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18 July 2023
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Manitowoc, Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty to producing a video depicting his sexual abuse of a minor in Minnesota, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on or about June 7, 2019, Jason Lee, 28, used and coerced a prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lee pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023, in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank to one count of attempted production and production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Saint Paul Police Department, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and Other Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies Announce Results of Nationwide Initiative to Curtail Illegal Telemarketing OperationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today a crackdown on telemarketing operations responsible for billions of illegal calls to U.S. consumers. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and other law enforcement partners, including attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, joined the announcement.
Today’s announcement caps approximately a year of enforcement actions taken by federal and state agencies to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls and scam calls. In the last year, the department has pursued approximately 90 cases against illegal telemarketing operations and those who facilitate those illegal calls. This initiative, “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” targets telemarketers, including those who use telephone calls to commit fraud, as well as those who facilitate illegal telephone calls. Enforcement actions targeted lead generators who deceptively collect consumers’ telephone numbers and then provide those telephone numbers to robocallers and others (falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls), as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers who facilitate tens of billions of illegal robocalls every year. Significant actions also were taken against individuals and entities who unjustly profited by facilitating the movement of money from scam call victims to fraudsters.
“Illegal telephone calls interrupt cherished time with family and friends and, when they are used to commit fraud, can be financially and emotionally devastating,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Justice Department's Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch, who appeared at a press conference in Chicago announcing the initiative. “The department and its partners are committed to pursuing those who make and facilitate these calls.”
“Today, government agencies at all levels are united in fighting the scourge of illegal telemarketing. We are taking action against those who trick people into phony consent to receive these calls and those who make it easy and cheap to place these calls,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC and its law enforcement partners will not rest in the fight against illegal telemarketing.”
“The FCC is committed to using every tool at its disposal to crack down on illegal robocalls and protect the US communications network,” said Chief Loyaan Egal of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. “We, alongside our partners, will not let up in tracking, prosecuting, and penalizing the bad actors in this space and protecting consumers.”
Cases brought by the department targeted both foreign and domestic telemarketing operations. These cases ranged from actions targeting fraudsters who directly contacted victims to actions targeting those who provided scam call operators with the means to perpetrate their schemes. The department’s actions contributed to the collective actions, over 180, taken by the federal and state partners participating in Operation Stop Scam Calls.
The department’s Consumer Protection Branch brought nine civil actions in partnership with the FTC, which collectively alleged conduct involving billions of robocalls. Four of these cases involved lawsuits against VoIP providers that transmitted illegal phone calls. Some of these calls were scams arising from foreign call centers, such as calls by fraudsters pretending to be government agencies or impersonating e-commerce companies. Defendants, as alleged in the government’s complaints, continued to transmit illegal calls even after being warned that those calls were scam pitches. These cases also included a resolution with multinational payment processing company Nexway, arising from a lawsuit that alleged that the company processed credit card payments for India-based Tech Live Connect and other foreign clients that committed telemarketing fraud via tech support scams.
Cases brought by the department also involved criminal charges against those alleged to have made illegal phone calls or facilitated such calls. Many of these cases involved foreign fraud operations that victimized older adults. The department prosecuted perpetrators of various lottery fraud schemes, in which consumers were falsely told they had won a large prize but must first pay money to receive that prize.
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In three separate matters brought by the Consumer Protection Branch, three individuals were extradited from Jamaica. Two have since pleaded guilty.
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The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section secured a nearly 133-month sentence in a Costa Rica-based lottery scheme.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona secured a 160-month sentence for a leader of an international fraud ring who distributed lead lists containing the personal information of thousands of victims.
Additional lottery fraud-related criminal matters include those brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of California, the Eastern District of New York, the District of South Carolina, the District of Nebraska, the Northern District of Florida, and the Northern District of Ohio.
The Justice Department and its partners urge consumers to be on the lookout for illegal calls, to take steps to minimize the number of illegal calls received, and to report any scam calls to law enforcement.
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Callers may pressure you to send money by trying to scare you. They may pretend to be someone you know who is in trouble, a government agency, or a major company. These are fraudsters. Hang up.
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Don’t trust your caller ID. It can be faked.
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If you answer the telephone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s potentially a robocall trying to sell you something. It is probably illegal and likely a scam.
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Only call a telephone number you know is real.
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Make sure your number is on the Do Not Call Registry and consider using your telephone’s call blocking options or getting a call blocking app or service.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. To review a list of common transnational elder fraud scams, many facilitated by telephone calls, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/transnational-elder-fraud-strike-force.
To learn more about the department’s elder fraud efforts, visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
For more information on unwanted calls, including steps people can take to avoid robocall scams and to hear examples of illegal calls, visit www.ftc.gov/calls, which is also available in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/llamadas.
Some of the cases referenced in today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Joined by State and Local Agencies, to Host Summer One-Stop Reentry Resource Fair at the War Memorial in Baltimore on Wednesday, July 19, 2023Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, will sponsor a one-stop reentry resource fair that will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Baltimore War Memorial, 101 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, MD. More than 40 organizations, including at least 20 employers, will be on-site offering support, assistance and resources to returning citizens and justice-involved persons, including in the areas of employment, job training, educational opportunities, health services, transitional housing, expungement help and more.
This reentry resource and job fair is a component of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s violent crime reduction strategy. In addition to the office’s enforcement efforts to remove violent criminals with guns from our communities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has initiated a number of outreach, intervention and prevention efforts to support and invest in communities plagued by violence, such as this reentry resource fair.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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U.S. Attorney and Federal Partners Address Gun Violence and Firearms Trafficking in ConnecticutRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit convened a series of meetings last week with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to discuss continuing strategies to curb gun violence and firearms trafficking in Connecticut.
“While I and members of my office regularly meet with our law enforcement partners to share information, discuss crime trends, and coordinate investigations and prosecutions, these meetings take on an added significance during the summer months when cities in Connecticut and across the country traditionally experience an uptick of gun violence and related criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Using a data-driven, intelligence, and evidence-based approach, we are able to focus on the small number of individuals who are driving the violence in our cities. Then, either through our violence prevention engagement initiatives, or through federal or state prosecution, we aim to stop the violence before it occurs. Our collective goal is to make our communities safer by freeing it of recurrent gun violence and the trauma it causes.”
“Working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we continue to aggressively combat Connecticut gun violence and trafficking,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller. “Our FBI violent crime and violent gang task forces, which are located throughout Connecticut, consistently prove to be very effective in addressing gun violence in our cities and towns. This violent threat plaguing our communities is a top priority for the FBI.”
“ATF is committed to our continued collaboration and support of our local, state and federal partners to address violent gun crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson.
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling violent drug trafficking organizations operating in Connecticut,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to our families and communities. DEA and its local, state, and federal partners will continue to work collaboratively to bring to justice those that commit these crimes.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service stands with our federal, state, and local partners to confront the violence in our communities,” said Ketty D. Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We will aggressively pursue the criminals who, through their misuse of the U.S. Mail, facilitate the crimes which fuel the violence on our streets.”
As the majority of violent crime in Connecticut occurs in heavily-populated Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury, the U.S. Attorney’s Office currently coordinates Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) programs in each of these cities. PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has recently supplemented resources in these four PSN cities, and continues to focus on violent crime in other cities across the state.
Each PSN city’s police department is also an important participant in multiple federal law enforcement task forces that address crime throughout the region. Other Connecticut police departments also contribute significantly to federal task forces.
Another significant part of federal law enforcement’s gun violence reduction strategy involves long-term investigations that target members of gangs and groups responsible for much of the violence in Connecticut’s cities. In Bridgeport, more than 30 alleged gang members have been charged across multiple indictments with offenses related to narcotics trafficking, murders, and other acts of violence committed in recent years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also currently prosecuting alleged gang members and associates in New Haven and Waterbury.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also focusing on the illegal straw purchasing of firearms, the trafficking of firearms into Connecticut and around the state, increasing numbers of privately-made firearms (“PMFs” or “ghost guns”), as well as firearms containing “switches,” which convert ordinary firearms into fully automatic machine guns.
“We are constantly challenged by the sheer number of illegal firearms on the streets, the destructive strength of many of them, and technologies that make their manufacture easier and their tracing harder,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “These guns endanger the community and the officers who are sworn to protect us. This is why we are prioritizing the prosecution of individuals who help turn legal firearms into illegal firearms, and those who manufacture and traffic guns. Police departments are also increasing the use of the ATF-sponsored National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to help connect recovered firearms to shell casings found at shooting scenes, which leads to additional arrests and successful prosecutions.”
In addition to the prosecution of firearm and violent crime cases, and the violence prevention efforts that are a major component of PSN, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office also actively participate in federal court-sponsored programs in an effort to reduce recidivist behavior and make communities safer, including Reentry Court, which offers assistance to formerly-incarcerated individuals on federal supervised release, and Support Court, which connects federal offenders with drug and alcohol addiction to treatment, other resources, and support networks. The Office has also reached thousands of teens through FED-UP and HEAT, which are anti-violence and drug prevention programs for middle school and high school students emphasizing the extreme dangers of joining groups engaged in violent crime, and of experimentation with fentanyl, including fake pills.
