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21 September 2023
Former CFO of Russian Natural Gas Company Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
Mark Anthony Gyetvay of Naples, Florida, was sentenced today to 86 months in prison for a scheme to hide millions of dollars of income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts and submitting a false filing with the IRS. Gyetvay was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $350,000 fine and approximately $4,021,074 in restitution to the United States. A federal jury convicted Gyetvay in March of failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), making a false statement to the IRS and willfully failing to file tax returns.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, 2005 to 2015, Gyetvay concealed his ownership and control over substantial offshore assets and did not file tax returns or pay taxes on millions of dollars of income.
After working as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the United States and Russia, Gyetvay became the chief financial officer of Novatek, a large Russian natural gas company. Beginning in 2005, Gyetvay opened two different accounts at a bank in Switzerland to hold large sums of money, which at one point had an aggregate value of over $93 million. Over a period of several years, Gyetvay took steps to conceal his ownership and control over these funds, including removing his name from the accounts and making his then-wife, a Russian citizen, the beneficial owner of the accounts. Additionally, and despite being a CPA, Gyetvay did not file personal tax returns for 2013 and 2014.
Moreover, Gyetvay did not file FBARs, as required, to disclose his control over the Swiss bank accounts, even rejecting his accountant’s recommendation to do so. In an unsuccessful attempt to avoid significant financial penalties, Gyetvay made a false filing with the IRS using the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures, which is only available to taxpayers whose failure to report offshore assets and income is due to non-willful conduct.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stanley J. Okula Jr., Assistant Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division prosecuted the case with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Fentanyl trafficking in Kalispell area sends Mexican citizen to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Mexican citizen who admitted to trafficking fentanyl in the Kalispell area after law enforcement seized 12,000 fentanyl pills, more than $72,000 in U.S. currency and a pistol from his vehicle was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Cuauhtemoc Cervantes Samaniego, 30, pleaded guilty in May to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Samaniego trafficked fentanyl in the Kalispell community from about May 2022 through Oct. 5, 2022. Investigators received information that Samaniego was in Kalispell with a large amount of fentanyl to distribute. At about 2:50 a.m. on Oct. 5, 2022, law enforcement officers located Samaniego at a gas station in Kalispell and searched his vehicle. Officers found 12,000 fentanyl pills, $72,687 in U.S. currency and a 9mm pistol. An individual later told an agent that Samaniego had met with a person prior to law enforcement stopping him and that Samaniego had provided the person fentanyl pills. The person gave Samaniego a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations, the Northwest Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Federal Jury Convicts Palm Beach County Resident of Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Palm Beach County resident has been convicted by a federal jury of participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Belas Shelson Rosier, 34, of Greenacres, Florida, was found guilty on all counts following a four-day jury trial in Fort Pierce, Fla., before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. Rosier was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, in addition to fentanyl analogs and cocaine.
According to court documents, the investigation into Rosier was initiated, by federal and local investigators, based on evidence recovered during the successful prosecution of one of Rosier’s long-term street level fentanyl and cocaine distributors. The evidence presented at trial established that Rosier was responsible for the distribution of at least six kilograms of fentanyl during the time period of October 4, 2021 through March 9, 2022. During the investigation, federal agents seized and administratively forfeited over $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in jewelry that had been recovered from Rosier’s possession.
Rosier is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cannon on December 19, 2023, in Fort Pierce. Rosier faces a mandatory minimum ten-year term of imprisonment, up to a maximum of life imprisonment, as to each count of conviction.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, Frank Adderly, Chief of Police, West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement.
HSI Miami and ATF Miami Field Office investigated this case jointly with their local partners from WPBPD and PBSO. AUSA John McMillan is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Zloch is handling asset forfeiture.
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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under Case No. 23-CR-80045.
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Federal Inmate Charged with Possessing A WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kahlil Shelton, age 28, a federal prison inmate, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the offense of possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on or about June 20, 2023, while an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill), in Minersville, Pennsylvania, Shelton possessed a 6.5-inch metal implement with a cloth handle capable of being used as a stabbing weapon.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- September 2023Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June 2023 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Nathan Dwayne Burks. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Nathan Dwayne Burks, 32, a Cherokee citizen is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country, and carrying, using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence following a standoff with the Sand Springs Police Department and subsequent arrest. Sand Springs Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cyran is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-312
John Arthur Walker Jr., Eric Ray Myers. Kidnapping. John Arthur Walker Jr., 49, and Eric Ray Myers, 31, both Muscogee citizens, are charged with kidnapping a person on or about Aug. 16, 2023. The Broken Arrow Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Harder and Kate Brandon are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-311
Jason Dale Hurt. Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Resulting in Death. Jason Dale Hurt, 49, is charged with distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death after he allegedly distributed a mixture and substance containing heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, and fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, resulting in the death of the victim. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigating agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Michael Harder are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-308
Julia Lydia Savage. Drug Conspiracy. Julia Lydia Savage, 33, from Atascadero, California, is charged with drug conspiracy after she allegedly conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigating agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Brasher and Nate Michael prosecuting the case. 23-CR-309
Rolando Alvarado-Villanueva. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rolando Alvarado-Villanueva, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after he was arrested by the Tulsa Police Department on unrelated charges. He had been previously deported and removed from the United States on or about Sept. 19,2014, at or near New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-306
Jorge Becerra-Ambriz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Jorge Becerra-Ambriz, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being arrested by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges. He was previously deported and removed from the United States on or about July 31, 2020, at or near Hidalgo, Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-307
Carlos Manuel Rivera-Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Carlos Manuel Rivera-Lopez, 23, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien after being arrested by Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department on unrelated charges. He was previously deported and removed from the United States on or about Aug. 13,2018, at or near Houston, Texas. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra Williams is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-310
Federal Government Takes Title and Ownership of an Oakland Park House Used to Store and Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On September 20, 2023, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, in Fort Lauderdale, issued a Final Order of Forfeiture, which vested all right, title, interest, ownership, and possession of an Oakland Park house to the U.S. Government.
The U.S. Government was able to forfeit the Oakland Park residence after law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the house. At the time of the federal search warrant, defendant Daniel Joe Williams, a/k/a “Daniel Williams,” was living at, as well as using the house to store and distribute drugs. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement found various amounts of powder and crack cocaine, scales, a firearm, and ammunition, all of which were further evidence that the house was being used to facilitate the drug crimes. Williams pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Williams has multiple past felony convictions for distributing drugs. Following Williams’ guilty plea, and after providing notice to the public and the homeowner, the U.S. Government sought and obtained a Final Order of Forfeiture, which vested all right, title, and interest in the house to the U.S. Government.
Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
The ATF Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deric Zacca prosecuted the criminal case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Evan Hyman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone handled forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60008.
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Farrell, PA Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Maurice Brooks was convicted of committing fentanyl and cocaine trafficking crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Brooks, age 36 of Farrell, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Brooks pled guilty to (1) distributing fentanyl on May 2, 2022, and (2) possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine on June 2, 2022. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing to occur on January 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this 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 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.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con UPS para resolver una acusación de discriminación en el empleo relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS). El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que UPS vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) cuando la compañía discriminó a un residente permanente legal por motivos de su estatus migratorio y, posteriormente, tomó represalias en su contra. Por otra parte, el Departamento también determinó que UPS, de manera rutinaria, rechazó documentación válida que ciertos no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. presentaron para obtener una credencial de identificación del aeropuerto, la cual necesitaban para realizar ciertas tareas laborales en las instalaciones aeroportuarias de UPS.
«Los empleadores no pueden, en ningún momento durante el proceso de contratación, crear barreras ilícitas con base en el estatus migratorio», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles hará cumplir esta ley con firmeza, con el fin de garantizar que los empleadores completen cada parte del proceso de contratación de una forma justa y que los trabajadores no sean víctimas de represalias por haber hecho valer sus derechos».
Conforme el acuerdo, UPS pagará casi $100,000 por concepto de pagos retroactivos, pagos por anticipado y beneficios asociados al trabajador afectado. También pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a su personal en cuanto a la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA, revisará sus políticas y procedimientos y se someterá a la supervisión del Departamento.
La investigación del Departamento surgió de una demanda que alegó que UPS había discriminado y tomado represalias contra un residente permanente legal durante su proceso de emisión de la credencial de identificación aeroportuaria en sus instalaciones en el Aeropuerto Logan en Boston. El Departamento concluyó que UPS había discriminado al residente permanente legal al rechazar la documentación que el trabajador brindó para sacar una credencial de identificación aeroportuaria, a pesar de haber entregado documentación que, según las normas de las autoridades aeroportuarias, era aceptable. Según el Departamento, ya que UPS rechazó la documentación del trabajador, se negó a entregar una solicitud de una credencial de identificación a la autoridad aeroportuaria relevante en su nombre, por lo que le fue imposible para él realizar ciertas tareas laborales. El Departamento determinó que posteriormente, UPS tomó represalias contra el trabajador al despedirlo después de que se quejó a UPS de la discriminación.
