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30 October 2023
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Craig Alexander Halstead, 36, of Huntington, was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography. Halstead must also pay $15,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Halstead admitted to receiving 87,993 digital media files of child pornography via peer-to-peer file sharing programs from about August 2, 2019, until about August 18, 2022. Many of the digital media files depict prepubescent minors, including infants and toddlers, subjected to sexually explicit conduct including sadistic conduct. Halstead admitted that one of the digital media files is a video of an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent female.
On May 20, 2021, Halstead possessed 3,970 images and 443 videos on his laptop and external hard drive depicting minor children subjected to sexually explicit conduct. Halstead admitted that many of the images and videos depict prepubescent minors and that several of the images and videos depict known child victims.
On or about August 30, 2022, Halstead possessed 3,188 images and videos of child pornography in Huntington. Over 400 of those images and videos depict known child victims. Halstead admitted that the images included infants subjected to sadistic or masochistic conduct. Halstead further admitted to accessing and receiving digital media files of child pornography using peer-to-peer programs on November 29, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-231.
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Holdrege Woman Sentenced for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jade Wondercheck, 44, of Holdrege, Nebraska, was sentenced October 27, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Wondercheck to 140 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wondercheck’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
In December of, 2022, an officer with the Omaha Police Department was on patrol and observing a house, which he knew to be involved in drug trafficking. Officers had previously conducted three traffic stops of vehicles leaving this residence, each resulting in a pound of methamphetamine or cocaine being seized. On this occasion the officer observed a black Chrysler 300 leave the residence. The vehicle failed to signal a turn a few blocks down and a traffic stop was conducted.
Wondercheck was a backseat passenger in the vehicle, with two other occupants. While speaking with another passenger of the vehicle, the officer could see open beer bottles and smell marijuana. Based on these observations, the officer decided to conduct a probable cause search. Wondercheck was searched and two baggies of methamphetamine were located concealed in her pants. A lab confirmed the drugs were 91 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Glendale Man Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prison for Laundering at Least $3 Million in Fraudulently Obtained Jobless BenefitsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale man was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison for laundering at least $3 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance (UI) benefits that his accomplices fraudulently obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arman Nikogosyan, 45, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $3 million in restitution.
Nikogosyan pleaded guilty on March 27 to one count of conspiracy to launder money.
Starting in 2020 and continuing until December of that year, Nikogosyan became a member of a conspiracy to launder fraudulently obtained jobless benefits. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Nikogosyan arranged to receive the cash proceeds of the unemployment fraud scheme in which his co-conspirators applied for UI benefits in the names of other people and then used debit cards issued by a major bank to withdraw the fraudulently obtained funds.
In 2020, Congress expanded UI benefit amounts and duration and expanded UI eligibility to more workers in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Employment Development Department (EDD) is the agency that administers UI benefits in California.
Nikogosyan knew the cash was proceeds from the jobless benefits fraud and had some of it deposited under assumed names, including those of shell companies. Nikogosyan then had the illicitly obtained funds sent abroad and used to purchase gold in order to conceal their source, ownership and location.
During this conspiracy, Nikogosyan laundered at least $3 million in fraudulently obtained proceeds that his co-conspirators brought to him in cash.
In December 2020, law enforcement seized $194,497 in cash from Nikogosyan’s residence that was proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.
“When confronted with the COVID pandemic that has claimed the lives of almost seven million persons worldwide to date, [Nikogosyan] instead saw an opportunity to bilk taxpayers out of the emergency funds their government generously made available to protect those who lost their jobs,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Such criminal opportunism during a global health and economic emergency is egregious.”
In separate cases, some of Nikogosyan’s co-conspirators received prison sentences for their crimes:
- Arman Aghasinyan, 23, of Glendale, is serving a 46-month federal prison sentence for withdrawing for accomplices $2.9 million in bogus unemployment insurance benefits from ATMs; and
- Arayik Avetisyan, 23, of Glendale, is serving a federal prison sentence of 36 months for withdrawing from ATMs $1.4 million in fraudulent EDD benefits and delivering the cash to his co-conspirators.
The FBI and the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
- Gangster Disciples Member Sentenced to 17+ Years in Prison for Gun Charge
Fort Worth Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Firearms into MexicoRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Fort Worth man pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to smuggling firearms from the U.S. into Mexico.
According to court documents, Humberto Limon Olivares, 57, attempted to leave the U.S. through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on July 29. During inspection, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered two pistols and a box of 40mm ammunition hidden under a blanket in the vehicle’s third row. Additionally, CBPOs found five pistols, one rifle, 14 magazines, and 343 rounds of assorted ammunition in the trunk of the vehicle.
Olivares pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the U.S. 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.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Acting Special Agent in Charge Noel Rangel for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
CBP and the ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bird is prosecuting the case.
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Former Tulsa Public Schools’ Employee Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A former Chief Learning and Talent Officer for Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) pleaded guilty today, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Devin Darel Fletcher, 39, formerly of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to court documents, Fletcher was hired in August of 2016 to be the District’s Chief Academic Officer. He was further promoted to be the District’s Chief Learning and Talent Officer prior to his resignation in June 2022. Fletcher was responsible for human resources and educational performance issues throughout TPS. Among other things, Fletcher was entrusted with limited hiring and firing authority for certain personnel, including consultants where he had limited expenditure approval authority.
While working for TPS, Fletcher, admitted to working with another person to create, alter, and fabricate fraudulent invoices, purchase orders and supporting documents to defraud TPS and the Foundation for Tulsa Schools (Foundation). The Foundation is a public charity recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to build a better community through the support of TPS by providing education resources via donated funds. In total, Fletcher’s fraudulent actions caused a loss of at least $603,992.32 to TPS and the Foundation.
Devin Darel Fletcher was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing and will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case.
Former Miami-Dade corrections sergeant sentenced to 18 months in prison for COVID-19 relief fraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Oct. 27, a former corrections sergeant with the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCRD), was sentenced to 18 months in prison for COVID-19 relief fraud, followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $432,051 in restitution.
Arashio Harris, 49, of Miami-Dade County, Florida, had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, two Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and an EIDL advance.
Harris, along with being a MDCRD sergeant at the time of the crimes, was the owner and president of The Good Family Property Solutions Inc. (“Good Family”) and Flying Lions LLC (“Flying Lions”). Harris, with the help of an associate, submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) a false and fraudulent EIDL application in the name of Good Family, seeking both an EIDL and an EIDL advance. As a result of this fraudulent application, Good Family obtained from the SBA a $9,000 EIDL advance that did not need to be repaid and $14,500 in EIDL loan proceeds. Harris also submitted a false and fraudulent EIDL application to the SBA for Flying Lions grossly overstating the company’s gross revenues and number of employees, allowing him to fraudulently obtain $150,000 in EIDL proceeds from the SBA.
Harris continued his fraud scheme by obtaining two PPP loans in the name of Good Family. In July 2020, Harris submitted a PPP loan application grossly overstating Good Family’s payroll. In support of this fraudulent application, Harris submitted several false and fabricated 2019 IRS documents claiming that Good Family had a total income of over $1,000,000 and had paid wages and salaries that year of over $768,000. These documents included false IRS Form W-2s and Good Family payroll records for these supposed employees. As a result of this false and fraudulent application, Harris obtained a $129,275 PPP loan from an SBA-approved PPP lender.
In February 2021, Harris began the process of seeking a Second Draw PPP loan for Good Family to take advantage of the additional PPP relief being offered to businesses that had suffered revenue losses in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, the Second Draw application relied on the fraudulent income and payroll numbers used to obtain the first PPP loan, and the application package included fraudulent 2019 IRS forms and fabricated Good Family payroll records for those supposed employees. As a result of this Second Draw application, Good Family obtained a Second Draw PPP loan of $129,276 from a different SBA-approved PPP lender.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office; SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Investigations Division’s Eastern Region, and Inspector General Felix Jimenez of the Miami-Dade County Office of Inspector General (MDC OIG), announced the sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga.
U.S. Attorney Lapointe commended the investigative efforts of FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from MDC OIG, working in conjunction with IRS-CI and SBA OIG, in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken handled asset forfeiture.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20295.
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- Former Housing Authority Payroll Clerk Admits to Stealing $575K
Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to Five Years' Probation After Pleading Guilty to Violating Airport Security RequirementsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced former Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officer Supreme Jones, age 32, of Atlanta, Georgia and formerly of Maryland, today to five years’ probation after Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of entering an aircraft or airport security area in violation of security requirements. As a result of his federal conviction, at least during his five year term of probation, Jones will not be able to be employed in law enforcement.
The guilty plea and sentence were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; Stephen T. Maloney, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Craig Miles of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region (“DOT-OIG”).
According to court documents, from 2018 through 2022, Jones was an armed CBP officer assigned as a uniformed officer at the Baltimore Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport (“BWI”). As a result of his duties, Jones was issued credentials authorizing him to go into any area of BWI, including the areas beyond the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) security checkpoints, for the performance of his official duties.
In June 2021, the FBI began an investigation into complaints that Jones was abusing his authority by using his credential to enter secure areas when not performing official duties, specifically when flying for personal travel. According to the statement of facts, during a 14-month period Jones made more than 60 flights, either going from or returning to BWI. Upon review of surveillance imagery corresponding to the entry point hits, the FBI discovered that Jones was often entering the sterile area of BWI via the controlled exit portals when in civilian clothing by displaying his badge to the TSA Officer or TSO on duty at the exit portal.
Although a number of trips raised suspicions about Jones’ conduct, two itineraries in particular drew close scrutiny. On February 21, 2022, Jones flew from BWI to Atlanta, GA. He did not declare himself to be armed on this flight. Nonetheless, while in civilian clothes, he used his badge to access the security area to proceed to his departure gate within. When he arrived at the gate, he engaged in a conversation with the airline personnel, appeared to display a previously unseen limp and obtained a special needs boarding pass from the airline, thus enabling him priority boarding of the aircraft. During this same travel period, Jones flew round-trip from Atlanta to Miami, then Miami to St. Martin. To justify a flight change and/or late arrival on the return flight, without incurring a flight change fee, Jones falsely represented that a military unit to which he was assigned had been involved in an accident; falsely identified his military superior; and provided a fictitious phone number.
