Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 9 November 2023
Former President of Madison District Public Schools Board of Education Sentenced for Accepting Bribes from Local Contractor and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Albert Morrison was sentenced today to 45 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes from a local contractor and tax evasion, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office, and John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.
Morrison, age 62, was sentenced after pleading guilty before the Honorable Laurie Michelson to Conspiracy to Commit Federal Program Bribery from 2014 through 2018 and Tax Evasion.
Morrison was the elected President of the Madison District Public Schools Board of Education from 2012 through 2018. While Morrison was President, John David was one of the owners of a building maintenance and reconstruction company, Emergency Restoration that was awarded over $3.1 million maintenance and construction projects in the Madison District Public Schools. David, who was a long-time friend of Morrison, paid Morrison more than $561,000 in order to secure the work for the Madison District. Morrison spent the money from David on personal luxuries such as vacations in Florida and a boat slip.
To keep the payments secret from the school board and the community, Morrison denied having any financial ties to David or Emergency Restoration when publicly confronted at a Madison District school board meeting. Morrison also failed to disclose to State of Michigan auditors the payments he received from David.
Morrison did not declare to the IRS David’s payments as income in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018. By not declaring the payments to the IRS, Morrison avoided paying approximately $118,200 in taxes.
“Today’s sentence underscores our continued insistence that our trusted public officials hold themselves to the highest standards of integrity and honesty. It sends a clear message that when public officials break that trust, they will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “This sentence ensures that school officials will put the interests of our children first and that those who accept bribes and evade paying taxes will answer for their crimes.”
“Today, Mr. Morrison is being held accountable for the crimes he committed as president of the Madison District Public School Board,” said Cheyvoryea, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “We thank the IRS and Department of Education – Office of Inspector General for working alongside the FBI to investigate these allegations and expose Mr. Morrison’s corruption.”
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that financial fraud by our public officials will not be tolerated, especially when it’s at the expense of the children in our communities,” said Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to work with our federal and local partners to safeguard the financial future of our communities and our nation’s tax system.”
“Mr. Morrison abused his position of trust for personal gain, and with today’s action, will now be held accountable for cheating those he promised to serve – Madison’s school children and their families,” said John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Midwestern Regional Office. "The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds for their own selfish purposes. Our nation’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Education. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Resnick Cohen, Karen Reynolds, and Gjon Juncaj.
Former Malibu Resident Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Conning Investors with Bogus Promises of Discounted Alibaba IPO SharesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Malibu resident was sentenced today to 188 months in federal prison for defrauding several individuals out of more than $3 million with bogus claims that he had access to stock shares of Alibaba prior to its initial public offering.
Frank Harold Rosenthal, 48, formerly of Malibu but most recently of New York City, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, who also ordered him to pay $1,182,500 in restitution. While imposing sentence at today’s hearing, Judge Aenlle-Rocha called Rosenthal an “incorrigible, serial liar.”
Rosenthal pleaded guilty on June 30 to two counts of wire fraud. He has been in federal custody since that day.
From November 2013 to April 2015, Rosenthal falsely claimed to have inside connections at Goldman Sachs that would provide him with special access to purchase shares of Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce company, at a discount before its initial public offering.
Rosenthal used a middleman to carry out his scheme, lying to the middleman and pressuring him to solicit funds from his relatives and acquaintances for the purportedly lucrative investment opportunity.
To lend legitimacy to his fraudulent scheme, Rosenthal negotiated and drafted loan agreements and promissory notes with the victims that promised the victims significant returns on their loans and investments.
After obtaining their money, Rosenthal lulled his victims by, among other things, falsely stating that the Alibaba shares he supposedly would purchase with their money were locked up and could not be immediately sold.
Instead of using victims’ funds to purchase shares of Alibaba, Rosenthal used the money to support his lavish lifestyle, which included the $16,000 monthly rent of a Malibu home. To avoid detection and forestall threatened legal action by the victims, Rosenthal used some of the funds received from early victims to pay off later ones in a Ponzi-style arrangement.
Rosenthal “carefully crafted a ruse to steal money” using “clever inducements” that made it difficult for victims to discover the fraud and insulated [Rosenthal from] having to regularly deal with his victims by abusing the reputation of good character and business judgment of the victims’ trusted friend and relative” to perpetrate the fraud, prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Rosenthal] enhanced the attractiveness of his scheme by making up friends in high places, complete with fake emails, to create the further appearance of exclusivity and success.”
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Steven M. Arkow and Mark Aveis of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Sara E. Henderson of U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division prosecuted this case.
Former High-Ranking DEA Special Agent and Current DEA Agent Convicted for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced yesterday that JOHN COSTANZO JR., a Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Special Agent currently on leave, and MANUEL RECIO, a former DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, were convicted of conspiracy to bribe a public official, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud, for a scheme in which RECIO funneled tens of thousands of dollars to COSTANZO in exchange for COSTANZO providing sensitive law enforcement information to assist RECIO in recruiting clients for defense lawyers. In addition, COSTANZO was convicted of accepting bribes from RECIO, and RECIO was convicted of giving bribes to COSTANZO. The verdict followed a 12-day trial before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “John Costanzo, a DEA Special Agent on leave, and Manuel Recio, a former DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, trafficked sensitive, nonpublic, confidential law enforcement information in exchange for cash and other valuable financial benefits. In doing so, they endangered public safety by disclosing the timing of sealed indictments and arrests of DEA targets. Recio and Costanzo were convicted by a unanimous jury for their brazen violation of the public’s trust and for providing information that could have put their former colleagues and others in harm’s way. This case underscores that corruption in the ranks of any law enforcement agency will be met with zero tolerance, and we stand with the overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers who carry out their service with integrity and honor.”
According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:
JOHN COSTANZO JR. is a DEA special agent most recently assigned to DEA Headquarters. He was a Group Supervisor in the DEA’s Miami Field Office until June 2019. MANUEL RECIO is a former DEA special agent who retired as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Miami Field Office in November 2018. Upon his retirement, RECIO began operating his own business, which provided private investigative services to criminal defense attorneys and also helped defense attorneys to recruit clients. From around the time of RECIO’s retirement through around November 2019, RECIO agreed with COSTANZO to provide benefits to COSTANZO in exchange for COSTANZO providing RECIO with nonpublic information about DEA investigations. COSTANZO provided RECIO with information about nonpublic investigations, such as the identities of individuals charged and the anticipated timing of indictments and arrests, and intelligence which COSTANZO obtained from the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Information System (“NADDIS”), a DEA database that contains information about individuals who are or have been under investigation by the DEA. RECIO paid COSTANZO for this information, which RECIO used to help recruit new clients for criminal defense attorneys.
Among the benefits paid to COSTANZO were a $2,500 payment made in November 2018, shortly after RECIO’s retirement from the DEA, which was funneled to COSTANZO through a company owned by a close family member of COSTANZO. At the same time that this payment was made, RECIO began asking COSTANZO to run searches in NADDIS to provide RECIO with nonpublic DEA information about DEA targets and investigations. Following that initial payment, RECIO and others continued to provide benefits to COSTANZO, including tens of thousands of dollars that were funneled from RECIO through a company created by a DEA task force officer and $50,000 that was paid to COSTANZO through a close family member for COSTANZO’s purchase of a condominium in January and February 2019.
In return, COSTANZO continued to provide nonpublic DEA information to RECIO, including information about the timing of forthcoming indictments and information about DEA arrest plans of particular targets. COSTANZO also searched NADDIS for names of particular individuals requested by RECIO on dozens of occasions during the scheme and provided RECIO with information and assistance with particular charged defendants represented by attorneys for whom REICO was working. During the scheme, COSTANZO and RECIO took steps to conceal the existence of the scheme, including by structuring the payments from RECIO to COSTANZO through third parties and through COSTANZO’s use of a cellphone provided by RECIO for communications related to the scheme.
* * *
COSTANZO JR., 48, of Arlington, Virginia, and RECIO, 54, of Miami, Florida, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison, and one count of receiving or paying a bribe, respectively, which carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison. COSTANZO and RECIO were also convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and thanked the DEA’s Office of Professional Responsibility for its support in this matter.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Andrews, Emily Deininger, Sheb Swett, Nathan Rehn, and Sarah Mortazavi are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Dean Iannuzzelli and Nerlande Pierre.
Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Convicted on Two Counts of PerjuryRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Marilyn J. Mosby, age 42, of Baltimore, Maryland, on federal charges of perjury, relating to the withdrawal of funds from the City of Baltimore’s Deferred Compensation Plan claiming that she suffered adverse financial consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was Baltimore City State’s Attorney.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron said, “We respect the jury’s verdict and remain steadfastly committed to our mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, protect the civil rights of all Americans, and safeguard public property.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, on May 26, 2020 and December 29, 2020, Mosby submitted “457(b) Coronavirus-Related Distribution Requests” for one-time withdrawals of $40,000 and $50,000, respectively, from City of Baltimore’s Deferred Compensation Plan. Trial evidence proved that Mosby falsely certified that she met at least one of the qualifications for a distribution as defined under the CARES Act, specifically, that she experienced adverse financial consequences from the Coronavirus as a result of being quarantined, furloughed, or laid off; having reduced work hours; being unable to work due to lack of childcare; or the closing or reduction of hours of a business she owned or operated. In signing the forms, Mosby “affirm[ed] under penalties for perjury the statements and acknowledgments made in this request.” As proven at trial, Mosby did not experience any such financial hardships and in fact, Mosby received her full gross salary of $247,955.58 from January 1, 2020 through December 29, 2020, in bi-weekly gross pay direct deposits of $9,183.54.
Mosby faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each of the two counts of perjury. U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby has not yet scheduled sentencing.
In a separate pending federal case, Mosby also faces two counts of making false mortgage applications, relating to the purchases of two vacation homes in Florida. Those charges remain pending and a trial date has not been set. If convicted of those counts, the defendant faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for each of two remaining counts. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore City Office of the Inspector General for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Forfeiture Complaint Seeks to Return to New Haven More Than $1.1 Million Seized from Email ScammersRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI have seized and filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against $1,187.677.94 that was traceable to a business email compromise attack on the City of New Haven’s Board of Education earlier this year.
