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27 March 2024
Middlesex County Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Embezzling $2.37 Million from his Employer while the Controller of CompanyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J.– A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in a scheme to embezzle $2.37 million from his employer while his was the company’s controller, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Gerard Beauzile, 63, South Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before former Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson, an indictment charging him with one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp imposed the sentence on March 26, 2024, in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From 2014 through December 2020, Beauzile abused his position as controller of a New York-based company to embezzle funds by issuing fraudulent company checks to himself and then depositing those checks into his bank account for his own personal benefit. Beauzile issued approximately 140 company checks to himself with a total value of $2.37 million. Beauzile concealed the theft from the company by falsely entering the fraudulent checks into the company’s accounting system under various company vendor names as the payees, causing the accounting system to falsely reflect that the checks were made payable to company vendors instead of to Beauzile. He also falsified vendor invoices to correspond to the entries made in the accounting system, and company bank statements by removing and altering opening, running, and closing balances, check payment entries, summary check listings, and inter-account transfers.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Beauzile to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $2.37 million and forfeiture of $2.37 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
Mexican resident convicted of trying to smuggle ammunition and firearms back to MexicoRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 67-year-old resident of Guadalajara, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in vehicle roof rack, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On Jan. 11, Jose De Jesus Pena Dieguez attempted to enter Mexico through the Progreso Port of Entry in a Nissan Xterra. Upon inspection, authorities noticed tampering on the screws of a compartment connected to the vehicle's roof rack. An x-ray examination also showed anomalies within the compartment.
A subsequent search revealed 16 firearms, 31 firearm magazines, assorted firearm parts and 800 rounds of ammunition.
"Dieguez potentially put lives at risk for his own personal gain - intending to profit by selling firearms illegally smuggled out of the United States,” said Hamdani. “These crimes not only affect our residents, they also endanger innocent Mexican citizens. It’s an international issue, and we remain relentless in our efforts to bring safety and security in taking these traffickers off the streets. Put simply, try to take guns to Mexico and you will pay for it with your freedom.”
Dieguez admitted he purchased the firearms and intended to illegally export them to Mexico.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing June 11. At that time, Dieguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Customs and Border Protection conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
Mexican National Sentenced to 5 Years’ Imprisonment for Cocaine and Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jesus Camarillo-Soria, 45, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Camarillo-Soria to 60 months and 1 days’ imprisonment. After Camarillo-Soria’s release from prison, he will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.
On August 14, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Camarillo-Soria's residence in South Omaha and found 141 grams of cocaine along with a digital scale inside a shoebox. Cash in the amount of $881 was found inside Camarillo-Soria's wallet. Within a few feet of the drugs, officers found a Ruger Redhawk 44 magnum pistol and venue to Camarillo-Soria underneath the pistol. During a post arrest interview, Camarillo-Soria admitted to possessing the cocaine and the pistol, and that he gave some of the cocaine to his friends.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Member of Skagit and Whatcom drug distribution ring sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 38-year-old resident of Maple Falls, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for his role in distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jesse Witteveen was arrested November 1, 2022, when he fled at high speeds from law enforcement, tossing bags of drugs from the car. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “Knowing what drugs have done to your life, you chose to perpetuate the cycle of drug addiction in others.”
According to records filed in the case, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bellingham Resident Office (DEA), working with the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force identified a drug trafficking organization spreading large amounts of fentanyl and meth in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Beginning in April 2022, law enforcement monitored various members of the drug conspiracy as they conducted their drug sales.
On November 1, 2022, law enforcement was surveilling Witteveen as he met with a drug supplier. They followed Witteveen, but since he was driving at a high rate of speed, surveillance was ended. A short time later, Whatcom County Sheriff deputies spotted the car near the town of Van Zandt and attempted to pull it over. Witteveen began driving at a high rate of speed. A bag – later found to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine – was thrown from the car. A search of Witteveen’s home and car turned up turned up fentanyl pills, meth, multiple cell phones, firearms parts, and ammunition.
Overall, in this case law enforcement seized: 11.5 kilos of fentanyl pills, 2.8 kilos of fentanyl powder, 5.7 kilos of cocaine, 1.6 kilos of heroin and 8.7 kilos of crystal meth, more than $186,000 in cash and nine firearms.
The leader of the drug ring, Enoc Martinez Lopez, aka “Victor,” 29, of Marysville, Washington was sentenced to eight years in prison; Casey Landis, 41, of Bellingham, a drug distributor was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Witteveen was sentenced to four years of supervised release to follow prison, and Judge King recommended he be admitted to the Bureau of Prisons residential drug treatment program.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, 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.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bellingham Resident Office (DEA), working with the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, the CBP Air & Marine Operations, the Lummi Police Department, the Everson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Member of Minneapolis Highs Gang Pleads Guilty to Firearms Violations Involving Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A member of the Minneapolis Highs gang has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon and to carrying a firearm while trafficking fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2023, investigators with the Minneapolis Police Department received information that James Edward Hollman, Jr., 32, who at the time was on supervised release for a prior felon-in-possession conviction, carried a firearm while conducting narcotics transactions inside rental vehicles with out-of-state license plates. On March 15, 2023, officers went to Hollman’s apartment complex in Brooklyn Center to execute search warrants on Hollman’s person, rental vehicle, and apartment unit. When officers observed Hollman enter his rental vehicle parked at his apartment complex, they moved in and detained Hollman. Officers recovered a loaded Glock pistol with an obliterated serial number, an inserted high-capacity magazine, and an attached red laser pointer, a knotted plastic baggie containing 252 blue round “M-30” fentanyl pills, and Hollman’s driver’s license from the vehicle’s center console. Officers also recovered a loaded 50-round drum magazine from the front-passenger seat’s rear map pocket. Officers also recovered about $900 cash from Hollman’s apartment.
Hollman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Lying to a Federal Grand Jury in Connection with a MurderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced John Willie Kennedy, a/k/a “Cognac” and “Yak,” age 46, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for obstruction of justice, specifically for lying to a federal grand jury and to law enforcement in connection with a murder.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department and Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson.
According to court documents, on September 3, 2017, Meiko Locksley was found shot in front of a townhouse in the 5500 block of Harpers Farm Road in Columbia, Maryland. Locksley was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Kennedy, who called 911 to report the shooting, lived in the townhouse row directly behind the townhouses where Locksley was found. In the days following the shooting, law enforcement interviewed Kennedy about the shooting, but Kennedy claimed he had not seen anything. Kennedy said he was at home and found Locksley after hearing a loud “bang” and going to investigate. Although Kennedy claimed not to have seen Locksley on September 3, phone records showed that the two had a series of calls shortly before Locksley was killed.
According to his plea agreement, on January 4, 2018, investigators interviewed Kennedy again, confronting him with the phone contact between his cellphone and Locksley’s cellphone. Kennedy admitted that he “might have” sold marijuana to Locksley but denied having any information about the shooting. Kennedy again maintained that he was in his house and only went out to investigate after hearing gunshots. After the murder weapon was found in Baltimore City in March 2020, federal investigators obtained a search warrant for location data for Kennedy’s cellphone at the time of the murder. The location data proved that at the time of the murder, Kennedy was in the parking lot in front of the townhouse where Locksley was killed.
As detailed in the plea agreement, on April 4, 2021, Kennedy falsely testified before the federal grand jury that he was in his house at the time that Meiko Locksley was shot. Federal investigators subsequently learned that witnesses saw Kennedy in front of the townhome where Locksley was shot immediately before and after the shooting. Kennedy was seen putting something in the back of his truck immediately after the shooting, then ran towards the direction of his townhome. Kennedy admits that he lied to the grand jury and that by doing so he obstructed the proceeding and impeded the investigation.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, the Howard County Police Department, and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Hagan and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Maryland Fraudster Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Archie Arnold Paul, a/k/a “Carter Hill” and “Zion Davis,” age 31, of Laurel, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Judge Messitte also ordered Paul to pay at least $151,091.16 in restitution and to forfeit a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol bearing no serial number and more than 250 rounds of 9mm ammunition recovered during the execution of a search warrant at Paul’s residence on May 12, 2020.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Christina Bentham of the U.S. Secret Service – Baltimore Field Office.
