Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 20 December 2023
Cocaine trafficker sentenced to two decades in federal prisonRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: An Evans County, Ga., man has been sentenced to two decades in federal prison for distributing cocaine as part of a major drug trafficking network.
Tony Deshawn Slater, 52, of Claxton, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Cocaine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal hall also fined Slater $2,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We’re gratified at the number of law enforcement agencies from such a large geographic area coordinating their efforts to identify and disrupt this major drug distribution network,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Together we will continue to hold accountable those who endanger our communities by distributing illegal drugs.”
Slater was one of 32 defendants named in the November 2022 indictment in USA v. Morales-Jimenez et al., the culmination of an investigation dubbed Operation Carpet Ride. The investigation identified drug trafficking operations spanning Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Richmond, and Tattnall counties, and elsewhere, from as early as January 2016. The conspiracy is alleged to have imported large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs from Mexico and the Caribbean for distribution in the Southern District.
Slater, with multiple prior convictions for distributing and possessing cocaine and other drugs, pled guilty in May to Distribution of Cocaine. The investigation also revealed that Slater possessed firearms and maintained a premises for purposes of distributing a controlled substance. About half of the defendants in Operation Carpet Ride have been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to the conspiracy, while the remaining defendants await further legal action.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; United States Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security Investigations; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; The Savannah Chatham Narcotics Team; the Puerto Rico State Police; the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office; the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office; the Evans County Sheriff’s Office; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; the Barceloneta Police Department; the Claxton Police Department; Statesboro Police; and the Glennville Police Department; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Chinese national admits to possessing multiple child pornography videosRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Chinese national has been convicted for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On or about May 8, Tong Sun attempted to illegally enter the country in an area near Roma. Law enforcement took him into custody, at which time they discovered several videos that constituted child sexual abuse material or child pornography on his phone.
One of the videos depicted a child who appeared to be younger than five years of age.
Sun admitted to ownership of the phone and to possessing the child sexual abuse material.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 25, 2024. At that time, Sun faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Chesapeake Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking MinorsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for sex trafficking two minors.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Denzel Akeem Loftin, 32, began chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 17-year-old girl living in Pennsylvania. Loftin said he was a pimp and proposed that the girl come to Virginia to work for him. The next month, he posted advertisements for her on online sex trafficking sites. Then, in October 2022, the FBI learned of a 14-year-old missing child from Colorado who had been located in sex trafficking advertisements in the Hampton Roads area. Law enforcement set up a “date” for commercial sex with the 14-year-old and another juvenile. Loftin was observed with the girl and two other female individuals immediately before the “date.” One of the other individuals was identified as a missing 17-year-old from Missouri. A review of seized electronic devices revealed that Loftin not only sex-trafficked the minor, but himself engaged in a sex act with the 17-year-old. The 14-year-old also reported witnessing Loftin inflict physical violence on the 17-year-old, including hitting her in the mouth for “talking back.”
Emerita Moore, 24, of Norfolk, assisted Loftin by acting as his “bottom”, or the female who supervises the girls being trafficked. When Loftin recruited the children online, Moore spoke to them in advance to make them comfortable in coming to work for Loftin and assisted in arranging their travel to EDVA. Moore was arrested after arriving for the commercial sex appointment set up by law enforcement, in the company of the 14-year-old and 17-year-old minors. Moore was sentenced to 5 years in prison on November 7.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
The Chesapeake Police Department provided significant assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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 Nos. 2:23-cr-44 and 2:23-cr-47.
Cameron County resident imprisoned for enticing children and alien smugglingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 43-year-old man has been ordered to prison for enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography and transportation of undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Paz Gomez-Magdaleno pleaded guilty on March 1.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now sentenced Gomez-Magdaleno to 60, 120 and 240 months for the transportation of undocumented aliens, possession of child pornography and enticement of a minor convictions, respectively. At the hearing, the court heard Gomez had child pornography of relatives and minors from the local community. In addition, Gomez had obtained images of child pornography from minors over the internet from interactions through various social media apps. Gomez will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Gomez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date.
On Jan. 28, 2021, Gomez drove his tractor-trailer to the primary inspection lane at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita. A K-9 alerted to the vehicle indicating there were potential individuals concealed inside the trailer of the vehicle.
Upon further inspection, authorities discovered 20 undocumented aliens in the trailer and two cell phones within the vehicle.
Law enforcement obtained search warrants for the cell phones and discovered them to contain images and videos of child pornography. Authorities further discovered Gomez engaging in numerous conversations on different messaging apps.
An investigation revealed Gomez sought out minors to send him explicit photos and videos in exchange for money and gifts.
Gomez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of the Border Patrol and Cameron County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and John Marck prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Buffalo man going to prison on cocaine convictions in two separate casesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Augustin Ramos, 42, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in two separate cases, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that in June 2018, investigators intercepted a package mailed from Puerto Rico, which contained approximately 2,986 grams of cocaine. The content of the package was replaced with sham and a transmitter to alert law enforcement when the package was opened. On June 18, 2018, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the residence of a co-conspirator. After an individual at the address accepted the package, Ramos made arrangements to retrieve the package. In May 2021, Ramos pleaded guilty to attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
On April 18, 2022, while he was awaiting sentencing on the attempt to possess charge, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Ramos’s Buffalo residence, and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpinato, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
# # # #
Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Antonio Vargas, age 58, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today in connection with a scheme to defraud five banks by using fake identifications to fraudulently withdraw funds at bank branches throughout the Capital Region.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Vargas pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He admitted that in June and July 2022, he presented counterfeit U.S. passport cards and driver’s licenses with his photograph, but with the names and other personal information of real customers of Trustco Bank, Pioneer Bank, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Adirondack Trust Bank and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. He fraudulently withdrew a total of $58,000 from the customers’ accounts in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady Counties.
Vargas was arrested by Saratoga Springs Police Department on July 13, 2022, after he unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw funds from a Saratoga National Bank branch, and has remained in federal custody since then.
Vargas is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2024, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. The bank fraud conviction carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $1 million. The aggravated identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. The court may also require Vargas to serve a term of supervised release of up to 5 years to begin after imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the New York State Police, the U.S. Secret Service, Bethlehem Police Department, North Greenbush Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs Police Department and Scotia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon is prosecuting this case.
Braintree Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Money Laundering RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Braintree man pleaded guilty today in connection with an elaborate money laundering conspiracy.
Chengzou Liu, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2024.
In July 2022, Liu was charged along with seven others in connection with elaborate money laundering and money transmitting conspiracies allegedly led by two of Liu’s co-conspirators Qiu Mei Zeng and Shi Rong Zhang.
According to the charging documents, Zeng and Zhang co-owned China Gourmet, a restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. Zhang was also a registered owner of Wonderful Electronics, an electronics and restaurant supply business based in Hanover. It is alleged that the defendants used these businesses to run a large-scale money laundering and money transmitting operation that involved the laundering of drug proceeds and proceeds from stolen and/or fraudulent gift cards.
Liu was a large-scale marijuana trafficker who laundered his drug proceeds through China Gourmet. On at least three occasions, Liu was observed delivering bags of cash that contained tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds to the restaurant, which then wired to accounts in the U.S. and China. Specifically, it is alleged that Liu delivered the bags of cash to Zeng, who then sent electronic transfers of these funds to various accounts in China provided by Liu.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Braintree Police Chief Tim Cohoon; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Berryville Man Sentenced to more than 41 Years in Federal Prison on Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Berryville man was sentenced on December 18, 2023, to 500 months in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of Traveling with the Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Acts with two minor males and for Distributing Child Pornography. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
In May 2022, the Arkansas FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force received a lead from the FBI Kansas City Division that a subject under investigation admitted that he was trading child pornography online with an individual later identified as Ricky Gunter Hilburn, age 42, of Berryville and that Hilburn had even bragged about sexually abusing a minor male. A search warrant was obtained and executed at Hilburn’s residence, resulting in multiple digital devices being confiscated and Hilburn being arrested. A subsequent forensic examination of the electronic devices seized from Hilburn’s residence confirmed that Hilburn was trafficking child pornography images to others online. Further investigation revealed that Hilburn had groomed two minor males in Oklahoma and would travel across state lines to engage in sexual activity with them. At sentencing, the United States Attorney’s Office presented the Court with evidence that Hilburn had groomed a third minor male and engaged in sexual contact with him on multiple occasions.