As alleged in the complaint, which was filed today in U.S. District Court, criminal actors were able to compromise an email account associated with a member of management team of the City of New Haven’s Board of Education. In June 2023, these actors created a fake email account that mimicked the email of a bus company that held a contract with the Board of Education for bussing. The criminal actors used the compromised email address to send test emails between the compromised email address and the newly created fake bus company email address. Using the fake bus company email address, the criminal actors then were able to change the bus company’s payment information from the real bus company to an account held by the criminal actors. New Haven sent approximately $5.9 million dollars to the account.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office were able to trace and seize a portion of the stolen money. With the filing of a civil asset forfeiture complaint, the U.S. is seeking to forfeit and return the money to the City of New Haven. Approximately $3.6 million of the stolen money was previously recovered.
“While we will continue to pursue criminal prosecution of the individuals involved in this scam, recovering the victim’s money is a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. ”Civil asset forfeiture allows the U.S. Attorney’s Office to recover money for victims of fraud, such as business email compromises, romances scams, confidence scams, and other crimes. As these fraud schemes often involve conversion of U.S. currency to digital assets, this process typically involves significant law enforcement resources and specialized training. In recent years, through the civil asset forfeiture process, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has recovered millions of dollars for Connecticut victims, most of whom do not have the means nor the expertise to trace the money.”
“Despite the advanced level of these particular cyber schemes, our highly trained law enforcement officers and agents haven been able to effectively uncover and stop the ongoing financial losses, and recover funds for the City of New Haven,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Fuller. “Our ongoing focus will continue to be protecting those that remain vulnerable to cyber intrusion and fraud.”
To avoid becoming the victim of a BEC scheme, verify email addresses are accurate when checking mail on a cellphone or other mobile device before you open any attachments or follow any instructions and never make any payment changes without verifying with the intended recipient by phone or in person. If you think you have been a victim of a BEC scheme, immediately contact your bank to request a recall or reversal as well as a Hold Harmless Letter or Letter of Indemnity, and file a detailed complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. The Internet Crime Complaint Center, is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime. Visit www.ic3.gov for updated information regarding BEC trends as well as other cyber fraud schemes.
This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.
Foreign National Charged with International Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed in the District of Columbia today charging a foreign national with international fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking.
According to court documents, between January 2017 and April 2021, Juan Carlos Morgan Huerta, aka Cacayo, conspired to import large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States.
Morgan Huerta is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one kilogram or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana for importation into the United States. If convicted, Morgan Huerta faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, and Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) supported the case.
The FBI Tucson Field Office, OCDETF Strike Force, DEA Nogales Field Division, and HSI Tucson Field Office are investigating this case.
Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Halfway House and Former President Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The former president and director of Secor, Inc., a federal halfway house that contracted with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to house inmates, pled guilty today to making false statements and committing wire fraud. The corporation, through its attorney, also pled guilty to those charges. The former president and director will serve at least one year in federal prison under the plea agreement.
Matthew Castle, 35, of Lebanon, Virginia, and Secor, Inc., each pled guilty today in federal court to one count of making materially false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the United States and one count of wire fraud.
Under the plea agreements, Castle will serve between 12 and 21 months in prison, and Secor will serve a term of probation of one to five years. Additionally, Castle and Secor will pay $208,105 in restitution, forfeit $40,000, and pay an additional $30,000 in fines.
“This company and its former president and director were paid to house offenders for the Bureau of Prisons and instead of taking on that responsibility, they chose to defraud the American taxpayers and the Bureau of Prisons,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case was investigated internally using a U.S. Attorney’s Office financial fraud investigator and it represents a new beginning for the Western District of Virginia, one where financial crimes are investigated and prosecuted entirely within our Office.”
According to court documents, Secor was a residential reentry center, commonly referred to as a halfway house, for inmates from the BOP who were nearing the end of their federal prison sentences.
In 2018, Secor entered into a contract with the BOP that allowed some of the offenders under the care of Secor to be assigned to “home confinement,” meaning those offenders resided at an approved residence not owned by Secor. BOP paid Secor a per diem rate for offenders who resided at Secor’s facilities and a different per diem rate for those on home-confinement.
Under the terms of the contract, Secor was required to outfit home-confinement offenders with GPS monitoring equipment so the offenders’ whereabouts could be determined at all times. In addition, Secor personnel were required to personally visit each offender’s residence on at least a monthly basis to ensure the offender was living at the offender’s assigned residence, in a safe environment, and in accordance with applicable rules.
In fact, Castle and Secor failed to meet these requirements. For example, Secor did not outfit many of the home-confinement offenders with GPS monitoring and failed to conduct home visits as required. Nonetheless, Castle routinely completed documentation certifying that he had conducted such visits and noted no issues. In addition to signing these phony documents himself, Castle often wrote false observations like “things were going well,” and the offender “had no questions or concerns to address at the time.”
Each month, Castle submitted invoices to BOP for payments pursuant to the contract between Secor and the BOP. BOP then issued payments to Secor based on Castle and Secor’s representations that Castle and Secor were providing home-confinement services in accordance with the contract.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Pierce and Randy Ramseyer are prosecuting the case.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Former Army Private with Four Additional Felony Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Army private based at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County is scheduled to be arraigned today on federal charges alleging, in part, that he knowingly produced child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring a 14-year-old girl.
Parker William White, 23, of Johnsonville, New York, who first was indicted on March 10 with one count of possession of child pornography, was charged in a superseding indictment with four additional felony child exploitation charges.
White is now charged with five felonies: one count of production of child pornography, three counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
White was arrested on February 24 pursuant to a criminal complaint that alleges White used Instagram and other social media platforms to find minor “girlfriends” as young as 13. White would groom these minor girls by telling them that he would treat them like “queens,” according to the complaint’s affidavit.
A March 14, 2024 trial date previously has been scheduled in this matter. White is currently in federal custody and has been ordered jailed without bond.
The superseding indictment returned on Tuesday alleges that in November 2021, White knowingly induced a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The visual depiction was produced using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate commerce.
The indictment further alleges that on three occasions in November 2021 and January 2022, White knowingly received child sexual abuse material that had been transported through interstate commerce, including by computer.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, White would face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography count, a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each receipt of child pornography count, and a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the child pornography possession count.
Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced - November 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November 2023 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Pablo Escobar-us. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Pablo Escobar-us, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Feb. 18, 2014, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-363
Edgar Garcia-Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Edgar Garcia-Rodriguez, 22, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Jan. 23, 2022, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-362
Lerontez Sherod Hill; Bobbe Gene Taylor; Tashonna Leigh Anderson; Walter Jay Johnson; Kemareay Keishion Green; Jeremiah Hamlin. Kidnapping; Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; (superseding). Hill, 38, of Tulsa; Taylor, 25, of Tulsa; Anderson, 36, of Bixby; Johnson, 25, of Tulsa; Green, 25, of Atoka; and Hamlin, 39 of Tulsa are with is charged with kidnapping and robbery on August 17, 2021. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-318
Jonathan Eliezer Miranda Juarez. Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Jonathan Eliezer Miranda Juarez, 29, of Commerce, is charged with knowingly transported a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity on Aug. 18, 2023. He also charge with coercion and enticement of a minor from Aug. of 2020 through Aug. 18, 2023. The Indiana Delphi Police Department, the Commerce Police Department, Oklahoma State Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Stephanie Ihler are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-347
Efrain Lira-Anaya. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Efrain Lira-Anaya, 47, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on July 27, 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-361
Dakota Shane May. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Dakota Shane May, 28, of Tulsa, a Muscogee Creek Nation member, broke into a residence with intent to steal on Aug. 9, 2023. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Ihler is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-360
Shelly Annette McElroy; Gary Don McElroy. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Tampering with a Record, Document, and Other Object. Shelly Annette McElroy, 51, and Gary Don McElroy, 54, of Tulsa, conspired and possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute on Oct. 8, 2023. Shelley McElroy was also charged with attempting on Oct. 9 and Oct. 12, 2023, to tamper with and erase the contents of a cellular phone seized as evidence on Oct. 8, 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and Niko Boulieris are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-348
Jason Ryan Mitchell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of an Unregistered Weapon Made from a Shotgun. Jason Ryan Mitchell, 41, of Owasso, knowingly he had previously been convicted of felonies, possessed a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him on Sep. 5, 2023. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-349
Charles William Pebeahsy, III. Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Charles William Pebeahsy, 51, of Quapaw, assaulted his victims with intent to commit murder on May 31, 2023. Pebeahasy is a tribal member of the Quapaw Nation. the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-357
Luis Angel Perez-Serrano. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Luis Angel Perez-Serrano, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Dec. 19, 2019, at or near San Ysidro, California. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-355
Luis Miguel Rodriguez Perez. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Luis Miguel Rodriguez Perez, 30, a Mexican national and United States lawful permanent resident, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute on Oct. 18, 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and Niko Boulieris are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-358
Ronald Dale Sanders. Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country; Tampering with Evidence by Corrupt Persuasion. Ronald Dale Sanders, 55, of Belton, Missouri, from Aug. 2023 to Oct. 15, 2023, traveled to engage in a sexual act with an Indian child under the age of 16. Sanders is additionally charged for attempting to destroy or conceal evidence from Oct. 15, 2023, to Oct. 18, 2023. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-354
Juan Villalobos-Jimenez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Juan Villalobos-Jimenez, 29, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Jul. 10, 2015, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-353
Brandon David McCarthy; Rachel Christine McCarthy. Drug Conspiracy; Distribution of Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine; Distribution of Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine Resulting in Death; Possession of Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine with Intent to Distribute; Distribution of Material; Possession of Materials with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises; Money Laundering Conspiracy; Engaging in Monetary Transactions of Proceeds Derived from a Specified Unlawful Activity. Brandon David McCarthy, 37 and Rachel Christine McCarthy, 34, of Tulsa are charged with several counts related to a drug conspiracy involving poppy seeds coated in opium latex and resulted in the death of a Utah woman. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-359
Erie, PA man going to prison for eight years after having sex with 15 y/oRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tristan Pearson, 26, of Erie, PA, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between January and May 2018, Pearson knowingly engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female (Victim) in the Western District of New York. On two separate occasions, Pearson filmed himself having sexual relations with the Victim using his cellular telephone. Pearson then distributed those videos to others via text message.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
# # # #
Engineer Indicted for Bombing Energy Facilities in CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Peter Karasev, 36, a U.S. citizen residing in San Jose, was arraigned in the Northern District of California today on an indictment charging him with destroying energy facilities and using fire or explosives to commit a federal crime. Karasev made his appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi.
