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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Monday 5 February 2024
Arizona Company and CEO Sentenced for Illegal Distribution of Tianeptine and Other Drugs and Ordered to Forfeit $2.4 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Arizona company and CEO were sentenced today in federal court in Concord for distributing drugs into interstate commerce, including tianeptine[1], that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Centera Bioscience, d/b/a Nootropics Depot, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Talesha Saint-Marc to three years of probation. The company’s CEO, Paul Eftang, 38, was sentenced to one year of probation. The defendants have also paid a $2.4 million forfeiture and surrendered all drugs seized by the FDA and Customs and Border Protection. On October 30, 2023, Centera and Eftang pleaded guilty to the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.
“The defendants sold Tianeptine and other drugs that were not approved by the FDA,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “The FDA has a strict drug approval process to protect consumers from products that are unsafe or ineffective. Eftang and Centera Bioscience made substantial effort to sell misbranded drugs, which has consequences under federal law. This Office will continue to prosecute those who risk consumer’s health and safety.”
“Unapproved drugs present a serious health risk to those who buy and use them. The drugs can contain unknown ingredients and are manufactured under unknown conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillian, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to traffic in dangerous and unapproved drugs including tianeptine and other chemicals trafficked by this organization.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping the U.S. Mail, its employees, and customers safe. When the U.S. Mail is used to transport unapproved drugs such as Tianeptine, it is taken very seriously,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “We will continue to conduct investigations, alongside our law enforcement partners, that seek prosecution of those who compromise the safety of the American public.”
Tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, and racetams are pharmaceutical drugs not approved for use in the United States. Racetams include piracetam, aniracetam, coluracetam, and phenylpiracetam. The defendants imported approximately $7.4 million worth of raw material for these drugs from China between April 2017 and September 2021. The defendants earned approximately $35 million from selling these drugs during that same time period. The defendants sold the drugs across the United States, and at one point used Mexican intermediaries to ship the products.
During this investigation, Customs detained several shipments of adrafinil and racetams addressed to Centera Bioscience or one of its subsidiaries. These shipments included 20 barrels of phenibut hydrochloride from Shanghai Norky Pharmaceutical, 40 barrels of piracetam from Shanghai Soyoung Biotechnology, and 20 barrels of phenibut hydrochloride from Qingdao Sincess. The company’s Strategic Director, Paul Sheard, represented to Customs that the shipments were supposed to be used for laboratory analysis and research only, and were not intended for human consumption. The customs paperwork also incorrectly labeled the imports.
The defendants also maintained an active online presence to advertise tianeptine, phenibut, and racetams, including a sub-forum on the website Reddit. Eftang himself posted regularly on Reddit under the username “MisterYouAreSoDumb.”
The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Geoffrey W.R. Ward, and FDA Special Counsel Sarah Hawkins prosecuted the case.
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[1]Tianeptine is an unapproved drug in the United States. Although other countries have approved tianeptine to treat depression and anxiety, some have restricted how tianeptine is prescribed or dispensed, or revised the drug label to warn of possible addiction. Some people have turned to tianeptine as an opioid alternative, or to self-treat anxiety or depression.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Drug Trafficking
John Darryl Hill, age 36, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 29. According to court documents, on Jul. 21, 2023, Hill was contacted by a Laramie County Sheriff’s deputy regarding a state warrant for his arrest. During the encounter, Hill handed over a case containing 77 grams of methamphetamine and packaging material. On Nov. 1, 2023, Hill pled guilty to possessing methamphetamine and admitted to selling drugs. The crime as investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Joseph Andrew Kane Flores, age 30, of Torrington, Wyoming, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Feb. 1. According to court documents, in early 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation conducted several controlled purchases as part of an investigation into Flores. On Jan. 27, 2023, agents purchased 67 fentanyl pills for $700 and on Feb. 2, 2023, they purchased 100 fentanyl pills for $1,000. Flores pled guilty to the charges on Nov. 13, 2023. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Donna Singleton, age 59, of Hulett, Wyoming, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W, Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 1. According to court documents, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) was investigating a large drug operation that involved shipping narcotics through the U.S. Postal Service. Agents were alerted to a package, addressed to Singleton, that contained 8,000 fentanyl pills. They conducted a controlled delivery and ultimately arrested the defendant. Singleton pled guilty to using the U.S. Postal Service to receive narcotics. The crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and USPIS. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Sunday 4 February 2024
Massachusetts Man Extradited from Sweden on Charges Related to Fires at Jewish Institutions in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man has been extradited from Stockholm, Sweden to face charges in connection with his alleged obstruction of an investigation into fires set at Jewish institutions in Arlington, Needham and Chelsea, Mass. in May 2019.
Alexander Giannakakis, 37, formerly of Quincy, Mass., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in 2019 for making false statements in a matter involving domestic terrorism; falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact in a matter involving domestic terrorism; concealing records in a federal investigation; tampering with documents and objects; and tampering with an official proceeding.
After the indictment was returned, at the request of the United States, Giannakakis was arrested by Swedish authorities in a Stockholm suburb. The United States subsequently sought Giannakakis’ extradition from Sweden to the United States to face charges in Boston.
In connection with his arrest in Sweden, authorities learned that he unlawfully possessed a firearm and other weapons in Sweden. Giannakakis was charged and convicted of those crimes and served a sentence in Swedish prison. On Dec. 4, 2023, near the completion of that jail sentence, the Supreme Court of Sweden ruled favorably on the United States’ extradition request, and on Dec. 21, 2023, the Government of Sweden granted the request for Giannakakis’ extradition.
Giannakakis arrived at Boston’s Logan airport on Feb. 2, 2024 and will appear in federal court in Boston tomorrow afternoon.
According to the indictment, in and around February 2020, Giannakakis’ younger brother became the prime suspect in an investigation into four fires set at Jewish-related institutions in the Boston area: the first during the evening of May 11, 2019 at a Chabad Center in Arlington; the second at the same location during the evening of May 16, 2019; the third at a Chabad Center in Needham; and the fourth during the evening of May 26, 2019 at Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea.
Giannakakis’ younger brother was hospitalized in a coma at the time he was identified as a suspect in February 2020. He remained in a coma until his death later that year.
According to the indictment, Giannakakis left the United States with his younger brother’s electronic devices and papers and brought them to Sweden, where he was living at the time. According to court documents, when Giannakakis returned to the U.S. in March 2020, he was questioned by investigators and made false and misleading statements. Giannakakis allegedly removed and concealed physical evidence being sought by investigators which implicated his brother. Shortly after concealing that evidence, Giannakakis departed the United States for Sweden. Giannakakis remained in Sweden until his arrest by Swedish authorities in February 2022.
The charges of making false statements in a matter involving domestic terrorism and falsifying, concealing, and covering up a material fact in a matter involving domestic terrorism by trick, scheme, and device each provide for a sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of concealing records in a federal investigation, tampering with documents and objects, and tampering with an official proceeding each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Chief Juliann Flaherty of the Arlington Police Department; Chief John Schlittler of the Needham Police Department; and Chief Keith E. Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Substantial assistance was provided by Swedish authorities including the Swedish Security Service; the National Security Unit of Sweden’s National Public Prosecution Department; and Sweden’s Ministry of Justice. The investigation is being led by the FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Additional assistance was provided by the Quincy Massachusetts Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and extradition from Sweden of Giannakakis. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and John McNeil of the Office’s National Security Unit.
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.
Saturday 3 February 2024
Interpol Washington Launches New Missing Persons Unit Leveraging Global Resources in Fight to Find Family MembersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, INTERPOL Washington announced the establishment of the Missing Persons Unit (MPU), a new unit dedicated to leveraging the extensive INTERPOL network, cutting-edge technology, and specialized expertise to bolster efforts in locating missing individuals anywhere in the world.
“The launch of the MPU marks a significant stride towards enhancing global law enforcement cooperation, bringing closure to families, and ensuring justice for missing persons,” said INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes. “By integrating the unit into our operational framework, we are reinforcing our commitment to working with countries all over the globe to build a safer world together.”
The MPU is a unit within INTERPOL Washington’s Global Police Services (GPS) Division and will use its resources, technology, and expertise to assist foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies and families in locating missing individuals. The unit will collaborate with INTERPOL's global network of 196 member countries and partners to share information, coordinate efforts, and enhance cross-border cooperation in locating missing persons.
Using INTERPOL tools and the INTERPOL Washington team of experts in various fields, including law enforcement, the MPU will provide specialized support and guidance to domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies working on missing persons cases. MPU will also provide access to INTERPOL's extensive databases, which contain DNA, unidentified bodies, fingerprints, facial recognition, and other information.
These INTERPOL tools include:
- Yellow Notices, which are INTERPOL alerts issued to help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help identify persons who are unable to identify themselves.
- Black Notices, which are an INTERPOL alert issued to seek information about unidentified bodies.
- INTERPOL’s I-Familia service, which provides the necessary international mechanism to allow missing persons DNA data to be compared globally.
MPU’s establishment reflects INTERPOL Washington’s continuing proactive approach to addressing missing persons cases and emphasizes the agency’s dedication to bolstering global law enforcement cooperation.
A component of the U.S. Department of Justice co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—is the designated U.S. representative to INTERPOL. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Commonwealth’s Attorney in Wire Fraud and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Late Friday, a federal jury sitting in Lexington convicted Ronnie Goldy, 51, the former Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bath, Rowan, Menifee, and Montgomery Counties, of honest services wire fraud, use of an interstate facility with the intent to carry on unlawful activity, and bribery concerning a program that receives federal funds. Goldy was convicted of all 14 counts alleged in his indictment.
According to evidence presented, Goldy maintained a personal relationship with a woman, which was sexual in nature, that included encounters and solicitations and acceptance of sexually explicit images and videos of the woman. On multiple occasions during the scheme, Goldy used his position as the Commonwealth’s Attorney to perform official actions, or to exert pressure and influence on other public officials to perform official actions, benefiting the woman. Goldy knew these sexually explicit images and periodic sexual encounters were provided in exchange for his willingness to perform, or pressure others to perform, official actions benefitting the woman with whom he had the relationship.
“Instead of doing the job he was elected to perform, Mr. Goldy chose to victimize a vulnerable individual and exchange his law enforcement authority for things that benefitted him,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Whenever law enforcement officials violate their obligation to uphold the law, it does grave damage to victims and to the Justice system itself. This prosecution is a first step in restoring the public’s faith in the system and in holding him accountable for his disgraceful conduct.”
United States Attorney Shier and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Boone.
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Friday 2 February 2024
‘MLK Crew’ Member Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Corenzo Mobery, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 180 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking network (the “MLK Crew”) based in Southeast Washington that sold cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, PCP, and marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In addition to 15 years in prison, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Mobery to serve three years of supervised release. Mobery, aka “Snowman,” pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on October 16, 2023, to five counts that included conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine; unlawful possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Mobery was sentenced January 31, 2024.
