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22 November 2023
Lawrence Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Eddy Reyes Tejada, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In July 2023, Tejada pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Tejada was indicted by a federal grand jury along with Francis Manuel Santos Arias in December 2022. On Oct. 27, 2023, Arias pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2024.
In January 2022, law enforcement received information that Tejada and Arias were looking for customers to whom they could distribute cocaine and fentanyl in the greater Boston and Lawrence areas. During the investigation, Tejada distributed a total of approximately 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl to a cooperating witness over the course of seven controlled purchases. Additionally, a search of Tejada’s Lawrence supermarket in December 2022 resulted in the recovery of over 1.572 kilograms of fentanyl, as well as drug trafficking paraphernalia including multiple press components, a blender and a digital scale.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Lansing Man Charged with Felon in PossessionRead the Press Release
Two-year-old child died after accidental discharge of gun
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Avis Damone Coward has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The complaint alleges that an accidental discharge of Coward’s gun led to a two-year-old child’s death.
“Death of child by gunfire is a story that should never be written,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Yet beginning in 2022, and for the first time ever, gun violence has become the number one cause of death for kids in America. As this swelling epidemic reaches our most innocent, my office will use every resource available to secure full accountability and prevent future harm.”
When Coward returned to the car, he picked up the gun and put it back in the car. A copy of the complaint is attached.
“This case is a parent’s worst nightmare. It’s heartbreaking and reinforces the importance of responsible gun ownership and safety storage,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. "A child should never be left alone with a gun. Leaving the gun at home in a secure gun safe or using a safety device, such as a gun lock, prevent tragedies like this. If you need a free gun lock or want additional information on secure firearm storage, contact the ATF Detroit Field Division.”
“I would like to thank U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his team for standing firm on gun crime by charging Avis Coward for his role in the shooting death of a two-year-old in Lansing at a gas station in October,” said Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, and the Lansing Police Department stand united in the effort to hold accountable those who commit gun crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Lansing Police Department, Michigan State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Keokuk Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Keokuk man was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, Octavius Sergio Dion Whitaker, 28, stole two firearms from the Farm King in West Burlington on October 27, 2022. Both firearms were later recovered by law enforcement in possession of other individuals.
After completing his prison term, Whitaker will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as well as the West Burlington Police.
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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Iowa City Woman Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City woman was sentenced on November 20, 2023, to three years in federal prison for International Parental Kidnapping.
According to public court documents, Kira K. Zielinski, 49, filed for divorce from her husband in 2020. During the divorce proceedings, the Iowa District Court of Johnson County issued orders granting joint legal custody of a shared child to Zielinski and her husband and establishing a joint custody schedule. In February 2022, Zielinski took the child and drove from Iowa to California and across the Mexican border. Zielinski remained in Mexico with the child until November 2022 when she was taken into custody while attempting to reenter the United States. In July 2023, Zielinski was found guilty by a United States District Judge following a stipulated trial.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Zielinski will be required to serve one year of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Iowa City Police Department.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 22 was:
Sonja Mae Mercado, 32, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Mercado faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Mercado was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-106.
Leo Antonio Rodriguez, 43, unknown address, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rodriguez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Rodriguez was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-139.
Appearing for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint was:
Tirrell Lewis, 43, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lewis faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Lewis was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-504.
Appearing on Nov. 21 was:
Sonny Leroy Carsten, 42, of Billings, on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Carsten faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, $1 million fine and five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge and a mandatory minimum two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft charge. Carsten was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Columbus Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-133.
Ali Sage Hausmann, 24, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hausmann faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Hausmann was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-108.
Joshua Lee Jackson, 33, a transient, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jackson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Jackson was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-135.
Patrick Allen Justice, Jr., 25, of Billings, on charges of bank robbery. If convicted of the most serious crime, Justice faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Justice was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-136.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 22 was:
Haley Rushel Hickman, 23, of Libby, on charges of theft of mail. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hickman faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hickman was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-47.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indictments Charge 4 Waterbury Men with Firearm and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo today announced that as part of a coordinated law enforcement effort to address an uptick in gun violence in Waterbury, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has adopted for federal prosecution the state cases of four Waterbury men charged with gun crimes.
On October 24, 2023, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned the following indictments:
ANFERNEE D. DANCY, 27, of Waterbury, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. As alleged in the indictment, on August 22, 2023, Dancy possessed a Jimenez Arms, Inc. 9mm handgun. It is further alleged that Dancy’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for burglary in the first degree, risk of injury to a child, and failure to appear in the first degree.
ALEXIS JOEL ANGUEIRA, 23, of Waterbury, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. It is alleged that, on September 15, 2022, Angueira possessed fentanyl and cocaine that he intended to distribute, a loaded privately made firearm (ghost gun), and additional rounds of ammunition. It is further alleged that Angueira’s criminal history includes felony convictions for assault in the first degree and carrying a pistol without a permit.
MELQUAWN JAMISON, 25, of Waterbury, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As alleged in the indictment, on August 23, 2023, Jamison possessed cocaine and fentanyl that he intended to distribute, a Ruger SR .45 caliber handgun, and a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun. It is further alleged that Jamison’s criminal history includes felony convictions for sale of narcotics, escape in the first degree, burglary in the third degree, and larceny in the first degree.
GLENN JAMISON, 42, of Waterbury, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As alleged in the indictment, on July 24, 2023, Jamison possessed cocaine and fentanyl that he intended to distribute, and a Taurus Arms G2C handgun. It is further alleged that Jamison’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony firearm, drug, assault, larceny, escape, and failure to appear offenses; a federal conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; and that he was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense.
Glenn Jamison appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Dancy, Angueira, and Melquawn Jamison were previously arraigned and also pleaded not guilty. All four defendants are currently detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mahard, Konstantin Lantsman, and Natasha Freismuth through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Howard Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Crispen, age 32, of Howard, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 21, 2023, by a federal grand jury on attempted enticement of a minor and attempted receipt of child pornography offenses.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that from November 8 to November 9, 2023, in Centre County, Crispen attempted to persuade, entice, and coerce a minor child to engage in prostitution and sexual activity. The indictment also alleges that Crispen attempted to receive child pornography on November 8, 2023.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Patton Township Police, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, Williamsport Police, and the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, 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.
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Harbor Area Man Arraigned on Federal Indictment Alleging He Knowingly Sold Fentanyl to Two Victims, One of Whom Later DiedRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles Harbor region man was arraigned today on criminal charges alleging he is a drug dealer who knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl to two victims – one of whom died, and the other was seriously injured by the powerful synthetic opioid.
Antjuan Stephone Doss, 33, a.k.a. “Giovani Dinero,” whose last known residence was Harbor City, charged by a federal grand jury in a six-count indictment returned on November 15 and unsealed today. Doss was arrested on Tuesday and a federal magistrate judge today ordered him jailed without bond.
At his arraignment this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, Doss pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a January 2, 2024 trial date was scheduled in this case.
Doss is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the indictment, on August 13, 2022, Doss knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl. Two victims – identified in court documents as “M.N.” and “G.N.” – later ingested the fentanyl, the use of which resulted in serious bodily injury to M.N. and the death of G.N. On the same day, Doss also knowingly and intentionally distributed 45 pills containing this powerful drug, according to the indictment.
The indictment further alleges that, from August 9 to August 22, 2022, a co-conspirator, using couriers, supplied Doss with fentanyl powder, pills containing fentanyl, and cocaine. Doss, acting at the co-conspirator’s direction, then packaged and distributed to his own customers the fentanyl and cocaine that the co-conspirator provided him, according to the indictment. Doss allegedly then remitted drug proceeds to the co-conspirator.
On August 22, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Doss’s residence, including the bedroom that he shared with a woman and their infant child. During the search, law enforcement found in Doss’s bedroom fentanyl in various locations, including on the floor, that were easily accessible by the child, according to court documents.
