Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 25 May 2023
Chalmette Pharmacist Sentenced to 72 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEITH WILKINSON, a pharmacist who owned and operated Wilkinson Family Pharmacy located in St. Bernard Parish, was sentenced to serve 72 months in custody for his role in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering.
According to the bill of information, beginning prior to 2014 and continuing until the filing of the bill of information on September 14, 2018, WILKINSON and others conspired to dispense, outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, quantities of controlled substances. WILKINSON also committed money laundering using criminally derived proceeds.
At his sentencing on Wednesday May 24, 2023, WILKINSON was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
This prosecution was part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Large Quantities of Cocaine by Tractor TrailerRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Guillaume Latour-Laitre, age 26, of Prevost, Quebec, pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Latour-Laitre admitted that from November 2019 through December 7, 2019, as vice president of a commercial trucking company in Quebec, he trafficked cocaine from the United States to Canada via tractor trailer. On December 7, 2019, Latour-Laitre’s co-conspirator and employee at the trucking company, Jason Nelson, attempted to leave the United States for Canada at the Derby Line, Vermont Port of Entry. At the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers performed an outbound inspection on Nelson’s tractor trailer and discovered approximately 142 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the trailer. Latour-Laitre was extradited from Canada in December 2022 to face the charges.
Nelson was sentenced on April 27, 2022, to 72 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.
At sentencing, scheduled for October 12, 2023, Latour-Laitre faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, and a maximum fine of $10 million. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
HSI and CBP investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Latour-Laitre.
Cambridge Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs and Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to federal drug and firearm charges.
Ahsan Arty, a/k/a/ “Hass,” 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to possess and use firearms during and in relation to a drug offense. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 4, 2023. Arty was charged by criminal complaint in May 2022.
In February 2021, Arty conspired to sell crack cocaine to an undercover officer and was captured on recording brokering the drug deal. Intercepted communications revealed that Arty also conspired with others to distribute cocaine.
In August 2021, Arty travelled to California as part of a promotional tour for an associate. While in California, Arty went to the residence of an associate and stole approximately four kilograms of cocaine. Text messages recovered during the investigation showed that Arty sent the kilograms of cocaine to Massachusetts and later began distributing them upon his return.
In December 2021, Arty and another man traveled to Lawrence to rob an individual who they suspected of having drugs and valuables in their residence. During this incident, Arty was armed with a handgun. They entered the residence and pistol-whipped a woman and demanded the whereabouts of drugs and cash. Ultimately, the drugs and cash were not present. Arty was identified through surveillance video of the vehicle utilized in the incident and text messages proved his involvement.
In February 2022, Arty and two other individuals broke into the residence of an individual he suspected of having drugs and cash. The individual was not present. While inside the residence, Arty stole car keys and clothing and recorded a livestream video that he published on the internet. The next morning, associates of Arty attempted to rob the occupants of the same apartment and multiple rounds of gunfire were discharged during the incident. According to text messages recovered in the case, Arty came to pick up the robbers and drove them on a high-speed flight from responding law enforcement. Text messages also captured Arty and the robbers developing an alibi for the vehicle’s use in the robbery and chase. The vehicle was later located and impounded.
In April 2022, Arty was arrested outside of a Boston nightclub due to a report of him having a firearm. When law enforcement responded to the scene, Arty drove his vehicle at the officers and struck a nearby vehicle. Arty and another passenger were immediately taken into custody. Two firearms, including a 9mm firearm that was equipped with a selector switch, rendering it capable of firing fully automatic, were located in Arty’s vehicle. It was learned during the investigation that the target of the February 2022 burglary and robbery was believed to be inside of the nightclub and that Arty was outside of the premises waiting for an opportunity to rob him.
At the time of the offense, Arty was on pretrial release for multiple pending state firearm offenses. These included a January 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Boston and a July 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Revere. During the Revere incident, Arty fled the scene of an accident and later attempted to flee law enforcement.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow; and Revere Police Chief David J. Callahan made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Levy’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
California meth trafficker sentenced to more than eight years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A man who admitted to bringing pounds of methamphetamine to the Billings area community for distribution was sentenced today to eight years and six months years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Alex Valladares, 25, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that between July 2021 and March 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives learned that Valladares was a source of supply for meth in Billings area and acted as a go between for local Montana distributors and larger suppliers in Mexico. Valladares also was identified as being the supplier of approximately 5.8 pounds of meth seized in a March 2021 traffic stop. The government alleged that Valladares was bringing large quantities of meth to Montana as part of a larger criminal conspiracy, and Valladares described receiving pound quantities for distribution. In addition, the government alleged Valladares possessed firearms and described transporting guns to California to eventually make their way to Mexico.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and ATF conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Businessman Charged with Conspiring to Own Unlicensed Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Christopher James Scanlon, 43, originally from Utah and now residing in the United Kingdom, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to control and own an unlicensed money transmitting business. Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport today and is expected to have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Scanlon was the president, chief executive officer, and founder of the brands Aurae Lifestyle and Club Swann. From as early as 2015 through 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc.; AU Card LLC; AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd., (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a money transmitting business to provide fiat and cryptocurrency financial services to customers of Aurae Lifestyle. Scanlon served as a customer service representative for several high-net-worth Aurae Lifestyle customers. He often communicated with customers about financial transactions using encrypted messaging applications and directed the AU Entities to conduct financial transactions for customers through U.S.-based banks and cryptocurrency companies. Scanlon operated Aurae Lifestyle during this time without appropriately registering as a money transmitting business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Hoxie Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
scanlon.complaint.pdfBuffalo Man Sentenced for His Role in Credit Union RobberyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Carl Wilson, 38, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of aggravated bank robbery, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison and pay restitution totaling $148,793.90 by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that on October 31, 2019, co-defendant Adrian Applewhite entered the Clarence Community and School Federal Credit Union on Sheridan Drive in Clarence, NY, approached the teller and asked whether the credit union had an ATM. Applewhite’s sole purpose was to “case” the credit union and facilitate a future effort to rob it. On November 7, 2019, Carl Wilson, and co-defendant Ronald Morris, armed with a pistol and donning masks and gloves, entered the credit union, and conducted a bank robbery while Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby. Wilson and Morris ordered all the employees to the ground and demanded money. Wilson went behind the teller line and went through teller’s drawers. Morris went to the vault. A total of $148,793.90 in United States currency was taken.
Ronald Morris and Adrian Applewhite were previously convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory Szarowicz; and the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
# # # #
Brothers Sentenced in Gun Trafficking Conspiracy After Investigation of Firearms Recovered at Indianapolis and Chicago Crime ScenesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Brothers Jacob Tomlin, 28, and Ryan White, 21, of Indianapolis, have both been convicted of federal felony offenses for their scheme to illegally sell straw-purchased firearms. Tomlin was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to two counts of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. White was sentenced in January of 2023 to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing firearms without a license.
According to court documents, during the summer of 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the source of firearms that were located at crime scenes in Indianapolis and Chicago. These gun traces investigations multiple crime guns purchased by Tomlin from federally licensed firearms dealers in Indiana.
The ATF’s investigation revealed that from May 19 through June 8, 2021, Tomlin lied on federal firearms purchase documents to illegally purchase 15 handguns for White, his brother. White was too young to legally buy the guns from a federally licensed dealer. This form of gun trafficking is frequently referred to as “straw purchasing,” when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else—frequently someone who is legally prohibited from making the purchase.
ATF agents interviewed Tomlin and White, who admitted that Tomlin lied on the federal forms to illegally purchase the guns for White. White then illegally resold some of the guns for a profit.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
“This investigation demonstrates exactly how straw-purchases of firearms help to fuel gun violence in Indianapolis, Chicago, and elsewhere,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Gun traffickers help arm criminals who should never have had access to deadly weapons in the first place, increasing the bloodshed on our streets. Our office is committed to working closely with the ATF to address the sources of crime gun to reduce gun violence—and to hold gun traffickers accountable in federal court.”
ATF investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that White be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Abhi Kambli and Samantha Spiro, who prosecuted this case.
This case was part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Chicago Gun Trafficking Strike Force. On July 22, 2021, the Department of Justice launched five cross-jurisdictional strike forces to help reduce gun violence by disrupting illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country. These gun trafficking strike forces are designed to ensure coordination across jurisdictions and help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms from source cities, through other communities, and into five key market regions: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region and Washington, D.C.
###
Bridge City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machine Gun and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that RENE LADMIRAULT, age 21, a resident of Bridge City, Louisiana, pled guilty to a two-count federal indictment .
In Count 1, LADMIRAULT was charged with Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o)(1) and 924(a)(2). For this charge, LADMIRAULT faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years.
In Count 2, LADMIRAULT was charged with Obstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1). For this charge, LADMIRAULT faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years. For each count, LADMIRAULT faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
According to court records, beginning in January 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force (“FBI NOVCTF”) and the New Orleans Police Department Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (“NOPD VCAIT”) initiated an investigation into the proliferation of machine gun conversion devices. These devices are commonly referred to as “Glock switches” or “auto sears.”