“Targeting the limited number of people driving violence in our community—either because they are directly using violence or engaging in criminal conduct that is a magnet violence—is a tried-and-true, evidence-based strategy for combatting violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “The defendants operated a drug trafficking network that preyed upon the neighborhood where it operated. Immediately after these defendants were arrested, this neighborhood saw a substantial reduction in instances of violent crime. And, more than two years after their arrest, the neighborhood is still experiencing less violent crime than it was experiencing before their arrest. Those driving violence in other neighborhoods in our community need to know that we are currently working with federal law enforcement partners and MPD to ensure they are brought to justice, just as these defendants were.”
“The defendants in this case turned to gun violence to control the neighborhood where they trafficked illegal drugs,” said FBI SAC Scott, “but as this investigation demonstrates, dismantling street crews disrupts the cycle of violence. Through collaboration with our partners and help from public tips, the FBI will continue to target and fracture groups driving violent crime in the nation's capital.”
“Criminal networks thrive in the shadows of our communities, preying on the vulnerable and perpetuating violence. The successful prosecution of Corenzo Mobery and his associates underscores the vital importance of safeguarding our neighborhoods,” said Chief Smith. “By dismantling such networks, we create safer spaces where families can thrive, and children can grow without fear. Let this be a testament to the power of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community in creating a brighter, safer future for all.”
The investigation into the MLK Crew began in response to numerous citizen complaints about rampant drug trafficking and accompanying incidents of violence in and around the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, Washington D.C. In addition to numerous citizen complaints, MPD targeted this area as one of the most notorious in the city in terms of recent shootings and shots fired, as well as for the area’s high numbers of arrests—particularly offenses involving drugs and firearms. As part of its investigation, MPD and FBI began conducting surveillance, obtaining search warrants, and making controlled buys of narcotics from suspected members of the conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that MLK Crew members openly engaged in the sale of various drugs (including PCP, crack, fentanyl, and marijuana) and took over the area and, effectively, some of the neighborhood’s businesses. MLK Crew members would often go into the neighborhood businesses to complete sales and constantly loitered outside of these businesses to engage in sales. As part of its investigation, MPD and FBI obtained video of defendants openly conducting narcotics transactions in these businesses and even displaying firearms. Throughout the case, law enforcement seized at least 10 firearms (many of which were privately manufactured firearms or “ghost guns”) from MLK crew members and/or stash houses and a sizeable quantity of various narcotics.
The MLK Crew’s drug trafficking contributed to numerous incidents of drug-related violence in and around the 2900 Block of MLK Ave., including multiple assaults, shootings, robberies, and murders—most notably, the murder of a six-year-old girl who was the daughter of one of the co-defendants in this case. In July 2021, a few months after opening the investigation, MPD and FBI arrested 11 initial defendants and seized 10 firearms, along with PCP, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, pills, and over $2,500 in cash. The additional six defendants were charged in September 2021 and were arrested shortly thereafter.
Mobery was indicted with 16 co-defendants (listed below), who have all pleaded guilty and received prison sentences ranging from 24 months to 180 months based on their criminal conduct and criminal histories. The violent crime landscape around the 2900 Block of MLK Avenue improved immediately after these 17 defendants were taken off our streets. MPD has documented a 63% reduction in violent crime when comparing the six months after these defendants’ arrest to the six months prior. Similarly, nearly a year later, there was a 60% reduction in violent crime. And, even at the two-year mark, there was a 23% decrease in overall violent crime, which included a 56% decrease in homicides specifically, when comparing this period to the two years prior.
DEFENDANT
STATUS
Ricky ‘Fatz’ Lyles,
Accokeek, MDSentenced to 114 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm
Nico ‘Cheese’ Griffin,
Washington, DCSentenced to 37 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Dandre ‘Freckles’ Shorter,
Washington, DCSentenced to 37 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Wesley ‘E-Bug’ Leake,
Washington, DCSentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Leon ‘L’ Lindsay,
Washington, DCSentenced to 57 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Dezmond ‘Juice’ Cunningham,
Washington, DCSentenced to 48 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Divine ‘Newcomb’ Chappell,
Washington, DCSentenced to 76 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Shawn ‘Black’ Wooden,
Washington, DCSentenced to 92 months for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Barry ‘B-Dot’ Tyson,
Washington, DCSentenced to 73 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Delonta ‘Meathead’ Chappell,
Washington, DCSentenced to 48 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Anthony ‘Ant’ Graves,
Washington, DCSentenced to 27 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Deshawn ‘Dey Dey’ Loggins,
Temple Hills, MDSentenced to 42 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Kevonte ‘Key Tay’ Randall,
Washington, DCSentenced to 46 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm
Corenzo ‘Snowman’ Mobery,
Washington, DCSentenced to 180 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Rico ‘Ric’ Griffin,
Washington, DCSentenced to 66 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Shahborne ‘Shyboon’ Scales,
Washington, DCSentenced to 66 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Luther ‘Tank’ McDuffie,
Washington, DCSentenced to 24 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine
The case stems from a joint investigation by the MPD Violent Crime Suppression Division’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force. This partnership targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Park Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). This case is also 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 case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Henek and Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang provided valuable assistance.
Winter Springs Man Charged with Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mark Sotnick (46, Winter Springs) with distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Sotnick faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison for the distribution and receipt charges, and a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for the possession charge.
According to the indictment, Sotnick received child sexual abuse material on September 12, 2021, distributed child sexual abuse material on August 19, 2022, and possessed child sexual abuse material on January 4, 2024.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wayne County going to prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Frederick Trevitt, 63, of Newark, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that on January 4, 2023, Trivett possessed a laptop, which contained 368 images and 26 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and included violence or the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. Trevitt also admits that he engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse of a minor for approximately seven years.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei II. Additional assistance was provided by the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office.
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Violent Machinegun-Wielding Drug Trafficker from North Shore Sentenced to 40 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A leader of one of the largest and most violent criminal street gangs in the country was sentenced yesterday for leading a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy across the North Shore and into Maine. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant participated in six shootings as well as acquired over 40 firearms and multiple “selector switches” for himself and fellow gang members. The defendant was also held accountable for his role in a seventh shooting that resulted in a murder.
Armani Minier-Tejada, a/k/a “Shotz,” a/k/a “Gustavo,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 40 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In June 2023, Minier-Tejada was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, cocaine and other controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to, and possess a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime; and one count of use and carrying, brandishing and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation began in 2020 in direct response to an increasing number of shootings in communities north of Boston committed by street gangs whose violence is fueled by drug distribution.
Minier-Tejada was a member and leader of a street gang known as the Tiny Rascal Gangsters (TRG), one of the largest and most violent criminal street gangs in the country that operates on a decentralized structure via local groups or “sets.” TRG is involved in street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine and members are known for their involvement in gun violence.
Minier-Tejada and his co-conspirators, including members of the Lynn set of TRG, participated in a long-running conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in Boston, the North Shore and the Bangor, Maine area. Minier-Tejada served as the supplier for multiple large-scale drug dealers in Maine and, in total, he and his co-conspirators were responsible for trafficking more than 10 kilograms each of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from Massachusetts into Maine. Minier-Tejada and his co-conspirators produced numerous videos and images in which they were depicted brandishing and holding firearms, including multiple machine guns – that is, pistols equipped with “selector switches” rendering them capable of fully automatic fire. Additionally, the drug conspiracy of which Minier-Tejada was a leader acquired over 40 firearms and multiple “selector switches” for use by TRG members during the drug trafficking conspiracy. “Selector switches,” are aftermarket parts that convert a semi-automatic firearm into a machine gun, capable of fully automatic fire.
At sentencing, the government established that in 2019 and 2020, Minier-Tejada and co-conspirators, including TRG gang members, Marcus Carlisle, a/k/a “Reckless,” and Jaiir Coleman, a/k/a “JC,” committed six shootings in Boston and surrounding communities in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. At trial, the government introduced evidence concerning one of the shootings, taking place in Cambridge in July 2020, which was in response to a video being live-streamed from a parking lot accusing Minier-Tejada and Coleman of cooperating with law enforcement. Minier-Tejada and Coleman travelled to the streaming location with two firearms – including a machine gun – and together fired at least 30 rounds into a large crowd of people gathered in the parking lot. At sentencing, Minier-Tejada was also held responsible for a seventh shooting that took place in Lynn, during the course of the drug conspiracy in July 2020, that was committed by fellow TRG members. This seventh shooting resulted in the death of one victim and injuries to four others.
In April 2023, Carlisle and Berberena were convicted in Essex County Superior Court of First-Degree Murder and multiple counts of Armed Assault with Intent to Murder for the July 4, 2020, shooting. Both were sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole, to be followed by a total of 40 years in prison consecutive to the life sentence. The case against Carlisle and Berberena was prosecuted by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Minier-Tejeda is the 18th federal defendant to be sentenced in this case. Over the past three years, the investigation has resulted in the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of multiple drug traffickers and violent offenders in the greater Boston area, including: Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz,” who was sentenced to 250 months in federal prison; his mother Laurie Caruso and co-conspirator Ernest Johnson, a/k/a “Yo Pesci,” who were sentenced to 108 and 78 months in federal prison, respectively; Malden-based drug trafficker and participant in a shooting of a vehicle that contained a young child, Phillips Charles, a/k/a “Phon C,” who was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison; TRG leader David Oth, a/k/a “Baby Bouncer,” who was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison; and Ahsan Arty, a/k/a “Hass,” a member of a violent drug and gun conspiracy was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. Coleman pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in February 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Boston on Feb. 8, 2024.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow; and Rick Desjardins, Director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine State Police; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices; Essex and Hancock (Maine) County Sheriff’s Department; and the Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Somerville, Bangor (Maine), Portland (Maine) and Westbrook (Maine) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Valdosta Man with Lengthy Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. –A Valdosta, Georgia, resident with a lengthy criminal history in the community was sentenced to prison this week for illegally possessing firearms as he led police on a high-speed chase in an effort to escape arrest.
Kendrick Terrell Pryor, 41, was sentenced to serve 165 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Feb. 1, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Pryor is not eligible for parole.
“The defendant reached speeds of 120 miles per hour and drove through a residential section of Valdosta without regard for the safety of others as he attempted to outrun law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Felons who consistently demonstrate a total disregard for the law and are found in possession of deadly weapons will find their cases getting federal attention. Our office is working alongside local, state and federal law enforcement to hold repeat offenders accountable.”
“Convicted felons cannot possess guns and will face serious consequences for having them,” said Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “This sentencing ensures that Kendrick Pryor is held accountable for his crime and is removed from the community for a long time, where he will not be able to harm others.”