Doss also allegedly possessed with intent to distribute approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl and illegally possessed a firearm, namely a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. He also allegedly illegally possessed seven rounds of ammunition. Doss is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his prior conviction of his January 2016 conviction of two felonies – identity theft and using an access device without consent – in Los Angeles Superior Court.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of all charges, Doss would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brittney M. Harris, of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section and J’me K. Forrest of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Federal Jury Trial Ends with Guilty Verdict Against Abbeville Man for Trafficking of FentanylRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal jury trial last week against Gabriel Hawthorne, 41, of Abbeville, Louisiana, ended with the jury finding Hawthorne guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays presided over the week-long trial.
According to information presented in court, Hawthorne conspired with two others who were also indicted, Frederick Malaki Thornton and Andrea Mitchell, to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Abbeville area. In March 2022, an individual exchanged a series of phone calls and text messages with Mitchell, and she agreed to sell heroin to that individual. She arranged the distribution of the heroin by communicating with Thornton, who was her boyfriend at the time, and Hawthorne, who was her supplier. Hawthorne owned a business, ZZ’s Kitchen, in Abbeville and would use that business to store the narcotics that he, Mitchell and Thornton made arrangements to sell. Mitchell also admitted that Hawthorne would mix the heroin before giving it to her to sell. The suspected heroin which was sold by Mitchell and Thornton were seized and sent to the DEA Laboratory for testing and resulted a positive test for fentanyl.
Hawthorne faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
Frederick Thornton and Andrea Mitchell each previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John W. Nickel and J. Luke Walker.
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Federal Jury Finds 2 Members of Violent Bridgeport Gang Guilty of Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Bridgeport has found JOSHUA GILBERT, also known as “Lor Heavy,” 22, and LORENZO CARTER, also known as “Zo,” 29, guilty of racketeering offenses related to their involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang. The trial before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley began on October 18 and the jury returned the guilty verdicts yesterday.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and the evidence presented during the trial, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Gilbert and Carter were members of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
On August 9, 2018, O.N.E. members stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport. In the following days, O.N.E. members conspired to use the car to kill rival gang members and their allies who they had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, Carter and other O.N.E. members drove the stolen Jeep to Stratford and Union Avenues in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival gang member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car. After the shooting, Carter and other O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Well State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.
In November 2019, O.N.E. members stole a Lexus Rx350 from Rye, New York. In early December 2019, O.N.E. members were involved in multiple shots-fired incidents in Bridgeport. In one incident, the mother of rival gang members was shot outside of her Bridgeport home. In another incident, on December 8, 2019, O.N.E. members used the stolen Lexus in a shooting incident at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, damaging several cars, and then drove it to Newfield Avenue in Bridgeport where Gilbert and other O.N.E. members shot and killed Ty’Quess Moore, also known as “Breezo,” 18.
Gilbert and Carter, along with other O.N.E. members, posted videos to social media in which they and others brandished firearms, celebrated violent gang culture, and referenced rivals who were killed.
The jury found Gilbert and Carter guilty of racketeering conspiracy. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, they each faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Gilbert and Carter have been detained since July 2021.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the police departments from Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, Stratford, Ansonia, Monroe, Eastchester (N.Y.), Rye (N.Y.), and Newburgh (N.Y.). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, and Patrick J. Doherty.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
FCI Schuylkill Inmate Indicted for Possession of A WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tyrell Lockhart, age 26, a federal inmate incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution at Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill), Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on July 11, 2023, inmate Lockhart was found in possession of a homemade knife, commonly referred to as a “shank.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to five years’ imprisonment, 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 and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Dunklin County, Missouri Man Admits Recording Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Dunklin County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted recording his sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl and recording other children in the shower.
Matthew A. Prewett, 43, of Kennett, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to a felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor. He admitted engaging in sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl beginning in April of 2022. The Kennett Police Department received notification on May 3, 2002, that the victim was at a hospital in St. Louis for a sexual assault examination after the victim’s mother found sexually suggestive text messages from Prewett on her daughter’s phone. Prewett had recorded his crimes on video.
The next day, law enforcement arrested Prewett following a traffic stop in Dunklin County. An investigation revealed that Prewett had placed hidden cameras in his home, including one in the bathroom. Prewett recorded children between ages 12 and 17 in the bathroom, while they were nude and showering.
Prewett is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 21, 2024. The sexual exploitation of a minor charge is punishable by a prison sentence ranging from the mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend 20 years.
The case was investigated by the Kennett Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Dulce Man Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Alex Julian appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Julian, 27, of Dulce, and an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on Oct. 25, 2022, Julian assaulted John Doe with a knife and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury to John Doe.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Julian faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.
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Drug Dealer Sentenced to Six Years After Fentanyl Pills Caused the Death of an Arizona TeenRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Michael Fox, 29, of Tucson, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 72 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Fox was indicted by a grand jury on September 28, 2021, and pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl on April 6, 2023.
On June 29, 2019, Fox sold three fentanyl pills to a 16-year-old female in Glendale. Within approximately one hour, the victim was found unconscious and not breathing. The victim was rushed to the hospital, but she never recovered and was pronounced dead on July 1, 2019. A Maricopa County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was cardiac arrest related to a fentanyl drug overdose.
The United States Attorney’s Office sought a sentencing enhancement in the case to account for the death of the victim. The District Court held a two-day evidentiary hearing on October 10, 2023, and November 14, 2023, to present testimony and argument on the enhancement. The Court took statements from the victim’s family, several supporters of Mr. Fox, and argument from the attorneys. The District Court ruled for the United States finding that the fentanyl pills that Fox sold to the victim caused her death.
“This is not the first time we’ve held a fentanyl dealer responsible for a poisoning death under our federal sentencing laws and the federal sentencing guidelines,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “But it’s the first time we’ve had a lengthy evidentiary hearing with scientific testimony on fentanyl as part of the sentencing. We appreciate our partnership with the DEA in helping provide a strong message of deterrence, and we particularly thank the victim’s family for their support of the prosecution and their patience waiting for its outcome.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan McCarthy, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00784-GMS-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-184_Fox# # #
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.Dorchester Man Arrested on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man was arrested yesterday for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) obtained via Zoom chat rooms.
Beau Christopher Benson, 35, was charged with possession and receipt of child pornography. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, Benson was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
According to the charging documents, in April 2023, law enforcement was notified that Benson allegedly participated in Zoom video chat rooms used to share and view CSAM. It is alleged that Benson recorded his participation in the chat rooms and saved the recordings – which featured videos of CSAM and conversations between Benson and others about the CSAM – to his social media account. It is alleged that approximately 15 video files depicting CSAM were found saved in his Dropbox. It is further alleged that a cybertip identified Benson as an online user who had uploaded two files containing CSAM to a Dropbox account. Specifically, the files allegedly depicted children who appear to be approximately two to four years old.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Office’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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.
Doctor and Wife Admit Genetic Testing Kickback and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Pennsylvania doctor and his wife have admitted their roles in schemes to solicit and receive kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering genetic tests, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Yitzchok “Barry” Kurtzer, 63, and his wife, Robin Kurtzer, 62, both of Monsey, New York, pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton to an indictment charging them with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Two of Barry Kurtzer’s employees, Amber Harris and Shanelyn Kennedy, have each pleaded guilty for their roles in the kickback scheme, and Dr. Lee Besen and Kimberly Schmidt have also each pleaded guilty for a related cash-for-genetic tests scheme. Sentencings for each of those defendants is pending.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“The defendants admitted that they and others worked together to solicit and accept kickbacks in exchange for referring expensive tests to particular labs. Bribes and kickbacks have no place in a doctor’s office. Patients need to be sure that their doctor is acting in their interest, uncorrupted by the promise of lucrative bribes and kickbacks. This office is always ready to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate the Anti-Kickback Statute are held accountable.”
