Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
30 June 2023
Six Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Joaquin County and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment Thursday against Jorge Omar Arredondo Garcia, 44, of Lodi; Gregorio Ontiveros Verdugo, 39, of Morada; Jose Manuel Ontiveros Verdugo, 37, of Stockton; Alberto Navarro Zapata, 36, of Stockton; and Wilfredo Reyes, 48, of Manteca; charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of heroin, and unlawful use of a telephone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2019, the defendants conspired with each other and with others to distribute methamphetamine. During the investigation, an undercover source bought a total of 11 pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of heroin from this drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement interdicted the group’s shipments of 50 pounds of methamphetamine destined for Nebraska, as well as a 21‑pound shipment destined for Pennsylvania.
This investigation also resulted in the indictment of Robert Godinez, 50, of Hayward, who was pulled over on a traffic stop after buying methamphetamine from a former member of this conspiracy. A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Godinez today, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and unlawful use of a cellphone. Two pounds of methamphetamine and approximately a half pound of heroin were found in his vehicle.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Borders Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Joaquin County Probation, the Stockton Police Department, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Readout of Civil Rights Division’s Inaugural Quarterly LGBTQI+ Rights Community Stakeholder MeetingRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the division’s LGBTQI+ Working Group convened the inaugural quarterly meeting of LGBTQI+ Rights Community Stakeholders at the Justice Department.
Department leadership, including representatives from the Civil Rights Division, FBI, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women heard from attending organizations on an array of topics, including anti-LGBTQI+ violence and hate, legislation targeting the LGBTQI+ community, Title VI and grant funding concerns specific to the LGBTQI+ community and the need to increase intersex awareness. Representatives from other government agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Energy and Housing and Urban Development were also in attendance.
This week’s meeting reinforces the Justice Department’s commitment to taking an all-of-department approach to protecting LGBTQI+ rights, including by engaging with organizations and stakeholders on issues affecting the LGBTQI+ community. The department’s recent work on LGBTQI+ rights issues includes statements of interest and lawsuits challenging state bans on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. The department has also prosecuted hate crimes based on LGBTQI+ status, supported organizations serving LGBTQI+ victims and survivors, and educated the public about threats facing the LGBTQI+ community, including by hosting a virtual, nationwide community meeting addressing practical steps for protecting LGBTQI+ communities from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. These and other efforts by the department are summarized in a fact sheet released earlier in June in honor of Pride Month.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2023.
Kyle J. Kirchhoff, 28, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund. Kirchhoff will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Kirchhoff was indicted for Production of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2023.
The conviction stems from Kirchhoff possessing child pornography that he self-produced between January of 2019 and February of 2022.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Kirchhoff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Michael Raymond Holst, age 48, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Receipt of Child Pornography, Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children, and Possession of Child Pornography following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 29, 2023.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to lifetime of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Holst was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022.
Evidence at trial established that law enforcement was alerted after Holst downloaded an image of child pornography off the internet that was later uploaded to his Synchronoss account. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce identified Holst as the owner of the account and executed a search warrant on his home where they seized multiple devices. A forensic examination of those devices found hundreds of images of child pornography and thousands of images of computer-generated child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Anna Lindrooth tried the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon.
Kevin Blackmore, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 7, 2023, Blackmore pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
On June 19, 2022, police were dispatched to a hotel in Sharon, Mass. in response to a call for a possible disturbance involving two vehicles. At the scene, the female occupant of one vehicle requested police assistance in collecting personal items from Blackmore, who was driving the second vehicle. When officers assisted Blackmore in searching the vehicle for those items, they recovered a black Smith and Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm, a Taurus .9mm semi-automatic firearm, 97 rounds of .9mm ammunition and 100 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. According to court records, Blackmore has numerous prior felony convictions stemming back to 1996 and going up through 2020, as a result Blackmore is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Blackmore has multiple prior convictions for violent behavior, nine restraining orders involving eight different women and a prior conviction for illegal possession of a firearm in 2009.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Sharon Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Reginald Johnson, 31, of Philadelphia, P.A., pleaded guilty, today, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a vehicular homicide. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the Government’s evidence, on January 15, 2023 around 6:10 p.m., Reginald Johnson drove his Jeep eastbound into the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest and 15th Street, N.W crashing into an Uber driver in a Toyota Corolla who was turning left across eastbound traffic lanes onto 15th Street, NW. Mr. Johnson reached a speed of 61 miles per hour shortly before the crash, more than twice the 25 miles per hour speed limit. Mr. Johnson told an officer that he saw the car turning but thought it was stopping, sped up, and struck the car towards its tail end.
Reginald Johnson had been drinking alcoholic beverages at Mission Bar from approximately 1:24 p.m. to 5:46 p.m. before choosing to get behind the wheel. His breath alcohol content was at 9:20 p.m. was 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. D.C. Code § 50–2206.01 defines intoxicated as “An alcohol concentration at the time of testing of 0.08 grams or more … per 210 liters of the person’s breath…”
On June 30, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) in the death of one passenger, Carlos Christian, and assault with a dangerous weapon in the injury of another passenger, Camila Selman. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 13, 2023, at which time the defendant faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of Detective William Lee and others from MPD’s Major Crash Unit who investigated the case in Washington, D.C. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, of the Homicide section, who is prosecuting the case.