On April 5, 2022, FBI agents conducted surveillance of Jones in BWI. They saw Jones, while still on duty and in his uniform, jump a long line of passengers in line at an airline ticket counter to check-in for a flight he was taking later that day in his personal capacity. About 30 to 45 minutes before the departure time of his flight, FBI Special Agents saw Jones entering the terminal through the exit point, rather than through the TSA security checkpoint. When the agents confronted Jones, he denied having a flight that day and stated that he was “…working…trailing somebody,” or words to the effect. A short while later, Jones was seen in the departure gate area for his Atlanta-bound flight.
Jones was arrested on June 26, 2022, as he was about to board a flight from BWI to Boston, Massachusetts, with a scheduled return the following day.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the FBI, HSI, CBP and DOT-OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Detention Officer Sentenced to Serve One Year of Probation for Deprivation of RightsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, KYLE TECUMSEH, 26, a former detention officer with the McClain County Jail, was sentenced to serve one year of probation for deprivation of rights under color of law, announced U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 22, 2023, Tecumseh was charged in a one-count information, to which he pleaded guilty the following day. According to court documents and admissions Tecumseh made during his change of plea hearing, on April 21, 2019, Tecumseh was involved with moving a pretrial detainee, B.B., into a jail cell with a senior United Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) gang member whom Tecumseh knew was angry at and posed a danger to B.B. Thereafter, Tecumseh allowed another detention officer to move several more UAB gang members into the cell with B.B. and the senior UAB gang member. The UAB gang members then, as Tecumseh knew was likely to occur, physically attacked B.B.
At the sentencing hearing on October 27, 2023, U. S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Tecumseh to one year of probation, and a fine of $1,000. In announcing the sentence, the court noted Tecumseh’s duty as a detention officer to protect inmates under his supervision, but also noted his lack of prior criminal history.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia E. Barry for the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Bureau of Prisons Employee Sentenced to Prison for Workers’ Compensation FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ELIZABETH TORRES was sentenced to one year and one day in prison today for a decade-long workers’ compensation fraud scheme. TORRES duped the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) into paying her more than $600,000 in federal disability benefits by falsely claiming that she had a debilitating knee injury and therefore essentially could not work when in fact TORRES was not disabled and was even employed full-time for several years during her scheme. TORRES’s sentence was imposed by U. S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein before whom she previously pleaded guilty.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The federal workers’ compensation program protects qualifying employees who suffer legitimate work injuries or illness. But some individuals, like Elizabeth Torres, take advantage of this disability benefit program. For 10 years, Torres lied to the DOL in order to steal more than $600,000 in disability benefits. For her criminal conduct, Torres has now been sentenced to prison.”
According to the allegations in the Information, court filings, and statements made in court:
From approximately late 2009 until early 2020, ELIZABETH TORRES sought and received compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (“FECA”). FECA provides benefits to civilian federal employees who sustain an injury or illness as a result of their employment. FECA benefits are administered by the DOL’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (“OWCP”). To receive FECA benefits, a claimant must prove that she is disabled by furnishing medical documentation and other evidence with her claim.
Until approximately 2006, TORRES worked as a Corrections Officer for the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”). BOP employees are eligible to receive FECA benefits. For several years, TORRES submitted annual forms to OWCP seeking such benefits. In these forms, TORRES lied in various respects, including by claiming that: (i) she was significantly disabled; (ii) she was not working or performing volunteer work; (iii) she was not receiving any pay for various years; (iv) she was not involved in any business enterprise; and (v) a dependent was living with her for various years. More specifically, and among other things, TORRES claimed that she had a debilitating knee injury and therefore was essentially incapable of performing any work because she experienced pain and swelling within 30 minutes of sitting or standing. But in fact, TORRES was not so disabled, and she had an array of volunteer and paid work from at least approximately 2010 through 2019. Among other roles, TORRES was employed full-time from approximately 2015 through 2019 at a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center (the “Clinic”) in New York City, where she served as the Program Director for several years. On one occasion in 2019, TORRES was caught on video dancing with ease in high-heeled boots on the sidewalk outside of the Clinic. To conceal her Clinic employment from OWCP, TORRES was paid indirectly through an entity, and her salary payments were disguised as “rent.”
On the basis of TORRES’s false representations to OWCP, TORRES received benefit payments of more than approximately $4,000 per month for 10 straight years, totaling over $600,000.
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In addition to her prison sentence, TORRES, 57, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $603,372.92.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of DOL’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Danielle M. Kudla are in charge of the prosecution.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un Distrito Escolar de Florida para proteger los derechos civiles de los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglésRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación con el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Clay en Florida que resuelve los hallazgos del Departamento sobre el programa del distrito para estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés.
La investigación del Departamento descubrió que el distrito no proporcionó a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés la instrucción lingüística necesaria para dominar el inglés y no proporcionó a los padres que no hablan inglés información escolar importante en un idioma que pudieran entender. Por otra parte, el Departamento también descubrió que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés no podían participar de forma significativa en clases de contenido básico, como matemáticas, ciencias y estudios sociales, y no recibieron los tipos de apoyo académico y conductual individualizado que están disponibles para sus compañeros. Ante estas deficiencias, el distrito no tomó medidas correctivas oportunas para garantizar el acceso igualitario.
«Los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés tienen derecho a participar en los trabajos del curso junto a sus compañeros, y las escuelas deben tomar las acciones necesarias para convertir eso en realidad», afirmó la Fiscal General Auxiliar, Kristen Clarke, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento de Justicia seguirá responsabilizando a las escuelas cuando no cumplen nuestra promesa colectiva de igualdad. El acuerdo ayudará a garantizar que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés en el Condado de Clay, reciban las herramientas necesarias para ser exitosos y esforzarse en el salón de clases. ».
«Los distritos escolares deben proporcionar a los estudiantes de inglés servicios adecuados para superar las barreras lingüísticas», declaró Roger Handberg, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Centro de Florida. «Nos complace que el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Clay haya aceptado asumir su obligación de satisfacer las necesidades lingüísticas de sus estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés para que puedan aprender inglés y participar plenamente en la experiencia educativa del distrito. La igualdad de acceso a las oportunidades educativas es la base de las protecciones de los derechos civiles de nuestros jóvenes y los estudiantes tienen derecho a la igualdad de acceso a pesar de cualquier barrera lingüística que puedan tener».
El distrito cooperó plenamente con la investigación del departamento y, después de recibir los resultados de la investigación, se comprometió a mejorar sus servicios para los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés. Como parte del acuerdo de conciliación, el distrito ha acordado revisar sus políticas y mejorar sus servicios para que los estudiantes puedan aprender inglés y participar plenamente en la experiencia educativa del distrito.
En virtud del acuerdo, el distrito modificará sus prácticas para que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés sean evaluados e identificados adecuadamente poco después de su inscripción, para que se les proporcionen servicios lingüísticos de inmediato si califican y para que tengan la oportunidad de beneficiarse por igual de los apoyos académicos y conductuales proporcionados a sus compañeros. Asimismo, el distrito también se asegurará de que todos los maestros estén calificados, capacitados y cuenten con suficientes recursos y apoyo para ayudar a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés a dominar el inglés y comprender sus cursos de contenido básico. El distrito también proporcionará traducción e interpretación del idioma de información escolar importante a los padres que no dominen el inglés. El Departamento de Justicia supervisará la implementación del acuerdo de conciliación por parte del distrito durante los próximos cuatro años escolares.
La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento y Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Centro de Florida investigaron conjuntamente en virtud de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974.
La aplicación de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974 es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt, e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles violaciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Acuerdo de conciliación.
Resumen del acuerdo.
Drugmaker Nostrum and Its CEO Agree to Pay up to $50 Million to Settle False Claims Act Claims for Underpaying Rebates Owed Under Medicaid Drug Rebate ProgramRead the Press Release
Nostrum Laboratories Inc. (Nostrum), located in Missouri and New Jersey, and its founder and CEO, Nirmal Mulye, Ph.D. (Mulye), have agreed to pay a minimum of $3,825,000, and up to $50 million if certain financial contingencies are met, to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying Medicaid rebates due for Nostrum’s drug Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Nitro OS). The settlement is based on Nostrum’s and Mulye’s financial condition.
Pursuant to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers are required to pay quarterly rebates to state Medicaid programs in exchange for Medicaid’s coverage of the manufacturers’ drugs. The statute requires manufacturers to pay inflation-based rebates for drugs, which are designed to insulate the Medicaid program from drug price increases that outpace inflation. These rebates are calculated by comparing the drug’s current price to the drug’s price on the date that the “dosage form and strength” of the drug was first marketed or 1990, whichever is later.
As part of the settlement, Nostrum and Mulye admitted that:
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Nostrum acquired Nitro OS from another manufacturer in December 2015 and continued to market the product pursuant to its preexisting FDA approval.
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In January 2018, Nostrum temporarily ceased manufacturing Nitro OS because the amount of lead in the product did not comply with updated 2018 FDA guidance. After modifying quantities of two inactive ingredients to reduce overall lead levels, Nostrum resumed manufacturing and marketing Nitro OS in August 2018. Nostrum characterized the relaunched version of Nitro OS as a “reformulation,” but Nostrum did not add or subtract any ingredients and the active ingredients remain unchanged. Nitro OS also remained in the same dosage form and strength as it did prior to 2018. Nostrum continues to market this version of Nitro OS under the same FDA Approval as the pre-2018 version and maintains that it is legal to do so because no major changes have been made to the drug.
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After relaunching Nitro OS in August 2018, Nostrum increased its price from $474.75 to $2,392.32 per bottle, which triggered significantly higher Medicaid Drug Rebate invoices from State Medicaid programs on account of the inflation-based rebate.
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Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2020 (when Nostrum withdrew from the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program), Nostrum and Mulye did not pay these entire invoiced amounts, despite learning that the larger rebate invoices were tied to the price increase and inflation based rebate and being notified by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that it should pay the higher calculated amounts. Instead, and despite prior communications to FDA that no “major changes” had been made to Nitro OS, Nostrum wrote CMS arguing that, because this version of Nitro OS is actually a “new” drug, Nostrum should not have to pay rebates based upon the prior version’s applicable price.
The United States contends that, as a result of these actions, it has certain civil claims against Nostrum and Mulye from Oct. 1, 2018, through March 31, 2020, for knowingly failing to pay the required rebate amounts owed for Nitro OS as required by the Rebate Statute and Rebate Agreement and as invoiced by State Medicaid programs.