“Patients trust their doctors because those doctors swear to an oath to do no harm,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Ripping off the federal government may not have a direct impact on the patient. It does, however, erode the faith we all have in the healthcare industry, and causes costs to go up for us all. Criminals forget there is a paper trail, and our job in the FBI is to follow it until we catch the culprit.”
“When patients visit their doctor, they expect medical decisions to be made in the best interest of their health,” Tammy Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said. “These defendants allowed greed to become a part of their medical decision making which the IRS and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate.”
“Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system and compromise medical decision-making,” Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, said. “We take allegations of kickbacks and bribery seriously, and today’s guilty pleas reflect our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs."
According to documents filed in this case and made in Court:
Barry Kurtzer was a primary care physician with offices in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, area. Robin Kurtzer helped manage those offices. Beginning in 2018, Barry Kurtzer and Robin Kurtzer solicited and received monthly cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for collecting DNA samples from Medicare patients and sending them for genetic tests to clinical laboratories in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Kurtzers used their employees in the scheme, including Harris and Kennedy, who each helped collect the DNA swabs in exchange for payments to them. The cash kickbacks ranged up to $5,000, and the Kurtzers typically accepted the cash in one of Barry Kurtzer’s offices, at times behind locked doors. At one point, the Kurtzers complained that they were not getting paid enough and negotiated for higher kickbacks and bribes.
As a result of these schemes, Medicare was billed over $1.3 million for tests generated from Barry Kurtzer’s practice.
The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Regional Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the FBI Scranton Field Office, FBI Philadelphia Division, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George L. Brandley and Katherine Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit.
kurtzer.indictment.pdfDavenport Man Sentenced to 86 Months in Federal Prison for the Distribution of CocaineRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on November 20, 2023, to 86 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, in 2022, law enforcement discovered Mario Dominick Clark, 44, would travel to the Chicago area to purchase cocaine and return to the Quad Cities to sell it. On several occasions, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to purchase cocaine supplied by Clark. In 2014, Clark was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
After completing his prison term, Clark will be required to serve six years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as the Scott County Sherriff’s Department.
Cody man arraigned for unlawful possession of ammunitionRead the Press Release
Adam Shane Aviles, Jr., age 26, of Cody, Wyoming, was arraigned on Nov. 21 for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Aviles pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for Jan. 22, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Aviles was detained at the request of the government and will remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, Aviles faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime is being investigated by the Park County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Cassville Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Prostitution and Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Mansberger, age 58, of Cassville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 21, 2023, by a federal grand jury on an attempted enticement of a minor charge.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on November 10, 2023, in Centre County, Mansberger attempted to persuade, entice, and coerce a minor child to engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Patton Township Police, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, Williamsport Police, and the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, 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.
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Campbell County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Alexandria, Ky., man, Charles Jason Case, 40, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 240 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to Case’s plea agreement, law enforcement responded to an address in Campbell County on April 28, 2022, and found a deceased victim and evidence consistent with death from an opiate overdose. Text messages on the victim’s phone revealed communication with Case the previous night regarding purchasing fentanyl, and the phone also contained communications consistent with the victim buying fentanyl from Case on prior occasions. Case admitted to distributing a substance containing fentanyl to the victim on April 27, 2022, and that the victim died as the result of ingesting that substance. Case was arrested on April 29, 2022 while in possession of additional amounts of fentanyl on his person and at his residence.
Under federal law, Case must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. He also must forfeit $7,803.00 in United States currency seized at the time of his arrest and make restitution to the victim’s family in the amount of $4,716.19.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Calabasas Man Arraigned on Indictment Alleging He Ran Same-Day Drug Delivery Service by Car that Resulted in Fatal Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Calabasas man who allegedly ran a drug trafficking operation that provided by car same-day delivery of cocaine and fentanyl-laced oxycodone, including to one victim who died last year from a fentanyl overdose, was arraigned today on narcotics charges in federal court.
Erick Oved Estrada, 35, a.k.a. “Franco Sanchez” and “Eric Freddy Hook,” who allegedly ran the narcotics delivery driver business out of his home, was arrested Tuesday along with three other defendants, including his wife – all of whom were arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Also arrested Tuesday were:
- Arian Alani, 34, of Burbank, who, along with Estrada, allegedly distributed the fentanyl that led to the victim’s fatal overdose in June 2022;
- Gilberto Marquez, 34, of Woodland Hills, an alleged lieutenant in the drug trafficking operation; and
- Zoila Michelle Estrada, 36, of Calabasas, Erick Estrada’s wife.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a January 16, 2024 trial date was scheduled. A federal magistrate judge ordered all four defendants detained.
Law enforcement continues to search for defendants Tomas Marquez-Ruiz, 37, a.k.a. “El Cafecito,” of Chatsworth, another alleged lieutenant in the drug trafficking operation, and Caseya Chanel Brown, 39, a.k.a. “Mom,” of Woodland Hills, an alleged delivery driver in the drug trafficking operation.
According to the 18-count indictment returned November 15 and unsealed today, from May 2019 to June 2022, Erick Estrada obtained narcotics, including cocaine and purported oxycodone pills that actually contained fentanyl. Erick Estrada, Marquez-Ruiz, and Marquez then allegedly provided these drugs to a network of drug delivery drivers, including Brown and other co-conspirators, for further distribution to customers or other drug distributors. Brown and others directly provided the drugs to customers or distributors and collected payment.
On June 8, 2022, Erick Estrada allegedly sold 25 oxycodone pills to Alani and a delivery driver then provided to Alani the purported oxycodone pills, which in fact contained fentanyl. The following day, Alani allegedly sold some of the fentanyl-laced pills to the victim, identified in the indictment as “C.N.,” who ingested them and died of a drug overdose.
On June 10, 2022, Alani confronted Erick Estrada via text message and wrote, “my boy just died yesterday” – a reference to C.N. – and that Estrada “[s]houldn’t be selling [expletive] with fentanyl.”
Erick and Zoila Estrada laundered the drug proceeds through his sham businesses’ bank accounts, where they used the money for various personal expenses, including luxury vehicles such as a Lamborghini and a Land Rover, the indictment alleges.
Erick Estrada, Marquez-Ruiz, Marquez, and Brown are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of cocaine. Erick Estrada also is charged with two additional counts of distribution of cocaine, one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and 11 counts of money laundering. Alani is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Zoila Estrada is charged with one count of money laundering.
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, Erick Estrada, Marquez-Ruiz, Marquez, Brown, and Alani would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If convicted, Zoila Estrada would face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. The DEA Overdose Justice Task Force, the Simi Valley Police Department, the Burbank Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney MiRi Song of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of MachinegunsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Burnsville man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of machinegun conversion devices, or switches, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2023, federal agents received information that Benjamin Jehle Zwack, 29, an employee at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) business, was selling 3D-printed machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears.” These devices enable firearms to be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger and qualify as machineguns under federal law.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, an undercover agent went to the FFL business and purchased from Zwack eleven 3D-printed machinegun conversion devices designed to convert a semiautomatic AR-Type weapon to shoot automatically. During the purchase, the undercover agent observed a firearm in Zwack’s waistband.
According to court documents, on March 30, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Zwack’s residence and vehicle. Officers recovered a Girsan-Regard, 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the center console of Zwack’s vehicle and a shotgun and ammunition from his residence. A search of Zwack’s storage locker revealed additional firearms, suspected homemade silencers, ammunition, and a suspected destructive device.
Zwack pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of possession of a machinegun. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dakota County Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.
Bulgarian Citizen Pleads Guilty to International Money Laundering and Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Stefan Chernev, age 49, and a citizen of Bulgaria, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Chernev admitted that he worked with his brother, Ivan Chernev, and a third coconspirator to form shell companies, most of which had a variation of “Yellow Pages” in their name.
