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22 September 2023
Nashville Man Convicted of Multiple Armed Robbery and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE - A federal jury convicted Terrell Stevenson, 34, of Nashville of multiple armed robbery and firearms offenses yesterday, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Henry C. Leventis.
Within 40 minutes on Halloween night 2018, Stevenson robbed a Dollar General Store and a Mapco gas station in Nashville, brandishing a semi-automatic pistol and pointing it at the head of the clerk working at the Dollar General Store. Stevenson and his accomplice were arrested by police officers after fleeing from a traffic stop. Stevenson was charged by a federal grand jury in January of 2020 with two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Stevenson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years, and up to life, in federal prison. He will be sentenced by United States District Judge Aleta A. Trauger on January 29, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Stephens and Kathryn Risinger are prosecuting the case.
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Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty After Robbing an Oklahoma City Pharmacy While Armed with a MachinegunRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, CHARLES LAMAR SCOTT, 35, of Greenville, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a five count Indictment against Scott, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery, using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a machinegun during and in relation to a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the Indictment, on or about December 26, 2022, Scott committed an armed robbery at a CVS Pharmacy located in Oklahoma City. The indictment alleges that during the robbery, Scott discharged two firearms, including a firearm that had been modified to operate as a machinegun.
Today, Scott pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 2, and 4 of the Indictment. As part of his plea, Scott admitted that he used force and violence in order to obtain money from CVS, that he discharged a firearm during and in relation to the robbery, and that he was aware that one of the firearms he possessed had been modified to become a machinegun.
At sentencing, Scott faces up to life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $750,000.00.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stan J. West and David R. Nichols, Jr. are prosecuting the case.
Middleburg Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Sexual Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Sam David Harris, Jr. (38, Middleburg) has pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child sexual abuse images. Harris faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years, and up to 60 years, in federal prison. Harris has been detained since his arrest on April 20, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in February 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into a cyber tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child sexual abuse materials being uploaded to a particular site of an electronic services provider. An investigation into that user led law enforcement to Harris.
On April 20, 2023, HSI Jacksonville Special Agents and Task Force Officers executed search warrant at Harris’s home and located a thumb drive that had been concealed in the bottom portion of a small box in the top drawer of the nightstand next to Harris’s bed. Subsequent onsite forensic preview of the thumb drive by HSI revealed numerous videos and images depicting child sex abuse materials.
Additional analysis of the thumb drive revealed more than 100 images that appeared to have been produced by Harris. Harris’s hand, arm, and forearm are visible in several of the files. A witness identified Harris’s arm/tattoos, as well as Harris’s bathroom and garage that were visible in several other images on the thumb drive. One of the girls depicted in the images was subsequently identified as a child to whom Harris had access.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Man Facing Federal Charges for Sexual Assault on A Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jalen Thomas Kelley, age 21, of Abingdon, Maryland, for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault within the territorial jurisdiction. Kelley was arrested by the FBI Charlotte Field Office in Wingate, North Carolina, on September 20, 2023.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, between January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2023, the defendant engaged in a sexual act by force and assaulted Victim 1 without consent on board a cruise vessel Carnival Legend, which had a scheduled departure from and an arrival in Baltimore, Maryland.
If convicted, Kelley faces a maximum sentence of life 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This investigation is ongoing. Individuals who may have any information regarding this investigation are encouraged to contact the following: FBI Baltimore: 410-265-8080.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked Wingate University Campus Safety and Wingate Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Semales and Sean Delaney, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Maryland Man Facing Federal Charges for Fraudulently Obtaining Covid-19 Cares Act Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joseph Gillespie, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, with conspiracy to commit wire relating to the submission of fraudulent claims for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indictment of Gillespie was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, on August 13, 2019, Gillespie incorporated a business called JAG Investments LLC. The stated purpose of the LLC was to “purchase properties and rehab in Baltimore.” On or about August 14, 2019, he opened an account at Wells Fargo for JAG Investments where he was the sole signatory. The Defendant used JAG Investments for the purpose of applying for COVID-19 related benefits, such as a PPP loan. On or about October 17, 2020, Gillespie opened another account at First National Bank of Pennsylvania for JAG Investments where he was the sole signatory.
In or about 2020, the Defendant and others worked to prepare materials in support of a fraudulent PPP loan application, including a false 2019 IRS Form 940 and a false February 2020 bank statement for the Wells Fargo Account. On or about March 11, 2021, the Defendant and others caused the submission of a false 2019 IRS Form 940 and a false February 2020 statement for the Wells Fargo Account to Cross River Bank. The false IRS Form 940 reflected that JAG Investments paid $276,209.72 in wages to all employees in 2019. In fact, in 2019 and 2020, JAG Investments did not pay such wages and submitted no tax filings for tax years 2019 and 2020. The false February 2020 bank statement for the Wells Fargo Account indicated that the account had an ending balance of $61,439.16. In fact, Wells Fargo Account had an ending balance of $541.63. 1. That same day, the Defendant searched on YouTube, among other things, “ppp loan audit” and “what can PPP loan be used for.”
On or about March 15, 2021, as a result of the alleged misrepresentations, the PPP loan for JAG Investments closed and the Defendant received $138,104 in PPP funds. The Defendant paid a co-conspirator 38,000, reflecting approximately 27 percent of the PPP loan amount received by JAG Investments, in exchange for the co-conspirator’s role in submitting the JAG Investments PPP loan application.
On or about March 17, 2021, after receiving the PPP loan for JAG Investments, the Defendant sought to establish payroll processing services through Heartland Payment Systems for the purpose of making payments to purported employees of JAG Investments. On or about March 17, 2021, the Defendant provided Heartland with a list of JAG Investment’s purported employees and the employees’ purported wages. Beginning on or about March 30, 2021 and continuing through August 6, 2021, the Defendant caused Heartland to process payroll for purported employees of JAG Investments. After receiving the purported payroll payments, on multiple occasions in or about 2021, a purported employee of JAG Investments provided a portion of the purported payroll payments—sometimes more than 50 percent of the amount of the payment—back to Gillespie.
If convicted, the Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked Baltimore County Police Department and SBA-OIG for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley who is prosecuting the cases.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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Man sentenced for $3.5 million, multi-year fuel credit tax fraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Joseph Oluwafemi Kolawole Akoshile has been sentenced for a $3.5 million tax fraud scheme relating to false tax returns claiming fuel tax credits.
“Akoshile used multiple aliases to steal millions of dollars from American taxpayers by fraudulently using a tax credit designed to aid business owners,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He laundered the money through multiple accounts he controlled in a failed effort to disguise his criminal scheme.”
“In order to carry out his long running financial fraud, Akoshile and his associates stole the identities of numerous people,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS CI special agents remain committed to investigating those who commit financial crimes, including identity theft. Akoshile’s actions highlights the importance of protecting identifiable information.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will aggressively pursue those who endeavor to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by exploiting programs which were established to provide assistance to American business owners,” said Mark Morini, Special Agent in charge of TIGTA’s Southeast Field Office. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in this effort.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Joseph Oluwafemi Kolawole Akoshile committed a wide-ranging fraud that resulted in the issuance of more than 100 fraudulent treasury checks worth over $3.5 million. For more than five years, Akoshile and others submitted federal corporate tax returns, claiming fraudulent refunds for a web of corporations set up using stolen identities. The fraudulent tax returns claimed false fuel tax credits, resulting in large refunds. The fuel tax credit is intended to assist legitimate businesses in offsetting fuel taxes they pay for off-road vehicles. The defendant received the fraudulent refund checks and altered them to change the payee to a corporation created for the scheme. Akoshile then laundered these funds through other accounts, including multiple business accounts he controlled in one of his many aliases.
Joseph Oluwafemi Kolawole Akoshile, 57, of Mansfield, Texas, was sentenced to four years, three months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,606,990.10. Akoshile was convicted on these charges on June 9, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and Alana Black prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Man and Woman Sentenced for Armed Robberies of Richmond Discount StoresRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man and woman were sentenced yesterday to a combined 24.5 years in prison for their role in two armed robberies.
According to court documents, Michael Brown, 41, and Rashanda Booker, 38, as well as co-defendant Ricardo Horne, 41, robbed a Family Dollar, located at 7 East 16th Street, Richmond, Virginia,on April 17, 2022. They also robbed a Dollar General, located at 3903 Walmsley Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia, on April 28, 2022.
On April 17, 2022, Horne and Brown forcefully grabbed a Family Dollar employee as he sought to empty trash prior to the store opening. Brown, holding a semiautomatic pistol that belonged to his sister, guided the employee to a safe inside the store and held him at gunpoint near the safe while emptying it. Horne stood watch and maintained control over a customer as well as another terrified Family Dollar employee. Altogether, they obtained approximately $10,000 from Family Dollar—money they used to buy high-end shoes at a boutique shoe store.
Between the two robberies in this case, Horne and Brown directed Booker to purchase new pistol for the second robbery. She did so on April 22, 2022. Six days later, Horne and Brown committed another armed robbery of a Dollar General. Brown entered the store carrying the semiautomatic pistol purchased by Booker alongside Horne. After Horne grabbed control of one of the employees, the two men took her to find the Dollar General manager who could open the safe. Brown held the manager at gunpoint near the safe while Horne maintained control of the other employee. Notably, several customers, including a woman and her young son, were shopping in the store at the time of the robbery.