“The department is committed to ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers meet their obligations to taxpayer funded health care programs, which support elderly and vulnerable populations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the department will hold accountable those who knowingly fail to satisfy these obligations.”
“The Medicaid program is a valuable safety net, providing health care to some of the most vulnerable Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “By deliberately failing to pay appropriate rebates to Medicaid, Nostrum used that program to divert resources from those Americans in the hopes of generating profits. This office will not turn a blind eye to such flagrant abuse.”
“The Medicaid program provides medical treatment for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and when a drug company improperly circumvents rules designed to protect the Medicaid program from overpaying for prescription drugs, the American taxpayer pays the price,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As illustrated by this settlement, pharmaceutical companies that disregard their obligation to play by the rules for financial gain will be held accountable for those actions.”
“Nostrum Laboratories reduced the amount that it paid to the Medicaid program by improperly calculating the rebates it owed, even after hiking the cost of one of their drugs by over 400%,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Field Office. “Today’s settlement is a win for taxpayers by ensuring that this pharmaceutical company cannot boost its bottom line at the expense of the Medicaid program and the vulnerable population it serves.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Attorneys Augie Ripa and Michael Hoffman, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich for the District of Massachusetts.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Settlement-
Drugmaker Nostrum and CEO Agree to Pay up to $50 Million to Resolve Claims of Underpaying Rebates Owed Under Medicaid Drug Rebate ProgramRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Nostrum Laboratories, Inc. (Nostrum), located in Missouri and New Jersey, and its founder and CEO Nirmal Mulye, Ph.D. (Mulye), have agreed to pay a minimum of $3,825,000 and up to $50 million if certain financial contingencies are met, to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying Medicaid rebates due for Nostrum’s drug Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Nitro OS). The variable amount of the settlement is based on Nostrum’s and Mulye’s financial condition.
Pursuant to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers are required to pay quarterly rebates to state Medicaid programs in exchange for Medicaid’s coverage of the manufacturers’ drugs. The statute requires manufacturers to pay inflation-based rebates for drugs, which are designed to insulate the Medicaid program from drug price increases that outpace inflation. These rebates are calculated by comparing the drug’s current price to the drug’s price on the date that the “dosage form and strength” of the drug was first marketed or 1990, whichever is later.
As part of the settlement, Nostrum and Mulye admitted that:
- Nostrum acquired Nitro OS from another manufacturer in December 2015 and continued to market the product pursuant its preexisting FDA approval;
- In January 2018, Nostrum temporarily ceased manufacturing Nitro OS because the amount of lead in the product did not comply with updated 2018 FDA guidance. After modifying quantities of two inactive ingredients to reduce overall lead levels, Nostrum resumed manufacturing and marketing Nitro OS in August 2018. Nostrum characterized the relaunched version of Nitro OS as a “reformulation” but Nostrum did not add or subtract any ingredients and the active ingredients remain unchanged. Nitro OS also remained in the same dosage form and strength as it did prior to 2018. Nostrum continues to market this version of Nitro OS under the same FDA Approval as the pre-2018 version and maintains that it is legal to do so because no major changes have been made to the drug;
- After relaunching Nitro OS in August 2018, Nostrum increased its price from $474.75 to $2,392.32 per bottle, which triggered significantly higher Medicaid Drug Rebate invoices from the States on account of the inflation-based rebate and;
- Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2020 (when Nostrum withdrew from the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program), Nostrum and Mulye did not pay these entire invoiced amounts, despite learning that the larger rebate invoices were tied to the price increase and inflation-based rebate and being notified by CMS that it should pay the higher calculated amounts. Instead, and despite prior communications to FDA that no “major changes” had been made to the drug, Nostrum wrote CMS arguing that it should not have to pay the inflation-based rebate because this version of Nitro OS is actually a “new” drug and therefore Nostrum should not have to pay rebates based upon the prior version’s applicable price.
The United States contends that, as a result of these actions, it has certain civil claims against Nostrum and Mulye from Oct. 1, 2018 through March 31, 2020 for failing to pay the required rebate amounts owed for Nitro OS as required by the Rebate Statute and Rebate Agreement and as invoiced by state Medicaid programs.
“The Medicaid program is a critical safety net, providing health care to some of the most vulnerable Americans. By deliberately failing to pay required rebates to Medicaid, Nostrum diverted resources from needy patients to generate more profits. This office will not turn a blind eye to such flagrant abuse and greed, especially when it involves patients and taxpayers,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“The department is committed to ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers meet their obligations to taxpayer funded health care programs, which support elderly and vulnerable populations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the department will hold accountable those who knowingly fail to satisfy these obligations.”
“The Medicaid program provides medical treatment for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and when a drug company improperly circumvents rules designed to protect the Medicaid program from overpaying for prescription drugs, the American taxpayer pays the price,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “As illustrated by this settlement, pharmaceutical companies that disregard their obligation to play by the rules for financial gain will be held accountable for those actions.”
“Nostrum Laboratories reduced the amount it paid to the Medicaid program by improperly calculating the rebates it owed, even after hiking the cost of one of their drugs by over 400%,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s settlement is a win for taxpayers by ensuring that that this pharmaceutical company cannot boost its bottom line at the expense of the Medicaid program and the vulnerable population it serves.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts with assistance from HHS OIG and the FBI.
Tips and complaints about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Principal Deputy AAG Boynton; HHS-OIG SAC Coviello; and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit and Trial Attorneys Augustine Ripa and Michael Hoffman of the Justice Department’s Civil Division handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
District Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Aggravated Assault and Other Charges for Disfiguring Woman with Boiling LiquidRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tesfay Teshale, 51, of Springfield, Virginia, was sentenced on October 27, 2023 to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for aggravated assault while armed, malicious disfigurement while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon for an assault that included pouring boiling liquid on the female victim, resulting in second-degree burns on her body, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Pamela Smith, Acting Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Teshale was found guilty on August 16, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Jason Park.
The defendant and the victim had dated. According to the government’s evidence, when the victim decided to break off the relationship, the defendant stalked, harassed, and assaulted her because he could not handle the rejection. On June 14, 2019, the defendant cornered the victim, punched her multiple times in the face, knocked her down, and, while she was down, poured an urn of boiling liquid onto her. The defendant then left her there, bleeding, badly burned, and in extreme pain. The victim managed to call for help and District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported her to the hospital where she was treated for contusions, abrasions, and bruises to her face, as well as second-degree burns.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Yang, Zachary Horton, Cara Gardner, Emma McArthur, Chimnomnso Kalu, Nick Coleman, and Dan Lenerz, Paralegal Specialists ReShawn Johnson, Arielle Okpara, and Veronica Yale, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Cynthia Muhammad, Victim/Witness Advocate Rodgers Dickerson, Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Services Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington, Tonya Jones, and Basizette Stribling, and interns Adam Russell, Izzy Metee, and Louis Villacci.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shakinah Douglas and Richard Kelley, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Depatman Lajistis la Siyen yon Akò avèk yon Distrik Lekòl Florida pou Pwoteje Dwa Sivil Elèv K ap Aprann Anglè yoRead the Press Release
Jodi a, Depatman Lajistis la (Justice Department) te anonse yon akò règleman avèk Distrik Lekòl Konte Clay la (Clay County School District) nan Florida pou rezoud pwoblèm depatman an te jwenn yo nan pwogram distrik la pou elèv k ap apran anglè yo.
Envestigasyon depatman an te jwenn distrik la pa t ofri elèv k ap aprann anglè yo ansèyman lang yo bezwen an pou yo vin fen nan anglè epi li pa t ofri paran ki pa pale anglè yo enfòmasyon enpòtan sou lekòl la nan yon lang yo te ka konprann. Depatman an te konkli tou elèv k ap aprann anglè yo pa t ka patisipe yon fason valab nan kou matyè debaz yo, tankou matematik, syans ak syans sosyal, epi yo pa t resevwa sipò endividyalize pou etid ak pou konpòtman ki disponib pou lòt elèv yo. Devan defo sa yo, distrik la pa t pran mezi koreksyon rapid pou garanti aksè egal ego.
“Elèv k ap aprann anglè yo gen dwa pou yo patisipe nan kou yo ansanm ak lòt elèv yo, epi lekòl yo dwe pran mezi ki nesesè yo pou fè dwa sa a vin yon reyalite,” Pwokirè Jeneral Adjwen an Kristen Clarke, ki nan Divizyon Dwa Sivil (Civil Rights Division) Depatman Lajistis la, te deklare. “Depatman Lajistis la pral kontinye fè lekòl yo rann kont lè yo pa respekte pwomès kolektif nou an sou zafè egalite. Akò sa a pral ede garanti pou elèv k ap aprann anglè yo nan Konte Clay resevwa zouti ki nesesè yo pou fè tout efò yo kapab epi reyisi nan saldeklas la.”
“Distrik lekòl yo dwe ofri elèv k ap aprann anglè yo sèvis ki apwopriye pou simonte baryè lang yo,” Avoka Etazini an, Roger Handberg, te deklare pou Distrik Santral Florida a. “Sa fè nou plezi dèske Distrik Lekòl Konte Clay la dakò aksepte obligasyon li genyen an pou li reponn bezwen nan lang moun k ap aprann anglè li yo yon fason pou elèv yo ka aprann anglè epi patisipe konplètman nan eksperyans edikatif distrik la. Aksè egal a opòtinite edikatif yo se yon bagay ki nan kè pwoteksyon dwa sivil yo pou lajenès nou an epi elèv yo gen dwa a aksè egal malgre baryè lang yo ta ka genyen.”
Distrik la te kopere nèt avèk envestigasyon depatman an epi, lè li te fin resevwa rezilta envestigasyon an, li te pran angajman amelyore sèvis li yo pou elèv k ap aprann anglè yo. Nan kad akò règleman an, distrik la te dakò revize politik li yo ak amelyore sèvis li yo pou elèv yo ka aprann anglè epi patisipe nèt nan eksperyans edikatif distrik la.