From about 2011 to 2015, Stefan Chernev, Ivan Chernev, and the third coconspirator used the shell companies to steal money from medical providers, churches and small businesses throughout the United States, including some in the Northern District of New York, by sending false invoices to the victims indicating they had ordered online advertising services when no such services had ever been ordered or provided. When the victims failed to pay the false bills, Stefan Chernev and his coconspirators sent them false collections notices. They instructed the victims to mail checks to various Post Office Boxes throughout the United States that Stefan Chernev and his coconspirators rented. They then instructed the mail forwarding companies where they rented the Post Office Boxes to forward the checks to Post Office Boxes in Canada or mail forwarding businesses near the Canadian border in the Northern District of New York.
Once Stefan Chernev, Ivan Chernev and the third coconspirator received the checks, they deposited the checks in bank accounts they controlled in Canada. In total, they stole at least $1.24 million from victims throughout the United States.
Chernev faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, when he is sentenced on March 25, 2024 by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Chernev will also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
Ivan Chernev pled guilty to the same charge and was sentenced, on December 3, 2020, to 68 months in prison.
USPIS, HSI, and the Federal Trade Commission investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Alexander Wentworth-Ping are prosecuting the case. Stefan Chernev was extradited from Germany to the United States in May 2022 with assistance from the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
Buffalo man sentenced for making, passing counterfeit moneyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eric M. Butson, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to falsely make and pass counterfeit federal reserve notes, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that between December 2022, and March 2023, Butson and co-defendant Catalina Hernandez possessed various tools and equipment necessary to make and manufacture counterfeit bills including computers, ink-jet printers, ink, and bleach. Utilizing those tools and equipment, they made and manufactured numerous counterfeit $100 bills. Butson and Hernandez passed, or attempted to pass, the bills approximately 67 times at various businesses, including in the City of Buffalo, the Town of Amherst, the Town of Clarence, and the Village of Orchard Park. The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, is approximately $6,700.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey Burr, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.
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Boston Man Sentenced for Distributing 7,000 Pills Containing Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday for a drug distribution offense involving fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue known as para-fluorofentanyl.
Melvin Cordero, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 10, 2023, Cordero pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and p-fluorofentanyl.
On March 15, 2022, Cordero delivered 7,000 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement. The buy was part of a broader investigation into a drug-trafficking organization based in the Dominican Republic. Cordero delivered the pills to the cooperator in Boston’s South End and was arrested and charged in November 2022. Following Cordero’s arrest, law enforcement seized from him a machine used for manufacturing counterfeit pills that he had attempted to sell to an undercover officer.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA New York Field Office, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Border Enforcement Surge Yields Increased ConsequencesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced its ongoing cooperative efforts with the United States Border Patrol to enhance consequences for unlawful border crossers in the Tucson Sector. Last week, the agencies surged their efforts along the Southern Arizona border. As a result, the United States Attorney’s Office filed charges against and delivered consequences in the United States District Court, Tucson Division, to 133 unlawful entrants into the United States, up from 91 prosecutions the week before.
“Prosecution – and the deterrence it provides – is a key tool in securing the border,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We appreciate our partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, including its commitment in detailing three DHS lawyers to the United States Attorney’s Office as Special Assistant United States Attorneys to help staff the surge. While prosecution alone won’t comprehensively solve border issues, a surge in resources amplifies the diligence and hard work of our Border Patrol colleagues who are out there protecting our Nation.”
“Over the last few weeks, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector have increased prosecution efforts by charging 133 individuals for illegal entry into the U.S. – a 240% increase from prior weeks. These prosecutions provide consequences for illegal entry and re-entry after removal along the border in Southern Arizona,” said John Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent for Tucson Sector. “Our strong working relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is outstanding; they are fully engaged with our efforts to prosecute cross-border crime in Southern Arizona.”
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials who were subjected solely to administrative proceedings.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-185_Immigration Enforcement Surge
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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.Authorities seek potential child exploitation victims in Southeast TexasRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A former martial arts and gymnastics instructor from Alvin has been charged with multiple child pornography crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Franklin Joseph Perkins, 40, previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won Dojo and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, both located in Alvin. He is charged with transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography.
Perkins appeared today for a detention hearing, at which time U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison found him to be a danger to the community and ordered him into custody pending further criminal proceedings.
Law enforcement has identified at least two alleged victims but believe there are more. If you are a victim or have any information about potential others, please contact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Galveston at 409-443-0103.
A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment Nov. 15.
According to information presented at the detention hearing, the investigation began when they learned of suspected child sexual abuse materials uploaded using an online account Perkins controlled. They executed a federal search warrant at his residence which revealed child sexual abuse content stored in a Google Drive account associated with Perkins, according to the testimony and evidence at the hearing today. Law enforcement also allegedly discovered non-pornographic images of what appears to be underage minors in gymnastics clothing and screenshots that depict young girls’ social media accounts.
During the investigation, two women, now adults, have come forward to report allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate contact involving Perkins when they were still minors living in Alvin.
“Every day we entrust our children, often budding athletes, to the care of coaches and authority figures. We cannot and will not take these kinds of allegations lightly,” said Hamdani. “But, we also need your help. Our goal is not only to secure justice but to also make sure any and all possible victims have their voices heard. If you or anyone you know has been in contact with Franklin Perkins and have knowledge any potential crime, please come forward.”
“Identifying victims of child sexual exploitation not only helps law enforcement investigate and convict the individuals responsible for the abuse, it also helps to connect the victims and their families with the services they need to recover,” said Mark Dawson, special agent in charge for HSI Houston. “HSI has dedicated full-time victim assistant specialists who work closely with child sexual exploitation victims to connect them with the medical treatment, counseling and other services that they might need following sexual abuse. We know this process can be extremely difficult for victims and our specialists make every effort to sensitively respond to the unique needs of child victims and provide a trauma-informed environment conducive to recovery.”
If convicted, Perkins faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison, for the transportation and receipt charges and up to 10 for possessing child pornography. All counts also carry a potential fine of $250,000 as well as a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Trafficking Act, a maximum of a $35,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act and mandatory restitution in an amount of no less than $3,000 per victim.
Suspected victims of child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by calling its toll-free 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood - a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Atlanta man sentenced for stealing identities to file false unemployment claimsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Jeremy Graves has been sentenced for theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft for stealing identities to file fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Congress enacted the CARES Act to provide federal funds to assist unemployed workers during a national emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Graves defrauded this critical program and stole the identities of others to perpetrate the crime. Our office will continue to partner closely with federal, state, and local investigators to prosecute individuals who commit benefits fraud at the expense of citizens for whom this support is essential.”
“Jeremy Graves defrauded multiple state unemployment insurance (UI) systems by using the personally identifying information (PII) of identity theft victims, including the PII of deceased individuals, to submit fraudulent UI claims. DOL-OIG will continue to work with our federal and state partners to protect the integrity of UI benefit programs,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: During the period from about July 2020 until October 2020, Graves filed approximately 39 UI applications, using 37 different stolen identities, in the states of Georgia, Arizona, California, Maryland, and Nevada. He directed payment of the benefits to designated debit cards. To conceal his identity, he directed the debit cards to be sent to various addresses around the Atlanta area, all near or close by his residence. He then fraudulently received more than $200,000 in UI benefits from the states of Georgia and California.
Graves’s scheme unraveled when the Department of Labor, the agency who oversees the UI program, determined that multiple applications in multiple states had been filed from Graves’s residence. Graves had contacted a bank about multiple UI debit cards issued to multiple individuals. A search of Graves’s cell phone revealed a search history for “unemployment fraud,” “California unemployment,” and several of the addresses where he directed the debit cards be sent.
Jeremy Graves, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty to three years, eleven months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $209,214 in restitution; $193,179 to Georgia Department of Labor and $16,035 to California EDD. Graves was convicted on the charges on August 23, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
21 November 2023
Woman Convicted for Voter Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Sioux City, Iowa, convicted an Iowa woman today for a voter fraud scheme during the Iowa 2020 primary and general elections.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kim Phuong Taylor, age 49, of Sioux City, perpetrated a scheme to fraudulently generate votes for her husband in the primary election for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District in June 2020. After Taylor’s husband lost in the primary, he ran for Woodbury County Supervisor in the 2020 general election and Taylor again engaged in ballot fraud, causing absentee ballots to be fraudulently requested and cast. Taylor submitted or caused others to submit dozens of voter registrations, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots containing false information. Taylor completed and signed voter forms without voters’ permission and told others that they could sign on behalf of relatives who were not present.
