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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 6 October 2023
Four Oklahomans Ordered to Pay a Total of $68,000 for Killing Endangered Whooping CranesRead the Press Release
Court Also Ordered Forfeiture of Firearms and Nationwide Loss of Hunting Privileges for Five Years
OKLAHOMA CITY – This week, four Oklahoman men were sentenced to pay restitution totaling $68,000 for unlawfully killing four endangered whooping cranes protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 22, 2023, JOSEPH M. ROMAN, 43, and JUSTIN M. WINE, 40, of Altus, CHANOD M. CAMPBELL, 32, of Gould, and BRIAN LEE GOLLIHARE JR., 35, of Hollis, were charged by information with taking a migratory bird for which there is no season. According to information presented in court, on or about November 5, 2021, the four defendants were hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in southwest Oklahoma when they killed four whooping cranes and attempted to hide the birds before leaving the scene.
Whooping cranes are a migratory bird and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the whooping crane is one of the rarest birds in North America and are highly endangered. An FWS report from May, 2023, estimates there are less than 600 total whooping cranes in the wild.
All four defendants pleaded guilty and, at sentencing hearings this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield Green ordered each defendant to pay $17,000 in restitution to the International Crane Foundation and pay a $750 fine. The defendants were also each ordered to forfeit their shotguns and will also lose their hunting privileges in all 50 states for the next five years.
“Each of us bears responsibility to protect endangered wildlife so that the species is preserved for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “My office stands with and commends the work done by our federal and state law enforcement partners, and we hope this case serves as a warning for those who would harm endangered species.”
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is committed to conducting criminal investigations with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for the protection of endangered species such as the whooping crane," said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. "The outcomes of this case are the result of vigorous investigative efforts by the Office of Law Enforcement and our ODWC partners to bring wildlife violators to justice.”
"This is a great example of state and federal agencies working closely together throughout the investigation. The outstanding ODWC Game Wardens were tireless in tracking down leads and in their collection of key evidence that led to this outcome,” said Nathan Erdman, Law Enforcement Chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Rest assured that those committing wildlife violations in Oklahoma will be caught thanks to thorough investigations like this along with tips from the public.”
This case is a result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case.
Former Soldier Indicted for Attempting to Pass National Defense Information to People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington was arrested today on an indictment charging him with two federal felonies: attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 29, will appear in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California this morning and will be brought to the Western District of Washington for further court proceedings.
“Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who violate that duty.”
“Joseph Daniel Schmidt was once a trusted guardian of our nation’s secrets and swore an oath to defend and protect US national security,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “As alleged by the government, Schmidt betrayed his promise and potentially placed our nation at risk in his attempts to pass national defense information to Chinese security services. The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the American people and U.S. national security."
“Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking – not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “I commend the FBI for their diligent work to end his alleged efforts to betray our country.”
According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt allegedly reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering information about national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and allegedly continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He allegedly retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.
Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until this week when he scheduled to fly to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.
Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg for the Western District of Washington and Deputy Chief Matthew J. McKenzie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Soldier Indicted for Attempting to Pass National Defense Information to People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington was arrested today on an indictment charging him with two federal felonies: attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 29, will appear in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California later today and will be brought to the Western District of Washington for further court proceedings.
“Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who violate that duty.”
“Joseph Daniel Schmidt was once a trusted guardian of our nation’s secrets and swore an oath to defend and protect U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “As alleged by the government, Schmidt betrayed his promise and potentially placed our nation at risk in his attempts to pass national defense information to Chinese security services. The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the American people and U.S. national security."
“Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution. In that context the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking – not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “I commend the FBI for their diligent work to end his alleged efforts to betray our country.”
According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt allegedly reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering information about national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and allegedly continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He allegedly retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.
Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until this week when he scheduled to fly to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.
Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg for the Western District of Washington and Deputy Chief Matthew J. McKenzie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Schmidt Declaration
Schmidt IndictmentFormer San Antonio Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
UPDATE: On Aug. 17, 2026, Christopher John Pettit entered a guilty plea to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Under the new plea, Pettit will receive a sentence between 235 and 293 months.
SAN ANTONIO – Former San Antonio Attorney Christopher John Pettit, 56, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to wire fraud and money laundering.
According to court documents, from around October 2019 to July 2022, Pettit made numerous misrepresentations that persuaded his clients to deposit money with his firm, Chris Pettit and Associates, PC, which funds the clients believed would be used for services such as living trusts, irrevocable trusts, estate planning services, investments, and real-estate transactions, but which Pettit instead misused for his own enrichment and as part of a Ponzi-type scheme.
In one scheme, Pettit opened trustee accounts with client funds and simply moved the money to his own accounts, rather than using the funds for the benefit of the trust. Other fraudulent schemes included falsely promising to invest client money in high percentage bonds and instead wiring the funds to his personal account. He also falsely represented himself as a Qualified Intermediary for a 1031 real-estate exchange, which he used to convince clients to wire millions of dollars from asset sales into accounts he controlled and then misused for his own enrichment. Pettit would use his victimized clients’ funds to pay other client debts as well as to support an extravagant lifestyle. The schemes resulted in an estimated loss to the victims of between $20 million and $65 million.
Pettit pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud counts and up to 10 years for the money laundering counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case in conjunction with representatives of the Texas State Securities Board and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Almonte and Kelly Stephenson are prosecuting the case.
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Former AFGE Local Union President Pleads Guilty to Stealing Union FundsRead the Press Release
BOISE – Tamlyn Leigh Ulin-Gilson, 56, of Reedsport, Oregon, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local Union 1273, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Ulin-Gilson served as president of AFGE Local Union 1273 from January 2019 to April 24, 2021. AFGE 1273 is a federal labor organization that represents approximately 1,1000 medical support staff employed at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Healthcare System in Boise and affiliated clinics. Prior to serving as president, Ulin-Gilson served as the vice president and secretary‑treasurer for AFGE 1273.
With the resignation of the other executive board members, Ulin-Gilson had exclusive and unchecked control of AFGE 1273’s bank account beginning in February 2020. She abused her authority by fraudulently misusing at least $42,674.45 of AFGE 1273’s funds on unauthorized, personal expenses. Ulin-Gilson spent at least $34,632.60 at casinos in Idaho and Nevada during this time, and also spent $7,037.35 on personal insurance premiums, and caused $1,004.50 in bank fees from the transactions.
Ulin-Gilson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane is prosecuting the case.
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Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Narcotics LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Florida resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Jossian Ayala-Ruberte, 55, of Kissimmee, Florida pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine from March of 2019 through September of 2020 before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Ayala-Ruberte is one of thirteen defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the United States, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. Beginning in December of 2019 and continuing through August of 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Ayala-Ruberte was intercepted orchestrating and directing the movement of cocaine through the mail for redistribution. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 5 years to a maximum of 40 years, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The DEA in Pittsburgh, PA; the DEA, Columbus, OH; the DEA, Harrisburg, PA; Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pittsburgh, PA; HSI, Orlando, FL; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Service, Columbus, Ohio; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Lawrence County Drug Task Force – Special Investigations Unit; and New Castle Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Ayala-Ruberte.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Bangor and Houlton Area Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Rogelio Rios, 34, to 60 months followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. Rios pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023.
According to court records, between May 2018 and July 2018, Rios obtained methamphetamine from Florida and distributed it in locations around Bangor and Houlton through a group of co-conspirators. On July 12, 2018, a truck driven by Rios and in which a co-conspirator was a passenger was stopped by law enforcement in Lincoln. A search of the vehicle revealed multiple grams of methamphetamine and nearly $20,000 in cash in the co-conspirator’s bag.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case.
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Customs Broker Arrested on Superseding Indictment Alleging New $2 Million Fraud Committed after His Release on Bond in Original Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A customs broker has been arrested on a superseding grand jury indictment that alleges he defrauded clients out of $2 million while he was free on bond after being charged with bilking another client out of $3.4 million, the Justice Department announced today.
Frank Seung Noah, 62, of Corona, was arrested Thursday on an eight-count superseding indictment returned on October 4. He entered not guilty pleas during an arraignment Thursday afternoon.