Hilburn was indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District in March of 2023 and entered a plea of guilty in June 2023.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Arkansas FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Berryville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER POLLER, 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 3, 2022, Waterbury Police traveled to Poller’s residence to issue an arrest warrant for Poller and to conduct a court-authorized search of the residence. Upon arrival, investigators observed Poller conduct suspected drug transactions from his vehicle, and then enter his residence. Poller was arrested, and a search of his vehicle revealed two loaded handguns, more than 500 dose bags of fentanyl, and approximately 39 grams of crack cocaine.
Poller’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics distribution, larceny, assault, escape, and weapons possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Poller has been detained since his arrest. On August 14, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Armed Robeson County Drug Trafficker and Prior Federal Felon Who Escaped Custody Sentenced to 25 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Bruce Carroll Callahan, Jr., aka “Hoss,” an armed Robeson County drug trafficker and prior federal felon who bragged to investigators about being the “biggest” drug dealer in Robeson County, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and crack sourced from Honduras and Mexico in Eastern North Carolina. Callahan claimed to have access to over twenty kilograms of narcotics at any time.
While awaiting trial and prior to his September 26, 2023, guilty plea, Callahan, age 45, escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia where he was being held. He was discovered missing on May 1, 2023, and apprehended on May 9, 2023, just a few miles from the jail. Callahan was convicted for his prison escape and sentenced to 20 months in custody followed by three years of supervised release.
“This is the fourth sentence of 25 years or more stemming from drug trafficking in Robeson County in just over a month,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We and the ATF are partnering with local law enforcement to put dangerous drug traffickers like Callahan behind bars. Drug traffickers can run, but not for long.”
“This arrest underscores our efforts and commitment to combat the drug trafficking trade,” says Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “Violent crime and overdose deaths are at an all-time high, and it is collaborative efforts such as this that will improve the quality of life in Robeson County.”
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and our local, state and federal partners remain committed to addressing the most serious threats to our communities, including the gun violence often linked to drug trafficking networks,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing those responsible to justice has an immediate impact on the level of gun violence and violent crime in our area.”
“The United States Marshals Service, through its long-standing federal, state, and local partnerships ensures that violent fugitives are continuously pursued, discretely located, and safely arrested,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn McNeill for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The investigation and capture of Callahan is yet another example of those efforts.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) and ATF launched an investigation into Callahan and his drug trafficking operation in 2021 after receiving numerous community reports that he was selling drugs in the Fairmont area of Robeson County. During the summer of 2021, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine and crack from Callahan’s residence.
In September 2021, law enforcement arranged for a controlled purchase of two kilograms of fentanyl from Callahan. Callahan’s Honduran suppliers arranged for co-defendants Rony Lardi-Ortiz and Jefferson Marin Funez to deliver the fentanyl to Callahan’s Fairmont residence on September 16, 2021. Lardi-Ortiz and Funez have previously pled guilty and have been sentenced to 120 months and 126 months respectively for their role in the conspiracy.
After Callahan received the two kilograms of fentanyl from Lardi-Ortiz and Funez, they left Callahan’s residence, travelling north on Interstate 95 to deliver the fentanyl. RCSO deputies conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle. Though Callahan and his co-defendants attempted to jump out of the vehicle and flee, they were quickly apprehended. Investigators located the two kilograms of fentanyl sitting on the back seat in Callahan’s vehicle. A search warrant was then executed at Callahan’s residence where a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base were seized along with items used to package drugs for sale and a .45 caliber handgun.
Callahan pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and crack; possession with intent to distribute four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl; and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Callahan’s prior felony convictions include a 2003 federal conviction for possession of firearm by a felon in addition to several convictions in Robeson County Superior Court for felonious assaults, trafficking cocaine, and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lumberton Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
The other recent Robeson County cases yielding sentences of 25 years or more include:
- Antonio Lavonne Locklear, who received a 25-year sentence drug trafficking;
- Aaron Albert Goode, a convicted murderer who received a 30-year sentence for drug trafficking; and
- Clarence Jamar Graham, who received a 25-year sentence for trafficking fentanyl.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-0138-D-1.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme to Steal Money from U.S. Bank AccountsRead the Press Release
An Arizona man pleaded guilty today in San Diego federal court to conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
According to court documents, Luis Ramirez, 42, of Mesa, helped to obtain “leads” for fraudsters who sought to steal money from the bank accounts of unknowing U.S. victims. The “leads” consisted of financial information for the prospective victims that included bank account numbers. Ramirez and his coconspirators used “leads” that originated from payday loan applications of consumers across the United States. As part of his guilty plea, Ramirez admitted that more than $1.5 million in loss was reasonably foreseeable to him.
“Those who knowingly supply fraudsters with personal and financial information about potential victims cause enormous harm to the American public,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who sell such information for illicit purposes.”
“The Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting American consumers,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “In this case, small transactions were used to conceal the scheme, but that wasn’t enough to fool postal inspectors or keep us from adding it all together to put a halt to this fraud.”
Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Related cases against other scheme participants have previously been filed in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas. In May, a grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment charging 14 defendants with RICO conspiracy and other charges in the Central District of California. The indictment alleges that the defendants and associates debited consumers’ bank accounts without authorization and used shell entities and “micro debits” to conceal the activity from banks. “Micro debits” serve to conceal fraud by grouping unauthorized charges with a large number of low-value, straw transactions to lower the fraudster’s chargeback rate. Another scheme participant, Harold Sobel, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in federal court in Las Vegas. In December 2022, Sobel was sentenced to 42 months in prison.
USPIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang, Meredith Healy and Amy Kaplan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Central and Southern Districts of California.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Alton Man Sentenced to 222 months’ imprisonment for Distribution of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Escape from an Institution, and Conspiracy to Possess Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Alton, Illinois, man, Randy Bull, 41, was sentenced on December 13, 2023, to 222 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to escape from an institution, and conspiracy to possess contraband in prison.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that the Bull sold over 72.6 grams of ice methamphetamine in July of 2020. After he was taken into custody, and while detained at the Sangamon County Jail, Bull and three others engaged in a conspiracy to break Bull, and inmate James Russwinkel, out of the county jail by breaking a cell window.
During the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless found that Bull was responsible, based on his own admissions, for an additional 11,453.12 grams of methamphetamine, along with the 72.6 grams he had sold. Judge Lawless specifically noted that Bull’s long history of violence and the need to protect the community warranted the extended prison term.
Bull pleaded guilty to both cases on May 25, 2023. He was originally detained as part of the distribution case on August 12, 2020.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are fifteen years to life imprisonment and a $20,000,000 fine. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to escape and conspiracy to possess contraband are not more than five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Illinois State Police Central Illinois Enforcement Group investigated the defendant’s distribution case. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office investigated the attempted escape. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Bull 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.
Albion, Nebraska Man Sentenced to more than 8 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jake Brian Spiegel, 42, of Albion, Nebraska, was sentenced December 20, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Spiegel to 105 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Spiegel’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On May 28, 2022, Spiegel was arrested after being found in possession of over 50 grams of meth. He posted bond and was arrested again on June 12, 2022, in Merrick County, Nebraska, after being found in possession of more than 50 grams of meth. Shortly after Spiegel’s arrest, codefendant Cheryl Ann Gonzalez arrived at the scene and was arrested after she was found in possession of more than 150 grams of meth. Gonzalez told law enforcement that she was intending to deliver the meth in her possession to Spiegel. Gonzalez has a motion pending and a trial date will be scheduled after its resolution.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Tuesday 19 December 2023
Woman Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Assault of Five-Year-OldRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thaniyyah Veney, 33, pleaded guilty today to driving a car into a five-year-old girl who was standing on the sidewalk waiting for a bus with her father in July 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Veney pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of aggravated assault while armed with a vehicle. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2024, before the Honorable Jason Park. Veney is being held pending sentencing.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of Saturday, July 8, 2023, the five-year-old was with her father waiting for a bus in the 3200 block of Fourth Street, SE. At around 1 p.m., a car driven by Veney, drove into the child and her father as they stood on the sidewalk. Veney’s car drove over the child and continued traveling until it struck the front steps of a home. When the vehicle stopped, Veney got out and walked to a nearby alley. She left the child trapped beneath her car.