Asimismo, el Departamento halló que las instalaciones de UPS tenían la política o práctica de rechazar documentación válida que algunos no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. presentan para poder sacar una credencial de identificación aeroportuaria, tal como las visas de inmigrantes de lectura mecánica (MRIV, por sus siglas en inglés) con un sello I-551.
La investigación concluyó que la autoridad aeroportuaria no formaba parte de la alegada discriminación y que sus políticas de emisión de credenciales de identificación eran iguales, independientemente de la ciudadanía, el estatus migratorio o la nacionalidad de origen de la persona.
Conforme a la INA, los empleadores no pueden, en ningún punto durante el proceso de contratación, discriminar con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía o bien por la nacionalidad de origen. Los empleadores tampoco pueden tomar represalias contra una persona por hacer valer sus derechos en virtud de esta ley.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Hay más información disponible en el sitio web de la IER sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación en los procesos de contratación y reclutamiento. Aprenda más sobre cómo la IER protege los derechos de los trabajadores en este video. Para más información sobre protecciones contra la discriminación en el empleo en virtud de las leyes migratorias, llame a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llame a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); inscríbase a un seminario en línea en vivo o vea una presentación a la carta; envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]; o visite los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
ups_settlement_agreement_september_21.pdfDurham Man Convicted for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - A jury in federal district court convicted SHAY NEIL JOHN today on multiple violations of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession, including possession of a machinegun and fentanyl trafficking, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, SHAY NEIL JOHN, 50, was charged by Indictment on December 19, 2022, and by Superseding Indictments on May 30, 2023 and August 28, 2023, with one count of possession with intent to distribute para-fluorofentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The events of the indictment and superseding indictments stemmed from an incident in Durham County that occurred on December 13, 2022.
A jury convicted JOHN on all counts of the Superseding Indictment on September 21, 2023 after a three-day trial. At sentencing, JOHN faces a minimum of 30 years in prison and a 3- to 5-year term of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2023, before United States District Court Judge William L. Osteen in Greensboro.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durham Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jake D. Pryor and Stephen T. Inman.
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Dumas Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Dumas, Texas man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for Transportation of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Landon Joseph Garcia, 39, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of transportation of child pornography. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, who also ordered him to pay $46,500 in restitution.
“Those who create, view and distribute child sexual abuse materials reinforce a cycle of victimization and trauma each time the content is shared,” said Lester R. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “Prosecuting the predators that traffic these images is truly a collaborative effort and we are grateful for the support we share with our law enforcement partners.”
According to court documents, in June 2022, Texas Department of Public Safety received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online Kik user was transporting child pornography. Law enforcement later determined that Mr. Garcia was associated with the Kik account.
In July 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Garcia’s residence and located Mr. Garcia in a restroom deleting child pornography images from his cell phone. Mr. Garcia later admitted to using his cell phone to view, download and transport child pornography for over ten years. The cell phone contained 1,620 video files containing child pornography.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations’ Amarillo Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto of the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 20, 2023, to 71 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, witnesses identified Jonathan Lee Sutton, 40, as the shooter following a shots fired incident in June 2022. Officers were able to identify a vehicle associated with Sutton and, following a search, recovered a stolen, .22 caliber handgun. Sutton had previously been convicted in federal court of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base, a felony charge, which bars him from possessing a firearm.
Following his prison term, Sutton 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. The Davenport Police Department investigated 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. 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.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison Related to Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 19, 2023, to twenty-five years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography.
According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Adam Michael Anderson, 24, was convicted in Iowa of sexual exploitation of a minor in 2019. As part of his sentence, Anderson was required to register as a sex offender. Anderson absconded from his Iowa probation and was caught in Texas. Anderson was then charged with failing to register as a sex offender in the Western District of Texas and received five years’ supervised release. Anderson transferred his supervision to the Southern District of Iowa.
During a home contact with the United States Probation Office in October 2022, Anderson was found to have two cell phones with internet capabilities, which Anderson was prohibited from possessing. The cell phones were forensically evaluated and contained evidence where Anderson was communicating with a minor victim in New York. Anderson coaxed the victim into sending him numerous sexually explicit images and videos. Additionally, there were other images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Anderson’s cell phones which he knowingly possessed.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Anderson will be required to serve fifteen years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Anderson was also ordered to pay $9,000 to the victims in this case.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Probation Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 250 Months in Prison Related to a Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 19, 2023, to over twenty years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and for distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Shawn Eric Durrah Jr., 33, was identified through a law enforcement investigation as an individual who was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in and around the Quad Cities Metro Area for several years. The investigation revealed that Durrah was involved in a drug trafficking organization that was distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. During the time that Durrah was involved in the drug conspiracy, he possessed and sold guns to others.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Durrah will be required to serve five 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.
Couple handed significant prison time for beating Uber driverRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two Houston residents have been ordered to federal prison following their conviction of carjacking with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Frank Lewis Blanco, 28, and Destinee Guerrero, 24, pleaded guilty June 23.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now imposed a 120-month term of imprisonment for Blanco, while Guerrero received 72 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences.
At the hearing, the court heard from the victim who described what happened to him and his subsequent injuries. He noted how Blanco and Guerrero treated his head like a football and the lasting damage to his eye and nose. The court also heard additional testimony including how the victim is an immigrant who is a hard-working man to support his wife and children. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hittner commented on the “extreme violent nature and circumstances of the offense.”
“Justice is blind” said Hamdani. “Whether a businessman heading to the office or an immigrant climbing into the driver’s seat, everyone deserves to be safe at work. As the son of an immigrant cab driver, I am heartbroken for what the victim endured and suffered for just doing his job. Thankfully, the court, today, provided justice to this working class man.”
“Blanco and Guerrero’s actions tear apart the fabric of our community by targeting those who keep our community running. They disguised themselves as passengers to savagely beat and rob a carshare driver trying to earn an honest living,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Martinez of the FBI Houston field office. “These two attackers not only robbed their victim of his livelihood but his sense of security. We hope today’s sentence demonstrates to these types of criminals, and others still out there, that we will not allow them to target and terrorize hard-working members of our community.”
On Nov. 13, 2022, Blanco and Guerrero hailed an Uber at approximately 8:30 a.m. However, once inside the vehicle, they repeatedly changed their destination, directing the driver around Houston for approximately half an hour.
The driver ultimately asked the couple to get out of the car, but they refused. He stopped at a gas station and asked the attendant to call the police. While awaiting the arrival of authorities, the driver again asked Blanco and Guerrero to get out of his car. The couple then began to attack him, knocked him unconscious, repeatedly stomped and kicked his body and then stole his car.
The gas station cameras captured the beating.
Both have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jeffrey Swartz, 41, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2009, Swartz was convicted in New York State Court of Rape 3rd: Victim Less than 17 Years Old. In September 2010, he was convicted in Federal Court of attempted production of child pornography and sentenced to serve 180 months in prison. In January 2020, Swartz was released from prison and began a 15-year term of supervised release. A condition of his release was that he must obtain authorization to use any internet accessible device and he must submit to monitoring of any such authorized device. In August 2023, the FBI was notified that Swartz was viewing child pornography on a monitored cellular telephone, which was confiscated by U.S. Probation. A review of the phone recovered images and videos of child pornography.
Swartz made an initial appearance before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man has been sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, law enforcement received a CyberTip from Kik that a Duluth resident had uploaded over 20 separate images and videos between February 23 and March 3, 2020 on the Kik app. They investigated and obtained a search warrant for the residence and vehicles of Eric Scott Sherman, 37, and discovered multiple images and videos depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A Motorola cell phone seized during the search confirmed the association between Sherman and the phone number and social media account usernames that started the investigation.
In his plea agreement, Sherman acknowledged that he was charged with and pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a four-year-old child in St. Louis County in 2011. In 2012, he was sentenced to 90 months in custody and 10 years of conditional release. Sherman was still under supervision when he received and possessed the child pornography in this case.
On May 16, 2023, Sherman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Kate M. Menendez.
This case was the result of an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Duluth Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino prosecuted the case.
Columbia County man sentenced to federal prison for distributing sexually explicit images of childrenRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man who serves in the U.S. Army has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison after uploading sexually explicit images of children to the internet.
Joshua Paul Barnhill, 41, of Martinez, Ga., was sentenced to 151 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Barnhill to pay restitution of $21,000, to register as a sex offender, and to serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Joshua Barnhill shared sexually explicit images of young children to online messaging applications for exploitation by other viewers,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Such exploitative conduct has earned him substantial prison time.”
As described in court documents and testimony, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a CyberTip to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to alert investigators about sexually explicit images and videos of children shared by the KIK internet messaging app.
Agents learned the images originated from Barnhill’s location, and found hundreds of images and videos on devices Barnhill used to upload images to the KIK and Wickr applications.
Barnhill is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving as a recruiter operating from Fort Jackson, S.C.