According to court documents, Noah owned and operated Comis International Inc., a logistics and supply-chain company based in Cerritos, which offered customs import brokerage services on behalf of businesses. From 2007 to 2019, Comis was a customs import broker for Daiso, a Japan-based variety and value store with stores in the United States, including Southern California.
Noah was initially charged in February 2022 with engaging in a $3.4 million wire fraud scheme that overcharged Daiso on customs duties. From March 2016 until February 2019, Noah – acting through Comis – paid customs import duty fees to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Daiso’s behalf. Noah then allegedly submitted invoices to Daiso that fraudulently inflated the customs import duty fees that Noah had paid. As a result of Noah’s scheme, the indictment alleges, Daiso paid the inflated invoices, and Noah fraudulently obtained approximately $3,379,774.
Noah was also charged in the 2022 indictment with evading the payment of $1.5 million in personal income taxes. The original indictment charged Noah with one count of tax evasion and three counts of wire fraud. Noah was released on bond pending trial in February 2022. A trial was scheduled for February 20, 2024.
The superseding indictment adds four wire fraud counts for allegedly defrauding two other victim clients, an online crafts store and a wholesale apparel distributor.
Beginning in late 2021 and continuing through June 2023 – with much of this period following the original indictment and while he was free on bond – Noah defrauded two other client companies by invoicing and receiving funds from the two victim companies, and then simply pocketing the funds instead of paying the customs duties to CBP, according to the superseding indictment. After CBP notified the victim clients of their unpaid customs duties, they asked Noah about the unpaid fees, and he allegedly sent the victim clients altered bank statements falsely reflecting that he had paid the customs duties. The two victims in this new part of the case allegedly suffered losses of approximately $2 million.
In relation to the tax evasion charge, Noah allegedly willfully attempted to evade the payment of approximately $1,562,684 in federal taxes which the IRS assessed against him for the calendar years 2008, 2009 and 2010. He allegedly did so by making small payments to the IRS, all while making much larger payments on mortgages for properties he controlled – even though they were bought in his girlfriend’s name – including his Corona residence purchased in 2016 and a vacation property in Rancho Mirage that was purchased the following year.
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.
Noah appeared this afternoon in United States District Court, where he was released on a $205,000 bond with strict pretrial supervision conditions, including home detention with location monitoring, an agreement that he would no longer directly or indirectly engage in customs brokering services, and a near prohibition on using email or accessing the internet.
If convicted of all charges, Noah would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count and 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count.
IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Faraz Mohammadi of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Derrick Lamont Johnson, age 43, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Johnson to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made as a part of his guilty plea, on February 19, 2019, 911 received a call that Derrick Johnson was outside a residence threatening an individual with a gun over an encounter that occurred earlier that day. When the police arrived, they found Johnson at the front door, unarmed. Johnson was immediately detained in cuffs and placed in the back of a police unit. Once Johnson was safely in police custody, the caller told police that the gun Johnson had was in the trunk of their car. With the caller’s permission, officers entered the automobile and recovered a shotgun from the trunk.
Prior to possessing the firearm, Johnson had been convicted in East Baton Rouge Parish of aggravated flight from an officer in March 2003, simple robbery in September 2003, and felon in possession of a firearm in January 2012.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig.
Connecticut Investment Advisor Admits Defrauding Clients of $2.7 Million Through Cherry-Picking SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that JONATHAN VINCENT GLENN, 54, of Greenwich, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to defrauding investment clients through a “cherry-picking” securities scheme.
“Cherry-picking” is a fraudulent securities trading practice in which the responsible individual executes trades without assigning those trades to a particular trading account until the individual determines whether or not the trade has become profitable or suffered losses. The responsible individual then allocates the profitable trades to favored accounts – often the individual’s own accounts – and assigns unprofitable trades to disfavored client accounts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Glenn owned Glenn Capital LLC, also known as GlennCap LLC, an investment advisory firm headquartered in Greenwich. Through Glenn Capital, Glenn provided clients with portfolio management services including asset selection and asset allocation. Glenn managed all of Glenn Capital’s advisory clients’ accounts and was authorized to make trading decisions on each client’s behalf without seeking approval for each trade. Glenn placed trades on behalf of advisory clients, himself, or family members by trading directly in the relevant individual account, or by placing block trades in Glenn Capital’s omnibus account and allocating the block trades among the relevant individual accounts. Glenn Capital’s Code of Ethics required Glenn to determine and document the specific allocation of each block trade prior to the execution, and to allocate block trades to individual accounts at an average price.
In pleading guilty, Glenn admitted that he defrauded clients by retroactively allocating profitable omnibus-account trades to favored clients, family, and personal accounts, and unprofitable omnibus-account trades to non-favored-client accounts. Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in the Code of Ethics, Glenn did not determine the allocation of block trades until after they were executed, when he knew if the trades were profitable in the hours following the execution. When a block purchase of an equity security increased in value in the hours after the purchase, Glenn generally realized the profits by selling the security. He then allocated those profits to favored-client, family, firm, and personal accounts. When a block purchase of an equity security decreased in value, Glenn generally allocated those block purchases to the non-favored-client accounts. Glenn did not inform his clients that he was “cherry picking.” Instead, he gave the false impression that he allocated trades fairly and according to a pre-determined allocation methodology.
Through this scheme, Glenn defrauded more than 45 clients of a total of more than $2.7 million.
Glenn pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a fine of up to approximately $5.4 million. Glenn is released pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 28.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has settled fraud charges with Glenn and GlennCap LLC.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
Cheyenne Man Sentenced for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Kyle Aubrey Rozell, age 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on October 4, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Rozell was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wyoming and pleaded guilty to the charges in July. According to court documents, on August 23, 2022, Cheyenne Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the defendant. Pursuant to a lawful search, officers found over 200 fentanyl pills, $2,900 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and a cell phone in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that Rozell was using that cell phone to buy and sell fentanyl pills.
This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Cheyenne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
Case No. 23-CR-00043
Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Ice Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was intercepted in a wiretap investigation conspiring to distribute large quantities of ice methamphetamine was sentenced September 29, 2023, to nearly 20 years in federal prison.
Elmer Mims, age 69, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 24, 2023 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
The evidence at trial showed that the Cedar Rapids Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a wiretap investigation in late 2021 and early 2022 targeting a group of individuals who were shipping large quantities of ice methamphetamine from Los Angeles, California, to Cedar Rapids. The DEA intercepted calls over phones used by David Belton (a/k/a “Blood”) and Derek Mims (a/k/a “D Mo”) in which they orchestrated the shipment of loads of thirty to sixty pounds of ice methamphetamine. Elmer Mims was intercepted in a call in early December 2021 discussing a prior occasion during which Elmer Mims had obtained 14 pounds of ice methamphetamine for $26,000. During an intercepted call in early February, Belton and Derek Mims discussed how they were going to obtain 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine, 20 pounds for each of them and 20 pounds for “Unc,” a nickname for Elmer Mims.
Less than two weeks after that call, DEA contacted local authorities in York County, Nebraska, to assist in stopping a truck that was believed to be transporting the 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine. The Nebraska officers stopped the truck and seized a tote that contained sixty, one‑pound packages of 99% pure methamphetamine. During an intercepted call on February 28, 2022, Elmer Mims and Belton discussed the seizure of the 60 pounds in Nebraska, believing that Derek Mims may have been stealing from them.
In March 2022, investigators searched Elmer Mims’s Cedar Rapids residence, seizing nearly $19,000 in cash drug proceeds, a box for a Glock handgun, ammunition, a holster, a tactical vest, and over four pounds of marijuana. Elmer Mims had previously been convicted in federal court in 1985 for a heroin conspiracy that involved smuggling large quantities of heroin using drug couriers and sending drug money to Hong Kong and Nepal.