“We are thankful for the collaboration between our office and our federal partners to help remove dangerous repeat offenders with guns off the streets,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
According to facts presented in court, deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pull Pryor over for suspected impaired driving in Valdosta, Georgia, on July 3, 2022. Pryor refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued. Pryor drove his car at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour—including through a residential section—and ran stop signs and red lights in an attempt to escape the deputy. Law enforcement was forced to perform a successful PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) Maneuver to stop the car, and Pryor was taken into custody. Inside Pryor’s car, officers found a .22 caliber firearm on the driver’s floorboard; a 9mm handgun on the passenger’s floorboard; a 50-round drum magazine for a 9mm firearm; and a quantity of methamphetamine, oxycodone pills and cocaine. Pryor has at least six drug possession and distribution felony convictions in Lowndes County Superior Court as well as one conviction for theft by taking. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. 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 investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted the case for the Government.
United States Unseals Civil Forfeiture Complaint for Seizure of Iranian OilRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A civil forfeiture complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia, alleging that more than 500,000 barrels of Iranian fuel oil valued at over $25 million previously onboard the Oil Tanker “Abyss” is forfeitable under the terrorism financing statutes as property of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The document alleges a scheme to facilitate the shipment and sale of Iranian fuel oil for the benefit of the IRGC and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC and its facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the oil as Iraqi, including manipulating the vessel’s automatic identification system reporting and presenting falsified documents.
“The complaint unsealed today is the latest in a series of actions our Office has taken to seize and to forfeit oil that Iran has attempted to illegally sell,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Forfeiture actions like this one disrupt Iran’s efforts to illegally sell oil. The proceeds from these illegal sales are the lifeblood of the Iranian’s efforts to sew war and terror around the globe, disrupting these sales is critical to our national security.”
“Today’s civil forfeiture action exemplifies our unwavering dedication to advancing our shared goal of protecting the homeland from terrorist organizations attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions,” said Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New York. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to utilizing its full authority to disrupt the efforts of hostile countries seeking to profit from illicit oil sales used to support terrorism and the proliferation and delivery of weapons of mass destruction. Today’s action underscores our message that HSI and our partners will not stand by idly as Iran and the terrorist groups it supports use unlawful means to threaten our national security.”
"Today’s civil forfeiture demonstrates our commitment to protecting the U.S. from organizations seeking to evade U.S. sanctions," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI remains dedicated to working with our partners to protect the sanctity of our financial infrastructure and disrupt the attempts of hostile regimes to generate profits from oil sales used to support terrorism."
The civil forfeiture action further alleges that the fuel oil constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has provided material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.
This enforcement action is the most recent in a series of efforts made by the Justice Department to combat the illicit trafficking of Iranian oil in violation of U.S. law. On September 8, 2023, the Department announced a seizure of oil onboard the tanker Suez Rajan, a criminal plea by its ownership company, and a deferred prosecution agreement by its operating company, all arising out of the tanker’s transport of illicit Iranian oil. The oil was sold for $74 million and the proceeds of the sale are now subject to the civil forfeiture process.
These recent actions build on prior enforcement cases the Department of Justice has brought in the District of Columbia related to seizures of illicit Iranian oil since 2019. For example, on July 1, 2020, the Department filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against all the petroleum seized onboard the four oil tankers, the Bella, Bering, Pandi, and Luna, which were carrying Iranian petroleum to Venezuela. The petroleum onboard these four tankers was sold for approximately $45 million.
Similarly, on February 2, 2021, the Department of Justice filed a civil asset forfeiture against all petroleum seized onboard the oil tanker Achilleas, which was transporting NIOC petroleum. The petroleum on the Achilleas was sold for approximately $111 million.
During October and November 2021, the Department of Justice filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against all the petroleum seized onboard the tankers Arina and Nostos, which was of Iranian origin. The petroleum onboard was sold for approximately $51 million.
All the above matters were handled by the Threat Finance Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. These oil seizure actions are in addition to multiple seizures and criminal forfeiture actions for funds associated with the transfer of illicit Iranian oil and the laundering of U.S. dollar payments. All told, these actions have deprived Iran of more than 5,300,000 barrels of petroleum products and $294 million attributable to IRGC.
Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.
The FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York are investigating the Abyss case related to Iranian fuel oil, and other cases were investigated by these offices as well as the HSI Washington, D.C. and Colorado Springs offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, Brian Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Erika Oblea for the District of Columbia are litigating the case related to Iranian fuel oil aboard the Abyss, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. They received assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers. The U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in this matter.
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
United States Attorney’s Office releases 2023 Community ReportRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced the release of the 2023 Community Report of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota (USAO-ND). The Report summarizes the office’s efforts over the course of fiscal year 2023 in the courtroom and in communities throughout the district.
“Whether it is protecting children, combatting dangerous drugs, or enforcing federal laws that ensure fair treatment of North Dakotans, the attorneys and staff of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota are committed to upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” Schneider said. “I could not be prouder of their efforts. As new challenges arise in the months ahead, we will continue to improve upon our work to better serve our law enforcement partners and communities.”
According to Department of Justice statistics, USAO-ND was number one among small districts in defendants per Assistant United States Attorney and number four out of 94 districts nationally in this category. Even with this robust caseload, the office secured a conviction rate of over 93% in 2023. Additionally, 96% of the office’s criminal appeals were decided in favor of the United States last year.
The report discusses key prosecutions to target the drivers of violent crime, promote public safety in Indian country, protect children, combat dangerous drugs, fight fraud, and keep people safe along the northern border. The critical work of the office’s Civil Division, which includes protecting taxpayers by representing the United States in complex litigation and enforcing federal civil rights statutes, is also highlighted.
The full report is available Here.
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USAO works with local law enforcement to stop fentanyl & meth traffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 57 months in prison for trafficking drugs.
According to court documents, Andrea Brooke Kendall, 43, of Wichita pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In January 2022, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was working undercover arranged to purchase meth from Kendall. She sold the deputy two ounces of meth and 100 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers observed the transaction then followed Kendall to another location where her vehicle was searched. Deputies found 12.25 grams of heroin, nearly a pound a meth, as well as methadone, amphetamine, Pregabalin, and fentanyl pills.
Co-defendant Aaron Roberson, 39, of Wichita was a passenger in Kendall’s vehicle at the time of another traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Barnett prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $12,352,268 in Criminal and Civil Actions and $1,610,245 in Asset Forfeiture Actions in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III announced today that the Eastern District of Tennessee collected $12,352,268 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $3,130,283 was collected in criminal actions and $9,221,985 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, working with partner agencies, collected $1,610,245 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2023.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, working with partner agencies, collected $11,345 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2023 for victim compensation. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Terrorism and Sanctions-Evasion Charges Against Leaders of A Billion-Dollar Oil Laundering Network Orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsRead the Press Release
Leaders Within Iran’s IRGC, a Designated Terrorist Organization, Partnered with Iranian Officials and a Turkish Energy Group to Launder and Sell Iranian Oil to Government-Affiliated Buyers in China, Russia, and Syria, to Finance Iran’s Terror-Supporting Qods Force
In a Related Action, the U.S. Attorney Announces the Seizure of $108 Million Used as Part of the Scheme to Fund the IRGC’s Qods Force
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; Lisa O. Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States; Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced today the unsealing of terrorism, sanctions-evasion, fraud, and money laundering charges against seven key figures in an oil-laundering network orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and its Qods Force. The defendants include a senior Qods Force official, the son of a former Qods Force Commander and Iranian Minister of Petroleum, an Iranian shipping official, and an agent of the Qods Force, together with three Turkish nationals who operate an energy conglomerate that acted as a Qods Force front company. The defendants, BEHNAM SHAHRIYARI, a/k/a “Seyed Aliakbar Mirvakili,” a/k/a “Husain,” a/k/a “Huseyini Hamid,” a/k/a “Seyed Hamid Reza Shahcheraghi”; MORTEZA ROSTAM GHASEMI; MOHAMMADREZA ALIAKBARI, a/k/a “Captain Aliakbari,” a/k/a “Abu Emad”; MOHAMMAD SADEGH KARIMIAN; SITKI AYAN; BAHADDIN AYAN; and KASIM OZTAS are charged in a five-count Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court. The defendants remain at large.
In addition to the unsealing of the charges contained in the Indictment, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York also announced the seizure of $108 million that IRGC front companies attempted to launder through correspondent transaction accounts at U.S. financial institutions in furtherance of the scheme to fund the Qods Force’s malign activities through the illicit sale of Iranian oil, which are subject to forfeiture to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, the IRGC and its Qods Force have been instrumental in the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of political dissent, targeting of Iranian dissidents living abroad, and support of international terrorism — including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Today’s charges show how, as alleged, the IRGC’s Qods force built a sprawling international network of front companies to launder sanctioned Iranian oil using lies, forgery, and threats of violence. This alleged scheme to finance the Qods Force succeeds through the complicity of wealthy businessmen in countries like Turkey who are eager to turn a corrupt profit from supporting terror groups. The Qods Force oil-laundering network allegedly delivered millions of barrels of Iranian oil to government-affiliated buyers in Russia, China, and Syria, and transferred billions of dollars through the U.S. financial system. This Office has long served at the forefront of law enforcement efforts to fight terrorism and terror finance and to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system. I commend the tireless and outstanding efforts of our law enforcement partners in unraveling and disrupting the IRGC’s scheme.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “Iran utilizes the proceeds of its black-market oil sales to fund its criminal activities, including its support of the IRGC, Hamas, Hizballah, and other Iranian aligned terrorist groups. The Justice Department is targeting this funding source by seizing over $108 million and 500,000 barrels of fuel that would otherwise have enabled Iran to further its destabilizing activities that threaten our national security. In addition to disrupting Iran’s unlawful funding streams, the Justice Department has also charged nine individuals for their roles in supporting Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The Justice Department will continue to use every authority we have to cut off the illegal financing and enabling of Iran’s malicious activities, which have become even more evident in recent months.”
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said: “While Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Qods Force are the regime’s terrorist strongarms, oil is its lifeblood. Today’s enforcement actions show that the Justice Department is committed to using every tool – from criminal prosecutions to the lawful seizures of Iranian oil and oil profits – to shut down Iran’s pipeline of petroleum and profits. The charges and seizures announced today strike at the core of the global oil smuggling network that Iran has built to fund its regime of terror and repression and deny the regime millions of dollars in proceeds to further its nefarious agenda.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “Iran presents a constant threat to the United States – trying to murder Americans right here within our borders, conducting a cyber-attack on a children’s hospital, supporting terrorists around the world, and more. All of Iran’s crimes cost money. And the FBI will remain committed to enforcing U.S. sanctions that keep money out of its coffers.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “Today’s cases are part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to cut off the flow of black-market Iranian oil that funds the regime’s malign activity, threatening the United States and our interests around the world. We remain focused on holding accountable those involved in these smuggling schemes, from the officials who oversee the laundering operations, to the network of shadowy businesses that enable them, to the brokers who help facilitate these unlawful transactions.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “The Government of Iran has repeatedly shown itself willing to engage in complex schemes to evade U.S. sanctions, which are imposed to protect America's national security interests. These seven individuals allegedly led an audacious effort to fund the Qods Force through the sale of sanctioned Iranian oil to our adversaries. Today's charges serve as a warning to anyone willing to ignore and evade sanctions that the FBI will use all the tools at our disposal to rigorously defend our nation.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]
Overview of the Scheme
Following the imposition of U.S. sanctions against Iran’s petroleum sector in 2018, the Government of Iran’s ability to finance itself through sales of crude oil and petroleum products — Iran’s most important economic sector — was severely diminished. In response, the IRGC Qods Force built a large-scale oil laundering network to give Iran’s government-owned National Iranian Oil Company (“NIOC”) illicit access to global markets to sell crude oil and petroleum products and to use the proceeds to finance the Qods Force.