According to court documents, Karasev was indicted on Oct. 19. As alleged in counts one and two of the indictment, Karasev knowingly and willfully damaged the property of two energy facilities – specifically, two PG&E transformers in San Jose, California on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, respectively – and attempted to cause and caused significant interruption and impairment of those energy facilities. The indictment also alleges, in count three, that the defendant used fire and an explosive to commit a felony, specifically, the destruction of an energy facility on Jan. 5, 2023.
“These charges make clear that those who attack our country’s critical infrastructure will be met with the full force of the Justice Department,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We have charged Peter Karasev with bombing two energy transformers in Northern California, leaving more than 1,500 households and businesses in the San Jose community without power. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern District of California and the FBI for their work to bring the defendant to justice and prevent further harm to the San Jose community.”
“The defendant in this case allegedly used explosives to try to cut off electricity to more than 1,500 San Jose businesses and residences,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Damaging our region’s critical infrastructure endangers innocent victims—including our most vulnerable citizens such as the elderly and the sick—and we will not tolerate it. We will vigorously prosecute any malicious attempts to disrupt the power grid.”
“Attacks and threats against neighborhood energy facilities with explosives are more than alarming. The FBI and our partners will not tolerate criminal activity that puts the safety of our citizens at risk,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “I commend the San Jose Police Department for their swift action in identifying and apprehending Karasev. Their excellent detective work prevented further harm to our community.”
As described in a government memorandum seeking Karasev’s pretrial detention, Karasev constructed, planted and ignited the explosive devices that caused each of the transformer explosions. Both attacks occurred during the early morning hours in commercial areas occupied by stores and businesses, and collectively terminated power to over 1,500 households and businesses in the San Jose community.
The government’s memorandum also detailed that in the months leading up to the attacks, Karasev was building and experimenting with homemade explosives, as well as manufacturing methamphetamine, in his own home. At the time of his arrest, Karasev was allegedly in possession of a range of improvised explosive devices in varying stages of completion, as well as multiple firearms, additional weapons, over 300 pounds of explosive precursor materials, and other hazardous substances.
Karasev was arrested in March 2023 by the San Jose Police Departement and remained in custody on related state charges prior to his transfer to federal custody for this case. A federal grand jury charged Karasev with two counts of destruction of an energy facility and one count of use of fire or an explosive to commit a federal felony. If convicted, Karasev faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison on the third count to be served consecutively to any imprisonment imposed for either of the other counts. Karasev faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Karasev was ordered detained pending his next federal court appearance. His next appearance is scheduled to take place on January 30, 2024, before Hon. Beth Labson Freeman, United States District Judge.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the San Jose Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
cr_23-00364-blf-01_indictment.pdfEl Departamento de Justicia obtiene un acuerdo histórico de $25 millones con Apple para resolver acusaciones de discriminación laboral basadas en el estatus de ciudadaníaRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha obtenido un acuerdo histórico con Apple Inc. (Apple) para resolver las acusaciones de que Apple discriminó ilegalmente en su contratación y reclutamiento, a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. y a ciertos no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. cuyo permiso para vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos no vence.
En virtud del acuerdo, Apple está obligada a pagar hasta $25 millones en pago retroactivo y sanciones civiles, la mayor concesión que el Departamento ha recuperado en virtud de la disposición antidiscriminación de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés).
«La creación de barreras ilícitas que le dificultan a alguien buscar un trabajo debido a su estatus de ciudadanía no se tolerará», dijo Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Esta resolución refleja el compromiso de la División de Derechos Civiles de acabar con las prácticas de empleo discriminatorias ilegales».
El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que Apple infringió los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA durante el reclutamiento de Apple para puestos que forman parte del programa de certificación laboral permanente (PERM, por sus siglas en inglés). El programa PERM es administrado por el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU. y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los EE. UU. Permite a los empleadores patrocinar a los trabajadores para obtener el estatus de residente permanente legal en los Estados Unidos después de completar los pasos de reclutamiento requeridos y cumplir con otros requisitos del programa. Cualquier empleador en los Estados Unidos que utiliza el proceso PERM no puede discriminar ilegalmente en la contratación o el reclutamiento en función de la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio.
La investigación del Departamento, que empezó en febrero del 2019, encontró que Apple incurrió en un patrón o una práctica de discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en su reclutamiento para puestos que contrató a través del programa PERM, y que la discriminación ilícita de la compañía perjudicó a ciudadanos de los EE: UU., nacionales de los EE. UU., residentes permanentes legales y aquellos a los que se les ha concedido el asilo o el estatus de refugiado. Estas prácticas de contratación menos eficaces disuadieron a los trabajadores protegidos de solicitar vacantes que Apple prefirió llenar, en su lugar, con beneficiarios de PERM.
En concreto, la investigación del Departamento determinó que Apple no publicaba puestos que Apple pretendía cubrir mediante el programa PERM en su sitio web de trabajo externo, aunque su práctica estándar era publicar otros puestos de trabajo en este sitio web. También exigía que todos los solicitantes de puestos PERM enviaran solicitudes en papel, aunque la empresa permitía solicitudes electrónicas para otros puestos. En algunos casos, Apple no consideró ciertas solicitudes para puestos PERM de los empleados de Apple si esas solicitudes se enviaron electrónicamente, en lugar de las solicitudes en papel enviadas por correo. El resultado de estos procedimientos de reclutamiento menos eficaces casi siempre era la escasa presentación de solicitudes, si es que alguna, para puestos PERM de solicitantes cuyo permiso para trabajar no vence.
De conformidad con el acuerdo de $25 millones, a Apple se le requiere pagar $6,75 millones en sanciones civiles y establecer un fondo de pagos retroactivos de $18,25 millones para las víctimas de discriminación elegibles. Por otra parte, el acuerdo requiere que Apple se asegure de que su contratación para puestos PERM se ajuste más a sus prácticas habituales de contratación.
En concreto, Apple deberá realizar un reclutamiento más amplio para todos los puestos PERM, incluida la publicación de puestos PERM en su sitio web de empleo externo, la aceptación de solicitudes electrónicas y la posibilidad de buscar a candidatos para puestos PERM en su sistema de seguimiento de candidatos. Apple ha implementado algunas de estas medidas después de que el Departamento abriera su investigación. Además, Apple capacitará a sus empleados sobre los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA y se someterá a la supervisión por parte del Departamento durante el período de tres años del acuerdo.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación. Puede aprender más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo obtener asistencia a través de este vídeo corto o visualice una presentación a la carta. Hay más información disponible en el sitio web de la IER sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación en los procesos de contratación y reclutamiento.
Los trabajadores que tengan preguntas sobre este acuerdo pueden comunicarse con la IER al 1-888-473-3897 o [email protected]. El público puede obtener más información sobre cómo conseguir ayuda de IER en los sitios web de la IER inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
View the settlement agreement here.
View Attachment A here.
El Departamento de Justicia logra un acuerdo con Cox Communications para resolver acusaciones de que la empresa utilizó una plataforma de reclutamiento de Georgia Tech para discriminarRead the Press Release
En el 37º aniversario de la aprobación por parte del Congreso de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés), el Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha logrado un acuerdo con Cox Communications Inc., un proveedor de servicios de telecomunicaciones residenciales y empresariales con sede en Georgia para resolver acusaciones de discriminación.
En concreto, este acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Cox Communications vulneró la INA mediante el uso de una plataforma de reclutamiento en el recinto universitario del Instituto de Tecnología de Georgia («Georgia Tech») para publicar decenas de anuncios de empleo discriminatorios que excluyeron, de manera ilícita, a estudiantes y antiguos alumnos en función de su estatus de ciudadanía. Previamente, el Departamento llegó a un acuerdo con otros 30 empleadores para resolver acusaciones similares:16 en junio del 2022, cuatro en septiembre del 2022 y otros 10 en mayo del 2023—y con Georgia Tech en agosto del 2023.
«Con este último acuerdo, el Departamento de Justicia ha hecho a Georgia Tech y a 31 empleadores responsables del papel que han desempeñado en la discriminación ilícita en la contratación basada en el estatus de ciudadanía de los estudiantes», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Estos acuerdos han obtenido más de $2.5 millones en sanciones civiles y demuestran el compromiso del Departamento de garantizar que los estudiantes universitarios y sus exalumnos que están comenzando sus carreras laborales tengan una oportunidad equitativa de competir por trabajos».
El Departamento inició sus investigaciones después de que un estudiante de Georgia Tech, que para aquel entonces era residente permanente legal, se quejó de un anuncio de prácticas restringido a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. en la plataforma de reclutamiento laboral en el recinto universitario de Georgia Tech. La investigación del Departamento de la denuncia del estudiante reveló decenas de otros anuncios discriminatorios en la plataforma, incluidos varios publicados por Cox Communications. El Departamento descubrió que Cox Communications publicó numerosos anuncios de trabajo que excluían, de manera ilegal, a los trabajadores a los que se les ha concedido el asilo o el estatus de refugiado, residentes permanentes legales y, en un caso, ciudadanos estadounidenses. Por otra parte, el Departamento también determinó que Cox Communications utilizó características de la plataforma en línea de Georgia Tech para disuadir y excluir automáticamente a los estudiantes calificados de solicitar puestos de trabajo, debido a su estatus de ciudadanía.
