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5 October 2023
Two Defendants, Including One Who Posed as a Lawyer, Convicted for Fraud Related to a Debt Elimination SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts yesterday convicting Willie Lamont Hicks, a/k/a “Will Woodward” and “CW,” age 50, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Mary Ann Mendoza, a/k/a “Mary Ann Manuel,” “Trinity,” “M3,” and “Emily James,” age 49, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, on federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud related to a debt elimination and wealth management fraud scheme.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Guy Petrillo of the Mid-Atlantic Region - Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Javan Wilson of the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to the evidence presented at their seven-day trial, from August 2011 to at least September 2017, Hicks and Mendoza, who represented themselves as partners and as husband and wife, held in-person trainings purporting to educate victim-debtors on how to discharge consumer debt, including mortgage debt, credit card debt, and automobile financing debt. Hicks and Mendoza also marketed wealth management services to victims, including purporting to set up a family office and to fund business opportunities.
As detailed in trial testimony, during the debt elimination classes, Hicks, who claimed to be an attorney, and Mendoza told victims that on the back of their social security cards and birth certificates, there was a number that unlocked access to a special bank account with funds owed to the victims by the U.S. government. The defendants also informed the victim-debtors that they could create or use “trusts” into which they could transfer their assets without transferring any attendant consumer debt, or to obtain return on investment.
The evidence proved that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators offered to effectuate the discharge of the debt held by the victims or other purported services for a fee, including a fee equal to a percentage of the victim-debtors’ outstanding debt. The defendants accepted payment in the form of cash, wire transfers, personal and cashier’s checks, and the use of the victim-debtors’ credit. Victim-debtors also paid the defendants through liquidating their retirement savings, the leasing of apartments, and the purchase of vehicles and office equipment and supplies. Hicks and Mendoza caused one victim to transfer almost $100,000 from the victim’s bank account to fraudulent corporate entities controlled by the defendants in 2017, including by interstate wire transfer. Trial testimony showed that victim-debtors were induced into providing the defendants with over a million dollars in cash and other forms of payment during the period of the conspiracy.
According to the evidence also presented at trial, Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators used the victims’ personal identifying information without the victims’ knowledge or permission and provided the victims with fraudulent documents, including Internal Revenue Service forms, memorandums of agreement, intake forms, and other materials that the defendants claimed were necessary for discharging debt. The evidence showed that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators mailed the fraudulent paperwork to the victim-debtors’ creditors, lenders, and the Internal Revenue Service purporting to effectuate the discharge of the victim’s debts.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each of four counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for defendant Hicks for January 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., and for defendant Mendoza for January 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Mid-Atlantic and Central Regions of the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked the United States Marshals, the Hinesville, Georgia Police Department, the Gwinnett County, Georgia Police Department, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Offices of Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of Texas, New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and G. Michael Morgan, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Three Human Smugglers Indicted for ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022. One of the smuggling events resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment.
A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-149_Parra (WITHDRAWING AND CORRECTING
RELEASE # 2023-148_Parra)# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Human Smugglers Indicted for ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022; one such pursuit resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment.
A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-148_Parra# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Ten Members of Area Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of ten individuals by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson as the result of an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas.
Reshide Wooden, age 26, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Wooden to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
Rokedrick Tyrell Williby, age 32, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 128 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Williby to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Denzel Dionte Gray, age 30, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 140 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Gray to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Malcolm Oliver, Jr., age 33, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 190 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Oliver to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Kelly Derrell Jones, age 41, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Jones to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
David Burnell Lewis, age 38, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Lewis to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Christopher Dee Harrod, age 42, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harrod to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Blain Joseph Slayton, age 30, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Robert Jason Slayton, age 52, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Raven Harris, age 36, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment in federal prison following her conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harris to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.
Through their pleas, the defendants admitted involvement in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine between October and December 2021. During that time, Wooden would obtain large quantities of methamphetamine from Williby, Jones, and others and then distributed the methamphetamine, for profit, to Gray, Oliver, Harrod, Lewis, Blain Slayton, Robert Slayton, and others for further distribution to customers within the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents were able to dismantle the organization on December 8, 2021, when they executed search warrants at residences and seized over 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine from Wooden and Harris’ apartment, which Williby had just distributed to Wooden, and multiple firearms. Wooden also pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine related to the drugs located in her residence on December 8, 2021.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Baton Rouge Police Department with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Tara K. McGrath Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becomes Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in One of Nation’s Busiest DistrictsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 5, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Tara K. McGrath, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former federal prosecutor in San Diego, was sworn in today as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.
Ms. McGrath, 49, was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge Dana M. Sabraw in a ceremony at the federal courthouse this afternoon. Ms. McGrath now oversees one of the busiest United States Attorney’s Offices in the nation. The office, which has a staff of about 300, serves approximately 3.5 million residents in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Ms. McGrath was nominated by President Biden in March and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Friday, September 29, 2023.
“I am ready to get to work,” Ms. McGrath said. “We face substantial challenges in this region every day and we are incredibly fortunate to have countless public servants committed to our safety and well-being. I am honored to be rejoining them.”
Ms. McGrath returns to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego after departing in 2019 to serve as a civilian Litigation Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Marine Corps. In that role, Ms. McGrath provided senior-level oversight, ethics advice, and trial strategy guidance in criminal investigations and courts-martial across seven military bases in four countries. She also provided litigation expertise to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
A seasoned federal prosecutor, Ms. McGrath spent more than 10 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District working on behalf of both San Diego and Imperial counties. Initially assigned to the General Crimes and Narcotics Enforcement sections, Ms. McGrath prosecuted more than 500 cases in federal court and led scores of investigations with federal agents involving grand juries, wire taps, and undercover agents. She has argued three cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
During her tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ms. McGrath served as a Deputy Chief and Trial Team Leader in the General Crimes Section. In these roles, she supervised more than 70 federal prosecutors and support staff, overseeing the intake and prosecution of more than 4,000 cases annually, including border crimes, human trafficking, violent crime, public corruption, fraud, racketeering, narcotics, and civil rights cases.
For her work as a prosecutor, Ms. McGrath received the U.S. Department of Justice’s prestigious Director’s Award for Superior Performance, among other recognition. She also received the Department of the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service award for her significant contributions to policy development and prosecution of special victim cases.
During her time with the Department of Justice, Ms. McGrath also served as a trial attorney in the Office of Enforcement Operations in Washington, D.C. In that role, she provided technical legal advice to experienced Assistant United States Attorneys and federal agents throughout the United States on gathering electronic evidence in compliance with federal law and DOJ policy, and she coordinated DOJ case management with attorneys from centralized enforcement divisions, including the racketeering, fraud, and narcotics prosecution sections.
Ms. McGrath graduated from University of Michigan Law School in 2001 and earned a B.A., cum laude, from Boston College in 1995.
Statement by United States Attorney Breon Peace on the Sentencing of Subway Mass Shooter Frank JamesRead the Press Release
Good afternoon, today, justice has been served.
During the morning rush hour on April 12th, 2022, Frank James unleashed a premeditated attack on unsuspecting New Yorkers he trapped in a subway car, firing 32 shots and seriously wounding 10 people. For those acts, Frank James was sentenced to:
10 concurrent sentences of life in prison, plus an additional 10-year consecutive sentence.
The daily lifeblood of New York City is in its transit system – it’s found in the subway cars that are responsible for safely transporting New Yorkers every single day. Frank James attempted to take that sense of safety away and inject fear and chaos into the heart of this City. While he found temporary success in his plot, due to the resilience of New Yorkers and our relentless pursuit of justice, he ultimately failed.
On that horrific morning, when New Yorkers left their homes and boarded the N train, they had no idea that they were entering a death trap that Frank James orchestrated. A trap that he had been planning to set for years during which he purchased smoke bombs, disguises, and guns. In the weeks leading up to the attack, he scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. On the day of the attack, when the train was between stations, he put his evil plan into action. He set off a smoke bomb, causing his victims to flee to the opposite end of the subway car. They had nowhere else to run. Then the defendant fired at them 32 times. 32 times in a closed subway car. We can only imagine the terror the passengers in that car experienced. Each time he pulled the trigger on his handgun, he made the choice to try to take a life. And although fortunately no one died, sixteen (16) of those 32 bullets struck the bodies of the cornered, innocent victims.