Orlando Man Who Destroyed Hard Drive Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Tristan McKie (38, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. McKie faces a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for the distribution offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 19, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, law enforcement received a CyberTip regarding a user distributing child sex abuse images and videos on a social media platform. Further investigation revealed that McKie was the user who had uploaded the child sex abuse material. While executing a search warrant on McKie’s residence, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices belonging to McKie, including a damaged laptop under McKie’s bed and an external hard drive broken into pieces behind a freezer. Law enforcement also found a folder containing McKie’s handwritten stories describing the sexual abuse of children between the ages of five and sixteen. A forensic examination of McKie’s devices revealed several videos and images of child sex abuse material. During an interview with law enforcement, McKie admitted to viewing and trading child sex abuse material.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ontario Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Marijuana into the United States via HelicopterRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Raminderjit Assi, 28, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to importation of marijuana into the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that after researching methods of smuggling marijuana into the United States, including by helicopter, Assi and a co-conspirator obtained a helicopter and helicopter pilot licenses. On April 9, 2019, Assi and a co-conspirator flew a helicopter from Canada into United States airspace, specifically, Beaver Island Park on Grand Island, NY, where they left four red duffle bags. Before the bags could be collected by another co-conspirator, U.S. Border Patrol located the bags. The bags contained a total of 49 kilograms of marijuana. Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration, CBP Air and Marine Operations, and NavCanada, determined that Assi and his co-conspirator turned off the transponder on the helicopter, failed to check-in with required towers, and failed to submit a required flight plan. Surveillance footage from the helipad in Canada where the two took off revealed that they prepared and operated the helicopter at take-off and returned in the helicopter after the illegal incursion. Assi later admitted he had flown the helicopter.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Matthew Scarpino.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
# # # #
Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Cameron Carodine, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Carodine to 90 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months of imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 150 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On February 25, 2020, during a controlled buy in Omaha, a confidential source, equipped with audio and visual recording devices, purchased 500 fentanyl pills from Carodine. On March 5, 2020, law enforcement was conducting surveillance at Carodine’s residence in anticipation of serving a federal search warrant. Carodine exited the home and drove away in a gray 2012 Chevrolet Malibu without license plates. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and took Carodine into custody. Carodine’s residence was searched, and several hundred fentanyl pills and a Glock 21, .45 caliber handgun were seized.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Ocean County Man Admits $21.7 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme and COVID-19 Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man admitted his role in a durable medical equipment kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Alexander Schleider, 57, of Lakewood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Schleider owned and operated durable medical equipment (DME) companies in New Jersey that provided orthotic braces to beneficiaries of Medicare and other federal and private health care benefit programs without regard to medical necessity. Schleider and his conspirators obtained prescriptions for the DME braces through the payment of kickbacks and bribes to individuals operating marketing call centers, who in turn utilized the service of telemedicine companies to obtain prescriptions for the DME. Schleider caused losses to Medicare and other health care benefit programs of $21.7 million.
Schleider also committed wire fraud in connection with funds made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After one of his DME companies received $322,237 from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration Provider Relief Fund, Schleider submitted a fraudulent attestation to HRSA in which he claimed that the DME company provided diagnoses, testing, and care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19 after Jan. 31, 2020. In reality, the DME company had ceased billing for any services in April 2019. The attestation also falsely claimed that the payment would only be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and that the payment shall reimburse the recipient only for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. Schleider did not use the funds for those purposes, but transferred them into other accounts and subsequently used them to purchase real estate and vehicles, among other things.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Naomi Gruchacz; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Sherman and DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
schleider.information.pdfNewburgh Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Phillip Abell, 46, of Newburgh, Indiana, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, on January 23, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Abell’s home in Newburgh, Indiana. Law enforcement officers located and seized data storage discs and a custom-built desktop computer. Abell admitted that he had used a file sharing program for the last three years to search for child sexual abuse material. Abell stated he did not always look at child sexual abuse material but would sometimes get a “hankering” for it and needed to satisfy that desire. Abell also admitted to first viewing child sexual abuse material while in college. Abell stated he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to search for the types of files he was interested in. Abell engaged in a pattern of intentionally finding, downloading, viewing, and then deleting child sexual abuse material. The materials Abell downloaded included visual depictions of the sexual abuse of prepubescent children under twelve years old.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Billy Bolin, Chief of Evansville Police Department made the announcement.
“Over the course of many years, the defendant trawled through the darkest corners of the internet to find images of the sexual abuse of young children,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Trafficking in these images furthers the trauma inflicted on innocent children and fuels the desires of criminals with sexual interests in children. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that our office is committed to working with the FBI and Evansville Police to protect our children from those who desire to do them harm.”
The FBI and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Abell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Abell must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, and goes to school.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Angel Alfonso Arias-Miranda, age 53, pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a stolen motor vehicle in interstate commerce before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Arias-Miranda, on October 11, 2020, transported a stolen vehicle, namely, a 2012 Mack drilling rig, from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, to New Jersey, knowing that the vehicle had been stolen.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for Arias-Miranda on October 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than ten (10) 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 offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Arias-Miranda.
