Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
19 September 2023
Two Charged with Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting in Death in Connection with the Poisoning of Four Children at a New York DaycareRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in Manhattan, New York, federal court charging Grei Mendez, 36, and Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, both of the Bronx, New York, with narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning of four children under the age of three, one of whom died, at a daycare facility in the Bronx. Mendez and Acevedo Brito are both in custody and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.
“The charges announced today are the tragic result of fentanyl poisoning more innocent Americans, this time young children,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable anyone who plays a part in the supply-and-delivery chain that is flooding fentanyl into our communities. We will not rest in our efforts to protect the vulnerable.”
“Parents entrusted Grei Mendez with the care of their children,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, instead of diligently safeguarding the well-being of those children, she and her co-conspirators put them directly in harm’s way, running a narcotics operation and storing deadly fentanyl out of the very space in which the children ate, slept, and played. The disregard shown by Mendez and her co-conspirators for the lives of the children under her care is simply staggering.”
“Tragedy doesn’t begin to describe the events that took place at Divino Niño Daycare,” said Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s New York Field Division. “This death and drug poisonings are every parent’s worst nightmare and clearly define the danger fentanyl poses to every New Yorker. Fentanyl kills indiscriminately, and the defendants’ callous and irresponsible disregard to safety led to two of the most heinous acts imaginable, causing the death of a child and poisoning three other children. These crimes are unacceptable. I commend the work of the investigators from the DEA and NYPD and our partners at the Southern District of New York who work tirelessly every single day to stop drug poisonings from taking too many lives too soon.”
“This case reflects every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban of the New York Police Department (NYPD). “These alleged drug traffickers brazenly went about their illicit business in one of the most ill-conceived locations imaginable, but they will be held accountable. I thank the dedicated investigators of the NYPD and the DEA, and everyone involved at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, for their efforts to secure justice for the most vulnerable New Yorkers among us – our children.”
As alleged in the complaint, from at least in or about July 2023 through at least in or about September 2023, Mendez and Acevedo Brito and others conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at a children’s daycare center in the Bronx (the Daycare). There, despite the daily presence of young children, the defendants maintained large quantities of fentanyl, including a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children’s playmats. In addition, the defendants maintained in the Daycare items purpose-built for the distribution of large quantities of narcotics, including three so-called “kilo presses,” which are designed for the recompression of drugs in powder form commonly used by narcotics traffickers at “mills” or other locations where narcotic drugs are broken down, combined with fillers, and portioned for sale. The narcotics and one of the kilo presses recovered are pictured below.
As a consequence of the defendants’ drug conspiracy, on or about Sept. 15, at the Daycare, four children, who were all under three years of age, appear to have experienced the effects of poisoning from exposure to fentanyl.
Prior to the arrival of emergency personnel at the Daycare on that date, Mendez, in concert with an unnamed co-conspirator (CC-1) removed evidence from the Daycare. In particular, immediately before Mendez called 911 to summon medical assistance for the children, she called CC-1. CC-1 then arrived at the Daycare, stayed for approximately two minutes, and then exited out a back alleyway carrying two full shopping bags – all while the children were unresponsive and awaiting medical assistance. Three of the children were hospitalized with serious injuries. The fourth child, a one-year-old boy, died.
Acevedo Brito resided in a bedroom located within the Daycare and is the cousin of CC-1. One of the kilo presses found at the Daycare was located in the closet inside Acevedo Brito’s bedroom. Additionally, a search of Acevedo Brito’s phone revealed numerous messages suggestive of his involvement in narcotics trafficking.
Mendez and Acevedo Brito are each charged in count one with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and in count two with narcotics distribution resulting in death. Both count one and count two carry a minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, the NYPD, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) New York Strike Force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Digital Forensic Unit, and the Complex Analytical and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area investigated the case, in coordination with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of New York’s Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon C. Thompson and Maggie Lynaugh for Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution.
The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by OCDETF and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA; NYPD; New York State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS-Criminal Investigation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; New York National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; Fort Lee Police Department; Palisades Interstate Parkway Police; Teaneck Police Department; Hillsdale Police Department; Closter Police Department; Northvale Police Department; River Vale Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Bergen County Sheriff’s Department; Hawthorne Police Department; and Hackensack Police Department.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Charged with Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting in Death in Connection with the Poisoning of Four Children at A Bronx DaycareRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Lisa O. Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging GREI MENDEZ and CARLISTO ACEVEDO BRITO with narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning of four children under the age of three, one of whom died, at a daycare facility in the Bronx. MENDEZ and ACEVEDO BRITO are both in custody and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Parents entrusted Grei Mendez with the care of their children. As alleged, instead of diligently safeguarding the well-being of those children, she and her co-conspirators put them directly in harm’s way, running a narcotics operation and storing deadly fentanyl out of the very space in which the children ate, slept, and played. The disregard shown by Mendez and her co-conspirators for the lives of the children under her care is simply staggering.”
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said: “The charges announced today are the tragic result of fentanyl poisoning more innocent Americans, this time young children. The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable anyone who plays a part in the supply-and-delivery chain that is flooding fentanyl into our communities. We will not rest in our efforts to protect the vulnerable.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Tragedy doesn’t begin to describe the events that took place at Divino Niño Daycare. This death and drug poisonings are every parent’s worst nightmare and clearly define the danger fentanyl poses to every New Yorker. Fentanyl kills indiscriminately, and the defendants’ callous and irresponsible disregard to safety led to two of the most heinous acts imaginable, causing the death of a child and poisoning three other children. These crimes are unacceptable. I commend the work of the investigators from the DEA and NYPD and our partners at the Southern District of New York who work tirelessly every single day to stop drug poisonings from taking too many lives too soon.”
NYPD Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “This case reflects every parent’s worst nightmare. These alleged drug traffickers brazenly went about their illicit business in one of the most ill-conceived locations imaginable, but they will be held accountable. I thank the dedicated investigators of the NYPD and the DEA, and everyone involved at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, for their efforts to secure justice for the most vulnerable New Yorkers among us – our children.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
From at least in or about July 2023 through at least in or about September 2023, GREI MENDEZ and CARLISTO ACEVEDO BRITO and others conspired to distribute fentanyl, including at a children’s daycare center in the Bronx (the “Daycare”). There, despite the daily presence of young children, the defendants maintained large quantities of fentanyl, including a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children’s playmats. In addition, the defendants maintained in the Daycare items purpose-built for the distribution of large quantities of narcotics, including three so-called “kilo presses,” which are designed for the recompression of drugs in powder form commonly used by narcotics traffickers at “mills” or other locations where narcotic drugs are broken down, combined with fillers, and portioned for sale. The narcotics and one of the kilo presses recovered are pictured below.
As a consequence of the defendants’ drug conspiracy, on or about September 15, 2023, at the Daycare, four children, who were all under three years of age, appear to have experienced the effects of poisoning from exposure to fentanyl.
Prior to the arrival of emergency personnel at the Daycare on that date, MENDEZ, in concert with an unnamed co-conspirator (“CC-1”) removed evidence from the Daycare. In particular, immediately before MENDEZ called 911 to summon medical assistance for the children, she called CC-1. CC-1 then arrived at the Daycare, stayed for approximately two minutes, and then exited out a back alleyway carrying two full shopping bags — all while the children were unresponsive and awaiting medical assistance. Three of the children were hospitalized with serious injuries. The fourth child, a one-year-old boy, died.
ACEVEDO BRITO resided in a bedroom located within the Daycare and is the cousin of CC-1. One of the kilo presses found at the Daycare was located in the closet inside ACEVEDO BRITO’s bedroom. Additionally, a search of ACEVEDO BRITO’s phone revealed numerous messages suggestive of his involvement in narcotics trafficking.
* * *
MENDEZ, 36, and ACEVEDO BRITO, 41, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged in Count One with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and in Count Two with narcotics distribution resulting in death. Both Count One and Count Two carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force, the SDNY Digital Forensic Unit, and the Complex Analytical and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its coordination on this case.
The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by OCDETF and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA; NYPD; New York State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; New York National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; Fort Lee Police Department; Palisades Interstate Parkway Police; Teaneck Police Department; Hillsdale Police Department; Closter Police Department; Northvale Police Department; River Vale Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Bergen County Sheriff’s Department; Hawthorne Police Department; and Hackensack Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon C. Thompson and Maggie Lynaugh are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact descried therein should be treated as an allegation.
Tuscaloosa Man Convicted on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A federal jury today convicted a Tuscaloosa man on a drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Jimmy Lee Spencer, 37, after 2 days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler. Spencer was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
According to evidence presented at trial, Spencer had large amounts of cocaine and marijuana inside his home in Tuscaloosa. He also had multiple firearms, digital scales, a money counter, a vacuum sealer, and a plethora of packaging material that he used to package and sell narcotics in the community.
The maximum penalty for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana is 20 years in prison.
The ATF investigated the case along with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and M. Blake Milner are prosecuting the case.