Using a makeshift lever fashioned from a ladder, firefighters were able to raise the car enough to extract the child, who was then airlifted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with life-threatening injuries. Hours after the incident, the defendant’s breath was tested and found to contain an alcohol concentration above the per se threshold for intoxication.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Relating to Firearms Trafficking and Distribution of Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) New York Division, and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that a grand jury returned a five-count Indictment charging JYSHUN TROWER with transporting and selling over 40 firearms in New York and TROWER and STIVEN ARTURO MARTINEZ NIN with conspiracy to distribute large quantities of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl. TROWER and MARTINEZ NIN were arrested on Thursday, December 14, 2023, and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on Friday, December 15, 2023. The case is assigned to the Honorable Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jyshun Trower and Stiven Arturo Martinez Nin are charged with having allegedly peddled two of the deadliest threats to New Yorkers—illegal firearms and fentanyl. The firearms recovered by law enforcement included military-style assault weapons, and the drugs seized included more than a kilogram of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing deadly fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. I want to thank the law enforcement agents who investigated this case for their tireless work resulting in today’s charges and reiterate this Office’s commitment to ensuring that those who flood the streets with deadly guns and drugs will be brought to justice.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “This indictment shows that the dangerous work conducted by the NYPD and our law enforcement partners is effective, and that the proliferation of illegal guns and drugs on our streets continues. I thank all the members of the OCDETF and the office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said: “This investigation resulted in 43 firearms and thousands of fake pills containing fentanyl being taken off the streets and exemplifies law enforcement’s oath to safeguard our communities. I commend the men and women from NYPD, DEA, HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their diligent work on this investigation.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “The defendants are accused of crimes that threaten not only the lives of those purchasing these counterfeit drugs, but also potential victims of gun violence in New York City. HSI New York is proud to work closely with our law enforcement partners, including the members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, every day in preventing deadly narcotics and weapons from reaching the streets and the community.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and Complaint:[1]
From on or about May 3, 2023, through on or about December 14, 2023, JYSHUN TROWER illegally transported and sold firearms in Manhattan and the New York City area. In almost a dozen transactions, TROWER illegally sold approximately 43 firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent and others. The firearms included multiple semiautomatic pistols, semiautomatic rifles, assault style rifles and pistols, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, a ghost gun, and components used to convert a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic pistol, also known as a machine gun. Images of several of the firearms that TROWER sold are below.
Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on July 31, 2023.
Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on August 17, 2023.
Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on August 25, 2023.
Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on September 29, 2023.
In addition, TROWER and MARTINEZ NIN conspired to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover law enforcement agent. TROWER had also arranged with the undercover agent to include several firearms in the transaction. On or about December 14, 2023, TROWER and MARTINEZ NIN arrived at the sale location. Law enforcement apprehended TROWER. MARTINEZ NIN attempted to flee on foot and discard a bag containing over one kilogram of pills and their packaging.
* * *
JYSHUN TROWER, 27, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is charged with one count of illegally dealing firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of illegally transporting and distributing firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, one count of using and carrying firearms while engaging in the narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of attempted transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
STIVEN ARTURO MARTINEZ NIN, 24, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, DEA New York Division, and HSI New York Field Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Daniels is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint 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 Complaint, and the description of the Indictment and Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced two men to each spend ten years in federal prison after both were charged in a law enforcement sting to detect online child predators.
Timmy Wayne Smith, 59, of McLeansboro, Illinois, and Joseph Randall Edmaiston, 37, of Clinton, Kentucky, each pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor.
“Although both men fully intended to sexually abuse a child, they were apprehended by law enforcement after interacting online with a purported 15-year-old girl who was actually an undercover agent,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This proactive operation successfully detected child predators lurking online, and I appreciate the actions of the officers to put these offenders in federal prison.”
In August 2020, law enforcement agents conducted an undercover investigation to detect child predators where an agent created an online profile of a purported 15-year-old girl. According to court documents, Smith and Edmaiston both interacted with the undercover profile and discussed plans to engage in sexual conduct with the purported child.
“The ease of online interaction increases the likelihood that a predator will engage your child with the intent to harm them,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Shannon Fontenot.” It is imperative that parents and caregivers establish safety guidelines for children and monitor who they talk to online. The FBI’s proactive efforts help to thwart the attempts of those looking to do harm, but prevention can go a long way in avoiding a tragedy all together.”
Smith and Edmaiston were each arrested by police after both men traveled to a home in Marion, Illinois, for the sexual encounter. Following the federal prison sentence, both men will each serve five years of supervised release.
FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Illinois State Police, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the Herrin Police Department, and the Marion Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Bloodworth and David Sanders prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Two Jamestown residents plead guilty for their roles in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Savannah Gross, 31, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, $10,000,000 fine. In addition, Kyle Lewis, 34, also of Jamestown, pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Gross and her boyfriend, co-defendant Richard Philbrick, bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and their own use. The couple used and maintained residences on Newland Avenue in Jamestown, for the purposes of their drug trafficking activities. During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Gross.
Defendant Lewis distributed amounts of heroin and fentanyl, sourced in part from Richard Philbrick. He utilized electronic media to facilitate his drug trafficking activities, including social media and cash applications. Investigators made five controlled purchases of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lewis during the investigation.
Richard Philbrick was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
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.
The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing for Gross and Lewis will be scheduled at a later date.
# # # #
Two East Bay Insurance Executives and Investment Advisor Charged with Fraud Tied to Insurance Company CollapseRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging Jasbir S. Thandi, Sandeep Sahota, and Jaspreet Padda with insurance fraud crimes related to the collapse of Global Hawk Risk Retention Group, an insurance company headquartered in Livermore, California, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and San Francisco Division Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.
According to the indictment, Thandi 67, of El Sobrante, was the president and treasurer of Global Hawk, The indictment alleges that between 2017 and 2019, Thandi, misappropriated over $19 million in Global Hawk funds, including sending over $1 million to an entity domiciled in the British Virgin Islands, and over $7 million to other outside entities controlled by Thandi.
The indictment further alleges that Thandi, Sahota, 47, resident of Concord, and Padda, 40, of Elk Grove, submitted false and fraudulent financial statements to insurance regulators that overstated Global Hawk’s assets by tens of millions of dollars and concealed the misappropriations. Sahota was Global hawk’s vice president and secretary and Padda was the company’s outside investment advisor. Global Hawk’s primary business was providing automobile liability insurance coverage for truck drivers and small trucking companies. In May 2020, after regulators discovered the misappropriation and Global Hawk’s insolvency, Global Hawk was declared insolvent and was liquidated pursuant to a court order.
The indictment charges Thandi, Sahota, and Padda with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 as well as two counts of insurance fraud (false statements to regulators), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1033(a) and 2. The indictment also charges Thandi with two counts of insurance fraud (misappropriation) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1033(b).
The indictment also charges Thandi with two counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. The indictment alleges that in 2016, Thandi obtained a $6.4 million bank loan based on false representations, and in 2017, obtained another $14.75 million bank loan, also based on false representations.
The conspiracy count has a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Each insurance fraud count has a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison (or 15 years if the fraud jeopardized the safety and soundness of an insurer and was a significant cause of such insurer being placed in conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation by an appropriate court) and a maximum fine of $250,000. Each bank fraud count has a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
For all counts, the court also may order a term of supervised release, fines or other assessments, restitution, and forfeiture, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Sahota was arrested yesterday morning and made an initial appearance before the Hon. Alex G. Tse, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California. Padda was arrested in the Eastern District of California.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant United States Attorneys David Ward and Abraham Fine are prosecuting the case with assistance from Kay Konopaske, Kathleen Turner, and Kevin Costello. The prosecution is a result of an investigation by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case should contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California’s victim specialists by email at: [email protected].
Two Albuquerque Men Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Eric Castañeda, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that Isaiah Anthony Aragon and Miguel Antonio Ramirez were charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Aragon and Ramirez, both 22 and of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 6, 2023, Ramirez allegedly agreed to sell 30,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover detective from the Albuquerque Police Department for $30,000. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted surveillance on Ramirez throughout the day leading up to the schedule transaction, following him to a stash house operated by Aragon. There the agents observed Aragon entering Ramirez’s car carrying a bag which agents believed carried fentanyl pills. At that time, agents attempted to take both men into custody. Ramirez was arrested without incident. Aragon attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended. Agents recovered the bag from the car and determined it contained a large amount of suspected fentanyl pills weighing approximately 3388.2 gross grams, or about 7.5 pounds.
DEA agents also executed a federal search and seizure warrant which resulted in the seizure of numerous vehicles and approximately $60,000.00 cash.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the current charges, Aragon and Ramirez each face not less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department.
View the Criminal Complaint# # #
23-289
Tuolumne County Motel Agrees to Ensure Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California has entered into an agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the owner of the El Dorado Motel in Twain Harte, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.
In the agreement, Golden State Hospitality Management LLC, which owns and operates the motel, agreed to make a series of modifications to the motel to create a fully ADA-complaint unit in order to provide better access for guests with disabilities. The motel has also implemented a remote check-in option for guests who use wheelchairs.