The victims – not just those who were wounded physically, but also those who witnessed this horrific act, and others who put themselves at risk to help, will live with these traumatic events for the rest of their lives.
From the victim who saved another passenger’s life by applying a makeshift tourniquet, to the victim who nearly lost her unborn child, to the victim who was shot three times and miraculously lived—dozens of people’s lives will forever be negatively affected because of the defendant’s heartless acts of terror.
The impact and fear were felt beyond the direct victims in that subway car and station that morning, the defendant terrorized the city at large. Schools were on lockdown. Parents rushed to pick up their kids and make sure that they were safe. People feared taking the subway. No one knew whether there would be additional attacks. There was a city-wide manhunt for more than 24 hours, and the terror caused by the attack lingered until the defendant was caught. And today Frank James was held accountable.
I want to thank our law enforcement partners who helped us secure justice in this case: the FBI, the NYPD, and the entire New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. I also want to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority which provided critical assistance along the way. The excellent and determined work and cooperation of these agencies led to the identification and apprehension of Frank James. Without the efforts of these agencies, we would not be standing here today.
I want to thank the outstanding prosecution team from my Office: Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Winik, Ellen Sise and Ian Richardson, paralegal specialist Magdalena Saint Surin, and the entire National Security & Cybercrime Section of my Office. And I want to express appreciation to Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco and our colleagues in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice for their support during the investigation of the attack and through the duration of this case.
Finally, to the people on that N train and in that station that morning, I want to thank you. You helped each other get to safety and to medical care. Your efforts assisted law enforcement in quickly identifying the defendant. On a day when evil imperiled so many, you showed that this city is made of good people. That we look out for one another. You are the fabric of this city; you are resilient. And on a dark day of danger and fear, you showed strength and courage, you showed that you are the light.
Today’s sentence sends a clear message to any would-be terrorist: if you plan or commit an act of violence, this Office will aggressively pursue federal charges and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.
Now we will hear from FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Kissane.
St. Louis Man Admits Six Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday admitted committing six armed robberies in a three-month period in 2021, including the robbery of two cell phone stores twice.
Bruce Franklin, 64, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted robbing the Boost Mobile store at 3636 Page Boulevard on August 26 and September 10, the T-Mobile at 4167 Lindell Boulevard on September 4 and September 20, the MetroPCS at 3949 Lindell Boulevard on September 17, and the Family Dollar at 11123 Bellefontaine Road in St. Louis County on October 27. Franklin stole cash from registers, and in one case, a handgun belonging to an employee.
Franklin was accompanied by Kristie Meeks during the September 17 and September 20 robberies. Meeks, 47, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty September 27 to two counts of robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Both Franklin and Meeks are scheduled to be sentenced January 22. The robbery charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and the felon in possession charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The brandishing charge carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Leroy Shintell McKinney, 38, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 18, 2023, by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., for possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine. McKinney was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On November 16, 2022, after a nearly two-year investigation into McKinney’s narcotics activity at various locations in Shreveport, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) arrested McKinney at a home on N. Southland Park Drive while executing a federal search warrant for narcotics. During the search, investigators found parked in the front yard of the home a red car known to be utilized by McKinney. A narcotics-detecting canine alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from within the car and investigators located approximately six ounces of methamphetamine hidden inside. In the home were digital scales and packaging material. After being advised of his Miranda rights, McKinney admitted to buying and possessing the methamphetamine for the purpose of distributing it. In total, investigators seized nearly 13 ounces of pure methamphetamine from McKinney throughout this investigation.
This case was investigated by members of the DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.
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Second Phoenix Poly-Drug Distributors Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hector Manuel Cruz, Jr., 29, of Chandler, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On April 25, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Co-defendant Konstantin Shurayeu, 32, of Phoenix, was sentenced this summer by Judge Snow to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On March 14, 2023, Shurayeu also pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On July 14, 2022, Cruz and Shurayeu met at an apartment complex in Phoenix to complete a drug transaction. Law enforcement ultimately found 4.93 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.38 kilograms of methamphetamine (actual), 8.49 grams of methamphetamine, 1.20 kilograms of cocaine, 0.77 kilograms of fentanyl analogue, 1.12 kilograms of heroin, 0.35 grams of oxycodone, 0.84 kilograms of marijuana and 12,330 units of Xanax (a Schedule IV substance) between Cruz’s vehicle, Shurayeu’s vehicle, and Cruz’s apartment. Law enforcement also located 16 handguns, two shotguns, one rifle, a ballistic vest and $118,195.00 in United States currency in Cruz’s apartment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-00901-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-147_Cruz# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Second Executive Admits Participating in $150 Million Fraud on QualcommRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 5, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Ali Akbar Shokouhi, the primary investor of a technology company sold to Qualcomm for over $150 million, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting his role in a massive fraud.
Shokouhi, a San Diego resident, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering related to a transaction involving proceeds of the fraud on Qualcomm. In his plea agreement, Shokouhi admitted that he schemed with co-defendant Karim Arabi and others to hide both Arabi’s and Shokouhi’s involvement in Abreezio—the tech firm that they marketed to Qualcomm.
Arabi was a Qualcomm employee throughout the entire marketing period, and hiding his involvement in the firm and the development of its patented technology allowed Abreezio’s principals to claim that the company was an “angel-funded” outside firm while disguising its true connections to Qualcomm. In that regard, Shokouhi admitted Arabi was intimately involved in Abreezio’s formation, development, and marketing to Qualcomm, including choosing the “Abreezio” name. Shokouhi further admitted that he referred to Arabi by a different name in text messages with co-conspirators to obscure Arabi’s involvement in Abreezio. According to court documents, Qualcomm agreed to pay roughly $180 million for Abreezio—$150 million of which was paid in October 2015.
Like co-defendant Sanjiv Taneja, who recently pleaded guilty and admitted his own role in the fraud, Shokouhi acknowledged that he never actually met the purported creator of Abreezio’s core technologies, who is Arabi’s family member and was never involved in the company’s technical or strategic decision-making as far as Shokouhi knew.
Shokouhi further admitted that he and Arabi concealed Shokouhi’s involvement in Abreezio in part because Shokouhi had previously been terminated from Qualcomm because of a conflict-of-interest violation. As part of his plea agreement, Shokouhi agreed to forfeit over $16 million that he personally received from Qualcomm’s purchase of Abreezio, and to pay restitution.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Pilchak, Janaki G. Chopra and Eric R. Olah.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-CR-1152-BAS
Karim Arabi Age: 57 San Diego, CA
Sanjiv Taneja Age: 60 Cupertino, CA
Ali Akbar Shokouhi Age: 64 San Diego, CA
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Services, Criminal Investigation
United States Marshals Service
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Richmond Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm at the Scene of an Active ShootingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2023, officers of the Richmond Police Department responded to a call of an active shooting near the intersection of Williamsburg Road and Government Road. Units arrived at that location within minutes of receiving the report and went to the parking lot of the Krispie’s Chicken restaurant, which was near the intersection where the shooting reportedly occurred. When they arrived, they saw Devon Martin, 30, wearing a hoodie which appeared to have a heavy, L-shaped object in the right pocket of the hoodie. As the officers approached Martin, he got into the passenger side of a vehicle. The officers ordered Martin to exit the vehicle and then conducted a pat down of his person. They found in Martin’s possession a Taurus, 9mm firearm in the pocket of his hoodie.
Martin was previously convicted in 2019 in the Eastern District of Virginia for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-96.