Teo Boon Ching Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Large-Scale Trafficking of Rhinoceros HornsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that TEO BOON CHING, a/k/a “Zhang,” a/k/a “Dato Sri,” a/k/a “Godfather,” was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to traffic hundreds of kilograms of rhinoceros horns worth millions of dollars that involved the illegal poaching of numerous rhinoceros, an endangered wildlife species. The sentence was imposed earlier today by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
CHING, who was extradited from Thailand, is the sixth large-scale wildlife trafficker sentenced in cases recently brought by this Office, which also involved the extradition of multiple individuals from several countries in Africa. CHING and his associated entities were previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) pursuant to E.O. 13581, as amended.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Wildlife trafficking is a serious threat to the natural resources and the ecological heritage shared by communities across the globe, enriching poachers responsible for the senseless illegal slaughter of numerous endangered rhinoceros and furthering the market for these illicit products. The substantial sentence shows the resolve of this Office to use every tool at our disposal to ensure the protection of endangered species.”
According to the charging and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made in court proceedings:
CHING was a member of a transnational criminal conspiracy engaged in the large-scale international trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns to sell to foreign buyers, including buyers represented to be in Manhattan. Trade involving endangered or threatened species violates several U.S. laws as well as international treaties implemented by certain U.S. laws. During the course of the conspiracy and related conduct, CHING conspired to transport, distribute, sell, and smuggle at least approximately 219 kilograms of rhinoceros horns resulting from the poaching of numerous rhinoceros and having an estimated value of at least approximately $2.1 million.
On a number of occasions, CHING met with a confidential source to negotiate the sale of rhinoceros horns. For example, on July 17 and 18, 2019, the confidential source met with CHING in Malaysia. During those meetings, CHING stated that he served as a “middleman” — one who acquires rhinoceros horns poached by co-conspirators in Africa and ships them to customers around the world for a per-kilogram fee. He also promised the confidential source “as long as you have cash, I can give you the goods in 1-2 days.” During their communications, CHING sent the confidential source numerous photographs of rhinoceros horns that CHING had available for sale and shipment, including the following:
July 28, 2019, Communications
August 19-20, 2019, Communications
In August 2019, the confidential source, at the direction of law enforcement, purchased 12 rhinoceros horns from CHING with money that CHING believed were the proceeds of other illegal wildlife trafficking and was in bank accounts in New York. These horns were delivered in a suitcase in Thailand by those working for the wildlife trafficking organization. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensics laboratory examined the rhinoceros horns and concluded that two horn pieces were black rhinoceros horns, and the other 10 pieces were white rhinoceros horns. Pictures of white and black rhinoceros are depicted below:
White Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros
A picture of the 12 rhinoceros horns that CHING arranged to be sold to law enforcement through the confidential source and had delivered are depicted below:
CHING was arrested in Thailand on June 29, 2022, at the request of the United States pursuant to a bilateral extradition treaty and was extradited to the United States on October 7, 2022.
* * *
CHING, 58, of Malaysia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, Mr. Williams thanked the Royal Thai Government for its assistance in the extradition of CHING to the United States and commended law enforcement authorities and conservation partners in Thailand, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Royal Thai Police, Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division. Mr. Williams also thanked the Embassy of the United States in Bangkok and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for providing substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of CHING.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution.
Teacher’s Aide and Youth Hockey Coach Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Distributing Sexually Explicit Images of ChildrenRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 19, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Daniel Zachary Dasko of Carlsbad, a former teacher’s aide and youth hockey coach, was sentenced in federal court today to 188 months in prison for sending sexually explicit images of children to others online.
Dasko, who is out on bond, was ordered to report to prison on October 3. Dasko pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023, to one count of Distribution of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct.
Dasko’s distribution of images and videos of children being sexually abused was discovered during the course of another investigation into similar activity. In July 2021, the Philadelphia Division of the FBI received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a man uploading child pornography. The subject was identified as a teacher in the Philadelphia area.
FBI Philadelphia executed a search warrant on the Philadelphia man’s residence. A review of his iPhone revealed numerous conversations regarding child pornography using a social media application that allowed the user to produce and trade images created by baiting minor victims to send nude photos or videos, or to go live online and be screen-recorded. The Philadelphia subject and other coconspirators would first pose as females on social media sites in order to chat with the victims, and then transfer their communications to a closed social media application that allowed the exchange of these nude photos and videos.
During this investigation, FBI agents determined that Dasko communicated with the Philadelphia man and his other co-conspirators under the name “Mr. Pickles.” From October 3, 2020, to October 3, 2021, Dasko exchanged over 3,671 messages with the Philadelphia man, including numerous images and videos depicting children being sexually abused.
The vast majority of these messages were conversations about sexually exploiting children Dasko and his co-conspirators knew or met online. The Philadelphia man and Dasko discussed at length and in graphic, disturbing detail, their attraction to young boys and their attempts to catfish them. Catfishing – one of the most common internet scams targeting young people - happens when a person poses as someone else in an online relationship.
Dasko even went so far as to forward social media contact information of children that he knew to his co-conspirators, so the children could be catfished online. This scheme achieved results. For example, Dasko distributed a video of a 13-year-old boy masturbating. This victim had been catfished by one of Dasko’s co-conspirators.
“This defendant is a sexual predator who used his position as a teacher and coach to inform his sexual interests and to target kids for online abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “His job was to educate and protect children. Instead, he exploited them. We will do everything in our power protect children and hold offenders accountable.”
“Crimes involving sexually exploiting children are especially disgusting and disturbing,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “I'm proud of the hard work conducted by our agents and law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice for their abhorrent behavior.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mandy Griffith and Andrew Sherwood.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22cr1715-LL
Daniel Dasko Age: 32 Carlsbad, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2252(a)(2).
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Armed Robberies of Auto Parts Stores in TampaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Steve Jackson (41, Tampa) to 13 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Jackson had pleaded guilty on June 23, 2023. His codefendant, Antonio Brown, previously pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2021, Jackson and Brown drove to an auto parts store on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa carrying firearms and wearing surgical masks as they entered the store. They brandished their firearms, demanded money from store employees, and stole approximately $300 from the cash registers.
Shortly after completing the first robbery, Jackson and Brown drove to an auto parts store on 50th Street North in Tampa, where they again entered wearing masks and carrying firearms. They pointed their firearms at store clerks and demanded money from the cash registers. Jackson and Brown stole approximately $1,140 during this robbery.
Later that evening, officers from the Tampa Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Brown was driving. During a search of the car, they found a distinctive hat that one of the robbers had worn during the armed robberies, approximately $900 in cash, and Jackson’s wallet containing his identification. Further investigation revealed that Jackson had been in the vicinity of the auto parts stores at the times of the robberies. Officers also found the clothes Jackson wore during the robberies in his garbage outside of his residence.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee, Michael Sinacore, and Charlie Connally.
Ste. Genevieve County Man Sentenced to Serve 9 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a man from Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri to nine years in prison on a charge of receiving child pornography.
Timothy Ray White, 61, appeared for sentencing at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau.
According to court documents, on Oct. 6, 2022, a search warrant was obtained and executed at White's residence where numerous electronic devices were seized. White was present during the execution of the warrant and admitted that he had "tons" of child pornography on his devices. Further investigation revealed thousands of photos and videos depicting child pornography. White admitted to being addicted to child pornography. After service of his 108-month sentence, White was ordered to be placed on supervised release for life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who 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.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero on the Passing of JoAnne A. EppsRead the Press Release
On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I want to express how deeply saddened we are by the death of JoAnne A. Epps, Acting Temple University President. Acting President Epps is fondly remembered as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1980 to 1985. She was an icon in the legal community, dedicating her life to public service, the rule of law, experiential legal education, equity and diversity in the profession, and the advancement of civil rights. She was tireless and passionate about the issues she held dear. We deeply mourn her passing and send our heartfelt condolences to her family in this difficult time.
On a personal note, JoAnne was a mentor and confidante. Today I mourn with countless women who had the pleasure of Joanne’s wise advice, mentorship, and counsel over the years. I am simply devastated by her passing.
St. Augustine Contractor Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay IRS Payroll Taxes That He Withheld from Employees’ PayRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that John M. Williams (63, St. Augustine) has pleaded guilty to failing to account for, and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), income taxes, Medicare taxes, and Social Security taxes (also known as payroll taxes) that had been withheld from employees’ pay. Williams faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the plea agreement, in 2012, Williams became an owner, operator, and a corporate officer of First Coast Exteriors, Inc, a stucco application and home building business. He controlled the company’s financial affairs and almost all checks drawn on its corporate checking account, including paychecks, were signed by him. As an owner and corporate officer with control of the company’s payroll and finances, Williams had a duty to collect payroll taxes from the taxable wages of his employees. Each quarter, he also had duties both to account for, and to pay over to the IRS, those payroll taxes.
An examination of Form W-2s filed for First Coast Exteriors employees showed that during the financial quarter ending March 31, 2013, through the quarter ending December 31, 2018, First Coast Exteriors withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ wages. IRS records show, however, that Williams did not account for these withholdings in Form 941 quarterly tax returns or pay these funds over to the IRS when the returns and payments were due. Between 2013 and 2018, Williams’s actions resulted in unpaid payroll taxes of approximately $306,500. During this same period, Williams also did not pay the IRS the employer’s matching share of Social Security and Medicare taxes, which totaled an additional $128,943.
First Coast Exteriors was not the only company that Williams operated that was delinquent in paying its payroll taxes. Records show beginning in 1995, he operated a business called W.W. Contractors, Inc. For the 13 financial quarters between 2009 and 2012, W.W. Contractors filed Form 941 quarterly returns, but only made partial or late payments of payroll taxes withheld and owed to the IRS.