Selon akò a, distrik la pral modifye pratik li yo pou yo ka evalye elèv k ap aprann anglè yo kòmsadwa epi idantifye yo touswit apre enskripsyon yo, epi ofri yo rapidman sèvis nan lang si yo kalifye pou yo ka gen chans benefisye yon fason egal ego sipò pou etid ak pou konpòtman yo ofri lòt elèv yo. Distrik la pral pran dispozisyon tou pou tout pwofesè yo ka kalifye, fòme epi resevwa kont sipò ak resous pou yo ede elèv k ap aprann anglè yo vin fen nan anglè epi vin konprann kou matyè debaz yo. Distrik la pral ofri tou tradiksyon ak entèpretasyon lang pou enfòmasyon lekòl enpòtan yo pou paran ki pa pale anglè kouraman. Depatman Lajistis la pral sipèvize jan distrik la aplike akò règleman an pandan pwochen kat ane lekòl yo.
Divizyon Dwa Sivil depatman an ak Biwo Pwokirè Etazini an pou Distrik Santral Florida a te mennen envestigasyon an nan tèt ansanm selon Lwa sou Chans Egal nan Zafè Edikasyon (Equal Educational Opportunities Act) 1974 la.
Aplikasyon Lwa sou Chans Egal nan Zafè Edikasyon 1974 la se yon priyorite prensipal pou Divizyon Dwa Sivil la. W ap jwenn plis enfòmasyon sou Divizyon Dwa Sivil la sou sit entènèt li an nan www.justice.gov/crt, epi w ap jwenn plis enfòmasyon sou travay Seksyon Opòtinite Edikatif la (Educational Opportunities Section) nan www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Manm piblik la gen dwa rapòte vyolasyon posib dwa sivil nan civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Akò Règleman.
Rezime Akò Règleman.
Dearborn Heights Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A Dearborn Heights resident pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining approximately $1,082,600 in loans intended to help small businesses stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic. He further admitted to wiring a portion of the fraud proceeds to Turkey for the purchase of a condominium in Beirut, Lebanon, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Joining in the announcement was Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Wahid Makki, 61, entered pleas of guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of international money laundering before United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds. The guilty pleas arose out of Makki’s’ participation in a scheme to obtain loans authorized by the CARES Act designed to assist small businesses experiencing financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the plea documents, the loan applications described above contained numerous material misrepresentations and false statements. Makki’s business entities were shells that existed on paper only; they had no revenue, employees, or ongoing operations of any sort. However, Makki’s applications represented that each of these entities had between three and 15 employees. The average monthly payroll amounts included in the applications were fictitious, as were representations about how the money would be spent.
In addition, Makki authorized the submission of electronic applications for pandemic relief loans in the names of various business entities Makki purported to own and control. Between April 2020 and April 2021, Makki caused the submission of 17 loan applications seeking funds pursuant to the Small Business Administration’s “Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program” (EIDL), which was a program that provided low-interest financing to businesses adversely affected by the pandemic.
Makki received approximately 1,082,600 in proceeds from the 10 loans that were actually funded as part of his scheme. Makki further admitted that he wired a portion of the loan proceeds to purchase a “sea view condo” in Beirut, Lebanon.
“This defendant stole money intended to keep our economy functioning and our workers employed during a national crisis, and then spent his ill-gotten gains on a luxury property overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. Today’s guilty plea is an important step in holding Mr. Makki accountable for his crimes.”
“While many people across the nation were struggling from the financial challenges caused by COVID-19, Mr. Makki used it as an opportunity to exploit pandemic relief programs for his own gain,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is committed to disrupting schemes that defraud government-sponsored assistance programs by working with our committed law enforcement partners. We would like to express our gratitude to them for their assistance in this case."
Sentencing is set for February 6, 2024 before Judge Edmunds.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip A. Ross. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
Convicted Drug Dealer Sentenced to 16 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Fentanyl and Cocaine while on Probation.Read the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Walter Mays, 52, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 198 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and admitting to violating his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents, on October 26, 2022, IMPD officers stopped Walter Mays for numerous traffic violations on the east side of Indianapolis. Officers searched the vehicle and located 189.2 grams of cocaine in the center console. During a conversation with officers, Mays admitted that he had more drugs at his residence and another 5.5 ounces of cocaine in the back of his truck. Mays also stated that he was on his way to sell the cocaine to a customer for $3,000.
Drug Enforcement Administration Agents searched Mays’ home and found a Bath and Body Works bag containing over 1.1 kilograms of fentanyl and 83.6 grams of crack cocaine. Agents also found a black 9mm handgun and two digital scales.
Mays is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm due to his previous felony conviction for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Mays was on federal supervised release at the time of this most recent offense.
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug our country has ever faced, and those who seek to profit from this poison must be held accountable,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The federal prison sentence imposed against this repeat drug dealer demonstrates that there will be serious consequences for those who traffic in deadly drugs with utter disregard for human life. Our federal prosecutors are committed to working closely with the DEA and IMPD to take fentanyl and fentanyl dealers off our streets because just one pill can kill.”
DEA and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Mays be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Patrick A. Gibson, who prosecuted this case.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. 6 out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets sold on U.S. streets now contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
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Colonie Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking MinorsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Thomas, age 40, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 480 months (40 years) in prison for sex trafficking minors and related offenses.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintended Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement.
Thomas was convicted on March 24, 2023, after a 5-day jury trial. The trial evidence established that between 2018 and 2020, Thomas trafficked and exploited victims, including minors as young as 16, whom he recruited to work in commercial sex for his financial benefit. His crimes spanned New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Thomas was convicted on 16 counts total, including sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, and tampering with a witness.
United States Attorney Carla Freedman said: “Christopher Thomas targeted vulnerable children and young women, and profited from their desperation by manipulating, coercing and forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts. Today’s sentence means he will never do that again. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute sex trafficking organizations and help victims reclaim their lives.”
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfred Watson said: “Christopher Thomas preyed on young girls and women and forced them into a dangerous life of drugs, abuse, and prostitution. Today, our thoughts are with the incredibly brave victims in this case who courageously came forward to regain control of their lives and help put this heinous criminal in prison for many years. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to work with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at every level to seek justice for the victims of sex trafficking.”
Acting State Police Superintendent Dominick Chiumento stated, “The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on innocent children and exploit them for their gain. This sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and our commitment to finding justice for our most vulnerable victims. While these types of investigations are often difficult for those who work on them, the evidence they gathered and the outstanding work done by our State Police personnel and our law enforcement partners led to this conviction and ensures that this individual will be held accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Thomas to a life term of post-imprisonment supervised release. Thomas will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
In imposing sentence, Judge D’Agostino told Thomas, “It takes a very special kind of evil to sex traffic children and not just children but the most vulnerable people in society and that’s what you did.” She continued, “You consider these people useless, throwaways. In your mind they are of no value. But they were someone’s child, sister, granddaughter and they had as much a right to live a life free of this type of abuse as anyone else.”
In addition to the FBI and NYSP, the Colonie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Albany Police Department assisted in investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Kopita and former Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Williams prosecuted the case.
California Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two California men were each sentenced today to 24 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Jersey and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Erik Eduardo Velazquez Bautista, 25, and Jesus Alejandro Rodriguez Velasquez, 27, both of San Diego, California, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Judge Martinotti imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 2, 2021, Velazquez Bautista and Rodriguez Velasquez were driving across the country to deliver narcotics to a purchaser in New York when they were stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement seized approximately 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately five kilograms of fentanyl.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Martinotti sentenced both defendants to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
Browning woman sentenced to 27 months in prison for sexual abuse of minor boyRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman who admitted to sexually abusing a boy on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 27 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Brittany Lynn Gervais, 26, pleaded guilty in May to sexual abuse of a minor.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2021, a relative of the victim, identified as John Doe, was outside her residence when she saw John Doe approach, with Gervais trailing. John Doe was 13 years old and has developmental delays. The relative saw blood on John Doe’s clothing and called an ambulance. The investigation determined that Gervais met John Doe at a residence in the early morning hours. The pair left the residence together and at some point, Gervais sexually assaulted him before walking with him back to his residence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah A. Paisley and Wendy A. Johnson prosecuted the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service conducted the investigation.
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Berkeley County woman sentenced for role in a multi-state drug enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kathryn Annette Batis, age 38, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Batis, also known as “Miss Kitty,” operated a drug house in Martinsburg for a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise.” The investigation uncovered nearly $65,000 in cash deposits over an 11-month period believed to be drug proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh heard testimony today that the enterprise sold drugs, committed acts of violence, laundered money, and committed fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but the operation had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
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.
Bank Insider Charged with Accepting Bribes to Facilitate Millions of Dollars of Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey-based employee of an international financial institution was arrested today for accepting bribes to facilitate millions of dollars of money laundering, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Oscar Marcelo Nunez-Flores, 32, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of accepting bribes as an employee of a financial institution. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and was released on $150,000 unsecured bond.
U.S. Attorney Philp R. Sellinger“As alleged, Nunez corruptly exploited his position inside a bank to help launder millions of dollars in drug money in exchange for bribes. Today’s arrest shows that my office will expose and prosecute those who abuse positions of trust and seek to corrupt our financial institutions.”
“The DEA will continue to work diligently to pursue and dismantle all elements from Drug Trafficking Organizations,” Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Caribbean Division Denise Foster said. “Money launderers help drug trafficking organizations flourish and poison our communities. We will continue to allocate all our law enforcement resources to make a greater impact in vulnerable areas where criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking are causing greater damage.”
“IRS - Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to hold accountable and disrupt bad actors like the defendant, who allegedly accepted bribes to facilitate millions of dollars of money laundering,” Tammy Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, said. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions by investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in financial crimes.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Nunez works for an international financial institution, at a branch located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Starting in early 2022, Nunez exploited his position as a bank employee to facilitate money laundering activities in exchange for bribes. Nunez used his position and inside access to open bank accounts in the names of shell companies with nominee owners. Those accounts were then used to launder narcotics proceeds, including to Colombia. Nunez assisted the money laundering efforts by giving those who bribed him online access to the accounts, along with dozens of debit cards for the accounts that were later used to withdraw cash from ATMs in Colombia. Nunez received thousands of dollars in bribes for each account he opened. The investigation has revealed that millions of dollars were laundered to Colombia through accounts opened by Nunez since early 2022.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of bank bribery carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, or three times the value of the thing given, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agents in Charge Denise Foster in San Juan, Puerto Rico, David F. Reames in Seattle, Washington, and Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; special agents and task force officers of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce of the Economic Crimes Unit and Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams, Chad Davis, and Chelsea Rooney of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Olinghouse (District of Puerto Rico) and Vince Lombardi (Western District of Washington) also assisted with the investigation.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
nunez.complaint.pdfArizona Company and CEO Plead Guilty to the Distribution of Drugs Not Approved by the FDA and Will Pay $2.4 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Arizona company and CEO pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for distributing drugs into the interstate commerce that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Centera Bioscience, d/b/a Nootropics Depot, and its CEO, Paul Eftang, 38, pleaded guilty to the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. U.S. Magistrate Judge Talesha Saint-Marc scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2024.