According to Paul’s plea agreement, he conspired with Jalen Craig McMillan, Jovan Bell, Tiffany Rainel Williams and John Fitzgerald Washington, and others to defraud Bank A. Specifically, Paul, the primary leader and organizer of the scheme, and his co-conspirators, obtained and used fictitious identities and the personal identifying information (“PII”) of real persons. Paul worked with Washington and others to manufacture and procure fraudulent identification documents displaying the PII of the victims, but photographs of others. Paul, Williams, and others used the fraudulent identification documents to impersonate the victims, open account using fraudulent information and make large withdrawals from Bank A that belonged to the victims. McMillan and Bell used their positions as “Member Service Representatives” at Bank A to facilitate both the opening of accounts in the names of identity theft victims provided by Paul and his co-conspirators, and subsequent financial transactions, including assisting with loans. Paul and his co-conspirators, using the information of more than 10 victims, successfully defrauded Bank A of $151,091.16 and tried to obtain more than $405,000.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Secret Service for its work in the investigation and thanked the City of Laurel Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bijon Mostoufi and Ranganath Manthripragada, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Luis Garcia-Perez, 23, a Mexican citizen living in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Garcia-Perez to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Garcia-Perez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On August 2, 2023, Garcia-Perez arrived at an Autozone parking lot in Omaha to receive approximately 22.75 kilograms of meth coming from Texas. He was arrested by DEA agents along with three co-defendants. In a post-arrest interview after he was advised of his rights, Garcia-Perez admitted to agents that he was sent a message on Facebook to go to the Autozone parking lot to pick up some “things,” which he knew were drugs. Garcia-Perez further admitted this was not his first time picking up drugs.
Co-defendants Gregorio Mina-Falcon, 35, of Omaha and Eliuth Montero-Barrera, 24, of Dallas have pleaded guilty to the same charge and are scheduled to be sentenced in May. Co-defendant Alexis Rodriguez, 22, of Dallas is scheduled to plead guilty to the same charge on March 28, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Man Sentenced for $87M Healthcare Fraud Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
UPDATE
The defendant’s conviction was overturned pursuant to a decision by the Seventh Circuit, and he was acquitted on all counts.
An owner of a durable medical equipment (DME) company was sentenced yesterday to three and a half years in prison and ordered to forfeit $1.8 million for his participation in a healthcare fraud kickback conspiracy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mark Sorensen, 53, of Chicago, owned Symed Inc. (Symed), a Chicago DME pharmacy that paid illegal kickbacks to obtain patients to bill to Medicare, TRICARE, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. Between 2015 and 2018, Sorensen illegally bought patient leads from Bernie Perconti, who in turn obtained the leads from others, including Craig O’Neil and Christine Anderson. Sorensen and his co-conspirators also tricked patients into agreeing to receive braces. Many times, patients received braces that they did not need or want, and sometimes received four, five, or six braces. The co-conspirators also repeatedly called and faxed doctors to get them to sign the prescriptions authorizing the braces. In total, Sorensen and his co-conspirators, through Symed, fraudulently billed Medicare $87 million and received $23.6 million.
Perconti, O’Neil, and Anderson each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks in October 2019, July 2020, and January 2021, respectively. Perconti and O’Neil are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Anderson was sentenced in April 2022.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Robert W. Wheeler Jr. of the FBI Chicago Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Irene Lindow for the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, DOL-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the cases.
Assistant Chief Leslie S. Garthwaite and Trial Attorney Jeffrey Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Man Charged with Damaging Religious PropertyRead the Press Release
Suspect Painted Nazi Symbols on Jewish House of Worship
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today charged Jiafeng Chen, 27, with damaging religious property. The Information charges that in November 2023, Chen spray-painted swastikas on the Chabad House of Kalamazoo. A prominent menorah in front of the house was also defaced. The menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum historically associated with the Jewish faith.
“Every faith community in this country has the right to gather and worship free from intimidation,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Defacing religious property is not mere vandalism. It’s an attack on a constitutional right that tries to tell certain people they’re not welcome in the community. We will continue to work with our partners to prevent these crimes and hold those who commit them swiftly accountable.”
The Information alleges that Chen vandalized the house because of the Jewish characteristics of individuals associated with it. The Chabad organization conducts religious, cultural and community activities at the house, including Jewish religious services.
“This single incident created confusion, fear, and intimidation in our community,” said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief David Boysen. “We are thankful to have such dedicated officers, like Detective Stolsonburg, who put countless hours into this investigation. Only due to the continued partnerships and support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, the FBI, and the Task Force Officer’s position, were we able to see successful charges in this investigation.”
“People of all faiths should not live in fear because of the religion they choose to practice,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners have remained vocal advocates of protecting all places of worship and are committed to removing those from our communities who resort to bias-motivated violence.”
The charge in an information is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Lyon County Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Paducah, Ky. – A Lyon County, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville and Lyon County Sheriff Brent White made the announcement.
According to the court documents, Taylor Glass, 34, of Kuttawa, Kentucky, was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. Glass was also ordered to pay $41,000 in restitution to multiple victims in the case.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was 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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Local students exposed to art through U.S. Attorney’s Office art mentoring programRead the Press Release
MIAMI – For the first time since COVID-19, the Artify Art Mentoring Program of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Florida has returned.
Part of the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section, USAO, this program pairs Paul L. Dunbar K-8 Center students with art mentors from New World School of the Arts, Visual Arts Program, in Miami.
The program, which staff began in 2016, was started because research showed the arts provide students with more creative outlets, additional skills, and career options. The proximity of Dunbar K-8 Center to New World School of the Arts made it a natural choice to pilot the program.
“It’s a way for a seasoned college art student to provide knowledge on different art subjects to young students who may not get that exposure otherwise,” said Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Michael L. Martinez. “Each mentor may focus on different mediums. This year, for instance, we have one mentor who specializes in sculpting but has a background in drawing and painting.”
Job opportunities for art students include fine artist creating and selling original work; illustrator; graphic designer; art teacher; and interior/furniture designer, among others.
“We are always trying to find new ways to impact the lives of our youth and communities in the best way possible,” said Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Mark McKinney. “Art is a way for students to express themselves and the feelings they have in that moment, plus learn life skills that may benefit them down the road.”
New World School of the Arts mentors work with the entire Dunbar 8th-grade class, which comprises 17 students. The mentors come to Dunbar and work with the class twice per month. The small class size ensures plenty of one-on-one instruction.
“The students see the same mentor each session,” said Martinez. “It’s a good way for them to establish trust and build a rapport. You can see the relationship grow. At first, the students may be hesitant to participate or ask questions of the mentor, but as time moves on, they really open up. It’s nice to see.”
Past ideas for the students have included new murals on school walls and minor repairs to existing murals, in addition to various assignments provided by the art mentor.
“Artify promotes self-esteem, fosters creativity, builds positive relationships, and teaches life skills like problem solving, persistence, and collaboration,” said Community Outreach Specialist Robin McCowen. “Students learn that they have options, and they feel empowered to make positive choices and contribute to their communities.”
It’s not just the students who are excited, the mentors also enjoy the interaction.
“They’re excited to be in the program,” said Martinez. “Their enthusiasm comes through when teaching the kids. You can see it when they have that lightbulb moment and learn a new skill. It’s special for the mentors.”
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
A New World School of the Arts mentor recently showed Paul L. Dunbar 8th-grade students techniques to produce art projects using a cyanotype paper, sun exposure, and water to create an almost x-ray effect. The mentorship program is a collaboration between Law Enforcement Coordination & Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Visual Arts Program of New World School of the Arts.
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Lancaster County Man Who Discarded Murder Victim on Westville Highway Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Shannon Layne Myers, 51, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a wide range of federal gun and drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine or heroin, three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Myers was helping to lead a drug distribution operation in Lancaster and Kershaw counties, which was being directed by Daniel Shannon, an inmate serving a life sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. After coming to believe that one of his drug couriers had been robbed, Shannon sent his associates to retaliate, and a Kershaw man was shot and killed in September of 2019. Daniel Shannon then sent Shannon Myers to help clean up the murder scene, and Myers discarded the victim’s body alongside a highway in Westville.
In November of 2019, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at Myers’ home in Lancaster, where they found over 700 grams of methamphetamine, smaller quantities of heroin and other drugs, cash, scales, drug ledgers, and several loaded firearms. Myers was arrested but released on bond in the spring of 2020. He and his associates quickly went back to dealing drugs, and he was even captured on video waiving a gun in front of drug customers, while weighing methamphetamine and counting money. Investigators searching his home in June 2020 once again found drugs, scales, and a loaded gun.