Law enforcement officers initially identified LADMIRAULT as a manufacturer of machine gun conversion devices in February 2022 through the execution of a search warrant of LADMIRAULT’s Instagram account. While reviewing LADMIRAULT’s account, officers located numerous text messages referencing the sale of the machine gun conversion devices.
On August 10, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at LADMIRAULT’s residence. LADMIRAULT was inside the residence when FBI agents arrived and, in response, LADMIRAULT flushed a conversion device down the toilet to conceal the device from the FBI. During the search, agents located, a vertical CNC milling machine, and a box containing two black pieces of plastic, items believed to be used in the manufacturing of machine gun conversion devices. LADMIRAULT admitted to manufacturing 3D printed machine gun conversion devices, which he sold for approximately $100.00. LADMIRAULT also admitted to having manufactured the broken conversion device located inside of his residence.
United States District Judge, Carl J. Barbier, will sentence LADMIRAULT on September 14, 2023.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.
Boston Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Benefit FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyde Park man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for using a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain government assistance benefits.
Fernando Mateo Valenzuela, 69, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Valenzuela was also ordered to pay restitution of $29,051 to the Department of Unemployment Assistance and $7,230 to the Department of Transitional Assistance. On Feb. 27, 2023, Valenzuela pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud, two counts of unlawfully using another person’s Social Security number, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
In 2020, Valenzuela applied for and received a total of $29,051 in unemployment payments using the name and Social Security number of a United States citizen. In 2019, Valenzuela used the same stolen identity to apply for and receive $7,230 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance.
Valenzuela’s prior criminal record includes four drug convictions and a sex conviction involving a 13-year-old victim.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering & Fraud; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Bethel Park Man Indicted for Transporting an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Bethel Park, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of transporting an illegal alien within the United States, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Blake Thomas Babin, 59, of Bethel Park, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the Court, Babin, from on or about October 20, 2022, through on or about December 30, 2022, transported and attempted to transport within the United States an alien who had illegally entered the country, knowing that the alien was illegally in the country and to assist the alien in remaining in the United States illegally.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bay Area Physician Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO– Joseph Andrew Mollick was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for being in possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge.
Mollick, 60, of Menlo Park, pleaded guilty to the charge on January 9, 2023. Mollick identifies himself in a filing with the court as a medical doctor who has worked as a hospitalist at San Francisco Bay Area hospitals. According to his plea agreement, Mollick admitted that in August of 2019, he used the social media application Kik to upload a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The image depicted a prepubescent female wearing a red shirt in a sex act with an adult male. Mollick admitted he knew the image was of a prepubescent minor and that its production involved the use of a prepubescent minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Mollick also possessed on his personal laptop at least 2000 images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
A federal grand jury indicted Mollick on November 16, 2021, charging him with one count possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Mollick pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term, judge Chhabria ordered Mollick to serve 60 months of supervised release, to begin after his prison term, and to pay a fine of $25,000. Judge Chhabria scheduled a hearing to decide issues regarding restitution for July 26, 2023.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Chambers is prosecuting the case. This case is a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
Atoka Resident Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Minors in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Dean Altom, age 56, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 94 months imprisonment on two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 188 months in the United States Bureau of Prisons.
The charges arose from investigations by the Atoka County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 20, 2021, Altom pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. At the plea hearing Altom admitted he sexually abused two victims under the age of sixteen between 2013 and 2020.
“It is unthinkable that someone would sexually abuse another – especially a child,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Unfortunately, it happens far too often. I am thankful for the work of the county, state, and federal investigators, and the members of my staff in this case. The prosecution of the defendant will ensure Altom is punished for his heinous crimes, and the victims receive the justice they deserve.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the victims are members of federally recognized Indian tribes and the crimes occurred in Atoka County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Altom 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 Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Appeals Court Upholds Verdict Awarding $74,400 in Damages to Victims of St. Louis Landlord’s DiscriminationRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a jury verdict against a St. Louis, Missouri landlord for violating the federal Fair Housing Act by evicting a family because of the birth of their second child.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits terminating a lease, evicting tenants or refusing to sell or rent because of race, color, religion, familial status or national origin.
After their eviction in 2017, Laura Erwin and Mack Teal filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). HUD conducted an investigation, issued a charge of discrimination against Rupp and referred the case to the Justice Department, which filed suit in 2019.
On May 28, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk ruled in response to motions for summary judgment that Louis A. Rupp II’s conduct violated the Fair Housing Act. On Aug. 19, 2021, a jury awarded the family of Laura Erwin and Mack Teal a total of $74,400 in damages, consisting of $14,400 in compensatory damages and $60,000 in punitive damages.
“The Rupp case shows how victims of civil rights violations in this district can find redress through the nation’s civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming. “Ms. Irwin knew something was wrong when Rupp evicted her and her family from their home, conducted her own research under the housing laws and decided to challenge his actions. In the end, the appeals court agreed with Ms. Irwin and her family that Rupp’s conduct was ‘reprehensible’ for evicting them shortly after Ms. Irwin’s emergency C-section. The court also ruled that punitive damages were appropriate because Rupp, a long-time landlord, showed ‘indifference to or reckless disregard of’ the housing laws and the Irwin family’s health and safety.”
The court also ruled that the size of the award did not violate the Rupp’s constitutional right to due process of law.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, emailing [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals also may report discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint online.
Anchorage Man Guilty of Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on May 23, 2023, on one count for being a felon in possession of firearms following a two day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 16, 2019, Zachary Lawrence Torres, 35, of Anchorage, Alaska sold three firearms to a confidential source working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Torres sold the three firearms for $1,100 to the ATF confidential source through a deal brokered by another convicted felon who pleaded guilty to the same charges in 2019. Torres is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Torres’ felony conviction is for a 2011 assault during which Torres and another individual instigated a street brawl outside of an Anchorage bar, leaving the victim with a fractured jaw and orbital socket.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on January 16 Torres drove his Cadillac to a parking lot on Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage, Alaska. Before arriving, Torres told his partner, “All right, I am coming over. If anything happens, I’m shooting everybody.” Inside of his Cadillac, Torres possessed a Romarm/Cugir WASR-10 7.62x39mm semiautomatic rifle, a Legion Izhevsk Saiga 5.45x39mm semiautomatic rifle, and an AR-15-style .223 semiautomatic rifle with a 9-inch barrel and no serial number.
Torres was indicted in August 2019 but remained at large until he was located and arrested in Arizona in December 2021.
Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline, who presided over the trial, scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2023. Torres faces a potential sentence of 10 years imprisonment. He will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
“Zachary Torres’ conviction should serve as a warning to felons who are considering illegally trafficking in dangerous weapons that their plans to endanger our community will fail,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “Our office and law enforcement partners are committed to protecting Alaskan communities from the threat of armed criminals.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas C. Bradley and Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation and controlled buy leading to the charges in this case.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Multiple Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Justin Bryant Koch was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Koch, 34, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2023, to one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery. Upon his release from prison, Koch will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 7, 2020, at 5:00 pm, Koch entered the Oasis Convenience Store on Carlisle Blvd. NE in Albuquerque and while brandishing a firearm, approached the clerk and demanded that the clerk give him money. The clerk pulled his own firearm in self-defense and Koch fled the store. Approximately one hour and 40 minutes later, Koch entered the Casa Taco Restaurant on Academy Rd. NE in Albuquerque and repeated his previous behavior, approaching the clerk while armed with a firearm and demanding that the clerk give him money. The clerk gave Koch $331.63 and Koch fled the scene.
After an investigation, it was determined that Koch was the main suspect, and he was later arrested.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti prosecuted the case.
# # #
23-109
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Firearms Offenses and CarjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced today that Freddie Granger was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Granger, 42, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on March 20, 2023, to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, one count of carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 9, 2022, Granger sold two firearms to an undercover agent with the ATF, one of which was an AR-style rifle, along with high-capacity magazines. Granger indicated to the undercover agent that he had been unlawfully selling firearms for a “long time” and he would be open to doing “package deals” in the future. At the time, Granger had been convicted of seven felonies including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In his plea, Granger admitted that he knew that as a previously convicted felon he could not legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Days later, on June 13, 2022, an officer with the Carlsbad Police Department pulled Granger over because the car he was driving was missing a license plate and was swerving. Granger gave the officer false identification information before fleeing. Granger crashed his car near a marijuana dispensary, where he encountered John Doe as Doe was exiting his vehicle. Granger pointed a firearm at him, demanded his keys and took his vehicle after Doe safely removed a 7-year-old minor from the backseat.
When Granger was apprehended on July 8, 2023, he was still in possession of Doe’s car, which he had spray painted a different color.
Upon his release from prison, Granger will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.