A GPS tracker was installed inside some of the money taken from the Dollar General. Brown and Horne exited the store with the United States currency, entered Booker’s car, and then drove off. As Booker drove, Brown and Horne changed their clothing. Law enforcement began to follow the GPS tracker and discovered Booker, Brown, and Horne in Booker’s Blue Toyota sedan. Among the items recovered by law enforcement were the clothing worn during the armed robbery of the Dollar General by Brown and Horne, the Taurus, Model G3C, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol used during that robbery, and a Family Dollar bag.
Brown was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison and Booker was sentenced to 5 years in prison for their roles. Horne was previously sentenced on April 13 to 12 years in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. and Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-122.
Man Who Trafficked Guns into Bridgeport Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANNON WINSTON, 23, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to firearm trafficking and possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston purchased firearms in Georgia, where he resided at times, and provided them to customers in Connecticut. Winston personally purchased at least 18 firearms in Georgia, and he had others purchase additional firearms on his behalf. The investigation, which included gun recoveries after shooting incidents in Bridgeport, revealed that some of the firearms were provided to members of the East End and PT Barnum gangs in Bridgeport.
On March 16, 2022, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging Winston with firearms trafficking offenses. During his arraignment on March 29, 2022, Winston was informed that he could be required to serve a consecutive term of imprisonment of up to 10 years if he committed a federal felony while on pretrial release. Winston was released on a $100,000 bond on that date.
On December 21, 2022, Winston was arrested by Bridgeport Police for possessing a .357 caliber handgun with a loaded high-capacity magazine. He has been detained in federal custody since January 3, 2023.
Winston pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage unlicensed dealing of firearms, and one count of receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for December 20, at which time Winston faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Lehighton Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Submitting False Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) ApplicationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Nora Barile, age 43, of Lehighton, PA, pleaded guilty on September 20, 2023, before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to wire fraud in connection with her submission of a false COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the criminal Information to which Barile pleaded guilty alleges that on dates in May 2020 and June 2022, on behalf of her business Helping Hands Cleaning Services and Home Improvement, Barile submitted to the United States Small Business Association (“SBA”) a false EIDL application (with amended and supplemental filings) containing material misrepresentations. In reliance on her certification that she would use the EIDL funds for business purposes, the SBA awarded Barile approximately $67,400.00 in COVID-19 relief funds over the two-year period. Barile acknowledged that she used these funds for purely personal expenses. Pursuant to the terms of her plea agreement with the United States, Barile agreed to make full restitution to the SBA.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Philadelphia Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this 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.
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Larchwood Seed Dealer Sent to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and False StatementsRead the Press Release
A seed salesman who cut out the seed distributor, and sold corn and soybean seeds directly to farmers for his own benefit, was sentenced September 20, 2023, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Nathan Christie, age 44, from Larchwood, received the prison term after a March 24, 2023, guilty plea to one count of Wire Fraud and one count of False Statements to a Financial Institution.
Evidence in the case revealed that Christie, an employee of the seed company, took money directly from farmers for seed, but did not forward that money to the owner of the seed. Instead, he used the money to cover his gambling losses and to pay for other personal expenses leaving the seed bill unpaid. To cover his fraud, Christie manipulated records to make it appear unsuspecting seed distributors had delivered the seed. Christie was nearly caught when one of those distributors asked about a bill he had received from the seed company. Christie however, acquired money to pay the bill. Christie acquired $62,076.23 by forging his spouse’s signature on an Agriculture Security Agreement and another $350,000 by forging his spouse’s signature on a second real estate mortgage on their shared residence. After this near-discovery of his fraud, Christie stopped using the first distributor’s account and found two new victim distributors.
On March 24, 2023, Christie appeared before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Kelly K.E. Mahoney and pled guilty to two counts of a two-count Information filed March 17, 2023. The Court ordered Christie released on a personal recognizance bond without pretrial supervision. On July 11, 2023, the United States filed a Motion for Revocation of Pretrial Supervision alleging Christie had violated the conditions of his unsupervised pretrial release by committing a new law violation in light of his arrest for Burglary, Third Degree - Non-Vehicle, as charged in Lyon County, Iowa, Docket No. FECR007731. On July 18, 2023, the Court found there was probable cause to believe Christie had committed the above alleged new law violation, and the Court revoked Christie’s pretrial release and ordered him detained. The state charge is still pending.
Christie was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. He was ordered to make $202,440.80 in restitution to AgReliant and $258,825.25 to American State Bank, for a total of $461,266.05 in restitution. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Christie is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Lyon County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-04005.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Justice Department Marks 23rd Anniversary of Federal Religious Land Use Law by Announcing Community Outreach Program and Resources to Increase Awareness of Protections for Faith-Based GroupsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – To commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the signing of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal law that protects persons and religious institutions from discriminatory land use regulations, the Justice Department announced several efforts to increase awareness of RLUIPA’s protections. The department will host a series of outreach events and has released updated informational materials about RLUIPA to provide an overview of the law and the department’s enforcement efforts, as well as information about how to identify and report violations.
“Over the last 23 years, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act has helped to combat religious discrimination by protecting the civil rights of faith communities across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In light of continued anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination, the Justice Department stands ready to use federal civil rights law to ensure that communities can use their property for worship and to freely engage in religious exercise. The anniversary of RLUIPA provides an opportunity to underscore our commitment to protecting religious rights and ensuring that people are able to freely use land to worship and practice their faith.”
“RLUIPA provides important protections for religious groups throughout New Jersey,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Our office is committed to combatting religious discrimination and ensuring that religious groups are treated fairly and equally under local land use laws. We look forward to increasing awareness of RLUIPA and co-hosting this important event with Seton Hall Law School.”
The department’s first RLUIPA outreach event will take place at Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey, on Oct. 30. The event will include remarks from officials with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, religious leaders in New Jersey whose organizations have benefited from RLUIPA’s protections and attorneys who have experience litigating RLUIPA cases. The department will host additional events across the country in the coming months, including in California and Michigan. For more information about these events, please see the department’s RLUIPA website. All events will be open to the public.
RLUIPA was passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law on Sept. 22, 2000, and contains provisions covering religious land use and religious exercise by people who are incarcerated. Since RLUIPA’s passage, the department has opened over 150 formal investigations and filed 28 lawsuits and 34 friend of the court briefs related to RLUIPA’s land use provisions. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to religious discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (833) 591-0291 or may submit a complaint through the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php.
Jefferson County Chiropractor Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison, Ordered to Repay $4.3 Million for Health Care, Disability FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Friday sentenced a chiropractor from Jefferson County, Missouri to four years in prison and ordered him to repay $4.3 million lost to a disability and health care fraud scheme that involved 17 other defendants.
Beginning in 2011, Thomas G. Hobbs, now 66, fraudulently assisted patients in receiving disability benefit payments through the Social Security Administration’s Disability Trust Fund and through private disability benefit insurance providers. He also falsely claimed to have a medical license.
“This sentence is a long-awaited milestone in a complex disability fraud scheme involving facilitators and co-conspirators that our investigators worked diligently to dismantle,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “Dr. Thomas Hobbs was the lead facilitator, and this sentence now holds him accountable for criminal acts that undermined the integrity of the Social Security disability insurance program. I am extremely appreciative of the tremendous work that our investigators and law enforcement partners contributed to the success of this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in holding Dr. Hobbs and his fellow conspirators accountable for facilitating this fraud.”
Hobbs charged patients between $2,000 and $8,600 to prepare disability forms and coach them on how to lie to the Social Security Administration and insurers about their ability to perform basic daily tasks such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, remembering and taking care of their personal needs. Hobbs submitted fraudulent medical reports, submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement to health care benefit programs for services that were either not provided, medically unnecessary or provided by unqualified persons and used a fictitious medical license number to buttress his medical determinations and further support patients’ disability claims.
Hobbs, is co-owner of Power-Med Inc., a chiropractic clinic in Arnold, Missouri. He also admitted in his plea agreement that while falsely claiming to have a medical license, between 2011 and 2019, he purchased and dispensed prescription medications, administered injections and dispensed medications intravenously to patients. Hobbs knew he was not permitted to administer injections because the Missouri Board of Chiropractic Examiners placed him on probation for five years for fraudulently billing insurance companies for unlawfully administering injections.
Hobbs pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court to a conspiracy charge. Four of his co-defendants, including his wife and fellow chiropractor, Vivian Carbone-Hobbs, went to trial and were found guilty. Carbone-Hobbs is scheduled to be sentenced next month. All of the patients involved in the scheme were ordered to repay the money that they’d fraudulently obtained.
The cases were investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy Berry, Dorothy McMurtry Diane Klocke and Gwendolyn Carroll are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who suspects fraud involving the Disability Insurance Benefit Program is asked to contact the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General Hotline at: 1-800-269-0271 or https://oig.ssa.gov/report/.