“Ultimately, we know that reducing gun violence requires a multi-pronged approach, which is why members of my office and our law enforcement partners devote much time and energy engaging with returning citizens who have been through the penal system, as well as with youth who we hope will take a different path, to reduce the cycle of violence and save countless lives,” said U.S. Attorney Avery.
U.S. Attorney Thompson Announces Human Trafficking Training Initiative for Educators and Social WorkersRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson joined with West Virginia education and human services leaders and federal law enforcement partners today to announce new training tools to help better identify and report human trafficking and rescue child victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice to develop training videos specifically for teachers and child protective services workers. The training focuses on the risk factors and vulnerabilities of human trafficking, identifies red flags for human trafficking, and provides ways to respond to suspected human trafficking.
“One thing has really stood out to me when I’ve talked to the victims in the cases we’ve prosecuted: they all say, ‘I wish somebody had realized this sooner,’” Thompson said. “That person who realizes something sooner could be a teacher, it could be a CPS worker, it could be a Little League coach. It could be someone in the community who recognizes it and makes the report.”
Thompson cited grim national statistics that have helped prompt this approach. More than 80 percent of trafficking victims under the age of 10 are trafficked by a family member. More than half of minor victims of human trafficking attend school while being trafficked. Two-thirds of human trafficking victims have been involved in the juvenile justice or foster care system.
“The overall goal is to call attention to human trafficking and share ways we can address it in West Virginia,” Thompson said. “This training will help these professionals as well as anyone in the community recognize human trafficking and know what to do when they recognize it. Some of this, they already know. Some of this is common sense. But if we can save one child from this, if we can get one victim out, it’s worth it and I hope we do a lot more than that.”
Thompson thanked the additional partners supporting this training initiative, who include the West Virginia Board of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the West Virginia Fusion Center.
The videos are available through the West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice and its Handle With Care program (http://www.handlewithcarewv.org).
- Training video for schools: https://vimeo.com/845303381
- Training video for CPS: https://vimeo.com/845301913
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Indictment of 24 Individuals Associated with Shreveport Street Gang on Charges Related to CARES Act Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge Lynn Higgins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Acting United States Marshal Chris Felix held a press conference today to announce the indictment of 24 defendants on fraud charges related to the CARES Act. The defendants in this indictment are all members or associates of a Shreveport street gang that refer to themselves as Step or Die or SOD.
In March 2020 Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
Defendant Name
Charges
Loan Amount and Type
Sirdell McCullough
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Roderguiz Henry
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,260 / PPP
Johntrell Crutchfield
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Deanthony Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,575 / PPP
$8,000 / EIDL
Deaaundrakous Hagger
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Nico Stewart
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$4,000 / EIDL
$1,000 / EIDL
Timothy Vasher
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Destane Glass
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Xavien Beasley
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$10,000 / EIDL
Quinterrius Brown
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$30,800 / EIDL
Not funded
Toronco Loston
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Not funded
$201,100 / EIDL
Not funded
Dewonnie Brown
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Joshua Dominique
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Kadarius Jenkins
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Jasmine Glass
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$8,332 / PPP
Tramaine Taylor
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Antoria Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,458 / PPP
$20,458 / PPP
Joketa Baulkman
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$19,005 / PPP
$19,005 / PPP
Tyneal Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
Cierra Fleming
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,207 / PPP
Tramarciea Ruffins
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,415 / PPP
Olivia Thomas
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Samarrian Kingston
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,272 / PPP
Lakeah Gipson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,058 / PPP
“This is why the United States Attorney’s Office is here,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This is what we do and is why we become federal prosecutors and investigators with the Department of Justice. Prosecuting violent street gangs with white collar statutes is rare, but we use all the tools we have and try to hold those accountable that break the law and terrorize our communities with acts of violence. We hope to continue to collaborate with our state partners to do our part to eradicate violence while simultaneously focusing on one of the priorities of the department, which is CARES Act fraud.”
“The FBI works with its partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises like this one,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of FBI New Orleans. “Individuals or groups who seek to steal from programs meant to aid Americans in their time of need, will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.”
“This indictment demonstrates the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s commitment to investigate and bring to justice those that victimize the American taxpayer,” stated Inspector General J. Russell George. “Abusing a Federal program designed to assist Americans in need, by fraudulently applying for loans, has and will continue to be aggressively investigated. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s office for their commitment to this goal.”
Defendant Roderguiz Henry is a fugitive. If you have information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshal’s Service at 318-934-4300.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 1 to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Treasury-Inspector General for Tax Administration, and United States Marshal’s Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Three Appointed to Serve as Assistant United States Attorneys to Address Violent Crime, Complex White Collar Enforcement, and Other Critical CasesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced the appointment and swearing-in of three new Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Rhode Island: Kevin M. Bolan, Julianne L. Klein, and Peter I. Roklan. Mr. Bolan will serve in the Office’s Civil Division, focusing on affirmative civil enforcement, while Ms. Klein and Mr. Roklan have been assigned to the Criminal Division.
Prior to his appointment, Kevin M. Bolan was a partner with the law firm of White & Case, LLP, where he both handled and managed civil and criminal trials and investigations as part of the firm’s white collar practice group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bolan was an associate, and later partner, with the firm of McDermott Will & Emery in both Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Georgetown University Law Center.
Julianne Landsvik Klein joins the office from the Boston office of Cooley, LLP, where she has served as an Associate for the past eight years. In that role, she has handled numerous DOJ and SEC investigations, worked on complex commercial matters, and handled significant pro bono litigation. Prior to joining Cooley, Ms. Klein worked in the Chicago offices of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, Dinsmore & Schol, LLP, and for the Staff Attorneys Office of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is a graduate of Boston College and the University of Michigan Law School.
Rhode Island native Peter I. Roklan joins the Office following a distinguished sixteen-year tenure with the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, where he prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, including matters involving public corruption, firearms, narcotics, and organized crime. Mr. Roklan previously served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, working on federal cases with prosecutors in this Office. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the Roger Williams University School of Law.
“I am tremendously excited that these three exceptional advocates have joined the ranks of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Their backgrounds, education, and experience make them ideally suited to carry on and enhance our Office’s critical work to pursue justice and enhance public safety on behalf of all of our Ocean State communities.”
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Theft of a Firearm from Main Street Pawn in Lincoln Leads to 2+ Year Prison Sentence for Bangor ManRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced in federal court today for theft of a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jonathan Birtz, 40, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, in July 2021, Birtz stole a .380 caliber pistol from Main Street Pawn in Lincoln. Security footage showed Birtz reaching over the counter to take the pistol and then concealing it in a folded blanket he was carrying.
The Lincoln Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LEONEL GONZALEZ, age 40, a resident of Houston, Texas, pled guilty on July 12, 2023 to a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on five occasions between May 25, 2020, and July 2, 2020, GONZALEZ distributed kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a methamphetamine dealer who then redistributed the drugs in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
For the conspiracy count, GONZALEZ faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, officers with the St. Paul Police Department were conducting surveillance at an apartment looking for De’Voncea Lashoun Griffo, 24, a suspect in an ongoing homicide investigation. Officers observed Griffo leave his apartment building wearing a cross-body bag across his chest and get into the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Equinox. After Griffo pulled into a thrift store parking lot, officers activated emergency lights and conducted a felony stop. Griffo removed his cross-body bag and set it behind the center console of the car, and was placed under arrest. Officers later obtained a warrant to search Griffo’s vehicle and recovered the cross-body bag, which contained a .45 caliber Glock pistol with an extended magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition.
Because Griffo has a prior felony conviction, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Griffo pleaded guilty earlier today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
Southern California Man Charged with Diverting $4.8 Million in San Francisco-Based Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Joon Woo Kim with fraud in connection with two related fraud schemes—the first, an alleged scheme to mislead investors to contribute to a fund he formed in San Francisco, and the second, a scheme to obtain a multi-million dollar business loans and line of credit by lying to a bank—announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. Kim was arrested earlier today in New Haven, Conn., and appeared in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to face the charges.
According to the indictment, filed June 27, 2023, and unsealed today, Kim, 57, of Montebello, Calif., allegedly engaged in the first fraud scheme beginning June 2015 through at least March 19, 2022. Kim created an investment fund called the M5 Doctors Fund and allegedly induced investors to contribute to the fund by making false statements and omissions about the kinds of investments Kim would make while managing the fund’s assets. For example, Kim allegedly advertised that he would invest assets of the M5 Doctors Fund in securities of Tesla, Inc. and electric vehicle companies. Nevertheless, rather than invest the funds as he promised, Kim allegedly transferred nearly all M5 Doctors Fund assets, including funds from the liquidation of investments and the return on those investments, to CKR Enterprise, Inc., a wholesale food distribution company owned and operated by Kim and his wife.