Readout of the Justice Department’s Meeting on Law Enforcement and Media Interactions During Mass DemonstrationsRead the Press Release
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press convened a meeting of law enforcement executives and members of the press, facilitated by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), to discuss recommendations for law enforcement interactions with journalists during protests and mass demonstrations. The discussion was prompted by a request from the Reporters Committee, which expressed the need for concrete, specific suggestions that would account for both the important role of the working press in a functioning democracy, as well as the challenge of policing large protests and demonstrations.
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who asked the COPS Office to convene the meeting, addressed the participants saying, “Each of you in this room has a difficult job. Journalists are entrusted with uncovering truth, holding those in power accountable, and providing the public with the information they need to make informed decisions. Law enforcement officers are constantly balancing their mandate to preserve public safety and fight crime, with the imperative to work constantly and consistently to build trust and maintain positive relationships with the communities they serve.” Associate Attorney General Gupta went on to say that “[t]he recommendations that come from today’s discussion, and the many conversations leading up to this event, will without a doubt accrue to everyone’s benefit.”
Last year, the department issued recommendations for law enforcement related to First Amendment issues in the context of mass demonstrations, but yesterday’s discussion focused specifically on best practices for law enforcement interactions with journalists.
The group discussed issues including safeguarding First Amendment rights, the identification of members of the news media during protest activity, the utility in a persistent point of contact for open communication between press and police during protest activity, the importance of developing relationships between the press and police in advance of demonstrations, the need for a “playbook” before a planned event, the challenges brought about by social media, and more. The result of the discussion will be a series of recommendations that will be widely disseminated by the Justice Department, law enforcement organizations, and the media.
In addition to the Associate Attorney General, attendees included COPS Office Director Hugh Clements, other Justice Department officials and COPS Office staff; representatives of the Reporters Committee; journalists, editors and senior managers from major broadcast and print outlets; and law enforcement executives from across the country.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to More than Four Years in Prison for Identity Theft Conspiracy Involving the Fraudulent Financing of Multiple Vehicles Totaling More than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh, North Carolina man, Basilio Rafael Garcia, was sentenced to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. On May 11, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Garcia conspired with others to unlawfully transfer, possess, and use the identities and personal identifying information of Puerto Rico residents to finance and purchase more than $1 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.
“This defendant ran a scam to buy high-end luxury cars using other people’s credit. He was driven by greed and greed alone,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Identity theft like this can leave victims with ruined credit and dire financial straits. We are prosecuting the fraudsters and reminding consumers to protect themselves by securing personal identifying information and monitoring credit reports regularly for suspicious activity.”
According to the investigation by the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement, Garcia traveled from Raleigh to Columbia, South Carolina and used the stolen identifying information of a Puerto Rico victim to apply for and obtain a South Carolina identification card. The supporting documents that Garcia provided to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles included a Social Security card and a purported Puerto Rican birth certificate in the victim’s name, as well as a counterfeit bank statement. Based on the false information provided, Garcia successfully obtained a South Carolina identification card with his photograph but the victim’s identifiers. On the following day, Garcia used the identification card and the victim’s personal information, including his Social Security number and credit report, to finance the purchase of Honda dirt bike from a dealership in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The defendant subsequently used the same victim’s identity to fraudulently finance the purchase of multiple vehicles from dealerships in the Raleigh and Durham areas, including two Jeep Wranglers, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a BMW X5, and a Range Rover. A search warrant was later executed at Garcia’s residence, during which officers recovered drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, and vehicle titles in the names of other people. Raleigh-based law enforcement officers have recovered some of the vehicles working with counterparts in other states.
Two of Garcia’s co-conspirators in the case, Jarlin Javier Sanchez and Warlin Mateo-Tejeda, were previously sentenced to prison following their guilty pleas.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The United States Secret Service, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-48-D.
Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jeffrey Krowiorz, II, 35, from Milford, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing on June 14, 2023, Krowiorz, II admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm, after having at least one prior felony conviction, and being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Krowiorz, II, was previously convicted of the following felony crimes: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2013; possession of lithium with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Emmet County, in 2007; and possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Clay County, in 2007. Further evidence showed that the firearm Krowiorz, II possessed had an altered or obliterated serial number.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Krowiorz, II was sentenced to a total of 85 months’ imprisonment which includes a consecutive 24-month sentence for revocation of his federal supervised release. Krowiorz, II must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Krowiorz, II remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spencer Iowa Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Previously Removed Foreign National Prosecuted and Arrested in Salt Lake County for Allegedly Possessing over 12,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a foreign national living in Salt Lake County for possessing over 12,000 blue M30 pills containing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Oscar Noe Cota-Galaviz, 38 of West Jordan, Utah, allegedly illegally possessed over 12,000 fentanyl pills. On Sept. 20, 2023, during an execution of a search warrant of Cota-Galaviz’s residence, agents found approximately 10,000 blue “M30” pills containing fentanyl hidden inside a mattress in Cota-Galaviz’s residence. Agents also found approximately 1,000 blue pills containing fentanyl wrapped in a plastic container in Cota-Galaviz’s pants pocket. Cota-Galviz told agents the pills were “vitamins.” After obtaining a search warrant for Cota-Galaviz’s storage unit, detectives found approximately 1,500 blue “M30” pills containing fentanyl hidden inside a charcoal bag inside of the unit. Cota-Galaviz is a previously removed foreign national from the United States.
Cota-Galaviz is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegal reentry. The defendant had his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelsy B. Young for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to $25M Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of more than $25 million for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were induced by kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents, Dacheng Lu, aka Bruce Lu, 44, of Great Neck, was a part owner of 888 Pharmacy Inc. (888) and Huikang Pharmacy Inc. (Huikang). Between January 2015 and December 2022, Lu and his co-conspirators referred Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients to medical practices that prescribed medically unnecessary topical medications and pain patches, which 888 and Huikang billed to Medicare and Medicaid. In exchange for writing medically unnecessary prescriptions, Lu and his co-conspirators provided the medical practices kickbacks and bribes in the form of rent and office staff.
Lu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Papillion Woman Sentenced for Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Paula R. Creps, 52, of Papillion, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Omaha by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 6 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Creps pled guilty in July 2023 to Mail Fraud and had already paid restitution of $44,884.95.
From about November 2015 to July 2022, Creps was the Director of the Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates ("Sarpy CASA"). Sarpy CASA staff and volunteers serve as Advocates in Juvenile Court proceedings. The juveniles are typically wards of the state who have been removed from their homes due to reported abuse or neglect. The Advocates support the juveniles during the court process and submit reports to the Juvenile Court concerning the juveniles’ best interests.
In addition to their normal duties as Advocates, CASA volunteers and staff can help juveniles and their families obtain needed items or pay for special events using charitable contributions that are held by Lift Up Sarpy County (LUSC). Sarpy CASA can also expend government grant funds that LUSC holds.
As Director, Creps managed the operation of Sarpy CASA, oversaw its staff and volunteers, and approved expenditures of charitable contributions and grant funds.
From about March 2019 to July 2022, while she was Director of Sarpy CASA, Creps fraudulently obtained approximately $44,884.95 in goods and services that were paid for or reimbursed by LUSC from charitable contributions and grant funds that it held. Creps did so by submitting false payment reports and reimbursement requests for expenditures that purportedly were for charitable or government purposes, but in fact were for the benefit of herself or her family. Creps supported the fraudulent requests with forged receipts.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.
Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Department of Justice then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20, 2023, order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the Justice Department's forfeiture actions against one authoritarian regime are now directly supporting the Ukrainian people's fight against another authoritarian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to use every legal authority at our disposal to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“Our office will continue to use all the tools in our arsenal to disrupt the IRGC’s efforts to sow discord,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The transfer of these assets to the Ukrainian armed forces will now aid an important partner in its fight against unwarranted aggression.”
“The forfeiture and transfer of a major ammunition cache, once destined to serve the Iranian regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad, represents the Justice Department’s commitment to countering authoritarian aggression around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Together, with partner agencies and departments, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the nation’s security by vigorously enforcing U.S. sanctions and imposing costs on hostile regimes in accordance with the rule of law.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the ammunition and other munitions on or about Dec. 1, 2022.