The IRGC is an Iranian military and counterintelligence organization under the authority of the Supreme Leader of Iran, and the IRGC’s Qods Force is the Government of Iran’s primary arm for carrying out its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups — including Hamas, Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Taliban — and insurgent forces in Iraq and Yemen, including Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis. In the years since sanctions were imposed, the Qods Force partnered with individuals and companies located in Turkey, Lebanon, Russia, Oman, Greece, India, the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), Cyprus, and elsewhere to conceal the Iranian origin of the oil — including through the use of falsified government records, contracts, and other documents, and by manipulating oil tanker location and identification information — and to then launder the proceeds of the sales through layered transactions, bulk cash smuggling, and trade-based money laundering using agricultural commodities. Through this oil-laundering scheme, the Qods Force arranged the delivery of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products to government-owned and -affiliated buyers in Syria, Russia, and China. Participants in the scheme caused billions of dollars to be illegally transferred through the U.S. banking system.
To sell NIOC crude oil to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the network used an intermediary company in Lebanon to conceal the Government of Iran’s involvement in the oil sales and a ship management company based in India to buy, lease, and manage oil tankers to use in the scheme. The oil tanker fleet was supervised by ALIAKBARI, and the key agreements between the Government of Iran and its foreign partners were authorized and approved by Qods Force Commander Rostam Ghasemi, who previously served as Iran’s Minister of Oil, Minister of Transportation and Urban Development, and the Iranian chair of the Iranian-Syrian Economic Relations Development Committee.
To sell NIOC crude oil to government-affiliated buyers in China, the network used the ASB Group of companies in Turkey, owned by SITKI AYAN, as well as intermediary companies in Oman, Greece, and elsewhere. Commander Ghasemi again authorized and approved key agreements between the Government of Iran and its foreign partners and resolved financial disputes that arose among the participants in the scheme. Companies in the ASB Group acted as intermediaries in the oil sales to conceal the Government of Iran’s role and the Iranian origin of the oil and leased oil tankers that were operated by co-conspirators. SITKI AYAN’s son and senior ASB Group officer, BAHADDIN AYAN, assisted SITKI AYAN in the scheme and caused millions of dollars of wire transfers through the U.S. banking system for the leasing and operation of oil tankers. OZTAS, who was a manager of the ASB Group of companies, also assisted SITKI AYAN in carrying out the scheme and finalizing agreements with ASB Group’s partners. SHAHRIYARI, a senior Qods Force official; KARIMIAN, who acts as an agent of the Qods Force in oil laundering transactions; and ALIAKBARI participated in negotiations among the participants and monitored the progress of the oil sales, oil shipments, and the Qods Force’s receipt of the oil proceeds.
To sell NIOC crude oil to government-affiliated buyers in Russia, the network again used the ASB Group of companies, along with other companies in the UAE, Cyprus, Russia, and Turkey. SHAHRIYARI and KARIMIAN organized a complex web of companies, with SITKI AYAN’s ASB Group of companies at the center, to launder NIOC oil and the proceeds through layered transactions with a Cypriot company and to launder the oil sales through bulk cash smuggling and trade-based money laundering involving Russian agricultural products. Commander Ghasemi and his co-conspirators, including KARIMIAN, controlled the proceeds of the oil sales, which were collected in Russia and transferred through cash couriers, SITKI AYAN’s companies, or the Iranian Embassy in Moscow.
One of the key Qods Force front companies involved in the scheme was China Oil and Petroleum Company (“China Oil and Petroleum”), which, despite its name, was controlled from Iran by Commander Ghasemi and his associates, including KARIMIAN. China Oil and Petroleum acted as an intermediary in sales of NIOC oil, including deals involving SITKI AYAN’s ASB Group of companies, in order to facilitate the ultimate delivery to government-affiliated buyers in China. Between at least 2019 and the present, China Oil and Petroleum has been involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion through the U.S. financial system in furtherance of the scheme to finance the IRGC’s Qods Force.
The Defendants
BEHNAM SHAHRIYARI, a/k/a “Seyed Aliakbar Mirvakili,” a/k/a “Husain,” a/k/a “Huseyini Hamid,” a/k/a “Seyed Hamid Reza Shahcheraghi,” 58, an Iranian national, is a publicly identified IRGC Qods Force senior official. In 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated SHAHRIYARI as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) under national security controls related to global terrorism for acting on behalf of an IRGC-linked shipping company that provided material support, including weapons, to Hizballah on behalf of the IRGC.
MORTEZA ROSTAM GHASEMI, 32, an Iranian national, is the son of IRGC Qods Force Commander Ghasemi. In 2019, GHASEMI was designated by OFAC as an SDN under national security controls related to global terrorism.
MOHAMMADREZA ALIAKBARI, a/k/a “Captain Aliakbari,” a/k/a “Abu Emad,” 56, an Iranian national, is a senior officer with Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Company, which acts on behalf of the Government of Iran. In 2019, ALIAKBARI was designated by OFAC as an SDN under national security controls related to global terrorism, including his alleged role as an interlocutor between the IRGC Qods Force and vessel managers to help the Qods Force evade sanctions.
MOHAMMAD SADEGH KARIMIAN, 36, an Iranian national, acts as an agent of the IRGC Qods Force. KARIMIAN was designated in 2022 by OFAC as an SDN under national security controls relating to global terrorism and plays a principal role in overseeing the creation and use of intermediary companies to act on behalf of the IRGC and in organizing and supervising deals for the sale and transportation of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products.
SITKI AYAN, 61, a Turkish national, has a long history of partnering with Iranian state-owned oil and gas companies. AYAN is the chairman of the ASB Group of companies, which includes Som Petrol Ticaret A.S., Baslam Petrol Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., and Baslam Nakliyat Ve Dis Ticaret, Ltd. Sirketi, all of which have been designated by OFAC as SDNs along with AYAN in December 2022 under national security controls related to global terrorism.
BAHADDIN AYAN, 35, a Turkish national, is the son of SITKI AYAN and a vice president of the ASB Group of companies. In December 2022, BAHADDIN AYAN was designated by OFAC as an SDN under national security controls related to global terrorism.
KASIM OZTAS, 41, a Turkish national, has been managing director of the ASB Group of companies. In December 2022, KASIM OZTAS was designated by OFAC as an SDN under national security controls related to global terrorism.
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The Indictment unsealed today charges each of the defendants with: (i) conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; (ii) conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Governments of Iran and Syria, global terrorists and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; (iii) conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; (iv) conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and (v) conspiring to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be imposed by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Field Office Counterintelligence Division. Mr. Williams also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Counterterrorism Section for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, David W. Denton, Jr., and Nicholas S. Bradley are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Benjamin Hawk, Beaudre Barnes, and Christopher Magnani of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Trial Attorneys Joshua Champagne and Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Individuals Charged in Trafficking Illicit Iranian Oil Using U.S. Financial System to Fund Terrorist Group in Violation of U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two foreign nationals are charged in a scheme to export Iranian petroleum to China and use the proceeds to benefit Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated terrorist organization. Shaoyun Wang, 54, of China, and Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi, 39, of Oman, are charged in a 12-count indictment unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office, and HSI Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. Also unsealed today was a warrant for a related seizure of approximately $8.5 million.
Wang and Al Habsi are charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, conspiring to commit money laundering, and money laundering stemming from an alleged scheme to export Iranian petroleum to Chinese government-owned refineries. The indictment alleges that Wang and Al Habsi, together with their co-conspirators, illegally used the U.S. financial system to facilitate the sale of over a hundred million dollars’ worth of oil to benefit the IRGC-QF, Iran’s primary conduit for providing lethal support to terrorist organizations abroad.
“The only way that Iran can illegally sell oil is if people and business organizations outside Iran help it to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “The indictment unsealed today demonstrates that the U.S. government will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly help Iran sell oil illegally —wherever in the world they are located.”
“Shaoyun Wang and Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi defrauded the U.S. financial system to facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in oil sales in order to support terrorists,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “Their actions aided a foreign terrorist organization, which uses such proceeds to fund their malicious activities abroad, including actions against U.S. military personnel. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue our efforts to dismantle such networks that support the heinous actions of Iran and their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
“Those who choose to conspire with terrorist organizations will face the full force of justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI remains committed to disrupting financial networks that fund and support terrorism. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to prevent the exploitation of legitimate industries for unlawful purposes, protecting global security and stability."
According to the indictment, between December 2019 and July 2021, Wang, Al Habsi, and unnamed co-conspirators negotiated and completed sales of sanctioned oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the People’s Republic of China utilizing the services and funds of U.S. persons and financial institutions, without prior authorization or a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. They allegedly obtained the oil from Iran using surreptitious means, which included AIS spoofing and engaging in multiple transfers between tankers. The alleged scheme relied on the use of the U.S. financial system and was facilitated by Turkish, Omani, and U.S. persons and entities, all in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
The indictment further alleges that Wang and Al Habsi used fraudulent documents to mask that the oil originated from Iran, used electronic communications to arrange the sales, utilized shell corporations to launder the proceeds through the U.S. financial system, and misled U.S. financial institutions about the source of the money generated by the transactions. In addition, the scheme allegedly used U.S. companies as a “trust” to hold the profits for the IRGC-QF.
The indictment also alleges that Al Habsi, acting through one of his companies, procured a $16.5 million loan in June 2020 from U.S. financial companies to purchase an oil tanker, later named M/T Oman Pride. Beginning in July 2020, M/T Oman Pride transferred Iranian oil to third-party vessels for sale to Chinese government-owned refineries and companies in China.
Wang allegedly used a U.S. front company, a U.S. facilitator, and U.S. financial institutions to facilitate the sale of Iranian oil to China. Wang, who served as a director of a Chinese oil refinery, was also the chair of a U.S. company in Las Vegas, Nevada, and general manager of the U.S. company’s Hong Kong-based parent company, which allegedly acted as a front for oil transactions. Wang allegedly engaged with senior IRGC officials to affect the purchases. The alleged scheme resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions that were processed by U.S. banks and facilitated by U.S. persons.