# # #
23-111
35-year prison sentence for Colerain Township man convicted at trial of taking sexually explicit photographs of victims ages 9 & 12 while they sleptRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 420 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting children and possessing child pornography.
Nicholas J. Veerkamp, 32, of Colerain Township, Ohio, was convicted following a jury trial in October 2022. Veerkamp sexually exploited a 9-year-old victim and a 12-year-old victim and kept images of the exploitation.
“This defendant has shown a consistent pattern of sexually abusing children,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “In his current federal case, Veerkamp creeped into the bedrooms of minor girls and took sexually explicit photos of them. There is no place in society for someone engaging in this conduct that’s so harmful to our children.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, in August 2017, Veerkamp sexually exploited a 12-year-old victim to create three images of child pornography.
In October 2017, Veerkamp sexually exploited a 9-year-old child for the purpose of making child pornography. Veerkamp created 19 images of the victim, including images in which he exposed the child’s genitals while the victim slept.
The defendant also possessed other images of minor females on his electronic devices.
Veerkamp was convicted of sexual imposition in 2016 for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, and as a result, was required to register as a sex offender.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey’s Regional Electronics Crimes Investigations unit and other members of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children task force announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Wednesday 24 May 2023
Youngstown man sentenced to 12 years for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Youngstown, Ohio, man was sentenced today to more than 12 years in prison for supplying methamphetamine and fentanyl to northern West Virginia.
Kamron Eugene Miller, Sr., 36, will serve 152 months of incarceration for his role as a leader in a drug conspiracy. The investigation revealed that Miller supplied a co-conspirator nearly a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine along with 21 grams of fentanyl which was then redistributed in Hancock County. When agents searched Miller’s Youngstown residence, they found more than 300 grams of cocaine, 206 grams of fentanyl, a loaded assault rifle, a loaded pistol, and over $60,000 in cash. In total, agents seized more than $310,000 in cash during the investigation.
The Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Drug Enforcement Administration (Wheeling and Youngstown); and the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Mahoning County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office assisted.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Willie Junior Maxwell II, also known as "Fetty Wap" Sentenced to 6 Years' Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, United States District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced William Junior Maxwell II, who is the rap artist known as “Fetty Wap,” to six years’ imprisonment and five years of post-release supervision for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. On March 7, 2023, Judge Seybert sentenced Maxwell’s co-defendant Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey correction officer, to 72 months’ imprisonment for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Maxwell’s remaining four co-defendants pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney for Suffolk County; and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.
According to court filings, from approximately June 2019 through June 2020, the defendants distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey. The defendants obtained the narcotics on the west coast and used the United States Postal Service and drivers with hidden vehicle compartments to transport the controlled substances across the country to Suffolk County, where they were stored. The drugs were then distributed to dealers, who sold them on Long Island and in New Jersey. Five of the defendants also used firearms to protect their drug organization and distribution chain. Defendants Anthony Leonardi, Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan, and Kavaughn Wiggins participated in the purchase and transportation of the narcotics from the west coast to the east coast where they were processed, stored and ultimately resold. Maxwell was a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization, and Cyntje transported kilograms of cocaine from Long Island to New Jersey.
Search warrants executed during the investigation resulted in the recovery of approximately $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, numerous fentanyl pills, two 9mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Caffarone and Andrew P. Wenzel, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Kubetz are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.
The Defendants:
ANTHONY CYNTJE
Age: 25
Passaic, New JerseyANTHONY LEONARDI
Age: 49
Coram, Long IslandROBERT LEONARDI
Age: 28
Levittown, PennsylvaniaWILLIE JUNIOR MAXWELL II (also known as “Fetty Wap”)
Age: 31
Paterson, New JerseyBRIAN SULLIVAN
Age: 27
Lake Grove, Long IslandKAVAUGHN L. WIGGINS (also known as “KV”)
Age: 28
Coram, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-452 (JS)
West Virginia man sentenced for COVID fraudRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia, man was sentenced today to 10 months in prison after fraudulently obtaining loans made available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dalton Haas, also known as Dalton Nassar, 27, pled guilty to wire fraud in February 2023. Haas admitted to making false statements about the gross revenues, the cost of goods sold, and the number of employees for the Lebanese Restaurant & Bakery, the Wheeling Wine Festival, the West Virginia Hockey League, and the Wheeling Hockey Association. Haas obtained a total of $20,000 in CARES Act funding as part of his scheme. He attempted to fraudulently obtain loans on three other occasions but was unsuccessful.
Upon his release from prison, Haas will be under the supervision of federal probation officers for three years. Haas paid restitution in full prior to sentencing.
The United States Sentencing Guidelines called for a range of punishment for Haas of between 4 and 10 months, based upon the amount of loss and his criminal history. The sentence imposed was at the highest end of the Guidelines.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Anyone who is aware of COVID fraud may report it via email to [email protected], by telephone to 304-234-0100, or via regular mail to the U.S. Attorney, P.O. Box 591, Wheeling, WV 26003, Attn: COVID Fraud Unit.
Washington Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Washington man with failure to register as a sex offender and as a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Dylan Scott Valin, 31, fled active felony warrants issued in the State of Washington for Burglary in the First Degree and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. According to the affidavit supporting the complaint, the United States Marshals Service learned of Valin’s whereabouts after he sent emails to friends in custody in Washington, advising them he was fleeing Washington to commercial fish in Alaska because “they don’t extradite.”
Deputy United States Marshals then searched for commercial fishing licenses issued by the State of Alaska and ascertained that Valin was residing in Craig, Alaska, where he was ultimately apprehended without incident.
Valin was indicted for one count of failure to register as a sex offender in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2250(a) and one count of being a felon in possession in violation of 18 U.S.C. §924(g). The defendant made his initial court appearance on May 23, 2023, before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and United States Marshal Rob Heun made the announcement.
The United States Marshals are investigating the case with the assistance of the Alaska State Troopers. Law enforcement urges anyone with knowledge of Valin’s activities to contact the USMS.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Waco Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Waco man was sentenced Tuesday in a federal court in Del Rio to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Jimmie Troy Palmer III, 32, and other co-conspirators were arrested on Aug. 1, 2020, after one of the co-conspirators, Bibiana Ira Ortiz, attempted to enter the U.S. through the Del Rio Port of Entry with 16 packages of methamphetamine hidden in her vehicle. Lab tests revealed the combined net weight of the packages contained approximately 7,864 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of 98%.
Palmer had escorted Ortiz to Piedras Negras, Mexico, where the methamphetamine was loaded into the vehicle Ortiz was driving. Palmer returned to the U.S. ahead of Ortiz, instructing her to call him upon her successful arrival in Del Rio. Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Palmer and the other co-conspirators at the motel in Del Rio, where Ortiz was expected to rejoin them. Inside Palmer’s pickup truck, agents discovered drugs, drug paraphernalia, several cell phones, and approximately $9,869.06 in U.S. currency.
Palmer has been in federal custody since his arrest and pleaded guilty in July 2021. Co-defendants Ortiz, Joshua Ruben Olivencia, and David Ray Coplin have each pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“The diligent efforts shown by both HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol in this case demonstrate their commitment to combating drug trafficking along our district’s border,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “This substantial penalty of 25 years in federal prison sends a very strong message that our judicial system does not tolerate the devastating impact illicit substances have on our communities. I am grateful to our dedicated law enforcement partners for their ongoing service in preserving the safety and well-being of our nation, and we will continue to fully prosecute these offenders.”
“As drug traffickers prey on communities, they often ignore the laws of this nation. It’s great to have the cooperation of our federal partners to aid in the arrest and prosecution of these offenders,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. “Palmer’s lengthy prison sentence will be a deterrent to current and/or future drug traffickers. HSI will continue to pursue cross-border conspiracy investigations to target dangerous individuals who threaten the security of the United States.”
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
###
Violent Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison After Being Found Armed with a Machinegun and Unconscious in a Running Vehicle on I-465Read the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Parham, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on August 26, 2021, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Carmel Police Department (CPD) officers were alerted to a man slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle at the I-465 Westbound exit to US-31 South.
When CPD officers arrived, they saw two men passed out in the driver and front passenger seats of a white Buick Regal. The driver was identified as Michael Parham. The Buick was running and in drive, with Parham’s foot on the brake. The windows of the Buick were all rolled down and the doors were locked. An officer reached into the Buick and put the vehicle in park. The officer then began shaking and yelling at Parham to wake him from his unconscious state.
Parham did not verbally respond to any questions about his medical status or whether he was under the influence of any narcotics. Officers removed the keys from the Buick and placed Parham under arrest. During the search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded 9-millimeter Glock semi-automatic pistol on the front driver floorboard in plain view. The Glock pistol was loaded and equipped with a machinegun conversion device.
Machinegun conversion devices, sometimes called “Glock switches” or “auto-sears,” are devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. Machinegun conversion devices are themselves considered machineguns under federal law, even when not installed, and are illegal to possess or sell without a special license.