The documents alleged a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons and munitions to entities contrary to U.S. interests.
The government’s forfeiture action was part of a larger investigation of an Iranian weapons-smuggling network. The network was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region.
The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.
Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Justice Department then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20 order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the Justice Department's forfeiture actions against one authoritarian regime are now directly supporting the Ukrainian people's fight against another authoritarian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to use every legal authority at our disposal to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“The forfeiture and transfer of a major ammunition cache, once destined to serve the Iranian regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad, represents the Justice Department’s commitment to countering authoritarian aggression around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Together, with partner agencies and departments, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the nation’s security by vigorously enforcing U.S. sanctions and imposing costs on hostile regimes in accordance with the rule of law.”
“Our office will continue to use all the tools in our arsenal to disrupt the IRGC’s efforts to sow discord,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The transfer of these assets to the Ukrainian armed forces will now aid an important partner in its fight against unwarranted aggression.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the ammunition and other munitions on or about Dec. 1, 2022.
The documents alleged a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons and munitions to entities contrary to U.S. interests.
The government’s forfeiture action was part of a larger investigation of an Iranian weapons-smuggling network. The network was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office and Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.
Ogden Man Arrested and Charged with Robbing a BankRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Weber County, Utah man with bank robbery after he allegedly used a threating note to steal cash.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, Theophales Kur, 36 of Ogden, Utah, entered Zions Bank located at 2302 South Washington Blvd. in Ogden and stole $500. Wearing a surgical face mask, the suspect later identified as Kur, handed the teller a threatening note. The teller took $500 cash from the cash recycler machine and gave it to Kur. The defendant took the money and the note, made a “finger-gun” with his hand, pointed it at the teller and made a motion with his finger as if he was pulling the trigger. Kur then left the bank on foot.
Ogden Police Department responded and viewed video of Ker just before he entered the bank. Still images of the video were sent to law enforcement officers to aid in the investigation. Three blocks from the bank, an officer saw an individual matching the description of the suspect at a Trax platform. The individual was identified by a white hospital bracelet as Theophales Kur. Police recovered $500 and the threatening note that read “This is a robbery no dye packs, no trace, no silent alarm. I have a gun follow instruction and no one will get hurt. Now give me the money,” from Kur’s pocket.
Kur is charged with bank robbery. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Northern Panhandle men indicted for sex offensesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Northern Panhandle men were indicted yesterday for federal sex offenses.
Harry Fred Wells, age 53, of Follansbee, West Virginia, was charged with enticement of a minor for sex using a computer, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Wells allegedly tried to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, sent obscene material to the minor, and had child pornography on his cell phone.
David Edward Evans, age 53, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Evans uploaded pornographic images of minors to Google Photos. Investigators then searched Evans’ phone and found more images and videos depicting a pre-pubescent minor less than 12 years old.
Carl Dennis Colvin, age 70, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Colvin had child pornography on his computer depicting children under the age of 12.
Caleb Dale Steiner, age 42, also of Wheeling, was indicted on a charge of failure to register. According to court documents, Steiner must register as a sex offender and traveled across state lines without updating his registration with his new address.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue all those who seek to harm children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, the individuals charged won’t be able to hurt anyone for a long time to come.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The West Virginia State Police investigated the Evans case. The Wheeling Police Department investigated the Colvin matter with assistance of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Wells and matter, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the Steiner case.
Indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
North Chili man convicted of 37 counts of COVID relief fraud going to prisonRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Rech, 52, of North Chili, NY, who was convicted at trial of 37 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan K. McGuire and Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Rech was the Director, President, and CEO of Guardian of Humanity, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, as well as the sole member of Eclipse, a limited liability company. Rech applied for eight different Payroll Protection Program loans, fraudulently claiming that Guardian and Eclipse had employees and that he had been paying wages to these employees, which qualified him for the PPP loans. In total, he attempted to obtain over $880,000 in PPP funds. Subsequent investigation revealed that Rech’s companies did not have any employees and did not pay wages to anyone. Rech himself was unemployed and collecting unemployment benefits from the State of New York at the time.
Rech received three PPP loans totaling approximately $277,500. Once he received the loans, Rech took the money out of the bank in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements. The Internal Revenue Service recovered all of the funds from two safes in Rech’s home and a bank account that Rech had sole control over. As a result of the trial, all $277,500 was forfeited back to the government.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Small Business Administration.
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North Carolina Man Who Caused Dubuque Man’s Death by Selling Him Heroin and Fentanyl Found Guilty After Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A jury found a North Carolina man who sold fentanyl and heroin to a Dubuque man, causing his death, guilty on October 5, 2023, following a four-day jury trial.
James Adam Earwood, age 38, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, was found guilty after a jury trial. The jury found Earwood guilty of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin and fentanyl, causing the death of another.
Evidence at trial showed that on November 18, 2021, Earwood mailed a package of heroin and fentanyl to another person. Earwood was living in North Carolina at the time and the victim was living in Dubuque, Iowa. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and overdosed in the parking lot of a local business in Dubuque. The victim survived the overdose. One month later, on December 17, 2021, the victim received another package of heroin and fentanyl in the mail from Earwood. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and died shortly thereafter. He was found deceased by hotel staff in a hotel in Dubuque, Iowa.
Evidence showed that Earwood was using social media platforms on the dark web to arrange transactions of heroin and fentanyl with other people. Investigators tracked down at least one other package that Earwood had sent through the US Mail which contained heroin and fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake, and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Dubuque Drug Task Force which includes the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department, and the Rutherford County North Carolina Drug Task Force.
Earwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1024.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty for Making False Oath in Bankruptcy MatterRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEANNINE DUKES (“DUKES”), age 41, of New Orleans, pled guilty on October 4, 2023 for making a false oath in a bankruptcy matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. DUKES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, DUKES faces a term of supervised release of no less than three (3) years after her release from prison as well as payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to the bill of information, on November 19, 2021, DUKES did knowingly and fraudulently make a false oath or account in or in relation to any case under Title 11 in a bankruptcy case. Specifically, DUKES failed to disclose she had applied for a COVID-19 PPP Loan on May 18, 2021, and received approximately $20,527.00 in PPP funds on June 8, 2021.
Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for January 10, 2024 before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the U.S. Trustee, Region 5, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.
National Children’s Advocacy Center Awarded $4.25 Million in Grants from Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Department of Justice has awarded grants totaling $4,250,000 to the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and NCAC Executive Director, Chris Newlin.
“I am proud to announce that the NCAC has received these grants for its important work on behalf of children in Madison County, the Southern Region of the United States, and throughout our nation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “These grants are vital in sustaining this center’s mission to continue to provide training and support to professionals dedicated to responding to child abuse throughout our nation. I am thankful for the ongoing partnership with the NCAC as we work together to provide a safer future for children.”
“We are so thankful for the continuing support from the Department of Justice and our partnership with U.S. Attorney Escalona,” said Chris Newlin. “This grant will provide critical training and support to equip child abuse response professionals and their multidisciplinary teams with the knowledge and skills to be the steadfast guardians of our children's safety, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all."
The NCAC is receiving the funding through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant program. The NCAC was awarded $1,250,000 for the Fiscal Year 2023 Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program and $3 million for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Victims of Child Abuse Act and Training and Technical Assistant for Child Abuse Professionals.
Under the Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program grant, the NCAC operates the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center program which provides coordinated, strategic training and technical assistance, and resources to state chapters, other Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC), and multidisciplinary teams within the southern census region of the United States. The Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center was formed in 1995 and supports more than 41% of the 1,000+ CACs currently operating throughout the United States which served more than 380,494 youth in 2022.
Under the Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals grant, the NCAC will continue to provide model training programs and support for federal, state, tribal and local professionals who assist in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse victims. The grant allows NCAC to continue to provide significant free virtual training through its Virtual Training Center, and continue operating the renowned Child Abuse Library OnlineTM (CALiOTM) which is the largest digital library for child abuse resources in the world.