This case is being investigated by the HSI Washington D.C. and FBI Minneapolis field offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Maeghan Mikorski, Rajbir Datta, and Prava Palacharla, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Chris Magnani of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the United States Department of Justice.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Men Charged with Running Hawala Scheme Responsible for Illicitly Moving More Than $65 Million Between the United States and the Middle EastRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”); and Christopher A. Nielsen, the Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MOHANAD AL-ZUBAIDI, SHAKER SALEH MOHAMMED HAUTER, and ABDULKADER NOORI HAMZA with conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business that was responsible for illicitly moving more than $65 million between the United States and countries in the Middle East, including Yemen, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
AL-ZUBAIDI was arrested yesterday morning at his home in New Jersey and presented yesterday afternoon in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. HAUTER was arrested last night at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, attempting to board a flight to Turkey, and will be presented today before Judge Lehrburger. HAMZA is currently at large. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This indictment demonstrates our continued efforts to target and disrupt alleged illicit financial networks that are used every day to criminally transfer proceeds across international borders. Our commitment remains to exposing these unlawful networks and to prosecute those who operate them to the fullest extent of the law.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “These three men are charged with moving more than $65 million in illegal proceeds to the Middle East. Hawala networks are known to facilitate money laundering and fund criminal organizations abroad, and our investigations look to shut down these networks and stop the flow of dirty money. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money to protect the United States from these threats, and we are resolute in building criminal cases against these illicit organizations.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen said: “This announcement demonstrates the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to stopping anyone from using our products in furtherance of an organized criminal scheme. As alleged, these defendants went through great lengths to circumvent and deceive financial institutions for personal enrichment while using U.S. Postal Service Money Orders to engage in international illicit financial transactions. Postal Inspectors will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt networks perpetrating financial crimes and bring all responsible parties to justice.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
Between in or about 2018 through at least in or about 2022, MOHANAD AL-ZUBAIDI, SHAKER SALEH MOHAMMED HAUTER, and ABDULKADER NOORI HAMZA operated an unlicensed money transfer business that was responsible for illicitly moving more than $65 million between the United States and countries in the Middle East. AL-ZUBAIDI, HAUTER, and HAMZA facilitated hundreds of illicit money transfers, with each transfer ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. For the illicit transactions they completed, HAUTER, AL-ZUBAIDI, and HAMZA typically earned a commission of between one and six percent of the total amount transferred. To facilitate these illicit transfers, AL-ZUBAIDI, HAUTER, and HAMZA worked with other members of an international network of money brokers to transfer money through an informal money transmitting system known as “hawala,” which is frequently used by money launderers and other criminals to transfer criminal proceeds abroad.
In furtherance of this scheme, AL-ZUBAIDI purported to operate at least four companies based in Texas or New Jersey: Itaqwen, LLC, Mirage Energies Inc., Mirage Auto Group Inc., and Mirage Life Style Inc. In order to open bank accounts and transfer funds through those accounts, AL-ZUBAIDI falsely represented to banks and other financial institutions at which he opened financial accounts for Mirage Energies Inc., Mirage Auto Group Inc., and Mirage Life Style Inc. (together, the “Mirage Companies”) that he used the Mirage Companies to operate an international trading and investment business or to sell cars. In truth and in fact, and as AL-ZUBAIDI knew, he was not operating a legitimate automobile business (or any other legitimate business) but was operating an unlicensed money transfer business. Throughout the period charged in the Indictment, individuals, companies, and other illicit money brokers based outside of the United States contacted AL-ZUBAIDI directly — or through other money brokers like HAUTER — to enlist AL-ZUBAIDI to transfer money to others on their behalf in exchange for a fee.
HAMZA, the father of AL-ZUBAIDI, worked directly with AL-ZUBAIDI to operate their unlicensed money transfer business. For example, HAMZA picked up cash from other members of the scheme (including HAUTER) at various locations, including in the Bronx, New York. Then, HAMZA delivered that cash to AL-ZUBAIDI directly or used it to purchase money orders that HAMZA later deposited into bank accounts in the name of the Mirage Companies, which were used to complete illicit money transfers.
HAUTER ran his own unlicensed money transfer business based in the Bronx, New York, and served as an intermediary money broker for AL-ZUBAIDI and HAMZA. HAUTER regularly coordinated unlicensed money transfers for AL-ZUBAIDI and HAMZA by directing customers to them or by enlisting them to complete transactions for HAUTER’s own customers. In addition, HAUTER regularly connected AL-ZUBAIDI with other money brokers based outside of the United States to facilitate additional illicit money transfers. Like AL-ZUBAIDI, HAUTER typically received a commission for each illicit transaction he completed.
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MOHANAD AL-ZUBAIDI, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey; SHAKER SALEH MOHAMMED HAUTER, 51, of the Bronx, New York; and ABDULKADER NOORI HAMZA, 62, of Piscataway, New Jersey, were charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. AL-ZUBAIDI was also charged with bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI and USPIS. Mr. Williams also recognized the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. King and Amanda C. Weingarten are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are 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 should be treated as an allegation.
Three Individuals Indicted on Murder, Conspiracy, and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three men from the District and Maryland -- Derrico Johnson, 19, Ronald Henderson, 18, and Daveon Robinson, 17 -- were arraigned today on first-degree murder, conspiracy, and other charges in connection with two murders and a drive-by shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Johnson and Robinson are residents of D.C.; Henderson is a resident of Maryland. Henderson and Robinson were charged under Title 16.
The 26-count indictment charges each defendant with conspiracy. Derrico Johnson was charged with two counts of first degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the April 12, 2022 murder of 32-year old Clayton Marshall and May 26, 2022 murder of 16-year old Justin Johnson; Ronald Henderson was charged with one count of first degree murder while armed and four counts of assault with intent to kill stemming from the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson and a January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store that injured two bystanders; and Daveon Robinson was charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store. Ronald Henderson and Derrico Johnson were also indicted for firearms-related offenses from March and April of 2023, respectively. All three defendants were ordered held without bond. A trial date is scheduled for August 18, 2025.
According to the indictment, the three defendants are members of a crew called “Get Back Gang,” which is associated with the Henson Ridge neighborhood in 7D and a broader group driving violence in DC known as “Fox 5 Gang.” Over the past two years, the defendants and others participated in several homicides and non-fatal shootings, including:
- On April 12, 2022, Derrico Johnson was picked up in a stolen vehicle and driven to the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE. At about 12:20 p.m., Derrico Johnson briefly exited the vehicle and fired several rounds in the direction of Shipley Market. Clayton Marshall, who does not appear to have been the intended target, was shot and killed and another individual was injured.
- On May 26, 2022, Derrico Johnson, Ronald Henderson, and another individual walked to the Savannah Terrace Circle, where16-year-old Justin Johnson (aka “23 Rackz”), the victim, had posted as his location to Instagram earlier that morning. About 11:20 a.m., Derrico Johnson and Ronald Henderson fired several shots from 200 feet away in the direction of Justin Johnson, who was shot and killed while standing feet away from an infant child on a scooter.
- On January 2, 2023, Ronald Henderson and Daveon Robinson were riding in the back seat of a vehicle. At about 4:48pm, as the vehicle approached the Alabama Convenience Store, Henderson and Robinson fired several rifle and handgun rounds in the direction of the store, wounding two people. Armed Special Police Officers in the area witnessed the shooting and pursued the suspects through the Henson Ridge neighborhood to a home, where Henderson and Robinson were subsequently arrested.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Sellinger and Jessica Keefer.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Roberto Esquivel pled guilty to one count each of attempted murder of an officer of the United States, aggravated assault of an officer of the United States with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Esquivel, 25, of El Paso, Texas, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Esquivel on April 19, 2023. In his plea agreement, Esquivel admitted that on Jan. 5, 2023, he agreed with other persons to transport five illegal aliens who had unlawfully come to the United States. Esquivel was to pick up the aliens in El Paso, Texas, and transport them to Deming, New Mexico. After picking up the aliens, Esquivel was driving on New Mexico State Road 146 when he was pulled over by a Border Patrol Agent. As the agent was approaching Esquivel’s vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection, Esquivel removed a gun from the center console and placed it under his right leg. When it became apparent to the agent that Esquivel was transporting aliens, he asked Esquivel to exit the vehicle. Instead, Esquivel partially opened the door and began shooting, hitting the agent twice in the torso-area. After shooting the agent, Esquivel sped off. While fleeing, Esquivel lost control of the vehicle and rolled it multiple times. Esquivel ran from the crash scene and threw the gun in the desert, where it was subsequently recovered by law enforcement officers.
The Border Patrol Agent survived the shooting due in large part to the bullets striking his ballistic vest. None of the illegal aliens were seriously injured in the rollover.
Per the terms of his plea agreement, Esquivel is facing 19 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. McNair is prosecuting the case.
View the Information View the Plea Agreement# # #
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Terrebonne Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTOPHER CARTER, JR., age 30, a resident of Gray, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on February 1, 2024 to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration agents utilized a confidential source to conduct two audio-video recorded controlled purchases of methamphetamine from CARTER. The first controlled purchase was for 49 grams of methamphetamine on May 19, 2021. The second controlled purchase was for 126 grams of methamphetamine on June 17, 2021.
For Count 1, CARTER faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years, up to forty (40) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four (4) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For Count 2, CARTER faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For both counts, CARTER faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Terrebonne Parish Sherriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Stockton Man Indicted for Cocaine Distribution and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Phillip Maurice Allen, 49, of Stockton, charging him with distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in 2023, a confidential source, working at the direction of law enforcement, purchased approximately half a kilogram of cocaine from Allen. On Dec. 4, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant executed at Allen’s automobile repair business in Manteca and found 3 kilograms of cocaine vacuum sealed into individual 1-kilogram bricks, as well as a digital scale, Ziploc bags, a money counter, and a vacuum sealing machine. Agents also found in the office two handguns, a Glock 31 and a Diamondback Arms 9 mm, and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition. Allen is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Conolly is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of distribution of cocaine, Allen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine, Allen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Allen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
St. Peters Physician Pleads Guilty to False Statements, Resulting in $1.4 Million Medicare and Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Peters, Mo., physician has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to make false statements that resulted in more than $1.4 million in Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
“A trusted physician failed his obligation to provide true and accurate information regarding the health care of numerous patients,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “He personally profited from this deceit but it cost the taxpaying public more than $1.4 million in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid payments.”
Romel Izquierdo-Malon, also known as “Mera,” 55, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs on Wednesday, Jan. 31, to a federal information that charges him with one count of conspiracy to make false statements related to health care matters.
Izquierdo-Malon, a physician who practiced medicine in Missouri, entered into a contract with a company identified in court documents as “Company A.” Izquierdo-Malon provided alleged telemedicine consultation services to Company A’s clients and was paid $30 per consultation. He utilized electronic portals to receive information about the patients, as well as to sign patient forms, orders, and letters of medical necessity in which he certified that genetic tests were medically necessary.
Izquierdo-Malon admitted he had a doctor-patient relationship with very few, if any, of the Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries for whom he ordered genetic testing and provided no follow-up care for these patients. He signed pre-printed patient forms that certified the genetic tests were “medically necessary” and that the “results will determine the patient’s medical management and treatment decision.” Izquierdo-Malon knew those statements were false and fraudulent because he knew that he would not receive the reports or use them to treat patients.
The orders were submitted to laboratories, many of which, unbeknownst to him, paid illegal kickbacks to the individuals and entities who conspired to submit false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.