Eleven other individuals were charged in the same investigation, nine of whom have been sentenced:
- Kiyonte Levell Sowell was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment;
- Albert Henry Bailey was sentenced to 88 months’ imprisonment;
- Jesus Vera was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment;
- Calub Joseph Storlie was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment;
- Christopher Eric Curley was sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment;
- David Poitier Belton was sentenced to 396 months’ imprisonment;
- Derek Michael Mims was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment;
- Phillip Lanell Rogers was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment;
- Anton Tarrice Whitney, Jr. was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment
Two other individuals, Robert Lee Michael Bates and Timothy Michael Webber, are awaiting sentencing.
Mims was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Mims was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Mims is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids consists of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Chatham and Kraig Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22‑CR‑39‑CJW‑MAR.
Cape Coral Man on Federal Supervised Release Carrying Tactical Swords, Nunchucks, and Loaded Firearm Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Basilio Amaury Bron, Jr. (43, Cape Coral) to five years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for violating his federal supervised release. Bron must serve his sentence for violating his supervised release consecutive to his sentence on the underlying federal charge.
According to court documents, at around 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2022, Bron drove an SUV carelessly and in excess of 100 miles per hour northbound on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County near the Laurel Road exit. A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Bron’s vehicle for speeding. The deputy conducted a background check which revealed that Bron was a convicted felon and currently on federal supervised release in the Middle District of Florida. During the traffic stop, the odor of marijuana emanated from Bron’s vehicle, and two 20-inch tactical swords were visible near the driver’s seat and the driver’s door. Bron also admitted to having a firearm in the vehicle. The deputy located a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol, loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, inside the vehicle’s center console and a bag containing 4 grams of marijuana. The deputy also recovered a pair of nunchucks from the driver’s seat pocket. Bron later admitted to ATF agents that he had possessed the firearm, handled it multiple times, and sold marijuana.
In 2016, Bron was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A Chee and Michael Kenneth.
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.
Bixby man gets life for carjacking, robbery, and Haikey Creek Park Double MurderRead the Press Release
TULSA Okla. – A Bixby man was sentenced to life in federal prison Thursday for multiple felonies including carjacking, robbery, and multiple murder charges, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Hunter Isaiah Hobbs, 22, to 3 life sentences for felony murder in Indian Country; causing death by carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and obstruction of justice by killing a victim. Frizzell further sentenced Hobbs to 20 years each for two counts of conspiracy to carry, use, and brandish a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 25 years for attempted carjacking and 15 years for robbery in Indian Country. All sentences are to run concurrently.
"Hunter Hobbs conspired to rob multiple victims in this case. He and his co-defendant shot one victim, a complete stranger, in an attempted carjacking and then killed two of their own friends during this crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The relentless efforts of this Office, the FBI, and the Tulsa and Broken Arrow Police Departments resulted in the life sentences handed down today.”
"Today's sentence means Hunter Hobbs will spend the rest of his life behind prison walls for his spree of senseless and violent crimes, which tragically led to the death of two innocent victims," said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. "This case demonstrates the FBI's steadfast commitment to pursuing justice for victims and holding dangerous criminals accountable."
On May 8, 2021, Hobbs and Denim Lee Blount, 21, of Tulsa, lay in wait at the Westminster Apartments, at 7486 E 47th Place, in Tulsa, looking for a victim of opportunity. They approached a 2005 Chevy Tahoe with guns drawn and ordered the driver out of the vehicle. When the victim tried to maneuver his vehicle and leave, Hobbs and Blount opened fire. The attack was captured on security cameras, which show Hobbs firing an entire magazine at the driver from his .45 caliber Colt Model Combat Commander pistol, as Blount fired a 12-gauge shotgun at the car. The victim managed to flee the area but was struck multiple times. He sustained injuries to his hands, knee, arm, nose, cheeks, and frontal scalp. His injuries required surgery and caused permanent damage to his hand. Hobbs and Blount fled the scene.
On May 13, 2021 Hobbs and Blount again conspired to ambush, rob, and kill. This time the targets were two friends, Caleb Vaughan Collier and Kelly Ray Olen John Landsaw-Davis, both citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Hobbs and Blount planned to lure then men to a secluded area of Haikey Creek Park in Broken Arrow and rob them. When Blount stated that the men would be able to identify them to the police, Hobbs stated: “Then we’ll just off them”.
The victims picked Hobbs and Blount up in the early morning hours of May 13 and the four men drove to a parking lot in Haikey Creek Park where Blount tricked Landsaw-Davis into handing over a handgun he was carrying. Hobbs then drew his Colt .45 caliber pistol and along with Blount ordered both victims out of the car at gun point.
Once exiting the vehicle, Hobbs shot Collier eight times in the torso with his Colt .45 caliber pistol, as Blount shot Landsaw-Davis with a 12-gauge shotgun that had been provided to him by Hobbs. As Collier lay gasping for breath, Hobbs reloaded his pistol and fired another 7-round magazine into Collier’s head and neck, killing him.
Hobbs and Blount then stole the victims’ phones and vehicle and fled the scene. They later abandoned the vehicle in Tulsa and set fire to it attempting to destroy evidence. Witnesses testified that Hobbs laughed and joked about the killings, mocking his victims’ last dying breaths.
Cheryl Collier, mother of Caleb Collier, in addressing the court said, “When I finally got to go see my son at the funeral home, they told me to be careful with him because his body had a lot of damage done to it. They said that they had to wrap him up from his neck to his feet so he would not come apart.”
Hobbs will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Codefendant Blount is still pending adjudication.
The FBI, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.
Barbour County man admits to federal firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Ethan D. Delauder, age 31, of Philippi, West Virginia, has pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, officers conducted a traffic stop and found a sawed-off shotgun in Delauder’s vehicle. Delauder was convicted of domestic violence in Barbour County in 2018, making it illegal for him to have firearms.
Deluader is facing up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Appoints Seven U.S. Attorneys to Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the appointment of the following seven U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC): Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico, Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia.
“United States Attorneys work every day throughout the country to advance our mission of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful for the perspective the newest members of the Committee will provide on behalf of federal prosecutors across the country and the communities they serve.”
In addition, the Attorney General has selected Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona to serve as the committee’s vice chair, replacing Cindy Chung, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania who is now a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Attorney General also thanked the following U.S. Attorneys who have completed their terms and are rotating off the committee: Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana, Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, Trini Ross for the Western District of New York, and Sandra Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Justice Department policies.
The bios of all U.S. Attorneys are available here.
Anoka County Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Anoka County man has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on December 29, 2022, officers with the Coon Rapids Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Lewis Edward Byrd III, 46. Byrd, a felon with a prior sexual assault conviction, was arrested for violations related to his status as a predatory offender. After the arrest, officers searched Byrd’s vehicle and found a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun in a pillowcase behind the driver’s seat. Further investigation revealed that Byrd purchased the firearm from a private seller earlier in December 2022. Law enforcement contacted the seller who confirmed the sale of the firearm and said that Byrd stated he was not a felon.
Because Byrd has prior felony convictions, including first degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking, and false imprisonment, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Byrd pleaded guilty on May 8, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Byrd was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Coon Rapids Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Transferring Machinegun Conversion Devices and Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Hollingsworth (35, Florence, AL) to 10 years in federal prison for transferring machinegun conversion devices and theft of government funds. The court also ordered Hollingsworth to forfeit $46,426.91, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense involving the theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Hollingsworth to pay the same amount in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Hollingsworth had pleaded guilty on April 10, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, Hollingsworth manufactured and transferred hundreds of 3D printed auto sears, which are parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun. Hollingsworth advertised his 3D printing business through social media.
Between December 2021 and March 2022, Hollingsworth communicated with an undercover ATF agent and negotiated the sale and transfer of hundreds of auto sears, which he delivered from Alabama to Florida via the U.S. Postal Service.
On March 17, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Hollingsworth’s residence and located a machinegun, 111 3D printed auto sears, 11 silencers, and three 3D printers.
Additionally, court records show that beginning in June 2018, and continuing through October 2022, in the Northern District of Alabama, Hollingsworth stole and converted to for his own use $46,426.91 in funds belonging to the Social Security Administration. Those funds represented Social Security disability benefits intended for another person.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
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.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Theft from the Chickasaw NationRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Wallace Covington, age 43, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $486,431.02 in restitution for Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Department of Treasury, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Interior Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 25, 2022, Covington pleaded guilty to one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. According to investigators, Covington, a Chickasaw Nation Department of Treasury accounting manager, embezzled $486,431.02 from the Chickasaw Nation from 2017 until May 2021. The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribal government and an organization which receives federal benefits and assistance.