As General Partner of the M5 Doctors Fund and the person who held himself out as manager and person responsible for the fund, Kim had a duty to disclose all material business, transactions, and investments to the fund’s investors and Limited Partners. Nevertheless, according to the indictment, from 2015 through July 2018, Kim transferred approximately $4.8 million in M5 Doctors Fund assets to CKR without informing the fund’s investors. Additionally, the indictment alleges Kim continued to tell investors he was investing in Tesla stock and the stock of public electric vehicle companies; failed to disclose to M5 Doctors Fund investors that he had transferred essentially all of the fund’s assets to his business, CKR; and took actions to mislead fund investors into believing that the M5 Doctors fund was solvent and engaged in investment activities.
In the second fraud scheme, Kim defrauded Hanmi Bank by applying for two loans for CKR, a $1,300,000 line of credit and a $3,200,000 business loan, that contained materially false and fraudulent representations and promises.
In sum, the indictment charges Kim with eight counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; two counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; and one count of making a false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014.
Kim’s initial San Francisco federal court appearance is scheduled for July 28, 2023.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kim faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; 30 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 1014. The court also may order an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term as part of any sentence. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Elizabeth Kim. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Six Pennsylvania Residents and One Resident of North Carolina Indicted on Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Computer Fraud, ID Theft and Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material ChargesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - Six residents of Pennsylvania and one resident of North Carolina have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, fraud in connection with unlawful computer access, aggravated identity theft, and receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The sixteen-count Indictment named the following:
Richard Alan Martz, Jr., 33, Meadville, Pennsylvania
Dylan Michael Miller, 30, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Christopher Clampitt, 33, Clemmons, North Carolina
Edward Grabb, 31, Jeanette, Pennsylvania
Michael Yackovich, 27, West Newton, Pennsylvania
Luke Robert Swinehart, 22, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Karlin Terrell Jones, 26, Beaver Falls, PennsylvaniaAccording to the Indictment presented to the court, the seven co-defendants conspired to hack into Snapchat accounts for the purpose of removing explicit images and videos depicting the victim account holders. After obtaining the explicit material, the co-defendants would then share the images and videos with each other and others online unbeknownst to the victim account holders.
“As alleged, the defendants used deception and hacking techniques to unlawfully access social media accounts so that they could steal, hoard, and trade explicit and otherwise private content of hundreds of unsuspecting victims,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will reach far and wide to identify and prosecute those who victimize our communities via the internet, especially when they seek to victimize our most vulnerable population—our children.”
“The seven people charged today exploited their victims and engaged in a predatory behavior that will not be tolerated,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Hacking into social media accounts, stealing intimate pictures of unsuspecting victims and then selling and trading them in online forums is nothing short of reprehensible. These victims were re-victimized multiple times as their personal pictures were recirculated. We believe there is an extensive network of victims who still haven’t been identified.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 69 years in prison, a fine of $1,750,000, or both for Martz; 34 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both for Miller; 22 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both for Clampitt; 22 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both for Grabb; 29 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both for Yackovich; 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both for Swinehart and Jones. 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 defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
If you believe you are a victim in this case and would like to opt-in to receive case notifications or if you have any questions about your rights, please contact the Victim Witness Coordinator at [email protected].
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Rosie Hidalgo Sworn in as Director for the Office on Violence Against WomenRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that Rosie Hidalgo was sworn in today as the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). As director, she will spearhead the Department’s principal efforts in confronting gender-based crimes. OVW provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and oversees more than $700 million annually for grant programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The Senate confirmed Hidalgo on July 11 in a bipartisan vote, making her the first Senate-confirmed director to lead OVW since 2012. Hidalgo’s career, spanning over 25 years, has been dedicated to eradicating gender-based violence. Her work as a public interest attorney, national policy advocate, and more recently as a White House advisor, culminates in her new role leading OVW. Before her current appointment, Hidalgo served as a special assistant to President Biden and senior advisor on gender-based violence at the White House Gender Policy Council. She also previously held a position at OVW as Deputy Director of Policy from 2014 to 2017.
“I am proud to swear in Rosie Hidalgo as the first Senate-confirmed Director of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women in 11 years,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This is a historic affirmation of the Department's commitment to reducing gender-based violence, supporting survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable. Rosie has both the experience and the dedication to lead the Office’s essential work of protecting women, girls, and all those affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. I am confident that her return to the Department will further that crucial mission.”
“The Office on Violence Against Women is vital to implementing the Violence Against Women Act and providing leadership in combating domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Rosie’s leadership of OVW will strengthen those efforts and build on the Department’s commitment to meeting the needs of survivors of sexual violence.”
“Rosie Hidalgo has been a champion for survivors for years. Her experience and passion make her ideally suited to lead OVW, which has been steadfast in its mission to deploy the resources and tools communities need to address the needs of survivors,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Rosie's track record of working diligently to support survivors of gender-based violence, and in particular, survivors from underserved and historically marginalized communities, makes her an ideal leader for OVW.”
“I am honored to have this opportunity to join colleagues at the Office on Violence Against Women and the Department of Justice to help advance our nation’s commitment to preventing and addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence,” said Director Rosie Hidalgo. “The renewal and strengthening of the Violence Against Women Act last year, along with increases in VAWA funding, enable us to enhance access to safety, justice, and holistic services for survivors, and support efforts to strengthen and broaden the coordinated community response.”
Hidalgo is also a former senior director of public policy for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, a national resource center with a focus on providing training, research, and policy advocacy to prevent and end domestic violence and sexual assault. Her public service work includes a detail to the Office of the Vice President during the Obama administration, working with the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women. She also served on the Biden Foundation’s Advisory Council for Ending Violence Against Women and on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.
She is a graduate of Georgetown University and the New York University School of Law.
Property company owner sentenced to prison for rental assistance fraudRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Tipp City man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 18 months in prison for defrauding a local non-profit organization. He was also ordered to pay $94,942 in restitution.
Antoine Draines, 43, defrauded Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (MVCAP) of rental assistance funds. MVCAP received federal funding as part of the CARES Act.
According to court documents, Draines controlled and operated Freedom for Living Property Management, LLC in Tipp City. The company owned and served as landlord of numerous rental properties in Dayton. According to Draines, he was, at one point, the second-largest individual owner of Section 8 housing units in Greater Dayton.
From at least June 2020 until December 2020, Draines lied to MVCAP so that he could improperly collect emergency rental assistance money for certain Freedom for Living properties. Draines knowingly sent false landlord statement forms concealing the critical fact that certain tenants were already having a substantial portion of their rent paid through federally funded housing vouchers.
Draines pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March 2023.
In addition, Draines fraudulently applied for and received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, resulting in Draines wrongfully collecting approximately $30,000.
“Through a cynical, opportunistic fraud scheme, Draines, sought to steal more than $150,000 from MVCAP by seeking emergency assistance that was not actually needed, or not actually used, to cover the rental obligations of existing tenants,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “The specific circumstances of Draines’ COVID-related fraud only make it worse. Draines targeted programs intended to aid those struggling to make ends meet in the face of the pandemic, converting a global health crisis into a chance at a quick buck.”
"Mr. Draines used his position during an unprecedented national pandemic to steal critical taxpayer money intended to help families," said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice. “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with Federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
“Antoine Draines defrauded the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) by filing false unemployment insurance (UI) claims. Draines stole benefits intended to assist those who became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and ODJFS to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Joining Parker in announcing the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose were Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter and Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi are representing the United States in this case.
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Poplar Bluff Felon Caught with Two Guns Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon from Poplar Bluff, Missouri who was caught with two guns to 40 months in prison.
Judge Limbaugh ordered the prison sentence for Tina Marie Litvinchyk, 31, to run consecutive to a 10-year prison sentence she is serving for two drug charges in Butler County Circuit Court.
Litvinchyk pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. She admitted that on June 8, 2022, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force officers found two .380-caliber pistols in a locked safe, as well as two bags of marijuana and a digital scale. One of the pistols had been stolen less than three weeks earlier in Carter County, Missouri.
Litvinchyk has three prior felony drug convictions and is barred from possession of a firearm. She was on parole at the time of her arrest.
The case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Butler County Sheriff’s Department and the Poplar Bluff Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.
Pennsylvania Man Gets Two Years in Federal Prison for Participation in Nationwide Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania man was sentenced yesterday to two years in federal prison for his participation in a nationwide scheme to fraudulently obtain over $700,000 in gift cards and merchandise from a nationwide home improvement store. The Honorable Richard G. Andrews pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents, Mamadou Bah, 39, conducted over a thousand fraudulent transactions at home improvement stores throughout the country between May 2018 and June 2020, using the fake name “Richard Traynham.” Bah would pay for gift cards and merchandise at home improvement stores using a barcode on his phone that was linked to fraudulently obtained credit cards. All told, Bah caused losses in excess of $733,000 across stores in 21 states. For this conduct, Bah pled guilty to aggravated identity theft, which carries a two-year mandatory sentence.