Izquierdo-Malon admitted that he signed orders for genetic testing for Medicare beneficiaries that caused Medicare to pay approximately $1,030,906 to the laboratories that billed for those genetic tests from March 2017 to September 2019. Izquierdo-Malon also admitted that he signed orders for genetic testing for Medicaid beneficiaries that caused Medicaid to pay approximately $376,981 from November 2018 to October 2019.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Izquierdo-Malon must pay $140,788 in restitution (or in such other amount as determined by the court) to the government.
Under federal statutes, Izquierdo-Malon is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. 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 will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi Woolery. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
St. Louis County Man Admits Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County man on Friday admitted fraudulently applying for pandemic loans totaling more than $33,000.
Corvell Wraggs Jr., 34, of Norwood Court, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of wire fraud. He admitted fraudulently applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan on April 11, 2021, falsely claiming that he operated a sole proprietorship in 2020 that generated gross income of $74,000. He claimed he would use the money for payroll to retain workers and other business expenses. He then applied for a second draw loan, claiming that his gross receipts had dropped more than 25 percent. In all, Wraggs fraudulently obtained $33,832.
Wraggs is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8. The wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Spring Hill Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Sell FentanylRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Luis Irizarry-Santiago, a/k/a “Bullet” (33, Spring Hill), to eight years and four months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and cocaine. Irizarry-Santiago was also ordered to forfeit $28,889 in cash that was seized from his residence. Irizarry-Santiago entered a guilty plea on June 26, 2023.
According to court records, Irizarry-Santiago was indicted after a coconspirator, Janel Genereux, sold a gram of fentanyl and 0.2 grams of cocaine to a confidential source on one occasion, and almost 7 grams of a fentanyl analogue to another coconspirator on a separate occasion. A subsequent search of Irizarry-Santiago’s residence revealed drug paraphernalia and bulk cash.
Genereux previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case. She was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United State Attorney James Muench.
Slidell Man Sentenced for Violations of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RODERICK WILLIAMS, age 27, of Slidell, was sentenced on January 31, 2024 by the Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to sixty (60) months imprisonment to be followed by three (3) years of supervised release and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to two counts of an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court documents, on April 9, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers stopped a vehicle being driven by WILLIAMS. Thereafter, officers obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and located a Glock Model 19, 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun in the trunk. This handgun was loaded, with one bullet in the chamber and carried an extended, twenty-five (25) round magazine.
On April 28, 2023, investigators conducted video surveillance of the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Werner Drive. Officers noted an unknown black male hold a firearm as he entered a convenience store. NOPD officers were notified, entered the store and as they approached WILLIAMS, he attempted to conceal the firearm in his waistband. After noticing the outline of a firearm in WILLIAMS’s waistband, officers searched him and seized a Glock Model 26, 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun.
WILLIAMS had previously been convicted of felonies that prohibited him from possessing firearms.
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 investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 30, 2024.
Robert Walter White, age 36, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
White was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023.
The conviction stems from White failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between February 14, 2023, and April 19, 2023. White had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court which requires him to register for the rest of his life.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
White was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 22, 2024.
Eugene Featherman, age 35, was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Featherman was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.
Featherman was previously convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, he is required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which includes registering within three business days of any change in residence, employment, or student status. In November of 2022, Featherman relocated from Rapid City to Sioux Falls and properly registered with the Sioux Falls Police Department. Investigation revealed that beginning January 25, 2023, Featherman was no longer staying at his registered address. His whereabouts were unknown until April 27, 2023, when he was arrested in Rapid City.
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.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Featherman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on January 30, 2024.
Cole Bogen Bettin, age 28, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Bettin will also need to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Bettin was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between March 5, 2023, and March 6, 2023, when Bettin, using his cellular phone to access the application Grindr, attempted to persuade an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old male to distribute child pornography to him.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the SD Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Bettin was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on January 29, 2024.
Jonah Earl Severson, age 24, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Severson will be required to register as a sex offender once he is released from federal prison.
Severson was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 19, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between March 6, 2023, and March 15, 2023, when Severson, using his cellular phone to access the social media application MeetMe, attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the SD Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Severson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shiprock Man Charged with Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Larence Larry Harris Cambridge appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon. Cambridge, 33, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 9, 2024, Investigators from the FBI and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations (NNDCI) responded to the scene of a shooting which occurred on U.S. Highway 64 in Shiprock, within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation. Investigators learned through witnesses and evidence at the scene that the defendant fired a gun multiple times into an occupied vehicle driving along the same highway. A victim in this vehicle had to receive treatment at multiple medical facilities in relation to her injuries sustained from the shooting.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the current charges, Cambridge faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Probasco is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint# # #
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Seven Fields Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Durrell Fortson, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime before United States District Judge William S. Stickman.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 16, 2022, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Fortson. During that stop, a drug K-9 conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle and alerted an officer to the presence of controlled substances. Law enforcement then applied for and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. The subsequent search resulted in the seizure of an air mattress box in the trunk containing two gallon- sized bags of cocaine, a bag from the back seat area that contained two kilogram wrappers with cocaine residue, a digital scale from the back seat area, and a .40 caliber handgun loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition from underneath the driver’s seat. Law enforcement searched the serial number located on the loaded handgun and learned that it was reported stolen.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2024. The maximum total penalty for the drug charge is a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a $1,000,000 fine, or both. The maximum total penalty for the firearm charge is a term of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fortson.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Four BusinessesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to robbing four businesses, during which he brandished two large knives, while on federal supervised release for robbery charges out of New York.
Akeem Lahens, 33, pleaded guilty to four counts of affecting commerce by armed robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2024. Lahens was charged in August 2023.
A series of commercial armed robberies occurred in Boston in late April and early May 2023: the armed robbery of Metro PCS in Roxbury on April 21, 2023; the armed robbery of Boost Mobile in Jamaica Plain on April 26, 2023; the armed robbery of Cricket Wireless in Jamaica Plain on April 27, 2023; and the armed robbery of Dunkin Donuts in Dorchester on May 4, 2023. Law enforcement believed that the robberies were connected and the perpetrator was likely the same person, as the suspect’s appearance in surveillance footage and witnesses descriptions was the same. Additionally, in each of the robberies, the suspect brandished two large knives, made a verbal demand for money, forcibly took money from the store and forced or attempted to force the victims into a rear room or bathroom of the store.
On May 5, 2023 Lahens was arrested on state charges related to the armed robberies. During a search of Lahens’ residence in Dorchester on May 6, 2023 two knives and sandals worn by the robber in the April 26, 2023 robbery were recovered.
At the time of the armed robberies, Lahens was on federal supervised release for a 2021 conviction in the Southern District of New York of five counts of robbery, for which he was sentenced to 30 months of in prison.
The charge of affecting commerce by armed robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Michael A. Davis, Vice President Campus Safety and Chief of Police at Northeastern University made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Sentencings Announced of Three Individuals for Homicide and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Brown, 34, was sentenced today for second degree murder while armed, and Rondell McLeod, 30, was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter while armed in the shooting death of 21-year-old Amari Jenkins, on August 18, 2015, in front of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, located at 4925 East Capitol Street, N.E. The sentencings were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The defendants, both of Washington, D.C., admitted that on the day of the murder, they emerged from a blue van that pulled in front of the church, and fired 28 rounds at Mr. Jenkins, before reentering the van and making their escape.
In a separate case, Joseph Brown was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter while armed for the shooting of 29-year-old Antwan Baker, on November 12, 2015, in the 5300 block of Clay Terrace, N.E. In that homicide, Brown admitted he emerged from a vehicle and shot Mr. Baker six times in the back of the head and neck before fleeing the scene.
Judge Marisa J. Demeo sentenced Brown to 25 years of incarceration for his role in both homicides. She sentenced McLeod to 10 years of incarceration to run consecutively to an 11-year sentence for federal robbery charges brought in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
Finally, Judge Demeo sentenced Alicia N. McCoy, 28, to two years of incarceration for lying in the grand jury during its investigation of the murder of Amari Jenkins. Her sentence will run consecutively to a number of felony sentences McCoy is serving in Maryland for violent crimes committed there.
In announcing the sentencings, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers and detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Spence and Andrea Coronado and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gilead I. Light, who prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as Intelligence Analyst Zachary McMenamin, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen and former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker.
Second Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ronald Gardner, 51, and his co-conspirator, Anthony Craig Myrick, 45, both of Jackson, opened an account at BankPlus in another person’s name in September 2022. Gardner and Myrick deposited several counterfeit United States Treasury checks in the account at various BankPlus branches in the Jackson metro area and withdrew the cash before the checks were determined to be counterfeit. Gardner admitted to manufacturing the counterfeit Treasury checks and creating a false identification card using another person’s name and identity.
Ronald Gardner and Anthony Myrick were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Mississippi on August 22, 2023. Myrick pleaded guilty on October 17, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2024. Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2024. Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement.
The U.S. Secret Service and Rankin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Scottsdale Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Investment FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – David Allen Harbour, 50, of Scottsdale, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes, to eight years in prison. After a five-week trial, a jury convicted Harbour of crimes involving wire fraud and transactional money laundering on March 2, 2023. On March 7, 2023, Harbour also pleaded guilty to tax evasion, agreeing that he evaded more than $4 million in taxes.
According to the evidence introduced at trial, Harbour acted as a self-styled investment advisor and defrauded numerous investors between 2007 and 2021. Harbour misrepresented the nature of the various investments and omitted material facts. The total loss to investors exceeded $8 million. Harbour diverted money to pay for a lavish lifestyle including numerous private country club memberships, expensive jewelry, multimillion dollar vacation residences, private jet travel, speed boats, luxury vehicles, and extravagant parties that included a private concert at his 40th birthday party by the 1970’s rock band the Eagles. Some of these items were seized by the government during the investigation, including a Patek Philippe watch, a Rolex watch, gold and diamond jewelry, and two country club memberships. The proceeds from these items will be used towards partial restitution for the victims. At sentencing, the judge specifically increased Harbour’s sentence for his efforts at tampering with witnesses prior to trial by paying or attempting to pay them off in exchange for not testifying against him.
“The defendant will have eight years in federal prison to reflect on his long-term pattern of deception,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “Justice for the victims continues, as we work to determine the final amount of restitution, and to use the forfeited assets to restore some of the losses.”
“This eight-year prison sentence stands as a reminder that IRS CI will diligently investigate and hold accountable those who seek to defraud the American public,” said IRS CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick. “And, by teaming with our federal partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate corruption at every level.”
“This sentence sends a clear message that those who commit financial fraud will be held accountable,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis. “Investors should expect nothing less than complete candor and truth from their investment advisors. The FBI and our agency partners will continue to identify, investigate and pursue those who perpetrate criminal schemes for their own profit.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-00898-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-013_Harbour# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.San Diego Restaurant Owner Charged with Tax Fraud and COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – San Diego restaurant owner Leronce Suel was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges that he provided bogus information in applications for COVID relief programs and failed to report more than $1.7 million in revenue to the IRS.