“Sadly, our agents investigate cases like these far too frequently,” said Brian Payne, special agent in charge of the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office. “Business owners need to know that we will investigate tax cheats to ensure they are held accountable for their dishonorable actions. In this case, the defendant cheated both our federal tax system, and simply stole from his employees hard-earned employment benefits.”
This case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Springfield Woman Indicted for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for allegedly possessing fentanyl intended for distribution.
Karyela Santiago, 26, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the indictment, on March 30, 2022, Santiago possessed fentanyl intended for distribution.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, four year of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man involved in at least two local shootings was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Danyon Marquise Noble, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole.
On Feb. 13, 2023, Noble pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Noble was driving a white Chevrolet Suburban when he was pulled over by deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 1, 2022. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun with an attached 15-round magazine directly under the driver’s seat. They also found an empty Glock 17-round magazine in the passenger side door pocket.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Noble has a prior felony conviction for theft of a credit or debit card.
Noble has associations with two violent street gangs, according to court documents. Both FTO and Only Da Brothers have been under investigation by law enforcement for being involved in multiple shooting incidents in the Springfield area.
According to court documents, Noble committed two additional firearm offenses prior to his arrest in this case.
On April 23, 2022, Springfield police officers pulled over a vehicle in connection with a shooting; Noble was in the backseat of the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle, officers found three firearms, including a Glock magazine and a loaded extended magazine in the backseat area. According to witnesses, Noble fired one shot from a firearm during an argument with two other individuals. Noble was swabbed for gunshot residue, and it was determined that he had gunshot residue on his person.
Less than three months later, on July 10, 2022, Springfield police officers responded to a report of multiple gunshots at an apartment building. They found multiple shell casings, bullet fragments, and one vehicle that appeared to have been struck by a bullet. Video surveillance from the apartment building showed Noble blindly firing a gun around the corner from his position in one of the doorways of the building. Evidence from his Facebook account further confirmed that he was the shooter depicted in the surveillance. Noble has been charged in state court with unlawful possession of a firearm.
The gun recovered from Noble during the Sept. 1, 2023, traffic stop was a preliminary match to the shell casings recovered from the July 10 shooting.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Springfield Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
Marcus Hicks, 43, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking felonies.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 21, 2022, Hicks possessed cocaine and marijuana intended for distribution and a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking felonies provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Carolina Man Admits Securities Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Wire Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A South Carolina man today admitted engaging in several bank and wire fraud schemes and a securities offering fraud scheme that spanned six years and caused losses of millions of dollars, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
Sandy John Masselli, 62, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to nine counts of a superseding indictment charging him with bank fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud. Masselli was initially charged by complaint in October 2017.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Sandy Masselli today admitted defrauding his victims through a web of lies that induced them to invest in his company with the promise of substantial returns from an initial public offering that was never going to happen. He also concealed his ill-gotten gains from banks and credit card companies with more lies. Masselli’s guilty plea means that he will now be held accountable for putting his illegal pursuit of profit before his investors’ interests. This office is fully committed to combatting securities and investment fraud schemes of all kinds, and this case is another example of that commitment.”
“Investment fraud has devastating consequences for victims, and today's guilty plea brings Masselli one step closer to accounting for the havoc he caused,” FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners stand ready to protect investors, both large and small, from fraudsters like Masselli.”
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From September 2011 through October 2017, Masselli solicited millions of dollars in investments from retail investors by fraudulently touting the prospect of his online gaming company, Carlyle Entertainment Ltd., formerly Carlyle Gaming & Entertainment Ltd. (Carlyle), to conduct a lucrative initial public offering (IPO) of its stock on either the NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Masselli induced investors to purchase shares of Carlyle stock by promising them steeply discounted prices in advance of the purported IPO, assuring them that the stock price would increase significantly after the IPO. Masselli further represented that the IPO would occur within weeks or months of the investors’ stock purchases.
However, as Masselli knew, Carlyle was neither poised nor prepared to conduct an IPO on either the NASDAQ or the NYSE, given that, among other deficiencies, neither Masselli nor anyone else on behalf of Carlyle ever filed an application with the NASDAQ or the NYSE to list Carlyle stock on either exchange, or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement to list Carlyle shares on a national exchange. Masselli further misrepresented to the investors how he would use their investments, for example telling them that he would allocate investment funds toward improving Carlyle’s online platform and paying legal fees in connection with preparing Carlyle for a looming IPO. Masselli did not invest these funds in Carlyle, as he had promised investors he would, but instead misappropriated these funds to pay for his and his family’s own personal expenses.
Within weeks and often days of receiving investor funds, Masselli quickly deposited them into and throughout a web of bank accounts he controlled, many of which were opened under names of fictitious corporate entities in an effort to conceal the source of the funds. After disguising the provenance of the investor funds, Masselli typically went to work quickly misappropriating the funds.
Masselli also opened multiple credit card accounts, made purchases on those accounts until he had almost reached or exceeded the credit limit, and then purported to send payments from accounts that he knew did not have sufficient funds to cover those payments. Before the fraudulent payments were rejected for insufficient funds, the credit card companies temporarily credited the accounts based on those payments, providing Masselli access to additional credit and allowing him to continue to make purchases. Masselli ultimately failed to pay the balances and the credit card companies sustained a loss. On two occasions, Masselli contacted the victim credit card companies falsely claiming that the accounts had been opened fraudulently by others who had stolen his personal identifiable information.
The bank fraud counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. The securities fraud counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2024.
The SEC previously filed a civil complaint against Masselli based on the securities fraud conduct.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also expressed appreciation for the SEC Division of Enforcement, under the direction of Gurbir S. Grewal.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, and Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Trenton Office.
masselli.sindictment.pdfSerial Domestic Abuser Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Dominic Nathaniel Alexander, age 36, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The government had asked the Court to impose an increased sentence due to Alexander’s “striking pattern of violence,” which included “beating and choking multiple domestic partners.” In imposing the sentence at the top of the advisory range, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Hala Y. Jarbou remarked on “the seriousness of this offense” and Alexander’s history of “assaultive” conduct.
“Today’s sentence sends a message to both perpetrators and victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “To perpetrators: if you illegally possess a firearm, federal agents and prosecutors stand ready to investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent permitted by law. To victims: we see you, and we hear your silent cries for help. Please know there is hope, and that you are not alone.”
According to sentencing materials filed by the government, Alexander’s history of violence stretches back for nearly a decade, and includes multiple occasions on which he beat, choked, and strangled multiple domestic partners. In addition, in 2018, Alexander was convicted of stabbing an unarmed man in the back and throat, reportedly causing permanent damage. In this case, Alexander pled guilty to illegally possessing a pistol and 117 rounds of ammunition.
“Dominic Alexander is a convicted felon and a serial domestic violence abuser who illegally possessed and sold an illegal firearm. Above all else, accountability matters,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Mr. Alexander is going to have a lot of free time to reflect on his consistent track record of illegal activity. Our community is a safer place today with Mr. Alexander off the streets.”
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Across the nation and in Michigan domestic violence is a serious threat. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Moreover, studies have shown that domestic violence perpetrators often use firearms to abuse and control their victims, who are five times as likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan has brought other cases to address the threat of domestic violence, as well. This past June, for example, the Office announced a 15-year sentence for Mitchell Pierce, 45, of Muskegon after he pleaded guilty to stalking and being a felon in possession of firearms. Pierce had threatened to torture and kill his ex-wife, as well as kill her children, other family members, and friends.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Castle.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, resources are available. To contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-SAFE or text “START” to 88788. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
###
San Mateo Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Crimes Including Coercing and Enticing Minors to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – San Mateo-based driving instructor Johnnatan Zelaya Izaguirre (Zelaya) was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for coercing and enticing teenaged girls to produce child pornography and related crimes announced U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William H. Orrick, United States District Judge.
Zelaya pleaded guilty to the charges on May 4, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Zelaya admitted that between November 2013 until January 4, 2022, he recruited minor girls—between the ages of 14 and 17 years old—to create sexually explicit images for posting online. Zelaya admitted that he had sex with at least two victims while they were minors and, on one occasion, filmed himself having sexual intercourse with a minor. He later distributed that video, depicting his sex acts with a minor, to a client knowing the minor was under 18 in the video.
Zelaya’s plea agreement describes how he recruited seven of his victims, using social media and in person. Online, he used social media accounts, including Instagram and Snapchat, to identify minor girls and to persuade them to produce sexually explicit content. In person, Zelaya used the driving school that he owned and operated to find students to recruit. When persuading his victims to create sexually explicit content, Zelaya offered to “manage” the sale of that content over social media. He told his victims about the content that customers wanted, how much the customers were willing to pay, and how much the minor should expect to make from videos, depending upon the type of video and whether they were nude or non-nude. At the time of his arrest on January 4, 2022, Zelaya had in his possession at least 41 videos and 10 photographs of the victims, as well as photos of additional unidentified girls.