Este acuerdo requiere que Cox Communications pague una sanción civil de $459,895 y que capacite a su personal de reclutamiento en cuanto a la disposición antidiscriminación de la INA. El acuerdo también prohíbe a Cox Communications incluir designaciones específicas de ciudadanía o estatus migratorio en sus anuncios de trabajo en el recinto universitario, a menos que las restricciones sean legalmente obligatorias.
Este acuerdo forma parte de los esfuerzos del Departamento por combatir la discriminación relacionada con la inteligencia artificial y los sistemas automatizados, como se describe en la Orden ejecutiva sobre el desarrollo y uso seguro y fiable de la inteligencia artificial.
La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA se aprobó como parte de la ley de Reforma y Control de la Inmigración en noviembre de 1986. Esta ley prohíbe que los empleadores y reclutadores restrinjan los trabajos en función de la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio, a menos que lo exija una ley, una regulación, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental. La INA protege a aquellos a los que se les ha concedido el asilo o el estatus de refugiado, residentes permanentes legales recientes, ciudadanos de los EE. UU. y nacionales de los EE. UU. de la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en los procesos de contratación, despido y reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión.
Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. El sitio web de la IER tiene más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación a base del estatus de ciudadanía al contratar y reclutar. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1‑800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito o visualizar una presentación a la carta; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
View the settlement agreement here.
Dominican National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE OZUNA CRUZ, also known as Jose Cruz-Cruz, Jose Chapulin, Jose Ozuna-Montero, and Jose Ozun-Cruz, 48, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, Ozuna was deported from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic in February 2010, following a felony conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and 37-month prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Ozuna subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. On November 21, 2022, Ozuna was arrested by Waterbury Police in Waterbury and charged with various state drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
Ozuna, who had been released on bond in his state case, appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of illegal reentry, Ozuna faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The state charges against him are pending.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Casey.
Dominican Man Indicted for Illegal Reentry and Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Ricardo Pena, age 58, of the Dominican Republic, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry and four counts of distributing fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on or about March 7, 2017, Pena was previously removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on or about October 25, 2023, Pena was encountered in Dauphin County. In addition, the indictment alleges that on four occasions, Pena distributed fentanyl between August 23, 2023, and October 10, 2023.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford is prosecuting the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty for this offense is up to 100 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
# # #
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 46 Months IncarcerationRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Keyran Coto Lopez, 28, of Costa Rica, was sentenced by District Judge Wilma Lewis to 46 months of incarceration following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute marijuana onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2022, while on patrol in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Campbell intercepted a go-fast vessel operating approximately 65 nautical miles South of Boca Chica, Panama, with no physical flag flown and no registration documents. Coast Guard officials also observed contraband on the deck of the go-fast vessel and three individuals later identified as Lopez, Alonso Hernandez-Hernandez and Luis Orellana-Orellana onboard. All three occupants claimed to be nationals of Costa Rica and claimed Colombian nationality for the go-fast vessel. The Colombian government neither confirmed nor denied nationality of the vessel thereby subjecting it to the jurisdiction of the United States. A search of the go-fast vessel resulted in the recovery of 4,104 pounds of marijuana. Hernandez-Hernandez and Orellana-Orellana also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz. 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.
Couple Charged for Operating Multimillion-Dollar Pyramid SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas returned an indictment yesterday charging a Texas couple for operating an illegal pyramid scheme that defrauded thousands of participants of more than $10 million.
According to court documents, LaShonda Moore, 35, and Marlon Moore, 37, co-founded and ran an illegal pyramid scheme called Blessings in No Time (BINT). BINT was allegedly a chain-referral pyramid scheme that targeted the African American community during the COVID-19 pandemic with false and misleading promises that participants could expect 800% guaranteed returns and guaranteed refunds if participants were unsatisfied with the program.
The Moores allegedly organized BINT’s payment scheme with “playing boards” that had eight Fire positions, four Wind positions, two Earth positions, and one Water position. As alleged, players in the Fire position advanced on the board by paying at least $1400 to the person in the Water position and recruiting two new Fire-level participants, at which point the cycle would repeat. In other words, eight new participants had to be recruited into the scheme for a single earlier participant to receive a return on their initial investment. The Moores allegedly placed themselves and their family members in the Water position on multiple playing boards to receive the payments from participants in the Fire position and collected a substantial sum from participants’ monthly user fees, which were required for participation in BINT.
The Moores are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for each money laundering count.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, Acting Special Agent in Charge Christina Foley of the U.S. Secret Service Dallas Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office made the announcement.
USPIS, U.S. Secret Service, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Theodore M. Kneller and Assistant Chief William Johnston of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Kummerfeld for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The department received assistance from the Federal Trade Commission and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Correctional Center Lieutenant Admits to Federal Charge for Depriving Inmate of Civil RightsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Pinckneyville Correctional Center acting lieutenant appeared in federal court Wednesday to admit he failed to intervene while his subordinates beat a restrained inmate.
Mark C. Maxwell, 52, of Pinckneyville, Illinois, faces up to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law. He was charged for standing by while two other correctional officers punched and kicked an inmate who was handcuffed and shackled in leg irons. The victim suffered a fractured orbital socket, a partially collapsed lung, and needed 25 stitches to close lacerations to his face.
Under federal law, officers have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force.
Cord A. Williams, 35, of Vergennes, Illinois, and Christian L. Pyles, 25, of Christopher, Illinois, were also charged in the same indictment as Maxwell and have each pleaded guilty to violation of civil rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.
The charges arose from an incident in which an inmate was beaten while fully restrained in handcuffs and leg irons on April 24, 2022. According to court documents, the beating occurred to punish the inmate, because the inmate had previously punched a different correctional officer.
Maxwell’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2023.
The Illinois State Police is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Trafficking over 6 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Mexican citizen was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute over six kilograms of cocaine in Chesterfield County.
According to court documents, on April 17, 2023, Francisco Celedon, 47, met with a law enforcement confidential informant to deliver 6.053 kilograms of cocaine. Celedon was a drug courier for a Mexican drug trafficking organization. At the time of the offense, Celedon was on federal supervised release for a prior federal drug trafficking crime in the Middle District of Alabama.
Celedon was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the possession with the intent to distribute charge and 3 years in prison for violations of his federal supervised release stemming from his prior conviction.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Chesterfield County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Shea Gibbons and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-69.
Chicago Man Convicted of Threatening Violence at Women’s Reproductive ClinicRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been convicted in federal court of threatening to commit violence at a women’s reproductive health clinic.
A jury in U.S. District in Chicago on Wednesday convicted FARHAN SHEIKH, 23, of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland did not immediately set a sentencing date.
The conviction was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron R. Bond and Melody Wells.
Evidence at trial revealed that Sheikh posted the threatening communications on Aug. 13, 2019, on the social media platform iFunny. In one of his posts, Sheikh stated, “I am done with my state and thier (sic) [expletive] abortion laws and allowing innocrnt (sic) kids to be slaughtered for the so called ‘womans right’ [expletive].” Sheikh later wrote that he would visit a clinic in Chicago and “proceed to slaughter and murder any doctor, patient, or visitor I see in the area and I will not back down.”
In posts that immediately followed the threats, Sheikh described his anger at law enforcement and his frustration over the arrest of another individual for making threats online. Sheikh referred to the other arrest as “surpressing [sic] our freedoms,” and he vowed to “do the same” to “whores.”
Chattanooga Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Unlawful Possession of A Firearm in Connection with June 5, 2022, McCallie Avenue ShootingsRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. On November 9, 2023, Rodney Harris, 32 of Chattanooga, TN, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Harris pled guilty on June 7, 2023, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1). Following his imprisonment, Harris will be on supervised release for three years.
According to court records, Harris, who had previously been convicted in federal court of a drug conspiracy felony, was caught on camera wearing a mask and brandishing an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 AR-pistol with an arm brace in front of Mary’s Bar and Grill on McCallie Avenue just prior to the shooting commencing. Harris himself was shot 17 times and run over by a vehicle during the incident.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico, of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), made the announcement.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Chattanooga Police Department, ATF, and FBI. Several other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation, including the United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community face.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Poole represented the United States.
###
Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Levi Rider, 19, of Charleston, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 26, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rider’s residence and seized Rider’s cell phone. Rider admitted to officers that he clicked on internet links that contained child pornography. Officers found more than a dozen images and videos depicting child pornography on his seized cell phone, and more than 100 videos and images depicting child pornography on his Kik Messenger mobile app account.
On November 17, 2022, law enforcement officers executed another search warrant at Rider’s residence. Officers seized Rider’s new cell phone, and on it they found several videos depicting child pornography. One of the videos depicted an adult male anally sexually assaulting a prepubescent child.
Officers found a total of 92 videos and 44 images depicting prepubescent child pornography on Rider’s cell phones and Kik account.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Francesca C. Rollo prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 sexually exploit children, and 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 Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-24.
###
Central Georgian Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Central Georgia resident was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison after he admitted to possessing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), also known as child pornography, including those involving the graphic abuse of very young children.
David Health, 38, of Macon and Gray, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Nov. 8, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on Feb. 1. Heath will have to register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison. Heath is not eligible for parole.
“David Heath and other predators who actively seek out gratification from the horrifying sexual abuse of children are a danger to kids,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The Middle District of Georgia is blessed with law enforcement relentlessly dedicated to protecting the innocent and bringing child predators to justice.”
“The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation. We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey.
According to court documents, GBI received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Jan. 17, 2020, that contained approximately 300 images of CSAM. The images, including some depicting the sexual abuse of pre-pubescent minor children, was uploaded to a Google account used by Heath. Another Cybertip containing 75 CSAM files depicting minor prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts was submitted on Feb. 13, 2020, from the same account. In addition, 43 more Cybertips like the aforementioned instances were discovered to have come from the same user.