“The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Jason W. Blanchard.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Chicopee, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 1 Year and 1 Day in Prison for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 20, 2023, Christopher Morgan, 20, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of the U.S. District Court to a sentence of 1 year and 1 day in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Morgan previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
According to court records, on October 13, 2022, police in Bennington, Vermont, encountered Christopher Morgan while he was carrying a Smith & Wesson 37 revolver in a bag strapped to his torso. The firearm was loaded with five rounds of ammunition and a round in the chamber. In the same bag, Morgan also possessed a small number of glassine bags containing heroin and fentanyl. Morgan admitted to being a user of and addicted to heroin at the time he possessed the firearm.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Jonathan Ophardt. Mr. Thomas was represented by Allan Sullivan, Esq.
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.
Chicago Carjacker Sentenced to Six and a Half Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for carjacking a rideshare driver’s vehicle at gunpoint in downtown Chicago.
NOAH RANSOM forcibly stole a Lexus RX350 from a Lyft driver on April 9, 2022. The Lyft driver picked up Ransom and four other men at a downtown Chicago hotel around 4:00 a.m., and shortly thereafter Ransom pointed a gun at the driver and ordered him to stop the car and get out. The victim complied and Ransom drove off with the other men in the victim’s car.
About 90 minutes later, Illinois State Police identified the vehicle on the South Side of Chicago and ordered it to stop, but Ransom continued driving. After a high-speed chase on multiple expressways for nearly 30 minutes, ISP forced the vehicle to a stop in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Ransom was arrested and the handgun was seized.
Ransom, 19, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed the sentence Tuesday after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by ISP and the Chicago Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Jodrey and Bradley A. Tucker.
“Committing a senseless act of violence like carjacking is a serious crime that will earn you a substantial federal prison sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “We are working tirelessly with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to pursue, prosecute, and detain violent carjackers.”
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Jared Smith, 44, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 16, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Smith on the 1000 block of Virginia Street East in Charleston. The vehicle was traveling at night with its headlights off. Smith refused to stop, leading officers on a brief pursuit before crashing at the intersection of Kanawha Boulevard and Brooks Street. While attempting to flee on foot following the crash, Smith tripped and a loaded Glock Model 45 9mm pistol fell from his waistband. Smith grabbed the firearm and threw it under a nearby porch before continuing to flee. Officers recovered the firearm and captured Smith after he again fell to the ground.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Smith knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for aiding and abetting robbery affecting interstate commerce on May 13, 2015, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on November 17, 2000, all in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-111.
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Camden County woman sentenced to more than three decades in prison for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Camden County woman has been sentenced to more than 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of sexually exploitive images of a child.
Lesley Henry, 47, of St. Marys, Ga., was sentenced to 420 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood scheduled a hearing for Oct. 24 to determine restitution in the case, and ordered Henry to register as a sex offender and serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Lesley Henry and her co-defendant sentenced a child to a lifetime of devastating trauma with their horrific actions,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This prosecution will not heal that trauma, but it will protect the community from Henry for decades.”
As described in court documents and testimony, FBI agents in Milwaukee, Wis., infiltrated an online messaging group in which members shared images and videos of child sexual abuse. That investigation led FBI agents to Michael Williams Kersey, 45, of St. Marys, Ga., where agents found multiple images depicting sexual exploitation of a child on Kersey’s cell phone. Agents also identified Henry and determined she produced sexually explicit images and sent them to Kersey.
After Henry pled guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography, Kersey pled guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Sexual Exploitation of Children; three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children; and Possession of Child Pornography. He awaits sentencing and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
“Henry's actions are the worst of depravity and no sentence can lessen the harm she has caused. But at least she will no longer be able to pursue these egregious acts,” said FBI Savannah Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke. “We hope this sentencing sends a strong warning to predators that the FBI will go to great lengths to protect our most vulnerable citizens from those who seek to manipulate and do them harm.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania D. Groover and Jennifer J. Kirkland.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Buffalo Man Who Traveled to Rochester to Have Sex with A 13 Y/O Girl Going to PrisonRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Mohammed Uddin, 36, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that Uddin engaged in sexually explicit online and text communications with an undercover law enforcement officer, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Over a period of approximately three weeks, Uddin discussed engaging in sexual relations with the child, sent pornography to the child, talked about taking the child’s virginity, attempted to induce the child to produce and send him sexually explicit photos and videos, and formed a plan to meet the child at her Rochester home for sex. On August 18, 2022, Uddin traveled from Cheektowaga to an address in Rochester that he believed was the child’s residence and was immediately taken into custody, at which time investigators located Uddin’s cell phone and candy that he purchased as a gift for the child.
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 and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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Bridgeport Man Admits Lying During Grand Jury TestimonyRead the Press Release
On September 19, 2023, TAE’RON WOMACK, 22, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to making a false declaration before a federal grand jury.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. On July 20, 2020, Womack appeared before a grand jury in New Haven. Womack had been called to testify because his car was used during the shooting and killing of Myreke Kenion on January 26, 2020. The grand jury had developed information that Jaheim Warren was involved in the shooting. Womack was shown a picture of Warren and was asked “Have you seen this person before?” Womack, under oath, responded, “No.” He was then asked “You don’t recognize this person at all?” Womack responded, “Probably like seen him around but like overall, I don’t know him.”
Shortly after Womack’s grand jury testimony, investigators discovered a YouTube rap video in which Warren and Womack appeared together throughout the video.
Womack was arrested on September 9, 2020.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for December 12, at which time Womack faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. He is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.
Jaheim Warren, 19, was shot and killed on December 20, 2020.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRY BATCHELOR, also known as “Bookie,” 27, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 50 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Batchelor has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
East End gang members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
On June 5, 2023, Batchelor pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and specifically admitted that he distributed narcotics, that he knew the East End gang was involved in violent activity, and that a firearm that belonged to him was used by another East End member to shoot a rival O.N.E. member on October 17, 2019.
Batchelor has been detained since May 6, 2021.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Alex Murdaugh Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh, 55, of Hampton, has pleaded guilty in federal court to all 22 charges pending against him, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering.
“Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes were extensive, brazen, and callous,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “He stole indiscriminately from his clients, from his law firm, and from others who trusted him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and SLED committed to investigating and prosecuting Murdaugh’s financial crimes when they first came to light. Today marks our fulfillment of that promise.”
Murdaugh was a personal injury attorney at a law firm in Hampton, South Carolina. He admitted to engaging in three different schemes to obtain money and property from his personal injury clients.
In one scheme, Murdaugh admitted that from in or around July 2011 until at least October 2021, Murdaugh conspired with his banker, Russell Laffitte, to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Murdaugh asked Laffitte to serve as personal representative or conservator for numerous personal injury clients. Laffitte collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees as personal representative or conservator for Murdaugh’s personal injury clients.
As part of the scheme, Murdaugh directed law firm employees to make settlement checks payable to “Palmetto State Bank.” The checks were drawn on Murdaugh’s law firm’s trust account and identified the personal injury clients on the memo lines. Murdaugh then had the checks delivered to Laffitte, who distributed the checks for Murdaugh’s benefit, including to pay off personal loans and for personal expenses and cash withdrawals. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of wire fraud associated with this scheme.
In November 2022, Laffitte was convicted on six federal charges for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and misapplication of bank funds for his role in this scheme. In August 2023, Laffitte was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison.
In a second scheme, from at least September 2005 until at least September 2021, Murdaugh obtained money from his clients and his law firm by means of false pretenses. As part of the scheme, he routed and redirected clients’ settlement funds to personally enrich himself, including by:
- Drafting, or directing law firm employees to draft, disbursement sheets to send settlement funds to Murdaugh’s bank accounts without proper disclosure or client or law firm approval;
- Claiming funds held in the law firm’s trust account as attorney’s fees and directing the disbursement of those funds for his benefit;
- Claiming and collecting attorney’s fees on fake or nonexistent annuities;
- Creating fraudulent “expenses” that were never incurred on client matters and directing the disbursement of settlement funds to pay the cited costs, including claimed medical expenses, construction expenses, and airline expenses;
- Directing other attorneys with whom he was associated on client matters to disburse attorney’s fees directly to him, rather than appropriately routing the fees through the law firm; and
- Intercepting insurance proceeds intended for beneficiaries and depositing them directly into his personal account.
Murdaugh admitted that in September 2015, he created a bank account in the name of “Forge,” presenting as a legitimate corporation for structuring insurance settlements. Murdaugh was the owner of and the only authorized signer on this “fake Forge” account. From in or around May 2017 through at least July 2021, Murdaugh funneled stolen personal injury settlements through the “fake Forge” account. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and 14 counts of money laundering relating to the theft of client money using the “fake Forge” account.
Finally, Murdaugh admitted that, from in or around February 2018 until at least October 2020, Murdaugh conspired with Beaufort personal injury attorney Cory Fleming to defraud the estate of Murdaugh’s former housekeeper and Murdaugh’s homeowner’s insurance carriers. In February 2018, Murdaugh’s housekeeper passed away after a fall at Murdaugh’s home. Murdaugh recommended that the housekeeper’s estate hire Fleming to represent them and file a claim against Murdaugh to collect from his homeowner’s insurance policies.