New Haven Drug Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASHON SPEARMAN, also known as “J ” and “Deuce,” 35, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a narcotics conspiracy offense stemming from his leadership of a New Haven area drug trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2021, the New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department began investigating Spearman and others for the distribution of fentanyl, heroin crack and cocaine in and around the West Hills neighborhood, including the McConaughy Terrace housing complex located on South Genesee Street in New Haven. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, fixed video surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Spearman was receiving fentanyl and heroin from James Hillard, of New York, and shipments of kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico, which were arranged by Jean Mangual-Castro, also known as “Mangui,” of West Haven. Spearman then distributed the drugs to others, several of whom processed, packaged, and sold fentanyl and crack at the McConaughy Terrace housing complex.
On February 4, 2022, investigators arrested Spearman and Hillard after they met in the Bronx and a search of Hillard’s car revealed more than 7,000 folds of heroin/fentanyl and approximately $30,000 in cash.
On February 8, investigators executed court-authorized search warrants at several locations, including a residence on Ward Street in New Haven where Spearman distributed narcotics, and vehicles in which Spearman was suspected of storing narcotics. A search of a minivan revealed approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine; a search of a vehicle registered to Spearman revealed $750,400 in cash, assorted jewelry and a quantity of fentanyl; and a search of the Ward Street residence revealed additional cash, several money counters, and numerous cellphones. The search also found and seized five firearms.
On February 15, 2022, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Spearman, Hilliard and six co-defendants with narcotics trafficking offenses. On April 19, 2022, Spearman, Mangual-Castro, and two others were charged in a separate indictment with offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico.
Spearman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for October 16, at which time Spearman faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He has been detained since his arrest.
Spearman has agreed to forfeiture of the seized cash, firearms, and three vehicles.
All 11 defendants charged during this investigation have now pleaded guilty. On May 11, 2023, Mangual-Castro was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Hilliard and several other defendants await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, and the New Haven Police Department. The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force includes participants from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Kenneth L. Gresham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Violent Carjacking Conspiracy Targeting Uber and Lyft DriversRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to his role in a violent carjacking ring that targeted Uber and Lyft drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 20, along with others, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy lured victim-drivers to particular locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the victim-drivers arrived, members of the conspiracy brandished firearms and demanded the cell phones and wallets of the victim-drivers. Members of the conspiracy forced the victim-drivers at gunpoint to unlock their cell phones and provide passcodes. The conspiracy members then transferred money, via Cash App or other applications, from the accounts of the victim-drivers to the accounts of members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy then carjacked the victim-drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, members of the conspiracy struck, pistol whipped, and threatened to kill the victim-drivers.
Childs-Young pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence.
On June 15, 2023, co-defendant Javeyon Demario Tate, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence.
On October 21, 2022, co-defendant William Charles Saffold, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer.
Sentencing dates will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
A Mexican national, who legally resided in Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas today to sex trafficking a minor.
In February 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Rita Martinez, 65, for using force, fraud and coercion to compel 10 victims, both adults and minors, to engage in commercial sex work in a cantina that Martinez owned and operated in Mission, Texas, known at various times as Perez Lounge, Rita’s Lounge and Rita’s Sports Bar.
In January 2023, a co-defendant in the case, Genaro Fuentes, 40, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor.
As part of her plea agreement, Martinez admitted that she operated a cantina in Mission, Texas, from 2000 to 2019 and provided housing to a minor victim whom she knew to be 16 years old in the spring or summer of 2005. Martinez had the minor victim clean her house, but eventually, sent the minor victim with men from the cantina, knowing that these men intended to engage in commercial sex with the minor victim. Martinez also admitted that she accepted money from these clients before allowing them to take the minor victim out of the cantina to engage in commercial sex. Martinez applied the money to a smuggling debt that she imposed upon the minor victim to transport her from Mexico into the United States. The minor victim left Rita’s cantina in the fall of 2006.
“Human trafficking – particularly trafficking of children – is a reprehensible crime with far reaching consequences. Traffickers degrade human dignity and decimate individual rights while at the same time undermining public safety, border security, economic opportunity and the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting human traffickers for this heartless exploitation of vulnerable young people and to obtaining restitution on behalf of victims.”
“Behind her cantina, Rita Martinez tormented and forced young migrant women and girls into sexual acts, acts with Rita’s male patrons,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “No one should have to endure that kind of treatment. Sometimes it takes time, but we will not give up. We will make sure people like Martinez answer for violating the laws of the United States by preying on the weak and vulnerable members of our society.”
“Human trafficking strips victims of their bodily autonomy and devastates families and communities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Justice would not be possible without the courage of the victims to come forward and tell their story. The FBI is grateful for their bravery and devoted to bringing justice to anyone affected by human trafficking.”
Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of Martinez’s plea agreement, she agreed to pay over $840,000 in restitution to 14 victims. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Hamdani and Assistant Director Quesada made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sherri Zack for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Kate Hill of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Metairie Man Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JASON CAREY, age 42, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was charged today in a twenty-count indictment for bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, beginning on or about November 4, 2020 and continuing until on or about November 20, 2020, CAREY allegedly executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $20,000 from Hancock Whitney Bank by depositing altered United States Postal Money Orders into his minor daughter’s bank account at Hancock Whitney Bank. CAREY then withdrew these funds from Hancock Whitney Bank before the fund transfers cleared.
If convicted, CAREY faces up to thirty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation, and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Evans also praised the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mescalero Man Charged with Sexual AbuseRead 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 Garrick Richard Shendo-Herrera made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual abuse. Shendo-Herrera, 34, of Mescalero, will remain in custody pending trial.
According to the complaint, on May 16, 2023, the victim gave Shendo-Herrera a ride home from his workplace. After they arrived at Shendo-Herrera’s residence, Shendo-Herrera allegedly began sexually abusing the victim. Shendo-Herrera stopped assaulting the victim only when a third party interrupted the alleged assault, giving the victim a chance to escape.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Shendo-Herrera faces up to life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
# # #
23-142
Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
JAUWAN EDWARDS, also known as “Yaya,” 25, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Edwards was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Edwards possessed firearms, and that he sold a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, Percocet pills, and marijuana. Edwards also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, including a Lexus Rx350 that was stolen from Rye, New York.
In early December 2019, O.N.E. members were involved in multiple shots-fired incidents in Bridgeport. In one incident, the mother of two East End gang members was shot outside of her Bridgeport home. In another incident, on December 8, 2019, O.N.E. members used the stolen Lexus in a shooting incident at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, and then drove it to Newfield Avenue in Bridgeport, considered the turf of the East End/East Side gang, where they shot and killed Ty’Quess Moore, also known as “Breezo,” 18.
Edwards has been detained since his arrest on July 27, 2021.
Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 27.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Macedon Business Owner Charged with Wire Fraud in Classic Car SchemeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Clark P. Rittersbach, 49, of Cape Coral, Florida, was charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Rittersbach owned and was the sole manager of Concours Classic Motor Cars in Macedon, NY, from approximately 2006 until at least approximately 2021. The company, which specializes in the restoration and sale of antique vehicles, has many long distance and international customers. According to the complaint, since at least 2017, Rittersbach has fraudulently billed three victims for acquisition and/or restoration work on their antique vehicles that he either did not complete or did not perform at all, despite communicating to them via email and text message that he had. As a result of this scheme, Rittersbach fraudulently obtained at least $1.15 million dollars from the three victims.
- Between April 2009 and April 2019, Victim 1, who resides in Pennsylvania, paid Rittersbach to purchase or restore numerous vehicles on his behalf, but eventually became aware of instances in which Rittersbach lied about work done or vehicles purchased in order to obtain money from Victim 1, including a 1932 Dusenburg Murphy.
- Between 2014 and May 2021, Victim 2, a Canadian resident, paid Rittersbach to acquire and/or restore six rare and high value antique automobiles in exchange for payments totaling $374,000. These automobiles included a 1964 Porsche 356C, which Victim 2 never received.
- In 2008, Victim 3, who lived in the United Kingdom and France, entered into an agreement with Rittersbach to restore a 1926 Rolls Royce “Silver Ghost” he had purchased from an acquaintance of Rittersbach. By December 2021, Victim 3 became suspicious that Rittersbach was not performing the restoration work and requested verification, at which time Rittersbach became unresponsive to Victim 3. Subsequently, Victim 3 hired a private investigator and an attorney, who were able to locate the Rolls Royce in late April 2022. However, very little restoration work had been done.
Murphy made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was released on conditions.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 15 years and 8 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court records, On June 28, 2023, Brandon Hillard, 23, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Filed Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bonar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz prosecuted the case.
###
Louisville Man Charged with Online Enticement of 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued earlier this week charging a local man with online enticement.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Greg Smith, Chief of the Oldham County Police Department, made the announcement.
According to court records, in January and February of 2023, Richard Pelphrey, 33, met a minor female victim on a social networking application. The two subsequently met in person, and the victim told Pelphrey she was 15 years old. On more than one occasion, Pelphrey drove the victim to his home in Louisville, Kentucky, where they engaged in sexual activities.
Pelphrey made his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Pelphrey remains in federal custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing on July 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
If convicted, Pelphrey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum potential penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI and the Oldham County Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Marijuana Charge Involving a ShootingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Xavier Lloyd Gary, 19, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 29, 2023 by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a 30-month term of imprisonment for attempted possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. After he completes his prison sentence, Gary will serve a two-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 2, 2021, Lincoln police responded to reports of a shooting occurring near the Edgewood Theaters and Target on the south side of Lincoln. Jayden Prentice, Christopher Duncan, and Riley Mills were present when police arrived. Duncan and Prentice had suffered gunshot wounds. First responders resuscitated Duncan using CPR. They were transported to the hospital. Duncan and Prentice each spent a month in the hospital being treated for their wounds, and Duncan had to have one of his legs amputated. The investigation would later reveal that a group of people, including Gary and Buongkhoy Wal, arranged to purchase a half-pound of marijuana from Prentice, Duncan, and Mills. The planned purchase was a ruse for a robbery. Gary’s car was used in the offense and Gary drove to and from the scene. Gary was not one of the persons who discharged a firearm.
