Office of Inspector General.
The PCSF is the Justice Department’s coordinated, national law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. The PCSF is comprised of the Antitrust Division, multiple U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, the FBI and Inspectors General for multiple federal agencies.
Since its inception in November 2019, the PCSF has opened more than 100 criminal investigations and trained more than 31,000 people. In that time, the PCSF and Antitrust Division have investigated and prosecuted over 65 companies and individuals involving over $500 million worth of government contracts. The summit marks the department’s continued support of the PCSF as it enters its fifth year. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report collusion affecting government contracts, please visit www.justice.gov/atr/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Trial Attorney McClure, Director Glad, Trial Attorney Rao, U.S. Attorney Buchanan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Huber attend the summit.Prior felon arrested for cyberstalking previous victimRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Daniel Richter, 45, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with cyberstalking. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that, for a short time in 2002, Richter sent bizarre emails to and followed a victim he was acquainted with at the University at Buffalo. In 2007, Richter started sending post-cards with strange messages to the victim and leaving harassing voice-mail messages on her work phone. On April 23, 2008, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Richter, and he pleaded guilty to Stalking in the Fourth Degree, and was given a fine and an Order of Protection was issued against Richter.
In 2018, Richter renewed unwanted communications, via phone calls and emails, with the victim. In September 2020, he was convicted of interstate communication of threat to injure and sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison. In December 2023, after completing his term of supervised release for his federal conviction, Richter once again renewed his attempts to contact the victim. Between December 25 and February 6, 2024, the victim received approximately 94 voice messages from Richter. In addition, between February 6, 2024, and his arrest today, Richter sent over 600 emails to the victim, which include incoherent rambling and sexual and/or threatening comments directed at the victim. In one of those emails, Richter stated that he would travel to Western New York to see her personally on March 28th. Law enforcement located Richter this morning at a hotel an Amherst, NY, after he had flown to Buffalo from Los Angeles, California. In Richter’s hotel room, investigators recovered a photograph of the victim, the victim’s contact information, a ski mask, and hair dye.
Richter made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on April 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 11 and a Half Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Firearm While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa.- A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 138 months in federal prison for fentanyl and heroin trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon while on federal supervised release for a prior conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Todd Hill, 38, also ordering Hill to serve eight years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Hill previously pleaded guilty in this case to (1) conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin, (2) possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin, and (3) possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that, in 2020 and 2021, Hill trafficked hundreds of grams of fentanyl and heroin and unlawfully possessed a firearm while on federal supervised release following his incarceration for a 2016 federal conviction for conspiring to distribute heroin. He also engaged in the heroin trafficking that led to his 2016 conviction while on a previous term of federal supervised release, following a 2007 federal conviction and prison sentence for possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania State Police; Pittsburgh Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Marshals Service; and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hill.
Portland Man Caught Selling Drugs to Minors Online Faces Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man is facing federal charges after he was caught using Telegram, an encrypted messaging service, to sell various controlled substances to minors.
Rocky Allan Rainwater, 24, has been charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, early in 2024, law enforcement obtained information that an individual, later determined to be Rainwater, was allegedly using Telegram to advertise the sale of various illegal narcotics including cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, Xanax, Adderall, and marijuana. In addition to delivering drugs locally, Rainwater, using the Telegram username “smokeyinpdx,” also advertised that he would sell and ship drugs to out-of-state customers. Investigators soon determined that Rainwater was advertising and selling drugs to both adults and minors.
On March 22, 2024, law enforcement arrested Rainwater while he was engaged in a cocaine sale. Investigators searched his vehicle and located a loaded .22 caliber pistol, 73 grams of cocaine, 465 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and smaller quantities of LSD and dextroamphetamine. A subsequent search of Rainwater’s Portland residence returned additional quantities of cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamine, an electronic scale, .22 caliber ammunition, and $1,490 in cash.
Rainwater made his first appearance in federal court Monday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Today, he was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
CCITF, led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force is comprised of members of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Canby Police Department, Oregon State Police, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). CCITF is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.