“The defendant deliberately exploited his position to steal nearly half a million dollars in federal funds from his employer,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “We will continue to partner with the U.S. Attorney's Office to protect the integrity of taxpayer dollars and take swift action against those who embezzle funds intended to assist our tribal communities.”
“The defendant abused his position of trust over many years to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funds intended to benefit Chickasaw students,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands together with our Tribal partners in seeking prosecution of crimes that would deprive the future of Native Americans in the Eastern District.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Covington will report on October 26, 2023, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Kara Traster represented the United States.
29-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession After Shooting Down Law Enforcement DroneRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Wendell Doyle Goney (52, Mount Dora) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Goney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on July 11, 2021, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at a 10-acre business property in Mount Dora. As deputies were using a law enforcement drone to assist with the outdoor search, the drone was destroyed by gunfire from a neighboring property. Deputies responded to the neighboring property and were confronted Goney, who admitted that he had just shot down the drone with a .22 caliber rifle. Goney claimed that the drone had been “harassing” him. Goney then admitted to the deputies that he could not lawfully possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon. A record check confirmed his 29 prior Florida felony convictions, which included aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Goney is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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.
Thursday 5 October 2023
Woman Pleads Guilty to $359M Fraud Involving Claims for Unnecessary Respiratory Tests Submitted with COVID-19 TestsRead the Press Release
A California woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic for expensive and medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests.
“Those who stole from government health programs during the COVID-19 pandemic not only violated federal law, they betrayed the public trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As this action to disrupt a $359 million scheme, and the Department’s recent announcement involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud make clear, the Justice Department will continue to find and hold accountable those who defrauded American taxpayers during the pandemic.”
“Today’s plea marks an end to this costly health care fraud scheme in which bad actors fraudulently ordered medically unnecessary tests to reap ill-gotten gains,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Through coordination and close collaboration with our partners, the public can rest assured that the FBI will work relentlessly to protect our healthcare system and hold those accountable who attempt to illegally exploit it.”
According to court documents, from June 2020 to April 2022, Lourdes Navarro, 64, of Glendale, conspired with Imran Shams to obtain nasal swab specimens from residents and staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and students and staff at primary and secondary schools, for the purported purpose of conducting screening tests to identify and isolate individuals infected with COVID-19. Obtaining those samples enabled Matias Clinical Laboratory, dba Health Care Providers Laboratory (HCPL), to perform RPP tests on some of the specimens, even though only COVID-19 testing had been ordered and even though there was no medical justification for conducting RPP tests. Navarro and Shams submitted, through HCPL, approximately $359 million in claims for the unnecessary RPP tests to Medicare, the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, and a private health insurance company, and were reimbursed approximately $54 million.
“The defendant used her management position at a clinical testing laboratory to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the Criminal Division’s continued resolve in working with our partners to root out bad actors who steal from government health programs.”
“I would like to thank our law enforcement partners, as well as my dedicated team of investigators, analysts, and attorneys, for bringing this fraud scheme to light and shutting it down,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Stealing public money is unacceptable in any circumstance, but particularly egregious when taking advantage of a public health emergency.”
Navarro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shams previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2024.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California obtained seizure warrants and is handling forfeiture.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Woman Pleads Guilty in $1.6M Counterfeit U.S. Savings Bond SchemeRead the Press Release
A California woman pleaded guilty yesterday to her role in a counterfeit savings bond scheme.
According to court documents, Summer Marie Creech, 45, of Fontana, conspired with others to create, pass, and transfer counterfeit Department of the Treasury Series I savings bonds at financial institutions in the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere. Creech forged counterfeit Series I savings bonds using genuine bond numbers and then sent them to her co-conspirators, who negotiated them at financial institutions and shared the profits with Creech. To pass the counterfeit bonds, the co-conspirators used means of identification belonging to others without their knowledge or consent. During the conspiracy, Creech and others passed over $1.6 million in counterfeit Series I savings bonds.
Creech pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make, pass, and transfer counterfeit U.S. securities and passing counterfeit U.S. securities. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
One of Creech’s co-conspirators, Daniel Alan Lewis, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make, pass, and transfer counterfeit U.S. securities and passing counterfeit U.S. securities. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 12.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
HSI Rio Grande Valley Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Wisconsin and Missouri Residents Sentenced to Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 28 and October 4, 2023, respectively, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced both Jimmy A. Walker (age: 30) and Marialuwisa A. Prado (age: 26) to 14 months’ imprisonment and 3 years’ supervised release after they pled guilty to bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.
According to court records, Prado is a Wisconsin resident, and Walker resides in Missouri. In May 2022, while Prado was working for a private mail-sorting business in Brookfield, Wisconsin, she stole mail that contained a check in the amount of $600,263.55. The check had been written by a Wisconsin corporation, and was made payable to another Wisconsin corporation, for business-related services. It never reached the intended recipient. Instead, Prado sent the stolen check by FedEx to Walker in Missouri, who had previously set up a sham bank account under the name of the Wisconsin business. Walker opened the account at a bank branch in Olivette, Missouri, and then drove to a different branch of the same bank in nearby Ballwin, Missouri, where he deposited the stolen check. Fortunately, bank officials flagged the transaction and prevented any funds from being unlawfully withdrawn.
In sentencing both defendants, Judge Griesbach cited the significant dollar value at issue, the potential economic loss to the businesses and banks, the defendants’ planning and scheme, and the breach of trust in stealing mail from Prado’s former employer. The judge reasoned that although both defendants lacked a criminal record, the offense warranted significant punishment and a strong deterrent message.
“The prison sentences in this case were the direct result of excellent collaboration between local and federal law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Law enforcement’s work – and the attentive bank employees who flagged the transaction – directly prevented the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars and ensured that these defendants are serving prison sentences instead of reaping the benefits of their criminal conduct.”
The case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department and the Green Bay office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from law enforcement agencies in the State of Missouri. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy W. Funnell.
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West Point Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A West Point man was sentenced on Wednesday to 100 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Bobby Earl Brownlee, 44, of West Point, Mississippi, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Brownlee was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown to 100 months in prison. He was further sentenced to three years of supervised release following his release from prison.
Court records show that Brownlee was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine and distributing them throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. The investigation of this drug trafficking organization and its participants spanned over a year. Brownlee was indicted along with fourteen other individuals.
“The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who choose to illegally sell dangerous and unlawful drugs in our towns and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that this sentence will make other individuals think twice before they choose to seek quick profits from distributing illicit drugs.”
“Bobby Brownlee’s sentence is a victory for law enforcement and the people of Mississippi. Brownlee was a major player in a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our state,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “His conviction and sentence should send a clear message to other drug traffickers that they will be held accountable for their crimes. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in partnership with state and local law enforcement. 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. Multiple agencies assisted with the investigation including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Postal Inspector’s Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Mississippi Highway Patrol, Starkville Police Department, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Hampton and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case.
Wayne county man pleads guilty to possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Frederick Trivitt, 63, of Newark, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that on January 4, 2023, Trivett possessed a laptop, which contained 368 images and 26 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and included violence or the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. Trivitt also admits that he engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse of a minor for approximately seven years.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak. Additional assistance was provided by the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
TAVAUGHN WRIGHT, also known as “Teddy,” 29, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics and firearm offenses related to his role in a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. The investigation revealed that Wright, a member of the 960 gang, was distributing narcotics and using a location on Buckingham Street to store and process narcotics.
On February 13, 2020, investigators executed search warrants at Wright’s residence on Bucks Hill Road and the Buckingham Street location. The search of Wright’s residence revealed nearly 500 dose bags of heroin/fentanyl and other items, and the search of the Buckingham Street location revealed approximately 60 dose bags of heroin/fentanyl, a loaded 9mm handgun, and other items. Analysis of the firearm revealed that it was stolen in Maine in 2016.