GBI executed a search warrant at Heath’s Macon residence on March 27, 2020, and several electronic devices were seized, including laptops, cell phones, HD cards, USB sticks and external hard drives. In all, Heath possessed 2081 images of children being sexually assaulted and abused, including 116 images depicting an infant or toddler being sexually abused and one image of sado-masochistic conduct involving a child. Heath has a prior state felony conviction for aggravated assault of a peace officer in Bibb County, Georgia, Superior Court; his parole was revoked in 2020 for the offenses of possession of methamphetamine and five counts of violation computer pornography and child exploitation.
The case was investigated by the GBI.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A man who was selling fentanyl while he was on federal supervised release was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Anthony Laveal Allen, age 26, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 6, 2023 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on January 12, 2023, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation and purchased pills from Allen that contained fentanyl. Allen has a prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm as a felon from 2017, and he was serving a term of supervised release when he committed the instant offense.
Allen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Allen was sentenced to a total sentence of 39 months’ imprisonment comprised of 15 months for the new crime and a consecutive sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment for the supervised release violation. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Allen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Johnson County Drug Task Force and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Johnson County Drug Task Force consists of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa City Police Department, the Coralville Police Department, the North Liberty Police Department, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 23-CR-17 and 17-CR-23.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 70 Months IncarcerationRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Leandro De Los Santos, 33, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced by Judge Wilma A. Lewis to 70 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 630 kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on September 11, 2022, while on routine patrol south of the Dominican Republic, United States Coast Guard Cutter U.S.S. Billings intercepted a go-fast vessel navigating on a northerly course approximately 80 nautical miles south of Bani, Dominican Republic. The vessel had no flag flown, no registration numbers and no name painted on its hull. The Dominican Republic Navy later confirmed that the vessel was not registered with their country, and it was therefore treated as a vessel without nationality thereby subjecting it to the jurisdiction of the United States. Onboard the vessel, the U.S.S. Billings boarding team detained De Los Santos and Victor Reyes-Martinez and recovered 630 kilograms of cocaine. On March 30, 2023, Reyes-Martinez pleaded guilty on March 30, 2023, and was sentenced to 57 months incarceration.
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Chinese Nationals Guilty of Illegally Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Chunmei Zhang, 55, of China, was found guilty of illegal entry into the United States following a trial before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller.
According to evidence introduced at trial, on July 25, 2023, Zhang and her husband, Sheng Chen, 55, arrived at the Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas and attempted to board a Delta flight to New York. Both were referred to Customs and Border Protection for inspection as neither had a United States passport or any other travel documents in their possession. When interviewed, Zhang and Chen stated that they arrived in St. Thomas on July 24, 2023, by boat from Suriname and admitted paying approximately $25,000.00 to their traffickers to transport them to St. Thomas. Both Zhang and Chen are Chinese nationals, and no record exists that either applied for, sought, or received prior permission to enter or reside in the United States. On their convictions, Zhang and Chen were sentenced by Magistrate Judge Miller to time served.
These cases were investigated by Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
Buffalo man going to prison for more than 20 years for selling heroin and fentanyl that resulted in two deathsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Isaiah Spain a/k/a Q, 39, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 10 grams or more of butyryl fentanyl, heroin, fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who handled the case, stated that in August 2018, The West Seneca Police Department, New York State Police and DEA began investigating Spain’s drug trafficking activities. The investigation determined that Spain conspired with others to sell heroin, fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl and furanyl fentanyl, sales of which were subsequently linked with numerous drug overdoses, including two fatalities.
On November 4, 2017, Amherst Police responded to a 911 call in Williamsville, NY, where they located an unresponsive individual, identified as S.D., who was pronounced dead at the scene of an apparent drug overdose. The substances used by S.D. were purchased from Spain by another individual and sold to S.D. On August 24, 2018, West Seneca Police responded to a residence for a reported drug overdose. Upon arrival, an individual identified as S.C. was pronounced dead at the scene from an apparent drug overdose. The substances used by S.D. were purchased from Spain.
Between October 2018, and January 2019, investigators conducted a combined total of 13 controlled buys of suspected controlled substances from Spain. Following each controlled buy, the suspected controlled substance was analyzed and confirmed to contain butyryl fentanyl.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Baker, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
# # # #
Bronx Man Charged with Stealing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars’ Worth of Construction Utility Vehicles from NYCHA Housing DevelopmentsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging MAXIMO NUNEZ with theft of government property and conspiracy to commit theft of government property in connection with a years-long scheme in which he and others stole valuable construction utility vehicles (“Utility Vehicles”) from New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) developments. NUNEZ was arrested this morning and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn later today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant and others carried out a brazen scheme for years, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in valuable construction equipment that NYCHA needed to maintain the many public housing developments that thousands of New Yorkers call home. Thanks to the persistent efforts of the New York City Department of Investigation and the Special Agents and career prosecutors of my Office, this man now stands charged with this bold scheme.”
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “As charged, Nunez and other co-conspirators stole at least 16 utility vehicles worth over several hundred thousand dollars from NYCHA. These vehicles are used to maintain NYCHA facilities for residents. NYCHA referred this matter to DOI and cooperated in this investigation, which involved the placement of GPS tracking devices on certain NYCHA utility vehicles and allowed law enforcement to recover one of the allegedly stolen vehicles. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in this investigation and their commitment to hold accountable those who steal valuable government property.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
From in or about January 2021 through in or about September 2022, on at least 13 different occasions, NUNEZ and three other co-conspirators (“CC-1,” “CC-2,” and “CC-3”) stole at least 16 Utility Vehicles from over a dozen NYCHA developments throughout New York City. Utility Vehicles are pieces of heavy equipment that NYCHA uses to complete regular construction and maintenance tasks.
NUNEZ and others stole the Utility Vehicles in the middle of the night when NYCHA employees were not present. They often used large trucks to carry out their scheme so that they could steal more than one Utility Vehicle at a time. Photographs taken from surveillance video of two of the thefts are below:
Utility Vehicles often retail for anywhere from $25,000 to $65,000 each. NUNEZ and others made hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling the Utility Vehicles to individuals who did not know that they were stolen.
* * *
NUNEZ, 28, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison, and one count of theft of government property, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case 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 DOI and the Special Agents and Investigative Analysts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackie Delligatti is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Brockton Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition.
Michael Whitfield, 42, of Brockton, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Whitfield was previously charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 13, 2023.
According to the charging documents, on March 6, 2023, upon arrival at a motor vehicle accident scene in Brockton, law enforcement observed Whitfield in a vehicle with significant damage, its airbag deployed and a broken passenger door window. It is alleged that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and an empty tequila bottle was observed on the passenger seat floor. It is further alleged that a Glock 19X .9mm pistol loaded with 18 rounds was found on the driver’s side floorboard between Whitfield’s legs.
Due to a prior felony conviction stemming from 2006, Whitfield is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to
$250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, the Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Braymer Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Braymer, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute substantial quantities of methamphetamine.
Jason M. Potter, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to 30 years in federal prison without parole.
Potter was found guilty at trial on Feb. 16, 2023, of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Potter and co-defendant Daniel Dryden, 52, of Clinton, Mo., participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from May 11 to July 15, 2020. Dryden was sentenced on June 29, 2023, to three years in federal prison without parole.
Lee’s Summit, Mo., police officers saw Potter’s black 2009 Nissan Maxima parked in the parking lot of America’s Best Value Inn on July 15, 2020. When Potter and Dryden came out of the hotel, Potter placed a black computer case and a blue cloth shopping bag in the rear passenger seat of the Maxima. Potter went back into the hotel while Dryden drove the Maxima to the front of the business, near the lobby doors. Potter came out of the hotel and got into the front passenger seat of the Maxima. Dryden drove out of the parking lot onto Blue Parkway.
Officers stopped the Maxima and arrested Potter, who had an outstanding parole warrant. Potter was in possession of 4.8 grams of methamphetamine and $3,610 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Officers searched the Maxima and found the computer bag, which contained several baggies with a total of 648.6 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a money bag with more than $3,000 in cash.
According to court documents, Potter stayed at America’s Best Value Inn in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He was a friend of the motel’s manager, stayed in different rooms in the motel, and used it as his “main hub” for methamphetamine distribution.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen A. Brackett and Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Bitwise Industries Founders Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal Charged for $100 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based technology company Bitwise Industries, self-surrendered today on a federal complaint charging them with conspiring to commit wire fraud and taking more than $100 million from various businesses and individuals, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“The defendants could have chosen simply to admit the failure of Bitwise’s business model. Instead, they used lie after lie to pull over $100 million into a dying venture through fraud,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Olguin and Soberal fabricated bank statements, lied to investors, provided false financial information to their board of directors, forged documents, and used buildings Bitwise no longer even owned as collateral for loans, all while lining their own pockets. Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such financial crimes, and we are grateful for the hard work of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as the civil enforcement work of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.”
“The alleged deceptive business practices of Mr. Soberal and Ms. Olguin Jr. have directly and negatively impacted over 900 families from the Fresno and Bakersfield communities. Today’s complaint is a starting point toward justice for those families,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Silva of the Oakland Field Office. “These sorts of white-collar crimes often root from greed and mismanagement and leave hard working tax paying citizens damaged in their wake. Let me say this to any would be fraudulent business owners in pursuit of ill-gotten proceeds: The talented and motivated special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners from the FBI will catch you.”
“Deceptive practices within the corporate world, as alleged in this case, have far-reaching consequences. Our dedicated team of special agents and professional staff worked tirelessly to uncover a complex web of misconduct,” stated Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We value our strong partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Together, we are resolute in our commitment to upholding justice, ensuring transparency, and breaking the cycle of financial wrongdoing. The collaboration between our team and our partners underscores the importance of holding wrongdoers accountable, reinforcing ethical leadership, and empowering individuals to report misconduct. It is through these efforts that we aim to make a meaningful difference in the fight against financial crimes.”
According to court records, Bitwise abruptly collapsed earlier this year despite recent reports the company was worth over $500 million and was financially sound. All of the company’s approximately 900 employees and apprentices were immediately furloughed and later laid off, and the company’s board of directors fired Olguin and Soberal.