“These defendants operated without regard for life or the law,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Illegal drug trafficking rings like this jeopardize the health and safety of our community.”
“This lengthy sentence highlights the severity of Myers’ actions and their impact on the community,” said Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who recklessly distribute their poison into our communities.”
“Inmates with illegal contraband cellphones are the biggest threat to public safety in America, and this is another tragic example,” said Bryan Stirling, Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections. “We need a permanent solution to remove this menace from society and make our communities safer.”
Myers pleaded guilty to all charges the day before he was scheduled for trial in October of 2023. The leader of the conspiracy, Daniel Shannon, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in federal prison in June of 2023.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Myers to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Carolina Department of Corrections-Office of Inspector General, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schoen, Everett McMillan, and Ben Garner prosecuted the case.
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La Vista Woman Sentenced to more than 11 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that, Asia Gabriel Blackburn, 29, of La Vista, Nebraska, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Blackburn to 140 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge. After completing her term of imprisonment, Blackburn will be required to serve a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On October 22, 2022, law enforcement located a suspicious parcel at a Omaha UPS facility. After a drug detecting canine indicated the presence of narcotics in the parcel, a search warrant was obtained. A subsequent search revealed approximately 123 grams of blue M-30 fentanyl pills, 523 grams of cocaine, and 13.4 grams of meth.
On October 24, 2022, law enforcement obtained an anticipatory search warrant for a controlled delivery to the South Omaha residence the parcel was addressed to. A law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity delivered the parcel where Asia Blackburn accepted it and took it inside the residence. The search warrant was executed shortly thereafter revealing the unopened package.
During the execution of the search warrant Blackburn’s cell phone was seized. A search warrant executed on Blackburn’s phone revealed text messages referencing delivery of the package to Blackburn’s residence.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Kern County Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for $850,000 Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Miguel Leyva, 36, of Wasco, was sentenced today to five years and five months in prison and ordered to pay $693,614 in restitution for conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, between February 2016 and August 2022, Leyva and his partner and co-defendant, Karina Arceo, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked.
According to court documents, Leyva and Arceo used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities. They used false identification documents to open the credit cards and provided billing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses so that any communications related to the credit cards would go to them instead of the victims. They then made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Kern County and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, automobile accessories, designer clothing, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items.
Often times, Leyva and Arceo resold the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a loss of more than $825,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Arelis Clemente are prosecuting the case.
Charges are pending against Arceo. The charges are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Keene Man Indicted for Possession and Access with Intent to View Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Keene man was indicted for possession and access with intent to view child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Connor Mueller, 29, was indicted on February 14, 2024, on one count of Possession and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography. Mueller will appear in federal court today at 4:15p.m.
According to the charging documents on or about August 24, 2023, Mueller possessed material that contained one or more images of child sexual abuse, including images depicting minors who have not attained 12 years of age. These images were transported in and affecting interstate commerce by any means, including by computer.
The charge of Possession and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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KC Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., tax preparer pleaded guilty in federal court today to a wire fraud scheme in which he filed federal income tax returns for his clients that contained false information.
Ebens Louis-Loradin, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of wire fraud and 10 counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns.
Louis-Loradin, who has been a tax preparer since 2012, admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the IRS and obtain money by preparing and electronically filing federal tax returns containing false items over a six-year period from March 20, 2013, to April 14, 2019. Louis-Loradin claimed items on his clients’ federal tax returns that his clients were not entitled to claim, including dependents, inflated income tax withholding amounts, credits for child and dependent care expenses, American opportunity credits, earned income credits, itemized deductions, and business losses. These false claims had the effect of reducing his clients’ taxable income and increasing his clients’ tax credit eligibility.
Under federal statutes, Louis-Loradin is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole for his conviction of wire fraud and up to three years in federal prison without parole for his conviction on each of the 10 counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Aug. 1, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Information Technology Staffing Company to Resolve Hiring Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Frank Recruitment Group Incorporated (FRG), an information technology staffing company that does business under eight brand names (Revolent Group, Nigel Frank International, Mason Frank International, Washington Frank International, Anderson Frank International, Nelson Frank International, Jefferson Frank International and FRG Technology Consulting) at locations throughout the United States. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that FRG violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by excluding or deterring certain non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States from applying to job opportunities because of their citizenship status.
“Employers cannot unlawfully discriminate against individuals granted asylum or refugee status in hiring,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to hold employers accountable for imposing barriers to employment based on citizenship status, in violation of our nation’s civil rights laws.”
The department’s investigation determined that FRG published several online job advertisements with language that restricted eligibility to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, even though FRG had no lawful basis to do so. FRG’s restrictive job ads excluded and deterred other potentially qualified individuals, including individuals granted asylum or refugee status by the federal government, based on their citizenship or immigration status. Under the INA, employers cannot discriminate in hiring based on citizenship or immigration status unless a law, regulation, executive order or government contract requires such discrimination.
Under the terms of the settlement, FRG will pay $100,000 in civil penalties to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to monitoring by the department.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute generally prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information about how employers can avoid discrimination in hiring and recruiting on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Jonathan Bash Sentenced to 21 Years Imprisonment for Distribution of A Fentanyl Analogue Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, Jonathan Bash, 25, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 252 months’ imprisonment by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga, after distributing para-fluorofentanyl, resulting in the overdose death of Charlotte Gallant. Following his incarceration, he will be on supervised release for five years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bash pled guilty to distributing para-fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Charlotte Gallant, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to the plea agreement, Bash sold a fentanyl analogue to a young man who shared it with his girlfriend, Ms. Gallant. According to filed court documents, Bash misrepresented the drug as ketamine, a commonly abused “club drug” that is often used for its perceived anesthetic and hallucinogenic effects. Both the young man to whom Bash sold the fentanyl analogue and Ms. Gallant overdosed. The young man suffered serious bodily injuries but ultimately survived the overdose. Paramedics were unable to revive Ms. Gallant, who died shortly after ingesting the drug.
“This is a tragic case. Using any kind of narcotic acquired on the streets or even from a friend, regardless of how the drug appears to be marketed, can unknowingly lead to the use of fentanyl, and the effects can be lethal,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III. “Our office will continue to prosecute these cases to bring justice to the community and the families of the victims, including Ms. Gallant and her family.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service values our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Tennessee who brought justice to this investigation,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “This case sends a clear message that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service along with our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to protect the communities we serve by combating the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl and holding drug traffickers accountable.”
“A 21-year sentence highlights the serious risks fentanyl poses and serves as a testament to HSI’s collaborative efforts in combating drug trafficking,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “Fentanyl has a devastating impact on our communities and HSI will continue to fight alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle illicit narcotics organizations.”
“The most impactful investigations occur through meaningful collaboration and coordination with our local, state, and federal partners. The FBI is a proud federal partner of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations, said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The criminal investigation was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chattanooga Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Brooks and Frank Clark represented the United States.
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Johnstown Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Conspiring to Possess CocaineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Clinton Dudley, 36.
According to information presented to the Court, in and around August 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Dudley knowingly, intentionally, and unlawfully attempted to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Dudley.
Jamaican National Admits Making False Statement in United States Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jamaican national admitted making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Stefan Anderson, 47, of Jamaica, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court on March 26, 2024, to one count of false statement in a passport application. The matter, originally indicted in the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, was transferred by consent to the District of New Jersey for plea and sentencing.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On April 21, 2022, Anderson applied for a U.S. passport in Wyoming, Kent County, Michigan. Anderson falsely claimed to be another individual, a United States citizen. Anderson also presented a Michigan Temporary State Identification card bearing that individual’s name and personal identifying information in support of the application.
The count of false statement in a passport application carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Detroit Resident Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Detroit Field Office with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
anderson.indictment.pdfIllegally Armed Domestic Abuser Sentenced to over Two Years in Federal Prison After Threatening to Kill Girlfriend with GunRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jose de Jesus Rodriguez-Soto a/k/a Pedro Torres, 34, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 28 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
According to court documents, on June 27, 2023, IMPD officers were dispatched to investigate a domestic violence incident near Eagledale, in Indianapolis. Once officers arrived, the victim’s daughter reported that Torres came to their home with a pump-action shotgun and threatened to “kill them all.” Torres was still at the home and sitting in his vehicle with the firearm visible. Torres resisted the officers, but they were ultimately able to safely arrest him and secure the weapon.