On May 1, 2023, Zelaya was charged by superseding information with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b); one count of receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1); one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2); and one count of distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). Pursuant to his plea agreement, Zelaya pleaded guilty to all the charges.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Orrick also ordered Zelaya to serve 15 years of supervised release which will begin after his term of imprisonment. Zelaya was immediately remanded into custody.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Harding with assistance from Patricia Mahoney and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Redwood City Police Department with assistance from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles, the Atherton Police Department, and the Burlingame Police Department.
Saginaw Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Purchase Kilograms of Cocaine from Under Cover Federal AgentRead the Press Release
BAY CITY — Daniel Marin, 47, of Saginaw was sentenced last week to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison for his role in attempting to purchase 17 kilograms of cocaine from an undercover federal agent, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington imposed sentence on Marin following his guilty plea to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine.
According to court documents, during the summer of 2020, Marin and two other men planned to obtain a large quantity of cocaine for distribution throughout the Saginaw-Bay area. In furtherance of the plan, Marin contacted a person whom he thought was a narcotics broker in Mexico. In reality, however, the “narcotics broker” was an undercover HSI special agent. Marin subsequently negotiated the purchase of 17 kilograms of cocaine from the undercover agent for $34,000 per kilogram. On September 3, 2020, Marin and his two co-defendants traveled to a hotel in Flint to purchase the 17 kilograms of cocaine. Marin met with the undercover agent and verified the presence of the cocaine while his two co-defendants waited in the parking lot with the money. After verifying that the undercover agent had the cocaine, Marin went to the parking lot to retrieve the money from his co-defendants. HSI agents arrested the three men and seized over $500,000 in cash from them.
“Our office, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to hold those individuals to account who seek to import illegal drugs into our country and communities,” said U.S Attorney Ison.
“Drug traffickers who poison our communities should expect to face justice here in Michigan,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Our agents and partners will continue to identify, disrupt and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations wherever we find them."
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the FBI, Detroit Police Department, and Michigan State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Turkelson and Katharine Hemann.
Richmond Woman Charged with Defrauding Tongan Community in $13 Million Stockton-Based International Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment on Sept. 14, 2023, against Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai, 61, of Richmond, charging her with wire fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud, and the sale of unregistered securities, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between January 2021 and October 2021, Walker Sumchai orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand from her Stockton office. Claiming to use a secret algorithm, Walker Sumchai solicited Tongan investors and promised them that if they gave her money to purchase shares of the “Tongi Tupe” investment program, she would invest the money, and they would receive their principal investments back and thousands of dollars in returns within weeks or months. She also promised investors that if they gave her $30,000, within months they would receive a home in Lodi worth approximately $480,000. Instead, she took investors’ money and used it for her own personal expenses, including gambling, and used it to pay back and lull earlier investors. More than 1,000 investors invested over $13 million with Walker Sumchai.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Bickley is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of mail fraud or wire fraud, Walker Sumchai faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conviction. If convicted of securities fraud, Walker Sumchai faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. If convicted of the remaining securities-related counts in the indictment, Walker Sumchai faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each count of conviction. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is seeking to identify possible victims of Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai. If you believe that you were victimized by Walker Sumchai or have information relevant to this investigation, please complete the online form available at https://www.fbi.gov/tongitupevictims.
walker_sumchai_indictment.pdfReadout of Justice Department Officials' Trip to Ghana and Togo to Advance West Africa Consumer Fraud InitiativeRead the Press Release
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao and Deputy Director Richard Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch (CPB), together with colleagues from CPB and the FBI, met Sept. 11 to 15 with various key law enforcement partners to advance CPB’s West Africa Consumer Fraud Initiative in Ghana and Togo and combat fraud schemes originating in western Africa or facilitated by criminal enterprises operating in the region.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Rao (front row, center, right), EOCO Deputy Director, Intelligence and Monitoring, Aba Opoku (front row, center, left), Assistant Legal Attaché Justin Nwadiashi (front row, right), and other officials from the Justice Department, FBI and EOCO meet at EOCO headquarters in Accra, Ghana.Meetings in Ghana took place with the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Intelligence Bureau, the Ghana Police Service, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Revenue Authority.Meetings in Ghana took place with the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Intelligence Bureau, the Ghana Police Service, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Rao (left), Director of Administration, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Solomon Ayawine (right), Assistant Legal Attaché Justin Nwadiashi (third from left) and other officials from the Justice Department, FBI and the Ghana Police Service meet at the Ghana Police Service (GPS) headquarters in Accra, Ghana to discuss transnational cyber-enabled fraud.Meetings in Togo took place with La Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (National Police, Inspector General), Brigade de la Renseignement d’investigations (Investigations and Intelligence Brigade), Direction Centrale de la Police Judicaire (Judicial Police), Direction Générale de la Documentation Nationale (National Documentation Director), Office Central de Répression du Trafic Illicite des Drogues et du Blanchiment (Anti-Drug Trafficking and Anti-Money Laundering – AHTU/AML Office) and La Cellule National de Traitement d’Information Financielle (The National Financial Intelligence Unit).
In their meetings in Ghana, the parties discussed strengthening cooperation and collaboration on parallel investigations and providing training assistance. In addition, CPB and FBI officials shared valuable insights and lessons learned related to the investigation and prosecution of cases involving fraud and public corruption.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Rao (center), Director of the Strategy, Research, and Communications Division of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Sammy Darko (center, left), Assistant Legal Attaché Justin Nwadiashi (center, right) and other officials from the Justice Department, FBI and the Office of the Special Prosecutor meet at the headquarters of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Accra, Ghana.In their meeting with EOCO, the parties discussed ways to build upon prior joint successes combating transnational organized crime schemes and romance fraud, including through reducing the time it takes to share evidence and how the department can further assist EOCO prosecutions in Ghana and facilitate asset forfeiture and recovery.
In Togo, the parties discussed the initiation and continuation of joint efforts to combat cyber-enabled fraud originating in or affecting Togo. They focused on aligning priorities and exploring strategies for improving lines of communication and information-sharing mechanisms.
The CPB’s West Africa Consumer Fraud Initiative seeks to address fraud schemes, including romance scams that often target elderly and vulnerable U.S. victims, pandemic relief fraud, unemployment insurance fraud and business email compromise scams, originating in western Africa (or facilitated by criminal enterprises operating in the region), with a focus on both perpetrators and money launderers. In 2022, the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database received romance scam reports from nearly 70,000 people, with losses of $1.3 billion. That same year, the FBI received over 21,000 complaints of business email compromise schemes, with losses of $2.7 billion.
In addition to prosecuting criminal elder fraud cases, CPB provides guidance to U.S. Attorneys' Offices, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on fraud investigations with links to the region.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Rao (left), Brigade de Renseignement d’Investigations (BRI) Police Commissioner Papa M. MENSAVI (right), and other officials from the Justice Department, FBI and La Police Nationale meet at the headquarters of La Police Nationale in Lomé, Togo, to discuss law enforcement collaboration. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Rao (center), Inspector General of Police in Togo Colonel Yaovi Okpaoul (left) and other officials from the Justice Department, FBI and La Police Nationale meet at the headquarters of La Police Nationale in Lomé, Togo, to discuss international law enforcement priorities.Pottsville Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Accessing the Snapchat Accounts of Dozens of Female Victims and Selling Their Private Photographs for Financial GainRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brandon B. Boyer, age 34, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the computer hacking offense of obtaining information from protected computers.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the criminal Information to which Boyer pleaded guilty alleges that for a two-year period from February 2020 to February 2022, Boyer unlawfully accessed the computers of dozens of adult female victims in order to search for and obtain nude photographs that he could then sell. More specifically, Boyer acknowledged accessing victims’ Snapchat accounts at the behest of “clients” who paid him to break into the accounts and obtain the images. Boyer admitted that he accomplished this, in part, through use of an app that allowed him to send text messages to victims posing as a Snapchat representative. Through a technique known as “phishing,” Boyer then coaxed the victims into changing their passwords and sending him the verification codes that were generated. This allowed him to then access the accounts.
Boyer agreed that the monetary loss attributable to his conduct was between $40,000 and $95,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Philadelphia Division. U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
# # #
Possession of Methamphetamine Leads to Federal Prison Sentence of 22+ Years for Ethel ManRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Eric Martin, 36, of Ethel, Louisiana, was sentenced today for possession of methamphetamine announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Martin to 274 months (22 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Martin was charged in an indictment in January 2023 with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to evidence presented to the court, on July 13, 2022, members of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding and the driver and lone occupant was identified as Martin. During the traffic stop, law enforcement officers observed the odor of marijuana emitting from inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Martin was questioned by officers. Martin admitted that marijuana could be located inside a blue backpack located on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted, and officers located approximately 26 grams of marijuana on the front passenger seat. In addition, approximately 18 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine was found on the back seat of the vehicle, within the reach of Martin. A presumptive test of the suspected methamphetamine returned a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the DEA laboratory for testing and had a result indicating the substance had a net weight of 16.96 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Martin has a criminal history including convictions for negligent homicide and accessory after the fact to aggravated second degree battery.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaDonte A. Murphy and Craig R. Bordelon.
# # #
Pittsburg County Resident Pleads Guilty to Murder, Assault, and Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darius Alexander Presley, age 22, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges related to a December 2022 shooting that left one dead and one seriously wounded.