The complaint filed this week alleges that beginning no later than January 2022, Olguin and Soberal agreed to lie to board members, investors, lenders, and others about Bitwise’s finances to obtain investments, loans, and other funding. They did so by fabricating financial information in board presentations and investor materials, and altering and forging bank statements, audits, and other financial records to inflate Bitwise’s revenues, cash balances, and property holdings. Much of the money went towards paying Bitwise’s payroll and fringe benefits, including Olguin and Soberal’s $600,000 per year salaries, outfitting the company’s office spaces, and repaying debts owed to prior lenders.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Henry Z. Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Olguin and Soberal each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
complaint_olguin_soberal_.pdfArmed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nine Years for Possessing Firearm and Distribution Quantities of FentanylRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew has sentenced Eugene Washington, Jr. (36, Bradenton) to nine years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Washington had pleaded guilty on June 7, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, on the morning of August 12, 2022, officers from the Bradenton Police Department (BPD) responded to a call for service from a concerned citizen regarding an unresponsive individual sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle around the 700 block of 9th Street East in Bradenton. The car was stopped in traffic, facing the traffic light in the median lane. Once at the scene, the BPD officers asked Washington to exit the vehicle. As Washington exited the car, the officers noticed a silver and black Smith and Wesson SD40 .40 caliber pistol on the driver’s seat. Washington turned back into the car and appeared to reach for the firearm. The firearm was loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition.
Also recovered from inside the vehicle was a backpack, located on the passenger floorboard, that backpack contained a variety of controlled substances, including: 44.07 grams of fentanyl, 35.06 grams of methamphetamine, 93.86 grams of cocaine base, 13.91 grams of cocaine, 36.28 grams of hydrocodone, 9.99 grams of oxycodone, 433.37 grams of dimethylpentylone (a substituted cathinone), and 21.35 grams of cannabis. Washington later admitted that he had previously been convicted of distributing heroin and had served a federal prison sentence for that offense. As a convicted felon, Washington is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bradenton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Diego F. Novaes.
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.
Armed Charlotte Man Indicted for Assaulting Two U.S. Postal Service Employees on the Same Day Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment was unsealed in court late yesterday, following the arrest of Dujuan Marquise McNeil, 38, of Charlotte, for assaulting two U.S. Postal Service employees on the same day and related firearms offenses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about June 1, 2023, McNeil, used a deadly weapon to assault a U.S. Postal Service employee, identified in the indictment as K.S., while she was at work. The indictment also alleges that on the same day McNeill used a deadly weapon to assault a second U.S. Postal Service employee, identified as A.H., while she was working. As alleged in the indictment, during both incidents, McNeil possessed and brandished a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, that being the assaults. The indictment further alleges that, on June 14, 2023, McNeil possessed a number of firearms, including an assault rifle, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was not permitted to possess a firearm.
In addition to the criminal charges, the indictment lists four firearms, a ghost gun, magazines, and ammunition seized from the defendant’s residence, which are subject to forfeiture for violation of federal law.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
McNeil is currently in federal custody. The maximum penalty for each count of assault of a federal employee by means of a dangerous weapon is 20 years in prison. The minimum penalty for each count of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence is seven years and the maximum is life in prison. The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King commended USPIS for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Apple Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Apple Valley man has pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 23, 2023, law enforcement attempted to arrest Timothy Allen Torell Wetzstein, 31, on outstanding warrants. Wetzstein fled from police officers but was arrested after a short foot chase. During the chase, Wetzstein threw away a Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Police searched Wetzstein’s backpack and vehicle and recovered quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, more than $11,000 in cash, and three additional firearms. As part of his guilty plea, Wetzstein also admitted to possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms on multiple other occasions between October 2020 and July 2023.
Wetzstein pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Ramsey Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Drug Task Force, and Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
Alleged Promoter of an Illegal Tax Shelter Charged with Tax Evasion and Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Sherman, Texas, returned an indictment today charging a Texas man with tax evasion and corruptly obstructing the IRS for attempting to evade his personal federal income taxes by, among other things, using an abusive-trust tax shelter. In September, a federal grand jury in Denver charged him with conspiring with others to defraud the United States by promoting nationwide the same abusive-trust tax shelter.
According to the indictment, from 2001 to 2014, Larry Conner, of Frisco, Texas, filed his individual income tax returns but did not pay the income taxes reported due on those returns. Conner allegedly attempted to prevent the IRS from collecting the unpaid taxes by creating sham trusts to hide over $5 million in income he earned from 2016 through 2021 and other assets from the IRS. Conner allegedly signed trust instruments purporting to create five trusts and opened bank accounts in the name of each trust, which he used to pay for personal living expenses. The indictment alleges that Conner assigned virtually all his income to the sham trusts and filed false individual income tax returns that did not report the income he assigned to those sham trusts.
The indictment further alleges that in 2018, Conner submitted a false form to the IRS as part of an offer to settle a portion of his tax debt. In the form, Conner allegedly understated his assets, omitted multiple bank accounts and falsely represented to the IRS that he did not run a business.
If convicted, Conner faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion and three years in prison for corruptly obstructing the IRS. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The pending Denver federal indictment charges Conner with conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting nationwide the same abusive-trust tax shelter that he allegedly used to evade his personal taxes as charged in today’s indictment. In that matter, Conner is alleged to have promoted and sold the abusive-trust tax shelter for approximately $25,000 to $50,000 per client, assuring them that they would continue to benefit from and control the income assigned to the sham trusts. In total, Conner’s promotion and sale of the tax shelter allegedly resulted in tens of millions of dollars in unpaid federal income taxes.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Scott and Lauren K. Pope and Senior Litigation Counsel Corey J. Smith of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Addiction Treatment Center Supervisor Admits to Participating in a Scheme to Defraud Federal, State, and Private Health Care InsurersRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A clinical social worker today admitted to a federal judge that she helped devise and execute a scheme that shortchanged Rhode Island and Massachusetts substance abuse disorder patients out of counseling and treatment services while, at the same time, defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurers out of more than $3.5 million dollars, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Mi Ok Song Bruining, 63, of Warwick, admitted that, while employed as a supervisor at Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. (RCCA) in Providence, she and others working at her direction routinely submitted false and fraudulent claims for psychotherapy and counseling services that did not occur for the length of time billed, consistently billing for far more patients than was possible for RCCA staff to have seen during office hours. Bruining, known at RCCA as the “5 Minute Queen” for her speed in seeing patients for so-called counseling sessions, admitted that while billing for 45-minute sessions she actually saw patients for no more than 5-10 minutes, at times asking patients only one question before she ended a session.
According to information presented to the court, to facilitate this fraud, Ms. Bruining directed counselors and others at RCCA to record in their notes that they were providing counseling in 45-minute intervals, but without listing AM or PM for the start time. Ms. Bruining gave this instruction so that it was not clear that they were seeing more patients than possible within a single hour. She also instructed other counselors to copy and paste the last visit’s note into each entry to make the bill look complete. As a result, many of the patient notes for patients billed by RCCA were simply identical cut-and paste copies of the same note.
Bruining pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2024. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Kevin Love Hubbard.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Attorney Cunha thanks the IRS, Customs and Border Protection, and the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General for their assistance in the investigation.
###
Wednesday 8 November 2023
Wisconsin Gymnastics Coach Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child Sexual Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Superior, Wisconsin, man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing images depicting his sexual abuse of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, George Francis Deppa, 50, sexually abused a 15-year-old minor and produced visual depictions of the sexual abuse.
Deppa was federally charged in May of 2022 and entered a guilty plea on June 28, 2023, to one count of production of child pornography. Pursuant to the federal plea agreement, Deppa also agreed to enter guilty pleas in additional state felony charges involving sexual assaults against at least five other minors in St. Louis County and Douglas County. Deppa was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Kate M. Menendez. Aggravating factors noted during his federal sentencing included a pattern of isolating and, in some instances, drugging his victims.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Duluth Police Department, with assistance from the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office and the Douglas County (Wisconsin) Attorney’s Office. Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at (218) 722-3341.
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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children in crimes involving child pornography, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.
Wilmington Gang Member Receives More than 8 Years in Prison for Possessing Multiple Ghost Guns with High-Capacity MagazinesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man, and validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. On June 5, 2023, Demirion Keziah Barnett, age 19, pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 28, 2023, at approximately 11:16 p.m., investigators with the Wilmington Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Metting Street following a ShotSpotter alert and notification that an individual in the residence sustained a gunshot wound to the hand.
When officers arrived on scene they saw the defendant, Demirion Barnett, walking away from a vehicle parked in the parking lot before making contact with the occupants of the home involved in the shooting. Officers saw the numerous bullet holes in the walls and windows of the residence, indicative of someone firing into the home. During the investigation officers located approximately 437 grams of marijuana and a 9mm handgun in a backpack inside the residence. Officers also looked under the vehicle the defendant was observed walking away from and found a .223/556 AR style “ghost” gun rifle with a 60-round drum magazine and a stolen 9mm handgun with a 24-round magazine and two obliterated serial numbers wrapped inside a blanket.
Barnett was detained and interviewed by law enforcement. He told investigators he was inside the home when the shooting occurred, and he put the guns in the blanket under a vehicle to hide them from law enforcement.
The next day, investigators responded to a call that another firearm was located in the parking lot next to the location where they found the firearms the previous day and found a 9mm semi-automatic “ghost” gun with a 31-round magazine.
At the time of the offense, the defendant was a convicted felon and was on state probation for felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule VI Controlled Substance. Records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections reflect that the defendant is a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, and the Wilmington Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff Office Mobile Field Force Unit investigated the case and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.
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. 7:23-cr-00026M-001.
###
Waseca Man Sentenced to Prison for Domestic Assault on Bois Forte ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Waseca man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for assaulting an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2021, David Alvarez, Jr., 33, assaulted his domestic partner at their residence on the Bois Forte Indian Reservation. At the time of the assault, Alvarez had two prior domestic assault convictions in Steele County.
Alvarez pleaded guilty on July 25, 2023, to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender. Alvarez was sentenced on October 31, 2023, in U.S. District Court by Judge Joan N. Ericksen.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Bois Forte Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.