“The right to vote is one of our most important constitutional rights,” said United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “Ms. Taylor deprived citizens of their right to vote in order to benefit her husband’s campaign. Today, another group of citizens, fulfilling their civic duty as jurors, held her accountable for her actions. The guilty verdict is an example of how the justice system works to protect the voting rights of citizens and ensure fair and honest elections.”
The jury convicted Taylor of 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, three counts of fraudulent registration, and 23 counts of fraudulent voting. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing date will be set after a presentence report is prepared. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office, and Acting Inspector in Charge Brad Mahs of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division made the announcement.
The FBI Omaha Field Office and USPIS Denver Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa and Trial Attorneys Richard B. Evans and Lauren M. Castaldi of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
Woman Convicted for Voter Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Sioux City, Iowa, convicted an Iowa woman today for a voter fraud scheme during the Iowa 2020 primary and general elections.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kim Phuong Taylor, 49, of Sioux City, perpetrated a scheme to fraudulently generate votes for her husband in the primary election for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District in June 2020. After Taylor’s husband lost in the primary, he ran for Woodbury County Supervisor in the 2020 general election and Taylor again engaged in ballot fraud, causing absentee ballots to be fraudulently requested and cast. Taylor submitted or caused others to submit dozens of voter registrations, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots containing false information. Taylor completed and signed voter forms without voters’ permission and told others that they could sign on behalf of relatives who were not present.
The jury convicted Taylor of 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, three counts of fraudulent registration, and 23 counts of fraudulent voting. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing date will be set after a presentence report is prepared. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office, and Acting Inspector in Charge Brad Mahs of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division made the announcement.
The FBI Omaha Field Office and USPIS Denver Division investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard B. Evans and Lauren M. Castaldi of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.
White Swan Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Jeremiah Bobb, age 27, of White Swan, Washington, to 180 months in federal prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and 40 years in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentences will run concurrently. Bobb was convicted of those crimes on July 31, 2023, following a multi-day jury trial. United States District Judge Dimke also ordered Bobb to a lifetime of federal supervision after he is released from prison.
According to court documents, between 2016 and 2017, Bobb sexually assaulted two minors in a home on the Yakima Nation, where Bobb and the victims lived.
Bobb’s trial began on July 24, 2023. After testimony from numerous witnesses, the jury convicted Bobb of both charges on July 31, 2023. During the trial it was revealed by witnesses that for years Bobb had engaged in a pattern of sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault vulnerable females in the households where he had been staying.
“My heart breaks for the victims in this case. I am grateful for their courage to come forward and engage with law enforcement to seek justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Children deserve to live in a world where they feel safe -- free from abuse and the fear of abuse. Mr. Bobb was held accountable today due to the joint efforts of the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department, the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office and the community. By working together, we can continue to build trust and keep our communities safe and strong.”
“Two children’s lives were forever impacted by Mr. Bobb’s grievous actions.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Our hope is they find the support they need going forward and some comfort knowing he is in prison. Protecting children in Washington state from predators like Mr. Bobb is one of the top priorities for the FBI and our partners.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.
Washington drug “Kingpin” sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for meth, fentanyl trafficking on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Washington man known by sources as the “Kingpin” for the quantity of drugs he distributed throughout the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conviction on trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Anthony Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Infante worked as a large-scale meth and fentanyl distributor from Washington who distributed drugs throughout the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Between October 2022 and February 2023, Infante was collectively in possession of more than 10 pounds of meth, nearly 4,000 fentanyl pills and approximately 37 grams of cocaine. Infante was identified by sources as the “Kingpin,” and he carried firearms while dealing drugs.
During a traffic stop in December 2022, officers recovered 100 fentanyl pills, two pistols, cocaine and methamphetamine from the vehicle in which Infante was a passenger. Infante later said the drugs were his and intended only for personal use. In a second traffic stop of Infante on the reservation 10 days later, officers located a half pound of meth, approximately 100 fentanyl pills, cocaine and a loaded 9mm magazine. Additionally, in January, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 100 fentanyl pills from Infante. In a third traffic stop of Infante on the reservation, officers located meth and 76 fentanyl pills. In February, the FBI executed a search warrant of the residence where Infante had been staying and recovered 10.27 pounds of meth, 3,568 fentanyl pills and $1,973 in cash. Ten pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 35,240 doses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan R. Plaut, Amanda L. Myers and Stephanie D. Robles prosecuted the case. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Washington County Man Sentenced for Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Southern Utah man was sentenced today to 33 months’ imprisonment followed by a term of three years supervised release for possession of a stolen firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah.
According to court documents, Kenneth N. Webb, 67, of Washington County, Utah, possessed a stolen Ruger .380 firearm in June 2022. Webb pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2023. At his change of plea hearing, Webb admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm, he knew or had reason to believe it was stolen. Webb also admitted that the Ruger .380 traveled in and affected interstate commerce.
The case was investigated by the Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Charges Head of Hair Testing Company in $5.9 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Daniel B. Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging KYLE TSUI with wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with a scheme that resulted in sales of approximately $5.9 million worth of fabricated allergy and sensitivity tests to customers. TSUI was extradited from Spain to the U. S. based on the Indictment and will be presented today before U. S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Kyle Tsui defrauded customers of millions of dollars by claiming he would perform allergy and sensitivity testing on customers’ hair samples. However, Tsui performed no such testing and provided fabricated test results. Tsui now stands charged with defrauding thousands of innocent victims whose health was put at risk with false results.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said: “It’s unconscionable to think anyone would put the health of their clients at risk for money, but allegedly in this case, greed won out over the lives of innocent, trusting victims. Mr. Tsui’s alleged fabricated test results and lies were relied upon by many to make health-altering decisions, which we now know were worthless. Postal Inspectors remind consumers to thoroughly read the fine print of any offer providing medical breakthroughs to avoid falling victim to a scam, especially one that could cause physical harm.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]
From September 2018 through April 2019, TSUI orchestrated a scheme to defraud customers of his company, the “Allergy Testing Company,” by purporting to sell food and environmental sensitivity testing services that TSUI knew were not, in fact, being performed. In total, customers paid approximately $5.9 million through an online marketplace for tests that TSUI claimed would be done on their hair samples.
TSUI’s company promoted its “[h]ighly-rated, top selling sensitivity and intolerance test” that “determines how your body responds to 800 different food and environmental items” with just “a small hair sample.” But rather than test the hair samples as customers were promised, TSUI directed that the hair samples be discarded in the trash without any laboratory analysis. Customers then received fabricated test results purporting to identify certain foods and environmental factors that were “safe” for them and others that the customers were supposedly “sensitive” to and should avoid.
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KYLE TSUI, 41, of Ontario, Canada is charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 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 a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS. Mr. Williams also thanked the Hyde Park Police Department, the New York State Troopers, the Toronto Police Service, the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and the Government of Spain for their assistance in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Qais Ghafary and Benjamin Levander are in charge of the prosecution, which was previously handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Loss.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Two People Sentenced for Assaulting Court Security Officer at Federal CourthouseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two individuals have been sentenced for assaulting a court security officer at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse on October 3, 2022. The defendants approached the officer as he was guarding a private entrance to the Courthouse and instigated an altercation in which both individuals attempted to grab the officer’s firearm before being taken into custody.
Stephen Don Rhymes (22) was sentenced to 46 months in prison on November 8, 2023, for his role in the offense. Shi Kozulyn Bass (42) was sentenced to 20 months in prison on October 18, 2023. Rhymes and Bass each pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer or employee. United States District Judge James C. Mahan presided over both sentencing hearings.