At the plea hearing, Presley entered a guilty plea to one count of Murder in Indian Country, one count of Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to investigators, on December 2, 2022, Presley shot two individuals at a McAlester residence before leaving in a victim’s car. Deputies responding to reports of gunshots arrived at the residence to discover one victim deceased and the second seriously wounded. At the time of the offense, Presley, a felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a state court conviction. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Presley will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Michael Robinson represented the United States.
Oswego County Woman Sentenced to 24 Months for Stealing Her Deceased Son’s Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Lisa Waldron, age 44, of Palermo, New York, was sentenced today to serve 24 months (two years) in federal prison for her conviction on charges of theft of government property, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office (SSA-OIG).
As part of her previously entered guilty plea, Waldron admitted that for years she acted as the representative payee for her disabled minor son, Jordan Brooks, who was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. A representative payee is a person or organization who receives Social Security benefits on another person’s behalf and is required to ensure the benefits are used only to support the beneficiary. Waldron also admitted that despite being legally required to use the benefits for Brooks’s care, Waldron used the money to pay for unrelated expenses.
Based in part on Waldron’s neglect of Brooks, he died on May 9, 2021. In July 2023, in a case brought by the Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, Waldron pled guilty to manslaughter and assault charges related to her involvement in Brooks’s death.
After Brooks died, Waldron failed to notify the SSA of the death and continued to receive SSI benefits intended for Brooks despite knowing she was not entitled to them. During that period, Waldron continued to spend Brooks’s SSI benefits to pay her own expenses including fast food purchases and a trip to Myrtle Beach. Finally, in April 2022, SSA independently discovered the issue and terminated Brooks’s benefits. This prosecution followed.
In addition to imposing Waldron’s sentence to run consecutively (in addition to) to her anticipated state sentence, Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a three-year term of post-release supervision and ordered Waldron to pay $13,292.76 in restitution—with $5,948.06 of that going to SSA and $7,344.70 being paid to the Crime Victims Fund.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck.
New Jersey Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport AliensRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juhi Khubani, age 48, of New Jersey, pled guilty today to conspiring to transport seven aliens.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
Khubani admitted that on June 3, 2023, she drove in an SUV to the U.S. side of the international border with Canada in Chateaugay, New York. Shortly after, seven Indian citizens who had just crossed into the U.S. illegally from Canada got into the SUV. Khubani then drove the aliens away from the border. Border Patrol agents then stopped the SUV and arrested its occupants. Khubani admitted that she expected to be paid for transporting the aliens.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Khubani faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting this case.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for PPP Loan Fraud, Money Laundering, and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ANTRUM COSTON, 41, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fraud, money laundering, and drug offenses.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2021, Coston applied for and subsequently received two PPP loans, totaling $41,666, purportedly in relation to a cleaning business he operated. In association with the loan applications, Coston made multiple false statements, including that his business was established in 2018 when, in fact, no cleaning business associated with Coston had been formed in 2018, and that the business had total gross income for 2019 of $114,658 when, in fact, the business had not earned such income, and Coston was incarcerated for all of 2019. In February 2022, Coston sought forgiveness of both loans, falsely asserting in each instance that the funds had been spent on payroll costs.
On December 31, 2021, police stopped a car Coston was driving in West Haven. After initially stopping, Coston drove off, nearly striking the officer as he fled. Coston was found hiding in a parking lot a short distance away. A search of vehicle and person revealed distribution quantities of heroin/fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine, and more than $2,000 in cash. A related search of Coston’s residence revealed a ballistic vest, $2,790 in cash, a small quantity of crack, and narcotics paraphernalia.
On December 20, 2022, Coston pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Coston, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on November 29.
Coston’s criminal history includes multiple convictions, including two federal convictions. In 2004, Coston was convicted in federal court of possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment for that offense, and, in June 2007, received an additional 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. In December 2017, Coston was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for gun and drug offenses. He was released from federal prison in April 2020, and was on supervised release when he committed the PPP loan fraud, money laundering and drug possession offenses.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the West Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.
Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
New Central Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center Opens in ColumbusRead the Press Release
Alongside state leadership and local partners in Columbus, Ohio, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today the opening of a new Central Ohio Regional Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). These centralized law enforcement hubs focus exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in local communities. They bring together, under one roof, the expertise of firearm evidence examiners, intelligence analysts, and investigators to rapidly collect, analyze, and share information about guns used in violent crimes. This is the second CGIC now running in the state of Ohio and one of more than 60 operated by ATF nationwide.
“Across the country, Crime Gun Intelligence Centers — like the one announced today in Columbus — have proven to be uniquely effective tools for solving violent crimes, bringing repeat shooters to justice, and reducing the rate of gun violence,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The intelligence they produce and the collaboration they facilitate represent the best of what federal law enforcement can achieve for public safety when we harness our resources and work hand-in-hand with our state and local law-enforcement partners. The more communities in America that have ready access to a Crime Gun Intelligence Center, the safer our nation will be.”
“As we have in so many cities and states around the country, ATF has partnered with state and local leaders to use crime gun intelligence to help catch the most violent offenders,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “We are thrilled with the progress that has been made in Ohio and look forward to a long and successful partnership fighting violent crime.”
The centerpiece of ATF-led CGICs are eTrace and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is ATF’s network of millions of ballistic images captured from crime scenes across the nation. NIBIN plays a crucial investigative role in solving shootings. When a shooting takes place, ATF’s NIBIN technology evaluates whether the shell casings recovered from that shooting matches with the shell casings expelled at another shooting that took place at another time and place. eTrace is ATF’s crime gun tracing program. When law enforcement recovers a firearm associated with a criminal investigation, they submit that firearm’s information to ATF to trace it back to the first retail sale. At their core, CGICs develop actionable intelligence leads through the use of NIBIN and eTrace. As a result, multiple shootings can be tied together, whether they happened in the same neighborhood or hundreds of miles apart, and shooters can be identified more quickly.
“The new Central Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center represents the next generation in intelligence-based policing, and it is unlike anything that has ever been done in Central Ohio before,” said Ohio Governor Mark DeWine. “The teams taking part in this large-scale and long-term collaboration are sharing everything from intelligence and investigative leads to technology and manpower so that they can zero in on the people who are shooting and killing others without remorse. Gun violence is about to become much, much harder to get away with in Central Ohio.”
Housed within the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Central Ohio CGIC is operated in partnership between ATF, the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, and Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Central Ohio CGIC began operations in July and is available to assist law enforcement agencies throughout the region free of charge. Since its initial launch, teams have connected multiple shootings that occurred in Columbus this summer to other crimes committed several years ago, including crimes that took place in other parts of the state.
“The Crime Gun Intelligence Center is precisely what we need to further empower our officers to capture and prosecute those responsible for perpetrating gun violence in our communities,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther of the City of Columbus. “This is about tapping into the power of collaboration to strengthen accountability and secure justice – using our combined resources to connect the guns being used to kill, maim, and commit crimes with the individuals who wield or peddle them in the first place.”
“Concentrated, collaborative efforts like this CGIC can have a real impact on reducing the level of violence in our cities,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “Federal firearms laws can be punished by up to 10 years in prison. We will not hesitate to use those laws when appropriate to hold accountable those who use firearms to commit acts of violence in our communities.”
Additional agencies that will support the Central Ohio CGIC include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
ATF continues to work with their state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners around the country to open more Crime Gun Intelligence Centers.
Missouri Residents Asked to Be on the Lookout for Firearms Stolen from Potosi StoreRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Federal and local authorities are asking the public to look out for rifles and shotguns that were stolen from a farm and home store in Washington County, Missouri in 2021. One was recently recovered in St. Louis County.
Gregory Snyder, 44, of Bismarck, in St. Francois County, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 26 on two felony charges: theft of 13 firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of body armor by a violent felon. The indictment accuses Snyder of stealing firearms from Dickey Bub Farm & Home on September 19 and 20 of 2021, and of possessing body armor on Sept. 20.
A motion seeking to have Snyder held in jail until trial says he was captured on video hiding in the store until closing time, when he emerged and stole a variety of items, including shotguns and rifles. One of the stolen firearms was recovered in June 2023 in Caledonia, Missouri. Police recovered another shotgun in St. Louis County following a traffic stop.
“We’re alerting the public to the existence of these stolen guns because we want gun buyers to be cautious and protect themselves against buying a stolen firearm,” said Potosi Police Chief Michael Gum. “One of the stolen shotguns was recovered only after an unsuspecting buyer purchased it from a pawn shop. If you have purchased one of these firearms, or even want to check if a gun is stolen, please contact your local police or sheriff’s department,” Chief Gum said.
The following firearms were stolen:
- American Tactical Omni Hybrid 5.56/.223 rifle, serial # NS308985
- Ruger American .243 Win. rifle, serial # 699-51880
- Savage Model 11 .243 Win. rifle, serial # K832564
- Smith & Wesson M&P 15 5.56 NATO rifle, serial # TS40690
- Smith & Wesson M&P 15 5.56 NATO rifle, serial # TS44864
- Smith & Wesson M&P 15 5.56 NATO rifle, serial # TT81658
- Springfield Armory Saint 5.56/.223 rifle, serial # ST461190
- Springfield Armory Saint 5.56/.223 rifle, serial # ST469640
- Francolin Boss-25 12-gauge shotgun, serial # 21-13942
- Francolin Warthog 12-gauge shotgun, serial # 21WH-1149
- Mossberg 510 Mini 20-gauge shotgun, serial # V1312970
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Potosi Police Department are investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the ATF at 314-768-3120 or online at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips or the Potosi Police at 573-438-5468.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj is prosecuting the case.