Buongkhoy Wal pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking offense on March 21, 2023, and he is scheduled for sentencing on July 31, 2023. He faces a prison sentence of at least ten years.
Prentice, Duncan, and Mills each pleaded guilty to offenses involving the possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. On June 24, 2022, Mills was sentenced to a 92-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Prentice was sentenced on July 6, 2022, to a 72-month term of imprisonment, and a three-year term of supervised release. Duncan is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, 2023.
The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of 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.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that John Wade Burton, 67, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a 14-year term of imprisonment for possession of child pornography. After he completes his prison sentence, Burton will serve a ten-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Burton was also ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution. Burton was convicted following a jury trial which concluded on February 15, 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received a tip from a foreign law enforcement agency that an IP address originating from the United States had accessed a couple of child pornography websites on The Onion Router (TOR) network. The tip traced back to Burton’s residence in Lincoln. The FBI obtained a search warrant for Burton’s home, and the warrant was executed on November 17, 2020. Several electronic devices were seized from the home and later examined by the FBI. Devices found in Burton’s bedroom, basement, and a hard drive located in the garage all contained files depicting child pornography. In total, more than 200 videos, and more than 1,800 images depicting child pornography were discovered. Pictures of the defendant, a copy of his driver’s license, and his resume were also located on a couple of those same devices.
Burton was interviewed by an FBI agent. He said he used a program which is designed to access the TOR network, and which is supposed to avoid leaving evidence on the computer of having accessed the TOR network. The defendant said he used that program to access the TOR network at least 100 times between February 14, 2018, and November 17, 2020.
Burton was previously convicted in Missouri of having sexually assaulted a child who was less than 14 years old. He was sentenced to prison for that offense and was in custody from February 15, 2007, to February 14, 2018. When the search warrant was executed in this case, Burton was on parole for that offense.
At the time his home was searched, Burton lived with his then 89-year-old father. His father passed away on March 5, 2021, after the search warrant was served, and before Burton’s trial. At trial, Burton argued his deceased father was the person who was responsible for having downloaded all the child pornography. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Gerrard told Burton, “The jury did not believe you, and neither do I.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Jury Convicts Metairie Man of Federal Gun and Drug Charges and Lying to a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On June 27, 2023, DAMION WILSON, age 23, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was found guilty by a federal jury of four counts in a six count indictment. Specifically, WILSON was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, maintaining a drug involved premises, and lying to a federal agent. He was acquitted of two other related counts.
His sentencing is set for October 18, 2023.
As to Count 3 of the indictment, for which he was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D), he faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to two years.
As to Count 4 , for which he was convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life in prison. Any sentence imposed in connection with this count must be served consecutively. He also faces payment of a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to five years.
As to Count 5 , for which he was convicted of maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 856, he faces up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,00.00, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
As to Count 6, for which he was convicted of lying to a federal agent, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, he faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to one year of supervised release. As to each count of conviction, he also faces payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.), the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshal’s Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the General Crimes Unit and Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Murphy, 31, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2019 and October 2020, Murphy bought, sold, and distributed quantities of methamphetamine for profit. In July 2019, the United States Marshal’s Service and other law enforcement officers went to a Bishop Street residence in Jamestown, where Murphy was present, to apprehend a federal fugitive. When they arrived, law enforcement observed, in plain view, distribution amounts of methamphetamine. They seized the methamphetamine and $1,476 in cash. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed, and investigators seized another 223 grams of actual methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. In November 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Murphy’s Newland Avenue residence in Jamestown. Before execution of the warrant, Murphy ran away, dropping a digital scale. Inside the residence, law enforcement recovered methamphetamine, illicit mushrooms, other drug paraphernalia, two firearms and ammunition, and $1,642 in cash. The investigation also included four controlled purchases of drugs from Murphy.
Co-defendants Rocco Beardsley, Miller Hagga, and Austin Gordon are scheduled for trial on September 6, 2023. Co-defendants Kylie Reeves, Garland Beardsley, Tyler Tedesco, and Giselle Bennett were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 17, 2023, before Judge Arcara.
# # # #
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced to Eight Years for Narcotics and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Johnny Deangelo White (46, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He had pleaded guilty in March 2023.
According to court documents, on April 27, 2022, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from an individual who saw White waving a firearm outside of a grocery store. When White saw the officers, he fled into the store and threw the firearm into a shelf of potato chips. The loaded, stolen, firearm was recovered, and White was arrested. The officers found on White’s person a sunglasses case that contained fentanyl. The amount of fentanyl and the way it was packaged was indicative that White was selling fentanyl. White later admitted to selling fentanyl since the early part of 2022. White is a seven-time convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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.