“Popular tourist destinations in the Sierras draw a cross-section of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities so that they may enjoy access to places of public accommodation throughout the District.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office launched this investigation after it received a complaint from a member of the public who was told that she would have a wheelchair accessible room but found upon arrival that her room in fact had no accommodations. A further investigation and architectural assessment revealed that no room at the motel was appropriately wheelchair accessible. The ADA requires that places of public accommodation provide access to individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emilia P. E. Morris handled the case for the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Individuals interested in finding out more about the ADA can call the Justice Department’s toll‑free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
12-18-23_-_fully_signed_el_dorado_motel_settlement_agreement.pdfThird Defendant Convicted in Scheme that Laundered Illicit Funds for International Drug Trafficking OrganizationsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal jury has convicted a third defendant in a money laundering conspiracy that moved millions of dollars in narcotics-related funds from the United States to international drug trafficking organizations, the Justice Department announced today.
Gustavo Adolfo Aldana-Martinez, 57, of Pico Rivera, was found guilty late Friday of conspiracy to launder money following a three-day trial in United States District Court.
The evidence at trial showed that Aldana-Martinez accepted wire transfers of trafficker-directed drug proceeds sent from an undercover account run by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. After nearly $300,000 was sent to a bank account in the name of his bogus business, Aldana-Martinez made a series of wire transfers to unrelated companies to pay for electronic items that were then shipped to Colombia and Mexico, where they were sold to produce laundered funds for the drug traffickers. The evidence showed that Aldana-Martinez laundered approximately $15.5 million between 2015 and 2017.
The man who oversaw the money laundering enterprise – Daniel Shaun Zilke, a.k.a. “The Englishman,” 48, of Mexico City, pleaded guilty on December 8 to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, conspiracy to launder money, and obstruction of an official government proceeding for stealing and attempting to cover up the theft of $150,000 in DEA undercover funds.
The third defendant in the case – Jeffrey Mark Thompson, a.k.a. “The Cowboy,” 62, of Springtown, Texas, pleaded guilty on November 27 to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering.
All three defendants were named in federal grand jury indictment filed in January 2023. A fourth defendant in the case – Juan Rachid Dergal-Zulbaran, 48, of Mexico City – is currently a fugitive.
According to court documents, the investigation into Zilke’s operation started in late 2015 when an undercover DEA agent posing as a money launderer contacted Zilke. When he pleaded guilty, Zilke admitted telling the undercover “he had a client in Europe who needed hundreds of millions of dollars moved to Mexico, and that he could use the bank account of a charity in Dallas, Texas to assist in laundering the money.”
The undercover agent agreed to assist Zilke by allowing him to use bank accounts associated with cash-intensive businesses. Subsequently, Zilke and his associates arranged numerous pickups of large sums of cash from drug traffickers in cities all over the country, funds that were deposited at Zilke’s direction into various bank accounts, including one controlled by Aldana-Martinez and another in the name of Thompson’s purported charity, Peace Through Water Foundation.
When he pleaded guilty, Thompson admitted that he used the Peace Through Water bank account to launder drug money.
Zilke, Thompson and Aldana-Martinez each earned a commission that was a percentage of the amount laundered through their respective accounts, according to court documents.
During the investigation, Zilke approached the DEA in 2019 and offered his cooperation to expose the money laundering organization. After being made a cooperator and agreeing to always be truthful, Zilke received $200,000 in official government funds to be delivered to defendant Thompson. The intent was for Thompson to launder the money through his bank accounts and return the money to DEA undercover accounts. However, as Zilke admitted in his plea agreement, approximately two weeks after the cash delivery, Zilke returned to Thompson’s residence and took back $150,000 without telling the DEA agents. After this theft of government funds, he repeatedly lied to the agents about the money and made excuses for why it was taking so long to receive the wire transfers for the full $200,000.
As a result of the conviction and guilty pleas, the three defendants each face potential sentences of decades in federal prison. Zilke is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2024, while Thompson and Aldana-Martinez face sentencing on April 8, 2024.
DEA Seattle and DEA San Ysidro investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Julie J. Shemitz, James A. Santiago and Kyle W. Kahan of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this 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.
Texas Man Indicted for Stealing from ATM at Ozark BankRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Houston, Texas, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for his role in the theft from an automated teller machine (ATM) at an Ozark, Mo., bank.
Nigel Dwane Luchin, 26, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Luchin on Nov. 6, 2023.
Luchin is charged with one count of entering a bank with the intent to commit bank theft and one count of bank theft.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Luchin was part of a group of unidentified subjects who used a stolen Ford F-250 pickup truck to destroy an ATM at Southern Bank, located at 2471 Jackson Road in Ozark, Mo., at 1:26 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2023. They used a chain and two large hooks to dismantle the door to the ATM, the affidavit says, by attaching the chains to the ATM and pulling the chain and hooks with the stolen Ford F-250. They stole $30,700 from the ATM and left the bank, abandoning the pickup truck a short distance away.
Investigators learned the pickup truck had been stolen from the parking lot of Tom’s Diesel in Nixa, Mo., at about 12:30 a.m. the same day. They reviewed surveillance videos from businesses in the area, which allegedly showed Luchin and others arriving at the area in two vehicles – a Chrysler Voyager minivan and a Toyota Highlander – and leave the area with the stolen pickup. Both the Voyager and the Highlander were identified on a license plate reader and traced to two car rental agencies in Houston. Later the same day, a license plate reader in Houston captured both of those vehicles traveling in the same direction.
Ozark police officers searched the stolen pickup truck and found Luchin’s Texas identification card on the driver’s seat.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI and the Ozark, Mo., Police Department.
Texas Inmates, Correctional Officers Indicted on Narcotics Smuggling ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment charging 13 defendants, including inmates and correctional officers, for their involvement in the smuggling of narcotics into Texas prisons.
According to court documents, inmate Juan Francisco Munoz aka “Joker,” 35, leads the Juan Munoz Drug Trafficking Organization (Munoz DTO) and is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence for murder. Using contraband cellphones that had been smuggled into the correctional facilities, Munoz and other inmates, such as Paul Govea aka “Salute,” 35, and Verndale Ray Seals, 34, are alleged to have directed and coordinated the DTO’s drug trafficking activity. The indictment alleges that the group obtained the narcotics from multiple sources of supply, including Osama Mohammed Elwan, 32, and employed correctional officers, such as Osauwa Emmanuel Williams, 48, Anival Ruiz Porras aka “Tall Guy,” 41, and Ryan Ty Melchor, 26.
The three officers allegedly met with non-incarcerated members of the DTO such as Rosa Teromina Miller, 43, and Daniel Guadalupe Flores, 30, to receive narcotics, cellphones and other contraband, then smuggle the goods into the correctional facilities in exchange for thousands of dollars. The DTO also allegedly used the mail to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into prisons. In addition to Miller, non-incarcerated members Melissa Amador, 28, Ashley Marie Arriaga aka “Ashley Zavala,” 35, Amber Tanae Huey, 34, and Aida Gerardina Gomez Ortiz, 32, allegedly packaged drug-soaked sheets of paper and mailed them to inmates who were either members or customers or the Munoz DTO.
The indictment alleges that special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration seized from defendant residences, more than 520 grams of paper sheets soaked with fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids, more than 120 grams of paper sheets soaked with heroin and synthetic cannabinoids, and 254.6 milliliters of liquid synthetic cannabinoids, along with envelopes addressed to inmates. According to the indictment, once smuggled into the correctional facility, DTO members could then sell a single sheet of drug-soaked paper for up to $1,000. During the dates covered in the indictment, Miller transferred nearly $333,000 from the peer-to-peer payment platforms used in the smuggling operation.
Munoz and Miller are each charged with six counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Munoz faces 15 years to life in prison, and Miller faces 10 years to life in prison.
Govea is charged with four counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and identity theft. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.
Elwan is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.
Seals is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.
Amador is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, she faces 10 years to life in prison.
Flores is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.
Arriaga is charged with five counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and identity theft. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
Porras and Huey are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.
Melchor and Ortiz are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.
Williams is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and Wichita Falls Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is 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.
###
Tampa Man Indicted for Attempting to Enter MacDill Air Force Base with AR-15 Rifle and 125 Rounds of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Baruch Roche II (33, Tampa) with one count of attempted possession of a firearm in a federal facility. If convicted, Roche faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Roche that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition that were used to facilitate the offense.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, on November 3, 2023, Roche attempted to enter MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa in his vehicle. U.S. Air Force security personnel stopped him at the gate and asked for identification. Roche refused to provide it. Roche instead identified himself as “Captain America” and demanded entry, stating that he had a meeting with a General of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to provide top secret information. Roche became argumentative and threatened to come back every day to look for the officers denying him entry. Due to his suspicious behavior, Roche was detained and security personnel searched his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle was located in the trunk, as well as five magazines loaded with 125 rounds of ammunition.