Parham is prohibited from possessing any firearm due to his previous federal felony conviction for robbery. At the time of this arrest, Parham was still on supervised release after being released from federal prison for the robbery.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, and Jim Barlow, Chief of the Carmel Police Department, made the announcement.
“Violent criminals who continue to illegally arm themselves pose a tremendous danger to our communities—especially when their handguns are illegally converted into machineguns” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant demonstrated that he learned little from his prior sentence. He will now return to federal prison, ensuring that the public will again be protected from any of his further crimes while he is incarcerated. Our office will continue to work with our partners at ATF and the Carmel Police Department to disarm dangerous offenders and get them off our streets.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Carmel Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Parham be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted 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 launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
United States Attorney’s Office Awarded Several New Prosecutor and Support-Staff Positions, Including Additional Resources to Prosecute Violent Crime in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
Spokane, WA: U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref, the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that her office has received authorization and funding from the Department of Justice to hire seven new full-time Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) and two full-time support staff. The new positions – which will be spread throughout the District’s three offices in Spokane, Yakima, and Richland – will be dedicated to combating terrorism, fraud, drug trafficking, and violent crime, including in Indian Country. The U.S. Department of Justice allocated these positions to U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country from funding approved in last year’s federal budget.
“We are excited for these additional resources to further our mission to build safer and stronger communities in Eastern Washington,” U.S. Attorney Waldref said. “In the next month, we will have, for the first time ever, full-time AUSAs serving in our Richland branch office. With the addition of the nine new positions announced today, we will be able to further enhance our efforts to protect neighborhoods, families, and communities in the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Yakima, and throughout our beautiful district.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref continued, “With these new positions, we will have forty AUSAs serving in the Eastern District of Washington. This means that our team – which includes attorneys, critical support positions, administrative officers, victim witness advocates, forfeiture personnel, etc. – will grow to approximately ninety civil servants dedicated to DOJ’s mission to seek justice for all.”
“We’re especially grateful to have additional resources devoted to the important work we do in Indian Country, where we prosecute major crimes arising on the District’s four reservations – the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe, and the Kalispel Tribe. In fact, one of the AUSA positions is specifically devoted to cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. We recognize that indigenous communities suffer violence, especially domestic violence, at much higher rates than many other demographics. We are committed to addressing violent crimes in Indian country and elsewhere and holding perpetrators accountable.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington currently has more than thirty AUSAs serving in its Criminal and Civil Divisions in Spokane, Yakima, and Richland. The hiring process for the new positions is already underway and additional listings will be posted in the coming weeks. All of the Office’s openings will be made available at http://www.usajobs.gov.
United States Attorney's Office, in Conjunction with HSI Arizona, OFO Arizona and the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors, Announces Drug Interdiction Results in Operations Blue Lotus and Four HorsemenRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protections, Office of Field Operations’ (OFO) Tucson Field Office and Border Patrol’s Tucson and Yuma Sectors announced today the results of drug interdiction operations along the border from March 6 through May 8. HSI and OFO’s Operation Blue Lotus, along with the Four Horsemen operation coordinated by the Border Patrol, seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine and interdicted more than a ton of fentanyl.
Representative drug cases referred federally for prosecution include the following:
- United States v. Guadalupe Trujillo-Quintana and Sabrina Renee Alaniz-Lopez: The driver and his passenger were each charged after their Dodge Challenger was referred to secondary inspection at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, and x-rayed. Customs and Border Protection Officers found 156 packages of pills that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 94 kilograms.
- United States v. Kevin Rodriguez-Ballesteros: The driver and sole occupant was charged after his Ford Lobo was referred to secondary inspection in Nogales, and x-rayed. Further inspection resulted in the seizure of 236 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 188.56 kilograms.
- United States v. Adela Baez: The driver was accompanied by her two minor children. At the Lukeville Port of Entry, a canine alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from her Chevrolet Traverse. Subsequent investigation resulted in the interdiction of 32 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 33.12 kilograms.
- United States v. Elvia Canez: The driver and sole occupant was charged after her Dodge Grand Caravan was referred to secondary inspection at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, and subsequent x-ray showed packages in the quarter panels and seats of the vehicle. In total, 73 packages were interdicted that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 54.81 kilograms.
- United States v. Isidro Pantoja-Ramirez: The driver and sole occupant of a Ford F-150 presented at the immigration checkpoint located near Wellton, Arizona, and was referred to secondary inspection after a canine alerted to the vehicle. During the subsequent search, 16 vacuum sealed packages containing small blue pills were located in the inside of the tailgate and in the spare tire on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The pills field-tested positive for fentanyl, and had a total weight of 62.5 kilograms.
- United States v. Melody Karina Romero Quezada: The driver and her passenger, driving in a Honda HR-V, approached the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 19 outside Amado, Arizona. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle, and further investigation revealed a trap door to a hidden compartment. Inside the compartment, Border Patrol Agents located 114 bundles that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 14 kilograms.
- United States v. Zulma Corrales-Hernandez and Manuel Mendoza-Gonzalez: The driver and his passenger were charged after applying for entry into the United States at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales. The defendants and their Mazda CX-7 were referred to secondary inspection where a Z-Portal x-ray scan led to the removal of 588 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 73.90 kilograms.
- United States v. Rosio Lopez Carrillo: The driver, accompanied by a minor child, applied for entry into the United States at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales. After a canine detected the odor of narcotics coming from his Volkswagen Touareg, the defendant was referred to secondary inspection. Following a search, 65 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl were removed from the vehicle, with a total weight of 46.70 kilograms.
- United States v. Jeancarlos Reyes: The defendant, accompanied by his girlfriend and two children, applied for admission at the San Luis Port of Entry in his GMC Sierra. After a canine alerted to the odor of narcotics, he was referred to secondary inspection, resulting in the interdiction of 201 packages of suspected drugs in the doors of the vehicle, including 131 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl, with a total weight of 38.54 kilograms.
Department of Homeland Security law enforcement personnel interdicted more than just drugs during these operations. The facts underlying United States v. Jesus Castillo Durazo reflect quick work by agents with HSI and the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in interdicting crates of .50 caliber ammunition bound for Mexico.
“Thanks to the efforts of our partners at the Department of Homeland Security, we prevented substantial amounts of fentanyl and other drugs from reaching Arizona neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “These operations resulted in interdictions at four different ports of entry in addition to two checkpoints, and we appreciate the fine efforts of the law enforcement officers and their canine partners.”
“The success of this initiative is largely attributed to the federal, state and local partners that spent countless hours not just by responding to port calls but assisting HSI with seizures throughout Arizona,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Drugs, but especially fentanyl are decimating communities, but together and with education, we all can make a significant impact in curbing the senseless deaths associated with the sale of these deadly drugs. I thank every agent, officer, trooper and anyone else that stood alongside HSI throughout the surge to support many of our efforts.”
“The successes we’ve seen at our ports cannot be overstated. Our continued layered enforcement actions, our entire team’s dedication to protecting the homeland, and collaboration with our federal partners are key to fulfilling our mission,” said Guadalupe Ramirez, Director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection.
“Collaborative efforts like these are critical to protecting towns and cities across the country,” said Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief John Modlin. “Border security is national security, and I am immensely proud of the men and women who performed these operations to keep drugs like fentanyl from reaching our communities.”
“The success of the Four Horsemen operation was due to the collaborative efforts and teamwork of multiple agencies. I am especially proud of the Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents who worked tirelessly during this operation to take deadly drugs off our streets and out of the communities we proudly serve,” said Chief Patrol Agent Yuma Sector Patricia McGurk-Daniel.
A complaint or indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-23-00507-JCH; CR-23-00508-JGZ; CR-23-00574-JGZ; CR23-00689-SHR; CR-23-00594-MTL;
CR-23-00690-JGZ; 23-08751MJ; 23-02741MJ; 23-01837MJ; CR-23-00596-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-074_Blue Lotus/Four Horsemen# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.U.S. Marshals Locate 225 Missing Children in 16 Locations Across the United States During Operation We Will Find YouRead the Press Release
Spokane, WA – Today the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) announced that the USMS, along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), working with several state and local agencies in 16 federal judicial districts, led a 10-week national operation resulting in the recovery or safe location of 225 endangered missing children.
Operation We Will Find You is one of the first nationwide missing children operations focused specifically on geographical areas with high clusters of critically missing children. In total, the operation resulted in the recovery of 169 children and the safe location of 56 more children. During the operation, the USMS referred 28 cases to law enforcement agencies for further investigation of alleged crimes such as drugs and weapons possession, sex trafficking, and failures to register as a sex offender.