Between April 2017 and December 2021, Centera Biosicence and Mr. Eftang marketed pharmaceutical drugs, including tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, and racetams, on Nootropicsdepot.com and online platforms like Facebook and Google. They sold the drugs to customers across the United States. Centera Bioscience employees and Mr. Eftang also regularly made representations about the company’s drugs through a Reddit forum dedicated to Centera Bioscience products. As part of the plea, Centera Bioscience has agreed to forfeit $2.4 million. Centera Bioscience has also agreed to forfeit all tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, and racetams seized by the FDA and Customs and Border Protection.
FDA has not approved drugs containing tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, and racetams for use in the United States. Racetam drugs include piracetam, aniracetam, and coluracetam, and phenylpiracetam.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Geoffrey W.R. Ward, and FDA Special Counsel Sarah Hawkins are prosecuting the case.
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Alabama man indicted for threatening Fulton County District Attorney and Sheriff regarding Trump caseRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Arthur Ray Hanson, II, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on charges of transmitting interstate threats to injure Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat because of their connections to the Fulton County, Georgia, investigation of former President Donald Trump. Hanson made his initial appearance in federal court in Huntsville and will be formally arraigned in Atlanta on November 13, 2023.
“Sending interstate threats to physically harm prosecutors and law enforcement officers is a vile act intended to interfere with the administration of justice and intimidate individuals who accept a solemn duty to protect and safeguard the rights of citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “When someone threatens to harm public servants for doing their jobs to enforce our criminal laws, it potentially weakens the very foundation of our society. Our office will labor tirelessly with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help ensure that law enforcement officials are free to serve our communities without the threat of physical attack.”
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. We take this responsibility very seriously and seek to punish those who engage in this type of criminal behavior, and to send the message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On August 6, 2023, Arthur Ray Hanson called the Fulton County Government customer services line twice and left two voicemails—the first for Sheriff Labat and the second for District Attorney Willis. During both calls, Hanson threatened violence against the officials.
In his message for the Sheriff, Hanson made statements that included: “if you think you gonna take a mugshot of my President Donald Trump and it’s gonna be ok, you gonna find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad [expletive]’s probably gonna happen to you;” “if you take a mugshot of the President and you’re the reason it happened, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;” “I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad;” “whether you got a [expletive] badge or not ain’t gonna help you none;” and “you gonna get [expletive]ed up you keep [expletive]ing with my President.”
In Hanson’s message for the District Attorney, he made statements that included: “watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house, watch everywhere that you’re going;” “I would be very afraid if I were you because you can’t be around people all the time that are going to protect you;” “there’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable;” “when you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder;” and “what you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.”
Arthur Ray Hanson, II, 59, of Huntsville, Alabama, was indicted October 25, 2023. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
"John Doe" Indicted for Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with Fraud to Acquire Passport and PUA BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A man whose true identity is unknown and who has been residing in Dorchester has been indicted for mail fraud, false statement in a passport application, misuse of a social security number and aggravated identity theft.
According to the charging documents, the defendant – referred to as John Doe – submitted an application for a passport using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a victim. The passport was issued to John Doe. John Doe also used the victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security number to successfully apply for a Massachusetts driver’s license.
John Doe then allegedly used the victim’s identity to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and received over $6,000 in PUA funds.
According to court documents, the victim has suffered garnishment of his wages for child support costs that John Doe has failed to pay.
The charge of misuse of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
27 October 2023
‘Superman’ Robber Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Southaven, Mississippi, man who wore a t-shirt with a Superman logo during a Springfield, Mo., bank robbery has been charged in federal court.
Scott A. Tyner, 50, was charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on Oct. 6, 2023. That complaint was unsealed and made public today following Tyner’s arrest in Alabama. Tyner remains in federal custody and will have an initial court appearance on Monday, Oct. 30.
The federal criminal complaint alleges that Tyner robbed Legacy Bank and Trust in Springfield on Sept. 29, 2023.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tyner was wearing a blue t-shirt with the Superman logo on the front and blue athletic shorts when he entered the bank on Sept. 29, 2023. Tyner slid a note on a teller counter that read, “This is a robbery.” The teller gave Tyner $5,560, the affidavit says, and he left the bank.
Investigators determined that Tyner was driving a silver, four-door Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicle was captured by a license plate reader in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Oct. 1, 2023.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Wiggins Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins, Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2022, in Stone County, Mississippi, Riley Alexander Wallace, 31, sold 20 fentanyl pills to a confidential informant. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 22, 2023.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 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.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Whiteville Business Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Joseph W. Floyd, IV, age 76, was sentenced to serve 42 months in federal prison for conspiracy to sell and deliver unregistered securities in connection with a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme that was operated under the guise of a purported investment program. Following his prison sentence, Floyd was ordered to serve three years on supervised release. Floyd was also ordered to pay $10,646,504 in restitution. Floyd’s brother and co-defendant, William Floyd, was previously sentenced.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Floyds owned and operated Floyd’s Insurance Agency (FIA), an insurance business based in Whiteville, North Carolina. The Floyds, through FIA, also offered a purported “Loan Program” in which more than 150 individuals and businesses in southeastern North Carolina and elsewhere invested funds in exchange for interest-bearing promissory notes. The promissory notes were securities as defined by law and therefore required to be registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). As part of the registration process, the SEC requires businesses to provide important financial information that allows investors to make informed investment decisions. The Floyds never registered the investment offering with the SEC at any time.
The Loan Program offering was portrayed as a safe and conservative investment, comparable to a traditional money market account or certificate of deposit (CD) but offering higher interest rates that varied from six percent to 10 percent. The promissory notes, which were personally guaranteed by the Floyds, stated that investor principal was repayable within one year. The Floyds initially used the borrowed funds to extend credit to Monthly Payment Plan (MPP), an affiliated company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that was in the business of financing annual insurance premiums for consumers.
Loan Program investors were falsely led to believe that FIA was earning sufficient profits from which to pay the promised rate of return and fund redemptions of principal upon demand. In truth, by 2012, FIA had borrowed more than $20 million from investors and did not have the means to service the debt through any legitimate business source. In order to forestall bankruptcy, the Floyds operated the Loan Program as a Ponzi scheme in which principal and profits were paid to existing investors with funds raised from more recent investors. Investors were never advised of this fact. Instead, the Floyds willfully concealed FIA’s insolvency while continuing to accept additional investments. In May 2020, FIA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the conclusion of that proceeding, it is anticipated that assets will be available for distribution to the victims of the Floyds’ scheme.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the arraignments were concluded. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, investigated the case. The Securities Exchange Commission, Atlanta Field Office, also provided valuable assistance. 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. 7:23-CR-1-BO.
U.S. Citizen Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns, Failing to Report Foreign Bank AccountRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury has indicted Chunsheng “Jay” Huang on charges of filing a false tax return and failing to file a report of a foreign bank or financial account, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Darren Lian; and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The indictment was handed down on November 1, 2022, but unsealed this week.
According to the indictment, Huang, 67, of San Jose, is alleged to have been an employee of a company based in Milpitas, California, for over 15 years while also working for companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for at least six of those years. The indictment alleges that Huang used an account with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in his sister-in-law’s name to receive payments from two companies in the PRC. The indictment alleges that Huang failed to report that income on his federal tax returns for 2016 through 2020.
In addition to the obligation to report foreign income for tax purposes, the indictment alleges that United States citizens and residents who have a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, a bank account in a foreign country with an aggregate value of more than $10,000 at any time during a particular calendar year are required to file with the United States Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (“FBAR”) for that year. The indictment alleges that Huang failed to file the required FBAR report for the ICBC account for 2019 and 2020.
Huang has not made an appearance in the case. An arrest warrant was issued at the time of the indictment.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Huang faces a maximum sentence of (i) three years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count of violating 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) (Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return); and (ii) 10 years of imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count of violating 31 U.S.C. §§ 5314 and 5322(b) (Failure to File Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts). However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions section of the United States Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI and the FBI.
U.S. Attorneys Thompson and Ihlenfeld Applaud Funding Announced During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As part of the monthlong observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, United States Attorneys Will Thompson and William Ihlenfeld are proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $340,618 to West Virginia to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
OVW awarded the $340,618 under the State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program for the 2023 fiscal year to enhance the coordination between courts, child protective services agencies, advocates, law enforcement, and community programs to encourage trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.
The awards consist of $108,034 for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) and $232,584 for the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV).
“For decades, both the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Foundation for Rape Information and Services have performed a critical role in providing education, awareness and expertise to their licensed programs, which serve all 55 West Virginia counties,” U.S. Attorney Thompson said. “I am pleased to announce that West Virginia has been awarded this funding from the Office on Violence Against Women.”
“Domestic violence offenders are some of the most dangerous individuals in our communities and thus a comprehensive, well-funded response is necessary,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “This funding will help us to combat the problem and support survivors throughout West Virginia.”
The role by WVFRIS and WVCADV also extends to statewide working groups charged with systemically addressing sexual and domestic violence in West Virginia. They work alongside law enforcement officers, prosecutors, courts, hospitals, colleges and universities, survivors and other advocates to create comprehensive strategies and prevention plans to support victims in their safety and healing.
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The West Virginia grants are among 496 announced nationwide this week that will reach Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
U.S. Attorneys Thompson and Ihlenfeld Applaud Funding Announced During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As part of the monthlong observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, United States Attorneys Will Thompson and William Ihlenfeld are proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $340,618 to West Virginia to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
OVW awarded the $340,618 under the State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program for the 2023 fiscal year to enhance the coordination between courts, child protective services agencies, advocates, law enforcement, and community programs to encourage trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.
The awards consist of $108,034 for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) and $232,584 for the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV).