Inmate Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapon at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Quordell Tarver, 24, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, was sentenced today to one year in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a weapon by an inmate of a federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 22, 2022, an FCI Beckley staff member conducted a visual search of Tarver and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in Tarver’s underwear. The shank was a piece of metal, approximately 5 inches long, sharpened to a point at one end with a piece of white shoelace wrapped around the base as a handle.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:23-cr-62.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Sept. 21 was:
David Jesus Tapia-Padron, 33, of Butte, and Austin Perry King-Terrell, 29, of Butte, on charges of illegal importation of a tableting press. Tapia-Padron also is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Tapia-Padron faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. King-Terrell faces a maximum of four years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Both defendants were released with conditions pending further proceedings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-15.
Lynsi Noel Barnes, 32, of Missoula, on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Barnes faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Barnes was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Service, Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Shoshone County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-38.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Sept. 21 was:
Esaias Stops Pretty Places, 19, a transient, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious crime, Stops Pretty Places faces a maximum of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a mandatory minimum of five years to life of supervised release. Stops Pretty Places was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-105.
Gabriel Cowan Metcalf, 49, of Billings, on charges of unlawful possession of firearm in a school zone. If convicted of the most serious crime, Metcalf faces a maximum of five years imprisonment, a $100,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Metcalf was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-103.
Appearing on Sept. 19 for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint was:
Cameron Dimich-Laster, 26, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Dimich-Laster faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Dimich-Laster was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Billings Police Department and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-139.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 19 was:
Donovan Orville Horton, 51, of Vaughn, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth, distribution of meth near a school and drug user in possession of firearms. If convicted of the most serious crime, Horton faces a mandatory minimum of one year to 40 years imprisonment, a $2 million fine and six years of supervised release. Horton was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Great Falls Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-88.
Merlyn Roger Marceau, 40, of Browning, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Marceau faces a maximum of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Marceau was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-89.
Larry Thomas McDaniel, 45, of Great Falls, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, McDaniel faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years imprisonment, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. McDaniel was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Great Falls Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-61.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indian National Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Dhruv Jani, age 40, formerly of Wray, Colorado, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $1,163,947.28 in restitution.
According to the plea agreement, starting in January 2020, Jani was part of a conspiracy to launder funds obtained from a government official imposter scheme. Victims in the United States were contacted by telephone and coerced into believing they were under investigation by “Agents” of federal law enforcement agencies (the FBI, SSA, DHS, Treasury, or U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). Victims were told that their identities had been connected to a criminal incident, that their imminent arrest and/or deportation from the United States had been ordered by law enforcement, and that the only way to avoid arrest and or deportation was to pay the “Government” large sums of money. The “Agent” then convinced the victim to package and ship the cash to alleged government officials via Federal Express or United Parcel Service. Many of these same victims were also directed to mail packages of cash to individuals in other states.
“We must protect our elderly and our vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Making victims fearful, this defendant created a scheme that cheated them out of more than a million dollars. For this, he will now spend years in federal prison.”
“This sentence holds Mr. Jani accountable for his malicious acts of orchestrating Social Security-related and government imposter scams that preyed upon vulnerable persons,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who victimize unsuspecting persons, often elderly, to deprive of them of their Social Security benefits and resources. I thank the United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sterling, Colorado Police Department for their investigative efforts and U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring these types of predatory schemes are investigated aggressively,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the Denver Division. “It is imperative that we work with our law enforcement partners to protect our Postal customers, the American people, who unknowingly fall prey to these schemes. We will not allow fraudsters to utilize the mail or USPS products and services to further their crimes.”
“Operators of call centers relentlessly target the elderly to steal every penny of their hard-earned life savings.” said Eric DeLaune Acting Special Agent in Charge, HSI New Orleans. “Thanks to the hardworking agents of HSI and the prosecution team with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Jani will be held accountable for his contemptible crimes. HSI continues to investigate cross border call centers like these to stop the abuse of the elderly.”
United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced Jani on September 21, 2023. After Jani serves his term of incarceration he will be deported to India.
This investigation is being conducted jointly with investigators from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Sterling, Colorado Police Department. The District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District has also provided assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha A. Paluch and Laura B. Hurd.
Case number: 22-cr-202
Illegal alien sentenced to 4 years in prison for possessing dozens of gunsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Guadalupe Sanchez-Cruz, 50, of Indianapolis, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 48 months in prison for possessing 45 guns as an illegal alien.
According to court documents, Sanchez-Cruz is an illegal alien and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Sanchez-Cruz, who is originally from Mexico, was the passenger in a truck transporting 45 firearms from Indiana to New Jersey. The defendant was stopped by law enforcement in Ohio on Jan. 20.
Sanchez-Cruz told law enforcement officials he was paid to help transport parcels and knew the items contained within were “likely illegal.” The 45 firearms included handguns and rifles, some with high-capacity magazines. They were heavily wrapped in plastic and contained in two boxes on the truck.
Sanchez-Cruz was indicted in February 2023 and pleaded guilty in April 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 21 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.
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Greenbrier County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Raymond Matthew Ramos, 41, of Lewisburg, was sentenced today to six years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 29. 2022, Ramos sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Alderson. Ramos admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling quantities of methamphetamine to the confidential informant on July 6, 2022, in Beaver and on July 27, 2022, in Lewisburg.
On July 28, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Ramos was staying. Officers seized a quantity of methamphetamine, scales, packaging material, and over $1,000. The cash included recorded money from the July 27, 2022, drug transaction. Ramos admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. Ramos also admitted to telling law enforcement officers that he distributed a half-pound of methamphetamine weekly between the third week of April 2022 and July 14, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is composed of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lewisburg Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell 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. 5:22-cr-228.
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Four Time Felon Pleads Guilty to New Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ivan Morales, 48, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra. Jr. to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and an $8,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani and Casey Chalbeck, who are handling the case, stated that on October 13, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Morales’s Ideal Street residence and seized suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and approximately $2,546.00 in U.S. currency. They also searched a Shanley Street apartment associated with Morales and seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine of cocaine, 12 clear bags containing cocaine, suspected MDMA pills, eight firearms, numerous magazines and ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and 250 $100 bills, for a total of $25,000.00 in U.S. currency. In 1998, 2004, 2006, and 2020, Morales was convicted of felonies in state and federal court and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.
Former executive and three other former employees charged with defrauding MohawkRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. – Four former employees of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (“Mohawk”), Jana Kanyadan (Mohawk’s former Global Chief Information Officer), Sivakumar Thiyagasamadram, Madhu Shivalingegowda, and Chintan Sandesara have been indicted for allegedly defrauding Mohawk.
“These defendants allegedly took advantage of their positions to advance personal interests at Mohawk’s expense,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We will prosecute those who abuse their positions of authority to steal from the employers who trust them.”
“These defendants allegedly violated the trust placed in them by their employer,” said Sean Burke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI works hard to make sure greed like this doesn’t pay off and those who commit fraud are held accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Jana Kanyadan served as Mohawk’s Global Chief Information Officer. Sivakumar Thiyagasamadram, Madhu Shivalingegowda, and Chintan Sandesara were Mohawk employees with responsibility for Information Technology (“IT”).
In 2019, Mohawk launched a large, multi-year IT project and outsourced work for the IT project to IT consulting firms. The indictment alleges that the defendants secretly organized and controlled a Georgia company, Meta Technology Platforms, LLC (“Meta Tech”), and used their positions at Mohawk to retain Meta Tech as a Mohawk vendor and divert Mohawk’s outsourced IT consulting work to Meta Tech.
Between approximately May and October of 2022, Meta Tech submitted invoices to Mohawk totaling approximately $3,034,411. The invoices that Meta Tech submitted to Mohawk did not disclose the defendants’ relationship to Meta Tech. The invoices also allegedly charged Mohawk for services that had not been performed, for software that had not been provided, and at inflated hourly rates that Kanyadan approved on Mohawk’s behalf. Mohawk paid Meta Tech approximately $1,857,741.40 based on these fraudulent invoices.
Jana Kanyadan, 53, of Marietta, Georgia, Sivakumar Thiyagasamadram, 54, of Cumming, Georgia, Madhu Shivalingegowda, 38, of Acworth, Georgia, and Chintan Sandesara, 39, of Marietta, Georgia, were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2023, and had their initial appearances on September 21, 2023. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tal C. Chaiken is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Utica Mayor and School Board President Indicted for Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Louis LaPolla, age 78, of Utica, New York, has been charged by indictment with six counts of mail fraud. 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 indictment alleges that LaPolla set up a scholarship fund in honor of his late wife, Andrea LaPolla, after she passed away in 2018, with the stated intention of benefitting Utica City School District students who planned to pursue post-secondary education in health-related fields. The indictment further alleges that LaPolla received tens of thousands of dollars in donations intended for the scholarship fund from individuals and businesses and that he spent nearly all of the donated money on himself rather than depositing it into the scholarship fund. LaPolla served as the mayor of Utica from 1984 to 1995, and he served as President of the Utica City School Board from 2018 to 2022, following 21 years of service as a member of the board. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges filed against LaPolla carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.5 million, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Following his arrest on these charges and initial appearance in federal court today, LaPolla was ordered released on conditions pending his trial.
FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Police and the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry is prosecuting the case.
Former Railroad Employee Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A former railroad engineer has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining disability benefits.