According to court documents, on October 3, 2022, a court security officer ordered both Rhymes and Bass to leave the entrance area of the courthouse. They refused to obey the orders and continued to approach the officer in a threatening manner. Rhymes punched the officer in the face. When the officer attempted to place Rhymes under arrest, both Rhymes and Bass attempted to grab and remove the firearm from the officer’s holster.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Marshal Gary Schofield for the United States Marshals Service made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
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Two Men Charged in Theft of Firearms from Dunham’s Sports Store in Benton HarborRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that two Benton Harbor men were charged with several crimes related to the theft of firearms from Dunham’s Sports in Benton Harbor.
“It is no secret that we are experiencing an epidemic of gun violence across the nation, across the State of Michigan, and right here in Benton Harbor,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Fueling this epidemic is a massive influx of illegal guns into our communities. What happened at Dunham Sport’s on the evening of November 16th is a striking example of what is driving this crisis and we fully intend to satisfy our burden and prove this case.”
The charging documents allege that late on November 16, 2023, Darnell Bishop and Dontrell Nance approached the Dunham’s store manager outside his home and held him at gunpoint. Bishop and Nance then handcuffed and blindfolded the manager and took him to another location; there, they forced him to provide security access information for the Dunham’s store. Bishop took the manager’s keys, entered the Dunham’s store, and left with more than 120 handguns packed into two large coolers. Police later recovered all but one gun. If convicted, both men face up to life in prison.
Investigators searched residences and vehicles associated with Bishop and Nance on November 17, 2023, and found firearms stolen from Dunham’s as well as an additional pistol. Both men were taken into custody that same day.
“Dontrelle Nance and Darnell Bishop are getting coal in their stockings this year rather than the 120 plus firearms they tried to steal during an armed robbery attempt of the Dunham’s Sporting Goods store in Benton Harbor,” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. Robberies and burglaries of gun dealers represent one of the biggest threats to our community’s public safety. As such, ATF partnered with our state and local law enforcement agencies to swiftly investigate this incident and thus, prevented over 120 firearms from making it into the hands of violent criminals on the streets and keeping our communities safer.”
“The use of stolen guns in violent crimes is a common occurrence in our communities, causing immense harm to families,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. “Arresting and charging individuals allegedly involved in such crimes can save countless Michiganders from being victimized by these weapons. I want to thank the FBI's Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force for quickly resolving this case. The FBI and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners are committed to working together to ensure the safety of Michigan's residents.”
“The Michigan State Police is proud to be a part of law enforcement in Southwest Michigan, and work alongside all of these dedicated, hard-working professionals,” said MSP Inspector Ryan Schoonveld. “Officers from local, state, and federal agencies came together last Thursday, working through the night, to bring a very dangerous situation to a safe and successful conclusion.”
This case was investigated by the Benton Charter Township Police Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, ATF, and FBI.
The charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. A copy of the criminal complaint, with further details and photos, is attached to this release.
Complaint###
Two Men Arrested in Gulfport Transporting 12 Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Two men were arrested today in Harrison County on criminal charges related to their alleged transportation of 12 kilograms of fentanyl while driving on Interstate 10 in Gulfport.
According to court documents, John Lee Price, III, and Ahmed Karim Barrie were pulled over in a pick-up truck, pulling a horse trailer, on I-10 when the driver of the vehicle was observed to commit a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the two men were found to be in possession of roughly 50,000 fake pills that were weighed, and field tested as roughly 12 kilograms of fentanyl.
Price and Barrie are both charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl). If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Defendants Sentenced for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl That Caused a Fatal Overdose in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, Vladimir Esguerra and Jonathan Betancur were sentenced by United States District Judge Eric Komitee to 128 months’ imprisonment and 110 months’ imprisonment, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distributing the heroin and fentanyl that caused the death of Michael J. Marino.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences.
“As the defendants admitted in their guilty pleas, they conspired over a period of years to distribute narcotics in our community, and tragically those narcotics had deadly consequences,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We are facing a national crisis of opioid addiction, which cuts lives short every day in this district and across the country. Today’s sentences send a message that those who prey on people suffering from this disease will be punished. It is our hope that these sentences will deter others from peddling dangerous drugs and provide some measure of comfort to the victim’s family.”
“The opioid crisis has cut a wide swath across our country, affecting people from all walks of life and causing immense harm in every community,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “To combat this scourge locally, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners work relentlessly to disrupt drug trafficking operations and hold those involved fully accountable. The sentences handed down today send a message of support to the families of loved ones lost, promising that we will not rest until justice is delivered.”
As set forth in the government’s sentencing letters and other public documents, Esguerra and Betancur were drug dealers who distributed narcotics together in Queens since at least 2015. Sometimes Esguerra would meet the buyer and handle the transaction himself and sometimes he would send them to Betancur instead. In July 2019, they sold heroin cut with fentanyl to Marino, who suffered a fatal overdose as a result in a pizzeria in Ozone Park, Queens. In September 2019, Betancur was arrested by the NYPD in an unrelated case, and two cellphones that he was carrying were seized. One of them was the same phone he had used to communicate with Marino on the day of the overdose—and the number to which Marino had saved as “Vlad.” Earlier this year, both defendants pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and admitted responsibility for Marino’s death.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Pollack is prosecuting the case.
The Defendants:
JONATHAN BETANCUR
Age: 34
Queens, New YorkVLADIMIR ESGUERRA
Age: 41
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-525 (EK)
Twenty-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Craig Antwon ONeal (54, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. ONeal faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, up to life, if federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the superseding indictment, on July 20, 2020, ONeal was in possession of a firearm. As a multi-convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing either firearms or ammunition under federal law. ONeal has 20 prior state felony convictions, including strong-arm robbery, resisting arrest with violence, sale of cocaine, and burglary of a conveyance. His extensive prior record also qualifies him for a sentencing enhancement as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Crockett.
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.
Superseding Indictment Charges Four with Conspiracy to Sell Firearms Without A License and to Transport Firearms from North Carolina to New YorkRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal superseding indictment was unsealed in court today, charging four men with conspiracy to sell firearms without a license and to transport to New York firearms unlawfully obtained in North Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Three of the defendants also face additional firearms offenses.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The superseding indictment charges Keyuon Divine Cannie, 24, Trashawn Tavaris Edward Coleman, 23, Daquan Collins, 29, and Lamar Moore, 25, all of Charlotte, with conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and to illegally sell, transfer, trade and transport firearms out-of-state. Coleman is also charged with two counts of straw purchasing a firearm and two counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Moore is also charged with one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and one count of transferring a firearm to a prohibited person. Cannie is charged with two additional counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to allegations contained in the charging document, between July 1 and July 23, 2022, the defendants conspired with each other to purchase firearms in North Carolina, for the purpose of transporting and selling the firearms for profit to individuals in New York.
According to allegations in the indictment, on July 8, and on July 12, 2022, Coleman engaged in the straw purchasing of a firearm, by falsely purchasing two firearms on behalf of Cannie, knowing that Cannie intended to illegally sell the firearms. The indictment further alleges that, when he purchased the firearms from a federal firearms licensee, Coleman made false statements on the federal form required to obtain a firearm, falsely attesting that he was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearms, knowing that he was not.
The indictment also alleges that on February 8, 2022, Moore purchased a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In purchasing the firearm, the indictment alleges that Moore made a false statement on the required federal form, falsely attesting that Moore was the transferee/buyer of the firearm, when in fact Moore knew he was not. The indictment also alleges that, on the same day, Moore transferred the firearm to another person, knowing the that the person had been previously convicted of a crime and was therefore not permitted to own or possess a firearm.
The indictment alleges that between February 8 and March 10, 2022, and on July 12, 2022, Cannie illegally possessed one or more firearms, knowing he had previously been convicted of at least one crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding a year.