Wright’s criminal history includes felony convictions, and it is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Wright has been detained since February 13, 2020. On June 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) 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.
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.
Washington Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Sutter County BusinessRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tamara Mannisto, 58, of Ocean Park, Washington, pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from February 2007 through November 2016, Mannisto worked for a company located in Rio Oso that was in the business of mechanical food processing and farming. In her role at the company, Mannisto’s duties included preparing checks for the owners to sign. Beginning in at least January 2012, and continuing through October 2016, Mannisto carried out a fraudulent scheme to steal over $900,000 from her employer. As part of the scheme, Mannisto created company checks and made them payable to herself, without authorization and for amounts not due her. To make the checks appear legitimate, Mannisto forged the owners’ signatures on the checks or stamped them with one of the owners’ signatures. Falsely posing as the checks’ lawful payee, Mannisto deposited the checks in bank accounts she controlled.
This case is a product of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley is scheduled to sentence Mannisto on March 28, 2024. She faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the court’s discretion after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Utica Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of RestaurantRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nay Thar, age 25, of Utica, New York, pled guilty today to committing the armed robbery of a restaurant in Utica, and use of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun to commit the robbery, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Mark Williams, City of Utica Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea, Thar admitted that on August 5, 2022, he used an unregistered short-barreled shotgun to rob the Zam Zam Restaurant in Utica. Upon entering the restaurant wearing a ski-mask, Thar pointed the shotgun at an employee and demanded she open the cash register. After she fled to the rear of the restaurant, Thar stole a donation box from a charity on the counter, exited the building, and fled in a car. New York State Parole officers who happened to be in the area responded with Utica Police. After a short vehicle pursuit, Thar was taken into custody by Utica police. The ski-mask, unregistered shotgun, and stolen money were recovered from the car Thar was driving.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2024, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Nay Thar faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for Interference with Commerce through Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). He faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of ten-years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for using an unregistered sawed-off shotgun to commit a federal crime of violence. Thar also faces a term of post-incarceration supervised release of up to 5 years following any term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Utica Police Department (UPD), and the New York State Police (NYSP) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting (with assistance from the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office) the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Files Civil Complaint Against Local School and Owner Alleging VA Education Assistance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - Todd W. Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that the United States filed a civil complaint against April Tucker Beard and her barber school, April’s Mane Attraction, Inc., Academy, seeking treble damages and penalties for defrauding the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 GI Bill education assistance program. The United States alleges that Beard and her school unlawfully received VA education assistance funds in the amount of $235,734 to which she was not entitled.
As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, the VA provides tuition and fee payments directly to qualifying schools, including non-degree schools such as AMA/Academy, on behalf of eligible veterans. These benefits are part of the United States’ promise to support veterans after honorably serving our country.
To qualify as an institution eligible to receive VA education assistance funds, the school must submit a written application with supporting documents to the State’s Approving Agency. Beard and AMA/Academy received such approval in May 2017. Thereafter, the school’s certifying official must submit separate enrollment certifications for each enrolled veteran certifying the course in which the veteran is being enrolled, the start and end dates of the enrollment period, the number of hours per week the veteran will attend class, and the cost of tuition and fees for the course. In addition, the school certifies that it will comply with all program requirements under Title 38, which includes charging comparable tuition for VA and non-VA students. Requiring consistent and comparable tuition ensures that the VA is paying fair market value tuition rates and also provides protection for the government so that it is not funding education for non-VA students.
The United States alleges in its complaint that from July 2017 to November 2019, Beard and AMA/Academy made or caused to be made false statements to the VA regarding veteran students’ enrollment in her barber training program to obtain VA funding. The United States alleges that Beard and her school charged inflated tuition and fees for VA students in the amount of $22,400 as compared to $50/week or $2,400 for non-VA students. According to the United States, Beard did not maintain accurate attendance records, did not maintain complete and accurate payment ledgers, and did not provide course instruction and certificates of completion to VA students in accordance with program rules and as she certified in application and enrollment documents submitted to the VA.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides important educational and training opportunities to our nation’s veterans, which we must protect from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said United States Attorney Gee. “This office will continue to help safeguard the integrity of VA programs intended to benefit those who serve our nation.”
“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds is a top priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”
This investigation was the result of a dedicated and coordinated effort from the VA OIG, the Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDMS.
U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Rhode Island and Southern District of Texas Resolve Violation of False Claims Act Recovering More Than $465,000Read the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Rhode Island and the Southern District of Texas have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group, Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced United States Attorneys Zachary A. Cunha and Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The investigation focused on allegations that between June 2011 and July 2020, in order to maximize revenue and avoid hitting budgetary ceilings, RPS Group, Inc., which held several contracts with the federal government, unlawfully engaged in a practice of moving recorded labor hours between government projects with different funding sources; that RPS submitted invoices for work that was not performed on government contracts; and that RPS falsely inflated employee billing rates. The government alleges that these practices occurred across numerous government contracts and resulted in the submission of false invoices to multiple government agencies.
The government alleges that this conduct, brought to the government’s attention both through a corporate disclosure by RPS and through complaints raised by four former employees, violated the False Claims Act. As part of a civil settlement, RPS Group, Inc., will pay the U.S. Government $465,293.
At the time of the conduct alleged in this matter, RPS Group’s headquarters in the United States were located in Houston, Texas, with a subsidiary in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The company has since been acquired by another firm.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany Wong of the District of Rhode Island and Jill Venezia of the Southern District of Texas litigated this matter.
The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General; Army Criminal Investigation Division; Coast Guard Investigative Service; General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General; Department of Interior Office of Inspector General; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors.
“Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence is a recurring pattern of abuse in relationships, that can have a long-lasting impact on victims and survivors,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We want our community to know that we are here to support victims and survivors not just in October, but every month. My Office will continue to be actively engaged with the community we serve to address, respond to, and prevent future domestic violence and bring offenders to justice.”
Today, U.S. Attorney King attended Safe Alliance’s “Breakfast of Hope,” an event held annually to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. Safe Alliance is an organization that provides support to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the greater Charlotte area, and client-focused services on housing, court assistance, sexual trauma resources, counseling for individuals, couples, and families, and support groups for adult and teen survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Safe Alliance President and CEO, Laura Lawrence, noted, “The epidemic of domestic violence impacts Charlotte-Mecklenburg in countless ways each day but, by partnering during DVAM and all year long, we can make a difference. Safe Alliance is honored to work alongside U.S. Attorney King’s office supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable in order to build a safer community.”
DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities.
To understand more about domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv.
If you require immediate help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483.
Two Georgia men sentenced for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two Georgia men, including one from Bryan County, have been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Darien Cothern, 34, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and Javarus McKinney, a/k/a “Jody,” 34, of Richmond Hill, Ga., was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
McKinney was convicted after a four-day trial in March on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl in or Near Schools, but acquitted on enhanced charges related to the death of an overdose victim. Cothern pled guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl, and his plea acknowledged that the death resulted from the fentanyl the victim purchased from Cothern.
“Fentanyl is an addictive synthetic opioid that has flooded this country, and nearly 300 people in the United States die each day from drug overdoses including those from fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who deal in deadly illegal drugs.”
Richmond Hill Police officers initiated an investigation Aug. 12, 2020, after a 25-year-old male victim was found dead in a residential pool. An autopsy determined the man had a fatal dose of fentanyl in his system at the time of his death. Working with agents from the Savannah Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, investigators identified McKinney as a Richmond Hill-area distributor of counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and determined Cothern obtained the pills from McKinney and sold them to the victim.
“The Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) is committed to collaborating with and assisting our fellow law enforcement agencies,” said CNT Director Michael G. Sarhatt. “This year alone, Chatham County has encountered over 65 overdose deaths, exceeding numbers from 2022. This abundant influx of fentanyl creates a significant threat to not only our community but to surrounding counties as well. CNT considers this a significant concern and is utilizing every asset to rid this hideous poison from our community. The sentences given to these defendants send a clear message to those distributing fentanyl on our streets: they will be caught and serve a lengthy prison term.”