During the operation, 42 children were located outside the city where they went missing, and 10 were found outside of the United States. The youngest child recovered was just 6 months old. While approximately 85 percent of the cases involved endangered runaways, approximately 9 percent involved family abductions. Approximately 40 of the cases involved allegations of reporting sex trafficking.Operation We Will Find You also had a direct impact on the Eastern District of Washington. It total, the operation investigated more than 20 cases arising from our District. These cases involved allegations of endangered missing children, runaways, and children abducted by non-custodial parents. Of these, 16 children were recovered. Additionally, the USMS arrested a Top 15 Most Wanted couple, who fled to Mexico from the Eastern District of Washington with their children. Each of the recovered children was safely reunited with family in Washington State.
“I commend law enforcement for locating so many missing children from our district and across the country,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “I am grateful for the leadership of the U.S. Marshals Service and their dedication to apprehending fugitives and reuniting the most vulnerable among us with their families. Our communities are safer and stronger as a result of the great service demonstrated through the joint efforts by the U.S. Marshals and their Federal, State, Local, and Tribal partners.”
United States Marshal Craig Thayer stated, “Reuniting missing children with loved ones and connecting them with appropriate services is a mission in which the United States Marshals Service takes great pride. The specialized skillset that the U.S. Marshals Service provides to our Local, State, and Tribal partners in locating and recovering missing, and oftentimes exploited children, provides these children a second chance for a better childhood by being reunited with their loved ones and connected with other necessary help.”
A number of Federal, State, Local, and Tribal agencies participated with the USMS in “Operation We Will Find You.” These agencies included the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Confederated Tribes Bands of Yakama Nation Police Department, Ephrata Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Moses Lake Police Department, Othello Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Washington Department of Child Youth and Families, Washington Department of Corrections and Yakima Police Department.
U.S. Citizen and Two Mexican Nationals Charged in Failed Smuggling EventRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Karina Martinez, of New York, was charged yesterday with smuggling two citizens of Mexico from Canada into the United States across the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, New York. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Thomas G. Martin, United States Border Patrol, Buffalo Sector, made the announcement.
The criminal complaint filed in federal court alleges that on May 23, 2023, Martinez rented a boat from the Clayton Marina, in Clayton, and drove the boat illegally into Canadian waters where she picked up two Mexican citizens and returned with them to the United States illegally. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) notified U.S. law enforcement after they encountered the two Mexican citizens in Canada attempting to rent kayaks.
Upon conviction, the charges filed against Martinez carry a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, as well as a post-incarceration term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The two Mexican citizens, Jose Guadalupe Martinez-Peralta, and Kevin Martinez-Toral, were each charged with unlawfully entering the United States and if convicted face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, and possible deportation and future exclusion from the United States.[1] A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The charges in the criminal complaints are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the United States Border Patrol—Wellesley Island Station including several operational teams and marine (boat) units, with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt is prosecuting the case.
[1] Immigration proceedings related to removal or deportation are adjudicated in Immigration Court as a separate civil proceeding and not during the criminal prosecution described herein.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah Announces New Initiative Focusing on Environmental Justice and Public ReportingRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, has named Assistant United States Attorney, Melina Shiraldi, to lead the District of Utah’s Environmental Justice Initiative.
May marks the one-year anniversary since U.S. Attorney Higgins was sworn in as the first female presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. As part of her ongoing commitment to pursue justice and equity throughout Utah, prosecuting environmental crimes is part of that equation.
The role of the U.S. Attorney’s office is to investigate any civil or criminal matter that may involve a disproportionate and adverse environmental or human health effect on identifiable low income, minority, or tribal communities.
“We seek to ensure that all people of Utah have equal access to a healthy environment,” said U.S. Attorney Higgins.
A seasoned federal prosecutor, Shiraldi, has 14 years legal experience and five years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As the Environmental Justice Coordinator, AUSA Shiraldi will lead efforts along with the U.S. Attorney to enforce environmental laws in the District of Utah’s housing, communities, and land.
“We will protect environmental quality and human health in all Utah communities,” said AUSA Shiraldi.
More information about the environmental justice initiative can be found on the district’s website at USAO-UT. A public service announcement video on this initiative can be found on the USAO-Utah YouTube channel.
PixabayThe U.S. Attorney’s Office welcomes information from the public regarding possible environmental, health, and climate impacts on individuals and communities in Utah. You may submit information or concerns regarding Environmental Justice to the Environmental Justice Coordinator at [email protected] via phone at (801) 524-5682 or by mail at U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Utah, Attn: Environmental Justice Coordinator, 111 South Main Street, Suite 1800, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-2176
A focus of the Department of Justice, on May 5, 2022, the Attorney General announced actions to enhance and advance the Department’s environmental justice work. Among other EJ efforts, the Department issued a Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy (the Strategy) and created the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) within the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The strategy requires USAO offices to track and report annually on environmental justice matters
U.S. Attorney Announces Application Process for Second Term of NYCHA MonitorshipRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) are soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve as monitor for the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) under the January 31, 2019 settlement agreement (“Agreement”) between HUD, NYCHA, and the City of New York, for the second five-year term of the monitorship. The Agreement is available here.
The “primary purpose of the [Agreement] is to remedy the deficient physical conditions in NYCHA properties, ensure that NYCHA complies with its obligations under federal law, reform the management structure of NYCHA, and facilitate cooperation and coordination between HUD, NYCHA, and the City during the term of this Agreement.” Agreement ¶ 8. The monitor plays a significant role in providing strategic advice, technical support, and oversight necessary to achieve these purposes, in partnership with SDNY and HUD and in close collaboration with NYCHA’s own leadership, NYCHA’s residents and resident groups, and the City of New York. Together with these and other stakeholders, the monitor is responsible for ensuring the implementation of reform efforts currently underway; developing additional strategies necessary to further the goals of the agreement; and leading data-driven assessments of NYCHA’s progress, including with respect to the obligations and metrics contained in the Agreement.[1]
SDNY and HUD anticipate that this selection will be for a five-year term beginning in early 2024. Additional detail regarding SDNY and HUD’s expectations for the position is provided in Exhibit A to this notice.
Interested individuals should submit statements of interest for appointment to the monitorship position no later than July 22, 2023. Statements of interest should be no longer than 20 pages (exclusive of exhibits), should address the applicant’s qualifications and monitoring plan, including how the applicant will successfully meet the expectations in Exhibit A, and should identify the key individuals and firms anticipated to support the monitorship. Exhibits to the statement of interest should include a preliminary proposed budget for the first year of the monitorship term and an executed version of the form attached to this notice as Exhibit B.
Statements of interest should be submitted electronically to [email protected]; please do not submit paper copies.
[1] Materials related to NYCHA’s reform efforts are available on NYCHA’s website, at https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/reports.page
Two-Time Bank Robber Pleads Guilty, Targets Same Bank LocationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident recently released from federal prison for robbing a local bank in 2013 pleaded guilty this week to attempting to rob a bank at the same location, calling his probation officer to report his own crime.
William Jeffrey Lowder, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to attempted bank robbery before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on May 23. Lowder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant’s choice to attempt to rob a community bank located near a busy university campus caused unnecessary panic in a peaceful place of business,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “As Mr. Lowder well knows, individuals who threaten the peace will face consequences. I want to thank the U.S. Probation Office, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for their quick response.”
“Lowder’s prior prison time was apparently not enough of a teaching moment for him because he returned to his bank robbing ways while he was still on supervised release for the last bank robbery he committed,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance of our partners with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, he’ll have up to 20 years in federal prison to think about what he’ll do the next time he is released from prison.”
According to facts presented in court, Lowder walked into the Truist Bank on Mercer University Drive in Macon at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 27. He approached a teller and handed over a note that read, “Money out the register, no dye packs, Sorry!” Lowder reached behind his back, which the clerk believed meant that he had a firearm; Lowder did not have a weapon. When he was told that the clerk did not have a register, Lowder left the bank.
Lowder was recently released from federal prison for robbing a bank at the same location in 2013 and was serving a term of supervised release. An hour after leaving the bank, Lowder called his U.S. Probation officer to report his crime and his location. The defendant was quickly taken into custody in Macon. The bank robbery was captured on surveillance cameras.
The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Probation Office and FBI.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the government.
Two Raytown Residents Plead Guilty to Covid Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Raytown, Mo., residents have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Deanna N. Brand, 27, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a federal information that charges her with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In a separate but related case, Jason Collins, 26, pleaded guilty on Thursday, May 18, to the same offense.
Brand and Collins each admitted they participated in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration from April 2021 through January 2022.
Both Brand and Collins provided their personal identification information to a co-conspirator, who then submitted fraudulent applications for PPP loans in their names. The applications falsely claimed business income in order to receive a $20,832 loan, although neither Brand nor Collins had a business during that time.
Brand admitted she paid her co-conspirator $2,000, and spent the rest of the loan proceeds on personal expenses not associated with any business. Collins admitted he paid his co-conspirator $5,000 and spent the rest of the loan proceeds on personal expenses not associated with any business.
Under the terms of their plea agreements, Brand and Collins each must pay $20,832 in restitution to the government.