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 U.S. Air Force Security Forces, the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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.
Download Criminal Complaint
Download IndictmentSyracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nyquest Robinson, 20, of Syracuse, New York, pled guilty today to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Chief of Syracuse Police Joseph Cecile, and Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick.
As part of his guilty plea today, Nyquest Robinson admitted that he was arrested on May 17, 2023, in Syracuse when he attempted to flee on foot from New York State Parole Officers who were speaking with him near a store. Robinson was under parole supervision from a prior felony conviction for Assault in the Second Degree. Syracuse Police assisting Parole Officers prevented Robinson from escaping and located in his clothing a Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with thirteen (13) rounds of ammunition.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2023, in Syracuse, New York, at which the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000,00, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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.
The case against Nyquest Robinson was adopted for federal prosecution after a joint review by the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office, and ATF as part of gun violence reduction efforts in Onondaga County.
This case is being investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Syracuse Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.
Sussex County Man Charged in $2 Million COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was arrested today on charges related to fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) totaling over $2 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Nikenson Jean Mathurin, aka “Nik Mathurin,” aka “Jean Mathurin,” 44, of Sparta, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2020 through November 2021, Mathurin participated in a scheme to fraudulently receive over $2 million in COVID-19 emergency relief loans meant for distressed small businesses under the PPP and EIDL programs. He submitted several fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of five purported business — Innovation Partners Plus, Inc., Opulence Motor Group LLC, OMG Collision Corp. (doing business as Corsa Volante), Tricon Systems LTC, and America Home Care LLC — to four lenders. In support of these applications, Mathurin allegedly provided false and fraudulent documents and information to the lenders, including fabricated tax documents, payroll documents, and number of employees.
Mathurin also used the allegedly fraudulent proceeds to, among other things, send money between his various bank accounts, buy restaurant equipment unrelated to any of his purported businesses, pay for travel expenses, and transfer money to an account at an online vehicle auction company, which was used to buy luxury cars, motorcycles, and motorcycle parts.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the of the Northeast Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, and special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra of the U.S Department of Justice’s Fraud Section.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
mathurin.complaint.pdfSouth Carolina Man Who Orchestrated Drug Deals by Phone from State Prison Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Zachariah Ryan Luke (28, Bennettsville, South Carolina) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. During the same hearing, Judge Howard sentenced Luke’s co-defendant, Evin Rae Davenport (32, Greenwood, South Carolina), to 12 years in federal prison for the same offense. Luke and Davenport had pleaded guilty on August 16 and September 13, 2023, respectively.
According to court documents, in November 2021, Luke was serving a prison sentence in South Carolina for various drug and firearm offenses. Using contraband cellphones, Luke communicated with Davenport who assisted him in acquiring and selling illegal drugs on the street. Receiving direction from Luke, Davenport delivered drugs three times to a Florida-based drug dealer, including approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine that she had supplied to him outside of a retail store in South Carolina.
Once Davenport delivered the kilogram of methamphetamine, the dealer returned to Florida. In St. Augustine, a deputy observed a traffic offense and signaled the dealer to pull over. The dealer initially appeared to be looking for a place to stop, but instead accelerated and raced down the streets of a residential neighborhood. A police helicopter tracked the speeding car, and the pilot observed an object being thrown from the car and directed another deputy to that specific location. Following the directions of the pilot, the deputy located a backpack on the side of the road. Inside, the deputy found approximately 985.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine that laboratory testing would later show was 100% pure.
After attempting to dispose of the drugs, the dealer continued to drive, but eventually reached a dead end. He then abandoned the vehicle to hide in a nearby wooded area but was located and arrested. After that arrest, corrections officers in South Carolina seized multiple cellphones from Luke, which he was prohibited from possessing in prison. Investigators searched those phones and recovered text communications with both Davenport and the Florida-based dealer, concerning when, where, and from whom drugs were to be supplied and delivered.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Aiken County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office, the Aiken (South Carolina) Department of Public Safety, the North Augusta (South Carolina) Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Sioux City Man Found Guilty of Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Anthony Michael Tucker, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted by a jury today of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The verdict was returned this afternoon following one day of testimony and about three and half hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that in January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a Cybertip from Google that accounts belonging to Tucker contained over 90 images and three videos of child sexual abuse material. Evidence showed these depictions included images displaying sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. Jurors watched a video-recorded interview of Tucker speaking with an Iowa DCI agent where he admitted he was responsible for the content on the Google account and stated, “there’s more that I run across. . . those were just the ones I kept.” Evidence also showed Tucker has a prior conviction for Lascivious Acts with a Child from 2010 where Tucker, then 21, had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female.
United States Attorney Timothy Duax cited the excellent work done by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation in this case. “Starting with just a cybertip, law enforcement, through skill and hard work, was able to locate the defendant and interrupt his exploitive activities. As a result, a dangerous and repetitive child predator is off the streets for a significant period of time.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Tucker remains in the custody of the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Due to his prior sex offense, Tucker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of 5 years to life following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, Cyber Crime Bureau, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sharon Resident Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Drug LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Katlyn McGirr was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute at least 28 grams of crack cocaine as well as additional quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and powder cocaine, from June 2020 to June 2021, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
McGirr, age 31 of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon ordered McGirr to serve four years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
According to information presented to the court, McGirr admitted responsibility for the distribution of 150 grams of powder cocaine, 30 grams of crack cocaine, 20 grams of fentanyl, 20 grams of heroin, and 10 grams of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McGirr.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Sedalia Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two Sedalia, Mo., residents and two Marshall, Mo., residents were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Chris Kyle Naylor, 44, and Jasmine Dominique Hagan, 26, both of Sedalia, and James Ray Schull, Jr., 38, and Betty Anne Hern, 32, both of Marshall, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. Naylor was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Schull was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Hern was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole. Hagan was sentenced to two years of probation.
Co-defendant Bobby Don Johnson, 44, of Sedalia, has pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.
Naylor, Schull, and Hern each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Benton and Pettis counties from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10, 2022. Naylor also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Hagan pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to facilitate a drug-trafficking conspiracy.
On Jan. 14, 2022, the Benton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and seized a total of 138.49 grams of methamphetamine. Johnson, Schull, and Hern were present at the residence. Officers also found a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol in a backpack sitting between Schull and Hern. Hern told investigators she purchased the pistol for Schull, her boyfriend, because he is a felon and can’t legally own a firearm. A deputy stopped Johnson, who ran from the bedroom into the restroom toward the toilet in an attempt to flush several bags of methamphetamine. Investigators learned that Naylor had sold the methamphetamine to Schull.
On Feb. 10, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Pettis County. Naylor and Hagan were seated in the kitchen of the residence. Officers found a black box on the kitchen table that contained 152.6 grams of methamphetamine. Naylor had a loaded Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his coat pocket and $1,200 in cash.
According to court documents, Naylor’s criminal history is extensive and includes three felony drug convictions and a federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Schull has numerous felony convictions for controlled substance offenses.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Benton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Pettis County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department, the Mid-Missouri Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Scott, Louisiana Man Sentenced for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Attempting to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Kane Miller, 33, of Scott, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 205 months (17 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. On September 12, 2023, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of attempted production of child pornography of the superseding indictment filed in this case.
The charges in this case stem from an investigation by an undercover law enforcement officer wherein the officer posed as a 13-year-old female on Whisper, an anonymous social networking app. A message was posted by the undercover officer and a user, who was later identified as Miller, contacted the purported minor female utilizing the private message function on Whisper. Between December 5, 2022 and January 4, 2023, Miller was messaging the minor female and expressed his desire to meet with the “child.” In very explicit terms, he further expressed his desire to engage in sexual acts with the “child” when they met. The defendant discussed details of meeting with the “child,” including determining that she lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, and confirming that he also lived in Lafayette. In addition, he sent numerous images of his private parts to the “child.”