The victim later informed officers that Torres sent her threatening text messages, which included a picture of the shotgun he brought to her home. Later that evening, Torres called the victim from jail and attempted to get her to drop the charges against him.
Torres is a Mexican national who was in the United States without lawful authorization, prohibiting him from legally possessing a firearm.
“Violent, illegally armed abusers pose a profound danger to those closest to them, police, and the entire community,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Through our LEATH initiative, federal prosecutors will continue to work hand in hand with HSI, IMPD, and law enforcement agencies across the district to save lives by disarming domestic abusers and removing them from our communities.”
Homeland Security Investigations and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Torres be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Hopkinsville Felon Sentenced to over 4 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville man was sentenced yesterday to 4 years and 9 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Eric L. Clark, 42, was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a RG Industries .22 caliber revolver on December 31, 2020. Clark was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On April 26, 2017, in Christian Circuit Court, Clark was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 4 grams of cocaine), first offense.
On April 26, 2017, in Christian Circuit Court, Clark was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 4 grams of cocaine), first offense (two counts).
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Hopkinsville Police Department and the ATF Bowling Green Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, 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.
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Georgetown Woman Indicted for Falsifying Statements to Federal Investigators Regarding 2009 Kidnapping and Murder of Brittanee DrexelRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment against Angel Cooper Vause, 56, of Georgetown, for making false statements to federal investigators.
According to the indictment, in May 2022, Vause is alleged to have lied to investigators with the FBI during the investigation into the 2009 disappearance and murder of Brittanee Drexel. Vause was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned today in Charleston at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Gang Member Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identify Theft, Witness Tampering, Destruction of Evidence, and Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg the announces the return of an indictment charging Tyler Jacob (24, Winter Haven) with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identify theft, witness tampering, destruction of evidence, and possession of ammunition. If convicted, Jacob faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 2, up to 20 years, in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint and indictment, Jacob used check writing software to create fraudulent or fictitious checks and then submitted those checks at various financial institutions with forged signatures. The funds obtained from the deposited checks were then quickly withdrawn, defrauding the financial institution or business prior to the financial institution or business being able to identify the deposited checks as fraudulent.
Jacob utilized dozens of willing participants to accomplish his scheme. Specifically, these co-conspirators provided him with bank account information in their own names, deposited checks themselves, and withdrew those funds on Jacob’s behalf. Between 2021 and 2023, more than 100 victims and over 15 financial institutions throughout the Middle District of Florida were defrauded.
On January 23, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Jacob’s residence. During the search, Jacob barricaded himself inside the residence, and began to use a shredding machine to destroy evidence. Investigators eventually found shredded papers on both floors of the residence and a shredding machine that was jammed. Jacob also threw documents inside his washing machine. Investigators located a checkbook and financial documents in the names of other individuals, printers, a scanner, and approximately 25 rounds of .556 rifle ammunition. As a convicted felon, Jacob was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
After his arrest, Jacob made phone calls to an individual and attempted to have that individual dispose of evidence and lie to law enforcement.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Gamma Healthcare and Three of Its Owners Agree to Pay $13.6 Million for Allegedly Billing Medicare for Lab Tests That Were Not Ordered or Medically NecessaryRead the Press Release
Gamma Healthcare Inc. (Gamma), a laboratory located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and three of its owners, Jerry W. Murphy, Jerrod W. Murphy and Joel W. Murphy (the Murphys), have agreed to pay the United States $13,619,660.18 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting or causing the submission of claims to Medicare for lab tests that were not ordered by health care providers and were not medically necessary. Gamma, Jerry W. Murphy and Jerrod W. Murphy also agreed to a 15-year exclusion from participating in federal health care programs.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from Jan. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2020, Gamma and the Murphys submitted or caused to be submitted claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) urinalysis laboratory tests that were not ordered by treating physicians. When a physician ordered a urinalysis (UA) with culture and sensitivity (C&S) or just a C&S, Gamma automatically performed, and submitted claims for payment to Medicare for, a urinary tract infection (UTI) panel of tests by PCR (the UTI PCR Tests). Medicare reimbursements for the UTI PCR Tests were significantly higher than reimbursements for a UA with C&S — on average, Medicare paid approximately $11 for a UA with C&S but paid an additional $573 for a panel of UTI PCR Tests. Gamma’s requisition forms were structured in a way that did not allow physicians to opt out of the UTI PCR Tests. Physicians expressed concerns to Gamma about the UTI PCR Tests as early as March 2020, including concerns that they did not order the tests, that the tests were expensive and that they were not medically necessary.
“Laboratories are permitted to bill federal healthcare programs only for medically necessary tests that are actually ordered by physicians,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to hold accountable those who seek to misuse federal healthcare programs for their own financial gain.”
“We’d like to thank the whistleblower for bringing his concerns forward,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri. “As a result, Gamma and its owners who were responsible for this fraud will not be able to participate in federal health care programs for 15 years, and a large sum of money is being returned to Medicare.”
“Health care providers who cause the submission of Medicare claims for medically unnecessary services pose a significant risk to the program and the patients who rely on it,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG works diligently with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who, to satisfy their own greed, exploit federal health care programs.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Bradley Bibb M.D., a physician who owns a number of health care clinics and provided services to patients for whom Gamma performed laboratory tests. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Bibb v. Gamma Healthcare Inc. et al., No. 1:20-cv-00250-SNLJ (E.D. Mo). Bibb will receive $2,315,342.23 of the proceeds from the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, with substantial assistance from HHS-OIG and FBI. Trial Attorney Elizabeth J. Kappakas of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Moore for the Eastern District of Missouri handled the matter, with the assistance of Financial Analyst Sheryl Paynter of the Civil Division.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
SettlementFormer Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to His Role in a Drug Trafficking and Procurement Fraud ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Michael Kenneth Cox, age 49, pled guilty to two federal charges related to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and a procurement mail and wire fraud conspiracy. Cox, who was employed by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) from 1996 until he retired as the head of the drug unit in 2018, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana. Cox also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit procurement wire and mail fraud with his co-defendant Christopher Worth in connection with contracts his business received from WCSO. When sentenced, Cox faces up to 20 years for each charge.
“As a leader of the Drug Unit, Cox’s job was to put drug traffickers behind bars, not go into business with them,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We trust law enforcement to uphold the law, but a rare few choose to abuse their positions with criminal side-hustles. Corruption like this undermines our institutions, cheats taxpayers, and endangers the public. The people of Eastern North Carolina, and all the honest cops who put their lives on the line, deserve better and we won’t stand for it.”
"Law enforcement officers are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to serve our communities and ensure justice. Anyone who takes advantage of their position for personal gain or in persistence of criminal activity must and will be held accountable. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will continue to root out public corruption on behalf of the vast majority of hard-working officers who carry out their duties honestly and honorably," said FBI Special Agent in Charge, Robert M. DeWitt.
According to court documents and other information presented in Court, while Cox was a sheriff’s deputy, he helped various drug traffickers operating in Wayne County evade charges. In one instance, he intercepted a drug trafficker who had made a purchase from the target of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation. Rather than arrest the trafficker, he seized the drugs and reimbursed him $2000 for the sale, claiming it had been a planned, controlled purchase. Even after his retirement, Cox continued his relationships with the drug traffickers, facilitating the purchase of drugs for other individuals. In addition, Cox was engaged in a scheme in which contracts for upfits of WCSO vehicles were steered to a business owned by Cox, and employing co-defendant Worth, regardless of whether Cox’s company provided such work at the lowest price as required by the Wayne County procurement requirements. Cox was indicted in August of 2023.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Chief District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Duffy and Nick Hartigan are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-260.
Former Pike County deputy sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for excessive use of forceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Pike County deputy was sentenced in federal court here today to 100 months in prison for committing civil rights violations while employed as a law enforcement officer.
In August 2023, Jeremy C. Mooney, 49, was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of violating a victim’s constitutional rights by pepper spraying and punching the victim in the head, while the victim was in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and posed no threat to himself or others. The jury found that Mooney’s offenses involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in bodily injury.
“This defendant is being sentenced for the violent assault of an inmate who was confined to a restraint chair and unable to protect himself or escape from the abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement officers. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect and serve.”