U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss made the announcement and commented on the sentence. “Mr. Bah perpetrated a lucrative fraud for years through identity theft. By working with our law enforcement partners, my office was able to stop Mr. Bah from further fraud and secure a federal prison sentence. Those who think they can get away with stealing another person’s identity information to defraud a retailer should learn from Mr. Bah. If convicted, a mandatory prison sentence awaits you.”
“The FBI remains committed to investigating these types of sophisticated fraud schemes and to seeking justice for those affected by them,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “If you have fallen victim to a scam, please report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI. This information will help investigate these criminals.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Millsboro Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-065.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Sexual Abuse, Federal Firearms and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edgar Rene Garcia-Limon, age 36, was sentenced to life in prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, 120 months in prison for Felon in Possession of Firearm, and 24 months in prison for Illegal Reentry of Previously Removed Alien. The sentences run concurrently.
The charges arose from investigations by the Tulsa Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 18, 2022, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts after a two-day trial. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant sexually abused a female child under the age of eleven over a span of seven years. The United States also presented evidence that the defendant, a felon, was in possession of two firearms. Finally, the United States presented evidence that the defendant illegally returned to the United States from Mexico after having been previously removed from the United States in July 2019. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The abuse suffered at the hands of the defendant will have long-lasting effects on his victim, and there is no question the sentencing is just,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue the most serious crimes in Indian Country and create safer communities for all Oklahomans.”
“This defendant’s predatory behavior shattered the innocence of an unsuspecting child,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. “No amount of prison time can restore what was lost by the victim. Thankfully, due to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this defendant will be spending the remainder of his life behind bars.”
“Heinous isn’t a strong enough adjective to describe the crimes that were perpetrated by Mr. Limon-Garcia. He is every law-abiding citizen’s worst nightmare. I am thankful that ATF was able to do a small part to keep this diabolical man behind iron bars for the rest of his life” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
“The defendant received the punishment he deserved,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “After hearing the evidence gathered during a lengthy investigation, the jury rendered its verdicts, and now the judge has handed down appropriate punishment. For years, the defendant terrorized and sexually abused an innocent child, and now he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Garcia-Limon will remain in 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
New York Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Esteban Latorre-Cacho, age 38, of Lockport, New York, was sentenced on July 13, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, to 10 years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Latorre-Cacho previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing 67 kilograms of cocaine for further distribution. The charge stems from an incident on April 30, 2021, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Lehigh County. Latorre-Cacho was the sole occupant of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 67 kilograms of cocaine, with a street-value of approximately two million dollars, found hidden inside boxes within the vehicle. Further investigation showed that Latorre-Cacho had picked up the boxes containing the cocaine at a location within the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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New Hampshire Woman Charged in Tyngsborough Daycare InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman and the former intimate partner of Tyngsborough, Mass. daycare worker, Lindsay Groves, has been charged with child exploitation.
Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, N.H., was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children – and aiding and abetting. Laughton will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, a preliminary forensic review of Groves’ cellphone allegedly revealed over 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves that included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds daycare – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old, as well as explicit descriptions of sex with each other and others, including children. The investigation remains ongoing.
Groves was arrested and charged on June 22, 2023 with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. Following a detention hearing on July 13, 2023, the Court took the federal government’s motion for detention under advisement. Groves remains in state custody in New Hampshire.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. Case information, including links to charging documents and victim resources, can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-lindsay-groves
The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nashua (N.H.) Police Chief Kevin Rourke made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hudson, N.H. Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Muskegon Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Saul Douglas Briggs, 33, of Muskegon, will serve 240 months in prison for possessing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute them. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Briggs to serve an additional 60-month prison term for possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Briggs was also ordered to forfeit more than $225,000 in cash, multiple vehicles, and jewelry that he purchased with drug proceeds. Upon release from prison, Briggs will be on supervised release for a period of 10 years.
“The egregiousness of Mr. Briggs’ crimes cannot be overstated. He possessed enormous quantities of fentanyl to sell in our community and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Fentanyl is deadly, and it is made even more fatal when combined with other drugs and loaded firearms. My office is committed to disrupting drug trafficking rings and bringing the people who peddle this poison to justice. Mr. Briggs’ sentence is a vital step in ensuring the continued safety of the communities we serve.”
The facts presented to the court during the case were that, beginning in at least March 2002, Briggs and his associates began using a house on Letart Avenue in Muskegon to store drugs, drug trafficking materials, and guns to protect their drug dealing business. In March 2022, Briggs and one of his associates sold a total of 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl to a Missouri-based drug trafficker. At least some of that fentanyl appeared to investigators to have come from the Letart residence. Later, during a search warrant executed at the Letart residence in June 2022, investigators found approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, nearly a kilogram of heroin, and smaller amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and morphine. Investigators also found all of the hallmarks of drug trafficking, including digital scales, baggies, presses used to package drugs for sale, cutting agents, and a money counter. At the time, Briggs also possessed seven firearms, four of which were stolen. The guns included a loaded pistol he stored under the driver’s seat of his truck and several assault-style guns and a handgun with an extended magazine that had been staged throughout the Letart residence.
The amount of fentanyl in the case could have killed millions of people across the State of Michigan and in the other locations where Briggs distributed. In sentencing Briggs, Judge Maloney noted that this was “a major fentanyl distribution crime” and that Briggs possessed seven firearms of which four were stolen. Judge Maloney also noted that Briggs committed these crimes after having previously served a sentence in federal prison for cocaine trafficking.
“Briggs convictions come after a lengthy investigation involving both state and federal law enforcement,” said Detective Lieutenant Andrew Ambrose, Commander of the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET), a division of the Michigan State Police. “Cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies allow for entities to work larger cases. The seizure of fentanyl by WEMET detectives and DEA agents undoubtedly saved lives.”
The following photographs shows some of the evidence seized as part of the investigation:
This case was part of Operation Interstate Zeus, an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that began in 2019 and was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and members of Michigan State Police’s West Michigan Enforcement Teams (WEMET). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan.
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Missouri Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Brittany Bailey, 34, of Columbia, Missouri, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
Bailey pleaded guilty, on August 25, 2021, to advertising child pornography. In addition to the prison term and supervised release, U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates ordered Bailey to register as a sex offender for 25 years, and to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to the minor victims she harmed.
According to court documents, in 2019, Bailey was involved with an online Internet group called “Taboo Parents.” She engaged with a person she believed to be another member of the group, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Believing that she was chatting with a pedophile, Bailey sent photographs of herself telling him she wanted him to sexually abuse the child shown in the images that she sent. Bailey went on to create other online chat group dedicated to exchanging child sexual abuse material, and she invited users to and banned users from the group. She setup rules for the members of the groups, and she told members about her sexual preferences and encouraged them to share child sex abuse material with the group. After making these comments, multiple users shared child pornography in the group chat. Bailey shared four different videos of child pornography in the chat. The videos all depicted young girls, some as young as toddlers. One month later, on May 1, 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence in Columbia, Missouri. They recovered her electronic devices, including her cellular phone, which contained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the Kansas City Field Office’s Jefferson City Resident Agency. It was prosecuted, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Michigan Insurance Salesman Sentenced to Prison for Tax and Bankruptcy CrimesRead the Press Release
A Michigan man was sentenced to 36 months in prison today following his conviction in February of filing false tax returns, making false statements to a bankruptcy court and making false statements to the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Donald Stanley LaVigne, formerly of Lake Orion, Michigan, did not report insurance commissions and other income on tax returns he filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for 2013 through 2019. In letters he sent to the IRS, LaVigne also falsely claimed that these commissions were not income to him.
When LaVigne filed for bankruptcy in 2018, he did not disclose the IRS as a creditor on the schedules attached to his bankruptcy petition even though he knew he owed the IRS five years’ worth of taxes. On one document he filed in the bankruptcy case, LaVigne also understated his income for 2016 and 2017.
After he was notified that he was the target of a federal investigation, LaVigne sent a letter to the Tax Division in which he falsely claimed that his bankruptcy attorney had reviewed his 2017 income tax return and advised him that it was “correct and complete.” In fact, his bankruptcy attorney testified at trial that he had never advised LaVigne that his 2017 income tax return was accurate.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson also ordered LaVigne to serve two years of supervised release and pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $80,732.11.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Catriona M. Coppler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Mercer County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, and Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for heroin trafficking and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Timothy Wimbush, aka “Young Money,” 33, was convicted in October 2021 of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, distribution of heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of his heroin distribution, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon following a three-week trial before former Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson. Following Judge Wolfson’s retirement, the case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and the evidence at trial:
In 2018, defendant Wimbush and others participated in a large drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in various areas of Trenton, which sought to profit from the distribution of heroin.