Law enforcement officers arrested Miller on March 7, 2023. At the time of his arrest, after being advised of his Miranda rights, Miller admitted that he had not only talked to the “child” identified above, but that in addition, numerous other minor females had sent him images and he kept them on his cell phone. Miller gave law enforcement officers consent to view his cell phone and they found numerous sexually explicit naked images of what appeared to be young adolescent children. Those images could be coupled with text messages in which the defendant had asked for the sexually explicit images and in which the children had told the defendant that they were minor females under the age of 15. These instances occurred on
February 8 and 21, 2023, prior to his conversations with the undercover agent. In each instance, Miller requested and obtained sexually explicit images from females identifying themselves as minor females under the age of 15. Though the children have not been identified, they appear to be minor females. As such, the defendant attempted to cause persons he believed to be minor females to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and sent to him using the internet.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Luke Walker.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
# # #
Roseville Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pablo Ramos, 50, of Roseville, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Ramos must also register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in September 2020, Ramos used Kik Messenger to distribute multiple files containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He distributed the files using the internet from his residence in Roseville.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internet Against Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne L. Rust and Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Romance Scammer who Helped Steal Nearly $1.2 Million from Missouri Woman Sentenced to 3 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday sentenced a man who helped scam nearly $1.2 million out of a St. Louis area woman to three years in prison and ordered him to repay the money.
Rotimi Oladimeji, 38, of Texas, assisted other scammers in Nigeria and the United States prey on the victim, who thought she was in an online romance with a veterinarian and animal behaviorist living in St. Louis.
After a scammer spotted the victim on an online dating site, Oladimeji and his co-conspirators began an online relationship with her. They made plans to meet with her but never followed through, once leaving her waiting at the Missouri Botanical Garden. In October of 2019, Oladimeji claimed the veterinarian was going to Dubai, then said he wouldn’t be allowed to leave unless she sent money. They continued to make request after request of the victim for four and five-figure sums, court records show.
Oladimeji had the victim send cash and cashier’s checks via FedEx to the Texas home of his co-defendant, Olumide Akrinmade, now 38, of Richardson, Texas. Oladimeji had recruited Akrinmade and Adewale Adesanya, another Texas resident, to receive the funds.
In all, the victim lost nearly $1.17 million. Oladimeji received 20% of the funds he generated. As money mules who transmitted the fraudulent proceeds to people like Oladimeji, Akinrinmade and Adesanya received 20% of the funds they forwarded. The remaining amount went to scammers in Nigeria.
Oladimeji was born in Lagos, Nigeria and could be deported after his release from prison.
Oladimeji pleaded guilty in December of 2022 to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.
Akrinmade, now 38, pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to repay $46,500.
Adesanya pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Dallas and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was also ordered to repay $1.5 million that resulted from the romance fraud as well as a business email compromise scheme.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.
For information about how to spot and guard against romance scams, go to ice.gov/features/romance-scams.
Revere, Massachusetts Man Sentenced in Nationwide Rideshare and Delivery Account Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Revere, MA, man was sentenced yesterday for defrauding rideshare companies using fraudulent driver accounts that he created using stolen identities.
Thiago De Souza Prado, 39, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 70 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Wolf also imposed a $50,000 fine. Prado was charged in May 2021 along with 17 others. In September 2023, Prado was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
“What Thiago De Souza Prado and this crew did is truly egregious. They stole the identities of unsuspecting consumers, violated customers’ privacy, and potentially compromised public safety by putting unqualified drivers behind the wheel of these rideshare and food delivery services which millions of people rely on,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We are very grateful to Uber’s Global Security and Investigations team for their diligent efforts in rooting out this massive fraud ring, for quickly bringing it to the FBI’s attention, and for working with us to ensure the defendants in this case were brought to justice and held accountable for the crimes they committed.”
According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, starting in 2019, Prado obtained stolen Massachusetts driver’s licenses and bought social security numbers on the darknet. He and his co-conspirators then used the stolen identities to pass the criminal background checks, the sex offender registry check, and the driving record check required by the rideshare companies and by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
Prado and his co-conspirators also used the stolen social security numbers for tax reporting on their fraudulent accounts. Once the driving accounts were active, Prado either used the accounts himself or rented them out to others, who also could not pass the background checks, often because they did not have social security numbers and were in the United States illegally.
Prado also used his fake driver accounts to get bonuses from rideshare companies by referring his other fake driver accounts as new drivers. In addition, Prado and his co-conspirators used an app, which they called “the drone,” to spoof rides and ride lengths, so that they were paid by the rideshare companies for “ghost rides” or for rides that were longer and more expensive than those actually provided. Prado received payments via bank accounts that he opened in the names of identity theft victims.
United States Attorney Zachary Cunha of the District of Rhode Island and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Social Security Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Holcomb and Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.
Mr. Cunha was assigned to oversee this matter by the Department of Justice upon recusal of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
###
Return preparer and former owner of national tax preparation franchise sentenced to prison for evading his own taxesRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Bulloch County, Ga., man has been sentenced to federal prison for income tax evasion.
Samir Patel, 56, of Statesboro, Ga., was sentenced today (Dec. 19) to two years in prison after previously pleading guilty to tax evasion, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Patel to pay approximately $550,000 in restitution to the United States, a fine of $95,000, and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Much of our nation’s operating revenues are dependent on the lawful participation of citizens in the income tax system, and those who evade their responsibilities place a greater burden on everyone else,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This sentence demonstrates the substantial consequences of attempting to cheat the system.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Patel was a tax return preparer at a national return preparation business. In 2015, Patel purchased a franchise of the business in Claxton, Ga. As the owner, he hired, trained, and supervised tax preparers, and continued to prepare returns for customers. Patel, however, willfully filed false income tax returns that omitted more than $1.28 million in income – including almost $1.18 million from S&W Amusements, a company that placed coin operated amusement machines in convenience stores and gas stations – and evaded proper assessment of his personal taxes for years 2015, 2016, and 2017.
As part of his sentence, Patel is prohibited from preparing tax returns for others or for entities in which he has no interest during his term of supervised release.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which was prosecuted for the United States by Trial Attorneys Matthew C. Hicks and Richard J. Hagerman of the Department of Justice Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III of the Southern District of Georgia.
Return Preparer Who Evaded His Own Taxes Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Georgia man was sentenced today to two years in prison for evading his personal federal income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 1999 to 2021, Samir Patel, of Statesboro, was a tax return preparer at a national return preparation business. In 2015, Patel purchased a franchise of the business in Claxton, Georgia. As the owner, he hired, trained and supervised tax preparers, while continuing to prepare returns for customers. Patel nevertheless evaded his own income taxes by, among other things, filing false returns for 2015 through 2017 that omitted over $1.28 million in income – including almost $1.18 million from his business, S&W Amusements, a company that placed coin-operated amusement machines in convenience stores and gas stations. In total, Patel caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $550,000.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall for the Southern District of Georgia ordered Patel to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $95,000 fine and $551,450 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Matthew C. Hicks and Richard J. Hagerman of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
Recidivist Offender Sentenced Again for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Parker, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 11 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children and violating the prior conditions of his federal supervised release that he had been serving for a previous conviction for receiving child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Thomas Robert Hawk, 42.
According to information presented to the court, from August 2021 to May 2022, Hawk possessed and accessed with intent to view visual images and videos in individual digital files depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Probation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hawk.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Raleigh Man Convicted in Cross-Country Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man last week on charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy, and illegal firearm possession for his role as a leader of a Raleigh-based drug organization that sourced drugs from Los Angeles, California and Newark, New Jersey. Lawrence Levon Jones, age 45, has eight prior felonies including seven drug trafficking offenses and one conviction for felon in possession of a firearm and he faces between 15 years and life in prison when he is sentenced next year.
“This is the ninth defendant to be convicted in a drug trafficking organization moving kilogram quantities of drugs in the Raleigh area,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “I am proud of the collaboration of our law enforcement agencies to dismantle this organization and put those accountable behind bars.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, during an investigation into drug trafficking activity which included surveillance and wiretaps, agents determined that Jones regularly traveled to Los Angeles and Newark, picked up money from conspirators who were holding for him, and purchased large quantities of cocaine and marijuana. Couriers transported the drugs to the Raleigh area.
On July 22, 2020, law enforcement in Texas stopped one of these couriers travelling eastbound from California and seized 400 pounds of marijuana and three kilograms of cocaine from a hidden compartment in the back of the truck that had been constructed to look like a large stack of lumber. That same day, agents arrested Jones when he arrived at his stash house in Raleigh. Inside the home, agents found 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 138 grams of crack, 2 kilograms of marijuana, hundreds of ecstasy pills that contained methamphetamine, two handguns (one stolen), over $99,000 in cash, and five kilo presses. Over the next two days, agents executed multiple search warrants at homes used by Jones’s organization in Raleigh and California and seized nine guns over $757,000, and additional drugs.
The prosecution of Jones was a part of Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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.