Under federal statutes, Brand and Collins each are subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. They were investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Two Plead Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud Connected to Scheme to Defraud the Department of Veteran AffairsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JAMES “JAY” SINYARD, age 61, and MARY “GIGI” SINYARD, age 58, have each pled guilty in federal court relating to their roles in a wire fraud scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs.
JAMES SINYARD and MARY SINYARD pled guilty on May 18, 2023 before Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to a one count bill of information charging them with wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
According to the bill of information, VetAttend of Jackson was located in Jackson, Mississippi. Beginning on or about April 2013 and continuing until at least December 2020, the SINYARDS did knowingly devise a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, by creating false affidavits claiming services had been provided by VetAttend to veterans in need of home aid and attendance.
To effectuate this scheme, the SINYARDs submitted over one hundred applications for veterans and/or their surviving spouses to the Department of Veterans Affairs, falsely indicating that VetAttend of Jackson was already providing services to these veterans. As a result of these fictitious affidavits, from approximately August 2014 to approximately December 2020, the VA issued funds to over 70 veterans and/or their surviving spouses from whom VetAttend of Jackson misappropriated approximately $2,136,329.68 in fraudulent funds relating to the false affidavits of services provided.
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message to those who would exploit veterans to commit fraud that they will be investigated and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South-Central Field Office.
The Court set sentencing of JAMES SINYARD and MARY SINYARD for September 28, 2023.
Each defendant faces a possible maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee .
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General.
The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh, Financial Crimes Unit.
Two Men Sentenced in Multimillion Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. –A Pennsylvania man and a Georgia man were each sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for participating in a fraud scheme causing millions of dollars in loss to victims.
According to court documents and testimony at hearings, from approximately September 2016 to March 2021, Carl Anthony McNeill, 59, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Richard Thornhill Crock, 75, of Mableton, Georgia, along with other co-conspirators, ran an advance fee scheme targeting individuals, small businesses, churches, and other entities that could not obtain conventional lines of credit though banks. The co-conspirators promised these victims that, using their relationships with major investment banks, the co-conspirators could obtain lines of credit for the victims. The scheme required that the victims advance a deposit consisting of 10-15% of the line of credit sought, representing that the deposit would be held in escrow and returned if they did not obtain the line of credit. In fact, the co-conspirators did not have any relationships with the investment banks mentioned in their dealings with the victims, and did not safeguard the victims' funds in escrow.
The fraudulently obtained funds from victims were misapplied to pay co-conspirators; cover the payroll and operating expenses of C&D Corporate Services, the company McNeill used to commit the fraud; and pay frustrated victims seeking the return of deposited money. Crock also falsely represented to victims that their advanced funds would be insured via policies issued through a Georgia-based insurance company. These policies were also fraudulent, as the insurance company did not have sufficient assets on hand to compensate victims under such policies.
McNeill was ordered to pay over $5.8 million in restitution and Crock was ordered to pay over $2.4 million in restitution to victims.
Co-defendants Jayson Ryman Colavalla and Ksyntoilious Miller are scheduled for sentencing on June 20 and July 11, respectively. They each face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison for their role in the conspiracy. 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 Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Moore and Avi Panth prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-132.
Two Convicted for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization with Ties to Mexican CartelRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men were convicted today by a federal jury in Boston for operating a large-scale international fentanyl trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
Fermin Castillo, 43, of Boston, and Andre Heraux Martinez, 24, of the Dominican Republic, were convicted following a seven-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2023. Castillo and Heraux were indicted on April 15, 2021.
In July 2020, law enforcement began an investigation into a drug trafficking and money laundering organization distributing large quantities of fentanyl and laundering drug proceeds. Intercepted communications identified Fermin Castillo as the leader of the organization who coordinated fentanyl shipments from Sinaloa, Mexico to Massachusetts and the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars. As part of the conspiracy, Heraux maintained a drug stash apartment located in Hyde Park, which was used to store and process kilograms of fentanyl and delivered a total of over $500,000 in drug proceeds to undercover officers posing as money launderers.
In August 2020, Castillo coordinated the delivery of $200,000 to a separate New York-based money laundering organization, as well as the delivery of $100,000 to an undercover officer in December 2020. In January 2021, Castillo coordinated the delivery of $150,000 which was ultimately seized from Heraux as he attempted to deliver the money on behalf of Castillo. Additionally, in February 2021, 197 grams of fentanyl was seized from Heraux as he attempted to deliver the drugs to a customer of the organization.
In total, over 10 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin were seized from Heraux’s stash apartment along with additional fentanyl from other members of the drug trafficking and money laundering organization.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the funds laundered, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Foley and Stephen W. Hassink of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. 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.
Two Accused of Stealing Mail from St. Louis County Collection BoxesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday to answer an indictment accusing them of stealing mail from collection boxes in St. Louis County, Missouri and using those checks to commit bank fraud.
Dareon Graham, 22, of Ferguson, and Tyrell Hardin, 20, of Hanley Hills, pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Hardin is facing one conspiracy count and eight counts of mail theft. Graham was indicted on one conspiracy count, 13 counts of bank fraud, four counts of possession of stolen mail and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
The April 26 indictment says Graham used a stolen key to open mail collection boxes and steal mail and paid money to Hardin to do the same. The pair would then open the mail and remove personal and business checks, the indictment says.
Graham then recruited others to provide their banking information so he could alter the checks and deposit them into the accounts, the indictment says. Each check was written for thousands of dollars. Graham would then withdraw cash at ATMs before the banks realized the checks were fraudulent, the indictment says.
The conspiracy, mail theft and stolen mail charges carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The bank fraud charges are punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. Each aggravated identity theft charge carries a two-year prison term, consecutive to any other charge.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Three Members of Cape Cod Heroin Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Prison for Violent Kidnapping and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three men have been sentenced to decades in prison for their roles in a Cape Cod drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed heroin throughout the Cape Cod and Pawtucket, R.I., regions, committed a violent kidnapping recorded on video and worked together to shoot at a Hyannis man over a drug debt.
Edwin Otero, 33, of Hyannis, was sentenced on May 18, 2023 by Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 38 years in prison. On May 16, 2023, Justin Joseph, 35, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced by Judge Burroughs to 30 years in prison; and Anthony Basilici, 39, of Pawtucket, was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.
On Jan. 26, 2023, after a week-long trial, Basilici was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; witness intimidation; and witness retaliation conspiracy. On Jan. 18, 2023, the day jury selection began, Otero and Joseph pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; and witness retaliation conspiracy.
In 2018, an investigation began into a Cape Cod-wide DTO led by Edwin Otero. The investigation revealed that Otero, Joseph, Basilici and their other co-defendants distributed large quantities of heroin throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville, Osterville and in Pawtucket, R.I.
In April 2019, Otero, Joseph, and Basilici lured a victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island where they kidnapped and held him, stripped him naked, assaulted him with a hammer and threatened to rape him. Otero, Joseph, Basilici and other co-conspirators threatened physical injury to the victim to retaliate against him because they believed he was cooperating with law enforcement. Basilici recorded the assault and kidnapping on a cell phone which Otero and Basilici used to further intimidate other witnesses after the kidnapping. In May 2019, Otero, Joseph and Basilici armed themselves with guns and worked together to shoot at a Hyannis man over a drug debt owed to Otero.
Otero, Joseph and Basilici were initially charged along with eight others in May 2019 on the drug conspiracy charges. In connection with those arrests, heroin, packaging materials, scales, a finger press as well as three firearms and ammunition including a 9 millimeter assault-style weapon were seized from Otero’s grandmother’s residence. In March 2020, Otero, Joseph, Basilici and two others – Cameron Cartier and Albert Lee – were indicted in connection with the violent kidnapping and related charges.
In addition to the sentencings discussed above, a fourth defendant, Tony Johnson, 39, of Hyannis, was sentenced on May 18, 2023 to 75 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with Otero and others to distribute heroin. All 13 defendants charged in this indictment have now been sentenced.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend; and Barnstable County Sheriff Donna D. Buckley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Lauren Graber of Levy’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Three Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill Inmates Charged with Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that three federal inmates were indicted separately on May 23, 2023, by a federal grand jury for possessing contraband in prison.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the following three FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, inmates were charged with possession of a dangerous prison-made weapon, commonly known as a “shank:”
- Tyrik Brown, age 28, originally from Washington D.C.;
- Thadusse Hartridge, age 22, originally from Washington D.C.;
- Daquon Brooks, age 28, originally from Washington D.C.
The investigations were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the cases.
The maximum penalty under federal law is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
###
Three Additional Defendants in North Carolina Plead Guilty to National COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Isaac Lamont Dawson, 44; Jackson Kyalo Ndoyo, 29; and Dontrell Rayshar Barnes, 32, each plead guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans. The defendants sought relief on behalf of various companies they owned including companies listed as purportedly being engaged in catering, music production, and construction. They all face up to 20 years in prison.