“For decades, both the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Foundation for Rape Information and Services have performed a critical role in providing education, awareness and expertise to their licensed programs, which serve all 55 West Virginia counties,” U.S. Attorney Thompson said. “I am pleased to announce that West Virginia has been awarded this funding from the Office on Violence Against Women.”
“Domestic violence offenders are some of the most dangerous individuals in our communities and thus a comprehensive, well-funded response is necessary,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “This funding will help us to combat the problem and support survivors throughout West Virginia.”
The role by WVFRIS and WVCADV also extends to statewide working groups charged with systemically addressing sexual and domestic violence in West Virginia. They work alongside law enforcement officers, prosecutors, courts, hospitals, colleges and universities, survivors and other advocates to create comprehensive strategies and prevention plans to support victims in their safety and healing.
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The West Virginia grants are among 496 announced nationwide this week that will reach Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona Celebrates Funding Awarded During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice joins survivors, victim service providers, advocates, and communities nationwide in recognizing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). This is a time to center the experiences of survivors; honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence; express gratitude to the countless individuals in the movement to end violence; and raise awareness on the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As part of its monthlong observance of DVAM, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $1,990,618 to the District of Arizona to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The announced grants will reach Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
Specifically, the District of Arizona received the following funds for the 2023 fiscal year:
- OVW awarded $340,618 under State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program to enhance the coordination between courts, child protective services agencies, advocates, law enforcement, and community programs to encourage trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.
- OVW awarded $400,000 under the Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program (Culturally Specific Program) to help community-based organizations develop culturally relevant programs specific to American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Tribal communities to support survivors.
- OVW awarded $350,000 under the Grants to Engage Men and Boys as Allies in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Program (Engaging Men and Boys Program) to support educational programming and community-based organizations that encourage men and boys to work with allies with women and girls to prevent crimes.
- OVW awarded $900,000 under the Training and Technical Assistance Initiative to support training and technical assistance programs to enhance the efforts of grant recipients to implement projects supported by OVW funds successfully.
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
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OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
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.RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-164_OVW Grant Awards
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina Announces Funding During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) draws to a close, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announces that the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded funding to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
In the Western District of North Carolina, OVW awarded $375,000 to the Town of Mooresville under the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program to promote coordinated community responses among law enforcement agencies, courts, victim service providers, and other system partners.
The Town of Mooresville, in collaboration with its project partners, will utilize this award to continue improving the jurisdiction’s criminal justice system response to domestic violence. Specifically, the funding will be used to develop and implement policies and training for
police, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting crimes of domestic violence.
Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina said, “I am pleased to announce that the Town of Mooresville has been awarded funding from the Office on Violence Against Women. The funding will enhance a coordinated response to crimes of domestic violence and appropriate treatment of victims.”
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
Two Great Falls residents arraigned in fentanyl trafficking investigationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — Two persons arrested recently as part of a multi-agency narcotics investigation appeared for arraignment on Oct. 26 on federal indictments alleging fentanyl trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Officers from multiple federal, state and local agencies previously arrested five persons on warrants as part of a coordinated takedown conducted on Oct. 12 in Great Falls.
The two defendants appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty were:
- Nicholas Cocklin, 28, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cocklin faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Cocklin was arrested on Oct. 21. Cocklin was detained pending further proceedings. PACER case reference. 23-95.
- Courtney Price, 27, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Price faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Price was arrested on Oct. 19. Price was detained pending further proceedings. PACER case reference. 23-94.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Co-defendants or defendants in associated cases previously arraigned and pending trial are Alanna Corcoran, Natalie Crawford, Michael McIntire, Terry McIntire, all of Great Falls, and Paul Regimbal, of Fort Benton.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Great Falls Police Department, with assistance from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Russell Country High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Marshals Service, conducted the investigation.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
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Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Six Firearms from WalmartRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael C. McDermott, age 30, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to stealing six firearms from a federally licensed dealer. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Gina F. Cocchiara of the Bethlehem Police Department made the announcement.
McDermott admitted to forcing his way into the Glenmont Walmart on May 10, 2022, while it was closed overnight, smashing the glass gun case, and stealing six firearms. McDermott also admitted that when employees chased him into the woods, he pointed a firearm at them.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci will sentence McDermott on February 26, 2024. The conviction carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The ATF and Bethlehem Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.
Three Men Sentenced for Federal Drug Crimes in North IdahoRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Jack Joseph Magness, 35, of Spokane, Washington, David Christopher Churchill, 50, of Sandpoint, and Jonathan Robert Chrysler, 26, of Post Falls, were sentenced in separate cases for federal drug crimes involving methamphetamine and clonazepam, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
On October 24, 2023, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford sentenced Magness to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. After serving his prison sentence, Magness will be placed on supervised release for three years.
According to court records, Magness was arrested by Idaho State Police in Shoshone County, Idaho, on July 16, 2021. During his arrest, Magness hid a small quantity of methamphetamine in his body and smuggled it into the jail. Once in the jail, Magness recovered the methamphetamine and began using it. One of Magness’s cell mates also accessed the smuggled methamphetamine and ultimately overdosed and died after consuming a portion of it.
When officers investigated the death, they located 6 grams of methamphetamine on Magness’s bunk, within the cell. At his change of plea hearing, Magness ultimately admitted to smuggling the methamphetamine in and sharing it with others in the cell.
In a separate case, on October 24, 2023, Judge Brailsford sentenced Churchill to 37 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. After his prison term, Churchill will be placed on supervised release for three years.
Court records show that Churchill was distributing methamphetamine in the Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint area. Officers learned of Churchill’s activities and began to investigate. On April 13, 2022, Churchill sold four ounces of methamphetamine to another individual. After completing the drug deal, Churchill was arrested.
In a third case, on October 23, 2023, Judge Brailsford sentenced Chrysler to 46 months in federal prison for distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21. After completing his prison sentences, Chrysler will be placed on supervised release for six years.
According to court records, in May 2022, Chrysler met with a 14-year-old minor near Memorial Field in downtown Coeur d’Alene. During the meeting, Chrysler sold the minor multiple clonazepam pills, a Schedule IV controlled substance. The minor was ultimately rushed to the hospital and received medical care after consuming the pills mixed with alcohol.
“These cases vividly show how illegal drugs threaten lives in North Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We are fortunate to work closely with law enforcement at all levels to address this danger, and we will continue to prioritize anti-drug enforcement in North Idaho and throughout Idaho.”
These three cases were successfully prosecuted due to the collaborative efforts of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including: the Shoshone County Sherriff’s Office, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement Task Force which is comprised of the Idaho State Police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Texas Man Sentenced for Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RANDY HARROD, age 45, a resident of Trinity, Texas, was sentenced on October 26, 2023 by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 108 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841 (b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, between May 25, 2020, and July 2, 2020, Ryan Fremin traveled from the Eastern District of Louisiana to the Houston, Texas area on five occasions to purchase kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from Leonel Gonzalez, a Houston-based narcotics trafficker. On three of those occasions, Fremin arranged the transactions with HARROD, who negotiated the price with Fremin or accepted payment from Fremin for the drugs at a hotel in Houston reserved by HARROD before Gonzalez arrived later with the drugs. On July 12, 2020, a confidential source contacted HARROD to purchase of a kilogram of methamphetamine from HARROD. HARROD met the confidential source in Houston and drove him to a hotel where Gonzalez met them and sold the methamphetamine to the confidential source.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Terry Man and Jackson Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Terry man was sentenced to 93 months in federal prison and a Jackson woman was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl.
Tyunna Lamar Jordan, 32, of Terry and Mercedes Shykeria Mitchell, 27, of Jackson, were sentenced on October 26, 2023, in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, Jordan and Mitchell conspired with others to distribute “M 30” tablets which contained fentanyl. Beginning in April 2022, Jordan recruited Mitchell to participate in his distribution of the tablets. In May 2022, Mitchell traveled to the UAC Packing & Shipping store in Byram, Mississippi, to assist Jordan in returning M 30 tablets to Jordan’s source of supply. The parcel was intercepted by agents and determined to have a fictitious recipient name. Further investigation revealed the package contained over 2500 small blue tablets marked “M 30.” The tablets were sent to the DEA Laboratory for analysis which determined the tablets contained fentanyl.
Jordan and Mitchell were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 6, 2022. Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in Hinds County and surrounding areas. The case 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.
Tampa Pain Management Physician Edward Lubin Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Liability for Receiving Bribes and Writing Unnecessary Fentanyl PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that pain management physician Edward Lubin has agreed to pay the United States $1.5 million to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by causing the submission of claims for fentanyl prescriptions that were written in exchange for kickback payments and that were medically unnecessary. The agreement resolves the United States’ claims against Dr. Lubin under the FCA. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no admission or determination of liability.
The allegations in the complaint and the conduct covered by the settlement agreement relate to the submission of claims for a fentanyl-spray medication known as Subsys, which was manufactured by Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (Insys). According to the complaint, the United States alleges that Dr. Lubin knowingly and willfully accepted approximately $159,580 in kickback payments from Insys in return for prescribing Subsys. The settlement figure is almost 10 times the amount that Dr. Lubin received in kickbacks.
The United States alleges that once Dr. Lubin became involved with Insys, he immediately began prescribing Subsys in exchange for kickbacks and regardless of medical necessity. The United States contends that the kickbacks paid to Dr. Lubin were disguised as payment for speaking at sham “events” that lasted a few minutes, never occurred, or had repeat attendees despite the lack of any reason to present the same information multiple times to the same individuals. According to court documents filed by the United States, Dr. Lubin allegedly caused more than 400 false claims for Subsys to be submitted to the Medicare and TRICARE programs, in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the FCA, which paid in excess of $4 million for these claims.
In 2019, Insys was prosecuted under a criminal information filed in the District of Massachusetts in a case captioned United States v. Insys Therapeutics, Inc., Case No. 1:19-cr-10191-RWZ. Pursuant to the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement, Insys’s wholly owned subsidiary, Insys Pharma, Inc., pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud patients and insurers, including Medicare. In its deferred prosecution agreement, Insys admitted that bribes paid to medical practitioners through its speaker program were used to induce practitioners to write increasing amounts of medically unnecessary Subsys prescriptions in exchange for the payment of speaker fees. To date, in addition to the company, at least fifteen doctors, seven former Insys executives, and seven former Insys sales representatives have been criminally convicted for their roles in Insys’s sham speaker program.