Murdaugh’s insurance companies settled the estate’s claim for $505,000 and $3,800,000. Murdaugh admitted that he directed Fleming to retain hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlement funds for their own personal benefit, representing those funds as “prosecution expenses” to the state court. Murdaugh and Fleming knew the funds did not belong to them and that there were no legitimate prosecution expenses. Murdaugh and Fleming reduced Fleming’s attorney’s fees, and Murdaugh knew he would steal the additional funds.
Murdaugh directed Fleming to draft three checks totaling $3,483,431.95 made payable to “Forge.” Murdaugh then deposited the checks into his “fake Forge” account and used the funds for his own personal enrichment. The estate did not receive any of the settlement funds. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in this scheme.
Fleming pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in this scheme. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
As part of his guilty plea, Murdaugh agreed to waive his appeal and post-conviction rights, with narrow exceptions. He has also agreed to be fully truthful with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Provided Murdaugh fully complies with the plea agreement, the Government has agreed—consistent with the recommendation of the United States Sentencing Guidelines—to recommend that Murdaugh’s federal prison sentence run concurrent to any state sentence imposed for the same conduct.
Murdaugh faces the following penalties:
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000;
- Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000;
- Two counts of wire fraud are punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000;
- Three counts of wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000;
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000; and
- Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse, Kathleen Stoughton, and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case.
The case against Murdaugh is No. 9:23-cr-396 (D.S.C.). The case against Laffitte is No. 9:22-cr-658 (D.S.C.). The case against Fleming is No. 9:23-cr-394 (D.S.C.).
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Albany Sex Offender Sentenced for Escaping from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Samuel Rodriguez, age 48, of Albany, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for escaping from federal custody.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.
In November 2022, while Rodriguez was serving a prior federal term of imprisonment, the Bureau of Prisons directed him to reside in an Albany halfway house. On November 11, 2022, Rodriguez had permission to leave the halfway house to update his sex offender registration with the police department, but Rodriguez never returned. A week later, he voluntarily surrendered himself to the New York State Police barracks in Auburn, New York.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted the case.
13 Charged in St. Louis Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Thirteen people accused of involvement in a conspiracy to sell drugs including fentanyl and methamphetamine in the St. Louis area were arrested this week.
The final defendant was arrested Thursday in Miami. The final St. Louis defendants pleaded not guilty to their charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Others were arrested in Texas and California.
Stanley Harris, 49; Christopher Sosa, 31, of Los Angeles; Victor Medina, 41, of Los Angeles; Alvieno Johnson, 40; and Versail Freeman, 39; were indicted August 30 on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams of more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Sosa; Neil Phifer, 38; Latasha Spellman, 34; Robert Smith, 64; Gary Pulcher, 71; Demetrius Gilmore, 37; Portia Everett, 35; and Michael Williams, 28; were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Williams also faces a methamphetamine and fentanyl possession charge and Medina faces a fentanyl distribution charge. Everett is accused in the indictment of conspiracy to maintain drug-involved premises, namely a home in the 900 block of Rutger Street in St. Louis and a house in the 1100 block of Carraway Court in Collinsville.
During the course of the investigation, a total of $111,685 in cash, seven handguns, and two vehicles were seized, the indictment says.
A motion seeking to have Phifer and Spellman held in jail until trial says more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine and 15 kilograms of fentanyl are directly attributable to the overall drug trafficking organization. Phifer and Spellman partnered with each other to import drugs and distribute them to others in St. Louis, the motion says. Investigators conducted several controlled purchases of multiple ounces of fentanyl which involved both people, and repeatedly seized drugs from where Phifer and Spellman were operating, the motion says. Investigators intercepted one package that had been mailed containing 4.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.
A detention motion for Sosa says investigators intercepted numerous drug parcels mailed by Sosa to distributors in St. Louis, and used an intermediary to buy about 15 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from Sosa.
Marco Chavira, 35, of El Paso, Texas, was indicted separately with two counts: distributing and attempting to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. A detention motion says investigators bought a kilogram of cocaine and 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine from Chavira.
Charges set forth in an indictment or a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service are investigating the case with assistance from officers with the North County Police Cooperative and police departments in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Shrewsbury, Ballwin and St. Charles City. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey is prosecuting the case.
20 September 2023
Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for St. Louis County Armed Robbery, St. Louis CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a woman who robbed a St. Louis County cell phone store in 2021 and then carjacked a Jeep in St. Louis to 15 years in prison.
Kadijah McFadden, 29, pointed a gun at an employee of the Boost Mobile store at 12135 Bellefontaine Road on Aug. 9, 2021 and said, “give me everything out the drawer right now.” She stole about $630 and multiple cell phones.
On Sept. 5, 2021, at around 9 a.m., she approached a woman in the 3600 block of Bates Street who was unloading groceries from her 2017 Jeep Cherokee. McFadden pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded her purse. McFadden got the victim’s car keys and then walked to the opposite side of the Jeep, opened the passenger side door and again demanded the purse before firing four shots into the air and at the ground.
McFadden then stole the Jeep. The incident was captured on video.
McFadden was spotted about three hours later by St. Louis County police and then crashed after a pursuit. Her co-defendant, Damonta Jamall Bridges, was inside in the vehicle.
McFadden pleaded guilty in December to carjacking, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Bridges, 30, pleaded guilty to a robbery charge and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm in August. He admitted being present during the Boost robbery and possessing a 9mm handgun in the carjacked Jeep.
As part of the plea, both prosecutors and Bridges’ lawyer will recommend a sentence of 137 months in prison at his sentencing hearing, scheduled for November 28.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Walker is prosecuting the case.
Washington Man Sentenced to 168 Months’ Imprisonment for Crime Spree Involving Multiple Shootings and a Robbery in Eastern WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Dylen Joseph Swan, age 22 of Inchelium, Washington, has been sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country and Robbery Affecting Commerce. United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 168 months in federal custody to be followed by three years of supervised release. Swan also was ordered to pay $21,515.75 in restitution. In imposing the sentence, Judge Rice noted the seriousness of Swan’s crimes.
According to court documents and information disclosed during the sentencing hearing, Swan orchestrated a three-day crime spree involving a car chase, at least two shootings, and an armed robbery in August 2021. Swan saw his first victim (hereafter Victim 1) outside the Twelve Tribes Casino in Omak, Washington during the early morning hours of August 19, 2021. Swan then drove up to Victim 1, called him over to his vehicle, yelled profanity at him, and shot Victim 1 in the stomach. A passenger inside the car and eyewitnesses reported that Swan shot Victim 1 with a red pistol. Victim 1 was rushed to the hospital, where he needed two full bags of blood transfusions to survive, as well as multiple hours of surgery to repair his shredded intestines and bladder. Doctors were unable to remove the bullet from Victim 1’s stomach, and Victim 1 lives with these injuries to this day.
This was just the beginning of Swan’s criminal activities. The passenger inside Swan’s car (hereafter Victim 2) stated that Swan threatened her at gunpoint, directing Victim 2 to stay with him after the shooting. Specifically, Swan pointed the gun at Victim 2 and demanded that she “go with him or else.” The very next day, Swan drove Victim 2 to the Rosauers Supermarket in downtown Spokane. Swan went inside and grabbed multiple items from the store, including toilet paper and a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. When the store manager attempted to confront him, Swan removed the same red pistol he used to shoot Victim 1. Swan then pointed the red pistol at the manager’s head. Fearing for their safety, the manager let Swan leave, all while Swan continued to point the firearm at the manager. After the robbery, Defendant went to a Walmart, bought red spray paint, and spray painted the car he used during his crimes, all in an effort to disguise the car from law enforcement.
The next day, Swan’s crime spree finally came to an end, but not before Swan harmed yet another victim. On August 21, 2021, Swan went to a McDonalds, located near 1625 West 4th Avenue in downtown Spokane. There, Swan pointed the same red pistol at yet another victim (Victim 3). Swan demanded money, and when Victim 3 victim reached for an airsoft gun to try to protect himself, Swan shot Victim 3 in the arm.
When Spokane Police responded to the scene of the shooting, officers spotted Swan’s car speeding away. During the ensuing chase, Swan and other people with him swerved dangerously and raced through controlled intersections, cutting off other cars. During the pursuit, the red pistol Swan used to shoot Victims 1 and 3 was thrown from the car. The red gun, however, was later recovered by Spokane Police. Ultimately, the pursuit ended when Swan’s vehicle crashed into another car next to a Spokane residence.
Swan ultimately was prosecuted in Spokane County Superior Court for the shooting of Victim 3 outside McDonalds. The remaining charges were prosecuted in federal court.
“I’m grateful for our incredible law enforcement team, who devote their lives to protecting our community,” said United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref, the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Washington. U.S. Attorney Waldref further stated, “Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness of Mr. Swan’s actions and dangerousness he presented on the Colville Indian Reservation as well as in downtown Spokane. He shot two people and robbed a grocery store at gunpoint. Mr. Swan’s dangerous crime spree lasted three days, and the victims will live with the serious physical and emotional toll of these crimes for the rest of their lives.”
The Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Jarred-Michael Erickson, said, “It is of utmost importance to the Colville Tribes to keep our community safe and secure. Perpetrators who commit heinous acts of violence such as this must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We are proud that our own Colville Tribal Police assisted with this arrest and conviction, led by Colville Police Chief Steve Brown and Detectives Jordan McNulty and David LaBounty, and we greatly appreciate the efforts of our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, the FBI, and the Spokane Police department. We especially commend the work of the prosecutor in the case, Richard Barker, First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Washington.”
“Over three days, Mr. Swan shot at least two people, resulting in serious injuries, stole items while holding a store manager at gunpoint, damaged a vehicle, and fled law enforcement, endangering multiple drivers,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “As illustrated by his crime spree, Mr. Swan was a danger to the community. I’m grateful for the multiple law enforcement agencies who conducted this comprehensive investigation resulting in today’s sentencing. The result will be a safer community.”
“As we see an increase in violent crimes across our State and City, the Spokane Police Department is grateful for the relationship we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” stated Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl. “Their efforts helped our community hold a violent offender accountable for his actions. The collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Spokane Police Department strengthens our ability to create the safe and healthy community we all want to live in.”
This case was investigated by the Colville Tribal Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
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U.S. Attorney’s Statement Regarding Proposed Changes to Crime MeasuresRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves released the following statement on the package of bills and initiatives—known as the “Secure DC Plan”—proposed by D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto. The plan includes the Addressing Crime through Targeted Interventions and Violence Enforcement (ACTIVE) Amendment Act of 2023.
“I am glad Councilmember Pinto introduced these bills, and I support her plan to improve public safety in the District. These provisions will better enable our office to prosecute cases that are harming our communities and fill legal gaps that will make our residents safer.”
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves provides the following additional statement:
This legislation includes a number of common-sense fixes, such as making clear that being shot is a severe assault that should be treated as the serious bodily injury that it is, and making clear that whether an armed gunman takes your car from you, or forcefully takes your keys from you to steal your car, it is all carjacking.
As the community begins to consider this important package, I have noted that the provisions addressing how we better protect our community from gun offenders and those charged with gun offenses who remain in the community have already garnered much attention. Before discussing those provisions, I want to explain how our system currently operates. In the District, people charged with illegally possessing a firearm are typically released pending trial—even when they have previously been convicted of a felony. While there is a presumption in the D.C. Code that these individuals will be detained pending trial due to the inherent dangerousness of firearms offenses, most are released.
Moreover, a majority of the people convicted of carrying a pistol without a license in the District are sentenced to a period of probation, which is permitted under the D.C. Sentencing Guidelines. Put simply, the typical result of a prosecution for illegally carrying a firearm is that the person charged will be in the community pending the resolution of his or her case and, if convicted of carrying a pistol without a license, will be sentenced to a period of probation. Our criminal justice system needs to reflect the reality that many individuals found with guns are being released back into our community after having served little to no time in jail.
This legislation, if enacted, will be narrowly tailored to work to stop people who are given the opportunity to remain in the community despite having been convicted of gun offenses, or people given the opportunity to be released pending trial—notwithstanding a presumption of pretrial detention—from re-arming themselves while they are under supervision.
This will allow law enforcement to search a limited category of people for—among other things—guns that they are carrying in public places in violation of their conditions of release. This provision recognizes that swift and certain apprehension is an effective deterrent to criminal activity, and draws from research from the U.S. Sentencing Commission showing that people convicted of gun offenses have higher rates of recidivism.
We have reviewed similar legislation from California and other states, and the court decisions affirming their constitutionality, including decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. Based on judicial precedent, we are confident that the legislation complies with the Fourth Amendment, and if this legislation is enacted, we are prepared to defend the statute’s constitutionality in court.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah Celebrates Funding Awarded for Community Responses to Gender-Based ViolenceRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, UT – In commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the original enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Justice Department announced nearly $193 million in formula and discretionary grant awards to support crucial services and justice responses for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including $1,982,667 for the Utah Office for Victims of Crime in the District of Utah.
For nearly three decades, VAWA provided the tools and resources to protect and serve survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. To commemorate the 29th anniversary of VAWA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is proud to announce that the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $1,982,667 in the District of Utah to support community responses to gender-based violence.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins commented: “I am pleased to announce that funding has been awarded in the District of Utah from the Office on Violence Against Women. These funds will help further advocate for the rights and needs of crime victims in Utah.”
VAWA’s signature program is the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, which awards funds to every U.S. state and territory to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors. OVW is awarding $1,982,667 under the STOP Program to Utah to enhance the capacity for communities across the country to develop programs to end gender-based violence and hold offenders accountable.
“Prior to the enactment of VAWA, survivors were primarily left to fend for themselves, often cycling in and out of dangerous environments with little help from legal systems or service providers.” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said. “VAWA has changed this landscape by supporting a coordinated community response to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in a more comprehensive manner. It emphasizes survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and community-based approaches and ensures that services are available across every state and territory.”
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OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska Celebrates $3M Awarded to Alaska Department of Public Safety for Criminal Records System UpdatesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded over $3.3 million in grants to the Alaska Department of Public Safety to improve criminal records systems.
OJP awarded roughly $1.8 million through the FY2023 National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program, and $1.5 million through the FY2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).
The funds from the NCHIP will help DPS and the Alaska Court System continue to work together, ensuring that the state’s criminal history repository is accurate and complete. The grant will also help fund the replacement of Alaska’s outdated mainframe repository, known as the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN), with a new repository that will improve service to Alaska’s law enforcement officers and dispatchers.
The funds from the NICS Act Record Improvement Program will help DPS keep Alaska’s contributions to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System accurate and up to date. This ensures that Alaskans without federal disqualifying criminal convictions can purchase firearms at legal gun sale locations in a timely manner.
“We are proud to announce this funding for the Alaska Department of Public Safety as it helps state law enforcement continue to improve their systems and responses,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Working with state and local law enforcement to improve public safety in Alaska is one of our main priorities, and these funds are just a small portion of our continued collaboration to keep our communities safe and serve the people of Alaska.”
“This federal funding will ensure that Alaska’s criminal records systems are accurate and available to serve both Alaskans and our law enforcement officers across the state,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “The investments enabled by these grants will keep our state on the cutting edge of technology, while protecting Alaskans’ U.S. and state constitutional rights.”
OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice, assist victims and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez Announces Commencement of the District of New Mexico’s First Federal Reentry CourtRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico Alexander M.M. Uballez, Federal Public Defender Margaret A. Katze, and Chief Probation Officer Ron Travers, announced today the commencement of the District of New Mexico’s first federal reentry court. Reentry through Integrated Opportunities, or RIO, is an intensive 52-week program for individuals returning to the Albuquerque community from federal prison.
Over the past nine months, a working group consisting of the Chief United States District Court Judge, a United States Magistrate Judge, the United States Attorney, the Federal Public Defender, the Chief Probation Officer, and representatives from each office and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs researched, developed, and proposed a unique reentry court for New Mexico. The final plan, approved by the United States District Court Judges in July 2023, will support a pilot group of participants identified as most at risk for violating the terms of their supervised release or committing new crimes. The inaugural cohort of eight voluntary participants met yesterday for their first hearing in federal court in front of Chief United States District Court Judge William P. Johnson.
Those participants will continue to meet, as a group, with the Reentry Court Judge every other week to discuss all aspects of their supervision. This intense oversight is augmented by focused resources from the U.S. Probation & Pretrial Office as well as treatment providers and social services that will provide accountability, support, and bridge the needs of participants. The Reentry Court Judge will have the authority to levy sanctions for noncompliance. Those who successfully complete the 52-week program will receive a recommendation to the sentencing judge for a reduced term of supervision.
Collaboration is at the heart of this program. Before each hearing, the reentry court team will convene and review the individual progress of each participant and assess noncompliance or other needs inhibiting success. Treatment providers, community partners and stakeholders will aid participants in areas of employment, housing, education, treatment, veteran’s resources, and any other medical or governmental assistance programs. The goals of this non-adversarial process are to ensure compliance, identify resources, and provide a highly structured support system that will ensure the safety and success of the participants and, therefore, the safety of the community.
“Justice, often invoked through retribution, is perfected in redemption,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “No matter what wrong landed a person in federal prison, once they have paid their debt to society, they return to be our neighbors. In that, their success on supervised release and their ability to live a life free from crime is directly tied to the safety of our community. From retribution to redemption, from punishment to promise, we are here to build a better and safer community for all of us.”
The reentry court team will review the program annually for effectiveness and statistical data will be collected and published by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. RIO is modeled after and in collaboration with problem-solving Courts and programs implemented in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Tennessee, the Western District of Oklahoma, and the District of Utah.