“Communities trust in law enforcement officers to uphold the rule of law and, as public servants, they must honor that responsibility, not deprive individuals of their civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Law enforcement officials who abuse their powers like Mooney did will be held accountable.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 18, 2019, Mooney transported the victim from the jail to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where he placed the victim in a restraint chair. The restraint chair secured the victim’s hands behind his back and prevented him from being able to move most of his body. For more than an hour, Mooney unlawfully used force against the victim on several occasions.
Mooney dragged the victim — who was in the restraint chair — outside and pepper sprayed him directly in the face. The victim writhed in pain and tipped the chair back off the curb, landing on his back. Mooney then stood over the victim and deployed the pepper spray directly into the victim’s face a second time. Mooney brought the victim back inside the building and walked away. Over the course of several minutes, Mooney returned to that part of the building, where the victim was still handcuffed and secured in the restraint chair and punched the victim in the head 11 times. Mooney punched the victim with enough force to break his own hand.
A former Pike County Sheriff’s Office supervisor, William Stansberry Jr., 47, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was also charged. Stansberry violated the victim’s constitutional rights by willfully failing to intervene to prevent Mooney’s conduct. He pleaded guilty in July 2023 to deprivation of civil rights under color of law and was sentenced on March 5 to six months in prison. Stansberry was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home detention.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are representing the United States in this case.
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Former Ohio Sheriff's Office Deputy Sentenced for Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate by Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Pike County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office deputy was sentenced today to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release for federal civil rights violations involving excessive force.
In August 2023, Jeremy C. Mooney, 49, was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of violating a victim’s constitutional rights by pepper spraying and punching the victim in the head, while the victim was in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and posed no threat to himself or others. The jury found that Mooney’s offenses involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in bodily injury.
“This defendant is being sentenced for the violent assault of an inmate who was confined to a restraint chair and unable to protect himself or escape from the abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement officers. The Justice Department will continue to prosecute law enforcement officers who willfully violate the civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect and serve.”
“Communities trust in law enforcement officers to uphold the rule of law and, as public servants, they must honor that responsibility, not deprive individuals of their civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “Law enforcement officials who abuse their powers like Mooney did will be held accountable.”
“As a law enforcement officer, Mooney had a duty to protect the civil rights of everyone in his community,” said Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “By abusing a person in his custody, he violated his oath and federal law. The FBI will continue to hold accountable rogue officers who commit civil rights violations and use excessive force against those they are sworn to protect.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 18, 2019, Mooney transported the victim from the jail to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where he placed the victim in a restraint chair. The restraint chair secured the victim’s hands behind his back and prevented him from being able to move most of his body. For more than an hour, Mooney unlawfully used force against the victim on several occasions.
Mooney dragged the victim — who was in the restraint chair — outside and pepper sprayed him directly in the face. The victim writhed in pain and tipped the chair back off the curb, landing on his back. Mooney then stood over the victim and deployed the pepper spray directly into the victim’s face a second time. Mooney brought the victim back inside the building and walked away. Over the course of several minutes, Mooney returned to that part of the building, where the victim was still handcuffed and secured in the restraint chair, and punched the victim in the head 11 times. Mooney punched the victim with enough force to break his own hand.
A former Pike County Sheriff’s Office supervisor, William Stansberry Jr., 47, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was also charged. Stansberry violated the victim’s constitutional rights by willfully failing to intervene to prevent Mooney’s conduct. He pleaded guilty in July 2023 to deprivation of civil rights under color of law and was sentenced on March 5 to six months in prison. Stansberry was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served under home detention.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Mt. Oliver Resident Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Johvian Everett, 24, formerly of Mt. Oliver borough, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on October 21, 2021, Everett knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Found Guilty of Racketeering Conspiracy that Corrupted City Real Estate Development ProjectsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former deputy mayor and long-time Los Angeles city official was found guilty by a jury today of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribe money and facilitating illicit payoffs from property developers to then-Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar as part of a long-running conspiracy that corrupted the approval of city real estate projects.
Raymond She Wah Chan, 67, of Monterey Park, was found guilty of all 12 felony counts he faced: one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, seven counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of bribery, and one count of making false statements to a federal government agency.
“Chan used his leadership position in City Hall to favor corrupt individuals and companies willing to play dirty,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The residents of Los Angeles deserve much better. With today’s verdict, we send a strong message that the public will not stand for corruption and that pay-to-play politics has no place in our community.”
“Mr. Chan made decisions to enrich himself and his corrupt colleagues instead of advancing projects to benefit the residents of Los Angeles, and then lied about it when confronted with the facts,” said Mehtab Syed, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The ‘Casino Loyale’ investigation has shined a light on the city of Los Angeles, and the FBI will continue to weed out corruption to ensure local government operates honestly to improve the lives of Angelenos.”
Chan formerly was the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and, later, served as the city’s deputy mayor of economic development from 2016 to 2017.
Huizar, 55, of Boyle Heights, represented Council District 14 (CD-14) on the Los Angeles City Council from December 2005 until his resignation in October 2020. CD-14 encompassed downtown Los Angeles and some of its surrounding areas. During his years on the City Council, Huizar chaired the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, which oversaw all major commercial and residential development projects in the city.
Huizar was sentenced on January 26 to 13 years in federal prison and also was ordered to pay $443,905 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles and $38,792 in restitution to the IRS. He pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of tax evasion.
According to evidence presented at a 12-day trial, Chan and Huizar operated the “CD-14 Enterprise,” a criminal conspiracy that tainted the city approval of real estate projects in the downtown area. Huizar led the enterprise from at least February 2013 until July 2020 and Chan played a key role in ensuring the enterprise’s success during that period.
As part of the conspiracy, while he was the general manager of LADBS and a deputy mayor, Chan established a secret business partnership with real estate development consultant George Chiang, securing a lucrative real estate consulting agreement with Chinese real estate developer Shenzhen Hazens. As part of that agreement, Chan agreed to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to advise and pressure city officials in favor of Hazens’ Luxe Hotel redevelopment project.
To maintain the conspiracy’s political power, Chan also facilitated a $100,000 campaign contribution commitment from Hazens in support of Huizar’s wife’s candidacy for the CD-14 seat in exchange for Huizar’s votes to approve the project. A central goal of the enterprise was the succession plan of Huizar’s wife taking over Huizar’s council seat so that Huizar would still have control over downtown through his wife.
Hazens’ U.S. subsidiary, Jia Yuan USA Co. Inc., which was seeking to redevelop the Los Angeles Luxe City Center Hotel, has paid $1.05 million to resolve the government’s investigation into its conduct related to this case, which included bribery and illegal campaign contributions.
Chan also facilitated payment of more than $1 million in bribes to Huizar from billionaire developer Wei Huang, 58, a resident of Shenzhen, China, including $600,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit and luxury-laden gambling trips. At the time he provided these bribes, Huang’s company, Shen Zhen New World I LLC, was planning to redevelop the L.A. Grand Hotel into the tallest tower west of the Mississippi, which would require city approvals and Huizar’s help.
At Huizar’s and Chan’s request – and after Huizar had helped save Chan’s city position by helping to prevent a planned merger that would have eliminated Chan’s department – Huang paid $600,000 to fund a settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Huizar by a former CD-14 staffer that threatened his 2015 re-election campaign and thus the enterprise’s political power base. Chan also lied to FBI agents in November 2018 about his involvement in facilitating and structuring the $600,000 settlement, that Huang had no real estate projects needing Huizar’s political support, and that Huang had never asked Huizar for any help with his properties.
Huang, who is charged with several felonies, has yet to make a court appearance in this case and is considered a fugitive believed to be in China.
Following today’s guilty verdicts, United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a June 10 sentencing hearing, at which time Chan will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of racketeering conspiracy and honest services wire fraud, up to 10 years in federal prison for each bribery count, and up to five years in federal prison for the false statements count.
Previously, in June 2022, real estate developer Dae Yong Lee, a.k.a. “David Lee,” 59, of Bel Air, and one of his companies, 940 Hill LLC, were convicted of providing $500,000 in cash to Huizar and Esparza in exchange for their help in resolving a labor organization’s appeal of their downtown Los Angeles development project. Lee is serving a six-year federal prison sentence. 940 Hill LLC was sentenced to five years’ probation, was fined $1.5 million, and was ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.
In November 2022, Huang’s downtown Los Angeles-based company Shen Zhen New World I LLC was convicted of eight felonies for – through the actions of its owner, Huang – paying more than $1 million in bribes – including luxury trip expenses, casino gambling chips and the $600,000 sham loan – to Huizar to obtain city approval to build a 77-story skyscraper. The company was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $4 million, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.