SCOTT CARLBERG operated and managed a tanning salon in Wisconsin for six years while simultaneously receiving occupational disability benefits from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. In his application for benefits, Carlberg asserted that he could no longer perform any type of work due to numerous daily limitations, including short-term-memory loss, poor concentration, irritability, frequent loss of temper, and information-processing difficulties. After the benefits were approved, Carlberg misrepresented the nature of his work at the salon and lied about the income he received from it.
A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Carlberg, 53, of Menomonie, Wisc., on four counts of wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang on Tuesday ordered Carlberg to immediately pay more than $279,000 in restitution to the Railroad Retirement Board.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas Williams, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at the RRB, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Michelle Parthum.
Carlberg was one of six defendants charged in Chicago as part of an investigation into fraud perpetrated against benefit programs administered by the RRB to rail workers and their families. The five other defendants pleaded guilty and admitted fraudulently receiving benefits while simultaneously performing various types of work, including construction, landscaping, managing a donut shop, and captaining a charter fishing boat.
If you believe someone you know is receiving fraudulent disability benefits from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, you can contact the RRB OIG anonymously by calling 1-800-772-4528 or by sending an email to [email protected].
Former Postal Worker Charged with Stealing Checks from the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Hachikosela Muchimba, 43, of Washington, D.C., was charged by criminal complaint with mail theft and bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Imari Niles, of the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General Trevor R. Nelson, of the Department of Treasury-Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.
According to the criminal complaint, between October 2021 and March 2023, Muchimba, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, executed a scheme to steal checks from the U.S. mail and direct those funds into a bank account under his control. Muchimba would remove the name of the proper payee and replace it with his own name. Many of these misappropriated checks were U.S. Treasury checks. He is seen on bank surveillance removing the proceeds from ATM machines. The total amount of the checks that were fraudulently deposited into Muchimba’s accounts was $1,697,909.52. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Muchimba’s personal residence on March 29, 2023. In the course of that search, law enforcement recovered an ATM receipt that reflected a deposit of a U.S. Treasury Check in the amount of $415,173.53.
The maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in prison; and for mail theft is five years in prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney John Borchert, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal grand jury indicts local attorney on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A resident of Grandview Heights was arrested today on federal charges including transporting, receiving, and possessing child pornography.
Stephen Chinn, 39, of Columbus, turned himself in at U.S. District Court this morning to be arrested by federal agents. Chinn then made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon, and his charges were unsealed at that time.
According to the three-count federal indictment returned yesterday, Chinn uploaded child pornography to the internet that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sex acts with adults and animals.
Chinn allegedly downloaded and saved other child sexual abuse material between Aug. 11 and Aug. 13. The material further depicted prepubescent children engaged in bestiality and sexual intercourse with adults, as well as minor victims subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse.
On Aug. 16, a search warrant was executed at Chinn’s residence. It is alleged that Chinn possessed a desktop computer containing more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images. At the time, Chinn was employed as a public defender in Franklin County.
Chinn was initially arrested on Aug. 16 and charged locally with Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor and Pandering Obscenity. Chinn was released on bond in that matter. The federal indictment will supersede any charges on his local case.
Chinn is scheduled to appear again in U.S. District Court at 1:30pm on Sept. 25 for a detention hearing.
Transporting and receiving child pornography are federal crimes punishable by a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. Both charges also carry a statutory maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, which is the same statutory maximum for possessing child pornography of a prepubescent minor.
The case is being investigated by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Grandview Heights Police Chief Ryan Starns; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; and Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Finds Two Owensboro Men Guilty of Methamphetamine Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – Yesterday, a federal jury in Owensboro, Kentucky convicted two local men of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Sheila G. Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cedric Swanagan, 37, and Courtland Reed, 32, were convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine between September 2021 and April 4, 2022, in Daviess County, Kentucky and elsewhere. The jury also convicted both Swanagan and Reed of possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine on February 22, 2022, in Daviess County and elsewhere. The evidence presented at trial included recorded phone calls between the defendants that were intercepted during a federal wiretap investigation and evidence involving approximately 876 grams of pure methamphetamine associated with the defendants.
The jury further found that Swanagan had committed one serious drug felony and that Reed had committed one serious drug felony and one violent felony prior to committing the offenses in this case. These findings increased the mandatory minimum sentences for both defendants.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2024, before a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Swanagan and Reed both remain in federal custody pending sentencing. Swanagan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. Reed faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA and the Owensboro Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Indiana State Police, the Kentucky State Police, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, and the Owensboro-Daviess County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal specialist Aaron Cooper.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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District Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Glenmore, 39, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and 36 months’ supervised release for possession of a loaded firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Glenmore pleaded guilty in April 2023. According to court documents, on December 17, 2022, in the 2000 block of Georgia Avenue, Northwest, MPD officers, patrolling in a marked police vehicle, saw Glenmore walking south toward U Street, carrying a camouflaged backpack. The officers pulled alongside the defendant, rolled down the car window and asked the defendant if he had a gun in the backpack. The defendant denied that he had a gun and, when asked a second time, started walking away at a fast pace. One of the police officers then called out to the defendant, exited the vehicle, and started chasing the defendant who began running away. As the officer was chasing the defendant, he yelled for the defendant to drop the gun. The defendant then dropped the backpack which the officer picked up as the defendant tried to scale a building. When the officer unzipped the backpack he saw a firearm and wallet which contained the defendant’s identification.
The recovered firearm (Black, Intrac Arms, HS2000) contained 9-millimeter ammunition and had 14 rounds in a magazine that had the capacity to hold 16 rounds.
The defendant has been detained since December 17, 2022.
This case was investigated by the MPD and ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.
Davenport Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On September 21, 2023, a Davenport woman was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to public court records and evidence, on September 19, 2022, around 11:00 p.m., Davenport Police were dispatched to a disturbance/shots fired call in the 500 block of West 17th Street. Upon arrival, officers observed a person enter a black Ford Fusion and depart at a high rate of speed. An officer attempted to stop the vehicle but it fled at speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour through Davenport neighborhoods until it crashed. The driver then fled on foot. An officer gave chase and eventually apprehended the driver who was then identified as G’Sani Bogan, 22. A search of Bogan’s vehicle revealed a loaded Smith & Wesson, M&P, .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol. The pistol had been reported stolen from a Rock Island, Illinois resident. A shell casing from the scene of the disturbance was identified as having been fired from the pistol.
Bogan had been convicted previously in Scott County of two felony offenses and was serving probationary sentences when this incident occurred. The district court ordered the 41-month sentence to be served consecutively to any terms of imprisonment imposed in the Iowa District Court for Scott County. Following her prison term, Bogan will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 10 Years Related to January 2022 Shooting in DavenportRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, related to his involvement in a January 2022 shooting in Davenport.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leonard Fisher, 32, fired six shots in the area of 13th Street and Washington Street, a residential area, during the early morning hours of January 29, 2022. Trial evidence showed that Fisher fired six rounds from a stolen firearm after an altercation inside of the Thunderguard Club. At the time of this offense, Fisher was on a furlough from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, from a prior prison sentence for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, related to a prior shots fired incident. A federal jury convicted Fisher in January 2023.
Timothy Angel, 39, of Clinton, was identified as another shooter in the January 2022 shooting incident. In January 2023, Angel was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to False Claim of Citizenship and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Oscar Eduardo Sanchez Gamboa (54, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to making a false claim of citizenship to obtain a state benefit and aggravated identity theft. Gamboa faces up to of five years’ imprisonment for making the false claim, and a consecutive minimum mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG–SSA) investigated the use of a Social Security number (SSN) in several loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. The OIG-SSA provided agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with copies of the loan applications. CBP officers then conducted a review of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Records (DHSMV) for the SSN and the name used in the loan applications. The DHSMV records revealed that Gamboa had used the name, date of birth, and SSN of another person, who is a U.S. citizen, to apply for and obtain on separate occasions a Florida driver license and a Florida commercial driver license matching the person OIG-SSA had submitted to CBP. In order for Gamboa to receive these licenses, he affirmed under penalty of perjury that he was a citizen of the United States. A review of U.S. Department of State records and Department of Homeland Security databases by CBP confirmed that Gamboa was born in Colombia, is a citizen of Colombia, and is not a United States citizen.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.
Colchester Couple Arraigned on Drug Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Melinda Morgan, 41, and Dale Taylor, 39, of Colchester, Vermont were arraigned today on drug trafficking and gun charges arising from a June 30, 2023 traffic stop near Brattleboro, Vermont.
According to the indictment in the case, at the time of the stop, Morgan and Taylor possessed cocaine base and fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, and Morgan possessed two firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking offense. Following a hearing today before the Honorable Kevin J. Doyle, United States Magistrate Judge, both defendants were detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment is an accusation only and Morgan and Taylor are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted on the possession with intent to distribute charges, Morgan and Taylor face a maximum sentence of twenty years of imprisonment. If convicted on the possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Morgan faces a minimum of five years of imprisonment in addition to any sentence of imprisonment imposed for drug trafficking. Both defendants face a maximum $1,000,000 fine and three years of supervised release, which would follow any sentence of imprisonment. The actual sentence will be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles. Natasha Sen, Esq. represents Melinda Morgan. Jean-Claude Charbonneau, Esq. represents Dale Taylor.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Therence Jamsion, 58, of Charleston, was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in the Fall of 2020, Jamison, a registered sex offender, engaged in sexually explicit conversations via an online dating app with whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. After engaging in conversation, Jamison made plans in November 2020 to meet up with the boy at his home to engage in sexual activity. Upon Jamison’s arrival at the home, he was met by an undercover police officer and was arrested.