"At a time when most Americans were looking to help their neighbors, these defendants decided to steal from them by scamming a taxpayer funded program designed to help mom and pop businesses from going under,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “My office is continuing to investigate and prosecute the bad actors who conspired to use this lifeline to line their own pockets."
According to the charged criminal information, the defendant conspired with Edward Whitaker, Schunda Coleman, and others to obtain a fraudulent PPP loan. Whitaker and Coleman pled guilty on January 19, 2023 for their role in operating a nation-wide scheme to help people across the country commit millions of dollars of PPP fraud.
According to charging documents and information summarized in court, Whitaker and Coleman created fraudulent supporting documents and applications for the PPP loans which they provided to the defendants in exchange for 25% of the total loan proceeds. The fraudulent applications falsified the number of employees and gross wages being paid prior to the COVID pandemic, in order to help qualify for the PPP loans. Following the disbursement of the PPP loans, Whitaker instructed each defendant as to how to make it appear that the PPP loans were being paid out to employees, when in reality the money was transferred back to the defendants. The fraudulent payroll records were then submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain 100% loan forgiveness.
Late last year, Quentin Jackson pled guilty in the same conspiracy which included the recruitment of numerous individuals in the Eastern District of North Carolina to use Whitaker and Coleman to obtain fraudulent PPP funds.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II accepted the pleas. Sentencings will occur before United States District Judge James C. Dever III later this year. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the cases.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER.
###
Tax Preparer and Client Charged with $13 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging SANDEEP GROVER and SHIKHA SEHGAL with major fraud against the U.S. and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud for their participation in a scheme to submit more than 100 applications containing false representations to seven financial institutions and fraudulently obtain over $13 million in government-backed Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. GROVER is also charged with aggravated identity theft for using an employee’s personally identifiable information without authorization to submit a loan application. GROVER and SEHGAL will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Sandeep Grover allegedly used his tax preparation business to steal millions of dollars from a program created by Congress to assist struggling small businesses during the pandemic. To pull off his scheme, Grover allegedly recruited co-conspirators like Shikha Sehgal, who opened bank accounts for shell companies and lied to banks about those companies’ loan eligibility. This Office will continue to prosecute those who used the pandemic as an opportunity to defraud American taxpayers.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “The defendants allegedly devised a scheme to exploit the Paycheck Protection Program for millions of dollars for personal use rather than qualifying expenses. Fraudulent schemes like these defraud not only a program intended to help small businesses weather a global pandemic but also the United States' taxpayers. The FBI will continue to ensure that anyone taking advantage of government backed programs are held responsible in the criminal justice system.”
As alleged in the Complaint[[1]]:
SANDEEP GROVER is the owner of Excellent Business Services Inc. (“EBS”), a tax preparation business based in Seaford, New York. From at least April 2020 through at least June 2021, GROVER submitted more than 100 PPP applications containing false representations to at least seven financial institutions, on behalf of dozens of his own companies as well as putative client companies on whose behalf GROVER created false IRS filings. The applications certified to the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) that the companies each had multiple employees and spent tens of thousands of dollars in monthly payroll, but in fact the companies did not report wages to the Social Security Administration during the relevant time period. Bank records also show that instead of using the PPP loan proceeds for allowable expenses, such as payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities, GROVER moved millions of dollars in PPP loan proceeds between his many accounts and used those proceeds to purchase property, pay off personal loans, and pay expenses for other companies under his control. GROVER used a variety of methods to increase the number of fraudulent loan applications he was able to submit. Among other things, he recruited SHIKHA SEHGAL and others to open bank accounts for companies that did no business, create fake invoices and other supporting documentation, and submit fraudulent applications for numerous PPP loans. GROVER also misused the personally identifiable information of one of his employees to obtain a loan.
* * *
GROVER, 54, of Massapequa, New York, and SEHGAL, 43, of Deer Park, New York, were each charged with one count of major fraud against the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. GROVER is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Yumi Chong is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Tahlequah Residents Sentenced for Role in Cherokee County RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kody Fields, age 24, Fvs-Chvtv Amos Lawhead, age 30, and Jimmy Dale Brown, age 31, all Tahlequah residents, were sentenced for their roles in a 2021 Cherokee County robbery. Lawhead and Fields were both sentenced to 120 months in prison. Brown was sentenced to 46 months in prison.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On July 24, 2021, Fields, Lawhead, and Brown robbed a victim at gunpoint, firing multiple rounds, and demanding the victim’s cash, phone, firearm, and vehicle.
On February 9, 2022, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of Robbery, and Lawhead pleaded guilty to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
On February 22, 2022, Fields pleaded guilty to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
“Using firearms to commit crimes will not be tolerated in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Under federal law, using, carrying, brandishing, and/or discharging a firearm during the commission of a violent crime subjects offenders to mandatory minimum prison sentences, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to pursue these charges when the facts warrant.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendants are members of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Fields, Lawhead, and Brown will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States at sentencing.
Summerville Man Sentenced to 8 years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Justin Michael Beauvais, 39, of Summerville, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that in October 2020, Beauvais was a subcontractor working at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) at McMurdo Station in Antarctica but was on leave in South Carolina. While on leave, he accepted a new job and contacted his coworkers at McMurdo station to request that they mail his personal hard drive to his home in Summerville, South Carolina. On October 8, 2020, Beauvais emailed his coworkers and requested they reformat his hard drive and mail it to him. On October 13, 2020, a coworker located the hard drive and viewed it to download movies. At that time, the coworker located a video that depicted a nude prepubescent girl. The coworkers reported the incident, and superiors confirmed that there was child pornography on the hard drive.
On October 28, 2020, Beauvais waived his Miranda rights and was interviewed by Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents. Beauvais initially denied having child pornography on the hard drive. Thereafter, Beauvais consented to a polygraph examination and consented to all his electronics being seized from his residence. Beauvais admitted to possessing child pornography on the hard drive that was in Antarctica. Beauvais stated he copied child pornography from his personal device in South Carolina to the hard drive and then took the hard drive with him to Antarctica.
Agents obtained consent to search Beauvais’ residence and seized numerous electronic devices following the search, including hard drives, laptops, and cell phones. A review of the devices revealed thousands of images depicting child pornography, including images depicting pre-pubescent minors and toddlers.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Beauvais to 97 months in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Hendricks also ordered Beauvais to pay $51,500 in restitution to the victims.
The case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean H. Secor and Emily E. Limehouse prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Suburban Chicago Man Guilty of Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man admitted in federal court that he illegally possessed more than 3,000 videos and images depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
MIGUEL ASCENCIOS, also known as “Allison Wou,” 55, of Burr Ridge, Ill., pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. The conviction is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of up to 20 years. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for Aug. 22, 2023.
Ascencios admitted in a plea agreement that in 2017 and 2018 he used social media and a file-sharing service to receive and share computer files depicting child pornography. Among the thousands of files he possessed were videos depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers, the plea agreement states.
Two ten-year-old children depicted in the images and videos have been identified as known child victims by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Court at sentencing will determine the amount of restitution owed to victims.
The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Substantial assistance was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Malgorzata Tracz Kozaka.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Stamford Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that SERVIO BARROS-TERREROS, 56, of Stamford has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.
As alleged in court documents, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported that, when she was nine and 10 years old, Barros-Terreros had sexually assaulted her multiple times. The victim reported that Barros-Terreros took sexually explicit pictures of her, and threatened to publish the pictures and show them to the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone. Barros-Terreros also instructed the victim to undress during video calls he initiated with the victim, during which he also engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On January 12, 2023, Stamford Police arrested Barros-Terreros on state sexual assault and risk of injury offenses, and seized Barros-Terreros’ iPhone. It is alleged that analysis of the iPhone revealed sexually explicit images of the minor victim, and images of Barros-Terreros engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim.
Barros-Terreros has been detained since his arrest. He made his initial appearance yesterday in Bridgeport federal court.
The complaint charges Barros-Terreros with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
St. Louis County Felon Accused of Possessing Nearly 1 Kilogram of FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from Wellston, Missouri has been federally indicted and accused of possessing nearly one kilogram of fentanyl and 700 grams of crack cocaine.
Devion X. Gordon, 28, was charged by complaint May 9 and indicted by a grand jury May 17. He now faces charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Charging and court documents say that an investigation by the FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department resulted in a court-approved search of Gordon’s home on May 9. Investigators found a loaded Glock pistol, drug paraphernalia, about 965 grams of fentanyl, about 700 grams of cocaine base and approximately $18,000 in cash.
The fentanyl charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and the cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime charges each carry a five-year mandatory minimum.Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Goeke is prosecuting the case.
St. Clair County Man Facing Federal Charge for Pipe Bomb PossessionRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – On Monday, Jim F. Lanier, 49, of Marissa, Illinois, was arraigned on an indictment in federal court charging the unlawful possession of a destructive device. Lanier was ordered detained pending trial.