The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charge of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each straw purchasing of a firearm charge carries a statutory penalty of 25 years in prison, and the maximum penalty for the charge of possession of a firearm by a felon is 15 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
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.
Siblings Sentenced to Combined 48 Years in Prison for Smuggling NarcoticsRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Midland woman and her brother, a Mexican national, were sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 262 months and 324 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO).
According to court documents, Blanca Estela Maldonado, 54, of Midland, and her brother Federico Jose Maldonado-Aleman, 59, of Mexico, were part of a DTO responsible for trafficking approximately 79 kilograms of methamphetamine within the Western District of Texas between December 2016 and September 2018. The conspirators transported narcotics themselves and hired individuals to smuggle narcotics across the border, using Blanca Maldonado’s Midland residence as a primary pick-up/drop off point. Federico Maldonado-Aleman served as a supplier and facilitator of smuggling operations.
“For two years, these defendants conspired as part of a Mexican DTO using one of the individual’s homes as a distribution hub,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to the collaborative investigation efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, we were able to secure incredibly substantial prison sentences for six drug traffickers responsible for pushing dangerous drugs into our communities.”
“These significant sentences send a clear message to criminal organizations that there are serious consequences for trafficking-controlled substances,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “HSI will continue to pursue transnational criminal investigations to target dangerous individuals who threaten the security of the United States.”
“The collective number of years members of this organization will spend in prison shows our collective commitment to bringing those who bring devastating drugs to our communities to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Office. “These sentences will now serve as a clear reminder of the consequences of choosing to poison our communities.”
Four additional codefendants involved were sentenced earlier in the case, all for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Juan Francisco Guajardo, 34, of Eagle Pass, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment on Feb. 4, 2020. April Sotelo, 42, of Seagraves, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment on Dec. 7, 2020. Kenneth Ray Cabrera, 40, of Seminole, was sentenced to 300 months imprisonment on March 1, 2022. Agatha Marie Barrientez, 37, of Midland, was sentenced to 292 months on June 30, 2022. In total, the six co-conspirators received a combined penalty of more than 141 years in prison.
HSI, DEA and USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming, Joshua Garland and Brett Miner prosecuted the case.
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Seven Des Moines Gang Member and Associates Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a 51-count indictment on November 16, 2023, charging seven individuals with offenses related to a racketeering conspiracy, which involved a conspiracy to engage in a years-long pattern of violence, including attempted murders, robberies, drug trafficking, the straw purchasing of firearms, and the trafficking of firearms.
As alleged in the Indictment, those charged were members and associates of a criminal organization or Enterprise known as “Only My Brother” or “OMB.” OMB originated in early- to mid-2021. Prior to that, some members and associates of OMB referred to themselves as various other names, including C-Block, 600, East Side Crips, Crips, and Gangster. The principal purposes and objectives of the Enterprise were to distribute controlled substances, obtain money and things of value, and earn and maintain respect in the neighborhood. To achieve those purposes and objectives, members and associates of the Enterprise committed acts involving attempted murder, robbery, and assault; threatened to commit acts of violence; trafficking in controlled substances and firearms; and straw purchased firearms.
The following members and associates of OMB, all of Des Moines, are charged in the Indictment:
- Majok Majok, 19, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to traffic firearms, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a machinegun, and four counts of distribution of fentanyl. Majok is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment and up to life.
- Santiz Cortez Langford, Jr., 20, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, two counts of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, conspiracy to traffic firearms, two counts of firearms trafficking, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a machinegun and firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, three counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a machinegun. Langford is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment and up to life.
- Semaj Johnson, 19, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic firearms, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. As part of this investigation, Johnson was previously charged with, and pled guilty to, illegal possession of a machinegun and is awaiting sentencing (Southern District of Iowa, 4:22-cr-106). Johnson is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment and up to life.
- Avontae Lamar Tucker, 20, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition, interference with commerce through robbery, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tucker is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 22 years of imprisonment, and up to life. As part of this investigation, Tucker was previously convicted of interference with commerce through robbery, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. (Southern District of Iowa, 4:22-cr-164). On July 20, 2023, he was sentenced to 192 months of imprisonment.
- Dahaba Bahari Lula, 18, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, and five counts of distribution of fentanyl. Lula is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment and up to life.
- Dawn Ellease Robinson, 44, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, four counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. Robinson is facing up to a combined total of 105 years of imprisonment.
- Deon Ellease Cooper, 27, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, six counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and straw purchasing a firearm. Cooper is facing up to a combined total of 95 years of imprisonment.
The Indictment may be viewed at the link below.
Lula made her initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The remaining defendants will make their initial court appearances on later dates.
As part of this investigation, several other members and associates of the Enterprise were charged with various drug- and firearms-related crimes, as stated in a July 2023 press release. The following defendants charged in those cases have now entered guilty pleas:
- Armani Eugene Gates, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, unlawful user in possession of a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At sentencing, which is set for March 8, 2024, Gates faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, and up to life.
- Deadrian Maurice Nelson, 19, pled guilty to two counts of felon and unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. He faces up to a combined total of 30 years of imprisonment. Nelson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2024.
- Bakier Mohamd Esmaeil, 18, pled guilty to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. At his sentencing on March 6, 2024, Esmaeil faces up to 15 years of imprisonment.
- Johnetta Marie Strode, 36, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on November 28, 2023.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Herrera and Mallory Weiser are prosecuting the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Des Moines Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
OMB Indictment
San Francisco Resident Charged with Murder of A Person Whose Body Was Found in the PresidioRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Leion Butler with aiding and abetting murder after surveillance videos led investigators to conclude Butler was involved in the murder of a victim whose lifeless body was found on November 12, 2023, in the Presidio, in San Francisco, Calif. The complaint was filed November 20, 2023, and was unsealed earlier today.
According to the complaint, Butler, 20, of San Francisco, is responsible for the murder of the victim found in the Presidio on November 12, 2023. Early that morning, witnesses discovered a deceased body in the parking lot of Crissy Field East Beach in the Presidio. The complaint describes how the victim was found to have suffered from a single gunshot wound to his head.
The criminal complaint describes how investigators reviewed video from surveillance cameras near where the body was found, including those capturing cars leaving the area near the time of the murder. One of the cars observed leaving the area was linked to the deceased victim. Three days later, the victim’s vehicle was located, unoccupied, with its license plates still attached. The car reportedly was double parked for days in a street in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. The criminal complaint describes how investigators obtained additional surveillance footage from cameras near where the victim’s car was found. The additional surveillance video captured the arrival of the victim’s car and showed someone—later identified as the defendant—parking the car, exiting, and speaking into a cellphone. Further, the video captured the eventual arrival of a second car. The criminal complaint further describes how the surveillance camera captured images of the defendant speaking with the driver of the second car, the defendant making several trips between the victim’s car and the second car, and the defendant wiping down the driver’s side door and interior of the victim’s car with “a clothing item or towel.” In addition, the video showed additional images of the defendant retrieving items from the victim’s car and eventually getting into the second vehicle and leaving the scene.
The complaint describes how further investigation led investigators to discover the name of the person who owned the second vehicle and, eventually, to the defendant. According to investigators, the defendant both fit the description of the person who parked the victim’s car in Hunter’s Point and was related to the owner of the second vehicle. Further, investigators developed evidence establishing that on the day of the murder, the defendant’s cell phone was both in the general area where the victim was found and where the victim’s car was wiped down.