“There is no place in our community for crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready to seek justice for victims of child exploitation and hold predators accountable. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to help identify and prevent these crimes.”
“HSI is committed to protecting children in our communities from predators that seek to abuse and exploit them, ” said Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. “This sentencing is the result of the hard work of the agents and officers of HSI and our state and local law enforcement partners, to identify and arrest sexual predators and bring justice to the victims.”
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Jamison to 223 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville prosecuted the case.
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Carbon County Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Roberto Magobet, age 45, of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for drug trafficking.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Magobet previously pleaded guilty on March 6, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and fentanyl. On August 31, 2021, state parole agents were attempting to conduct a residence inspection at Magobet’s residence in Jim Thorpe when they observed a package of methamphetamine on the front porch. A search of the residence revealed seven grams of fentanyl and 243 grams of pure methamphetamine, along with drug packaging materials.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jim Thorpe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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California Woman Sentenced to 18 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tanya Stanger, age 33, of San Yisidro, California, was sentenced on September 21, 2023, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann, to 18 years’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Tanya Stanger and her husband, Bryce Stanger, age 34, also of San Yisidro, California, previously pleaded guilty and admitted to conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. The charge stems from an incident on August 25, 2021, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Union County. Bryce and Tanya Stanger were the occupants of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately thirty pounds of high-quality crystal methamphetamine and more than a kilogram of fentanyl. Further investigation revealed that the defendants were transporting the drugs from California to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, for further distribution.
Bryce Stanger is currently awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Street Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara 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.
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Brockton Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon has been charged with unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition.
Michael Whitfield, 42, of Brockton, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Whitfield was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 12:30 p.m. this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, on March 6, 2023, upon arrival at a motor vehicle accident scene in Brockton, law enforcement observed Whitfield in a vehicle with significant damage, its airbag deployed and a broken passenger door window. It is alleged that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and an empty tequila bottle was observed on the passenger seat floor. It is further alleged that a Glock 19X .9mm pistol loaded with 18 rounds was found on the driver’s side floorboard between Whitfield’s legs.
Due to a prior felony conviction stemming from 2006, Whitfield is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to
$250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, the Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Arizona Woman Indicted for Importing Almost 95 Pounds of Methamphetamine from MexicoRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Rosa Villanueva, 39, of Somerton, Arizona, was indicted by a federal grand jury last week on two counts of Importation of Methamphetamine and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that on August 16, 2023, Villanueva drove her vehicle from Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry and was stopped after a drug-sniffing canine alerted on her vehicle. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered almost 95 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in 161 packages throughout the car.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and up to lifetime 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, Yuma Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Coakley II, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01295-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-138_Villanueva# # #
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.Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
John Trinidad Qualls, age 42, from Tucson, Arizona, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Qualls admitted that, on December 31, 2022, law enforcement traffic-stopped him for speeding. Qualls handed an officer a black pouch, which contained his license, insurance, and registration. There was marijuana residue inside the pouch, and both the pouch and documents smelled of marijuana. Qualls admitted that he had used marijuana earlier that day. Law enforcement searched the car and found 1,200.10 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Qualls remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Qualls faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $10,000,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to a term of life.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2021. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Albion Man Going to Prison for More Than 10 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Anthony J. Alello, Jr., 32, of Albion, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison and 35 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in January 2022, an undercover FBI agent began communicating with Alello online using the Kik application. During these communications, Alello sent the agent links to cloud storage folders that contained child pornography. One folder contained approximately 2,484 videos of child pornography, and another folder contained approximately 45 videos of child pornography. On March 24, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Alello’s residence and seized his cellular telephone. A subsequent forensic examination recovered approximately 1,744 images and six videos of child pornography, some of which depicted pre-pubescent children and violence against children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Albion Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Mogle, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
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42 Members of a Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Manatí, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 20, 2023, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 42 violent gang members from the municipality of Manatí with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Arecibo Strike Force, with the collaboration of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Marshals Service. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBP Air and Marine Operations, and the Barceloneta Police Department collaborated during the arrests.
“By arresting and prosecuting these defendants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are working to uphold the rule of law and punish violent offenders who terrorize our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The Department of Justice is committed to dismantling criminal organizations, holding gang members accountable, and pursuing justice for victims.”
“For the last year, the residents in the Manatí area have been victims of violent crimes, going to bed and waking up to the sound of gunshots, tonight they will be able to rest,” said Rebecca González Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI. “This organization is extremely violent; therefore this takedown included the activation of a total of 12 tactical teams and over 200 law enforcement officers from HSI San Juan and the U.S. Mainland along with federal, state, and local partners. This is a clear example of a multiagency collaboration; we were able to dismantle the new generation of a very violent drug trafficking organization that has been stealing the peace of these communities. Not anymore, HSI remains focused, determined, and steadfast to assure Puerto Rico’s public safety.”
The indictment alleges that from 2016, the drug trafficking organization called “Hasta los Marcian” (HLM) distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marihuana, Tramadol, and Clonazepam within 1,000 feet of the Enrique Zorrilla, Villa Evangelina, Vivamery, and Los Murales Public Housing Projects (PHPs), the Cerro Gandía Ward and the Morovis cemetery, all for significant financial gain and profit.
The goal of HLM was to maintain control of all the drug trafficking activities within the Manatí area by the use of force, threats, violence and intimidation. In preserving power and protecting territory, the members of HLM profited from the illegal distribution of narcotics including transportation and distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine into the continental United States.
The investigation revealed that during the conspiracy the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in murders and shootings to further their drug trafficking operations. The defendants and their co-conspirators would sometimes use bullet proof vests to protect themselves when they participated in acts of violence. They modified firearms in order to convert them to automatic weapons (machineguns). On occasions, the co-conspirators legally purchased firearms and then sold them to members of the drug trafficking organization. Also, defendants and their co-conspirators would mail pieces of firearms or entire firearms from the continental United States to other members of the drug trafficking organization in Manatí.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to wit: leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. The defendants charged in the indictment are:
[1] Fabián López-Pino, a.k.a. “Fabi/Gordo/Panda”
[2] Michael Ángelo Reyes-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Chucky/Choky”
[3] Joshua Siragusa-Romero, a.k.a. “Tres Dobles”
[4] Alejandro Sáenz-Escobar, a.k.a. “Fresa/Fresita/Andito”
[5] Christopher Alberto Centeno-Marrero, a.k.a. “Chupy/Chupa Compras”
[6] Victor Cardoza, a.k.a. “Vitoy”
[7] Francisco Efrén Marín-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Frank/F/El Viejo”
[8] Cesar Tyron Villegas–Cintrón
[9] Daniel Morla-Reyes, a.k.a. “Bebe/Bebe Murales/El Domi”
[10] Christopher Maldonado-López, a.k.a. “Gordo Flow”
[11] Christian Maldonado-López, a.k.a. “Ninja”
[12] José Israel Rivera-Morán, a.k.a. “Isratek/Isra”
[13] Christopher Pagán-Moux, a.k.a. “Zion”
[14] Carlos Jadriel Rivera-León, a.k.a. “Hulk/Carlitos Hulk”
[15] Jacier Collazo-Cruz
[16] Kenneth Noel Padilla-Martínez, a.k.a. “Dement/Demente”
[17] Jairo Luis Sánchez-Romero, a.k.a. “Grillo”
[18] Jonathan Yadriel Negrón-Quintero, a.k.a. “Wiwi”
[19] Adán David López-Quintero, a.k.a. “Chaco”
[20] Jadriel Yandel Bruno-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Cuty”
[21] José Rafael Domínguez-Rivera, a.k.a. “Ojos Bellos”
[22] Bryan Joel Nieves-Romero, a.k.a. “Cabulla/Cabuya”
[23] Kelvin Joel Rivas-Quiñonez, a.k.a. “Piki/Rubio”
[24] Kenneth Córdova-Real, a.k.a. “Pope/Menor”
[25] Norma Iris Cintrón-Pino, a.k.a. “Normita”
[26] Ángel Javier Marrero-González, a.k.a. “Chacorta/Chacolta/Titi”
[27] William Omar Nieves-Maisonet, a.k.a. “Tito Llorón”
[28] Kevin Renier Marrero-Ocasio, a.k.a. “Coraje”
[29] Edsel Rodríguez-Ramírez, a.k.a. “La R/El Gordo/El Goldo”
[30] Miguel Ángel Ayala-De León, a.k.a. “Tonka”
[31] Jorge Luis Santiago-Robles, a.k.a. “El Mono/El Mono De Cerro Gandía”
[32] Jeremy Nael Rodríguez-Ortega, a.k.a. “Jordan”
[33] Shaquille Emmanuel Rivera-De Jesús
[34] Jonathan Montano-Menéndez, a.k.a. “Ata”
[35] Kelvin Luis Núñez-Otero, a.k.a. “Colilla”
[36] Manuel Ángel Jr. Torres-Pérez, a.k.a. “Manolo”
[37] María De Los Ángeles Candelario-Rosa, a.k.a. “María Pasillo”
[38] Victor David Santos-Medina, a.k.a. “Davisito”
[39] Richard Vázquez-Aponte, a.k.a. “BTA”
[40] Jorge Luis Rivera-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “El Mono/El Mono De Zorrillas”
[41] Isaías Daniel Lugo-Nazario, a.k.a. “Panda”
[42] John Anthony Sánchez-Valentín, a.k.a. “Joshua Pauta/Pauta”
Thirty-Three (33) defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and fifteen (15) of those defendants are facing one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort; Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares; AUSAs Corinne Cordero-Romo and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Six, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged in Count Seven with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking face a mandatory sentence of thirty years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges. All defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $31,347,400.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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21 September 2023
Z-43 pleads guilty to trafficking tons of cocaine into United StatesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A former high-ranking member of the Los Zetas cartel has entered a guilty plea to a conspiracy to import tons of cocaine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Maria Guizar-Valencia, 43, of Tulare, California, is considered one of the last numbered Los Zetas and was a regional leader in charge of the Guatemala/Central America region.