In a previously filed complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation alleged that Lanier admitted to making a homemade pipe bomb that he intended to use to blow up his wife’s vehicle, and further admitted to lighting and throwing the device at people who confronted him inside a trailer park in Marissa, Illinois on April 29, 2023. The device did not detonate, according to the complaint. The complaint further alleged that a second suspicious device was found stored among Lanier’s belongings.
The unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
“Destructive devices can be exceptionally dangerous to life and limb. All suspected cases of the unlawful possession of homemade explosive or incendiary devices must be investigated thoroughly and treated as serious threats,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.“A potentially hazardous situation that could have endangered the lives of innocent people was averted thanks to successful collaboration with our local, state and federal partners,” said Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “FBI Springfield would like to thank the Scott Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, the Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad, and the Marissa Police Department. This multi-agency investigation demonstrates the joint commitment of our law enforcement partners to prioritize the safety of our communities.”
Complaints and indictments are merely formal charges against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation with the assistance of the Marissa Police Department, the Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Devices Unit, and Scott Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Burke and Liam Coonan are prosecuting the case.Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Bank ATMs and Jewelry StoresRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston today in connection with the theft from federal bank ATMs in December 2022 and the burglaries of two New Hampshire jewelry stores in January 2023.
Alex Oyola, a/k/a “Dirty,” 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy transport stolen property in interstate commerce, two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, conspiracy steal from a federally insured bank and theft from a federally insured bank. U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris scheduled a further hearing for Oct. 19, 2023.
Oyola and six other men were arrested on April 12, 2023, and charged with offenses related to the theft, transportation and sale of stolen property during 2022 and 2023. The other six men were charged in connection with the theft of catalytic converters from over 470 vehicles in 2022 and 2023. Oyola is the second defendant to plead guilty in the case. On May 17, 2023, Jose Torres – the alleged reseller of stolen catalytic converters that were stolen by the conspirators – pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6, 2023.
According to charging documents, it is alleged that Oyola conspired with two of his co-defendants to steal from ATMs of federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022. It is alleged that this conspiracy involved the use of stolen trucks that they would use to rip the ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault containing stolen cash. Oyola is also alleged to have stolen a trailer in December 2022 and committed burglaries of two New Hampshire jewelry stores on Jan. 12, 2023 with two other co-defendants. The combined total value of the jewelry stolen during the burglaries was determined to be over $140,000, with each store facing more than $10,000 in costs to repair the resulting damage caused during the burglary.
The charge of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit bank theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of bank theft provides for a sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn, Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Kevin Gallagher, Director of Operations for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Connecticut, the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of California; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Levy’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Over 70 local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut contributed to this investigation through the submission of their investigations of catalytic converter thefts in their jurisdiction. The Massachusetts Police Departments contributing to the investigation were Abington, Acton, Andover, Auburn, Bedford, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Chelmsford, Concord, Cranston, East Hampton, Easton, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Hampton, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Holliston, Holyoke, Hudson, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Malden, Mansfield, Medford, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Needham, Newton, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, Wilmington, Woburn, and Worcester. The New Hampshire Police Departments contributing to the investigation were Bow, Concord, Derry, Hooksett, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Salem, Windham. The Connecticut Police Departments contributing to the investigation were South Windsor and Windsor.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Spokane Woman Sentenced to a Year in Federal for Failing to File Federal Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Rhonda Sue Ackerman, age 54 of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully failing to file her 2015 and 2016 federal income tax returns. Senior United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Ackerman to a 12-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a one-year term of court supervision after she is released from federal prison. Senior Judge Peterson ordered Ackerman’s federal prison term to run consecutive to the to the twelve-month prison term imposed by the Spokane County Superior Court on January 4, 2023, following her first-degree theft conviction in State of Washington v. Rhonda Sue Ackerman (Case No. 21110632-32) for stealing $1,378,541 in public funds between 2007 and 2016, while she worked at Spokane County Department of Risk Management (“SCDRM”). Senior Judge Peterson also ordered Ackerman to pay the IRS $96,363 in restitution.
According to court documents, Ackerman abused her position as a liability claims technician at SCDRM. Between 2014 and 2016, she embezzled $440,315.25 and failed to file federal income tax returns reporting her income. Ackerman used her access to risk management software to enrich herself by creating bogus “vendor” and vendor IDs” for nominees (fake third-party claimants). Shen then created and submitted bogus claims vouchers to Spokane County, delivering the bogus vouchers to the auditor’s office for payment, picking up the vouchers and contacting the nominees to cash the checks for her at local banks. As part of the scheme, Ackerman would pay each nominee between $100 and $600 for cashing the checks and keeping the remaining funds for her own personal use and benefit. While Ackerman deposited some of the ill-gotten proceeds into her bank account, a large portion of the cash Ackerman received was spent gambling. At one local casino, Ackerman withdrew approximately $117,000.
“Ackerman willfully disregarded the tax laws and embezzled county funds for her own personal gain. Our tax system depends on the voluntary compliance of honest taxpayers. People who intentionally fail to file tax returns are subject to prosecution. The sentence imposed in this case sends a strong message: A term of imprisonment is a reality for willfully failing to file federal income tax returns,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref.
“Gamblers often tell themselves, ‘It’s only a problem if I’m losing.’ Today’s sentence is confirmation that Ms. Ackerman has indeed lost,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Ms. Ackerman embezzled hard-earned taxpayer funds and gambled It away. Not satisfied with that, she chose to deliberately disregard tax laws in order to try to evade paying her fair share. This is not acceptable, and IRS:CI will continue to investigate and bring these criminals to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Spokane Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
2:22-CR-22-RMP
South Carolina Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — A Columbia, South Carolina, return preparer and regional manager of multiple tax preparation business locations pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Georgina Gonzalez, formerly of Miami, Florida, worked as a tax return preparer since at least 2013. For the 2016 and 2017 tax filing seasons, Gonzalez temporarily relocated from Florida to South Carolina to prepare tax returns and manage multiple locations of a tax preparation business located in Columbia, South Carolina. At these offices, Gonzalez conspired with others to inflate client refunds by preparing returns that falsely claimed, among other things, business losses, household help income, and American Opportunity and education tax credits. Gonzalez and her co-conspirators charged clients up to $999 for preparing each return. In total, Gonzalez caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $420,000.
Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and other monetary penalties. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Ashley Stein, Francesca Bartolomey, and Jessica Kraft of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Holliday of the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case.
###
San Diego Restaurant Owners Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in San Diego returned an indictment on May 19 charging a California man and woman with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
According to the indictment, Leronce Suel and Ravae Smith owned Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated a series of restaurants in the San Diego area. From March 2020 to June 2022 Suel and Smith allegedly conspired to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough LLC’s 2020 corporate tax return (From 1120S) filed with the IRS in order to qualify for the COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program and Restaurant Revitalization Funding loans. Suel and Smith also allegedly made materially false certifications on loan applications regarding the use of the money. The indictment charges that Suel and Smith made substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts to launder the fraudulently obtained funds. As part of the conspiracy, Suel and Smith allegedly concealed more than $2.4 million in cash at their residence.
Suel and Smith made their initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 10 years in prison for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman for the Southern District of California made the announcement.
“During an unprecedented public health emergency, the United States provided these loan programs to deliver economic relief to Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. “This office will investigate and prosecute those who exploited the global pandemic to unjustly enrich themselves. We encourage anyone with information regarding individuals who have engaged in COVID-relief fraud to come forward.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and the investigative agency for their excellent work on this case.
“The CARES act was passed to aid those in need and provide much needed relief during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, there are individuals and organizations who took advantage and targeted these programs to steal funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the Los Angeles Field Office. “Submitting false returns in support of a fraudulent loan application is a crime. IRS-CI is committed to aggressively investigating these crimes and bringing those to justice who stole funds and targeted relief programs during the pandemic.”
The IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler of the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sacramento, California Man Sentenced for Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Julio Ayala, 33, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiring to distribute marijuana. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Ayala to 18 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Ayala will begin a two-year term of supervised release.
Ayala was part of a marijuana conspiracy which existed between October of 2018 and December of 2020. As part of the conspiracy, individuals shipped marijuana from California to Omaha. Ayala was involved in the distribution of the marijuana in Omaha. On December 18, 2020, agents executed a search warrant at co-conspirator Marques Eiland’s residence and located approximately 22.5 pounds of marijuana. Ayala, Eiland, and co-conspirators Aarion Jenkins and Shawn Thomas were all present. Each of the conspirators have pleaded guilty. On May 3, 2023, Jenkins was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment. This was in addition to 11 months he already served on related state and federal cases. On May 3, 2023, Eiland was sentenced to 31 months of imprisonment. Thomas is pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, the Bellevue Police Department, and the Sacramento California County Sheriff’s Department.