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Two Illinois Businessmen Charged in $7.8 Million Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Two Illinois businessmen have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $7.8 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
SHARHABEEL SHREITEH, an accountant in Palos Hills, Ill., and TRACY MITCHELL, the owner of a business in Joliet, Ill., allegedly engaged in fraud related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by the CARES Act to cover lost revenue due to economic disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic. A PPP loan allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent a certain amount of the loan proceeds on essential expenses, such as payroll and rent.
An indictment unsealed Tuesday in the Northern District of Illinois alleges that Shreiteh and Mitchell recruited purported sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, and businesses to provide personal identifying information, bank statements, and other documents, and then submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf. The applications contained numerous misrepresentations and false statements that inflated the applicants’ payroll, income, and other expenses, the indictment states. In exchange for preparing and submitting the fraudulent applications, Shreiteh and Mitchell received at least $1,000 to $4,000 per successful loan, the indictment states.
The indictment charges 13 counts of wire fraud against Shreiteh, 43, of Crete, Ill., and ten counts against Mitchell, 49, of Plainfield, Ill. Mitchell pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday in federal court in Chicago. Shreiteh’s arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Anyone with information about attempted Covid-19 fraud can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, or by filing an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Shreiteh et al indictmentTwice-Convicted Accountant Is Charged with Embezzling More Than $1.1 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has indicted Mandy Deann Urban, 47, formerly of Charlotte, with wire fraud, for allegedly embezzling more than $1.1 million from her employer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
According to allegations in the indictment, from January 2019 to June 2022, Urban was employed as a senior staff accountant for a Charlotte-based company. In that capacity, Urban was responsible for maintaining the company’s general ledger, preparing financial statements, and reconciling the company’s accounts payable and receivable and bank statements. The indictment alleges that Urban executed a scheme to defraud her employer by misusing her access to make multiple transfers from the company’s bank accounts to accounts under Urban’s control. Urban also allegedly falsified the company’s books and records to conceal the scheme. As alleged in the indictment, Urban made more than 245 fraudulent transfers from the accounts of the company totaling $1,115,344.73.
According to allegations in the indictment, Urban used the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including tens of thousands of dollars for mortgage, car, education, and vacation expenses, and to buy cryptocurrency. Additionally, it is alleged that Urban transferred significant amounts of embezzled funds to family members.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Court records show that Urban is currently in custody in Florida, serving a prison sentence for defrauding a previous employer of more than $283,000, and using the embezzled money to pay for court-ordered restitution for a prior embezzlement.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
- Tohajiilee Man Sentenced to 67 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Three Albuquerque Residents Indicted for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Albert Childress, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, announced today that Jacqueline Rascon-Chacon, Bryan Gardea, and Ricardo Landeros were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. All three defendants appeared in federal court today and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Rascon-Chacon, Gardea, and Landeros allegedly obtained more than $1 million in loans and grants from programs authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by fraudulent means. The CARES Act was intended to provide emergency financial assistance for millions of American small businesses suffering from economic harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) directly paid EIDLs and grants (EIDGs) to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loan applications were processed by participating lenders. Lenders funded PPP loans using their own funds, with the loans subject to a federal guaranty by the SBA. PPP loans were subject to loan forgiveness under certain circumstances.
The indictment charges Rascon-Chacon and Gardea with two counts of bank fraud in relation to two business loans, each for $20,000, that were obtained by Rascon-Chacon and Gardea prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment alleges that the loan applications submitted by Rascon-Chacon and Gardea contained false information about the operations of the businesses in whose names the loans were taken out as well as false representations regarding how the proceeds of the loans would be used.
The wire fraud conspiracy alleged in the indictment involved Rascon-Chacon, Gardea, and Landeros submitting loan applications containing false representations and fabricated supporting documentation to PPP lenders and the SBA. The indictment alleges that Rascon-Chacon, Gardea, and Landeros submitted loan applications in the names of defunct companies and that the applications included falsified revenue, payroll, and employment data as well as fabricated tax documents. According to the indictment, many of the applications were approved, resulting in loan proceeds being disbursed. Rascon-Chacon, Gardea, and Landeros then used these funds for unauthorized expenditures including paying off personal credit card debt, chartering a private jet from Albuquerque to Las Vegas, Nevada, and hiring a mariachi band.
In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy, the indictment alleges a money laundering conspiracy in which Rascon-Chacon, Gardea, and Landeros arranged to use loan proceeds to purchase vacant lots of real property in New Mexico, fund the construction of houses on those lots, then sell the properties to home buyers for a profit. The indictment also alleges that Landeros used proceeds of a fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief loan he obtained in the name of a defunct company to invest in a separate company he owned and operated.
“During the global COVID-19 pandemic, trillions of dollars in relief flowed to those in need,” said US Attorney Alexander Uballez. “But a selfish few exploited the good will of the American people and took advantage of a once-in-a-generation public health emergency to enrich themselves. We will investigate and prosecute these fraudsters and recoup money stolen from the American people.”
“Homeland Security Investigations continues to bring every asset to bear against opportunistic individuals who sought to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for their own financial gain,” said HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “This case exemplifies HSI’s commitment to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who would perpetrate such financial schemes during a global health crisis.”
“The IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office is proud to fight against COVID-related fraud,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress. “Anyone who plans to exploit the CARES Act should know that there are serious consequences to such criminality, and our agency works diligently to ensure those individuals are held to account.”
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each of the three defendants faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in prison and a $1 million fine, in addition to asset forfeiture and restitution.
The Albuquerque Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General and the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor F. Hartstein is prosecuting the case.
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Texas Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Oklahoma to Engage in a Sexual Act with ChildrenRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, JOSHUA DANIEL-ENOCH COX, 39, of Denton, Texas, was sentenced to serve 18 years in federal prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On July 21, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Cox, charging him with distribution of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on or about February 16, 2022, a federal Online Covert Employee (OCE) was contacted by Cox through an instant messaging internet and phone application. Cox was referred to the OCE by a confidential human source (CHS). The complaint alleges over the course of several weeks, Cox sent several files containing child pornography to both the OCE and the CHS, and expressed interest in having sex with children. In talking with the OCE, Cox coordinated a visit to Oklahoma City, with the intent of having sex with two fictitious children. He was arrested on June 24, 2022, at an Oklahoma City motel, and admitted to traveling to Oklahoma City with the intent to engage in sexual acts with two female minors.
On October 20, 2022, Cox pleaded guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Cox to serve 18 years in prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect the public from future crime of the defendant.
This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
Texarkana Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana man who sold thousands of fake oxycontin pills that contained fentanyl has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Terrance Lamar Peacock, also known as T, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Peacock was sentenced to 370 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III.
According to information presented in court, between November 2018 and March 2022, Peacock conspired with at least three others, including his brother Michael Peacock, to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, and a synthetic opioid known as U-47700.
Peacock and his co-conspirators distributed thousands of blue pills stamped to mimic 30mg oxycontin pills, known on the streets as “M-30s,” but the pills were counterfeits that instead contained fentanyl. Peacock and his co-conspirators also sold thousands of pills marketed as ecstasy but contained methamphetamine and caffeine. Three victims died and one had to be resuscitated after being administered Narcan after ingesting fake M-30 pills containing fentanyl that they had purchased directly from either Terrance Peacock or his brother, Michael Peacock. Multiple firearms were seized from the defendants during the execution of search warrants at their homes and stash houses.
“Fentanyl kills indiscriminately, and this defendant chose to sell counterfeit M-30 pills that ultimately claimed the lives of three victims,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “The defendant recognized the inevitable consequences of peddling poison and chose greed over the preciousness of life. Today’s significant sentence should send a powerful message to those who choose to distribute fentanyl resulting in death—the Eastern District of Texas will aggressively prosecute these cases to assist in combatting the opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of so many victims.”
Michael Peacock and Justin Owens have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Codefendant Deablo Lewis is scheduled for trial in January 2024.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Texarkana Texas Police Department, the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Hornok and Ryan Locker.
Suburban Houston man imprisoned for embezzlementRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Missouri City man has been ordered to prison in a long-running scheme that cost his employer millions of dollars, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Preston Allen Fredrich pleaded guilty to wire fraud Aug. 17, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered him to prison for 21 months to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, Judge Ellison noted the uniquely intimate nature of the crime.
From at least 2018 through spring 2021, Fredrich stole from a family-owned company located in North Houston that sold and re-fitted large trucks. Fredrich was the lead salesmen.
He orchestrated an embezzlement scheme in which he stole from his employer by submitting fake and fraudulent invoices and then collecting the payments for himself. He began his scheme by asking clients to send invoices directly to him, as opposed to the company. He then sent these invoices to the company with inflated expenses or unwanted upgrades, pocketing the difference for himself.
Fredrich also admitted that as the scheme progressed, he eventually set up a bank account with another individual who ran an auto-body shop that frequently did business with the victim company. Fredrich then submitted fake invoices from this company and hid them by bundling them with other legitimate invoices.
Fredrich was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.