The NCAC exists to champion and strengthen the global response to child abuse and give every child the best chance at life, safe from abuse. A global leader and changemaker, the NCAC provides hope, healing, and justice for children through global training for child abuse professionals, community-based child abuse prevention strategies, and a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse that includes forensic interviews, medical and mental health services, and family advocacy. Give every child the best chance at life at www.nationalcac.org.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 4, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Southern Lausane, III, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on June 15, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lausane’s residence in Montgomery. Inside the residence, officers found a handgun and shotgun. Lausane has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On June 7, 2023, Lausane pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in federal court.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuting.
Mingo County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Military Death BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jessica Horton, 53, of Matewan, was sentenced today to four months in prison, four months of home detention, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $181,713.58 in restitution for theft of government money. Horton admitted to stealing United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) survivor’s benefits.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Horton’s great aunt was awarded VA Survivor’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits after the death of her husband in World War II. The great aunt began receiving the monthly benefits on May 1, 1945.
Beginning in or around 1964, the benefits were mailed to the great aunt’s post office box in Matewan. On February 21, 1999, Horton’s great aunt died, and the entitlement to benefits was therefore extinguished. Horton’s mother had access to the post office box. Horton admitted that her great aunt’s name was fraudulently signed on the benefits after the death to allow Horton’s mother to receive the benefits and convert them to her own use.
Horton’s mother fraudulently received the monthly benefits until her death on February 14, 2011. Following her mother’s death, Horton took over the post office box and began signing her great-aunt’s name in order to receive the monthly benefits. Horton admitted that she knew she was not entitled or authorized to sign her great aunt’s name on the benefits.
Horton deposited the benefits in various bank accounts at a Williamson bank where she was an account owner and signatory, and converted the money to her own use. Horton admitted that from around March 2011 until on or around December 31, 2022, she knowingly and willfully took approximately $181,713,58 in VA survivor’s benefits that she was not entitled or authorized to receive. The monthly benefits were terminated by the VA on or around January 12, 2023.
“Month after month for more than a decade, this defendant knowingly and intentionally took money that was intended to aid veterans and their families,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson, the grandson of a World War II veteran. “Fraud of this nature worsens the strain on a vital support system at the expense of those families as well as the American taxpayers and their confidence in our government.”
This case originated from a referral from the Benefits Delivery Protection and Remediation (BDP&R) division of the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. Thompson also commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-49.
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Middletown man arrested for coercing, exploiting children onlineRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Middletown man this morning on charges alleging he exploited and coerced child victims online.
William Scott Elam, 52, allegedly connected with an estimated 20 minor females on sites and apps like Omegle and Discord and pretended to be a 14-year-old.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in July 2023, the FBI in Milwaukee was made aware of a potential child victim through a report to law enforcement that originated with a mandated reporter. The report involved a 12-year-old victim.
It is alleged the victim met Elam on Omegle, a free online chat website that allows users to socialize without the need to register. The service randomly pairs users in one-on-one chat sessions where they chat anonymously using the names “you” and “stranger.”
Elam and the victim allegedly exchanged Discord contact information and began chatting on the app.
Elam allegedly pretended to be a 14-year-old male and coerced the child victim to send him live sexual material by telling her that he would log off Discord and cut himself if she did not comply.
It is alleged that Elam also pretended to be a 14-year-old cousin to his other persona. Using the second persona, he allegedly coerced the victim into sending new live sexual content by threatening to show “his cousin’s mom” her previous encounters with Elam.
A search of Elam’s Discord account revealed similar sexual encounters with at least three other minor victims between October and December 2022.
It is alleged that Elam also instructed one victim to self-harm via cutting on live video in addition to coercing the victim to perform sex acts live on camera.
Elam appeared in federal court in 1:30pm today. His detention hearing is scheduled for 1:30pm tomorrow before Chief Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz.
Sexually exploiting children is a federal crime punishable by a prison range of 15 to 30 years in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelvin Bradley, 49, of Michigan, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Washington Street in Charleston. Bradley was a passenger in that vehicle, and admitted that he possessed a Colt, .38 Special revolver that was found in the vehicle.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bradley knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for aggravated stalking in the Third Judicial Circuit, Wayne County, Michigan, on September 3, 2002.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon, Nowles Heinrich and Negar Kordestani prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-98.
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Medical facility settles claim alleging failure to provide effective communication services to deaf individualsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A local rehabilitation center has agreed to a settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure it provides appropriate auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired when providing medical services, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
In November 2021, authorities received a complaint alleging Park Manor of CyFair failed to provide effective communication to an individual who is deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL) as his primary means of communication. Park Manor did not provide a qualified ASL interpreter, as the ADA defines, to communicate information related to his medical care, symptoms and treatment plan.
Under the settlement agreement, Park Manor will revamp its training for new and existing employees regarding interpreter services, have specific and uniform criteria for determining when an interpreter is needed and what interpreter services are adequate. They will also keep detailed records of these decisions and accommodations.
“My office is committed to protecting the rights of people who have not traditionally had a voice,” said Hamdani. “Having equal access to health care services - which includes the ability to effectively communicate with your health care provider - is a fundamental right. It must be accessible to all. If not, my office will investigate and bring enforcement actions against you to ensure compliance with the ADA.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Myra Siddiqui handled the matter.
This case is a part of the Department of Justice’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, which seeks to enforce the ADA’s prohibition of discrimination against individuals with disabilities by health care providers. Through the Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the nation and the Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division target their enforcement efforts on a critical area for individuals with disabilities - access to medical services and facilities. The Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative is a multi-phase initiative that includes effective communication for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities and equal access to treatment for people who have HIV/AIDS.
The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities to comply with the ADA, including a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings. Visit the ADA for more information and to access these publications. ADA Complaints may be filed Department of Justice or within the Southern District of Texas.
Maryland man admits to fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony Matthews, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthews and a co-defendant supplied fentanyl to at least 10 others who live in the Moorefield/Petersburg area of West Virginia. The others traveled to Matthews’ apartment and purchased fentanyl on hundreds of occasions, each time purchasing more than a personal-use quantity for the purpose of sales in West Virginia.
Matthews is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Man Sentenced for Running Child Obscenity WebsiteRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 33 years and nine months in prison for multiple obscenity crimes involving children.
According to the indictment, Ron Kuhlmeyer, 65, of Santa Rosa, operated a website that globally distributed stories about the rape, murder, and sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Law enforcement determined that Kuhlmeyer was running his obscenity website from Belize. Kuhlmeyer wrote many of the stories himself but also published the works of other offenders, including stories that had been previously published on Mr. Double, another website dedicated to publishing writings that detail the sexual abuse of children. Some of the stories on Kuhlmeyer’s website described the rape, torture, and murder of children, while others were accompanied by lifelike computer-generated images of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
On June 13, Kuhlmeyer pleaded guilty to five counts of importation or transportation of obscene matters and one count of distributing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Kuhlmeyer was previously convicted of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child in Sonoma County, California, in 2008 and served six years in state prison.
In June 2021, Thomas Arthur, the owner of Mr. Double, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement.
HSI and the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the government of Belize.
Trial Attorneys Austin M. Berry and Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Young for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possessing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Juan Ramos, a/k/a/ “Bebo,” 22, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2024. Ramos was charged in May 2023.
In April 2023, law enforcement identified an apartment in Lynn that was fraudulently rented under a fictitious name. A subsequent investigation determined that the listed tenant did not exist and that the premises was being utilized as a hub for drug distribution and packaging.
During a search of the apartment on May 2, 2023, Ramos fled from law enforcement by way of the balcony before being apprehended a short distance away. At the time, Ramos was on pretrial release for an unrelated domestic violence offense and wearing a court-ordered GPS bracelet. A review of the GPS bracelet’s records showed that Ramos frequently travelled to the apartment. Inside the apartment, approximately 500 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, 30 pounds of cutting agent, blenders, scales and other paraphernalia used in the distribution and packaging of drugs as well as a .38 Taurus revolver was found. A search of Ramos’ vehicle outside the apartment revealed an additional 200 grams of fentanyl and a .40 caliber Glock pistol concealed inside a hidden compartment underneath the driver’s seat.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Los Angeles Resident Convicted of Mailing over a Kilogram of Methamphetamine to MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California resident pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sending more than one kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent in Massachusetts.