Wall Street Director and Head Trader Charged for U.S. Treasuries Market Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, returned an indictment that was unsealed today charging a Wall Street bond trader for a scheme to manipulate the U.S. Treasuries market.
“Securities fraud and manipulation, as alleged here, victimize investors and degrade the integrity of our public securities markets,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The department will continue to protect our financial systems and investors by holding accountable those who violate our securities laws.”
According to court documents, between approximately April 2018 and May 2019, Jeyakumar Nadarajah, 39, who was employed as a director at a bank in New York and head of the desk that was responsible for trading U.S. Treasuries, allegedly engaged in a scheme to mislead market participants in the secondary (or cash) market for U.S. Treasuries. Nadarajah is alleged to have engaged in a spoofing and layering scheme that involved placing orders that he did not intend to execute in order to create the appearance of false supply and demand, and to fraudulently induce other market participants to trade at prices, quantities, and times that they otherwise would not have traded.
“There’s money to be made in the financial markets. And if there’s money to be made, it means that fraudsters are right there looking to take advantage of other market participants,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “Whether it’s a simple investment scam or a complex scheme like the one Mr. Nadarajah allegedly tried to pull off, Postal Inspectors are there to bring the scammers to justice.”
Nadarajah is charged with two counts of wire fraud, seven counts of securities fraud, and seven counts of securities manipulation. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, securities fraud, and securities manipulation.
USPIS is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Scott Armstrong and Trial Attorney John J. Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IndictmentViolent alien strangles federal agent in attempt to fleeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a 20-year-old El Salvadorian for assaulting a Border Patrol (BP) agent, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury convicted Jose Milton Mendoza-Felipe following a two-day trial.
On June 28, law enforcement approached a group of undocumented non-citizens near the Rio Grande River. Mendoza-Felipe was one of those individuals and tried to flee the area. A BP agent caught up to him and attempted to place him in custody. However, Mendoza-Felipe resisted and became combative.
The jury heard testimony that Mendoza-Felipe attempted to strangle the agent by squeezing his windpipe during the struggle. When the agent was able to escape from the chokehold, Mendoza-Felipe again tried to grab him by the throat, but struck the agent’s jaw instead, causing him to bleed. Mendoza-Felipe only complied once another BP agent arrived.
At trial, the jury saw the scratch marks left on the agent’s neck and heard how he had to take pain medication for his injuries.
Mendoza-Felipe testified in the trial, claiming that he did not choke the agent and that he did not realize he was law enforcement. He told the jury he was just defending himself. The jury did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton presided over trial and set sentencing for Jan. 29, 2024. At that time, Mendoza-Felipe faces up to eight years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
Mendoza-Felipe has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker are prosecuting the case.
Violent Bloods Gang Leader in Raleigh Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Raymond Lawrence Brown was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for leading a violent Bloods gang that dealt cocaine and crack and terrorizing a southern Raleigh community through violence and intimidation. On May 11, 2021, Brown pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.
"This conviction and sentence ensure that a violent gang leader will remain in federal prison for the next two decades," said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. "We will continue to partner with law enforcement at every level to identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals driving the violence in our community."
Court documents and other highlighted at the hearing, evidence presented in court confirm that Brown received an enhancement for his involvement in at least one murder. During the sentencing hearing, law enforcement presented evidence of a house that Brown used for drug dealing getting robbed in 2019. In retaliation, Brown issued an order to murder one of the suspected robbers. On June 10, 2019, the individual Brown ordered killed was found dead from gunshot wounds. This incident represents just one example of Brown’s use of directed violence and intimidation highlighted at the sentencing hearing.
The investigation into Brown showed he coordinated, directed, or supplied drug deals carried out by subordinates in the gang. Law enforcement also documented Brown selling a gun and his ordering of others to commit acts of violence on his behalf, all in furtherance of the gang and drug dealing. During the sentencing, he received enhancements for being a leader, maintaining a house for distributing drugs, using guns, and using violence.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00141-FL-1.
###
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Exceptional Law Enforcement Work at Law Enforcement Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – On November 8, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont honored a number of individuals from a variety of law enforcement agencies at the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony. Individual investigators and officers from federal, state, and local agencies were nominated by U.S. Attorney’s Office staff in a variety of categories for their outstanding work supporting the mission of this office and promoting public safety. The specific categories and individuals recognized today are as follows:
Investigative Excellence Award: This category includes recipients whose actions led directly to an arrest of a dangerous subject or to the exposure of a significant criminal or civil conspiracy.
- Lieutenant Frank Scalise, Milton Police Department and former Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer – nominated for United States v. Deamontae Luchie, et al.
- Deputy Marshal Max Galusha, United States Marshals Service – nominated for United States v. Lisa Miller, et al.
- Detective Sergeant Ashley “Skip” Barnes, Vermont State Police – nominated for United States v. Krystal Whitcomb, et al.
Investigative Achievement Award: This award is for those individuals, both sworn and non-sworn who have significantly contributed to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- Special Agent Jennie Emmons, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent John Schroeder, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation
- Special Agent Anders Ostrum, Internal Revenue Service -Criminal Investigation
- Resident Agent in Charge Derek Roy, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations
- All nominated for United States v. Ariel Quiros, William Kelly, and William Stenger
Outstanding Collaborative Investigation Award: This category recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding efforts to overcome significant challenges in collaboration with multiple agencies in order to meet the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- Special Agent Eric Boyce, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Analyst Virginia Churchill, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent Stephanie Dubuc, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent Jennie Emmons, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent Eric Gempp, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service
- Special Agent Michael Jankowiak, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent Lisa Tutty, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Special Agent Kellie Senecal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- All nominated for outstanding collaborative investigation in United States v. Nathan Carman.
- Special Agent Samuel Brown, on behalf of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Detective Eric Dalla Mura, on behalf of the Burlington Police Department
- Both nominated as their agency representatives for outstanding collaborative investigation in United States v. Lesine Woodson, et al.
Award recipients gathered today at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by colleagues and family. Each recipient received an engraved award commemorating their outstanding efforts. U.S. Attorney Kerest stated: “It is a special honor to recognize law enforcement officers like today’s awardees, who represent the very best of this noble work and contribute so much to Vermont. I also want to thank our awardees’ family members and loved ones whose care and encouragement make the accomplishments recognized today possible.”
U.S. Attorney's Office Testifies Before D.C. Council in Support of the ("ACTIVE") Amendment Act of 2023Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will testify today at a committee hearing before the Council of the District of Columbia on proposed legislation, Bill 25-0479, the “Addressing Crime through Targeted Interventions and Violence Enforcement (“ACTIVE”) Amendment Act of 2023.”
USAO-DC strongly supports Bill 25-0479, the “Addressing Crime through Targeted Interventions and Violence Enforcement (“ACTIVE”) Amendment Act of 2023.” Our Office is using every available tool to combat the violent crime crisis we are experiencing in the District. This bill provides critical additional tools to hold violent offenders and gun offenders accountable and enable our Office to prosecute cases that are harming our communities, filling legal gaps that will make our residents safer.
In addition to appearing before the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Elana Suttenberg, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, provided written remarks, available in the accompanying attachment.
The testimony is available in the attachment below.
Two KC Men Indicted for Cyberstalking That Resulted in MurderRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy that used a GPS tracking device to surveil their victim, who was shot to death in a grocery store parking lot.
Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 35, and Michael Smith, also known as “Black Mike,” 37, were charged in a three-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment and adds Lawhorn as a defendant. Co-defendant Dontay Campbell, 34, formerly of Kansas City, Mo., has pleaded guilty and therefore is not charged in this superseding indictment.
The federal indictment alleges that Lawhorn, Smith and Campbell participated in the cyberstalking conspiracy, which resulted in the murder of Dontayus Wiles, from Feb. 22 to March 20, 2019. The indictment alleges that Lawhorn shot a firearm multiple times at Wiles and killed him.
According to the indictment, conspirators placed a GPS tracking device on Wiles’s red Chevrolet Tahoe. On March 16, 2019, Lawhorn and Campbell surveilled Wiles as he drove to Happy Foods grocery store, located at 4019 E. 31st Street, Kansas City, Mo. When Wiles left the grocery store and walked back to the Tahoe, Lawhorn and Campbell pulled up next to the Tahoe in a Chrysler Sebring. Lawhorn allegedly exited the Sebring and shot at Wiles several times with a Sturm, Ruger & Co. .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun. During the shooting spree, Campbell attempted unsuccessfully to remove the GPS tracker from Wiles’s vehicle.
Lawhorn and Campbell then ran back to the Sebring, briefly drove around the parking lot, and parked again near Wiles’s Tahoe. Lawhorn allegedly again fired multiple shots into Wiles’s Tahoe while Campbell again tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the GPS tracker. Lawhorn and Campbell then sped out of the parking lot in the Sebring.
According to the indictment, Lawhorn and Smith then dumped the Sebring. Smith and Campbell left the Kansas City metropolitan area and traveled to Phoenix, Arizona.
In addition to the conspiracy, Lawhorn and Smith are charged with one count of cyberstalking resulting in death.
Lawhorn is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Lawhorn has prior felony convictions for assault, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Lawhorn has also pleaded guilty to his role in an insurance fraud scheme and awaits sentencing.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and are 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. Attorneys Trey Alford and Nicholas Heberle. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Two Former Federal Correctional Officers in Kentucky Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Inmates and Conspiring with a Supervisor to Cover It UpRead the Press Release
Two former Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) corrections officers, Samuel J. Patrick, 41, and Clinton L. Pauley, 42, were sentenced today to 36 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and 40 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, respectively, for their roles in the assaults of inmates held at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy. Patrick and Pauley previously pleaded guilty and testified against a third co-defendant at trial earlier this year.
“As today’s convictions demonstrate, the Department of Justice will hold accountable BOP employees who abuse their position of authority and those in their custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “We will not let up in our ongoing efforts to root out abuse and misconduct at the Bureau of Prisons, so that it can fulfill its mission to safely and humanely care for the adults in its custody while also preparing them to reenter society.”