South Florida Man Charged with Bulk Food and Personal Protective Equipment Scheme that Cost Victim $10 MillionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Isaac Halwani, 41, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, is charged with carrying out a bulk food and personal protective equipment investment scheme that defrauded a single victim out of $10 million.
Halwani was arraigned on a federal indictment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren F. Louis.
According to allegations in the multi-count wire fraud indictment, Halwani falsely and fraudulently represented that he was a successful bulk food re-seller and that he had a profitable business re-selling personal protective equipment (“PPE”), such as masks, gloves, and hand-sanitizer. Halwani falsely and fraudulently represented that each re-sale transaction generated returns of 20-25% and that investors would receive monthly returns of 5% returns. A victim, referenced in the indictment, made various investments with Halwani for what the victim believed were investments in the re-sale of PPE and Halwani’s food distribution business. To induce the victim to invest, Halwani made numerous materially false and fraudulent statements. Unbeknownst to the victim, no such PPE or food distribution deals exited. To create the illusion of false deals, amongst other things, Halwani created false and fraudulent invoices, opened bank accounts, and Halwani used his own money to partially repay the victim. As a result of his false and fraudulent misrepresentations, Halwani obtained approximately $10 million dollars from the victim and used the money to pay for his personal expenses.
If convicted, Halwai faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as to each wire fraud count. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case. The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department assisted with the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yisel Valdes is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling forfeiture.
An indictment is a charging instrument containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR-20348.
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Sanderson Man Sentenced for Trying to Meet Minor for SexRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Sanderson man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio Tuesday to 15 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Pedro Chalambaga Olivares, 54, attempted to elicit inappropriate photos of a seventeen year-old girl in June 2018, prompting the girl’s mother to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, who then began working with the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO). Olivares contacted what he thought was a 16 year-old girl and attempted to obtain sexually explicit photos of her and arrange a meeting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. Having been told she was a minor in high school, Olivares requested sexually graphic photos, drove by her residence in an attempt to see her, described his intentions with her, and suggested how the minor could escape her father’s home to meet.
On June 17, 2018, Olivares advised the minor to meet him at a football field. Agents observed Olivares waiting in the bleachers for approximately 20 minutes before they arrested him. Agents recovered three condoms from the front pocket of his shorts, along with a soft drink and a bag of candy the minor had requested.
Olivares was arrested for online solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 16, 2021 to one count of sexual exploitation of children.
“This defendant will spend the next 15 years in federal prison for criminal desires he fully intended to act on,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This case opened when a young girl raised concerns to her mother and those concerns were relayed to law enforcement. I commend both of them and our partners for their part in putting this predator away and protecting our communities.”
TX DPS and the TCSO investigated the case with assistance from Office of the Texas Attorney General Criminal Investigations Division Child Exploitation Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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San Fernando Valley Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Masterminding Check-Kiting Scheme that Defrauded Major BanksRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The ringleader and mastermind of a check-kiting scheme who conspired with his wife and other family members to defraud major banks out of more than $1.7 million has been sentenced to 81 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today.
Ara Malkhasyan, 52, of Winnetka, was sentenced late Tuesday by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who will schedule restitution hearing in the coming weeks.
Malkhasyan pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
From May 2015 to September 2017, Malkhasyan and his co-conspirators obtained genuine Armenian passports issued to other people, altered the passports to include the photos of themselves, and used the fraudulent documents to obtain other identity documents and to open bank accounts at the victim banks.
Malkhasyan and his accomplices used the bank accounts, which were opened in the names that appeared on the altered passports, to write bad checks to other fraudulently obtained bank accounts. They exploited bank rules that allowed them to transfer money from one account to another, and then to immediately withdraw funds at ATMs in Las Vegas casinos and other locations before the checks bounced.
In total, Malkhasyan and his co-conspirators used 331 fraudulently altered Armenian passports to unlawfully obtain $1,304,307 from Bank of America.
In a separate scheme, from April 2017 to May 2019, Malkhasyan conspired with his brother-in-law, Smbat Khechumyan, 41, of North Hollywood, to conduct similar forged and fraudulent check scheme in which one of them would open a Wells Fargo account using a stolen Armenian passport, counterfeit Ukrainian or Belarusian passport, deposit forged checks into the account, and then withdraw funds from the account through ATMs at Las Vegas casinos. Wells Fargo suffered a loss of $401,420.
Khechumyan pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He is serving a two-year prison sentence for his crimes.
Sveta Khechumyan, 49, of Winnetka, Malkhasyan’s wife and Smbat’s sister, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 3.
In total, prosecutors have secured nine guilty pleas in this case.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter and received substantial assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Role in Nationwide Conspiracy that Trafficked Drugs Hidden in Toy Trucks, Disney Items and Halloween DecorationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a nationwide conspiracy to traffic controlled substances from Arizona into Massachusetts.
Nathan Boddie, 38, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 19, 2023, Bodie pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Boddie was indicted by a federal grand jury along with alleged co-conspirators Denise Guyette and Gerardo Garza in February 2023.
According to court documents, in or about April 2022, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Guyette. Boddie conspired with Garza and, allegedly, Guyette and others to traffic various controlled substances – including methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and cocaine – in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and elsewhere. It is further alleged that the DTO routinely used the mail to ship drugs from Arizona to Massachusetts, often hiding the drugs within packages containing children’s items such as toy trucks, Halloween decorations and Disney items. Between May and October 2022, investigators seized seven packages containing a total of over 900 grams of methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, as well as suspected Dimethyltryptamine– a very strong psychedelic. One such package was destined for Boddie and contained over 200 grams of pure methamphetamine.
On Feb. 6, 2023, Boddie was arrested in Rhode Island following a traffic stop. Located inside his vehicle was a 9mm ghost gun loaded with five rounds of ammunition, an empty 9mm magazine and a 10-round capable magazine loaded with one round of ammunition. Additionally, Boddie attempted to swallow a plastic bag containing 20 grams of methamphetamine during a search of his person.
During a search of Boddie’s Rhode Island residence, two ghost guns, a 3-D printer used to print ghost gun components, approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine as well as 10 different driver’s licenses, each bearing Boddie’s photo with names and addresses of other individuals were recovered.In total, over 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl was seized over the course of the investigation.
On Aug. 10, 2023, Garza pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him and Guyette with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Guyette has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Hudson Police Chief Richard DiPersio made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Imperial County Resident Agency and Yuma Resident Agency; United States Postal Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Woonsocket (R.I.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to a total of 90 Months in Prison for Money Laundering of Medicare Fraud ProceedsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A defendant, who was previously convicted of money laundering, was sentenced to a total of 90 months in federal prison for his recent money laundering conviction.
According to the court docket, Carlos Alberto Padron, Age 55, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty to money laundering on June 20, 2023. According to the agreed upon factual proffer, that was made part of the court docket, Padron participated in two separate money laundering conspiracies while on supervised release from a prior federal prison sentence. Between July 2022 and August 2022, Padron and his co-defendant Ovidio Gonzalez Roche laundered $249,901 in Medicare fraud proceeds related to two fraudulent durable medical equipment companies located in Pompano Beach, Florida, Newtech Medical Supply LLC and Spraig Medical Supplies LLC. Padron and his co-defendant Ovidio Gonzalez Roche picked up nearly $229,920 in cash in parking lots in Miami-Dade County after the money was laundered.
Between April 2021 and December 2021, Padron also participated in laundering $2,185,392 in Medicare fraud proceeds related to two other durable medical equipment companies: Unlimited Medical Supply (Pembroke Pines, Florida) and Best Medical Supply (North Fort Myers, Florida). Padron was involved in managing the nominee owner of those two DME companies and he also received some of the approximately $260,000 in withdrawals of Medicare fraud proceeds from the nominee owner.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced Padron to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release to be served consecutively to his sentence on the supervised release violation. Padron was also ordered to pay $2,435,293 in restitution. On June 7, 2023, U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Padron to 20 months in prison on the supervised release violation. The United States seized and successfully forfeited over $2.3 million in connection with the health care fraud conspiracy.
Padron’s co-defendant Ovidio Roche Gonzalez, who was only charged with the 2022 money laundering conspiracy, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar, HHS-OIG, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated this case. AUSA Timothy Abraham is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Stone and Mitchell Hyman are handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under 23-20084-CMA.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Nicholas Allen Walker, 30, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Protecting innocent children from sexual predators remains one of our highest priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “I commend our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who work diligently to identify these predators and bring them to justice so that they can no longer exploit any child again. Due to their efforts, our community is safer, and this repeat offender is exactly where he belongs – back behind bars.”
On January 28, 2021, and February 18, 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information from a social media company regarding the defendant uploading files of child pornography. On April 8, 2021, investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the defendant and obtained a search warrant for his cellular telephone. The search of his cellular telephone revealed between December 16, 2020, and April 8, 2021, the defendant received and distributed numerous images and videos of child pornography using a social media application and text messages.