Other defendants associated with Jones pled guilty to drug trafficking and/or firearms offenses and received the following sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III:
- Tyrone Bragg, of Raleigh pled guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges and received a sentence of 168 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Calvin Lamar Kelley, of Keysville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy charge and received a sentence of 60 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release;
- Keishron Ko-She Kilpatrick, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges and received a sentence of 84 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release;
- Marquis Deja Brite, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges and received a sentence of 90 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Hurley Matthew Cannady, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges and received a sentence of 117 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- David Earl Seawell, Jr., of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges and received a sentence of 78 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
- Wesley Kimball Kelley, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges and is awaiting sentencing; and
- Robert McNeal, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The Raleigh Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Peaden and Nick Hartigan are prosecuting the case. Investigators also received valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office in Texas.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:20-cr-00388-D-1.
RICO Conspirators Responsible for Nationwide Computer Intrusions and Tax Fraud Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Louisaint Jolteus, Michael Jean Poix, Monika Shauntel Jenkins, Alain Jean-Louis (34, Hollywood), Louis Noel Michel, and Jeff Jordan Propht-Francisque to federal prison terms for their roles in a RICO conspiracy that involved cyber intrusions and millions of dollars of tax fraud. Andi Jacques, Dickenson Elan, and Vladimyr Cherelus will be sentenced next year for their involvement in the conspiracy. See chart below for details.
Name
(Age, Residence)
Status
Offense
Sentence
Louisaint Jolteus
37, West Palm Beach
Pleaded guilty on July 6, 2022
RICO Conspiracy
9 years and 2 months in prison and $2,928,841.00 in restitution
Michael Jean Poix
(33, West Palm Beach)
Pleaded guilty on August 29, 2023
RICO Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
10 years and 10 months in prison and $130,771.00 in restitution
Monika Shauntel Jenkins
(34, Hollywood)
Pleaded guilty on September 18, 2023
RICO Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
87 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and $3,384,913.00 in restitution
Alain Jean-Louis
(32, Miami)
Pleaded guilty on August 31, 2023
RICO Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
102 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and $2,554,907.00 in restitution
Louis Noel Michel
(29, Hollywood)
Pleaded guilty on July 25, 2023
RICO Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
7 years, 3 months in prison and $1,941,533.00 in restitution
Jeff Jordan Propht-Francisque
(29, Pompano Beach)
Pleaded guilty on August 29, 2023
RICO Conspiracy
4 years in prison and $2,574,235.00 in restitution
Andi Jacques
(42, Greenacres)
Pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023
RICO Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
Sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2024
Dickenson Elan
(39, Clearwater)
Found guilty on November 6, 2023
RICO Conspiracy
Sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 7, 2024
Vladimyr Cherelus
(34, Lauderdale Lakes)
Pleaded guilty on September 18, 2023
RICO Conspiracy
Sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2024
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2019, these individuals and numerous other conspirators—including a now-deceased conspirator who is referenced in the indictment as RICH4EVER4430—banded together to engage in a sophisticated cybercrime and tax fraud scheme.
RICH4EVER4430, Jean-Louis, Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, and Cherelus used the dark web to purchase server credentials for the computer servers of Certified Public Accounting (CPA) and tax preparation firms across the country. They used those server credentials to remotely and covertly commit computer intrusions and exfiltrate the tax returns of thousands of taxpayers who were clients of those CPA and tax preparation firms.
Jacques, Elan, Jean-Poix, and Jolteus were involved with creating and operating fraudulent tax businesses to file false tax returns in the names of thousands of victims. They also registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) preparer tax identification numbers using the names and information of identity theft victims, to make it appear that those victims were the individuals who were filing false returns in bulk.
RICH4EVER4430, Jean-Louis, Jenkins, Michel, Propht-Francisque, Cherelus, and other conspirators then partnered with Jacques, Elan, Poix, Jolteus, and others to form an enterprise through which they filed thousands of false tax returns in the names of more than 9,000 identity theft victims.
The conspirators directed the resulting tax refunds to debit cards and bank accounts that they controlled. Also, to make the businesses appear more legitimate, members of the enterprise opened bank accounts in the names of these fraudulent tax businesses to receive fake “tax preparer fees.”
As the RICO conspiracy evolved, members of the enterprise “hijacked” the IRS-issued identification numbers of CPA and tax preparation firms and used those identification numbers to file scores of additional false tax returns. Members of the enterprise filed false self-prepared tax returns using stolen identities as well.
Altogether, the enterprise claimed more than $45 million in false tax refunds over the course of approximately four years. The actual loss to the IRS and the United States was estimated to be more than $7 million.
“The recent sentencings of these co-conspirators, highlights the unwavering dedication of IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners in combating cybercrime. Our determination remains resolute in pursuing individuals who exploit technology as a means to commit unlawful activities,” said Tara K. Reed IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “These sentences serve as a stark warning to potential wrongdoers that there is nowhere to hide, and IRS-CI will work tirelessly to bring you and your misdeeds to light.”
“This was a milestone investigation for the FBI because of the RICO cybercrime conspiracy,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “It underscores the evolution of the cyber threat and how criminals are learning cyber tradecraft in an attempt to advance their criminal enterprises. However, this case also demonstrates how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are evolving our approach to investigations and prosecutions to continue to successfully disrupt cyber gangs.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation in Orlando, with assistance from the FBI in Miami and IRS-CI in Minnesota. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John M. Gardella and William S. Hamilton.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Philadelphia man, Austin Genay, 30, has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for cyberstalking and wire fraud.
According to his guilty plea agreement, Genay and the victim initially engaged in a consensual sexual relationship online. Without the knowledge or permission of the victim, Genay took screenshots and still images of some of their online communications of a sexually explicit nature. Initially, the victim made voluntary payments to Genay; but thereafter, Genay began making numerous financial demands of the victim. Specifically, Genay sent messages seeking money from the victim, which threatened to expose the communications and contained promises to delete them to induce the payments. The victim then paid Genay substantial sums.
When the victim informed Genay that he did not have sufficient funds to continue to pay him and attempted to block his phone number, Genay used threats to expose the intimate information. During the scheme, Genay fraudulently lied about a variety of things, such as being evicted, having vehicle expenses, and legal fees, to induce the victim to pay him. Despite the victim’s pleas to stop, Genay sent harassing communications and demands for money that he knew would and did cause substantial emotional distress and pecuniary harm to the victim. As part of his sentence, Genay was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim, in the amount of $338,602.00.
Under federal law, Genay must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Tashena A. Fannin.
– END –
Peggs Resident Pleads Guilty to ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wanda Kay Friday, age 53, of Peggs, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging her with one count of voluntary manslaughter.
The Information alleged that on November 25, 2022, upon sudden quarrel and heat of passion, Friday knowingly and unlawfully shot and killed the victim. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney James Seaman represented the United States.
Partners in drug trafficking hub sent to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two Rio Grande Valley residents have been sentenced in for drug and money laundering conspiracies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Luis Ortiz III, 43, Mission, pleaded guilty June 21, 2019, while Rodolfo Hernandez Ramos 44, Los Fresnos, entered his plea Aug. 9, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 or more kilograms of marijuana. They also admitted to a conspiracy to launder drug proceeds in the form of bulk U.S. currency between July 1, 2014, and March 19, 2019.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Ramos to serve a total of 135 months in federal prison while Ortiz was ordered to serve 100 months imprisonment.
The investigation focused on a group of cocaine and marijuana distributors in the Rio Grande Valley and their sources of drugs who smuggled these drugs into the United States from Mexico. Drugs were smuggled into the country in passenger vehicles, large trucks and dropped from aircraft.
Ramos and Ortiz worked within the drug trafficking organization by operating stash houses to prepare the drugs for shipment within the United States. The partnership also used trucks to deliver cocaine and marijuana to the customers in 22 other states. Both men were also responsible for having the proceeds of the drug sales transported back to South Texas for delivery to the suppliers.
Ramos has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility to be determined in the near future. Luis Ortiz III was permitted to remain to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Cusick prosecuted the case.
Palm Beach Gardens Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Michael Thomas Dolce, 54, a Palm Beach Gardens attorney, was sentenced yesterday, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, to 48 months in federal prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.
As part of his guilty plea, Dolce admitted to downloading child pornography to his personal laptop at his West Palm Beach apartment. According to court records, Dolce used peer-2-peer software to search for and download the illegal material, including prepubescent children. Nearly 2,000 images and videos were recovered from Dolce’s laptop. Forensic evidence confirmed that Dolce was in the process of downloading child pornography files just before law enforcement seized his laptop during the execution of a federal search warrant of his residence.