Iowa Air National Guardsman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Kevin Swanson, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, entered a guilty plea in federal court on May 4, 2023, to possession of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Swanson admitted that between August 2020, and August 2021, he used an Internet-based, peer-to-peer (P2P) network to knowingly receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions involving prepubescent minors who had not reached the age of 12. Swanson had over 1,168 images and 4 video files of child exploitation materials.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set for a later date after a presentence report is prepared. Swanson was taken into custody by the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Swanson faces a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of not more than $250,000, a mandatory special assessment of $100 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years to life.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4080. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 29 was:
Joshua James Groh, 41, of Billings, and Gary Michael Byrd, 52, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Groh and Byrd face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Groh and Byrd were detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-74.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on June 29 was:
Matthew Cory Glen Robocker, 27, of Shelby, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Robocker faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Robocker was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Toole County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-48.
Heath Lynn Schmoeckel, 42, of Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schmoeckel faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Schmoeckel was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-22.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on June 27 was:
James Cleveland Manywhitehorses, 42, of Browning, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Manywhitehorses faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Manywhitehorses was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference.23-55.
Bradley Bear Standing Rock, 26, of Havre, on charges of sexual assault, a misdemeanor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Standing Rock faces a maximum of six months imprisonment and a $500 fine. Standing Rock was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-59.
Jacqueline Rose Hydock, 33, of Great Falls, on charges of possession of stolen mail and wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hydock faces maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hydock was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-54.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
XXX
Houma Drug Dealer Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, LARANZA THOMAS, a/k/a “Dude,” age 28, a resident of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison, five years of supervised release upon release from prison, as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
This prosecution was a part of an extensive 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 Louisiana State Police, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Levee District Police Department, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections – Division of Probation and Parole. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Deaths in Human Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
ALPINE, Texas – A Guatemalan national was sentenced in federal court in Pecos Monday to 63 months in prison for one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death.
According to court documents, David Alexander Gonzalez-Diaz, 24, of Santa Rosa, Guatemala, was transporting 14 undocumented noncitizens north of Van Horn on Oct. 29, 2021, when he lost control of the vehicle, crashing and ejecting several occupants. As a result, four of the migrants were killed and six were critically injured. Gonzalez-Diaz has remained in federal custody since his arrest the day of the crash.
“Human smuggling is extremely dangerous and, as displayed in this case, often results in serious injury or death,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence is a reminder that violators are committing a serious crime with serious consequences and will be held accountable.”
"This case drives home a harsh message to anyone considering trusting a smuggler to attempt to enter the United States illegally: Anytime you trust a smuggler, you’re putting your life in grave danger,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Division. “Human smugglers have a total disregard for their clients’ safety, welfare, and lives. They see them simply as cargo and a means to make a profit."
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Greenbaum prosecuted the case.
###
Four Owensboro Residents Sentenced for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – This week, the fourth and final member of an Owensboro federal drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Sheila Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.
On June 29, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro Division, Darrell Murphy, 48, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
On March 29, 2023, Terry Cook, 45, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
On March 16, 2023, William Darmell Murphy, 61, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
On March 16, 2023, Elizabeth Breanne Harris, 41, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA Evansville Resident Office and Owensboro Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Dahl.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
###
Four Jefferson and St. Tammany Parish Men Indicted for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES MAGEE, age 31, DEON SHORT, age 26, and CHARLES WHITE, age 31, all residents of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and DENTRELL JOHNSON, age 28, a Slidell, Louisiana resident, were charged on June 22, 2023 in a sealed fourteen-count superseding indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The case was unsealed on June 28, 2023.
The indictment charged MAGEE, JOHNSON, and WHITE with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and quantities of cocaine base, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. For this offense, they face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
SHORT is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. For this offense, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The indictment also charged MAGEE, JOHNSON, WHITE and SHORT with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including but not limited to cocaine and cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). For each of these offenses, the defendants face up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
MAGEE is charged with two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i). JOHNSON is charged with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. For each offense, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years supervised release.
MAGEE is also charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). For this offense, he faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.
For each of the counts of the indictment in which they are charged , the defendants face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Fort Lauderdale Man Sentenced to 5+ Years for Bank Fraud, ID Theft and Firearms Offenses in Maine, Florida and OregonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland yesterday for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unlawful possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Leonardo Cameron, 28, to 61 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Cameron pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022.
According to court records, in November 2020, Cameron and coconspirators broke into unattended vehicles in southern Maine and New Hampshire and stole personal identifying information, such as driver’s licenses and checkbooks. They then used the identifications to cash stolen checks using multiple bank drive-through lanes in southern Maine. As part of the scheme, checks from one theft victim’s account were made payable to another identity theft victim, and another coconspirator impersonated the identity theft victims to cash the stolen checks.
In July 2020, Cameron engaged in similar conduct in Oregon with different coconspirators. In April 2021, when he was arrested in Florida for the Oregon federal bank fraud and identity theft charges, he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A prior felony conviction precluded Cameron from possessing firearms or ammunition. Cameron agreed to transfer jurisdiction over the Florida and Oregon charges to the District of Maine for the purpose of entering guilty pleas to all pending federal charges.