Walker is a registered sex offender based on a prior state of Florida conviction relating to the offense of traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
“This sentencing confirms that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit them," said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. "Together, we have ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”
Walker’s prison sentence will be followed by a Lifetime of supervised release. Walker will continue to be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Portland Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Straw Purchasing 64 Firearms and Trafficking Dozens to Unlawful PossessorsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A self-identified member of Portland’s Unthank Park Hustlers, a local Bloods gang set, was sentenced to federal prison today for straw purchasing more than five dozen firearms from area gun shops and trafficking many of the guns to individuals prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing them.
Edward Charles Green, 25, of Gresham, Oregon, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in May 2021, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation after receiving information from the Gresham Police Department (GPD) and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) describing several shooting incidents allegedly involving Edward Green and his twin brother, Thomas Green III, also 25 and from Gresham. At around the same time, ATF agents began receiving information alleging the brothers were also responsible for straw purchasing dozens of firearms from gun shops across the Portland metro area.
Early indications of the Green brothers’ straw purchasing activity were uncovered on April 23, 2020, when PPB officers responded to reports of a house struck by gunfire on Northeast Sumner Street in Portland. Officers observed that the gun appeared to have been fired from inside the Greens’ father’s nearby home, leaving a small hole in their father’s front window. After telling officers he threw a rock through his own window, the Greens’ father changed his explanation and claimed a gun accidentally fired when he was showing his son how to clean it. PPB located and seized three handguns and an AK-47 from the residence. ATF agents later determined Edward Green had straw purchased three of the four guns seized, indicating on a legally-required purchase form that the firearms were for himself and not purchased on behalf of another person.
Between August 25 and August 30, 2020, PPB officers recovered four more firearms straw purchased by Edward Green. One of the firearms was recovered after officers responded to a shooting incident outside the brothers’ southeast Portland apartment. Three others were recovered from a vehicle that had been involved in a shooting near Portland Adventist Hospital.
On November 11, 2020, MCSO deputies responded to a Fairview, Oregon car crash caused by gunfire involving Edward Green. After executing a search warrant on a backpack recovered from Green’s vehicle, the deputies found two more pistols Green had purchased and two pounds of packaged marijuana. A few months later, on January 23, 2021, MCSO deputies recovered another firearm straw purchased by Green during a traffic stop of other individuals.
In May 2021, GPD officers responded to two separate shooting incidents at a house shared by the Green brothers. During the first shooting, on May 12, 2021, an unknown assailant fired several rounds into the house. During the second shooting, on May 21, 2021, a drive-by assailant fired 14 additional rounds into the house. An unknown person in the house fired 30 rounds in response, some of which struck occupied neighboring houses. On June 3, 2021, members of the Metro Safe Streets Task Force executed a search warrant on the residence and found nine empty semi-automatic gun cases, several dozen spent bullets and cartridge casings, 27 firearm and rifle magazines, a range bag with more than 400 spent cartridges, and five receipts for recent gun purchases made by the Green brothers. Forensic analyses linked some of these items to at least 10 different shootings in the Portland area between April 6, 2020, and July 11, 2021.
In July and August 2021, two more firearms linked to the Green brothers were recovered by law enforcement. In total, between April 5, 2020, and August 30, 2021, area law enforcement officers recovered 12 firearms straw purchased by the Green brothers. A subsequent review of ATF and State of Oregon records revealed that in an 18-month period beginning April 1, 2020, the brothers straw purchased 82 firearms from Portland area gun shops.
On September 28, 2021, the Greens were charged by criminal complaint with falsifying information in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and making false statements to a federal firearms licensee. The next day, on September 29, 2021, Thomas Green III was arrested at the apartment of a gang associate in Portland. One week later, on October 6, 2021, Edward Green was arrested by ATF agents at his father’s northeast Portland residence.
On October 21, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging the Greens with 41 counts of making false statements during the purchase of firearms. After the Greens were charged with these crimes, police continued recovering firearms purchased by the brothers. One gun, a .45 caliber Glock pistol, was recovered during the execution of a search warrant on the residence of another known Unthank Park Hustler gang member and associate of the Greens. The firearm was linked to 17 shootings in and around Portland in a 13-month period, including two homicides.
On June 23, 2023, the Green brothers pleaded guilty. Thomas Green III will be sentenced on October 10, 2023.
This case was investigated by members of the Metro Safe Streets Task Force including ATF, FBI, GPD, MCSO, and PPB. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Straw purchasing firearms is a serious federal crime that involves buying guns for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one or for someone who does not want his or her name associated with the purchase. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 80 percent of criminals obtain their firearms from friends or family members or other illegal sources. To learn more about the public safety risks posed by straw purchasing firearms, please visit www.dontlie.org.
Formed in April 2021, the Metro Safe Streets Task Force is a multi-agency initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting gun crimes in Multnomah County. As part of this effort, federally-deputized officers from the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and Gresham Police Department work with agents from the FBI and ATF to investigate gun crimes after they occur and, where appropriate and supported by evidence, charge those responsible in state or federal court. Prosecutors from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon work closely with task force officers to determine if state or federal charges are warranted and which jurisdiction is most appropriate for adjudication.
Philadelphia Man Charged with Enticing MinorRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has been charged with using an internet-based chat application to entice a minor to engage in prostitution, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Louis Goldenberg, 41, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with one count of attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. Goldenberg made his initial appearance on Sept. 19, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King in Camden federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In August 2023, Goldenberg began interacting on a messaging application with an undercover agent, who was posing as a middle-aged woman with a 12-year-old niece. From August through September 2023, Goldenberg messaged the undercover agent, continuously expressing interest in having sexual contact with the minor. During one of the conversations, Goldenberg indicated a specific hotel in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, where he wanted to have sex with the minor. On Sept. 18, 2023, Goldenberg traveled from Pennsylvania to the Mt. Laurel hotel, where he had a reservation for that evening. When Goldenberg arrived, he was arrested.
The count of enticement carries a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 10 years in prison, a potential maximum term of life in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officer of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and Mount Laurel Police Department.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Waegener of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
goldenberg.complaint.pdfPasadena Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 20, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Daylan Lamont Camp of Pasadena was sentenced in federal court today to nine years in prison for sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl in the fall of 2020.
The defendant pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of Children.
On November 16, 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with information related to a 14-year-old girl with an active online commercial sex advertisement located in San Diego. NCMEC conveyed that the girl had been reported as a runaway by Los Angeles County officials, and that between August and November 2020, NCMEC had identified multiple commercial sex advertisements on various internet-based websites with her image throughout Southern California, including in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego.
That same day, HSI, working with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, located an advertisement for the girl offering commercial sex in San Diego. An undercover operation was conducted that ultimately led to the recovery of both the girl and an adult woman, who was also engaging in commercial sex at the hotel. The girl’s cell phone was searched, and HSI located numerous conversations between her and the defendant about commercial sex work. During these conversations, the defendant referred to the 14-year-old as “baby hoe.”
In his plea, Camp admitted that he communicated with an adult female about having the 14-year-old engage in commercial sex acts. Specifically, Camp admitted that he and the adult female agreed to obtain and maintain the minor, who they knew was under 18 years of age, for the minor to engage in commercial sex acts. To achieve their goal, Camp and the adult female obtained hotel rooms for the minor and arranged for her to travel to San Diego, where the sex acts were slated to occur.
To that end, on or about November 15, 2020, Camp and the adult female arranged for the minor to travel by bus from the Los Angeles area to San Diego for the minor to engage in commercial sex acts. The defendant then posted commercial sex advertisements for the minor. The minor traveled to San Diego and engaged in commercial sex acts and provide the proceeds of these acts to the defendant.
“Sex trafficking is a reprehensible crime that has traumatic consequences for children, including long-lasting physical and psychological harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “We will do everything we can to seek justice for trafficking victims.”
“HSI is committed to aggressively investigating the heinous criminals that knowingly and willingly exploit children and victims,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “In addition to investigating and arresting these predators, HSI utilizes a victim-centered approach to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the victims that are impacted by these crimes.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Katherine McGrath.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22cr748-CAB
Daylan Lamont Camp Age: 28 Pasadena, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of Children – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1594(c)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Pain Management Physician Convicted of Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Ohio convicted an Ohio physician today for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thomas Romano, 73, of Wheeling, West Virginia, owned and operated a self-named pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry to which individuals traveled hundreds of miles to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. Romano charged $750 for an initial visit and $120 for subsequent monthly visits. The prescriptions Romano issued for opioids and other controlled substances greatly exceeded recommended dosages and were in dangerous, life-threatening combinations that fueled the addiction of the individuals to whom he prescribed. Between October 2014 and September 2019, Romano prescribed over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, to nine individuals.
The jury convicted Romano of 24 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, outside the usual course of professional practice, and not for a legitimate medical purpose to nine individuals. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Division, Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, and HHS-OIG, as well as the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation and Ohio Board of Pharmacy, investigated this case.
Assistant Chief Alexis Gregorian and Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Danielle Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past four years, ARPO has charged over 115 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. To date, more than 60 ARPO defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.