“Today the cartels were put on notice,” said Hamdani. “After a long and hard fought battle, we brought another ruthless cartel leader to justice. Jose Maria Guizar-Valencia may have thought he was untouchable, but now he feels the reach, power and persistence of the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He once led the drug activity in a large swath of Central America. Those days are over, and the residents of the Southern District of Texas are now safer.”
“The guilty plea of Guizar-Valencia is another example of our success in the fight against Mexican drug cartels operating in the United States and exemplifies the commitment of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to battle against global drug trafficking organizations,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division. “DEA continues our pursuit to hold accountable high ranking members of Mexican drug cartels who profit from the sale of dangerous drugs to our citizens, and threaten the security of the United States.”
In 2012, law enforcement began an investigation into the illegal drug trafficking activities of the Los Zetas. At the time, they were a Mexican-based drug cartel in control of much of the Mexico/U.S. border to include the Texas corridor.
The investigation revealed Los Zetas had expanded their control of the drug trade to Central and South America. This enabled them to control the importation of drugs from countries including Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia into the Republic of Mexico and then into the United States.
The investigation revealed that from 2007 to 2014, Guizar-Valencia was responsible for controlling a large portion of Guatemala and for coordinating the transportation of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Guatemala, Guatemala to Mexico and then from Mexico into the United States for further distribution. Guizar-Valencia also managed the receipt of millions of dollars in U.S. currency the cartel obtained from the sale of cocaine in the United States.
Guizar Valencia had been under indictment and was on the run for many years. He evaded apprehension until Feb. 9, 2018, when Mexican authorities and its military arrested him in Mexico City, Mexico. He later waived extradition.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana will sentence Guizar-Valencia at a later date, at which time he will be facing a possible punishment of up to life in prison and a $10 million maximum fine. He will remain in custody.
The DEA spearheaded the long term 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) MaryLou Castillo, Lance Watt and former AUSA James Hepburn of the Southern District of Texas and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case.
Yale University and Its Professor Agree to Pay $1.5 Million for Failure to Share Patent Royalties with VARead the Press Release
Yale University and Dr. John Krystal have agreed to pay $1,507,743.67 to resolve False Claims Act and common law allegations that they failed to disclose certain patents and failed to share patent royalties with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) for inventions made by Dr. Krystal when he worked for both institutions. The settlement resolves alleged conduct between March 2006 and February 2023.
“Universities and their professors must properly disclose and share royalties on inventions they discover while working for the government,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will ensure that those who benefit from government funding and resources properly compensate the taxpayers.”
“It is critical that inventions funded with taxpayer money be fully and timely disclosed to the government,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “This settlement shows our commitment to ensuring that the government is fairly compensated for all taxpayer funded inventions.”
“The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the VA is appropriately and fairly compensated for all intellectual property developed through VA-funded research projects,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s (VA OIG) Northeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Department of Justice for its efforts to reach this settlement.”
At the time of the inventions, Dr. Krystal was employed part time at Yale in various positions and with various research responsibilities, including as a Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Psychology, and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the Yale School of Medicine. He was also employed part time by the VA as a salaried clinical psychiatrist with research responsibilities at the VA Medical Center located in West Haven, Connecticut.
VA and Yale are parties to an agreement under which Yale and the VA agreed to promptly and in confidence disclose to each other all “Joint Inventions,” which included “any future invention or discovery, which is or may be patentable… in which at least one employee with compensation from the VA and at least one person who has an appointment with Yale is named as a co-inventor.” In addition, VA regulations require all VA employees to promptly disclose their inventions to the VA so the VA can make a determination as to whether it is entitled to ownership.
Beginning in March 2006, Dr. Krystal and four co-inventors applied for several patents related to the use of intranasal ketamine for treatment of depression and suicidal ideation. The patent applications allegedly acknowledged VA funding support. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued three patents. Dr. Krystal assigned his interests in those three patents to Yale.
In February 2015, Yale and Dr. Krystal began receiving royalty payments arising from the three ketamine patents. The United States alleged they never shared these royalty payments, now totaling more than $3 million, with the VA, and did not disclose the patents to the VA until 2017. In September 2017 and then again in January and June 2019, another school (which had been assigned as agent for the ketamine patents), in coordination with Krystal and Yale, allegedly submitted documents to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office removing the acknowledgement of VA support from the three ketamine patents.
The United States alleged that after a VA employee reminded Dr. Krystal of VA employees’ obligations to disclose inventions to the VA, in December 2017, Dr. Krystal submitted the required disclosure to the VA of the three ketamine patents. The VA then issued a determination that it was entitled to an ownership interest in the patents. Dr. Krystal appealed that determination to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the VA prevailed.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that during the time-period from March 2006, when Dr. Krystal and the other co-inventors filed the first patent application, to Dec. 8, 2017, when Dr. Krystal disclosed the ketamine patents to the VA, Yale and Dr. Krystal knowingly and improperly avoided their obligations to disclose the ketamine patents to the VA and to pay the VA its share of the royalty payments for the patents. The settlement also resolves allegations that from the date that Dr. Krystal disclosed the patents through Feb. 3, Yale and Dr. Krystal were in breach of contract and unjustly enriched by their failure to share the royalty payments.
As part of this settlement, Dr. Krystal agreed to forego any entitlement to share in the settlement paid to VA, pursuant to rights that he would otherwise have as a VA employee inventor. Simultaneously with this settlement, Yale, Dr. Krystal and the VA also entered into a separate agreement, under which Yale and VA agreed to share future royalties associated with the ketamine patents and assign the patents to the VA.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the VA’s Office of General Counsel.
Fraud Section Attorney Jonathan T. Thrope and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot for the District of Connecticut handled this matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
SettlementYale University and Its Professor Agree to Pay $1.5 Million for Failure to Share Patent Royalties with VARead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Yale University and Dr. John Krystal have agreed to pay $1,507,743.67 to resolve False Claims Act and common law allegations that they failed to disclose certain patents and failed to share patent royalties with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) for inventions made by Dr. Krystal when he worked for both institutions. The settlement resolves alleged conduct between March 2006 and February 2023.
“Universities and their professors must properly disclose and share royalties on inventions they discover while working for the government,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will ensure that those who benefit from government funding and resources properly compensate the taxpayers.”
“It is critical that inventions funded with taxpayer money be fully and timely disclosed to the government,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “This settlement shows our commitment to ensuring that the government is fairly compensated for all taxpayer funded inventions.”
“The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the VA is appropriately and fairly compensated for all intellectual property developed through VA-funded research projects,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s (VA OIG) Northeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Department of Justice for its efforts to reach this settlement.”
At the time of the inventions, Dr. Krystal was employed part time at Yale in various positions and with various research responsibilities, including as a Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Psychology, and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the Yale School of Medicine. He was also employed part time by the VA as a salaried clinical psychiatrist with research responsibilities at the VA Medical Center located in West Haven, Connecticut.
VA and Yale are parties to an agreement under which Yale and the VA agreed to promptly and in confidence disclose to each other all “Joint Inventions,” which included “any future invention or discovery, which is or may be patentable… in which at least one employee with compensation from the VA and at least one person who has an appointment with Yale is named as a co-inventor.” In addition, VA regulations require all VA employees to promptly disclose their inventions to the VA so the VA can make a determination as to whether it is entitled to ownership.
Beginning in March 2006, Dr. Krystal and four co-inventors applied for several patents related to the use of intranasal ketamine for treatment of depression and suicidal ideation. The patent applications allegedly acknowledged VA funding support. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued three patents. Dr. Krystal assigned his interests in those three patents to Yale.
In February 2015, Yale and Dr. Krystal began receiving royalty payments arising from the three ketamine patents. The United States alleged they never shared these royalty payments, now totaling more than $3 million, with the VA, and did not disclose the patents to the VA until 2017. In September 2017 and then again in January and June 2019, another school (which had been assigned as agent for the ketamine patents), in coordination with Krystal and Yale, allegedly submitted documents to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office removing the acknowledgement of VA support from the three ketamine patents.