According to the indictment, Leronce Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated a series of restaurants in the San Diego area. He allegedly conspired with his business partner to underreport the $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough LLC’s 2020 corporate tax return (Form 1120-S) filed with the IRS.
The indictment alleges that from March 2020 to June 2022, Suel and his business partner conspired to use the false corporate tax return for tax year 2020 to qualify for the COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program and Restaurant Revitalization Funding loans. Suel also made materially false certifications on loan applications regarding the use of the money. The indictment charges that Suel and his business partner made substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts to launder the fraudulently obtained funds. As part of the conspiracy, Suel and his business partner allegedly concealed more than $2.4 million in cash at their residence.
The indictment further alleges that Suel also failed to report personal income he received from his businesses, including millions of dollars in cash and personal expenses paid by his businesses. Suel allegedly failed to timely file his individual tax returns for tax year 2018 and 2019 and evaded his individual income taxes for tax year 2020. The indictment alleges that in 2023, Suel filed original and amended tax returns that included false depreciable assets and business losses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler of the Southern District of California and Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
*An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23-CR-965-RBM
Leronce Suel Age: 47 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine; forfeiture and restitution
Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine; forfeiture and restitution
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; $500,000 fine, and forfeiture
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States – 18 U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Tax Evasion – 26 U.S.C., Section 7201
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $100,000 fine; and restitution
Filing a False Tax Return – 26 U.S.C., Section 7206(1)
Maximum penalty: Three years in prison; $100,000 fine; and restitution
Failure to File a Tax Return – 26 U.S.C., Section 7203
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison; $25,000 fine; and restitution
AGENCY
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation
Salt Lake Trucking Group Owners Found Guilty in a Financial Fraud Conspiracy that Cost FedEx Ground $108MRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal jury convicted two owners of a local trucking conglomerate of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The defendants owned a group of trucking companies named Salt Lake Trucking Group (SLTG). According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants and their coconspirators paid over $300,000 in bribes to FedEx Ground employees, which resulted in SLTG receiving $108 million from FedEx over a ten-year period.
At the time of the conspiracy, the defendants, Yevgeny Felix Tuchinsky, 63, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was also a resident of San Diego, California; Konstantin Mikhaylovich Tomilin, 54, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was also a resident of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Tuchinsky and Tomilin owned and operated several trucking companies consolidated under SLTG.
At trial, the jury was presented with evidence that FedEx contracts with local trucking companies to haul FedEx packages in semitrucks. FedEx refers to these companies as contract service providers (CSPs). FedEx pays the CSPs by the mile. The defendants’ companies were among those local CSPs that picked up and delivered FedEx semitrailers full of packages at the FedEx Ground Hub in North Salt Lake. The CSPs provided the semitruck and driver that hauled the trailers to FedEx hubs and other facilities where the packages were eventually sorted for local delivery.
Beginning around 2009 and continuing to 2019, the defendants bribed FedEx employees in exchange for those employees providing more business to SLTG. Instead of competing fairly against other CSPs for FedEx business, SLTG bribed FedEx employees to obtain more miles and more money from FedEx. The bribes resulted in SLTG obtaining unearned FedEx business for over a decade.The defendants and their coconspirators also engaged in deceptive practices to conceal from FedEx that they were violating several FedEx policies and contractual provisions. And they bribed FedEx employees to help deceive FedEx and cover up their violations. These deceptive practices included creating shell companies and lying to FedEx about the true ownership of the companies. This concealed from FedEx that SLTG owned and operated the shell companies and that the shell companies shared the same owners, assets, trucks, and employees. The defendants and their coconspirators also lied to FedEx about dozens of SLTG drivers’ qualifications on FedEx applications. Further, the defendants and their coconspirators failed to honestly report accidents to FedEx. As established at trial, had FedEx known about SLTG’s bribery, true size, ownership, false driver applications, and accidents, FedEx would have terminated SLTG and its subsidiaries as CSPs.
The defendants’ bribery and lies resulting in SLTG receiving $108 million from FedEx. Tuchinsky personally gained $7 million and Tomilin personally gained over $4 million from the scheme.
“Before they delivered packages, these men and their teammates delivered cash bribes,” said Stephen Dent, Assistant United States Attorney during trial. “Before their trucks pulled away from the hub to go on a run, they lied and they bribed to even get that run. $108 million by cheating.”
Tuchinsky’s and Tomilin’s sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2024, before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Division, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Assistant United States Attorneys Cy H. Castle, Stephen P. Dent and Bryant L. Watson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah presented the case at trial.
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Richmond Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm with Machinegun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm affixed with a machinegun conversion device.
According to court documents, Ke’Rell Mileak Boone, 20, was arrested in the Whitcomb Court area on May 11, 2022. Boone and others were seen by Richmond Police detectives displaying firearms on a social media platform. Officers discovered two firearms on Boone—a standard semiautomatic pistol and a handgun with a machinegun conversion device affixed where the backplate should go. Boone had what appeared to be the legal backplate for the converted machinegun in his pocket and had further outfitted the machinegun with an extended magazine.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-109.
Representative John Rogers Charged with Additional Offenses in Fraud Case Involving the Jefferson County Community Service FundRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Representative John Rogers has been indicted again by a federal grand jury for additional offenses involving the fraud scheme against the Jefferson County Community Service Fund, including conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and making a false statement, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman.
A second superseding indictment filed this week in United States District Court charges John Westley Rogers, Jr., 83, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of mail fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, 3 counts of obstruction of justice, and aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to federal investigators. These charges arise from an investigation of wrongdoing in connection with the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. In June 2023, former Representative Fred L. Plump, Jr., pleaded guilty to conspiracy in connection with the scheme and resigned from the Alabama House of Representatives.
According to the second superseding indictment, in 2015 the Alabama Legislature passed Alabama Act No. 2015-226 (the “Act”) and authorized the Jefferson County Commission to levy and distribute a one-percent sales tax and a one-percent use tax to benefit the public welfare and enhance the education of the children of Jefferson County. Jefferson County began levying the new taxes in or about August 2017. The Act required the County to distribute the tax revenue according to certain specified priorities, including paying debt incurred during school construction, increasing the County’s general fund, giving funds to each board of education serving students in the County, and carrying out other purposes set forth in the Act.
The Act created the Jefferson County Community Service Fund (the “Fund”), which was subsidized by approximately $3.6 million annually from the new taxes. The Act also created the Jefferson County Community Service Committee (the “Committee”), the four members of which were elected by members of the Jefferson County House and Senate delegations. The Committee was responsible for ensuring that the Fund was used only for the purposes set forth in the Act, which included supporting public entities and projects such as schools, libraries, museums, parks, zoos, neighborhood associations, athletic facilities, youth sports associations, road construction, the performing arts, police departments, the sheriff’s office, fire departments, and certain nonprofit entities. Each Representative and Senator representing Jefferson County could make recommendations to the Committee of expenditures from their allotted amount of the Fund. These recommendations were made on a form created by the Committee that required certain certifications by the legislator. The organization receiving the funds was required to submit information about the organization and confirm that it intended to use the money for a public purpose. During each fiscal year from 2018 to 2022, each Representative was allocated approximately $100,000, and each Senator was allocated approximately $240,000 from the Fund.
The second superseding indictment identifies certain relevant parties. Defendant John Rogers was a long-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives. Fred L. Plump, Jr. served as the Executive Director of the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League (“Piper Davis”), a nonprofit organization that claimed to provide a positive sporting experience for inner-city youth in Jefferson County. Defendant Varrie Johnson Kindall was Rogers’s personal and professional assistant.
Between fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2022, defendant Rogers was allocated approximately $500,000 by the Fund. Rogers directed approximately $400,000 of those discretionary funds to Piper Davis. In turn, Plump gave approximately $200,000 to Rogers and Kindall as a kickback.
The second superseding indictment alleges that, from in or about March 2019 through April 2023, Rogers and Kindall conspired with Plump to defraud and obtain money from the Fund. It is alleged that it was part of the conspiracy that Rogers, with Kindall’s assistance, recommended during each fiscal year that most of his allotment of Fund money be paid to Piper Davis. In turn, Plump agreed to pay kickbacks to Rogers and Kindall. Rogers, Kindall, and Plump submitted false and fraudulent information to the Committee about Piper Davis’s intended use of Fund money; and Rogers’s certifications on the request forms were false. Upon receipt and deposit of Fund checks, Plump gave checks to Rogers and Kindall for approximately one-half of the amount of Fund money received by Piper Davis.
Additionally, the second superseding indictment alleges that, after learning about the federal investigation into the fraud scheme, Rogers and Kindall attempted to obstruct justice by offering a witness grant money as a bribe and otherwise trying to corruptly persuade the witness to give false information to federal agents. It is also alleged that Rogers and Kindall agreed that she would accept full responsibility for the crimes and falsely tell federal investigators that Rogers did not participate in the scheme in exchange for Rogers’s promise to take care of personal issues for Kindall if she went to prison. As part of that agreement, Rogers had Kindall give false statements to investigators and prosecutors during a meeting at the United States Attorney’s Office on May 25, 2023.
The maximum penalty for the fraud conspiracy and substantive fraud counts is twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to obstruct justice is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice is twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice by bribery is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for making a false statement is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from investigators from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine Crosby and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Reading Man Who Shot at FBI Agents Convicted at Trial of Three Counts of Attempted Murder of a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Rafael Vega-Rodriguez, 41, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was convicted today at trial of three counts of attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer, three counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and two related firearms charges, stemming from an incident during which he shot at and tried to kill three FBI Special Agents.
On March 1, 2020, FBI Special Agents were conducting surveillance in the area of Gordon Street in Reading, looking for the defendant, who was the subject of an active state arrest warrant for a parole violation. At approximately 11:45 p.m., the agents saw the defendant walking in the area of West Greenwich Street with a second individual. When the agents attempted to stop him, Vega-Rodriguez drew a handgun from under his sweatshirt and shot at them. He continued to shoot as he and the second individual fled from the scene.
After an intense manhunt, investigators discovered that Vega-Rodriguez had fled to Leola, Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles southwest of Reading. He was arrested there by FBI Special Agents and Pennsylvania State Police Troopers in the early morning hours of March 3, 2020.
“Rafael Vega-Rodriguez was so determined not to be arrested and go back to prison that he immediately opened fire on approaching FBI agents,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “It’s incredibly fortunate that none of the agents, or anyone else for that matter, was hit. When Vega-Rodriguez pulled the trigger that night, he sealed his own fate, and now faces spending the rest of his life behind bars.”
"Every day, FBI agents put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "Let this verdict serve as a clear message that if you commit an act of violence against a federal agent, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel, Assistant United States Attorney Everett Witherell, and former Assistant United States Attorney Mary Futcher.
Queens Man Charged with Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joseph Osei, a/k/a “Kyngjo,” age 29, of Jamaica, New York, has been indicted on mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for fraudulently obtain pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that from about August 2020 through November 2020, Osei fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits worth more than $100,000 in the names of four other people. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The mail fraud charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Osei appeared yesterday in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, New York, and was released pending an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel that is scheduled for February 6, 2024 in Albany.