COCONSPIRATOR IN MAINE CASE SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS: On May 3, Travis Paige (aka “Travis McNair” or “Sway”), 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his part in the scheme.
The Eliot, Maine Police Department; the FBI in Portland, Maine; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Oregon; and HSI in Fort Lauderdale, Florida investigated these cases.
###
Former chair of Ohio Republican Party sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in racketeering conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 51, of Bexley, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court today to 60 months in prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy.
A jury found Borges and former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 63, of Glenford, Ohio, guilty of violating the racketeering statute. The verdict was announced on March 8 following a six-week trial.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Borges conspired with others to violate the racketeering statute in a conspiracy involving nearly $61 million in bribes paid to a 501(c)(4) entity to pass and uphold House Bill 6, a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.
“Borges willingly joined the criminal enterprise knowing its members were involved in a bribery conspiracy. He personally sought out, solicited, and bribed an individual for insider information,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Borges has been involved in politics and worked with public officials for more than 20 years. He knew exactly where the lines were when he decided to cross them and participate in a criminal enterprise. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that illegal conduct.”
Borges’ primary role in the enterprise was to deprive Ohioans of the opportunity to overturn what Borges knew was corrupt legislation. He was budgeted $25,000, which he laundered through his own bank accounts, to bribe a political operative for secret, real-time information.
The defendant created a new entity – 17 Consulting Group LLC – and agreed to funnel $1.62 million to 17 Consulting that had already been laundered through Householder’s 501(c)(4), Generation Now.
Borges gave the operative a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum. Borges paid himself $360,000 of the laundered money.
Campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. They await sentencing. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others.
Householder was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday to 240 months in prison. Both he and Borges have been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
# # #
Former Wausau Investment Advisor Sentenced to 8 Years for $1.9 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Anthony B. Liddle, 41, Wausau, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Liddle pleaded guilty to the charges on February 24, 2023.
Liddle served as an investment advisor for his own financial advisory firm, Prosper Wealth Management in Wausau. Between June 2019 and August 2022, he solicited money from his clients allegedly to place in low-risk investments. However, Liddle never actually invested the money. Instead, he kept the money and spent it on his businesses and on personal expenses, including travel. In total, he stole $1,937,817.92 from his clients.
Liddle maintained a high profile in the investment community, hosting seminars and marketing himself as a successful family man who cared about helping others. Many of the victims were individuals he befriended. When the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions began investigating Liddle, he falsely claimed that each of the stolen investments were loans to him, even going so far as creating false loan documents.
In selecting a sentence of 8 years, Judge Peterson said he hoped to provide some measure of justice for the victims, whom he described as “hard-working people who accumulated their wealth over a long period of time.” Judge Peterson called Liddle’s crimes “monstrous,” because he ruthlessly manipulated and stole from people that he knew well.
The charges against Liddle were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Corey and Meredith Duchemin prosecuted this case.
Former Sales Representative Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Compound Prescription Drug SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former sales representative was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud public health benefits programs by billing for medically unnecessary compound prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Matthew Puccio, 41, of Randolph, New Jersey, was convicted on July 19, 2022, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud following a seven-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, who imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents in this case and the evidence at trial:
Compound medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compound drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredients in the prescription.
From November 2014 to March 2016, Puccio participated in a conspiracy that involved submitting fraudulent prescriptions for compound medications to public health benefits programs. Marketing companies recruited and paid sales representatives, such as Puccio, to obtain compound medications for themselves and others regardless of medical necessity, targeting health plans that reimbursed for compound medications at high rates.
Puccio exploited this opportunity through working as a sales representative for several compounding pharmacies. He targeted individuals who had health plans that covered compound medications and then convinced those individuals to obtain prescriptions for compound medications, regardless of medical necessity. Puccio and others induced two New Jersey-based physicians to sign medically unnecessary prescriptions for beneficiaries that Puccio and others had recruited.
Once the prescriptions were written, they were filled by the compounding pharmacies with which Puccio worked. The compounding pharmacies would then receive reimbursement from the health plans and would pay Puccio a percentage of the reimbursement amount. Puccio and his conspirators caused a significant loss to public health benefits programs.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Puccio to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2.65 million in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma Spiro and Shawn Barnes of the Criminal Division in Newark.
Former Police Officer Sentenced to 37 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Wasilla man was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography in his home. According to court documents, Matthew William Schwier, 39, knowingly possessed over 100 still images and multiple videos depicting children being sexually abused. Schwier pled guilty on August 31, 2022, to knowingly possessing child pornography. After serving his sentence, Schwier will be on federal supervised release for 7 years. Schwier will have to pay $15,000.00 in restitution to his victims. Schwier must register as a sex offender and, after release, may not access the internet without permission of the U.S. Probation Office.
Schwier’s child pornography collection, which spanned multiple computers, included images depicting the sexual abuse of infants or toddlers, as well as children being violently abused. The evidence indicates that Schwier may have used specialized law enforcement training, and his advanced computer skills, to facilitate and attempt to hide his crimes.