In sum, Butler is charged with murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 2.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum statutory penalty for murder is death or life imprisonment. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Butler was arrested on November 20, 2023, and remains in federal custody. Butler appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim to face the charges. Butler pleaded not guilty. Butler’s next appearance is scheduled for November 22, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Kim, for further status on detention.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Davidson is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Recidivist Felon Sentenced for Fentanyl, Heroin and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Midlothian man was sentenced today to 5 years in prison for possessing a fentanyl and heroin mixture in addition to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, on July 20, 2023, Allen C. Clack, 43, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of a mixture containing both fentanyl and heroin and to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In the summer of 2022, law enforcement agents conducted an investigation of Clack’s drug trafficking activities in and around the City of Richmond. As a result of that investigation, agents executed search warrants on Clack’s vehicle and his residence. On September 21, 2022, agents located Clack in his vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing Psilocyn, approximately 36 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, and 3.66 grams of cocaine, along with a loaded 9mm pistol and items used for the packaging and distribution of illegal controlled substances. From Clack’s residence, agents recovered over 73 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture and over 71 grams of fentanyl, along with a second handgun. Prior to September 21, 2022, Clack had been convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As a result, he was prohibited from possessing or transporting firearms.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-35.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Launder MoneyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Carlos Martinez Desmoineaux, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to launder money. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Desmoineaux to time served, approximately 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Desmoineaux will also serve a 2-year term of supervised release.
In 2009, Desmoineaux agreed with a confederate to use Desmoineaux’s bank account in Trinidad and Tobago to launder proceeds from marijuana sales. Wire transfers totaling $77,700 were sent to Desmoineaux’s bank account from locations in the United States, and an additional $10,800 cash was transported by the confederate to Trinidad and Tobago and deposited into the account. All the funds were generated from the sale of marijuana. Desmoineaux sent $88,500 by wire transfer to an airplane seller in Oklahoma to help finance the purchase of an airplane that the confederate planned to use and later did use to transport marijuana. Desmoineaux surrendered to authorities in Colombia in 2022 and was extradited to the United States in 2023.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigations.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Wesley T. Vavra, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Vavra was convicted of the charge by a jury on August 23, 2023. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Vavra to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vavra’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
Between May 2022 and July 16, 2022, Vavra communicated on the Whisper application and through text messages with someone Vavra thought was interested in “open family play dates.” The other Whisper user was a law enforcement officer working in an undercover (“UC”) capacity pretending to be a father with an 8-year-old child. Vavra arranged to meet the UC on July 18, 2022, to engage in sexual acts with the supposed father’s 8-year-old child. Vavra was arrested upon arrival at the meetup location in Omaha. Vavra’s cell phone was seized. Analysis of Vavra’s phone showed that in addition to communicating with the UC, Vavra was also communicating with someone he thought was a 13-year-old female during this same timeframe. The 13-year-old female was also a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Douglas County’s Sheriff’s Office.
Omaha Man Convicted for Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that William Lamb, 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 20, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for escape from custody. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lamb to 2 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lamb’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.
On August 2, 2004, Lamb was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On August 27, 2022, Lamb was transferred to Dismas Charities in Omaha, Nebraska, a Residential Reentry Center, to complete his sentence. On June 16, 2023, RRC staff conducted a routine vehicle search of Lamb’s vehicle and discovered what appeared to be a white, crystalline substance consistent with meth. Upon questioning of the substance by RRC staff, Lamb exited the facility, entered his vehicle, and drove off the property without authorization. He did not return to the RRC and was later arrested in Oklahoma.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Middlesex County Construction Company Admits Causing Death of Employee Who Fell Off Roof During Residential Roof ProjectRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A construction company based in Old Bridge, New Jersey, admitted violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, leading to the death of an employee, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Zona Roofing LLC (Zona Roofing), via its owner Yilbert Segura, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court to an information charging it with one count of willfully violating OSHA standards by failing to provide fall protection and fall protection training to employees engaged in the replacement of a residential roof, which caused the death of an employee.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 6, 2019, Segura and four employees began a roof replacement project on a residential home located in Haledon, New Jersey. Despite working more than 20 feet from the ground, employees for Zona Roofing were not equipped with any personal fall protection equipment, such as safety harnesses, lanyards, tie-off ropes, guard rails, safety nets, or other feasible means of fall protection. None of the employees had received fall protection training to recognize the hazards of falling or the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards.
On Aug. 8, 2019, while working on the roof, one of Zona Roofing’s employees lost his balance and fell approximately 22 feet to the ground, sustaining blunt force injuries to his head that resulted in his death. The employee was not equipped with any fall protection gear, and he had not received any fall protection training. Zona Roofing was previously cited by Maryland OSHA in February 2019 for failing to provide fall protection to its employees.
If the court accepts the terms of the plea agreement, Zona Roofing will be sentenced to five years of probation and will pay restitution of $75,000 to the employee’s family members. Zona Roofing must also follow specified conditions, including providing training procedures to all its employees and a requirement to follow enhanced safety provisions for future construction jobs. Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone; Daniel Hennefeld, Counsel for Occupational Safety and Health, Office of the Solicitor of Labor, Region 2, and OSHA Compliance Officers with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Schuman of the Criminal Division in Newark.
zonaroofing.information.pdfMember of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering, Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a violent Boston street gang as well as gun and drug trafficking charges.
Kenny Romero, a/k/a “KG,” 29, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy), three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 29, 2024.
According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in Dorchester whose members use violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Members allegedly post videos or use social media applications to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang and denigrate rivals – in particular the NOB gang – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry Streets in Dorchester. Cameron Street members allegedly possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Cameron Street members also allegedly distribute controlled substances and firearms, commit armed robberies and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income for the Cameron Street enterprise.
During a two-year investigation, Romero was recorded selling eight firearms, as well as ammunition, cocaine base and cocaine to a cooperating witness, who Romero believed was a member of Cameron Street. The drug and gun sales Romero made were discussed and negotiated over cell phones and Snapchat. Additionally, Romero’s phone was found to contain messages showing he had received funds from human trafficking activities.The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for up to 20 years in prison, supervised release of at least three years and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Married Couple Sentenced for Laundering $1.4 Million in Proceeds from Jewelry Thefts and Unemployment Fraud During PandemicRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 20, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Eduard Ghiocel and his wife, Floarea Ghiocel, were sentenced in federal court today to 36 months and 30 months, respectively, for laundering $1.4 million in proceeds from dozens of grand thefts, robberies and swindles targeting mostly elderly victims in San Diego County.
According to their plea agreements, the Ghiocels, along with co-conspirators Gabriel Ghiocel, Marius Ghiocel, Larisa Ghiocel, and Argentina Alexandru, conducted a series of 17 grand thefts and robberies of jewelry in elderly communities in San Diego. They then pawned the stolen jewelry and watches for cash in jewelry stores in Los Angeles.
In addition, Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted submitting fraudulent unemployment claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to obtain approximately $32,250 in California unemployment insurance benefits intended to help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted wiring proceeds from the jewelry thefts and the unemployment insurance fraud to Romania, as well as using the proceeds to purchase gold bars, gold coins, and high-end luxury vehicles from locations in Southern California and shipping these items to Romania. In total the Ghiocels sent almost $1.4 million to Romania, knowing the money was proceeds of theft, robbery, and fraud, the plea agreement said.
Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel agreed to forfeit proceeds of the crime including two Lamborghini Urus, a 2020 Ferrari Portofino, and a BMW X4 all seized by authorities in Romania. The forfeitures will be used pay restitution to victims of the crimes.
The co-conspirators remain at large.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Adeline Schulberg with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, FBI's Legal Attaché in Bucharest, and Romanian authorities including the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DCCO) Service for Countering of Organized Criminal Groups, Brigade for Combating Organized Crime (BCCO) – Pitești, County Service for Countering Organized Crime – Teleorman, Romanian Gendarmerie Battalion, Romanian Ministry of Justice, and Romanian Criminal Investigative Directorate - Fugitive Unit.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR0386-LAB
Eduard Ghiocel (1) Age: 48 Romania
aka Eduard Alexandru, aka “Filica”
Floarea Ghiocel (2) Age: 49 Romania
aka Floarea Alexandru
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) and Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Conspiracy to Transport Funds to Promote Unlawful Activity
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit
IRS Criminal Investigation
California Employment Development Department Investigative Division
Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security