This case is being investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Pomona Hospital Agrees to Pay More Than $2 Million after Self-Reporting Overbilling of Medi-Cal for Prescription MedicationsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has agreed to pay nearly $2.1 million to resolve allegations that it overbilled Medi-Cal for prescription medication purchased and reimbursed under a federal drug pricing program, the Justice Department announced today.
The settlement agreement finalized on Wednesday is the result of voluntary disclosures Pomona Valley made in 2021 and 2023. After an internal audit, Pomona Valley determined that it overbilled the United States and California, which jointly fund Medi-Cal, a government-funded program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals in California.
According to the settlement agreement, from December 2016 through September 2021, Pomona Valley improperly charged higher “usual and customary” costs, rather than lower “actual acquisition costs,” as required under the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient medication to eligible health care organizations at significantly reduced prices.
The overbilling allegedly resulted from Pomona Valley billing for its usual costs following a federal court’s temporary stay of the implementation of the California law requiring 340B providers to bill Medi-Cal at actual acquisition cost rates. But once the court lifted the temporary ban, Pomona Valley failed to implement actual acquisition cost pricing.
Pomona Valley ultimately overbilled the United States and California approximately $1.4 million. Pomona Valley has agreed to pay the United States $873,730 and California $1,225,954 to resolve the allegations, bringing the total settlement amount to nearly $2.1 million.
After making its voluntary disclosure, Pomona Valley cooperated with the investigation by federal and state authorities.
The settlement was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorney Jack D. Ross and auditor Gabriel Lam of the Civil Fraud Section, along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General and the California Department of Justice.
The settled claims are allegations only, and Pomona Valley has not admitted any wrongdoing.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing a loaded firearm as a previously convicted felon, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Dijuan Taylor, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of a firearm under federal law before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, following a traffic stop in Hazelwood on November 21, 2022, Taylor dropped a loaded firearm with extended magazine from his body. Taylor, who was previously convicted of earlier felony offenses, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Judge Fischer scheduled Taylor’s sentencing for May 6, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and up to three years of federal supervised release following incarceration. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
The Court continued to detain Taylor pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Taylor.
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.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Charles Bernard Long (43, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. Long faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on May 20 and June 1, 2023, undercover investigators downloaded child sexual abuse images through a file sharing program from a device using the internet protocol address at Long’s residence.
On August 10, 2023, FBI investigators executed a search warrant at Long’s residence and seized his digital media devices. A forensic review of those devices found approximately 260 files of child sexual abuse material, some depicting children as young as six years old.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Orange County felon sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas– An Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Lance Steven Allen Jefferson, 36, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Feb. 1, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on May 11, 2023, Jefferson was stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation on IH-10 in Beaumont. Jefferson told officers he had marijuana in the center console of the vehicle as well as a firearm under the seat. During a search of Jefferson’s vehicle, officers discovered a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat that had been reported stolen in Orange. Further investigation revealed Jefferson was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.
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Operators of High-End Brothel Network Indicted by Grand JuryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three individuals previously arrested and charged in November 2023 in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston, Mass.
The following individuals have each been indicted on one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and one count of money laundering conspiracy:
- Han Lee, a/k/a “Hana,” 41, of Cambridge, Mass.;
- James Lee, 68, of Torrance, Calif.; and
- Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Mass.
According to the charging documents, from at least July 2020, the defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Mass., as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Va. It is alleged that the defendants collectively established the infrastructure for brothels in multiple states which they used to persuade, induce and entice women – primarily Asian women – to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution.
Specifically, the defendants allegedly rented high-end apartment complexes as brothel locations, which they furnished and regularly maintained. It is further alleged that the defendants coordinated the women’s airline travel and transportation and permitted women to stay overnight in the brothel locations so they did not have to find lodging elsewhere, therefore enticing women to participate in their prostitution network. According to court documents, the defendants established house rules for the women during their stays in a given city to protect and maintain the secrecy of the business and ensure that the women did not draw attention to the prostitution work inside apartment buildings.
The defendants allegedly advertised their prostitution network primarily on two websites – bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog – which offered appointments with women in either greater Boston or eastern Virginia, respectively. It is alleged that the defendants purchased and registered the bostontop10.com domain in August 2016. Both websites purported to advertise nude models for professional photography at upscale studios as a front for prostitution offered through appointments.
According to court documents, each website described a verification process that interested sex buyers undertook to be eligible for appointment bookings– including requiring clients complete a form providing their full names, email address, phone number, employer and reference if they had one. It is alleged that the defendants persuaded the women to work for this prostitution network because the business maintained a regular customer base of men that were adequately screened, ensuring that the customers were not members of law enforcement or men who posed a risk to the safety and security of the commercial sex workers.
It is further alleged that the defendants maintained local brothel phone numbers which they used to communicate with verified customers and schedule appointments via text messages; send customers a “menu” of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate; and to text customers directions to the brothel’s location where they engaged in commercial sex with the women.
According to the charging documents, the defendants charged sex buyers a premium price for appointments with the women advertised on their websites, which ranged from approximately $350 to upwards of $600 per hour depending on the services and were paid in cash.
The defendants also allegedly concealed the proceeds of the prostitution network through depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into their personal bank accounts and peer-to-peer transfers. Additionally, it is alleged that the defendants regularly used hundreds of thousands of dollars of the cash proceeds from the prostitution business to purchase money orders (in values under an amount that would trigger reporting and identification requirements) to conceal the source of the funds. These money orders were then used to pay for rent and utilities at brothel locations in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should contact [email protected].
The charge of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of funds laundered, whatever is greater. 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Central District of California; Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. Postal Service; and Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquelle Kaye, of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
One Defendant Sentenced to Prison and Another Ordered Detained Pretrial This Week in Separate Cyberstalking CasesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Washington, Pennsylvania, man was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was ordered detained in separate cyberstalking cases this week, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Eric Scholl, 56, of Washington was sentenced on January 31, 2024, by United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to two years in prison and three years of supervised release after his incarceration. Scholl was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim, his ex-wife, whom he admitted cyberstalking after she had obtained a Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse (PFA) order against him. Among other things, Scholl placed a GPS tracking device on the victim’s car to track her movements; directed harassing and intimidating emails, texts, and phone calls to her, including using a web-based service that allowed him to disguise his phone number; and posted lewd content about her on the internet.
On February 1, 2024, Daniel Marsico, 37, of Pittsburgh was ordered detained pretrial after a contested detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge. Marsico was indicted and arrested last week on a charge of carrying out an extensive cyberstalking campaign against his ex-girlfriend over several years, despite her having obtained a PFA order against him. According to the Indictment and evidence presented at the detention hearing, over the course of three and a half years, Marsico harassed, threatened, and intimidated his ex-girlfriend by stalking her through text messages, phone calls, online activity, and in-person confrontations.
A third recent stalking case brought by the United States Attorney’s Office saw Daniel Larivee, 48, of Plainfield, Vermont, charged with cyberstalking in November 2023. According to the Indictment, Larivee continually cyberstalked, harassed, and threatened his ex-wife, who lives in Pittsburgh, for more than three years, also in violation of a PFA order, threatening to kill her multiple times. In his most recent string of threats, Larivee compared himself to the shooter in the recent mass-shooting tragedy in Maine. He is also currently detained pretrial.
“These recent prosecutions reflect our office’s unwavering commitment to combatting the rise in this devastating criminal behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Those who choose to engage in relentless cyberstalking campaigns against traumatized victims cannot hide behind their computers or cell phones. Working together with our dedicated partners in law enforcement, we will find them, bring them out from the shadows, and hold them accountable under federal law.”
“The victims in these cases did not let fear silence them,” said FBI Pittsburgh Division Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “While they suffered from fear and emotional distress, they courageously came forward and took legal action to file court orders of protection, but continued to be victimized by the defendants online. The FBI urges victims of online threats to report the crime. We are committed to investigating these cowardly acts.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting these three cyberstalking cases on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigations leading to the Indictments in these cases. Marsico and Larivee are presumed innocent of the charge against them unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
January 2024 marked the 20th annual National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), an annual call to action to recognize and respond to this criminal, traumatic, and dangerous victimization. This year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania joined with others to help spread awareness about stalking through the theme “Know It, Name It, Stop It.” If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of stalking, help is available. Contact your local service provider or a national hotline:
• Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Additional information and resources are available through the Stalking Prevention Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), at www.StalkingAwareness.org, a project funded by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Salvador Perez, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 2, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for two charges – (1) conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and (2) possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Perez to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perez’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Omaha police received information from a cooperator that co-defendant Miguel Avalos-Diaz was distributing meth and cocaine. Police used the cooperator to make three “controlled buys” from Avalos-Diaz in February and March of 2022.
After the third drug deal, police searched a residence in south Omaha near Bellevue on March 30, 2022. Inside, officers encountered and arrested Avalos-Diaz and Perez. Police seized approximately 2.5 pounds of meth, more than $36,000 in cash, and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Officers also found evidence of cocaine distribution in the residence, including six digital scales, cutting agents, a vacuum sealer, and small amounts of cocaine packaged in baggies. Review of both defendants’ Facebook messages dating back to December 2021 revealed a conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine throughout the time period of the messages.
A total of $36,598 in cash has been forfeited to the United States as proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. An Audi sedan, registered to Perez and driven by Avalos-Diaz to the controlled buys, has also been forfeited as property that facilitated illegal drug trafficking.
Avalos-Diaz, 27, of Omaha was sentenced to 260 months’ imprisonment on November 30, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Oglala Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 25, 2024.
Bradley Two Eagle, 24, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, follow by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Two Eagle was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.
The conviction stems from Two Eagle, while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly being in possession of a Taurus International 9 mm caliber semi-automatic handgun in Rapid City in June of 2023.
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 investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Two Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Prescription SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Debora Ryder (56, New Port Richey) to three years in federal prison for drug conspiracy. Ryder entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2023. She has also agreed to forfeit her nursing licenses.
According to court documents, Ryder was a Florida-licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), registered nurse (RN), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrant who conspired with another individual to distribute controlled substances in the names of individuals without lawful authority. As an APRN and DEA registrant, Ryder had the authority to issue prescriptions for controlled substances, however, she knew her licensing became delinquent on July 31, 2022, making her ineligible to issue controlled substances.
From August to September 2022, Ryder conspired with another individual, who provided Ryder with more than a dozen identifications and driver licenses for Ryder’s use, to issue prescriptions for promethazine with codeine and oxycodone without any medical evaluation. Ryder received cash and electronic payments in exchange for each controlled substance prescription she issued. Records revealed Ryder issued approximately 84 illegal prescriptions during the conspiracy.
Additionally, between January 2021 and August 2022, Ryder illegally issued 34 oxycodone and hydromorphone prescriptions in the name of J.R., Ryder’s deceased husband who died in 2018.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Tampa District Office) and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.