On Sept. 6, 2018, law enforcement officers stopped Wimbush’s green 2002 Volkswagen Passat after observing Wimbush’s co-defendant, Taquan Williams, a previously convicted felon, enter the vehicle carrying a yellow plastic bag believed to contain contraband. The Passat was driven by and registered to Wimbush, who also was a previously convicted felon. During a subsequent search of Wimbush’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered from a secret trap compartment installed under the rear passenger’s seat 57 bricks of heroin, four semiautomatic firearms – including a .223 caliber assault rifle linked to a shooting in Trenton four days earlier – hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and the yellow plastic bag that Williams had carried into the vehicle moments earlier. Law enforcement discovered in the yellow bag two boxes of .45 caliber ammunition and three .45 caliber firearm magazines, which matched one of the semiautomatic firearms also found in the trap compartment. One of the firearms concealed in Wimbush’s secret trap compartment was used in connection with a violent and reckless shooting in the City of Trenton. On Sept. 2, 2018, four of Wimbush’s associates, including one of his co-defendants, one of his relatives, and one of co-defendant Williams’s relatives, were shot in a drive-by shooting in the area of Stuyvesant and Bryn Mawr Avenues in Trenton. Evidence also showed that a likely retaliatory shooting in the area of Lee and West State Street occurred shortly thereafter the same day. Ballistics analysis of a shell casing recovered from the site of the Lee and West State Street shooting conclusively linked the .223 caliber assault rifle Wimbush possessed in the trap compartment of his vehicle on September 6 with the Lee and West State Street shooting on September 2. Telephone communications intercepted during the court-authorized wiretap between Wimbush’s conspirators linked Wimbush and his associates to back-and-forth shootings on and after September 2 and to heroin trafficking activity in the City of Trenton.
Law enforcement identified the heroin in the trap compartment of Wimbush’s vehicle as having been supplied by Wimbush’s conspirators, including Jakir Taylor and Tacques Hall. Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and firearms charges and was sentenced by Judge Wolfson earlier this year. Hall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and was sentenced by Judge Wolfson in 2019. Wimbush’s codefendant Taquan Williams was convicted at trial of possessing firearms or ammunition as a convicted felon and was sentenced by Judge Wolfson in 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Denney in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, Trenton Satellite Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve Wilson; officers of the Princeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jonathan Bucchere; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Albert Rhodes; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of chief John Fine; and detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked officers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo Onofri; officers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John A. Kemler; and members of the New Jersey State Board of Parole for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm While Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm while distributing methamphetamine was sentenced today to over eight years in federal prison.
Michael David Dalluge, age 28, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 17, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, Dalluge admitted that, on May 6, 2022, he was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement. Both the driver and Dalluge fled the vehicle, and Dalluge was apprehended a block away. A backpack Dalluge was carrying was found to contain methamphetamine and a loaded, stolen, firearm.
Dalluge was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Dalluge was sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dalluge is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, Clear Lake Police Department, Mason City Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-3021.
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Martinsburg man admits to falsifying passport to flee the United StatesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Martinsburg, West Virginia, man has admitted to illegally obtaining a passport to travel overseas, violating a court order.
Bobby Allen Stark, age 52, pled guilty today to a charge of making a false statement in application for a passport. Stark was on bond from a charge pending in Colorado and was ordered to surrender his passport. Four days following the surrender of his passport, he applied for a new one, claiming his passport was lost. Stark then used his new passport to flee to Guyana, where he was later apprehended by authorities.
Stark is facing up to 10 years in prison. He will be sentenced at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The U.S. Marshals Service and the Guyana Federal Police assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Man Who Robbed Armored Car in St. Louis County Sentenced to 121 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a man who stole a bag of cash at gunpoint from workers servicing an ATM in St. Louis County, Missouri to 121 months in prison.
Mark Anthony Diggs, now 21, robbed two employees of ATM Solutions on May 31, 2022 as they were servicing an ATM machine at a Vantage Credit Union. Diggs emerged from the back seat of a white Kia Optima, armed with a fully-automatic Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 firearm and demanded that an employee throw him a bag of cash. The robbery was captured on video.
Diggs, 21, pleaded guilty in April to one robbery charge and one count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Diggs’ driver, Gregreonia Hampton, pleaded guilty in May to one count of aiding and abetting a robbery. She is scheduled to be sentenced August 23.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the FBI, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to 21 months in Prison for Committing Perjury in His Federal Trial by Lying About His Sexual DysfunctionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that John Dompierre, 60, of Avondale, Arizona was sentenced to twenty-one months in federal prison for committing perjury in his Federal Criminal Trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Dompierre with Conspiracy and Transportation for Illegal Sexual Activity on September 10, 2020. On November 3 and 4, 2021, Dompierre testified in his own defense during a trial in Federal District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Subsequently, the United States obtained Dompierre’s comprehensive medical records, the content of which unequivocally refuted Dompierre’s own testimony at trial. Dompierre pleaded guilty to Perjury on March 28, 2022.
In addition to the twenty-one-month prison sentence, Dompierre was fined $2,400 and will be on supervised release for three years following his release from the Bureau of Prisons.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case with substantial assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Letitia Carroll Simms and Thomas Outler prosecuted the case.
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Koreatown Man Convicted in Scheme to Illegally Sell FirearmsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal jury today convicted a Los Angeles man of participating in a scheme that illegally sold 27 guns, including a “Glock switch” that converts a semiautomatic firearm to a machinegun.
Following a five-day trial, William Nirion Peña, 40, who resides in the Koreatown neighborhood, was found guilty of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. The evidence presented at trial showed that Peña provided approximately 10 of the firearms and a substantial amount of ammunition that were sold by a co-conspirator to an undercover agent. The firearms included two silencers without serial numbers and the Glock switch.
A second defendant in this case – Ellourth Eladio Simon 32, of the Mid-City neighborhood of Los Angeles – pleaded guilty on May 25 to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of possessing a machine gun. Simon specifically admitted engaging in eight illegal gun transactions, several of which involved multiple firearms, including a November 10, 2021, sale for $8,400 in which Simon sold an ATF undercover agent four handguns and a “ghost gun” AR-type rifle.
From at least September 2021 until late February 2022, Peña provided Simon with information about the prices and nature of numerous firearms – frequently sending photographs of firearms that Simon could sell to Simon’s gun customers.
“Peña and Simon frequently coordinated efforts to sell [guns to the undercover agent] by communication over the phone about the price and availability of firearms and firearms components, and arranging the logistics of specific sales to customers during evening transaction in supermarket parking lots and similar locations,” according to court documents. Evidence presented at trial indicated that Peña was obtaining firearms from sources in other states, primarily Arizona.
Peña is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu on September 18, at which time Peña will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Simon is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10. As a result of his guilty pleas, Simon faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter. This case is the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles Firearms Trafficking Strike Force, which is spearheaded by the ATF and the United States Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chou of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, along with other members of that section, are prosecuting this case.
Kansas Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with a federal relief program designed to help United States business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Timothy Dale Warren, 59, of Haysville served as owner of Titan Medical Center which offered chiropractic care, school sports physicals, and other services in Wichita. In May 2020 and April 2021, Warren submitted false documents to banks in order to fraudulently obtain two loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the CARES Act.
In August 2020, the defendant converted $35,500.00 in criminally obtained funds into a cashier’s check then deposited money into a business bank account at another financial institution. Warren acknowledges his actions caused the SBA a total loss of $145,877.70.
“The federal government created programs to provide economic relief to businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 related shutdowns,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Unfortunately, Timothy Warren manipulated a well-intentioned program into a mechanism of personal financial gain and must now be held accountable.”
Warren is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Defense- Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Contract Audit Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the IRS-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Laboratory Companies and Their OwnerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has filed a complaint against Patrick Britton-Harr and multiple laboratory companies owned by him alleging False Claims Act violations for submitting claims to Medicare for laboratory tests that were not ordered by health care providers, not medically necessary, and sometimes never performed.
According to the complaint, Britton-Harr owned and operated Provista Health LLC as well as multiple other corporate entities that allegedly sought to profit from the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic by offering COVID-19 tests to nursing homes as a way to bill Medicare for a wide array of medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests. The complaint alleges that these RPP tests were not medically necessary because the beneficiaries had no symptoms of a respiratory illness and because the tests were for uncommon respiratory pathogens.
The complaint also alleges that Britton-Harr and Provista Health submitted claims for RPP tests that were never ordered by physicians. Multiple physicians denied ever ordering the thousands of RPP tests for which Britton-Harr and Provista Health allegedly submitted claims to Medicare listing one of these physicians as the ordering provider. The complaint further alleges that Britton-Harr and Provista Health submitted claims to Medicare for RPP tests that were never performed, including over 300 claims that stated that the nasal swab test sample was supposedly collected from the beneficiary on a date after the beneficiary had died.