“The prosecutors in our office, alongside our FBI partners, are committed to safeguarding all children from child predators” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As an attorney and Southern District resident, Michael Dolce had a duty to protect children from the very crimes for which he pled guilty to committing. Yesterday, Dolce was sentenced to prison for casting aside his oath and victimizing the most vulnerable people in society – our children. We encourage anyone with information regarding the sexual exploitation of children to immediately contact the FBI.”
“The investigation revealed that Michael Dolce downloaded onto his laptop nearly 2,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, including prepubescent children,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “There is nothing more despicable than those who carry out crimes against the most innocent among us - our children. That is why our agents, analysts, and task force officers work tirelessly to bring to justice those individuals responsible for such heinous crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentencing.
The West Palm Beach Resident Agency of the FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller prosecuted it.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/project-safe-childhood.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80063.
###
Oxford Man Convicted for Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Eric L. Eggers, 39, of Oxford, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 19, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Eggers to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Eggers’ release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On August 24, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Eggers’ residence in Furnas County, Nebraska. During the search, law enforcement located 16 firearms in total. Eggers admitted that he knew that the firearms were in his residence and that he knowingly possessed them. He also admitted that he knew he could not legally possess them. Eggers had previously been convicted of a felony in 2012.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office.
Owner of Kansas Company Pleads Guilty to Crimes Related to Scheme to Illegally Export U.S. Avionics Equipment to Russia and Russian End UsersRead the Press Release
Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 60, of Lawrence, Kansas, the owner and president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty today for his role in a years-long conspiracy to circumvent U.S. export laws by filing false export forms with the U.S. government and, after Russian’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continuing to sell and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“Buyanovsky admitted to a long-running scheme to smuggle sophisticated U.S. avionics equipment to Russia, doubling down to hide his actions after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to cut off Moscow from the means to fuel its military and hold those enabling it accountable in a court of law.”
“The rejection of tyranny and the protection of democracy are among the foundational principles of the United States of America. Our country continues to hold steadfastly to these ideals,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government imposed export controls and sanctions to prevent the weaponization of U.S. manufactured technology against Ukraine in a conflict intended to usurp its right to sovereignty within its borders. As long as there are people who value greed and profit over freedom and justice, the U.S. Department of Justice will remain vigilant and investigate and prosecute these crimes.”
“Buyanovsky’s guilty plea serves as a reminder to those who defy U.S. law to support Russia’s aggression – know you will be held accountable for your actions,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI, along with our partners, works diligently to identify and prevent illegal transfers of sophisticated equipment to hostile nations and will pursue those who support such smuggling operations.”
“The diversion of controlled U.S.-origin goods and falsification of end user information for use by Russian end users will be vigorously investigated,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement Chicago Field Office. “Individuals will be pursued and prosecuted wherever they are located.”
According to court documents, as part of his guilty plea, Buyanovsky admitted that between 2020 and when he was arrested in March, he conspired with others – including co-defendant and former KanRus vice president Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Olathe, Kansas – to smuggle U.S.-origin avionics equipment to end users in Russia, as well as Russian end users in other foreign countries, by, among other actions, knowingly filing false export forms and failing to file required export forms with the U.S. government. In these forms, Buyanovsky and his conspirators lied about the exports’ value, end users and end destinations.
Buyanovsky further admitted that on at least one occasion in 2021, he and Robertson smuggled a repaired Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) by removing the FSB sticker from the device before sending the device to a U.S. company to be repaired and then reattaching the sticker before shipping the TCAS back to the FSB in Russia.
Buyanovsky further admitted that after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the U.S. government tightened export controls concerning Russia, he, co-defendant Robertson and other conspirators continued to purchase and export U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and took numerous steps to hide their illegal activity from law enforcement, including by lying to U.S. suppliers about the intended end users; shipping goods through intermediary companies in Armenia, the United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus; continuing to file false export forms with the U.S. government; and using foreign bank accounts in countries other than Russia, such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, to funnel money from the Russian customers to KanRus in the United States.
In addition to pleading guilty, Buyanovsky consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment. According to court documents, among the equipment that Buyanovsky forfeited was a pallet of avionics devices that was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection the day before Buyanovsky and Robertson were arrested.
On Dec. 7, as part of the U.S. government’s interagency efforts to dismantle Russian procurement networks designed to circumvent U.S. export controls and sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Department of Commerce added many of the entities and individuals involved in Buyanovsky’s illegal export scheme to the Commerce Department’s Entity List, which imposes specific license requirements on all listed individuals and entities.
As a result of today’s guilty plea, Buyanovsky faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison – five years for the conspiracy count and 20 years for the money laundering count. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2024.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Task Force KleptoCapture Co-Directors David Lim and Michael Khoo, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas, Executive Assistant Director Larissa Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch, Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge John Johnson of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Overland Park man charged with robbing bankRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man has been charged through criminal complaint in Kansas City, Kansas, for allegedly robbing a bank.
According to court documents, Cesar Serrano, 46, of Overland Park is charged with one count of bank robbery. On December 16, 2023, Serrano allegedly used a firearm to demand money from employees at Great Southern Bank in Prairie Village, Kansas.
The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on December 20, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
The Prairie Village Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Overland Park Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Orange County Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 6 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Jennifer Lee Branham (42, Orlando) to 6 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Branham had pleaded guilty on July 26, 2023.
According to court documents, in early 2022, Branham sold controlled substances to a confidential source in Orange County. Based on those drug sales, on February 23, 2022, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Branham’s residence. Inside her bedroom, detectives located over 200 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, small baggies, various other controlled substances, and a loaded 9mm Springfield semi-automatic handgun.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.
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.
Oklahoman sentenced in East Texas for federal wildlife violationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – An Oklahoma man has been sentenced for federal wildlife violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Dusty Caudill, 37, of Ardmore, OK, pleaded guilty to the transportation of wildlife in violation of state law – a violation of the U.S. Lacey Act – and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on Dec. 19, 2023.
According to information presented in court, in February of 2021 Caudill conspired with co-defendants David Bartlett and Darryl Garcia to transport stolen African elephant ivory tusks from Ardmore, Oklahoma to Tyler, Texas for sale. The tusks had been stolen in the burglary of a residence in Ada, Oklahoma in late 2020. Bartlett negotiated the sale of the tusks with a person he believed to be a resident of Houston, Texas for $10,700.00.
The investigation revealed that on February 17, 2021 Caudill and Garcia removed the ivory tusks from the trunk of Caudill’s car in Ardmore and placed them in Garcia’s car. Garcia then picked up Bartlett and the two of them drove the tusks to Tyler, Texas where they believed they would be meeting with the buyer from Houston. Instead, they were met by federal wildlife agents.
African elephants are a protected wildlife species under the federal endangered species act. The term “wildlife” includes any part of the animal. The U.S. Lacey Act prohibits the transportation of endangered species, valued at more than $350.00 in interstate commerce in violation of federal or state law.
This case was investigated by special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
###
Ohio man charged in Jamestown drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Whitfield, 24, of Cincinnati, OH, was charged by criminal complaint with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, since April 2019, the DEA has investigated the drug trafficking activities, including heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine, of Rocco Beardsley in the Jamestown, NY area. During the investigation, Whitfield was identified as an associate and co-conspirator of Beardsley. The complaint states that Beardsley was utilizing a source of supply for methamphetamine in the Cincinnati area, and Whitfield was responsible for introducing Beardsley to the source. Whitfield utilized social media to conduct drug related conversations and facilitate his drug trafficking activities.
Whitfield made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained. Co-defendant Rocco Beardsley is scheduled for trial on March 25, 2024.
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.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Nine Indicted in Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal grand jury in Abingdon, Virginia indicted nine individuals last week charging them with participating in a federal drug conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from North Carolina into southwest Virginia.
All nine defendants have been arrested and are now in federal custody.
The indictment charges Marcos Adrian Martinez Rodriguez, Nestor Gutierrez-Gonzalez, Isaias Cisneros-Hernandez, Loeum Vinn Tok, Joan Mary Schugardt, Cody Allen Cashatt, Johnie Zeke Derose, April Renae Maness, and Richard Wayne Greer.
All nine defendants are charged with one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition, Greer is charged with one count of knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, from June 2021 and October 2021, the defendants operated a methamphetamine distribution ring in and around Lexington, North Carolina. During the life of the conspiracy, methamphetamine was transported into southwest Virginia for distribution. Last year, Joshua Kogod, of Smyth County, Virginia, was convicted for his role in the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The investigation, which remains ongoing, is being conducted by FBI in Virginia and North Carolina as well as the Lexington, N.C. Police Department; the Davidson County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Macon and Whit D. Pierce 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.