Hagen Dunphy, a/k/a “Molly Ruin” and “~Haley,” 36, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2024. Dunphy was indicted on Dec. 8, 2021, and was arrested in Los Angeles on Feb. 18, 2022.
In March 2020 and again in October 2020, Dunphy agreed to send packages containing methamphetamine to an undercover agent. One of the packages was found to contain approximately 698.3 grams of 98% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride (also known as “ice”). The second package contained approximately 294.69 grams of 75% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride in one bag and approximately 204.41 grams of 97% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride inside a second bag.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by Los Angeles’ Divisions of the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Lead defendant in nationwide foreclosure rescue scam sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Hamilton, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for his role in a foreclosure rescue scheme that defrauded at least 780 financially distressed homeowners throughout the United States, including more than 100 individuals in the Southern District of Ohio.
Lorin Kal Buckner, 67, preyed on homeowners who had defaulted on their mortgages and convinced the victims to pay to take part in fraudulent programs on the promise it would save their homes.
Buckner was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud following a jury trial in November 2022. He is one of 11 individuals charged in the scheme.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from 2013 through 2018, the defendants took advantage of homeowners’ desperation to save their homes and used money from homeowner victims to personally enrich themselves.
Co-conspirators promised affiliates commissions by recruiting distressed homeowners to companies including:
- MVP Home Solutions, LLC, also known as
- Stay In or Walk Away;
- Bolden Pinnacle Group Corp., also known as
- Home Advisory Services Network
- Home Advisory Services Group Inc.; and
- Silverstein & Wolf Corp.
Affiliates were encouraged to be aggressive in recruiting homeowners. Affiliates used online databases and court records to identify vulnerable, financially distressed homeowners who had recently received notice of foreclosure on their home.
Buckner and his co-conspirators mailed more than 56,000 postcards in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere promising that they could “stop foreclosure” or “stop the sheriff sale” for a fixed fee. Buckner and his co-conspirators also reached out to homeowners using Craigslist ads, websites, email and social media platforms.
On the promise of reducing or eliminating mortgage obligations in exchange for a fee, recruiters like Buckner would collect payments from homeowners and refer the victims to the co-conspirator companies.
Among other things, the defendants promised:
- to negotiate with mortgage lenders on the homeowners’ behalf for the purchase of the mortgage notes at a discount;
- to negotiate the sale of their home and release of their mortgage loans through a short sale and/or deed in lieu of foreclosure sale;
- to stop an imminent foreclosure sale;
- to remove the mortgage lien via a tender offer; and
- achieve short sale prices at a fraction of the value of the outstanding lien/note.
Further, defendants represented that they had “proprietary” methods or “legal tactics” to help homeowners stall or completely avoid foreclosure. In actuality, the defendants persuaded homeowners to file chapter 13 bankruptcies to delay foreclosure actions.
Defendants filed skeletal bankruptcy petitions that they called “pump fakes” or “missiles,” These petitions intentionally failed to disclose the defendants as preparers giving the appearance that the homeowners had filed the petitions pro se. Any relief from foreclosure delay was temporary until the bankruptcy court dismissed the proceeding. As a result of the defendants’ scheme, victims lost thousands of dollars and in many cases lost their homes.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Northeast Region; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge, USPIS, New York Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.
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- MVP Home Solutions, LLC, also known as
Laredo ophthalmologist charged in repetitive harmful eye procedure fraud schemeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A 54-year-old Austin resident has been indicted for health care fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Michael Hochman made his initial appearance today and is set for arraignment Oct. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos.
A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment Sept. 27.
According to court documents, Hochman is an ophthalmologist who owned and operated Michael A. Hochman P.A. and Laredo Laser & Surgery Ltd. in Laredo.
The charges allege Hochman falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients with ophthalmological diseases and various degenerative eye conditions. Hochman allegedly directed optometry staff to conduct fraudulent, repetitive and excessive medical procedures on patients to maximize profits.
According to the indictment, Hochman caused Medicare and other health care benefit programs to remit payment for millions of dollars in proceeds into various corporate and personal bank accounts.
The false and fraudulent claims Hochman allegedly submitted to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare totaled $402,536,174. As a result of the false and fraudulent claims, Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare paid approximately $13,317,914, according to the charges.
The indictment also alleges Hochman used the proceeds of the fraud scheme to purchase a private airplane, luxury vehicles, high-end antiques, collectible coins and other luxury items.
If convicted, Hochman faces up to 10 years in prison for one count of health care fraud. He also faces four counts of money laundering, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Veteran Affairs – OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tina Ansari, Cynthia Villanueva, Tyler White and Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Lackawanna County Man Charged with Commercial Bribery and Tax Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jason R. Bonnewell, age 41, of North Abington Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiring to commit honest services fraud and filing false tax returns.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment returned against Bonnewell alleges that, during his tenure as a supervisor at a Pennsylvania food services company from 2014 to 2019, he and his coconspirators accepted cash bribes and other things of value from other coconspirators who owned and operated Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing. Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing were two companies that leased temporary employees to Bonnewell’s company. In exchange for the kickbacks, Bonnewell and his coconspirators entered contracts with and hired the temporary employees of the two staffing companies. Allegedly, over $13,000,000 were paid to the two staffing companies, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.
Bonnewell also was charged with three counts of filing false tax returns, for tax years 2017 through 2019. Bonnewell allegedly failed to disclose the cash payments on his tax returns, thus underreporting his total income and adjusted gross income for each year.
Five other individuals were previously prosecuted in this investigation:
- Mark Holmes, age 66, of Hughes Springs, Texas, pleaded guilty to accepting, as the General Manager of the Pennsylvania food services company, approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing, in exchange for hiring their employees. The two temporary staffing companies, in turn, received approximately $7,800,000 from Holmes’s employer. Holmes also pleaded guilty to failing to remit approximately $135,000 in employment taxes to the IRS that were owed by Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, another temporary staffing company that he owned and operated. Encore Staffing Solutions LLC leased temporary employees to manufacturing businesses throughout Pennsylvania. Holmes awaits sentencing.
- Nari Lam, age 31, of Wilmington, Delaware, pleaded guilty to failing to remit employment taxes to the IRS. From 2016 through 2020, Nari Lam, as the owner of temporary staffing company Penns Independent Staffing, failed to pay approximately $300,000 in employment taxes owed by Penns Independent Staffing to the IRS. Nari Lam awaits sentencing.
- Madeline Nieves, age 49, of Plains, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a tax fraud conspiracy. Nieves conspired with other individuals to defraud the IRS, from 2018 to 2020, in connection with staffing company Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, which she owned and operated. Nieves failed to report Encore Staffing Solutions LLC employee wages to the IRS, resulting in approximately $67,000 in employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Encore to the IRS. Nieves also failed to report her own personal income from Encore Staffing Solutions LLC to the IRS. Nieves awaits sentencing.
- Danny Sing, age 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiring with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees, and to failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes to the IRS. Danny Sing and his coconspirators paid Global Staffing Services, Inc. employees in cash, paid themselves in cash, and cashed all checks received from Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s clients, to conceal the income and wages from the IRS. The criminal activities occurred between 2013 and 2020. Sing also pleaded guilty to providing in excess of approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks to managers and supervisors at Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s client, to obtain business for Global Staffing Services, Inc. Sing awaits sentencing.
- Den Lam, age 49, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged in an information alleging that he conspired with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees. Den Lam also was charged with failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to the IRS.
The cases were investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations Division. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each tax offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the commercial bribery offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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King County man who shot at another driver following road rage collision convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunitionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old King County man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Robby Lee Robinson was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for just over an hour before returning the verdict. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2023.