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.
Man Who Robbed Hartford Credit Union Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ZAIQWAN FOTHERGILL, 21, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for robbing a Hartford credit union last year.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 29, 2022, Fothergill, armed with a .40 caliber ghost gun, robbed the Cencap Federal Credit Union, located at 2775 Main Street in Hartford, of $24,214. Fothergill’s associate, Hakeem Robinson, stood watch in the credit union during the robbery. Hartford Police officers located and arrested Fothergill and Robinson in Keney Park in Hartford shortly after the robbery.
On February 2, 2023, Fothergill pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery.
Robinson, 28, of Hartford, pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on May 8, 2023, was sentenced to 56 months of imprisonment.
Fothergill and Robinson have been detained since their arrests.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
Lake City Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Steven Russell Statham II (27, Lake City) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. Statham had pleaded guilty on September 6, 2022.
According to court documents, a confidential source told a DEA Special Agent that he had purchased crystal methamphetamine from Statham approximately four times, buying three ounces (approximately 84 grams) each time. He also said he had seen Statham sell methamphetamine to others.
On September 15, 2021, the confidential source and an undercover detective met with Statham in Lake City and drove with him to meet one of his drug suppliers. After the undercover detective gave Statham the cash to purchase the methamphetamine, Statham met with his supplier and then gave the detective approximately 85.11 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Two weeks later, on September 29, 2021, the undercover detective and the confidential source met with Statham in Lake City again to coordinate the purchase of more methamphetamine. After being supplied with cash to purchase the drugs, Statham met with his drug source and then supplied the detective and the confidential source with approximately 167.73 grams of pure methamphetamine.
On November 18, 2021, a sergeant from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a car that Statham was driving which had license plates that were not assigned to the car. During the traffic stop, a law enforcement canine positively alerted on the car, indicating the presence of drugs. Officers recovered a bag from the car that contained approximately 21.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Drug Task Force, the North Star Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
La Crosse Woman Sentenced to 20 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine & FentanylRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Paige Roberts, 25, La Crosse, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 20 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. This prison term will be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Roberts pleaded guilty to this charge on May 11, 2023.
The La Crosse Police Department began their investigation of Roberts and her co- defendant, Raphiel Kuntu, in January 2022, after a housekeeper at a hotel located a significant amount of controlled substances in a hotel room rented by Roberts. Roberts took ownership of the substances only after Kuntu left the scene, and after she flushed other controlled substances down a toilet. During the course of this investigation, police utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from Kuntu on two occasions. In April 2022, officers executed a search warrant at a residence Roberts shared with Kuntu. In their shared bedroom, officers recovered approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of fentanyl, along with other controlled substances and a loaded firearm.
A search of Roberts’s and Kuntu’s cellphones revealed Roberts was aware of and assisted Kuntu with his drug dealing. Kuntu previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Kuntu was sentenced by Judge Peterson on August 9, 2023 to 12 years in prison.
At sentencing Judge Peterson stated that a 20-month sentenced held Roberts accountable for her role in the drug dealing conspiracy, which he said Roberts “embraced.” Judge Peterson also considered Roberts’s good performance on pre-trial supervision in fashioning a sentence.
The charges against Roberts and Kuntu are the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus handled the prosecution.
Kentucky Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Kentucky man, Michael Wayne Henderson, 51, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, for failure to register as a sex offender.
According to evidence presented at trial, Henderson has repeatedly failed to register as a sex offender. In 2002, he was convicted in Perry County, Indiana for Deviate Criminal Sexual Conduct. As a result, for the rest of his life, Henderson is required to register as a sex offender in the state in which he lives, works, or goes to school. Henderson initially faced charges for failing to register in 2009 after moving to the Eastern District of Kentucky. Henderson was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 10 years in prison and placed on supervised release for life. In 2019, Henderson was incarcerated because he again failed to register, in violation of the terms of his supervised release. After his release from prison, Henderson traveled back to Kentucky, but again failed to register as required. A jury convicted Henderson in March 2023 for his most recent failure to register.
Under federal law, Henderson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Jeremy Honaker, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
-END-
Jury convicts Virginia man of attempted sex trafficking of minor in undercover investigation in BillingsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal jury today convicted a Virginia man of attempting to solicit a minor for sex during an undercover investigation in Billings, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
After a two-day trial that began in Missoula on Sept. 18, the jury found Mark Samuel Baker, 57, of Gore, Virginia, guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor as charged in an indictment. Baker faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date will be set. Baker was detained pending further proceedings.
“Baker got caught in an undercover sting when he tried to arrange to have commercial sex with an individual he thought was a minor under 16. His conduct exploits children and contributes to the scourge of sex trafficking, which our office will continue to aggressively prosecute. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Kelsey A. Sabol and the FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Billings Police Department for their investigation and prosecution of this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and during trial, the government alleged that from July 11, 2022 to July 13, 2022, Baker knowingly attempted to recruit and solicit a minor to engage in commercial sex. During the investigation, an undercover officer used the internet to post an advertisement purporting to be a female escort who was the minimum allowed posting age of 18. About six hours later, the undercover agent received a message in response to the ad from a phone number later identified to be Baker’s. Law enforcement responded on July 12, 2022 asking if Baker wanted “a date.” Law enforcement and Baker communicated over the next two days. One of the exchanges included: Law enforcement asks, “Are u ok if I’m not 18.” Baker responds, “Yes as long as you are ok I’m 49.” Law enforcement writes, “I’m almost 16 if ur cool w that.”
Baker and the undercover discussed how much time $80 would buy, and Baker said he wanted sex with the undercover officer. Baker also sent pictures of the cash he would use and of himself. They then made plans to meet in Billings and go to Baker’s hotel. Law enforcement arrested Baker on July 13, 2022 when he showed up at the designated time. A call was then placed to the phone number law enforcement had been texting, and a smartphone in Baker’s vehicle lit up with the undercover’s number. Law enforcement found $375 in cash, a hotel passkey and four condoms on Baker’s person.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Kelsey A. Sabol are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
XXX
Joplin Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving and distributing child pornography over the internet.
Mark Comer, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Comer will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On March 23, 2023, Comer pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography.
Law enforcement officers searched Comer’s laptop in July 2022 as part of an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse. Investigators found thousands of photos and videos of child pornography and child exploitative material.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force, the FBI, and the Carl Junction, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Joplin Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the death of the victim.
Freddie Lewis Tilton, also known as “Ol’ Boy,” 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
By pleading guilty today, Tilton admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. Co-defendants Carla Jo Ward, 49, of Joplin, James B. Gibson, 41, of Neosho, Mo., Amy Kay Thomas, 40, of Webb City, Mo., Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 52, of Newton County, Mo., and Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 51, of Greenwood, Mo., have previously pleaded guilty.
According to the plea agreement, Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence. Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, shot at, and burned with a blowtorch. As M.H. became bloody, Vaughan placed a plastic tarp on the floor. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and transported it to Hurtt’s property.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended.
Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. Officers searched the residence and found a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Tilton has two prior felony convictions for burglary, two prior felony convictions for larceny of an automobile, and prior felony convictions for stealing, possession of a controlled substance, burglary of an automobile, possession of a chemical with intent to manufacture, receiving stolen property, unlawful use of a weapon, theft, and tampering.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Neosho, Mo., Police Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, and the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
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.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Groves man has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking drugs in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Dustin Joseph Collins, 40, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, on November 9, 2021, Collins was stopped by law enforcement officers on Highway 69 southbound to Port Arthur. During the stop, a police canine alerted on the vehicle causing Collins to flee the scene. Collins ran across the freeway through traffic before being apprehended. A search of Collins’ vehicle revealed a backpack with over 231 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
###
Indictment Charges Bridgeport Man with Drug Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a two-count indictment charging JONATHAN BONAPARTE, 35, of Bridgeport, with drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on September 7, 2023. Bonaparte appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and entered a plea of not guilty. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 31, 2022.
The indictment alleges that on March 31, 2022, Bonaparte possessed fentanyl and cocaine that he intended to distribute, six firearms, and approximately 100 rounds of ammunition. The indictment further alleges that Bonaparte’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for robbery and firearm offenses.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Bonaparte with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF), and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins, through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Husband and Wife Charged with Multimillion-Dollar Gift Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging XULIANG HOU and YUNA LIN with conspiring to commit wire fraud. HOU and LIN were arrested yesterday and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For nearly two years, Xuliang Hou, Yuna Lin, and their co‑conspirators allegedly engaged in a brazen scheme to obtain gift card information from their victims through lies. As alleged, they used those gift cards to purchase millions of dollars’ worth of products, including electronic devices. Thanks to the skillful investigative work of HSI and the dedication of the prosecutors of this Office, the defendants’ alleged scheme will be put to an end.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The defendants, along with their co-conspirators, stand accused of swindling victims out of millions of dollars across multiple states over the course of several years. HSI New York remains steadfast in our commitment to thwart criminal organizations seeking to undermine the integrity of American businesses and the stability of our financial system.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment:[1]
From July 2020 through at least May 2022, XULIANG HOU and YUNA LIN carried out a scheme in which victims were induced, under false pretenses, to purchase gift cards redeemable at certain stores. The scheme’s perpetrators used those cards to purchase millions of dollars’ worth of various products, including electronic devices.