“The United States will not be thwarted in its efforts to hold doctors like Dr. Lubin accountable for issuing medically unnecessary prescriptions tainted by kickbacks,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg. “We thank our skilled law enforcement partners for their determined efforts to investigate this important case and to make Dr. Lubin face responsibility for his unlawful actions.”
“Providers who defraud federal health care programs deplete the Medicare trust fund, potentially negatively impacting their patients and all Medicare program participants,” said Stephen Mahmood, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and the people it serves. We will continue to investigate alleged health care fraud schemes, including those involving kickback payments and fraudulent claims in violation of the False Claims Act.”
“The Defense Health Agency is incredibly grateful for the willingness and time spent by the government to take this matter to court, which resulted in settlement terms highly favorable to the government and, by extension, to our agency,” said Lieutenant General Telita Crosland, Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) of the United States Department of Defense. “The efforts of the Department of Justice in cooperation with the DHA in FCA actions are noteworthy and allow our agency to recoup improperly claimed funds for the benefit of TRICARE beneficiaries.”
The FCA imposes liability on any person or entity that submits, or causes the submission, of false claims for payment to federal payors. Among other grounds, falsity under the FCA may be established based on claims tainted by kickback payments due to violations of the AKS, as well as claims submitted for medically unnecessary goods or services. The United States’ settlement of this matter illustrates its continued efforts to combat health care fraud using one of its most powerful civil enforcement tools, the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The resolution obtained in this case was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the criminal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General. The FCA case was litigated by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy R. Bloor, Kelley Howard-Allen, and Soma Nwokolo. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Emden litigated Dr. Lubin’s bankruptcy case for the United States.
The settlement agreement, which Dr. Lubin’s counsel filed in bankruptcy court today pursuant to a bankruptcy petition previously filed by Dr. Lubin, is available below.
Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, the bankruptcy court has final approval over the settlement agreement. The FCA case against Dr. Lubin is captioned United States v. Lubin, Case No.8:21-cv-2231.
Download Settlement AgreementSystems Engineer Charged with Misappropriating Funds from Houma CompanyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the filing of a bill of information today charging SCOTT P. RICHARD, age 47, of Raceland, with access device fraud. This charge stems from RICHARD’S theft from his former employer, a Houma-based company identified as “Company A” in the bill of information.
According to the bill of information, RICHARD was a systems engineer for Company A, whose responsibilities included the specification, purchase, installation, and support of equipment and systems used by the company’s technology infrastructure. RICHARD is alleged to have used the corporate credit card issued to him by Company A for his own personal benefit. From January 1, 2012 through September 27, 2021, RICHARD fraudulently diverted $526,569.42 from Company A to himself.
If convicted, RICHARD could receive up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000.00 fine or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss, and up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment. He would also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely an accusation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Field Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel, is in charge of the prosecution.
St. Louis Woman Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Running Chop ShopRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Friday sentenced a St. Louis, Missouri woman to 54 months in prison for running a chop shop and ordered her to pay $41,196 in restitution.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers and detectives found a total of 12 stolen vehicles over a seven-month period in or near the warehouse where Heather Marty, now 29, was living. Marty admitted in a guilty plea in May that the warehouse, in the 2900 block of North Jefferson Avenue, was being used to house, store and disassemble stolen vehicles.
Police found three stolen motorcycles, five pickup trucks, three cars and one SUV, some in various stages of disassembly. On Jan. 29, 2022, Marty was spotted at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis in a 2014 Dodge Ram that had been stolen 23 days earlier. A detective found nine license plates inside the truck, two of which belonged to stolen vehicles. In the week before her arrest, Marty had been in the area of four thefts and one attempted theft of catalytic converters, as well as four burglaries and an auto theft.
Marty pleaded guilty in May to one count of transportation of a stolen vehicle and one count of operating a chop shop.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis County Man Admits Supplying Fatal Fentanyl to Jefferson County 19-Year-OldRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Friday admitted supplying the fentanyl that killed a 19-year-old in Jefferson County, Missouri, in 2022.
William Edward Martin, 23, is the final of four defendants in the case. Martin pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to four felonies: conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl with a resulting death, distribution of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Martin now faces at least 20 years and up to life in prison for the fatal distribution charge alone when he is sentenced January 26.
Martin admitted that on June 23, 2022, he met the victim in the parking lot of a Walgreens in Arnold, Missouri. She got into the car he was driving, a black BMW, and a short time after he provided her with fentanyl, he took the victim out of his car and placed her in the backseat of her own vehicle. The incident was captured on video, and the victim appeared incapacitated and in medical distress.
She was found dead early the next morning by her father, who had been searching for her after she failed to come home.
Martin would later admit in a text message that, “I could’ve called 911 or could brought her to the hospital… there’s so many things I could’ve done to save her and now she’s dead.”
During the investigation of her death, Arnold police spotted the BMW, which sped off. Police later caught the BMW, and the driver, Tanisha Payne, said she’d dropped Martin off at a gas station. Officers found a safe inside the car that contained fentanyl, hallucinogens, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia. They caught Martin behind a supermarket with a loaded pistol.
Steven “Lemon” Littler, 34, and Jacqueline Williamson, 34, admitted supplying fentanyl to Martin and Payne. Littler had been selling the drug to Martin for several months, Martin’s plea says. Littler also warned Martin of the potency of his fentanyl, calling it “deadly strong” and “dangerous,” the plea says.
In his plea agreement, Martin admitted selling fentanyl to others.
When Williamson was arrested at her home in St. Louis, investigators found both fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as paraphernalia for packaging the drugs for sale. Payne, now 23, also had fentanyl and drug paraphernalia when she was arrested.
Littler was sentenced to 210 months in prison earlier this year. Williamson, who pleaded guilty to a fentanyl distribution charge, and Payne, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, have not yet been sentenced.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arnold Police Department, The U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Louis County Police Department.
Springfield, Illinois Woman Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois woman, Bridget Hansen, 40, of the 3600 block of Lancaster Road in Springfield, Illinois was sentenced on October 23, 2023, by Senior United States District Court judge Sue. E. Myerscough to 12 months and 1 day in prison for wire fraud. As part of her sentence, Hansen was ordered to pay a total of $45,894.53 in restitution.
Hansen was indicted in October of 2020 and pled guilty in January of 2023.
At the sentencing, the government provided information that, while employed as the director of Our Redeemer Day Care in Jacksonville, Illinois, Hansen devised a scheme to defraud the day care by transferring money from the business’s bank accounts to her own bank accounts. Hansen would also write checks on the day care’s bank accounts to herself or to cash and use the money for personal expenses. While employed with Our Redeemer, Hansen stole over $45,000, which caused the day care to cut back on the services it offered and contemplate closing the facility.
At the hearing, Judge Myerscough indicated that Hansen abused her position of trust and her actions caused, not only internal financial hardships to Our Redeemer Day Care, but had additional consequences by limiting the day care’s ability to obtain grants and other resources that would enhance the programs for the children in their care.
The statutory penalties for wire fraud are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
The Jacksonville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
Snohomish County man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter for gravel pit crash that killed passengerRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 40-year-old Snohomish County man who is an enrolled member of the Tulalip Tribes pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the February 2, 2020, crash that killed the sole passenger in his truck, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Danny Lee Simpson, Jr. will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on January 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
According to the plea agreement, Simpson, his wife, and a mutual acquaintance had been drinking at a bar in Stanwood, Washington on February 1, 2020. After midnight, Simpson drove his truck, with the acquaintance as his sole passenger, to a gravel pit owned by his parents. Simpson had recently modified his truck, so it was suitable for off road use. Simpson had failed to check the braking system on the truck.
The sand and gravel pit was poorly lit and had a sheer 40-foot cliff face. Simpson knew about the cliff. The truck overheated and stalled. At about 1:15 in the morning, Simpson backed the truck off the sheer cliff. The truck landed upside down at the bottom of the cliff. The crash killed Simpson’s passenger – another member of the Tulalip Tribes. Simpson admits he knew or could have reasonably foreseen that it was dangerous to drive under the influence of alcohol near the cliff face in a dark, wet, and poorly lit gravel pit.
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 18 months in prison. Judge Lin is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence up to the maximum of eight years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Tulalip Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Jocelyn Cooney. Mr. London and Ms. Cooney serve as Tribal Liaisons for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.
Second Senior Member of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Role in Violent Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A second senior member of the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to life in federal prison today for conspiring to commit racketeering through various criminal acts spanning decades, including murder, robbery, and drug dealing.
Ronald Clayton Rhodes, 38, of Portland, was sentenced to life in federal prison plus 10 years and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, the Hoovers are a criminal street gang operating in Oregon known to engage in acts of violence including murder, robbery, and drug dealing. The Hoovers originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and established a presence in Portland in the early 1980s. The gang has a loose hierarchical structure in which members have different amounts of power and influence based on age and gang activity. To maintain and increase one’s position in the gang, members are expected to carry out violence on behalf of the enterprise.
The Hoovers are rivals with many Portland gangs, including multiple Blood and Crip sets, and are self-described “everybody killers.” Hoover members are expected to use violence to retaliate any perceived slight or actual act of violence against a Hoover member or ally.
Rhodes joined the Hoovers in 2005 and spent 10 of his 11 years with the gang in prison. In the brief periods of time he spent out of custody, he committed one murder, one attempted murder, one home invasion robbery, and dealt drugs. Rhodes, known by fellow gang members as “Big Fly,” played a leadership role in the gang, setting a violent example for multiple “Lil Fly” gang members who, like Rhodes, committed violent criminal acts to elevate their status in the gang.
On November 7, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 13-count superseding indictment charging Rhodes; fellow senior Hoover gang member Lorenzo Laron Jones, 50, also of Portland; and two accomplices with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and causing death using a firearm.
On October 19, 2022, a federal jury in Portland found Rhodes and Jones guilty on multiple counts including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Among other criminal acts, Rhodes was proven to have participated in the murder of Portland resident Kyle Polk on December 16, 2015, near a convenience store in southeast Portland.
On October 26, 2023, Jones was also sentenced to life in federal prison plus ten years.