The United States alleged that after a VA employee reminded Dr. Krystal of VA employees’ obligations to disclose inventions to the VA, in December 2017, Dr. Krystal submitted the required disclosure to the VA of the three ketamine patents. The VA then issued a determination that it was entitled to an ownership interest in the patents. Dr. Krystal appealed that determination to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the VA prevailed.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that during the time-period from March 2006, when Dr. Krystal and the other co-inventors filed the first patent application, to Dec. 8, 2017, when Dr. Krystal disclosed the ketamine patents to the VA, Yale and Dr. Krystal knowingly and improperly avoided their obligations to disclose the ketamine patents to the VA and to pay the VA its share of the royalty payments for the patents. The settlement also resolves allegations that from the date that Dr. Krystal disclosed the patents through Feb. 3, Yale and Dr. Krystal were in breach of contract and unjustly enriched by their failure to share the royalty payments.
As part of this settlement, Dr. Krystal agreed to forego any entitlement to share in the settlement paid to VA, pursuant to rights that he would otherwise have as a VA employee inventor. Simultaneously with this settlement, Yale, Dr. Krystal and the VA also entered into a separate agreement, under which Yale and VA agreed to share future royalties associated with the ketamine patents and assign the patents to the VA.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the VA’s Office of General Counsel.
Fraud Section Attorney Jonathan T. Thrope and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot for the District of Connecticut handled this matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Woodbridge Man Sentenced for Defrauding the Elderly in Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for conspiring to launder money in relation to romance and investment frauds.
According to court documents, from 2014 to March 2019, Ishmael Kayede, 40, conspired and agreed with multiple co-conspirators to launder funds derived from mail or wire fraud schemes, including romance fraud, gold and diamond investment fraud, and other fraud scams. During his participation in this money laundering conspiracy, Kayede received funds in his bank accounts from victims of those romance and other fraud schemes while working with and at the direction of associates located in foreign jurisdictions, including Ghana.
Kayede’s co-conspirators largely targeted elderly victims in the United States, primarily using online dating websites such as match.com. They would befriend potential victims on the dating websites using false pretenses and would then exploit that trust to convince the victims to send money to Kayede’s bank accounts. Kayede would then transmit the funds to Ghana. If he had trouble moving the money, he would lie to bank officials about the source and nature of the funds. Some victims targeted by the scheme lost thousands of dollars; others lost more than a hundred thousand dollars to the defendant’s activities. In total, Kayede received and laundering approximately $1.3 million over the course of his involvement with the scheme.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Keim and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina Cuellar prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-94.
Wilson Business Owner Latest to be Sentenced in National COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Isaac Lamont Dawson, 45, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans on behalf of two separate businesses he owned. He is the seventh defendant to be sentenced for his role in the scheme, and he has received the longest sentence so far. To date, 16 defendants have pled guilty to this scheme in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Sentencing is pending for the remaining nine.
“Stealing taxpayer money intended to help struggling businesses during a pandemic is shameless,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We will continue to hold accountable those who criminally took advantage of our country in its time of need.”
According to the filed charges and information summarized in court, Dawson conspired with Edward Whitaker, Schunda Coleman, and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans on behalf of their businesses. Dawson’s businesses included a construction company and a holding company. Whitaker and Coleman pled guilty on January 19, 2023 for their role in operating a nation-wide scheme to help people across the country commit millions of dollars of PPP fraud from their home in Texas.
Whitaker and Coleman created fraudulent supporting documents and applications for each PPP loan in exchange for 25% of the total loan proceeds. The fraudulent applications falsified the number of employees and gross wages being paid prior to the COVID-19 pandemic by backdating fraudulent IRS Forms 940 and 941, in order to help qualify for the PPP loans. Following the disbursement of the PPP loans, Whitaker gave each defendant, via text messages subsequently obtained by law enforcement, detailed instructions as to how to make it appear that the PPP loans were being paid out to employees. In reality, most or all of the money was transferred back to the defendants. The fraudulent payroll records were then submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain 100% loan forgiveness.
Late last year, Quentin Jackson pled guilty in the same conspiracy which included the recruitment of numerous individuals within the Eastern District of North Carolina to use Whitaker and Coleman to obtain fraudulent PPP funds.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
Defendants that have been sentenced so far include:
- Shakeerah Kaneisha Yvette Vinson [Case No. 5-23-cr-00027-D]
- Monica Faye Barnes [Case No. 5:23-cr-00094-D]
- Terron Cortez Parker [Case No. 5-23-cr-00081-D]
- Kami D. Woodard [Case No. 5-23-cr-00095-D]
- Eugene Miller, Jr. [Case No. 5-23-cr-00290-D]
- Jonathan Fleming [Case No. 5-23-cr-00227-D]
All but Fleming received sentences of 12 months plus one day. Fleming received a 15- month prison sentence.
Defendants awaiting sentencing include:
- Quentin Jackson [Case No. 5-23-cr-180-D]
- Edward Whitaker [Case No. 5-22-cr-00257-D]
- Schunda Coleman [Case No. 5-22-cr-00257-D
- Nekita Hooks [Case No. 5-23-cr-00025-D]
- Denise Alston [Case No. 5-23-cr-00077-D]
- Dontrell Barnes [Case No. 5-23-cr-00094-D]
- Lenille Woodard [Case No. 5-23-cr-00138-D]
- Irene Edwards [Case No. 5-23-cr-00098-D]
- Jackson Ndoyo [Case No. 5-23-cr-00118-D]
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III announced the sentence. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. 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. 5:23-CR-00097-D.
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West Sacramento Man Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl and Being a Felon in Possession of a GunRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Kamaal Yusuf, 22, of West Sacramento, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2022 Yusuf was conspiring to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl in El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties. On three occasions, twice in Sacramento County and once in Yolo County, he distributed fentanyl pills. Yusuf also possessed another 400 grams of fentanyl in Yolo County. Yusuf, who is a previously convicted felon, is also charged with illegally possessing a Glock handgun and an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
This case is the product of an investigation by the West El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Yusuf faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a $10 million fine for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for distribution of fentanyl; and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle. 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Voorhees Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography in Camden CountyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 80 months in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Bruce Makley, 68, of Voorhees, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence on Sept. 20, 2023, in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 14, 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. Makley admitted possessing more than 600 images of child sexual abuse, including images of sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, or sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Makley to 10 years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $152,000 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay; officers of the Voorhees Police Department, under the direction of Chief Louis Bordi; and officers of the Mt. Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief Judy Lynn Schiavone, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Harberg of the United States Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Van Buren Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Fort Smith – A Van Buren man was sentenced today to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute. The Honorable P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
According to court documents, in September 2022, a patrol officer with Van Buren Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop on Philip Ray Jones, age 44. Jones failed to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Ultimately Jones abandoned his vehicle in a residential area and tried to flee on foot. During the foot pursuit Jones dropped a bag on the ground. A search of Jones and the bag yielded methamphetamine, cash, a digital scale and other illegal controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Van Buren Police Department and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Marshall and Tyler Williams prosecuted the case.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.
Vallejo Man Indicted for Assaulting Federal Agents with a Firearm and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Sean Thomas Delapp, 37, of Vallejo, charging him with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Delapp assaulted two FBI special agents by chasing them with his car, pulling up alongside them, and aiming a firearm at them through the window, making a recoil motion with the firearm. A subsequent search warrant at his residence resulted in the discovery of a Glock 29 firearm, ammunition, and various firearm parts. Delapp is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony evasion offense.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Delapp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown Convenes Annual Training, Leadership Development and Award Conference in Bossier CityRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced today that the Western District of Louisiana’s United States Attorney’s Office Annual Training and Leadership Development Conference will be held September 20-22, 2023, at the Bossier Parish Sheriff Substation in Bossier City, LA. The district is headquartered in Shreveport with approximately 50 employees and has a branch office in Lafayette with roughly another 40 employees. The annual conference is the only time over the course of each fiscal year when the District’s employees convene in one location and the conference usually rotates between the Shreveport and Lafayette areas.
Sheriff Julian Whittington assisted U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown with the opening of the conference. The remainder of the agenda for the conference included presentations by: Chief District Judge Terry Doughty, General Counsel for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) Jay Macklin, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Marvin Richardson EOUSA White Collar Crime & Covid-19 Fraud Coordinator Mandy Riedel and EOUSA Attorney Advisor Cristina Burbach. Additionally, Britney Green, Susette Bryant and retired Assistant United States Attorney William J. Flanagan will conduct leadership development sessions and renowned trial attorney, Roger Dodd of the Dodd Trial Skills Clinic will instruct on cross examination strategy and techniques.