Prosecutors also have secured guilty pleas from Chiang, George Esparza, Huizar’s former special assistant, political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim, and lobbyist Morrie Goldman for their roles in the CD-14 Enterprise. Each of these defendants cooperated with the government, testified during at least one trial, and awaits sentencing.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant United States Attorneys Cassie D. Palmer, Susan S. Har, and Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in the City of Los Angeles is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s email tip line at https://tips.fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
Former Fort Campbell Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – An Illinois man was sentenced this week to life in federal prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge John McCabe of the United States Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at Fort Campbell made the announcement.
Larry Bryan Nash, 40, of Nokomis, Illinois, formerly of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was sentenced to life in federal prison, followed by a life-term of supervised release, for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor. According to court documents, while enlisted in the United States Army and stationed at Fort Campbell Military Reservation located in Christian County, Kentucky, Nash knowingly caused Jane Doe, a minor, to engage in sexual acts. Nash did so on multiple occasions on or about and between March 5, 2020, and September 16, 2021, and specifically on September 29, 2021, by using force against her. On these occasions, Jane Doe was older than 12 but younger than 16 years old and under Nash’s supervisory control. Nash had sexually abused Jane Doe for several years prior.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Army CID at Fort Campbell.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
This case was 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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Florida Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining more than $1.5 Million in Unemployment Benefits and EIDL LoansRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for illegally obtaining more than $1.5 million in government benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Michael Blanc, 34, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on to an information charging him with wire fraud. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Michael Blanc today learned the cost of taking advantage of government programs that were specifically designed to provide needed financial assistance to Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combatting pandemic fraud in all of its forms is a top priority for this office and our law enforcement partners. We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to root out those who have exploited the suffering of others to line their own pockets.”
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It expanded states’ ability to help many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. The CARES Act also enabled the Small Business Association (SBA) to offer funding through the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blanc and others applied for unemployment insurance benefits in others’ names without their knowledge or consent and provided false information to induce state workforce agencies to approve those applications. He and others applied for EIDLs in others’ names without their knowledge or consent and provided false information in the applications to induce the SBA to approve the loan applications. Blanc and others obtained more than $1.5 million through their fraudulent scheme.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Blanc to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $1.7 million in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, in New York, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge is Scott Moffit, Cybercrime Investigations Division, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the FBI, Miami Division, and the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development for their assistance.
The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Five ordered to prison for drug trafficking following searchRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Several men have been sentenced for their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Martin Vela-Alanis, 60, and Arlando Garcia-Garcia, 41, Martin Adrusbel Vela, 36, and Oscar Obed Manzanares, 23, all of Edinburg; and Mexican citizen Jose Santiago Luna-Duran, 46, each pleaded guilty Oct. 5, 2o23, for their respective roles in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute kilograms of cocaine.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 151-month-term of imprisonment for Vela-Alanis and 46 months for Garcia-Garcia. Vela, Manzanares and Luna-Duran received 87, 60, and 46 months, respectively. Not U.S. citizens, Vela-Alanis, Garcia-Garcia and Luna-Duran are expected to face removal proceedings following their release from prison.
At the hearing, the court heard how this was an extensive and multi-level drug trafficking organization that imported and distributed narcotics on multiple occasions. The evidence indicated that the organization was receiving shipments of narcotics every 15 to 20 days. In handing down the prison terms, Chief Crane noted how this was a pervasive organization that included not just the importation and transportation of large quantities of cocaine, but also the transport and distribution of the drug proceeds.
On March 22, 2022, Manzanares traveled into the United States from Mexico in a GMC truck and parked it at a local business in McAllen. Luna-Duran then took the vehicle to a property in Edinburg.
There, authorities observed individuals exchange items between the GMC and a Ford pickup truck. Garcia-Garcia, a resident of the Edinburg property, then drove the Ford to a separate residence on the property where Vela and Vela-Alanis resided. Upon his arrival, Garcia-Garcia removed a large duffel bag from the truck.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the property and recovered a duffel bag containing 15 bundles of a white powdery substance. They also found over $90,000 and a black and gold Colt Model 1911 pistol.
Luna-Duran returned to the business where he had met Manzanares. There, authorities detained both men. A search of the GMC vehicle resulted in the discovery of over $238,000 in bulk cash.
Laboratory analysis later confirmed the bundles tested positive for cocaine and had a weight of approximately 15 kilograms.
They will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Jose Bernando Gonzalez-Gomez, 56, Mexico, was the mechanic who transferred the cocaine from one vehicle to another. He also pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing May 2.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Hidalgo, Mission, McAllen, Alton, Pharr and Palmview. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Peter I. Brostowin prosecuted the case.
Fishers Investment Advisor Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling $4.6 MillionRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Christopher Turean, 43, of Fishers, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
According to court documents, from September 2012 to February 2022, Turean was employed as an investment advisor. Sometime around 2015, the victim individual became one of Turean’s clients. The victim deposited their personal funds into an investment account managed by an investment company, and Turean was to invest this money on the victim’s behalf.
On July 16, 2019, Turean created a company called “SCNT LLC” and opened a bank account that he alone controlled. Turean quickly began to transfer money from the victim’s investment account to his SCNT account. Turean then used the victim’s investment money to gamble and pay down a home equity loan on his house. Turean concealed his illegal activity from his employer and the victim by sending fraudulent updates describing the embezzled funds as investments in real estate.
In total, Turean stole $4,692,500 from the victim. He also failed to report the illicit income on his taxes, filing false returns that concealed approximately $1,745,246 in taxes owed.
“Investors have a right to trust that professionals obligated to act in their best interests aren’t stealing their hard-earned money,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This criminal used his position as a trusted professional to steal nearly five million dollars, and ten concealed nearly two million dollars in taxes owed. The serious prison sentence imposed here demonstrates the commitment of IRS-CI, USPIS, and our federal prosecutors to aggressively prosecute financial crimes and hold fraudsters accountable.”
“Turean abused his position of trust by stealing from his investors for his own selfish purposes. He not only violated the law, but he also betrayed the trust and confidence of his investors who relied on him to act in their best interests,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “This case should serve as a stark reminder of the vital importance of safeguarding one's personal finances and remaining vigilant against those who seek to exploit their positions of trust for personal gain.”
IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Turean be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison and pay $6,417,746 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
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Filing fraudulent tax return results in prison for tax preparerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A local tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for willfully preparing a fraudulent 2018 joint income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Lynettia Profit pleaded guilty Oct. 6, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Lee H Rosenthal has now ordered Profit to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Profit and her business executed a long-running scheme to claim false credits on her clients’ behalf, and sought to evade IRS scrutiny. The court also ordered Profit to pay $336,847 in restitution.
Profit operated JNL Tax Services in Houston.
Profit admitted that between 2016 and 2019, she filed fraudulent tax returns for taxpayers. In those fraudulent returns, Profit knowingly reported false education credits and expenses on Schedule C forms to generate larger income tax refunds for her clients.
In 2019, she prepared an income tax return that contained two false $2,500 education credits as well as $70,743 in false expenses that were listed on Schedule C. As a result, the government suffered a tax loss of approximately $22,101. Profit also prepared a false return containing education credits and Schedule C expenses for an undercover agent in February 2020.
The fraudulent tax returns resulted in a loss of at least $336,847 to the United States.
Profit was permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Andrew Swartz prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Indiana Man for Firearms Trafficking and other Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on March 20, 2024, charging a New Albany, Indiana man with firearms trafficking, illegal possession of a machine gun, and illegal possession of an unregistered firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Allen Love, 39, was charged with four counts of firearms trafficking, occurring on February 1, 5, and 17, and March 6, 2024. He was also charged with three counts of illegal possession of a machine gun, specifically six Swift Conversion Devices on February 5 and 17, and March 6, 2024. Lastly, Love illegally possessed an unregistered firearm, specifically a 9-millimeter short barreled rife, on February 1, 2024.
A Swift Conversion Device is a device that allows a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle to function as a fully automatic. A Swift Conversion Device is defined as a machine gun under federal law.
The defendant made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Love faces a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting 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.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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FCI Otisville Inmate Charged with Murdering Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that federal inmate DANIEL V. SMITH was charged with the murder of a fellow inmate. SMITH was presented this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in court:[1]
On or about October 26, 2021, SMITH murdered Patrick Deck, an inmate at FCI Otisville.