“This case exemplifies why we restrict gun ownership when it comes to felons,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Robinson had a history of poor choices that resulted in prison sentences. On November 8, 2022, he chose poorly yet again, grabbing a gun and firing at another driver while traveling down a busy highway. He is fortunate no one was injured or killed. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.”
According to records filed in the case, just after 10:00 PM on November 8, 2022, a victim called 9-1-1 reporting that he had been involved in an accident and now the other driver was shooting at him. The incident occurred on the southbound lanes of Highway 18. The driver was able to get away from the car Robinson was driving and reported to police that it appeared the car had exited the highway.
King County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the car with the shooter and followed it to Maple Valley where the driver finally stopped the vehicle and surrendered. In the car police found two firearms, ammunition, and shell casings.
At trial Robinson and his wife claimed the guns belonged to her and that Robinson did not know the guns were in the car. Robinson was alone in the car at the time of the accident. He testified that he felt threatened following the collision, and then described how he chased after the driver and repeatedly fired the gun he found on the floor of the car at the taillights of the other driver. The bullets broke a window on the victim car, and law enforcement recovered bullet fragments in the vehicle.
Robinson faces up to 15 in prison.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), the Washington State Patrol, and King County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Rachel Yemini.
Kern County Residents Charged with Federal Explosives ViolationsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Joseph Roy Vigneault, 20, of Lake Isabella, and Michael Roy Anglin, 21, of Wofford Heights, charging them with the receipt and transportation of explosives without a license and distributing explosives to a non-licensed person. Vigneault was also charged with stealing explosive materials from a licensed manufacturer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Vigneault is alleged to have been involved in the theft of over 700 pounds of Hydromite, an explosive and blasting agent, from Austin Powder West LLC, a licensed explosives manufacturer. The Hydromite contained ammonium nitrate, which is used militarily as an explosive and has been used in several terrorist acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing. Vigneault then recruited Anglin to assist in selling the Hydromite to another individual for a profit. The buyer resided in Wofford Heights. Neither Vigneault, Anglin, nor the buyer were licensed to handle or transport explosives as required by federal law.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Robbery, Assault with Intent to Rob, and Two Counts of Felony ThreatsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Kevin Diaz, 18, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of robbery, assault with intent to rob, and other charges in an early morning hold-up that took place in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, on Apr. 25, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m., a construction worker and a roofer arrived near the 1600 block of Lamont Street, NW to begin remodeling and repair work on a local business. As the construction worker waited in the alley near Lamont Street, Diaz, wearing chin-length hair, a distinctive outfit, bright red shoes, and brandishing an ice pick, approached him. Diaz demanded money, claimed membership in the 18th Street gang, and threatened to kill the worker if he did not comply with his demands. That worker did not give Diaz any money, so Diaz turned his attention to the roofer, who had arrived in his truck minutes after the construction worker. Diaz again brandished the ice pick, demanded money, claimed membership in a gang, and threatened to kill the roofer. The roofer, who was scared for his life, went to his truck, pulled out $20, and gave it to Diaz. Diaz took the money and left.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene and collected surveillance footage that showed Diaz wearing the distinctive haircut and outfit as described by the two victims and an eyewitness. They then began to canvas the area.
About an hour later, officers found Diaz about 10 blocks away, wearing his chin-length hair and the same outfit. After Diaz was identified by the construction worker and roofer as the assailant, he was taken into custody. He has remained held since the incident.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel White and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Yarbro and William Lawrence who prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Syracuse Man of Attempting to Entice a Minor and Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Bruce Wakker, age 68, of Syracuse, was convicted yesterday of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities and attempting to transfer obscene materials to a minor, following a 3-day trial. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The trial evidence established that from November 2019 to June 2020, Wakker exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with people he believed to be a 9-year-old girl and her mother, respectively. In these text messages, Wakker, among other things, discussed performing different sexual acts with the 9-year-old and sent the 9-year-old pictures of his genitalia. Wakker arranged to meet with the presumed mother and 9-year-old in person. On June 11, 2020, he traveled from Syracuse to New York Mills, New York, for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the 9-year-old. Wakker was arrested shortly after his arrival.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2024, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby in Syracuse, at which time the defendant faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He will also have to register as a sex offender. The 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 FBI Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carling Dunham and Douglas Collyer prosecuted this case.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Jefferson County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Terrell Corey McMullin, 30, of Fairfield, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. McMullin was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“The illegal possession of firearms by repeat offenders is a persistent threat to the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Our ongoing collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement has been instrumental in removing illegal firearms from our communities. Together, we are making our communities safer every day.”
“Today’s announcement is a perfect answer to one of our most important whys, why we chose to protect and serve the public,” said SAC Watson. “This is a positive result of a job well done by the ATF and our partners who work tirelessly to combat violent crime within our communities. We will continue to use all our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms and bring those individuals to justice who continue to disregard the law and the brave men and women who enforce them.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 1, 2022, a Pleasant Grove police officer conducted a traffic stop on McMullin. The officer attempted to make contact with McMullin, but he sped away. The chase ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle and wrecked a short distance later. McMullin exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The pursuit ended when McMullin crossed into the Fairfield city limits. During the search of the abandoned vehicle, the officer found a tan Glock 9mm pistol with an installed Glock switch in the driver’s seat. The Glock was later determined to be stolen.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Royster and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County Agencies Awarded $800,000 to Enhance Responses to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center (One Place) $800,000 to support its mission as the comprehensive service provider for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Jefferson County. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) and the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) partnered with One Place in its application to enhance services to survivors of domestic violence in Jefferson County. The award comes to One Place through OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses grant program.
The collaborative application developed by One Place, ¡HICA!, and JCDH addresses key barriers to victims of violence that are seeking assistance, as well as significant risk factors that correlate with an increased risk of homicide for domestic violence victims.
“The awarded funds will allow our team of partners at One Place to expand on-site resources and offer more comprehensive support for survivors of domestic violence,” said Kelly Klehm, One Place’s Deputy Director. “This award advances our shared goals, which are to improve care for the survivors we serve and to make the process of receiving help less intimidating and more efficient.”
One Place’s successful grant application with ¡HICA!, and JCDH emphasized addressing barriers and risks faced by survivors. Through the grant by OVW, ¡HICA! will provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence, who might be hesitant to seek help due to language or cultural barriers. Also, JCDH will ensure the provision of specialized nursing services to victims of strangulation. When strangulation occurs in relationships with domestic violence, the risk of lethality to the victim increases by 750%.
“This grant allows us to expand our existing work at One Place and underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Latino community has full access to the essential legal services they need during their most challenging times. Working collaboratively with our partners, we aim to break down language barriers and create a haven where all victims feel heard, understood, and supported,” said Carlos Alemán, Chief Executive Officer of ¡HICA!.
“Violence, in any form, has direct and indirect deleterious impacts on society and is a public health concern. JCDH is committed to violence prevention and supporting survivors of violent acts. Receipt of this grant demonstrates the importance of collaborative partnerships to serve those in need,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks.
Since 2014, One Place has served as Jefferson County’s one-stop community response center for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Local agencies who are on-site partners at One Place include ¡HICA!, the YWCA of Central Alabama, Legal Services of Alabama, United Counseling, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office – Birmingham Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Birmingham Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. At One Place, victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive wraparound services from one central location, with an emphasis on maintaining a survivor-centered approach.
“I am grateful to the Office on Violence Against Women for their support of our partner’s work in Jefferson County. Victims of domestic violence face numerous and life-threatening barriers to seeking help, and they deserve our best efforts and fullest support,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “One Place’s work, alongside ¡HICA! and JCDH, will improve protections for victims most at risk of domestic homicide and will address cultural and language barriers that too often separate victims from life-saving care”.
In Jefferson County, offenders with a domestic violence history are responsible for the vast majority of homicides committed each year. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has identified that more than 70% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County for 2021, 2022, and 2023 have previously committed acts of domestic violence.
In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama launched Operation Safe Families to bring federal law enforcement alongside local victim service providers, local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities.
OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses program is designed to encourage partnerships between state and local governments, courts, victim service providers, coalitions, and rape crisis centers to ensure that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are treated as serious violations of criminal law.
Including this award, the Department of Justice has committed more than $1.6 million of funding for new projects to address domestic violence within the Jefferson County since 2022. The Office of Violence Against Women has awarded $500,000 to One Place Metro Family Justice Center to facilitate and implement the Domestic Violence and Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) in Jefferson County, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham approximately $340,000 to enhance the response of local law enforcement and prosecutors in Jefferson County. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has dedicated Project Safe Neighborhoods grant resources to enhance protections for domestic violence victims within the Northern District of Alabama.
For more information on One Place and its services contact (205) 453-7261.
Jamestown sex offender charged with production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Timothy Douglas, 63, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 12, 2023, a customer at a grocery store in Jamestown found a blue Moxee phone sitting on a table in the entryway to the store and turned it over to a store employee, who took it to the security office. The employee unlocked the phone, noticed that the photo gallery was open, and observed a naked photo of a juvenile female, approximately 5-6 years old. The employee decided to wait until the next day to contact the store’s General Manager. The next day another employee saw the phone in the security office, unlocked it, observed another photo of a naked minor female, and called the Jamestown Police. Subsequently, investigators executed a search warrant on the phone and recovered images and videos of child pornography, and traced the phone to Douglas, a New York State Registered Sex Offender. Douglas was convicted in 2003 of multiple child sexual abuse charges. A total of three minor victims have been identified.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Iowa Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Francisco J. Zapata, Jr., 22, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sexual abuse of a minor. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Zapata to 30 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from federal prison, Zapata will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Zapata will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), a federal law.
An FBI investigation identified a minor victim who disclosed meeting Zapata through social media in the Spring of 2021. The minor reported having sexual contact with Zapata on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. At the time of the sexual contact, the minor was 14 years old, and Zapata was 20 years old. Because the offense happened on an Indian Reservation and the minor was less than 16 years old, there was federal jurisdiction for the offense.
When the FBI interviewed Zapata, he admitted having sexual contact with the minor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Indictment Charges Registered Sex Offender with Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Aaron Christopher Davis, 32, of Suitland, Maryland, a registered sex offender, was indicted in U.S. District Court, on October 3, 2023, on charges of distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On August 25, 2023, an FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) Task Force Officer (TFO) was acting in an undercover (UC) capacity as part of the Metropolitan Police Department – Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force. The UC was monitoring a dating application that law enforcement has come to learn is used by some individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The UC encountered the defendant who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. The defendant expressed a desire to sexually assault the UC’s purported child. He then sent the UC a video showing an adult male anally raping a little boy whose mouth is taped closed and his hands are restrained with handcuffs. As the conversation continued, the defendant expressed a desire to meet up with the UC to watch videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, while they assaulted the UC’s purported son.
On September 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home. During a post-Miranda interview with law enforcement, Davis admitted that he exchanged messages with the UC, and that he distributed child pornography. The defendant told law enforcement that he used other encrypted messaging applications to communicate with individuals who have a sexual interest in children, and to exchange child sexual abuse material. These communications, and a collection of child pornography, have been discovered on mobile devices belonging to Davis.
Davis was convicted of possession of child pornography, on October 16, 2017, in Prince George’s County. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but was only required to serve 18 months of that sentence. As a result of this conviction, Davis is required to register as a sex offender.
Davis was arrested on September 19, 2023, and he will be detained pending trial.
Because of Davis’s prior conviction, the distribution of child pornography carries a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years, in prison, with a statutory maximum of 40 years. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Larson, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Possession and Distribution of Narcotics Results in Federal Prison Sentences for Two MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two men from North Louisiana for illegal possession and distribution of narcotics and a firearm.
Johnathan Davon Hill, 28, of Vivian, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 117 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of narcotics and a firearm. On July 1, 2022, law enforcement agents with the U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in which Hill was a passenger but the vehicle fled from law enforcement. The vehicle eventually reached a dead-end street and Hill fled from the vehicle and ran into the woods. A K9 unit arrived, and officers entered the woods and found Hill hiding. He was arrested for having for outstanding warrants.
While officers were searching for Hill, the driver of the vehicle in which Hill was a passenger was detained. Officers observed in plain view inside the vehicle bags with what appeared to be marijuana, white powder, and pills. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and officers found a large amount of suspected ecstasy pills, marijuana and cocaine, as well as a firearm under the driver’s seat. Hill admitted to officers that the narcotics and firearm belonged to him. Hill pleaded guilty to the charges on June 7, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Weber.
In a case from the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana, United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Joshua Bosley, 35, of Sterlington, to 110 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on March 8, 2022, in the Western District of Louisiana, Bosley knowingly and intentionally distributed 109.5 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual in exchange for cash. An indictment was returned by the grand jury in February 2023 and Bosley pleaded guilty to the charge on June 12, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon.
The investigation and conviction of Bosley 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.
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Husband and wife sent to prison for $8M health care fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two Missouri City home health agency owners have been ordered to federal prison after admitting to defrauding millions from Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Vincent Nwabeke, 72, pleaded guilty April 20 to false statements in a health care matter, while Victoria Nwabeke, 70, admitted to conspiracy to commit health care fraud Sept. 16, 2019.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Victoria Nwabeke to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. She must also pay $8,523,917.11 in restitution to Medicare. Vincent Nwabeke was previously sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,084,996 in restitution to Medicare.
The Nwabekes co-owned Vital Ambulatory Healthcare Inc. from 2012 to 2018, Victoria Nwabeke obtained patient referrals by paying kickbacks to marketers and patients and bribing physicians to authorize medically unnecessary home health services for Vital patients. She also admitted to billing Medicare over $8 million in fraudulent claims for home health services.
Vincent Nwabeke was Vital’s Chief Financial Officer. He admitted that in 2018 he filed a fraudulent cost report to Medicare attempting to disguise the kickback payments his wife made as legitimate business expenses.
The Nwabekes were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services‐Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson and DOJ Trial Attorney Drew Pennebaker are prosecuting the case.
High Desert Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl Pills to Victim Who Died Hours Later After Ingesting One of the PillsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man pleaded guilty today to knowingly selling two fentanyl pills to a 28-year-old man who – hours later – ingested one of the pills and suffered a fatal overdose.
Luis Enrique Diaz, 23, of Victorville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled a March 7, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time Diaz will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Diaz has been in federal custody since April.
According to his plea agreement, late in the evening on April 9, 2021, Diaz met with the victim – identified in court papers as “R.L.” – in a supermarket parking lot in Victorville. Diaz knowingly sold the victim two blue fentanyl pills.
The victim later ingested one of the pills and died on April 10, 2021.
That same day, law enforcement arrested Diaz and, in his pocket, found a pill bottle that contained approximately 50 blue pills that contained fentanyl. Diaz admitted in his plea agreement to intending to distribute some of those pills.
On April 21, 2021, law enforcement arrested Diaz and searched him. In a bag he possessed, investigators found 454 blue pills that contained fentanyl.
In a related case, Christopher Martin Sanchez, 25, a.k.a. “Chi Chi,” of Hesperia, who allegedly provided Diaz the fentanyl pill that led to R.L.’s death, is charged along with Stephanie Michelle Cruz, 24, of Hesperia, in a six-count indictment alleging, in part, that they distributed the fentanyl that resulted in R.L.’s death.
Sanchez and Cruz are charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Sanchez faces additional charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a November 7, 2023 trial date is scheduled in his criminal case. Cruz is in state custody on unrelated charges and has not yet appeared in the federal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation OD Justice Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Response Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter H. Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jamarquis Vasean Tate, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Hattiesburg Police Department after officers responded to a reported disturbance at a local area hotel on December 3, 2021. Hattiesburg police officers encountered Tate, who fled on foot but was detained shortly thereafter. The officer observed Tate throw a firearm away from his body during the chase, and this was confirmed by bodycam video that recorded the incident. The firearm was recovered.
Tate was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.