As alleged in the complaint, Britton-Harr wholly owned and operated Provista Health, AMS Onsite Inc., Britton-Harr Enterprises Inc., Coastal Laboratories Inc. and Coastal Management Group Inc., and these companies – together with Britton-Harr – conspired to carry out these schemes.
“The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable individuals and entities who exploited the COVID-19 pandemic for their own illicit purposes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to protect our federal health care programs, their beneficiaries, and taxpayers from fraud and abuse.”
“The complaint alleges that these individuals and their companies took advantage of a national health crisis to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “Our office has and will continue to bring to justice those who used the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud individuals or the government.”
“Providers who saw the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for illegal profit undermine the goals and integrity of critical public health measures,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to defraud these crucial public health measures and steal money from federal health care programs.”
“Patrick Britton-Harr and his co-conspirators took advantage of vulnerable adults during the public health emergency,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI and its partners will continue to aggressively investigate those who try to exploit the American people and swindle funds for their own profit.”
The United States’ pursuit of this lawsuit illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).
This matter is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Investigative support is being provided by HHS-OIG and the FBI. The allegations in the complaint were identified by a government investigation that arose from a proactive analysis of Medicare claims data.
The Civil Division's Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Jonathan Hoerner and Vincent Vaccarella and Assistant U.S. Attorney/Deputy Civil Chief Tarra DeShields for the District of Maryland are handling this case.
The claims in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
ComplaintJury Finds Pittsburgh Man Guilty of Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Randale Chapman was convicted of firearm and drug trafficking crimes at the conclusion of a jury trial, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Chapman, age 35 of Pittsburgh, was convicted of committing the following crimes on April 30, 2020: (1) possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, or methylenedioxyamphetamine with intent to distribute, (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and (3) possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. He was also convicted of possessing oxycodone or methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 5, 2021.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jury Finds Former Correctional Sergeant Guilty of Perjury During Investigation into Cover-Up of Assault of a CSP Sacramento InmateRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A jury found a former California state correctional officer guilty yesterday afternoon of perjury in connection with a federal grand jury investigation into a conspiracy to cover up an assault of an inmate, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Following a three-day trial, Brenda Villa, 32, of North Highlands, was found guilty of one count of perjury.
According to the court records and evidence presented at trial, Villa was a correctional sergeant supervising other officers at California State Prison – Sacramento (also known as New Folsom State Prison or CSP-Sacramento) when correctional officer Arturo Pacheco unlawfully assaulted an inmate under color of law. Following the assault and the inmate’s death, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) initiated an internal investigation. As the CDCR internal investigation proceeded, a federal grand jury began investigating federal criminal charges in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Villa was called to testify in front of the grand jury about her role and the actions of her fellow officers in covering up the unlawful assault. Villa lied under oath to the federal grand jury investigating the incident.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case.
Former correctional officers Arturo Pacheco and Ashley Aurich pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12½ years and 21 months in prison, respectively.
Villa’s sentencing will be scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb at a future court hearing. The next hearing in the case is on Monday, July 24, 2023. Villa faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for perjury and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Judge Finds Fort Myers Felon Guilty of Unlawfully Possessing A Loaded Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Steven Dewayne Barnes, Jr. (26, Fort Myers) has been found guilty, following a bench trial before United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Barnes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court records, on November 15, 2022, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department were on patrol when they encountered Barnes walking on Washington Avenue in Fort Myers. During a conversation with Barnes, officers became concerned that Barnes, a multi-convicted felon, may be concealing a weapon, and he was subsequently searched. Officers located and removed a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun equipped with a laser sight that had been concealed in Barnes’s waistband. The serial number on the gun had been scratched out. Barnes, who had previously served a sentence in state prison for a violent felony, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Additionally, federal law prohibits possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
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.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – WILSON MAZARIEGOS SARAVIA, ("SARAVIA") age 28, a native of Honduras, plead guilty on July 12, 2023 to a one-count bill of information charging him with illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to filed documents, on or about December 14, 2022, SARAVIA, presented a false Social Security card when signing in for a pre-employment safety class in St. Rose, Louisiana.
WILSON MAZARIEGOS SARAVIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Sentencing is scheduled for November 8, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney M. Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Hialeah Man Sentenced for Committing Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Today, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced Ariel Valero, a 45-year-old Hialeah man, to over 11 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
On December 26, 2019, Valero entered a Wells Fargo bank, located in Miramar, Broward County, Florida, covered head-to-toe in a black jumpsuit and ski mask. Upon entering the bank, Valero brandished a black firearm, jumped onto the teller counter, threatened the tellers, and stole $30,959.99 in cash. Surveillance footage captured Valero leaving the scene of the robbery on a bicycle, pedaling for a couple of blocks, and then dumping the bicycle in the nearby plaza. A forensic examination of the bicycle seat revealed the presence of Valero’s DNA. The jury convicted Valero of the armed bank robbery.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Miramar Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Catherine Koontz and Ajay Alexander prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60020.
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Hartford Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Gun Offense Stemming from April 2022 ShootoutRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEJUAN WILLIAMS, 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2022, after an unidentified shooter opened fire at individuals who were standing in a parking lot outside of a memorial gathering in Hartford, surveillance cameras at the location recorded at least nine individuals drawing firearms, and some of them returned fire. Shot Spotter technology recorded approximately 50 shots fired within approximately 90 seconds in and around the location, and law enforcement recovered at least 31 shell casings from the scene. Williams was present at the memorial gathering and was recorded on video brandishing a handgun and firing approximately eight times at the fleeing assailant. He then fled the scene in a black Acura.
On April 21, 2022, Hartford Police officers located Williams’ car parked near a restaurant on Westland Street. Williams was found inside the restaurant crouching behind a counter. Officers apprehended Williams and seized a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun on the ground where Williams had been crouching. Investigators subsequently submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) a test-fired shell casing from the seized handgun. Analysis of the shell casing revealed that it matched shell casings that were recovered from the shooting on April 18.
Williams’ criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including a conviction in 2015 for carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit. 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.
Williams has been detained since his federal arrest on May 12, 2022. On January 25, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Hartford State Attorney’s Offices for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 24 Month’s Imprisonment for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Amisial Elveus, 32, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 11, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, to 24 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of supervised release for aggravated identity theft.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from July 6, 2020, until November 6, 2020, in Dauphin County, Elveus unlawfully obtained and used credit card account numbers belonging to unsuspecting individuals, used the numbers to code credit cards, and then used the credit cards to pay for gasoline fill-ups for multiple vehicles on multiple days at a Giant gas station on Union Deposit Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Elveus was arrested at the Giant on November 6, 2020, while in the process of filling cars with gas that he paid for with a fraudulently encoded credit card.
Judge Wilson also ordered Elveus to pay restitution in the amount of $32,227.71.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Lower Paxton Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
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Gretna Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TRAVIS GIBSON, age 49, a resident of Gretna, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 5, 2023 by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to time served and (3) years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a one-count superseding bill of information charging him with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on November 19, 2020, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy learned than an individual was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 after having purchased narcotics from his source of supply. Agents conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, a truck that was being driven by GIBSON. As the agents approached the vehicle, the front seat passenger, Eric Rodriguez, gave a bag containing several ounces of methamphetamine to Ryan Moreau, the back seat passenger, to put into a container of bleach also located on the back seat to destroy the methamphetamine and avoid detection by law enforcement. In a post-arrest statement, GIBSON acknowledged that he had driven Rodriguez to Baton Rouge so Rodriguez could pay off a previous drug debt. GIBSON also confirmed that Rodriguez gave the drugs to Moreau to place into the bleach and thus, avoid detection by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Gadsden Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Gadsden-area pharmacist has been convicted of drug distribution conspiracy and tax crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius D. Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Nathan Thomas Carter, 41, of Gadsden, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and three counts of filing false federal income tax returns
According to the plea agreement, between 2015 and late 2021, Carter conspired with others to distribute controlled substances including oxycodone and hydrocodone. Between February 2018 and 2023, Carter worked as the pharmacist in charge at Midtown Pharmacy in Gadsden. Between 2018 and 2021, records reflect, Midtown Pharmacy ordered at least 80,000 more dosage units of oxycodone 30 mg than the pharmacy dispensed to patients. Carter diverted opioid pills from the pharmacy and sold those pills to other drug distributors. He regularly took distributor bottles from his pharmacy to his house, where he repackaged the pills in plastic bags for resale. The defendant earned about $150,000 in illicit income, per year, which he failed to report or include on his income tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021. According to the plea agreement, during the execution of a search warrant at Carter’ house, authorities found more than $110,000 in cash.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances is twenty years in prison. The maximum penalty for each count of filing false federal income tax returns is three years in prison.
The FBI and IRS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting the case.