“Physical abuse and corruption by law enforcement officers is unacceptable no matter where it occurs, but these offenses stand out because they were committed by veteran federal officers in a Bureau of Prisons facility,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Defendant Patrick’s racially-charged and violent assault on one inmate was not only unlawful but morally reprehensible. The Justice Department takes constitutional abuses by federal officers extremely seriously, and we will continue to prosecute officers who violate federal civil rights laws.”
“Patrick and Pauley engaged in egregious acts of violence towards inmates in their custody and care, and then tried to cover up their crimes,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department. “Today’s sentencing shows that assault of inmates will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable.”
“These defendants were charged with the custody and care of others; instead, they committed themselves to abusing those in their care, breaching the public trust, disserving the interests of true law enforcement and violating the civil rights of others,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Holding law enforcement officials accountable for civil rights violations is an important first step to restoring the public trust in dedicated law enforcement and to protecting the civil rights of everyone.”
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Patrick and Pauley unlawfully used force to punish two inmates housed at Big Sandy. On March 30, 2021, the officers assaulted an inmate by spraying him in the face with pepper spray and kicking him in the head and upper body. Witnesses, including those who assaulted the inmates, testified that the inmate was not a threat and was compliant, and was assaulted for walking too slowly to his cell, rather than for any legitimate penological purpose. On April 29, 2021, the officers assaulted a second inmate by elbowing him in the head and punching him in the body. The victim of that assault had requested protection from other inmates. When the victim, who is white, revealed that he used to affiliate with Black gangs, Patrick referred to him as a “race traitor,” after which Patrick and Pauley both repeatedly struck him in the head and body. In addition to the preceding incidents, Pauley further admitted that he assaulted a third federal inmate during an unrelated encounter on March 26, 2021.
On both March 30 and April 29, 2021, Patrick and Pauley’s co-defendant, Lieutenant Kevin C. Pearce, 39, was present and saw his lower-ranking officers using force out of anger. Afterwards, Pearce helped them try to cover up what happened by writing false reports, backing up their cover stories and pressuring subordinate officers to join the cover-ups. Pearce was found guilty at trial of writing false reports that covered up the assaults. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.
The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
BOP is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous BOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.
Two Former Federal Correctional Officers in Eastern Kentucky Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Inmates and Conspiring with a Supervisor to Cover It UpRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. Two former Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) corrections officers, Samuel J. Patrick, 41, and Clinton L. Pauley, 42, were sentenced today to 36 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and 40 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, respectively, for their roles in the assaults of inmates held at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy. Patrick and Pauley previously pleaded guilty and testified against a third co-defendant at trial earlier this year.
“As today’s convictions demonstrate, the Department of Justice will hold accountable BOP employees who abuse their position of authority and those in their custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “We will not let up in our ongoing efforts to root out abuse and misconduct at the Bureau of Prisons, so that it can fulfill its mission to safely and humanely care for the adults in its custody while also preparing them to reenter society.”
“Physical abuse and corruption by law enforcement officers is unacceptable no matter where it occurs, but these offenses stand out because they were committed by veteran federal officers in a Bureau of Prisons facility,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Defendant Patrick’s racially-charged and violent assault on one inmate was not only unlawful but morally reprehensible. The Justice Department takes constitutional abuses by federal officers extremely seriously, and we will continue to prosecute officers who violate federal civil rights laws.”
“Patrick and Pauley engaged in egregious acts of violence towards inmates in their custody and care, and then tried to cover up their crimes,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department. “Today’s sentencing shows that assault of inmates will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable.”
“These defendants were charged with the custody and care of others; instead, they committed themselves to abusing those in their care, breaching the public trust, disserving the interests of true law enforcement and violating the civil rights of others,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Holding law enforcement officials accountable for civil rights violations is an important first step to restoring the public trust in dedicated law enforcement and to protecting the civil rights of everyone.”
“Federal corrections officers are entrusted to protect the individuals placed in their custody. The two defendants in this case blatantly broke that trust by violently assaulting multiple inmates,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “The FBI will continue its vigorous pursuit of investigating and holding accountable any law enforcement official who chooses to violate the civil rights of those they take an oath to protect.”
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Patrick and Pauley unlawfully used force to punish two inmates housed at Big Sandy. On March 30, 2021, the officers assaulted an inmate by spraying him in the face with pepper spray and kicking him in the head and upper body. Witnesses, including those who assaulted the inmates, testified that the inmate was not a threat and was compliant, and was assaulted for walking too slowly to his cell, rather than for any legitimate penological purpose. On April 29, 2021, the officers assaulted a second inmate by elbowing him in the head and punching him in the body. The victim of that assault had requested protection from other inmates. When the victim, who is white, revealed that he used to affiliate with Black gangs, Patrick referred to him as a “race traitor,” after which Patrick and Pauley both repeatedly struck him in the head and body. In addition to the preceding incidents, Pauley further admitted that he assaulted a third federal inmate during an unrelated encounter on March 26, 2021.
On both March 30 and April 29, 2021, Patrick and Pauley’s co-defendant, Lieutenant Kevin C. Pearce, 39, was present and saw his lower-ranking officers using force out of anger. Afterwards, Pearce helped them try to cover up what happened by writing false reports, backing up their cover stories and pressuring subordinate officers to join the cover-ups. Pearce was found guilty at trial of writing false reports that covered up the assaults. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.
The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
BOP is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous BOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.
– END –
Tucson Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Importing FentanylRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Gerardo Hernandez, 40, of Tucson, was sentenced on November 2, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer Zipps to 120 months in prison, followed by 36 months supervised release. Hernandez pleaded guilty on May 5, 2023, to Importation of Fentanyl.
On December 4, 2022, Hernandez, a United States citizen, entered the United States at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, from Mexico. He was a passenger in the front seat of a vehicle that contained 49.9 kilograms of fentanyl concealed inside the vehicle. Hernandez was aware that the vehicle contained controlled substances and agreed to import them into the United States. The driver of the vehicle was unaware that they were importing controlled substances. Hernandez has 11 prior felony convictions and six prior misdemeanor convictions since 2002.
The fentanyl Hernandez imported was in 30 milligram tablets. Forty-nine kilograms is approximately 1,600,000 tablets or single use doses of fentanyl.
The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-2775-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-172_Hernandez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Toppenish Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Robert Ray Root, age 54, of Toppenish, Washington has been sentenced after pleading guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 96 months imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Root was also ordered to pay a total of $21,000 in restitution to 7 individual victims of his conduct.
According to court documents, Root had been downloading and sharing child pornography with others online for approximately 30 years when an undercover federal agent downloaded child pornography files from Root in October and November of 2021. In January 2022, agents executed a search warrant at Root’s home and seized several electronic devices, including a computer with thousands of child pornography images and more than 100 videos. In addition to admitting the decades’ long interest in and trading of child pornography, Root also admitted to investigators that he had sexually abused a young girl several years earlier.
“Mr. Root spent decades victimizing the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “Protecting children from harm remains a priority of my office and is critical to building a safe and strong Eastern Washington community. I am deeply grateful for the work of Homeland Security Investigations, our local partners, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, for pursuing those who use technology to exploit our children.”
“Sentences such as this highlight the importance our law enforcement partnerships bring to stopping the scourge of violence against children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “In this case, our joint efforts stopped decades of exploitation and saved the childhoods of unknown future victims from the lifelong effects of trauma.”
“Having a dedicated southeast regional ICAC task force, in our own backyard, with a great partnership including a Richland PD sergeant and detective at work to bring individuals like Mr. Root to justice, is truly an amazing feat,” said interim Chief for the Richland Police Department, David Neher. “Each member of the ICAC team serves a remarkably crucial role in putting away individuals who have infiltrated our community and taken the innocence of our youth. This sentencing is one we can be proud of, and in the end, it’s the ‘why’ behind what we do every day.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Yakima Police Department and the Southeast Regional ICAC Task Force, consisting of Richland and Kennewick Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Three Port of San Juan Employees Arrested for Narcotics ViolationsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Carlos Alberto Hernández-Laguer, a/k/a “Brea”, Luis Roberto De León-Sánchez, a/k/a “Coco”, and Misael Ruiz-Valentín, a/k/a “Misa”, with four counts of conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
On November 6, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan, Seaport-Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) and partner agencies, arrested three longshoremen working at the Port of San Juan for their involvement in facilitating the transportation of narcotics between the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Continental United States.
According to court documents, on or about June 7, 2022, the defendants intentionally conspired and agreed to possess, import, and distribute cocaine into the United States from the Dominican Republic. The HSI San Juan Seaport-BEST investigation revealed that the three Port of San Juan longshoremen were members of a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) operating between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. These longshoremen exploited their positions to circumvent security and smuggle large quantities of cocaine concealed in cargo ship containers and compartments/voids within the cargo ships.
“Disrupting drug trafficking networks is vitally important to our ongoing efforts to combat the drug trafficking in Puerto Rico and the violence associated with drug trafficking,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “International cartels like these affect many jurisdictions and stopping them requires robust coordination with our domestic and international partners.”
HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge, Rebecca González-Ramos said: “Our agents are relentless in their efforts to protect our borders by dismantling any criminal scheme that facilitates the entrance of poisonous narcotics into our island. This multi-agency law enforcement collaboration is a great example of the work we are doing to detect any intent to smuggle deadly contraband into our communities. With these arrests, HSI is sending a clear and strong message: nobody is above the law, we will find those who violate the law and hold them accountable for their decisions -- especially those in critical positions in our ports that create vulnerabilities to our island.”
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in jail and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This significant operation was successful with the support of U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations San Juan, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Services and CBP Air and Marine Operations.
Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Max Pérez-Bouret, Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, AUSA María L. Montañez-Concepción, Deputy Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, and AUSA Camille García-Jiménez are prosecuting the case.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations visit: Homeland Security Investigations. To report suspicious activities, please call (787) 729-6969 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # #
About Homeland Security Investigations
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
# HSI #