* * *
HOU, 32, and LIN, 30, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Coyle and Benjamin M. Burkett are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Hughes County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donald Paul Griggs, age 56, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 194 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department, and the Hughes County Sheriff’s Department.
On August 10, 2022, Griggs pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to investigators, on March 31, 2022, Griggs led law enforcement on a highspeed chase, forced another vehicle off the road, crashed, and attempted to flee on foot. During the chase, Griggs discarded over 21 pounds of pure methamphetamine before he was apprehended and arrested by officers.
“Those who distribute drugs do so for one purpose, to make a profit,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez, who oversees operations in Oklahoma. “Today, Mr. Griggs is being held accountable for his actions. The DEA will never stop seeking justice for those who prey on others’ addictions.”
“Methamphetamine continues to plague our communities,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Drug traffickers transporting and distributing illegal narcotics in the Eastern District will be investigated and aggressively prosecuted.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Griggs will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Hudson County Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Role in Gang AssaultRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of a neighborhood street gang in Hudson County, New Jersey, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for stabbing a rival gang member during a retaliatory gang-related assault, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Sheldon Mays, aka “Thottie,” 23, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon – a knife – in aid of racketeering. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence on Sept. 18, 2023, in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 3, 2020, Mays and seven others, all of whom are associated with a street gang operating in and around the Curries Woods Public Housing Complex in Jersey City – identified as “Curries Woods” or the “Tay Tay Shrimp Gang” or the “Sharks” – assaulted a rival gang member in retaliation for a prior gang-related assault. As the victim was walking down a street in Jersey City, Mays and the others approached in two cars, parked in the middle of the street, and violently assaulted the victim, who was punched, kicked, and stabbed by Mays, and suffered life-threatening injuries.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Mays to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; and the Hudson County Department of Corrections with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Hardeman County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge delivered sentencing in the case of a Hardeman County man convicted of firearm charges. Fabian Bills, 34, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson also ordered Bills to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
According to information presented in court, on May 6, 2022, a deputy in the Madison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Maxima. Upon approaching the passenger’s side of the vehicle, the officer noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the car. The officer asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle; the passenger identified himself as Fabian Bills. The officer discovered a loaded 9mm handgun tucked underneath the front passenger seat. Bills admitted ownership of the firearm and stated that he had prior felony convictions. Bills was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This firearm was later matched by a forensic firearms examiner to two prior shootings.
Based on this, a federal criminal complaint was issued against Bills and on May 27, 2022, a Federal Bureau of Investigations Task Force officer executed the resulting arrest warrant. Additional firearms were recovered from Bills’s vehicle when he was arrested, including an Omni 300 Blackout AR15 and a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun.
In August 2023, Bills pled guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because the Court found the defendant committed prior violent acts with one of these firearms, he was subject to enhanced punishment at sentencing. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
###
Guatemalan Resident Indicted on Charge of Violating Federal Immigration LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Guatemala, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal immigration laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Alexander Mendez-Marroquin, 32, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, on or about August 20, 2023, Mendez-Marroquin was located in Pittsburgh and taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security agents after knowingly illegally reentering the United States as a previously removed alien.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, and Aiding in the Filing of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Stanley Worthy Jr., 41, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko after earlier pleading guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding in the filing of false tax returns. Worthy was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay $2,935,933.35 in restitution jointly and severally with co-defendants. A special assessment of $4,200 was also ordered by the court.
Worthy pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and 36 counts of aiding and abetting in the filing of false tax returns to the IRS. The court sentenced Worthy to 60 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud and sentenced Worthy to 36 months for aiding in the filing of false tax returns, all sentences to run concurrently.
According to court documents from 2019 to 2020 Worthy and his co-conspirators used the Soamazin Automotive car dealership, in Warrensville Heights, Ohio to purchase stolen vehicles at a discount, and sell those vehicles to unsuspecting buyers for profit. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants devised a scheme to have individuals apply for loans to fund the purchase of non-existent vehicles. The conspirators split the loan proceeds between themselves and the applicant. Worthy recruited applicants from clients of his company, Cavalier Care, which offered tax preparation services and financial education services. From 2017 to 2020, Worthy fraudulently prepared 35 tax returns for others to increase their tax refunds causing a loss of approximately $211,737 to the United States.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Abreu and Payum Doroodian.
Former Investment Banker and Registered Broker Pleads Guilty to Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rashawn Russell pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to defraud clients of the R3 Crypto Fund, a purported cryptocurrency investment fund operated by Russell. Russell also pleaded guilty for his role in a separate identity-theft scheme in which he fraudulently obtained credit cards and other access devices in the names of third parties. Today’s plea took place before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara. When sentenced, Russell faces up to 30 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Russell will be required to pay restitution in the amount of more than $1.5 million.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Eric Shen, Inspector-in-Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS), announced the guilty plea.
“Russell leveraged investor interest in cryptocurrency markets to perpetrate a scheme to defraud clients who trusted him,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “The swift conviction in this case underscores this Office’s commitment to holding bad actors in the digital asset markets accountable.”
“The Postal Inspection Service proudly protects Americans from ever-evolving threats of fraud,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Shen. “This case showcases our dedication to bring to justice those who violate their fiduciary duty to their clients.”
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea hearing, between November 2020 and August 2022, Russell, a former investment banker and registered broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors into his R3 Crypto Fund by falsely promising that, among other things, he would use their funds to make cryptocurrency investments that would return large, and sometimes guaranteed, returns. In truth, much of the investors’ assets were misappropriated by Russell and used for his personal benefit, to gamble, and to repay earlier investors. Through Russell’s scheme, at least 29 investors lost at least $1.5 million.
In a separate fraud scheme, between September 2021 and June 2023, Russell fraudulently obtained more than fifteen credit cards and other access devices in the names of third parties. Russell obtained these devices with the intent to use them to complete unauthorized transactions.
The government’s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney Drew Rolle, Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford, and Assistant Chief Scott Armstrong are prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at [email protected].
The Defendant:
RASHAWN RUSSELL
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-152
Former Congressman Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEPHEN BUYER, a former Indiana Congressman, was sentenced today to 22 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman. BUYER was previously convicted following trial of four counts of securities fraud for engaging in two insider trading schemes.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Stephen Buyer was convicted by a jury of twice engaging in insider trading. He abused positions of trust for illicit personal gain, and today he faced justice for those acts. No insider trader is above the law, and we will continue to bring those who undermine the fairness and integrity of our markets to justice.”
According to the Indictment, evidence presented during trial, court documents, and statements made in open court:
In 2018 and 2019, BUYER engaged in two separate, but interrelated insider trading schemes to steal material non-public information that he obtained through consulting work and to place timely, profitable securities trades based on that stolen information. First, in or about March and April 2018, BUYER purchased shares of Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”) ahead of the April 29, 2018, public announcement that T-Mobile US, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) and Sprint would merge in a deal valued at $26.5 billion. Prior to the public announcement of the transaction by T-Mobile, executives at T-Mobile told a small, trusted group of consultants that they had retained to work on the deal, including BUYER, about the merger and directed them to keep the information confidential. BUYER breached his duty of confidentiality to T-Mobile and misappropriated that information by purchasing shares of Sprint across several brokerage accounts, including his own accounts, an account held jointly with his cousin, and an account in the name of a close, personal friend. Across these accounts, BUYER made more than $126,000 from the purchase and subsequent sale of Sprint stock after the merger was publicly announced.
In or about June through August 2019, BUYER again engaged in insider trading, this time trading in shares of Navigant Consulting, Inc. (“Navigant”) ahead of Navigant’s acquisition by consulting and advisory firm Guidehouse. As with his purchase of Sprint shares, BUYER learned through his consulting work for Guidehouse that Guidehouse intended to acquire Navigant and misappropriated that information by purchasing Navigant shares ahead of the public announcement of the acquisition. BUYER purchased Navigant shares across several brokerage accounts, including accounts in his own name, joint accounts held with family members, and the account of the same close, personal friend whose account he used to trade Sprint shares. In total, Buyer made more than $223,000 from his illegal Navigant trades.
BUYER testified at his March 2023 trial and provided false explanations for his Sprint and Navigant trading, which Judge Berman found at sentencing to constitute obstruction of justice.
* * *
In addition to his prison sentence, BUYER, 64, of Noblesville, Indiana, was ordered to pay more than $350,000 in forfeiture and restitution in an amount to be determined.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Allegheny County Resident Sentenced to 216 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Ross Landfried was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, and to engage in money laundering, in 2017 and 2018 while serving a federal prison sentence for a prior drug trafficking conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Landfried, age 42, formerly of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan ordered Landfried to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Judge Ranjan also ordered that the 216-month prison sentence be served consecutively to Landfried’s prior sentence.