Former central Ohio man pleads guilty to fraud in applications for $1.1 million in COVID relief loansRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- James P. Dawson, 40, of Orlando, Florida pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making a false statement within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States related to five coronavirus relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans and four Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
According to court documents, beginning in April 2020 and continuing until October 2020, Dawson, while living in central Ohio, submitted five fraudulent applications to obtain PPP loans, two of which were approved and funded. He also submitted four fraudulent applications to obtain EIDLs. None of the EIDLs were funded, but he received three EIDL Advances. Dawson’s applications collectively sought over $1.1 million in fraudulent loans and the lenders disbursed over $200,000 as a result of his fraudulent loan applications.
The fraudulent PPP applications made several materially false representations regarding the operations of the businesses, including monthly payroll expenses and number of employees. The PPP applications also falsely represented that the businesses were in operation on February 15, 2020.
For example, Stadium Bar LLC was a business that ultimately opened as a sports bar. Despite Dawson's certification that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, the certificate of occupancy for the bar's location was not signed until March 20, 2020, the bar did not have a liquor license until May 26, 2020, and Dawson admitted in a law enforcement interview that it did not open until June 20, 2020.
Created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Paycheck Protection Program authorized qualifying small businesses to receive forgivable loans to help pay payroll costs, rent utilities, interest on mortgages, and other permissible expenses. The size of the PPP loan a particular business could receive was based in part on its average monthly payroll costs. PPP loans were entirely forgivable if the funds were used for specified expenses.
In order to obtain a PPP loan, a business was required to submit a loan application to an approved lender. The loan application was required to be signed by an authorized representative of the business and to contain certain information, such as average monthly payroll expenses and number of employees. Applicants were also required to provide supporting documentation, such as federal tax returns and other financial documentation. Any PPP loans that were funded by lenders were fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The CARES Act also expanded the EIDL Program, which authorized qualifying small businesses to receive loans to help pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The SBA also offered an EIDL Advance that was designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that were experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The EIDL Advance was considered a grant and was not required to be repaid. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.
Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Making a false statement within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States carries a maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Dawson will be sentenced on a date to be determined after the court completes a pre-sentence investigation.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Brady Ipock, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Central Regional Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States.
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Former Pastor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that FRANCIS HUGHES, a former pastor at a religious institution in Queens, New York, was sentenced to five years in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern for his receipt of images of child pornography from a 15-year-old minor in Westchester, New York, with whom HUGHES was engaging in sexually explicit text communications. HUGHES pled guilty on August 16, 2022, before Judge Halpern.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
On February 16, 2020, HUGHES communicated by text messages with a 15-year-old boy (“Minor-1”). During the course of the text communications, among other things, Minor-1 sent HUGHES three images of Minor-1’s penis. Upon receiving one of the images, HUGHES responded, among other things, “Yummmmm I will suck you so much” and “Make you cum.” During the communications, HUGHES told Minor-1 that he was a part-time college professor and a counselor.
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In addition to the prison term, HUGHES, 68, of Glendale, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenburgh Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Nebraska Woman Sentenced in Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Shanda Daniels, 35, formerly of Trenton, Nebraska was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Daniels to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On May 14, 2019, a confidential informant (CI) arranged to purchase one ounce of methamphetamine from Shanda Daniels. The CI traveled to Daniels’s residence in Trenton. The CI entered the house and contacted Daniels and an unknown male. This unknown male was later identified as Westleigh Miesner. Miesner weighed out the methamphetamine. The lab results showed 13 grams of actual methamphetamine.
On December 2, 2022, Miesner was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Detroit Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A former Detroit tax return preparer has pleaded guilty to committing tax fraud over a four-year span, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Ann Reid, 68, pleaded guilty to preparing and filing tax returns which Reid knew contained false misrepresentations about small businesses for a series of years. In each instance, the false information caused the IRS to provide miscalculated and sizably larger tax refunds.
United States Attorney Ison stated, “Tax cheaters don’t just cheat the system, they cheat us all. When those tax cheats are fraudulent tax preparers, like Ann Reid, who cheat on scores of tax returns year after year, the impact of their cheating is multiplied, and the damage they cause is many times worse. Convictions like today’s are a key step toward holding such tax cheats accountable.”
“Today, Ms. Reid admitted to owning a tax preparation business that blatantly ignored the tax laws by preparing false and fraudulent tax returns,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “Dishonest return preparers use a variety of methods to cheat the government, including falsifying information on tax returns to generate larger refunds for their clients. IRS – Criminal Investigation will continue to ensure that all tax practitioners, tax preparers and others who practice in the tax profession adhere to professional standards and follow the law.”
According to the plea agreement, between January 2016 and April 2019, Reid prepared and filed hundreds of tax returns with false information on behalf of taxpayers. The tax returns falsely represented that the taxpayers operated small businesses and included deductions for false expenses and inflated charitable contributions.
Reid now faces possible sentences of up to 3-years’ imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, and 1 year of supervised release on each of the five counts to which she has pleaded guilty.
Sentencing is set for October 17, 2023 before United States District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carl D. Gilmer-Hill. The investigation is being conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Former Delmont Resident Sentenced to 5+ Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Delmont, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 63 months on his conviction of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Joshua K. Minehart, 47, formerly of Delmont, Pa.
According to information presented to the court, Minehart had knowingly possessed 40 videos of child pornography, some which involved children who had not attained the age of 12.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez-Schmitt and DeMarr W. Moulton prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Minehart.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Contractor for Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Was Sentenced Today in COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Semaje Reffigee, a former employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA), was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment today arising from her participation in a $313,000 pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Julia Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, and Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office.
Reffigee, 26, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud arising out of her participation in a wide-ranging fraud scheme designed to provide Reffigee and her co-conspirators with pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits to which they were not entitled.
United States Attorney Ison stated, “Corrupt public servants compromise the ability of the government to function effectively and undermine confidence in all public programs. Semaje Reffigee – an employee of the state – stole money from a program intended to help our most vulnerable citizens during an unprecedented national crisis. This prosecution reflects the seriousness with which my office takes corruption and fraud in the public sector, and we hope that today’s sentence deters other government employees from lining their pockets at the expense of the public.”
“Former Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency contract employee Semaje Reffigee violated the public trust afforded to her for personal gain. She abused her position by using her access to sensitive employment information and state data systems to approve fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims submitted by her co-conspirators. Today’s sentencing affirms the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General’s commitment to pursuing UI fraud, particularly when an insider threat is involved,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“It’s shocking and discouraging when someone hired by the UIA uses the cover of a global economic crisis to scheme with others to steal taxpayer money for their own gratification,” said Julia Dale, Director of the Michigan UIA. “Michigan’s unemployment program is an important lifeline for workers who lose their jobs and despicable actions by bad actors such as Semaje Reffigee damage the trust workers have in the system. Reffigee is one of nearly 50 criminals so far who have been convicted of unemployment insurance fraud, and she won’t be the last. We won’t tolerate such shameful behavior and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out fraudsters, both within and outside of the UIA, and strengthen the program’s integrity.”
“Semaje Reffigee blatantly stole taxpayer money meant to help individuals meet day to day living needs during unprecedented adverse circumstances,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “The outcome today is due to the dedicated efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners.”
According to court documents, Reffigee began working as an Unemployment Insurance Examiner (UIE) with the MUIA in October 2020, and as such, had electronic access to the MUIA claims database. Reffigee used her credentials to access and approve specific UI claims submitted to the agency.
Court documents indicate that between October 2020 and June 2021, Reffigee conspired with others to obtain benefits through the submission of false UI claims. Reffigee’s co-conspirators electronically submitted fraudulent claims to MUIA. Reffigee then abused her position as a UIE to (1) re-activate claims that had previously been flagged for fraud, and (2) go outside her assigned workflow to approve fraudulent claims in the first instance. In total, Reffigee re-activated or approved over 35 fraudulent claims valued at more than $300,000. In exchange, Reffigee received kickback payments from her co-conspirators.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Particka and Sarah Youngblood. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General and the IRS, with substantial assistance from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Former Bay Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Arson in the Lake Tahoe AreaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Douglas Gregory Edwards, 37, formerly of Berkeley, pleaded guilty today to setting fire to federal land in the Lake Tahoe area, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2020, Edwards set three separate fires in the forest and near hiking trails in a protected area of federal land known as the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. At the time of the fires, campfires were restricted, and smoking was prohibited except inside of a vehicle or other designated areas.
The Echo Fire
Edwards set the first fire at approximately 3:00 a.m. on a slope near Echo Lake, which became known as the Echo Fire. Civilian witnesses at the Echo Lake Chalet witnessed this fire as it began to emit smoke and notified first responders, who extinguished it with the help of a firefighting helicopter. A witness saw Edwards at the site of the Echo Fire watching an eight-foot dead tree burning but taking no steps to extinguish the fire. After firefighters extinguished the fire, investigators found a cigarette butt directly above the ignition site.