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SMITH, 63, was charged with one count of murder in the first degree, which carries a maximum sentence of death.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con una empresa de dotación de personal de TI para resolver las acusaciones de discriminación en la contrataciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Frank Recruitment Group, Incorporated (FRG), una empresa de dotación de personal en el ámbito de la tecnología de la información que opera bajo ocho marcas (Revolent Group, Nigel Frank International, Mason Frank International, Washington Frank International, Anderson Frank International, Nelson Frank International, Jefferson Frank International y FRG Technology Consulting) en localidades por todo Estados Unidos. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que FRG vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) al excluir a ciertos no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. con permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos o bien disuadirlos de solicitar oportunidades laborales con base en su estatus de ciudadanía.
«Los empleadores no pueden discriminar ilegalmente a las personas con asilo o estatus de refugiado en la contratación», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento seguirá responsabilizando a los empleadores por imponer barreras al empleo en función del estatus de ciudadanía, lo que vulnera las leyes de derechos civiles de nuestra nación».
La investigación del Departamento determinó que FRG publicó varios anuncios de empleo en línea con un lenguaje que restringía la elegibilidad a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. y residentes permanentes legales, aunque FRG no tuviera motivos legales para hacerlo. Los anuncios de trabajo restrictivos de FRG excluyeron a otras personas potencialmente calificadas –y también las disuadió de solicitar un trabajo– incluidas las personas a las que el gobierno federal les ha concedido el estatus de refugiado o el asilo, con base en su estatus migratorio o ciudadanía. En virtud de la INA, los empleadores no pueden discriminar en la contratación con base en el estatus migratorio o la ciudadanía a menos que una ley, un reglamento, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental requiera tal discriminación.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo, FRG pagará $100,000 en sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión por parte del Departamento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, por lo general, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, , prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Puede obtener más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación en la contratación y el reclutamiento en el sitio web de la IER. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito o visualizar una presentación a la carta; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
Eight Arrested in San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi Areas on Narcotics Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Eight individuals were arrested in various cities across the Western and Southern Districts of Texas Tuesday on criminal charges related to their alleged narcotics trafficking.
According to court documents, Rene Gonzales aka “Uber,” 31, Michael Fuentes, 50, Rene Velazquez, 52, of Mexico, Mario Zulaica, 50, George Gonzalez, 47, Reynaldo Sanchez, 38, Richard Gonzales, 40, and Rene Rivera, 41, were arrested as the result of an FBI-led investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
During this investigation, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies seized nearly 60 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than $1 million, as well as more than $250,000 in cash.
Additionally, FBI agents learned of a clandestine laboratory in Von Ormy, Texas, that had allegedly been used to convert liquid methamphetamine to crystal methamphetamine. Law enforcement agencies dismantled the lab, seizing approximately 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 16 gallons of liquid methamphetamine.
Rene Gonzales is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces ten years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for counts one, two, four, five, six, and seven; and five to 40 years in prison with a $5 million fine for count three.
Fuentes is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces ten years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for counts one, two, four, six, and seven; and five to 40 years in prison with a $5 million fine for counts three and eight.
Velazquez is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces ten years to life in prison and a $10 million fine per count.
Zulaica is charged with one count of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces ten years to life in prison and a $10 million fine per count.
George Gonzalez is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin, aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine per count.
Sanchez, Richard Gonzales and Rivera are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. If convicted, the three face 10 years to life in prison with a $10 million fine.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; San Antonio Police Department; New Braunfels Police Department; Bexar County Sheriff's Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of Inspector General; Boerne Police Department; Alice Police Department; Houston Police Department; Chambers County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; Corpus Christi Police Department; Laredo Police Department; and Hollywood Park Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen is prosecuting 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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East Bay Man Sentenced to Eleven Months in Prison for Making Threats to Public OfficialsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – David Allen Carrier was sentenced to eleven months in prison for making voicemail threats to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Special Agent in Charge Robert K Tripp, and United States Secret Service (“USSS”) Special Agent in Charge Shawn M. Bradstreet. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William Alsup, Senior United States District Judge.
Carrier, 44, of Concord, pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats against a federal official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B), on Dec. 19, 2023. A grand jury indicted him on Sept. 12, 2023, charging him with the crimes.
Court documents describe how on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, Carrier left a message on the office voicemail of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who was at the time the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. On the message, Carrier threatened to assault the Congresswoman. In pleading guilty to the charge, Carrier acknowledged that he acted with the intent to interfere with her performance as she was engaged with her official duties as a Member of Congress. Seventeen months later, on June 30, 2022, Carrier called the United States Department of Homeland Security hotline and left a voicemail message threatening to assault United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Carrier made his threat to assault Secretary Mayorkas with the intent to interfere with the Secretary while the Secretary was engaged in the performance of his official duties as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.“Participating in the public political conversation is an important right for all citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, “Nevertheless, threatening our public servants is not protected by the First Amendment and corrodes our ability to engage in peaceful and important public discourse. This Office will not tolerate behavior that crosses the line to criminal threats.”
"Violent threats targeting elected officials also threaten our democratic system," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. "Today's sentence demonstrates that anyone who sends politically motivated threats of violence to government officials will be investigated by the FBI and held accountable."
“We take threats against a U.S. Secret Service protectee very seriously,” said Shawn M. Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s San Francisco Field Office. “This is a great example of the coordination and partnership between the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California to investigate and prosecute threats against our nation’s leaders.”
In addition to the prison term, Judge Alsup ordered Carrier to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. Judge Alsup also ordered Carrier to stay away and have no contact, direct or indirect, with both Speaker Emerita Pelosi and Secretary Mayorkas, as well as to attend mental health and substance abuse treatment, among other conditions, while on supervised release.
The National Security and Cybercrime Section prosecuted the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the USSS.
Convicted sex offender heads to prison for uploading child pornography to Google accountsRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 38-year-old McAllen resident has been sentenced for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Oscar Ramirez Jr. pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Ramirez to serve 180 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including that Ramirez had approximately 2,070 files of child pornography, of which 64 were videos. Some videos were over 20 minutes long. In handing down the prison terms, the court reviewed victim letters and noted child pornography is not a victimless crime as these victims continue to suffer lifelong consequences as a result of the abuse they suffered now memorialized on the internet. Ramirez was further ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to known victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet.
The court also heard that Ramirez was previously convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2010. He will again be ordered to register as a sex offender following this sentence.
In July 2022, law enforcement received information involving an individual uploading multiple files of child pornography to a Google account on or about May 4, 2022. Authorities determined the IP address associated with this activity belonged to Ramirez.
A review of the Google accounts associated with Ramirez revealed images and videos of child pornography. Ramirez also had images and videos of a nude minor victim Ramirez had recorded from outside a window as well as from a vent in the ceiling of a bathroom.
In September 2022, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his residence in McAllen. At that time, Ramirez identified himself in videos on the Google accounts.
Ramirez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Columbus man faces 20 to 23 years in prison as part of narcotics guilty plea involving killing of another Columbus residentRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to a drug crime and admitted to his role in the killing of a local man. The defendant is one of nearly two dozen individuals charged in a case involving a large-scale drug and human trafficking ring.
Dustin A. Speakman, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 of an elementary school. As part of his plea, Speakman admitted to his role in the death of one victim which occurred during the time he was operating a drug distribution house. His plea includes a sentencing recommendation of 20 to 23 years in prison.
Speakman, who is also known as “Dawg,” is one of 23 defendants charged in a narcotics and human trafficking case that involves at least two deaths.
According to court documents, from 2008 until June 2022, lead defendants Patrick Saultz and Cordell Washington ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Columbus that included sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and money laundering.
Court documents detail that the drug trafficking organization brought large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, alprazolam and marijuana into Columbus. These drugs were sold or used to coerce individuals into sexual activity for some members of the drug ring and their profit.
Speakman joined the drug trafficking organization after being released from jail in 2022, where he was housed with Saultz. Speakman was a mid-level drug distributor for the group out of residences on South Ogden and South Warren.