As part of the government’s ongoing investigation into the Hoover Criminal Gang’s racketeering activities, several other Hoover members and associates face pending federal charges or have been convicted and sentenced in federal court for crimes committed in support or on behalf of the gang’s criminal enterprise.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Portland Police Bureau, and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Gresham Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Eugene Police Department, and Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.
Rockford Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Vincent Phillips, 52, Rockford, Illinois was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 90 months for possessing with intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Phillips pleaded guilty to these charges on July 21, 2023. This period of imprisonment will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Phillips was first arrested for charges related to this case on February 18, 2023, in Columbia County, Wisconsin with over 240 grams of methamphetamine packaged for distribution found in his vehicle. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, including a scale, razor, and baggies in the car. Phillips was charged in State court for this conduct and released from jail on a cash bond later that month.
In April, a confidential informant disclosed to law enforcement that Phillips was selling methamphetamine and heroin in the Baraboo area. Law enforcement conducted three controlled buys from Phillips using this confidential informant. Phillips sold about 50 grams of methamphetamine during each buy. After the last buy, which Phillips conducted inside his vehicle, law enforcement arrested him.
When he was arrested in April, officers found over 200 grams of methamphetamine and 38 grams of cocaine in his vehicle. In addition, Phillips was in possession of $2,297 in U.S. currency, $800 of which had been provided by law enforcement to the confidential informant to purchase drugs from Phillips.
At sentencing, the Judge considered Phillips’s lengthy criminal history. The Judge addressed that Phillips has been in and out of prison for most of his adult life, and that he is considered a career offender. The Judge remarked that previous intervention had done little to deter Phillips’s criminal conduct. The Judge ultimately ordered a sentence that he felt reflected the seriousness of Philips’s criminal history and his conduct in these offenses.
This is Phillips’s second federal conviction. In 2002, Phillips was convicted in the Northern District of Illinois for an armed bank robbery and was sentenced to prison.
The charges against Phillips were the result of an investigation conducted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case.
Reseda Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Dozens of ‘Ghost Guns’ and Pound Quantities of MethRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for illegally selling firearms – including dozens of so-called “ghost guns” – and also selling pound quantities of methamphetamine.
Julio Ernesto Lopez-Menendez, 27, of Reseda, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
Lopez-Menendez pleaded guilty on February 3 to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He has been in federal custody since April 2022.
From January 2022 to April 2022, Lopez-Menendez sold at least 89 firearms and 20 rounds of ammunition over nine transactions to a buyer. The firearms sold included at least 62 firearms that lacked serial numbers and are commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” Of those ghost guns, four were short-barreled rifles whose barrel lengths Lopez-Menendez knew were each substantially less than the legally required 16 inches.
During a February 2022 telephone call with a buyer, Lopez-Menendez said the possession of shotguns or rifles with short barrels was “super illegal.” None of these short-barreled rifles were federally registered by Lopez-Menendez. He does not have a federal firearms license and does not have any firearms registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the central registry for all items regulated under the National Firearms Act, according to court documents.
Lopez-Menendez also sold to a buyer a total of 17 pounds of methamphetamine on four occasions, including one sale in which he sold 4.2 kilograms (9.2 pounds) of the drug to the buyer.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Southern California Drug Task Force; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chou of the Violent and Organized Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Readout of the Tribal Nations Leadership Council MeetingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department hosted a two-day conference of the Tribal Nations Leadership Council (TNLC), where council members met with Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and officials from across the Department to discuss a range of pressing issues impacting American Indian and Alaska Native people.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, the TNLC participated in a roundtable discussion with Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. Discussion topics included the Department’s prioritized efforts to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, as well as the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. Those efforts include the Department’s June 2023 creation of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which provides for placement of an MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and an MMIP Coordinator in five designated regions with Indian Country across the United States. Other topics raised included the need for additional law enforcement and other resources to address crime, substance abuse, and the needs of Native youth. Department officials also reflected on experiences and feedback gained during visits and consultations with Tribal leaders and communities this year, including in Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alaska, where the Department announced its implementation plan for the Alaska Pilot Program. This program was enacted as part of the 2022 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization and authorizes the Attorney General to designate Alaska Tribes to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians within their Villages for certain crimes.
The TNLC also raised the need for increasing data sharing and cross-jurisdictional cooperation, with the potential for building on the success of the Tribal Access Program, and leveraging new MMIP resources. Earlier in the day, the TNLC met with officials from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the FBI’s Violent Crime Section and Indian Country Violent Crime Unit, among others, to discuss pressing public safety issues.
In addition, on Wednesday, the TNLC discussed civil litigation updates on issues of significant concern, such as Tribal water and natural resource rights and the Indian Child Welfare Act, with Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Civil Division. The TNLC discussed civil rights updates with Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, and issues surrounding the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act with the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Rosie Hidalgo.
On Thursday, Oct. 26, the TNLC had a breakfast with U.S. Attorneys, and a conversation with Alison Ramsdell, the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota and Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s Subcommittee on Native American Issues. The TNLC also met with top officials from the Department’s grantmaking components: the Office of Justice Programs, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and OVW. The TNLC concluded with a meeting with Associate Attorney General Gupta focused on concrete steps related to the department’s Tribal grantmaking and civil litigation work.
Established by the Justice Department by charter in 2010, the TNLC is a group of Tribal leaders from around the country selected by Tribal governments from each region. The Council is charged with providing perspective on emergent and ongoing issues across Indian Country as well as providing feedback on Justice Department activities in support of Tribes in each region. In addition to establishing a mechanism for regular insight and accountability, the structure of the group honors the United States’ government-to-government relationship with Tribes.
The Department is grateful to the TNLC members who were able to attend this week’s meeting:
- Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
- Frank Star Comes Out, President, Oglala Lakota Nation
- Buu Nygren, President, Navajo Nation
- Gloria Burns, Vice President, Ketchikan Indian Community
- W. Ron Allen, Chief Executive Officer, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
- Juana Majel Dixon, Councilwoman, Pauma-Yuima Band of Mission Indians
Readout of Office for Access to Justice Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to AlaskaRead the Press Release
This week, Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) traveled to Anchorage and Bethel, Alaska, to engage access to justice stakeholders in the state and deliver keynote remarks at the launch event for Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s (ALSC) Community Justice Worker Resource Center.
Director Rossi and ATJ met with executives and staff from ALSC and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) in Anchorage. Director Rossi was briefed on ALSC’s Community Justice Worker Program, an innovative program designed to utilize trained, authorized community members to provide basic legal assistance in Alaska. At ANTHC, she met with leaders of the Distance Learning Initiative, which builds the curriculum used to remotely train community justice workers, and she toured the ANTHC campus to learn more about health and justice efforts faced by Alaska Natives and the role of health centers and medical-legal partnerships in increasing access to legal assistance.
Director Rossi also traveled to Bethel, the regional hub for the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. She visited Kuskokwim Consortium Library to hold a discussion with the library director to discuss the role of libraries in assisting and referring people to appropriate legal services.
Director Rossi visited the Bethel courthouse and met with the recently appointed Chief Public Defender for the state of Alaska, as well as staff from the Bethel Holistic Defense Project, to discuss the need for rural public defenders and civil legal aid attorneys, and recent ATJ events at law schools to encourage law students to build careers in rural communities.
To conclude her visit to Bethel, Director Rossi met with leaders and staff from the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), a consortium of 56 Tribes in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region that provides social services, community development and advocacy. Director Rossi learned about the social service needs of ACVP communities and specific efforts by community justice workers at ACVP to provide legal services to individuals in need.
Concluding the trip in Anchorage, Director Rossi participated in a panel discussion on current issues in access to justice. In her remarks, Director Rossi highlighted recent office initiatives related to criminal justice, rural access to justice, innovative access to justice solutions and language access, among other topics.
Director Rossi also met with Alaska Supreme Court Justices to discuss Alaska Supreme Court’s efforts to support access to justice programs in Alaska, including the Community Justice Worker Program. She then met with the Alaska Federal Defender and met with community justice workers to hear about their efforts. Director Rossi also met with the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives to discuss current access to justice needs in Alaska Native communities.
On Wednesday evening, at the invitation of the Alaska Supreme Court, Director Rossi delivered keynote remarks at the launch event for the Community Justice Worker Resource Center at Alaska Pacific University. In her remarks, she highlighted the need for bold, creative solutions to the nation’s civil justice gap, like the Community Justice Worker Program. Read her full remarks here.
Director Rossi delivers keynote remarks during the launch of the Community Justice Worker Program at Alaska Pacific University. Director Rossi delivers keynote remarks during the launch of the Community Justice Worker Program at Alaska Pacific University. Alaska Legal Services Corporation Executive Director Nikole Nelson briefs Director Rossi and group on ALSC’s Community Justice Worker Program. Director Rossi and ATJ team meet with Alaska Supreme Court Justices. Pictured left to right, National Legal Aid & Defender Association Vice President of Civil Programs Radhika Singh, Alaska State Court Administrator Stacey Marz, Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Henderson, Supreme Court Justice Dario Borghesan, Office for Access to Justice Senior Counsel Charlie Gillig, Supreme Court Justice Susan Carney, Manilaaq Health Center Medical Director Bob Onders, Director Rachel Rossi, Alaska Director Rossi and the group meet with Kuskokwim Consortium Library Director, Theresa Quiner at the Yup’ik Museum, Library and Multipurpose Center in Bethel, AK. Pictured left to right, Alaska Legal Services Corporation Justice for All Coordinator Sarah Carver, Kuskokwim Consortium Library Director, Theresa Quiner, National Legal Aid & Defender Association Vice President of Civil Programs Radhika Singh, Office for Access to Justice Senior Counsel Charlie Gillig Director, Community Justice Worker Disaster Relief Grant Project Manager Izzy Williamson, American Bar Foundation Senior Program Officer Matthew Burnett, Alaska Legal Services Corporation Executive Director Nikole Nelson, Director Rachel Rossi and Alaska Legal Services Corporation Advocacy Director Leigh Dickey. Director Rossi and ATJ team meets with staff from the Association of Village Council Presidents. Director Rossi is joined by National Legal Aid & Defender Association Vice President of Civil Programs Radhika Singh, American Bar Foundation Senior Program Officer Matthew Burnett, Manilaaq Health Center Medical Director Bob Onders, and Alaska Court System Administrative Director Stacey Marz on a panel moderated by Alaska Legal Services Corporation Executive Director Nikole Nelson.