The conference also included several team building exercises and for the first time a district award’s luncheon. During the luncheon, US Attorney Brown recognized the exceptional work of federal, state and local law enforcement officers, Assistant United States Attorneys and members of the district’s professional staff for their efforts in outstanding investigations, prosecutions, appellate advocacy and leadership over the last fiscal year. “Over the years, we have given out awards at our conference, but I wanted to put more of an emphasis on the awardees’ work this year with a luncheon. Every day, the men and women of this district have accepted the calling to show up and give the government an honest day’s work and it is incumbent upon upper management to celebrate them for their achievements. Likewise, law enforcement officers across the district have collaborated with us as partners to help keep our communities safe, hold those accountable who defraud the government and those who violate the civil rights of the citizens of this district,” said United States Attorney Brown. “Today’s awardees exemplify that it takes a team effort from our attorneys, professional staff and our law enforcement partners to support and defend the Constitution of the United States to the best of our ability.”
The following case related awards were announced by U.S. Attorney Brown:
Outstanding Appellate Award
Awarded to the following for outstanding appellate advocacy in the prosecution of United States v. William Holdman.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Michael Shannon
Assistant United States Attorney Forrest Phillips
Legal Assistant Stephanie Stewart
Paralegal Specialist Lisa Alwert
Special Agent Brad Rabalais, U.S. Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
Game Warden Kurt Hatten, LA Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
Outstanding Affirmative Civil Enforcement Award
Awarded to the following for the investigative and prosecutive efforts in a civil action to recover government money lost to fraud and other misconduct in the matter of US ex rel Goodley, Acadiana Management Group, Lafayette Physical Rehabilitation Hospital & Dr. Carolyn Smith.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Missy Theriot
Legal Assistant Tanya Trahan
Special Agent Rita Bergeron, Department of Health & Human Services
Outstanding Defensive Litigation Award
Awarded to the following for the civil defensive employment law litigation on behalf of the United States in the matter of Steven Katz v. Christine Wormuth.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Frederick
Paralegal Specialist Terri Comeaux
Outstanding Civil Rights Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for superior investigative and prosecutive performance in the hate crime related matter of United States v. Chance Seneca.
Recipients: Deputy Criminal Chief Myers Namie
Former Assistant United States Attorney Robert Abendroth
Legal Administrative Specialist Melissa Morris
Paralegal Specialist Jennifer Broussard
Special Agent Dan English (Ret.), Federal Bureau of Investigation
Outstanding Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for superior performance in the thwarting of drug/narcotics trafficking in the matter of United States v. Brian Broussard.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Vermaelen
Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon
Special Agent Doug Herman, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Special Agent Bobby Bodin, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
Outstanding Public Corruption Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for an investigation revealing conduct that affected government integrity and/or offenses involving public official misconduct in the prosecution of United States v. Harold Wayne Sanford, Jr.
Recipients: Special Counsel to United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook
Legal Assistant Kristi Viola
Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot
Legal Administrative Specialist Ginger Green
Legal Administrative Specialist Melissa Morris
Secretary to USA Tanya’ Porter
Victim Witness Coordinator Vicki Chance
Special Agent Raquel Mobley, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Outstanding Violent Crime/Domestic Terrorism Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for outstanding performance in an investigation leading to the arrest and prosecution of an individual who committed acts of violent crime in the prosecution of United States v. Daniel Aikens.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla Bynog
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel McCoy
Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte Murphy
Paralegal Specialist Emily Lanphier
Legal Administrative Specialist Melissa Morris
Victim Witness Coordinator Vicki Chance
Special Agent Theresa Mesa, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
Special Agent Andrew Erdmann, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
Outstanding White Collar Fraud Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for outstanding performance in white collar crime involving bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion in the prosecution of United States v. Joseph Boswell.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Cytheria Jernigan
Criminal Chief Earl Campbell
Paralegal Specialist Emily Lanphier
Legal Administrative Specialist Laura Borque
Victim Witness Coordinator Vicki Chance
Special Agent Cory Moton, Internal Revenue Service
Special Agent Holly Deshotel, Internal Revenue Service
Outstanding White Collar Fraud Prosecution Award
Awarded to the following for outstanding performance in white collar crime involving Cares Act (Covid-19) fraud in the prosecution of United States v. Michael A. Tolliver.
Recipients: Assistant United States Attorney Seth Reeg
Legal Assistant Kristi Viola
Special Agent Darrin Heusel, Internal Revenue Service.
Additional federal, state and local law enforcement officers were also recognized for overall exemplary performance in violent crime investigative efforts and they are as follows: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Special Agent Christina Curtis, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Travis Coyman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Heath White, Deputies Steven Shankle and Erik Wikstrom of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Brent Young of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Detective Anthony Cowan of the Monroe Police Department, and Shreveport Police Department officers/analysts Stacy Coleman, Sara Gilmour, Erin Heflin, Donald Henry and Brent Ouzts.
Lastly, in late 2022, US Attorney Brown convened a community advisory group called “Focusing on the Future” that U.S. Attorney Brown meets with on a monthly basis. This group will be recognized for their contributions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in an advisory role in terms of violent crime prevention strategies and civil rights awareness matters. Members of that group are: Mario Chavez, MersaTech; Dr. Jerome Cox, We Care Ministries Outreach Program; Dr. Lamar Goree, Caddo Parish Schools; Dr. John Henson, Church for the Highlands; Dr. Theron Jackson, Morning Star Baptist Church; Ms. Von Jennings, City of Shreveport; Rev. Lee Jeter, Bossier Parish NAACP; Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones, Ms. Debbie Martin, Roberts & Murphy, Inc.; Dr. Russell Minor, Community Renewal; Dr. Heath Peloquin, Summer Grove Baptist Church; Oil City Mayor James Sims; Clay Walker, Caddo Parish Assistant Administrator; Billy Wayne, Urban Support Agency, Inc.; and Ryan Williams, Seedlinks Behavioral Management. “I have learned a great deal this year from this group, and they have educated me on ways prosecutors, law enforcement and the community can work together for the common good. Simultaneously, my goal was to educate the group on how the Department of Justice and our local district functions so that citizens will start to have a better understanding of what our purpose is and why we exist,” said U.S. Attorney Brown.
For more information on the Western District of Louisiana’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
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Union Financial Secretary from Franklinton Louisiana Sentenced for Stealing Union FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRIAN GERALD, age 51, a resident of Franklinton, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to (5) five years of probation and (6) six months of house arrest for stealing money from a local labor union, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. The Court also ordered GERALD to pay restitution in the amount of $112,594.18.
According to court records, GERALD was the Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 13-189. GERALD was responsible for organizing Local 13-189’s financial records, keeping an accounting of its income, and filing IRS forms and reports. GERALD was also responsible for maintaining Local 13-189’s debit card in a safe location. From January 2015 through September 2020, GERALD used the union’s debit card to make 493 ATM cash withdrawals totaling $107,387.90 in cash and fees. GERALD also used the union’s debit card to make payments for his personal accounts for a total of $36,589.41. GERALD misappropriated a total of $143,977.31 of union funds.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Labor in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit and Troy Bell of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
Ugandan Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Federal Prison for Money Laundering ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Ugandan man was sentenced on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, to 121 months in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
According to public court documents, Kingsley Ogbeide, 50, also known as “James Oreye,” “Emmanual Richson,” and “King,” was involved in a business email compromise (BEC) scam which defrauded a business within the Southern District of Iowa. Ogbeide worked with co-conspirators and co-defendants to trick employees of legitimate businesses to change their bank information via email. Large sums of money were subsequently wired to illegitimate bank accounts controlled by fraudsters. Ogbeide worked as a top-level conspirator arranging and communicating on which fraudulent bank accounts would receive illegally obtained funds and managed how the funds would be distributed to other members of the conspiracy. Ogbeide admitted to helping to manage fraudulent activity totaling between approximately $3.5 million and $9.5 million.
Following his prison sentence, Ogbeide was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Ogbeide was ordered to pay about $1.5 million in restitution to 16 victims.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
U.S. Government Contractor Arrested on Espionage ChargesRead the Press Release
A U.S. government contractor was arrested on Aug. 24 based on espionage charges in a complaint unsealed today. Abraham Teklu Lemma, 50, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Ethiopian descent, of Silver Spring, Maryland, is charged with delivering national defense information to aid a foreign government, conspiracy to deliver national defense information to aid a foreign government, and the willful retention of national defense information.
According to the criminal complaint, between on or about Dec. 19, 2022, and Aug. 7, 2023, Lemma copied classified information from intelligence reports and deleted the classification markings from them. Lemma then removed the information, which was classified as SECRET and TOP SECRET, from secure facilities at the Department of State. This material related to a specific country and/or geographic region. Lemma accessed, copied, removed, and retained this information without authorization.
According to the charging documents, Lemma used an encrypted application to transmit classified national defense information to a foreign government official associated with a foreign country’s intelligence service. In these communications, Lemma expressed an interest and willingness to assist the foreign government official by providing information. In one communication, the foreign official stated, “[i]t’s time to continue ur support.” Lemma responded, “Roger that!” In other chats, the foreign official tasked Lemma to focus on information related to particular subjects, and Lemma responded “[a]bsolutely, I have been focusing on that all this week . . . .” As alleged in the criminal complaint, the classified national defense information Lemma transferred to the foreign official included satellite imagery and other information regarding military activities in the foreign country and region.
The two espionage charges carry a potential penalty of death or any term of years up to life in prison, and the willful retention charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tejpal Chawla and Alexandra Hughes for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Heather Schmidt and Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lemma complaint Lemma affidavit