“Fentanyl is extremely dangerous to the consumer and leaves behind a trail of devastation and destruction,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “The defendants in this case had total disregard for the safety of others.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, and the Richmond Hill Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Frank M. Pennington II.
Two Defendants, Including One Who Posed as a Lawyer, Convicted for Fraud Related to a Debt Elimination SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts yesterday convicting Willie Lamont Hicks, a/k/a “Will Woodward” and “CW,” age 50, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Mary Ann Mendoza, a/k/a “Mary Ann Manuel,” “Trinity,” “M3,” and “Emily James,” age 49, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, on federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud related to a debt elimination and wealth management fraud scheme.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Guy Petrillo of the Mid-Atlantic Region - Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Javan Wilson of the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to the evidence presented at their seven-day trial, from August 2011 to at least September 2017, Hicks and Mendoza, who represented themselves as partners and as husband and wife, held in-person trainings purporting to educate victim-debtors on how to discharge consumer debt, including mortgage debt, credit card debt, and automobile financing debt. Hicks and Mendoza also marketed wealth management services to victims, including purporting to set up a family office and to fund business opportunities.
As detailed in trial testimony, during the debt elimination classes, Hicks, who claimed to be an attorney, and Mendoza told victims that on the back of their social security cards and birth certificates, there was a number that unlocked access to a special bank account with funds owed to the victims by the U.S. government. The defendants also informed the victim-debtors that they could create or use “trusts” into which they could transfer their assets without transferring any attendant consumer debt, or to obtain return on investment.
The evidence proved that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators offered to effectuate the discharge of the debt held by the victims or other purported services for a fee, including a fee equal to a percentage of the victim-debtors’ outstanding debt. The defendants accepted payment in the form of cash, wire transfers, personal and cashier’s checks, and the use of the victim-debtors’ credit. Victim-debtors also paid the defendants through liquidating their retirement savings, the leasing of apartments, and the purchase of vehicles and office equipment and supplies. Hicks and Mendoza caused one victim to transfer almost $100,000 from the victim’s bank account to fraudulent corporate entities controlled by the defendants in 2017, including by interstate wire transfer. Trial testimony showed that victim-debtors were induced into providing the defendants with over a million dollars in cash and other forms of payment during the period of the conspiracy.
According to the evidence also presented at trial, Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators used the victims’ personal identifying information without the victims’ knowledge or permission and provided the victims with fraudulent documents, including Internal Revenue Service forms, memorandums of agreement, intake forms, and other materials that the defendants claimed were necessary for discharging debt. The evidence showed that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators mailed the fraudulent paperwork to the victim-debtors’ creditors, lenders, and the Internal Revenue Service purporting to effectuate the discharge of the victim’s debts.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each of four counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for defendant Hicks for January 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., and for defendant Mendoza for January 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Mid-Atlantic and Central Regions of the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked the United States Marshals, the Hinesville, Georgia Police Department, the Gwinnett County, Georgia Police Department, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Offices of Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of Texas, New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and G. Michael Morgan, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Three Human Smugglers Indicted for ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022. One of the smuggling events resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment.
A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-149_Parra (WITHDRAWING AND CORRECTING
RELEASE # 2023-148_Parra)# # #
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.Three Human Smugglers Indicted for ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022; one such pursuit resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment.
A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-148_Parra# # #
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.Ten Members of Area Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of ten individuals by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson as the result of an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas.
Reshide Wooden, age 26, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Wooden to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
Rokedrick Tyrell Williby, age 32, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 128 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Williby to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Denzel Dionte Gray, age 30, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 140 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Gray to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Malcolm Oliver, Jr., age 33, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 190 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Oliver to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Kelly Derrell Jones, age 41, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Jones to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
David Burnell Lewis, age 38, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Lewis to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Christopher Dee Harrod, age 42, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harrod to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Blain Joseph Slayton, age 30, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Robert Jason Slayton, age 52, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Raven Harris, age 36, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment in federal prison following her conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harris to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.
Through their pleas, the defendants admitted involvement in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine between October and December 2021. During that time, Wooden would obtain large quantities of methamphetamine from Williby, Jones, and others and then distributed the methamphetamine, for profit, to Gray, Oliver, Harrod, Lewis, Blain Slayton, Robert Slayton, and others for further distribution to customers within the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents were able to dismantle the organization on December 8, 2021, when they executed search warrants at residences and seized over 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine from Wooden and Harris’ apartment, which Williby had just distributed to Wooden, and multiple firearms. Wooden also pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine related to the drugs located in her residence on December 8, 2021.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Baton Rouge Police Department with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Tara K. McGrath Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becomes Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in One of Nation’s Busiest DistrictsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 5, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Tara K. McGrath, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former federal prosecutor in San Diego, was sworn in today as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.
Ms. McGrath, 49, was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge Dana M. Sabraw in a ceremony at the federal courthouse this afternoon. Ms. McGrath now oversees one of the busiest United States Attorney’s Offices in the nation. The office, which has a staff of about 300, serves approximately 3.5 million residents in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Ms. McGrath was nominated by President Biden in March and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Friday, September 29, 2023.
“I am ready to get to work,” Ms. McGrath said. “We face substantial challenges in this region every day and we are incredibly fortunate to have countless public servants committed to our safety and well-being. I am honored to be rejoining them.”
Ms. McGrath returns to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego after departing in 2019 to serve as a civilian Litigation Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Marine Corps. In that role, Ms. McGrath provided senior-level oversight, ethics advice, and trial strategy guidance in criminal investigations and courts-martial across seven military bases in four countries. She also provided litigation expertise to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
A seasoned federal prosecutor, Ms. McGrath spent more than 10 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District working on behalf of both San Diego and Imperial counties. Initially assigned to the General Crimes and Narcotics Enforcement sections, Ms. McGrath prosecuted more than 500 cases in federal court and led scores of investigations with federal agents involving grand juries, wire taps, and undercover agents. She has argued three cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
During her tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ms. McGrath served as a Deputy Chief and Trial Team Leader in the General Crimes Section. In these roles, she supervised more than 70 federal prosecutors and support staff, overseeing the intake and prosecution of more than 4,000 cases annually, including border crimes, human trafficking, violent crime, public corruption, fraud, racketeering, narcotics, and civil rights cases.
For her work as a prosecutor, Ms. McGrath received the U.S. Department of Justice’s prestigious Director’s Award for Superior Performance, among other recognition. She also received the Department of the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service award for her significant contributions to policy development and prosecution of special victim cases.
During her time with the Department of Justice, Ms. McGrath also served as a trial attorney in the Office of Enforcement Operations in Washington, D.C. In that role, she provided technical legal advice to experienced Assistant United States Attorneys and federal agents throughout the United States on gathering electronic evidence in compliance with federal law and DOJ policy, and she coordinated DOJ case management with attorneys from centralized enforcement divisions, including the racketeering, fraud, and narcotics prosecution sections.
Ms. McGrath graduated from University of Michigan Law School in 2001 and earned a B.A., cum laude, from Boston College in 1995.
Statement by United States Attorney Breon Peace on the Sentencing of Subway Mass Shooter Frank JamesRead the Press Release
Good afternoon, today, justice has been served.
During the morning rush hour on April 12th, 2022, Frank James unleashed a premeditated attack on unsuspecting New Yorkers he trapped in a subway car, firing 32 shots and seriously wounding 10 people. For those acts, Frank James was sentenced to:
10 concurrent sentences of life in prison, plus an additional 10-year consecutive sentence.
The daily lifeblood of New York City is in its transit system – it’s found in the subway cars that are responsible for safely transporting New Yorkers every single day. Frank James attempted to take that sense of safety away and inject fear and chaos into the heart of this City. While he found temporary success in his plot, due to the resilience of New Yorkers and our relentless pursuit of justice, he ultimately failed.
On that horrific morning, when New Yorkers left their homes and boarded the N train, they had no idea that they were entering a death trap that Frank James orchestrated. A trap that he had been planning to set for years during which he purchased smoke bombs, disguises, and guns. In the weeks leading up to the attack, he scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. On the day of the attack, when the train was between stations, he put his evil plan into action. He set off a smoke bomb, causing his victims to flee to the opposite end of the subway car. They had nowhere else to run. Then the defendant fired at them 32 times. 32 times in a closed subway car. We can only imagine the terror the passengers in that car experienced. Each time he pulled the trigger on his handgun, he made the choice to try to take a life. And although fortunately no one died, sixteen (16) of those 32 bullets struck the bodies of the cornered, innocent victims.