Landfried was convicted at the conclusion of a trial in June 2022. Landfried was serving a federal prison sentence in 2017 and 2018 following a federal conviction for prior large-scale drug trafficking. Despite his prior conviction and incarceration, he continued to engage in drug trafficking, and money laundering, while in federal prison. He led a scheme that involved several co-conspirators and that was designed to introduce large quantities of K2 paper saturated with powerful Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances into prisons. The K2 paper endangered other inmates and corrections officers and burdened them with the effects of frequent lockdowns, overdoses, assaults, and other volatile behavior. While pending trial following his indictment, Landfried engaged in repeated incidents of violence and weapon possession at local detention facilities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Florida Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Participating in Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Targeting Hedge FundRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MUSTAPHA RAJI was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman to three years in prison for his participation in a $1.7 million business email compromise and money laundering scheme that targeted a Manhattan hedge fund. RAJI was previously convicted after a one-week jury trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, receipt of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentencing of Mustapha Raji should send a clear message that email scams targeting businesses in this District will not be tolerated. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to zealously prosecute online scammers abroad, and the U.S.-based money launderers they work with, to protect American businesses.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
RAJI participated in an international fraud ring that conducted phishing and other email fraud campaigns.
In April 2017, a company RAJI controlled received over $100,000 in two transfers from another corporate entity, which had itself just received nearly $2 million in stolen money from a public university in Oregon. The university had been conned into sending the payment to an account controlled by one of RAJI’s co-conspirators instead of the bank account of the legitimate vendor it intended to pay.
In July 2018, RAJI was involved in the compromise of the business email account of a hedge fund founder in New York. That compromise resulted in the fraudulent diversion of a $1.7 million wire transfer from the hedge fund to a corporate bank account used to facilitate the scheme. RAJI was a registered officer of the company that received the stolen funds, he fabricated documents to cover up the fraudulent transfer of funds from the hedge fund, and he directed a co-conspirator to launder the stolen funds to other co-conspirators domestically and overseas. RAJI took a $50,000 cut for his participation in the scheme.
Similarly, in May 2018, a hospital system in Missouri fell victim to a business email compromise scheme. As part of that scheme, unauthorized emails were sent from the email account for the hospital’s chief financial officer that purported to direct payments to be issued for false invoices issued by RAJI’s company, causing over $250,000 to be sent directly by the victim to a bank account RAJI controlled.
In September 2018, RAJI learned that a co-conspirator with whom he had worked closely in the scheme had been arrested. Nonetheless, when a cooperating witness approached RAJI in 2019 about a new fraud — a supposed insider job to steal $2.3 million — RAJI agreed to participate and sent the cooperating witness wire instructions for an account to receive the stolen money.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, RAJI, 53, of Hollywood, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $711,557.54 and forfeit the same amount.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Ghosh, Jilan Kamal, Dina McLeod, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution.
Financial Crimes Conference Aims to Give Law Enforcement Tools to Better Fight Internet CrimeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida recently convened a financial crimes training entitled “Taking the Byte out of Crime—Tools and Techniques for Fighting Internet Crimes Targeting Businesses and Individuals.”
More than 90 law enforcement officers and federal agents from Key West to Palm Beach met at Broward College Health Sciences Simulation Center in Davie, Fla., to enhance their knowledge base, discuss evolving internet crime schemes, hear about criminal case examples, and share investigative resources to combat crime. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida expressed his gratitude to those in attendance and acknowledged the importance of federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships to reduce internet crimes.
The financial crimes conference offered the attendees an invaluable training opportunity on areas to include business email compromise scams, virtual currency tracing, illegal narcotics in the mail stream, mail theft, cryptocurrency scams, and the federal fraud statutes applicable to these offenses. Representatives from the following federal agencies presented during the conference: the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida; FBI Miami; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Miami; and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Miami.
Some of the important public safety takeaways are:
- Protect your personal identifying information (PII). If an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers can send very realistic emails and account statements to make it look like you are involved in a legitimate investment. Online “friends” who discourage you from telling friends and family about your relationship or financial “investments” are also a red flag. Be cautious. According to the FBI, internet crime amounted to victim losses of $10.3 billion in 2022.
- Anyone who suspects they are a victim of internet criminal activity should report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by clicking www.ic3.gov. Be sure to include as much information as possible — original emails, checks, receipts, financial transaction information, cryptocurrency addresses, websites, and phone numbers. The more information that is provided, the better chance the FBI has of recouping stolen funds or making an arrest.
- To combat potential theft, consider mailing any financial correspondence inside the Post Office lobby drop box or hand it to a clerk. The U.S. Postal Service has a free service called Informed Delivery www.usps.com which will send the user photos of the mail before it arrives. If you suspect U.S. Postal Service employee wrongdoing, please contact the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General hotline immediately at www.uspsoig.gov/hotline.
No one can prevent all crime but protecting your personal identification information, and verifying the identity of those you are dealing with online is a great place to start. The sharing of information across agencies gives law enforcement more avenues to solve crimes.
“Criminality is evolving and it’s up to law enforcement to update its investigative techniques,” said Law Enforcement Coordination/Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith, U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We put on these trainings because we see the value in them. The trainings bring law enforcement officers/agents and prosecutors together to learn from one another. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been asked to host more of these conferences … and we will.”
Federal Jury Finds Richfield Felon Guilty in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found a Richfield man guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a five-day trial before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court, Andrew Jerome Bigbee, 57, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The defendant conspired to distribute methamphetamine between approximately September 2019 and October 2021. On September 4, 2019, law enforcement searched the defendant’s house in Richfield, Minnesota, on a warrant. Law enforcement found more than 520 grams of methamphetamine in the defendant’s house. Law enforcement also found numerous trappings of drug trafficking, including a digital scale, more than $8,000 in cash, a money counting machine, drug packaging materials, and two firearms.
On October 16, 2020, law enforcement searched the defendant’s RV in Bloomington, Minnesota. Law enforcement found more than 5,000 grams of methamphetamine throughout the RV as well as drug trafficking paraphernalia, including a vacuum sealer machine, plastic bags, digital scales, a money counting machine, and more than $300,000 in cash.
On May 6, 2021, law enforcement searched the defendant’s residence in Elko, Minnesota. Law enforcement found almost 8,000 grams of methamphetamine in the residence. Law enforcement also found drug trafficking tools, including a digital scale, a money counter machine, almost $18,000 in cash, and a firearm.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Bloomington Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Edina Police Department, Richfield Police Department, Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, and the Springerville Police Department in Arizona.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Chelsea A. Walcker prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Man of Detonating Pipe Bomb at Suburban Chicago Train StationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a man of detonating a pipe bomb at a suburban Chicago train station.
On Sept. 1, 2006, THOMAS JAMES ZAJAC placed a pipe bomb in a trash can at the BNSF Railway station in Hinsdale, Ill. The device exploded during the morning commute, causing damage inside the station and injuring a station agent. About a month later, Zajac sent an anonymous letter to the Hinsdale Police Department, stating that the police had “[expletive] with” the wrong person and that the writer had “fired a warning shot” last month. The letter indicated that police actions would “likely eventually lead to the death” of at least one person in Hinsdale, and that the writer wanted to see whether the department was “bright enough or possess[ed] the character to stop this death.” Evidence at trial revealed that Zajac felt disrespected when a family member was arrested by Hinsdale Police the prior year.
Zajac, 70, formerly of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., was convicted Monday of all three counts against him, including one count of attempting to destroy property with an explosive device, one count of possessing an unregistered destructive device, and one count of willfully making a threat through the mail to kill or injure a person with an explosive device.
The property destruction count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. Each of the other two counts are punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for Dec. 13, 2023.
The verdicts were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hinsdale Police Department, DuPage County, Ill., Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Kerwin, G. David Rojas, and Andréa L. Campbell.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Possessing Methamphetamine in PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Larry Massenburg, age 35, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill), Minersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 18 months’ imprisonment for possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Massenburg was an inmate at FCI Schuylkill, serving a sentence of imprisonment for a prior federal conviction for cocaine trafficking. On March 2, 2022, correctional officers at FCI Schuylkill found Massenburg in possession of methamphetamine. Judge Mariani ordered the 18-month sentence to run consecutive to Massenburg’s existing term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigative Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
# # #
Fayette County Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Armed Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Lexington man, Cary Lamar Wilkerson, Jr., 24, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture.
According to court documents, in June 2022, law enforcement in Fayette County attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Wilkerson, but he refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit that endangered other motorists. Law enforcement was able to disable Wilkerson’s vehicle, but Wilkerson then fled on foot. After he was apprehended, officers located a firearm and 17 grams of flurofentanyl that Wilkerson had abandoned upon fleeing. The firearm was a Glock pistol, with a “Glock switch” that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a machinegun.
Law enforcement in Clark County encountered Wilkerson again in October 2022, when a vehicle was observed travelling over 100 mph on I-64. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, but the car accelerated and nearly struck multiple other vehicles. After crashing into a utility pole and fleeing on foot, Wilkerson was apprehended by law enforcement. During the foot chase, Wilkerson attempted to discard two bags of fentanyl and a firearm. Inside Wilkerson’s wrecked vehicle, law enforcement found more narcotics, cash, and numerous empty plastic bags.
Wilkerson pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2023.
Wilkerson has multiple prior convictions, including for robbery and drug trafficking. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Under federal law, Wilkerson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; and Sheriff Berl Perdue, Jr., Clark County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Lexington Police Department, and the Clark County Sherriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Rieker.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
-END-