As part of his guilty plea, Speakman admitted to severely beating one of his drug runners in May 2022 and then providing him with free drugs to make up for the attack. Witnesses said the male was beaten by Speakman and then given cocaine and fentanyl as compensation. Shortly after, the victim began to seize and foam at the mouth and did not respond to Narcan. The victim was driven to an alley near Grant Hospital where he was found unconscious by Columbus Fire Department personnel with severe trauma to the face and head. His cause of death was ultimately determined to be blunt force trauma caused by Speakman.
“Any loss of life is significant,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Our office will continue to work to hold perpetrators of illegal drug trafficking accountable and secure justice for victims of violent and drug-related deaths.”
As of today, 18 of the 23 defendants have pleaded guilty. One defendant, Carmela Brooks, has been sentenced and received a term of imprisonment of five years.
U.S. Attorney Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Colorado Woman Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Sheri Ann Griego, 42, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Griego to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge, and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment for the gun charge. After completing her term of imprisonment, Griego will be required to serve a 8-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On December 1, 2021, Sheri Ann Griego and Daniel M. Gutirez were stopped while driving in the area of 8th and Brown Street, Omaha after officers observed their vehicle commit several traffic infractions. Griego was identified as the driver and Gutirez as the passenger. After speaking to the two, officers became suspicious that they were involved in criminal activity and Gutirez was asked if he had any weapons on him. Gutirez said he had a gun in his waistband. He was detained and a handgun was found in his waistband. A search of his person revealed a quantity of meth.
A search of the car revealed a rifle wrapped in a coat between the front center console and passenger seat. A loaded high-capacity magazine was found on the passenger floorboard. A search of the trunk revealed a makeup bag containing approximately 100 grams of meth. A drug scale was found in a suitcase containing woman’s clothing.
Gutirez was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment for gun and drug charges on June 26, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chinese national sent to prison for possessing child pornography videos of minor younger than fiveRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 46-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Tong Sun pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now sentenced him to 144 months in federal prison. Sun was further ordered to pay $35,000 in special assessments and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet and will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Not a U.S. citizen, Sun is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
On or about May 8, 2023, Sun attempted to illegally enter the country in an area near Roma. Law enforcement took him into custody, at which time they discovered several videos that constituted child pornography on his phone.
One of the videos depicted a child who appeared to be younger than five years of age.
Sun admitted to ownership of the phone and to possessing the child pornography.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Canal Winchester man sentenced to prison for making interstate threats to law enforcement, court officials & businesses, calling in bomb threats to local schoolsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Canal Winchester man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 60 months in prison for making interstate threats to local law enforcement, court officials, businesses and schools.
Yousif Mubarak, 27, was convicted following a jury trial in August 2023 of seven counts of making interstate threats.
“Threats are more than mere words, they have significant consequences, as illustrated by the sentence imposed today,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in September 2021, Mubarak made at least 87 threatening phone calls from the state of Washington, where he resided for a short time, to a Franklin County Municipal Court Judge who previously presided over his court case.
Mubarak told the Judge that he would find her, that he had private investigators following her and that she should watch for cars following her. Mubarak said, “I will find you even if that means I die,” and threatened to kill the Judge himself. In many of the messages, Mubarak identified himself by name and left his callback number.
Beginning on Sept. 12, 2021, and continuing until the early morning hours of Sept. 13, 2021, Mubarak also placed numerous threatening calls to businesses and schools in the Canal Winchester and Pickerington areas.
He called to make threats to employees at the Brew Dog, Home Depot and Best Western businesses in Canal Winchester.
On Sept. 12, 2021, at about 10pm, officers and agents with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police and FBI visited the last known address of Mubarak in Canal Winchester. Mubarak observed the officers in his Ring doorbell camera and taunted the officers throughout the interaction.
Twenty minutes later, Mubarak called a dispatcher in Fairfield County and told her, in part, “you can die” and “she would get two bullets in the head.” The defendant called the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office more than 100 times in a 12-hour span.
Around 7am on the morning of Sept. 13, 2021, Mubarak called in a bomb threat to Canal Winchester Middle School. He told a school employee: “I have placed several bombs in your building” and “I would get your women and children out now.”
Approximately 20 minutes later, Mubarak called Pickerington North High School and said there were two suicide bombers inside the school.
Mubarak was charged federally and arrested on Sept. 22, 2021. A federal grand jury indicted him in November 2021 and that indictment was superseded in June 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Fairfield County Sheriff Alex Lape; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica W. Knight and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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California Man Sentenced for Cell Phone Trade-in Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - David Shemtov has been sentenced after a jury convicted him of wire fraud based on a scheme involving the fraudulent trade-ins of thousands of cell phones.
“The ability to exchange electronic devices for cash value or gift cards provides users the important benefit of recovering some worth for devices they no longer need,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Shemtov chose to exploit this process to fraudulently obtain substantially inflated value for devices he traded and at great expense to the victim company. His sentence of imprisonment should serve as a warning to others that this fraudulent activity will be prosecuted.”
“Shemtov used lies and schemes to pad his own pockets, causing financial harm to the companies and ultimately costing consumers more money,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to others who think they will not be caught – FBI Special Agents will find you.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: David Shemtov facilitated a year-long fraud scheme in which he developed a method to deceive a cell phone trade-in company about the nature of the cell phones in which he was trading. The cell phone trade-in process was handled by a third-party provider (the Victim Company) that oversaw the mailing and receipt of the devices, and the reimbursement payments – typically in the form of Apple gift cards. After experimenting through systematic trial and error, Shemtov uncovered a feature of the Victim Company’s trade-in program that allowed for manipulation of the nature and value of the phone trade-in by the customer.
To perpetrate the scheme, Shemtov lied about the phone model, used false names, adjusted the settings of every phone that he sent for trade-in, and remotely unlocked the phones. To avoid detection, he opened post office boxes in multiple states and used dozens of fake names and different email addresses. Shemtov’s conduct caused the Victim Company to pay substantially more than the true value of these devices. For instance, more than 500 of the trade-in requests claimed to be for an iPhone XS Max, for a trade-in value of $550.00 when, in fact, the devices were iPhone 6’s, with a trade-in value of only $60.00. Shemtov initiated over 8,000 cell phone trades and successfully tricked the company more than 1,000 times, receiving an overpayment of more than $450,000.00.
Shemtov, 31, of Los Angeles, California, has been sentenced to three years, one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $532,542.00, as well as a fine of $100,000.00. Shemtov was found guilty by a jury on November 20, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Adams and Alison B. Prout prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to stealing mailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eric Steven Arroyo, 41, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to theft of mail, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that on July 27, 2023, the United States Postal Service received a report that Arroyo was opening a blue USPS collection mailbox using a key and removing mail. A Postal Service employee responded to the area and saw Arroyo near another USPS collection mailbox in the area, opening it with a key and removing mail. Arroyo was then seen going behind a nearby business where he opened the mail. Police responded and Arroyo was arrested. Arroyo admitted that he opened the stolen mail, searching for money and gift cards.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Billings felon sentenced to more than two years in prison for illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings felon was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to illegally possessing a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving when he fled law enforcement and crashed, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Christopher Samuel Fear, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on Jan. 11, 2023 after 2 a.m., a Montana Highway Patrol officer attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle for traveling 85 mph in a 65-mph speed zone. The trooper activated his emergency lights, but the vehicle fled and eventually crashed into a fence in Billings. Officers approached the vehicle and saw that it was empty. Officers noticed a pistol on the floorboard and found Fear hiding under the front end of the vehicle. Fear was on state probation at the time for a drug conviction and had an outstanding probation violation arrest warrant. Law enforcement later searched the vehicle and found 216 fentanyl pills, 20 grams of methamphetamine, baggies and a loaded .357-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana Highway Patrol and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Bergen County Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was charged for producing a video depicting child sexual abuse and receiving and possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Corey Hipscher, 52, of Lodi, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count each of production, receipt and possession of child pornography. He had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on March 26, 2024, and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2020 to August 2023, Hipscher communicated with a minor victim located outside of the United States using a social media platform. Hipscher encouraged the minor victim to send Hipscher images and videos of the minor victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hipscher began communicating with the minor victim’s mother, beginning a purported online romantic relationship with the minor victim’s mother which he used to arrange for the minor victim and the minor victim’s family to travel to the United States, specifically New Jersey. During the visit, he sexually assaulted the minor victim and took sexually explicit photos of the minor victim and the minor victim’s sibling.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 50 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of receipt of child exploitation material carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child exploitation material carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked the Lodi Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
hipscher.complaint.pdf