The victims – not just those who were wounded physically, but also those who witnessed this horrific act, and others who put themselves at risk to help, will live with these traumatic events for the rest of their lives.
From the victim who saved another passenger’s life by applying a makeshift tourniquet, to the victim who nearly lost her unborn child, to the victim who was shot three times and miraculously lived—dozens of people’s lives will forever be negatively affected because of the defendant’s heartless acts of terror.
The impact and fear were felt beyond the direct victims in that subway car and station that morning, the defendant terrorized the city at large. Schools were on lockdown. Parents rushed to pick up their kids and make sure that they were safe. People feared taking the subway. No one knew whether there would be additional attacks. There was a city-wide manhunt for more than 24 hours, and the terror caused by the attack lingered until the defendant was caught. And today Frank James was held accountable.
I want to thank our law enforcement partners who helped us secure justice in this case: the FBI, the NYPD, and the entire New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. I also want to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority which provided critical assistance along the way. The excellent and determined work and cooperation of these agencies led to the identification and apprehension of Frank James. Without the efforts of these agencies, we would not be standing here today.
I want to thank the outstanding prosecution team from my Office: Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Winik, Ellen Sise and Ian Richardson, paralegal specialist Magdalena Saint Surin, and the entire National Security & Cybercrime Section of my Office. And I want to express appreciation to Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco and our colleagues in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice for their support during the investigation of the attack and through the duration of this case.
Finally, to the people on that N train and in that station that morning, I want to thank you. You helped each other get to safety and to medical care. Your efforts assisted law enforcement in quickly identifying the defendant. On a day when evil imperiled so many, you showed that this city is made of good people. That we look out for one another. You are the fabric of this city; you are resilient. And on a dark day of danger and fear, you showed strength and courage, you showed that you are the light.
Today’s sentence sends a clear message to any would-be terrorist: if you plan or commit an act of violence, this Office will aggressively pursue federal charges and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.
Now we will hear from FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Kissane.
St. Louis Man Admits Six Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday admitted committing six armed robberies in a three-month period in 2021, including the robbery of two cell phone stores twice.
Bruce Franklin, 64, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted robbing the Boost Mobile store at 3636 Page Boulevard on August 26 and September 10, the T-Mobile at 4167 Lindell Boulevard on September 4 and September 20, the MetroPCS at 3949 Lindell Boulevard on September 17, and the Family Dollar at 11123 Bellefontaine Road in St. Louis County on October 27. Franklin stole cash from registers, and in one case, a handgun belonging to an employee.
Franklin was accompanied by Kristie Meeks during the September 17 and September 20 robberies. Meeks, 47, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty September 27 to two counts of robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Both Franklin and Meeks are scheduled to be sentenced January 22. The robbery charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and the felon in possession charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The brandishing charge carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Leroy Shintell McKinney, 38, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 18, 2023, by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., for possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine. McKinney was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On November 16, 2022, after a nearly two-year investigation into McKinney’s narcotics activity at various locations in Shreveport, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) arrested McKinney at a home on N. Southland Park Drive while executing a federal search warrant for narcotics. During the search, investigators found parked in the front yard of the home a red car known to be utilized by McKinney. A narcotics-detecting canine alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from within the car and investigators located approximately six ounces of methamphetamine hidden inside. In the home were digital scales and packaging material. After being advised of his Miranda rights, McKinney admitted to buying and possessing the methamphetamine for the purpose of distributing it. In total, investigators seized nearly 13 ounces of pure methamphetamine from McKinney throughout this investigation.
This case was investigated by members of the DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.
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Second Phoenix Poly-Drug Distributors Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hector Manuel Cruz, Jr., 29, of Chandler, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On April 25, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Co-defendant Konstantin Shurayeu, 32, of Phoenix, was sentenced this summer by Judge Snow to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On March 14, 2023, Shurayeu also pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On July 14, 2022, Cruz and Shurayeu met at an apartment complex in Phoenix to complete a drug transaction. Law enforcement ultimately found 4.93 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.38 kilograms of methamphetamine (actual), 8.49 grams of methamphetamine, 1.20 kilograms of cocaine, 0.77 kilograms of fentanyl analogue, 1.12 kilograms of heroin, 0.35 grams of oxycodone, 0.84 kilograms of marijuana and 12,330 units of Xanax (a Schedule IV substance) between Cruz’s vehicle, Shurayeu’s vehicle, and Cruz’s apartment. Law enforcement also located 16 handguns, two shotguns, one rifle, a ballistic vest and $118,195.00 in United States currency in Cruz’s apartment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-00901-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-147_Cruz# # #
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.Second Executive Admits Participating in $150 Million Fraud on QualcommRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 5, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Ali Akbar Shokouhi, the primary investor of a technology company sold to Qualcomm for over $150 million, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting his role in a massive fraud.
Shokouhi, a San Diego resident, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering related to a transaction involving proceeds of the fraud on Qualcomm. In his plea agreement, Shokouhi admitted that he schemed with co-defendant Karim Arabi and others to hide both Arabi’s and Shokouhi’s involvement in Abreezio—the tech firm that they marketed to Qualcomm.
Arabi was a Qualcomm employee throughout the entire marketing period, and hiding his involvement in the firm and the development of its patented technology allowed Abreezio’s principals to claim that the company was an “angel-funded” outside firm while disguising its true connections to Qualcomm. In that regard, Shokouhi admitted Arabi was intimately involved in Abreezio’s formation, development, and marketing to Qualcomm, including choosing the “Abreezio” name. Shokouhi further admitted that he referred to Arabi by a different name in text messages with co-conspirators to obscure Arabi’s involvement in Abreezio. According to court documents, Qualcomm agreed to pay roughly $180 million for Abreezio—$150 million of which was paid in October 2015.
Like co-defendant Sanjiv Taneja, who recently pleaded guilty and admitted his own role in the fraud, Shokouhi acknowledged that he never actually met the purported creator of Abreezio’s core technologies, who is Arabi’s family member and was never involved in the company’s technical or strategic decision-making as far as Shokouhi knew.
Shokouhi further admitted that he and Arabi concealed Shokouhi’s involvement in Abreezio in part because Shokouhi had previously been terminated from Qualcomm because of a conflict-of-interest violation. As part of his plea agreement, Shokouhi agreed to forfeit over $16 million that he personally received from Qualcomm’s purchase of Abreezio, and to pay restitution.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Pilchak, Janaki G. Chopra and Eric R. Olah.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-CR-1152-BAS
Karim Arabi Age: 57 San Diego, CA
Sanjiv Taneja Age: 60 Cupertino, CA
Ali Akbar Shokouhi Age: 64 San Diego, CA
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Services, Criminal Investigation
United States Marshals Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Richmond Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm at the Scene of an Active ShootingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2023, officers of the Richmond Police Department responded to a call of an active shooting near the intersection of Williamsburg Road and Government Road. Units arrived at that location within minutes of receiving the report and went to the parking lot of the Krispie’s Chicken restaurant, which was near the intersection where the shooting reportedly occurred. When they arrived, they saw Devon Martin, 30, wearing a hoodie which appeared to have a heavy, L-shaped object in the right pocket of the hoodie. As the officers approached Martin, he got into the passenger side of a vehicle. The officers ordered Martin to exit the vehicle and then conducted a pat down of his person. They found in Martin’s possession a Taurus, 9mm firearm in the pocket of his hoodie.
Martin was previously convicted in 2019 in the Eastern District of Virginia for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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-96.
Readout of the Justice Department’s Meeting on Law Enforcement and Media Interactions During Mass DemonstrationsRead the Press Release
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press convened a meeting of law enforcement executives and members of the press, facilitated by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), to discuss recommendations for law enforcement interactions with journalists during protests and mass demonstrations. The discussion was prompted by a request from the Reporters Committee, which expressed the need for concrete, specific suggestions that would account for both the important role of the working press in a functioning democracy, as well as the challenge of policing large protests and demonstrations.