The Upper Fire
The second fire ignited shortly after 9:00 a.m. less than a mile downhill from the site of Edwards’s first fire. Again, firefighters contained this second fire using water drops from aircraft, and it was contained at approximately 4:30 p.m. Investigators found two cigarette butts near the ignition site of this second fire, and DNA analysis of those cigarette butts connected them to Edwards. In addition, a single set of shoe impressions from the Upper Fire’s origin area led back to a hiking trail that connects to Echo Peak. The tread and size of the shoe prints matched the shoes that Edward was wearing when he was arrested on July 5, 2020.
The Lake Fire
The third fire ignited around noon in the same general vicinity, near a hiking path that provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail. It was in a remote location with thick brush and trees that limited access for fire response resources. Multiple witnesses hiking in the area observed Edwards running and hiking near where this third fire began. The witnesses observed Edwards smoking a cigarette and holding a cigarette lighter. Law enforcement agents subsequently arrested Edwards in the afternoon as he was hiking approximately a quarter of a mile away from the ignition sites of each of the three fires.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service. The California Highway Patrol, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Science provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
Edwards is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 24, 2023. Edwards faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Final Aryan Circle Gang Member Sentenced for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Missouri man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) charges stemming from his membership in the Aryan Circle (AC), a white supremacy prison gang.
According to court documents, Timothy Long, aka Timmy, of Mountain Grove, was a member of the AC, a violent, race-based, and prison-based gang with hundreds of members operating inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the country. The AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through threats, intimidation, and acts of violence including murder, kidnapping, and narcotics trafficking. Members are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.
“This is the final sentencing in a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency effort to dismantle the Aryan Circle, which terrorized local communities and perpetuated a cycle of gang violence in federal prisons for far too long,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case represents the Justice Department’s continued dedication to working with our partners across the country to pursue and eradicate criminal enterprises like the AC.”
In 2018, as part of his membership in the AC, Long stabbed two separate victims while all were housed at U.S. Penitentiary (USP) Lee, a federal prison in Lee County, Virginia. Long stabbed each victim at the direction of AC leadership as retaliation for an attack on a higher-ranking member of the AC by a rival white supremacist gang.
“Violent gangs like the Aryan Circle present a growing threat to our communities in the Eastern District of Texas and the type of violence associated with these organizations is alarming,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “The Eastern District of Texas will continue to investigate and prosecute those who do harm to others. And we’ll specifically target the leaders of these violent gangs.”
In 2022, two of Long’s co-defendants, AC leaders William Glenn Chunn and Jesse Blankenship, were both sentenced to life in prison for RICO conspiracy and related racketeering charges.
The case was investigated by the following agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct One Constable’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey Department of Corrections-Special Investigations Division; Indiana State Police; Fort Smith (AR) Police Department; Arkansas Department of Corrections; Arnold (MO) Police Department; Jefferson County (MO) Sheriff’s Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; St. Louis County (MO) Police Department; Indiana Department of Corrections; Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Smith County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; McCurtain County (OK) Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Liberty County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Harris County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Mercer County (NJ) Prosecutor’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) District Attorney’s Office; and the Sebastian County (AR) District Attorney’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
Trial Attorney Rebecca Dunnan of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp for the Eastern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Ferndale Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking ChildreRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Ferndale man who trafficked and had sex with children in metro-Detroit motels while on bond from a federal drug case in North Dakota was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.
Toriano Davis, 34, pled guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of a minor in February 2023. Davis was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III.
Law enforcement first began investigating Davis while attempting to locate two minor females who had run away from the Lansing area in late 2020. A relative of one of the minors contacted law enforcement with information and expressed fears that the minors were being trafficked in the Detroit area. Law enforcement recovered the minors from a motel room in Southfield, Michigan, in December 2020. After subsequent investigation, law enforcement located Davis in a motel in Roseville, Michigan. In the room with Davis was a nude 15-year-old girl. Additional investigation uncovered that Davis had trafficked at least two minor victims, had rented motel rooms for them to engage in commercial sex, and had assisted them with advertising online for commercial sex dates. Davis also took proceeds from the minors’ commercial sex dates for his own use, including to purchase drugs and to rent expensive cars. Davis also had sex with the minors and had recorded himself having sex with one of the minors on a cellular phone.
“The sexual abuse and trafficking of children is a scourge on our community that leaves an indelible mark on victims,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “The video recording of that abuse only perpetuates the abuse. This defendant committed these heinous acts while on bond in a federal drug case. The lengthy sentence imposed today will protect the public from this defendant and help keep our community safe for children.”
“This defendant callously sold minors to other men for his own financial benefit,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Combating sex trafficking and violence in our communities is of the highest priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners across Southeast Michigan.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Division, SEMTEC (Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes), the Detroit Police Department and State of Michigan Children’s Protective Services.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Sweeney Bean and Eaton Brown.
Ex-Spouses Indicted for Laundering Money Stolen from Retirement and Investment AccountsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a Prince George’s County, Maryland, man and woman with their involvement in laundering the proceeds of various fraud schemes targeting victims’ retirement and investment accounts.
According to allegations the indictment, from approximately September 2017 to April 2020, Dasola Abdulraheem, 41, and Ismaila Abdulraheem, 44, both Nigerian nationals and formerly spouses, received the proceeds of various financial frauds into accounts that they controlled, and thereafter, conducted financial transactions with the proceeds to disguise the nature and source of the funds.
The indictment further alleges that unknown co-conspirators targeted the victims of this scheme by gaining access to their financial accounts, typically retirement or investment accounts. In one case, co-conspirators are alleged to have gained access to a victim’s severance payout from his former employer. The indictment states that once the conspirators compromised a victim’s account, they posed as the victim and instructed the victim’s financial institution to add a new outside bank account to the victim’s account. The outside account was controlled by either the Abdulraheems or one of the couriers that they used. Once the victim’s financial institution added a conspirator’s account to the victim’s account, the conspirators allegedly directed that money from the victim’s account be siphoned from the victim’s account and deposited into the Abdulraheems’ accounts or into a co-conspirator’s account. The proceeds are alleged to have been used in some cases to purchase salvage cars at auction or to wire money to business entities in Nigeria.
The indictment further alleges that the Abdulraheems attempted to conceal their involvement in laundering proceeds by using shell companies, such as “ISMRAN LLC,” “DAISIM GLOBAL LINK LLC,” “RUKLAT INTERNATIONAL VENTURES,” and “DAISIM INTERNATIONAL” to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and unlawful monetary transactions. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful monetary transactions charges. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Kathleen E. Robeson are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-107.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Ex-ATM Technician Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robbery in TallahasseeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Johnson Saint-Louis, 38, of Deerfield Beach, Florida was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison following his conviction for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“This serial armed robber endangered the lives of multiple victims,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through the coordinated efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, his multi-state crime spree has ended, and he has been held accountable for his criminal conduct. This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with such federal crimes of violence.”
Saint-Louis was convicted by a federal jury after a 3-day trial on November 9, 2022. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that Saint-Louis was a former ATM technician who traveled around the southeast tampering with ATMs serviced by his former employer. Over a two-year period, Saint-Louis robbed four ATM technicians sent out to fix problems Saint-Louis had caused, including the ATM technician dispatched to the Bank of America at 5676 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee, Florida on September 29, 2021. The Government introduced evidence of similar robberies in Boca Raton, Florida in November 2019, Longwood, Florida in February 2021, and Raleigh, North Carolina in August 2021.
“This conviction is a testament to collaborative efforts between local, state and federal authorities to bring to justice those who perpetrate crimes in our community,” said police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Members of the Tallahassee Police Department work tirelessly to investigate cases and collect the evidence needed for an arrest and subsequent conviction. Additionally, this conviction highlights the efforts of the grants and programs established at TPD that are aimed at eradicating crime. We want the community to know we have made a commitment to more than just making the arrests but also doing our part to prevent the crime from happening.”
As part of the FBI’s investigation into the bank robberies, Saint-Louis was surveilled by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 4, 2021, who observed Saint-Louis traveling to various Bank of America locations. Deputies eventually stopped Saint-Louis, and, during that traffic stop, they observed a firearm and notes listing the locations of Bank of America branches in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bank of America branches were annotated with whether the ATM at that location was manufactured by Saint-Louis’ former employer or by another company, and included notes like “too open,” “not enough exit route,” two-man job,” and “posible” (sic).
“The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate those who target and endanger innocent people in their quest for personal gain,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who commit violent crimes and take advantage of others.”
The FBI’s financial investigation revealed that Saint-Louis, who had been unemployed since mid-2019, was making large cash deposits into his bank accounts (e.g., $89,939 in 2021) and gambling large amounts of money (e.g., losing $189,814 in 2021). Saint-Louis lost $39,480 gambling in the week following the Tallahassee bank robbery.
Saint-Louis’ imprisonment will be followed by 3-years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $104,840.00 in restitution.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.