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who asked the COPS Office to convene the meeting, addressed the participants saying, “Each of you in this room has a difficult job. Journalists are entrusted with uncovering truth, holding those in power accountable, and providing the public with the information they need to make informed decisions. Law enforcement officers are constantly balancing their mandate to preserve public safety and fight crime, with the imperative to work constantly and consistently to build trust and maintain positive relationships with the communities they serve.” Associate Attorney General Gupta went on to say that “[t]he recommendations that come from today’s discussion, and the many conversations leading up to this event, will without a doubt accrue to everyone’s benefit.”
Last year, the department issued recommendations for law enforcement related to First Amendment issues in the context of mass demonstrations, but yesterday’s discussion focused specifically on best practices for law enforcement interactions with journalists.
The group discussed issues including safeguarding First Amendment rights, the identification of members of the news media during protest activity, the utility in a persistent point of contact for open communication between press and police during protest activity, the importance of developing relationships between the press and police in advance of demonstrations, the need for a “playbook” before a planned event, the challenges brought about by social media, and more. The result of the discussion will be a series of recommendations that will be widely disseminated by the Justice Department, law enforcement organizations, and the media.
In addition to the Associate Attorney General, attendees included COPS Office Director Hugh Clements, other Justice Department officials and COPS Office staff; representatives of the Reporters Committee; journalists, editors and senior managers from major broadcast and print outlets; and law enforcement executives from across the country.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to More than Four Years in Prison for Identity Theft Conspiracy Involving the Fraudulent Financing of Multiple Vehicles Totaling More than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh, North Carolina man, Basilio Rafael Garcia, was sentenced to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. On May 11, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Garcia conspired with others to unlawfully transfer, possess, and use the identities and personal identifying information of Puerto Rico residents to finance and purchase more than $1 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.
“This defendant ran a scam to buy high-end luxury cars using other people’s credit. He was driven by greed and greed alone,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Identity theft like this can leave victims with ruined credit and dire financial straits. We are prosecuting the fraudsters and reminding consumers to protect themselves by securing personal identifying information and monitoring credit reports regularly for suspicious activity.”
According to the investigation by the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement, Garcia traveled from Raleigh to Columbia, South Carolina and used the stolen identifying information of a Puerto Rico victim to apply for and obtain a South Carolina identification card. The supporting documents that Garcia provided to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles included a Social Security card and a purported Puerto Rican birth certificate in the victim’s name, as well as a counterfeit bank statement. Based on the false information provided, Garcia successfully obtained a South Carolina identification card with his photograph but the victim’s identifiers. On the following day, Garcia used the identification card and the victim’s personal information, including his Social Security number and credit report, to finance the purchase of Honda dirt bike from a dealership in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The defendant subsequently used the same victim’s identity to fraudulently finance the purchase of multiple vehicles from dealerships in the Raleigh and Durham areas, including two Jeep Wranglers, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a BMW X5, and a Range Rover. A search warrant was later executed at Garcia’s residence, during which officers recovered drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, and vehicle titles in the names of other people. Raleigh-based law enforcement officers have recovered some of the vehicles working with counterparts in other states.
Two of Garcia’s co-conspirators in the case, Jarlin Javier Sanchez and Warlin Mateo-Tejeda, were previously sentenced to prison following their guilty pleas.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The United States Secret Service, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-48-D.
Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jeffrey Krowiorz, II, 35, from Milford, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing on June 14, 2023, Krowiorz, II admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm, after having at least one prior felony conviction, and being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Krowiorz, II, was previously convicted of the following felony crimes: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2013; possession of lithium with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Emmet County, in 2007; and possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Clay County, in 2007. Further evidence showed that the firearm Krowiorz, II possessed had an altered or obliterated serial number.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Krowiorz, II was sentenced to a total of 85 months’ imprisonment which includes a consecutive 24-month sentence for revocation of his federal supervised release. Krowiorz, II must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Krowiorz, II remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spencer Iowa Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Previously Removed Foreign National Prosecuted and Arrested in Salt Lake County for Allegedly Possessing over 12,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a foreign national living in Salt Lake County for possessing over 12,000 blue M30 pills containing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Oscar Noe Cota-Galaviz, 38 of West Jordan, Utah, allegedly illegally possessed over 12,000 fentanyl pills. On Sept. 20, 2023, during an execution of a search warrant of Cota-Galaviz’s residence, agents found approximately 10,000 blue “M30” pills containing fentanyl hidden inside a mattress in Cota-Galaviz’s residence. Agents also found approximately 1,000 blue pills containing fentanyl wrapped in a plastic container in Cota-Galaviz’s pants pocket. Cota-Galviz told agents the pills were “vitamins.” After obtaining a search warrant for Cota-Galaviz’s storage unit, detectives found approximately 1,500 blue “M30” pills containing fentanyl hidden inside a charcoal bag inside of the unit. Cota-Galaviz is a previously removed foreign national from the United States.
Cota-Galaviz is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegal reentry. The defendant had his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelsy B. Young for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to $25M Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of more than $25 million for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were induced by kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents, Dacheng Lu, aka Bruce Lu, 44, of Great Neck, was a part owner of 888 Pharmacy Inc. (888) and Huikang Pharmacy Inc. (Huikang). Between January 2015 and December 2022, Lu and his co-conspirators referred Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients to medical practices that prescribed medically unnecessary topical medications and pain patches, which 888 and Huikang billed to Medicare and Medicaid. In exchange for writing medically unnecessary prescriptions, Lu and his co-conspirators provided the medical practices kickbacks and bribes in the form of rent and office staff.
Lu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 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 Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Papillion Woman Sentenced for Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Paula R. Creps, 52, of Papillion, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Omaha by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 6 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Creps pled guilty in July 2023 to Mail Fraud and had already paid restitution of $44,884.95.
From about November 2015 to July 2022, Creps was the Director of the Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates ("Sarpy CASA"). Sarpy CASA staff and volunteers serve as Advocates in Juvenile Court proceedings. The juveniles are typically wards of the state who have been removed from their homes due to reported abuse or neglect. The Advocates support the juveniles during the court process and submit reports to the Juvenile Court concerning the juveniles’ best interests.
In addition to their normal duties as Advocates, CASA volunteers and staff can help juveniles and their families obtain needed items or pay for special events using charitable contributions that are held by Lift Up Sarpy County (LUSC). Sarpy CASA can also expend government grant funds that LUSC holds.
As Director, Creps managed the operation of Sarpy CASA, oversaw its staff and volunteers, and approved expenditures of charitable contributions and grant funds.
From about March 2019 to July 2022, while she was Director of Sarpy CASA, Creps fraudulently obtained approximately $44,884.95 in goods and services that were paid for or reimbursed by LUSC from charitable contributions and grant funds that it held. Creps did so by submitting false payment reports and reimbursement requests for expenditures that purportedly were for charitable or government purposes, but in fact were for the benefit of herself or her family. Creps supported the fraudulent requests with forged receipts.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.
Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Department of Justice then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20, 2023, order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the Justice Department's forfeiture actions against one authoritarian regime are now directly supporting the Ukrainian people's fight against another authoritarian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to use every legal authority at our disposal to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“Our office will continue to use all the tools in our arsenal to disrupt the IRGC’s efforts to sow discord,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The transfer of these assets to the Ukrainian armed forces will now aid an important partner in its fight against unwarranted aggression.”
“The forfeiture and transfer of a major ammunition cache, once destined to serve the Iranian regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad, represents the Justice Department’s commitment to countering authoritarian aggression around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Together, with partner agencies and departments, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the nation’s security by vigorously enforcing U.S. sanctions and imposing costs on hostile regimes in accordance with the rule of law.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the ammunition and other munitions on or about Dec. 1, 2022.
The documents alleged a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons and munitions to entities contrary to U.S. interests.
The government’s forfeiture action was part of a larger investigation of an Iranian weapons-smuggling network. The network was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region.
The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.