Schwier’s previous employment included jobs in technical support, computer repair, and as a supervisor of video surveillance for a private security company. He failed to complete probationary employment as a police officer in Phoenix, Arizona; Roswell, New Mexico; and Elk Point, South Dakota, before working as a police officer in Nome, Alaska. The FBI investigation began in approximately 2016 when Schwier distributed child pornography to an undercover law enforcement officer over the internet. Schwier was employed as Justice Director for the Chickaloon Village Traditional Counsel when he was arrested in 2017. The Government indicated that, if this case had gone to trial, the prosecution was prepared to present evidence that Schwier had a reputation within the law enforcement community of being untruthful.
“The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, arrest, and prosecute offenders who traffic in child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “This case demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold criminals accountable without fear or favor, including corrupt former law enforcement officers like Mr. Schwier.”
“May this sentencing serve as a reminder that no one is above the law, and concealing evidence of child exploitation will not go undetected,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Donald W. Lee II of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As these crimes perpetuate the re-victimization of innocent children, the FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to identify and hold accountable those who contribute to the online sexual exploitation of children.”
The court proceedings were delayed for years for several reasons, including the COVID pandemic. Over the six years the case was active, it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander, Charisse Arce, Kelly Cavanaugh, Kyle Reardon, Christopher Schroeder, and Jonas Walker. The FBI investigated the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Please report online child exploitation to the FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids#:~:text=To%20report%20online%20child%20sexual,%2D800%2D843%2D5678.
Former Housing Authority Executive Director Sentenced to Federal Prison for Using Funds for Personal ExpensesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. district judge sentenced the former executive director of the Jefferson County Housing Authority to spend 10 months in federal prison after he converted more than $20,000 in authority funds for personal expenses.
In addition to the prison sentence, Thomas J. Upchurch, 53, now of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was ordered to pay $20,150 in restitution back to the housing authority, and he will serve one year of supervised release.
“To promote respect for the law, the defendant’s sentence sends a clear message to deter other organizational leaders from abusing their power and spending authority,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
“The actions of Thomas Upchurch undermined the ability of the housing authority to provide housing assistance to those who need their services,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “The FBI is particularly vigilant in instances where individuals take advantage of federal program funds.”
According to court documents, Upchurch linked the housing authority’s credit card to his personal Amazon account and made nearly 300 inappropriate charges for personal items. Over a three-year period, the charges totaled more than $20,000. To conceal his fraud, Upchurch blocked the members of JCHA’s Board of Commissioners from reviewing his spending records. The defendant was charged with one count of conversion of federal funds due to the JCHA’s funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The JCHA serves 712 residents over 425 housing units in Mt. Vernon, Dix, Ina, Waltonville and Woodlawn. Members of the Jefferson County Board appoint the JCHA’s Board of Commissioners who then appoint an executive director to oversee its operations.
The FBI Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft prosecuted the case.
Former Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced for Cyberstalking, Perjury, and ObstructionRead the Press Release
A former deputy U.S. Marshal was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ian R. Diaz, 45, of Glendora, California, and his then-wife, an unindicted co-conspirator (CC-1), posed as a person with whom Diaz was formerly in a relationship (Jane Doe). In that guise, they sent themselves harassing and threatening electronic communications that contained apparent threats to harm CC-1; solicited and lured men found through Craigslist “personal” advertisements to engage in so-called “rape fantasies” in an attempt to stage a purported sexual assault on CC-1 orchestrated by Jane Doe; and staged one or more hoax sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults on CC-1. Diaz and CC-1 then reported this conduct to local law enforcement, falsely claiming that Jane Doe posed a genuine and serious threat to Diaz and CC-1. Their actions caused local law enforcement to arrest, charge, and detain Jane Doe in jail for nearly three months for conduct for which Diaz and CC-1 framed her.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Harry A. Lidsky of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Cyber Investigations Office, and Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer of the DOJ-OIG Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement.
DOJ-OIG investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Marco A. Palmieri of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Rebecca G. Ross provided significant assistance.
Former Atlanta business-owner sentenced to prison for obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief fraud, tax identity theft and credit card fraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Jose Fernandez has been sentenced for seeking over $5 million by submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) applications, filing false tax returns using stolen identities, using credit cards he obtained with stolen identities, and check fraud. He ultimately obtained more than $2 million in fraudulent funds, which he then used for his personal benefit.
“Fernandez committed a litany of frauds, including an attempt to steal millions of dollars from a COVID relief program, financial institutions, and the IRS by stealing the identities of innocent victims to file false tax returns,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His sentence reflects the scope of his criminal conduct.”
“Fernandez will have many years in prison to think about his long list of crimes and greed. He not only hurt business owners in need of the Covid relief funding, but even stole the identities of family members,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who violates the law to siphon money from these programs into their own pockets.”
“People who commit PPP fraud and identity theft can expect to be held accountable just as Jose Fernandez has,” said Lisa Fontanette, acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice individuals who commit these types of crimes that financially harm honest law-abiding citizens and defrauds the U.S. Government.”
“This sentencing holds the defendant in this case accountable for seeking to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program, the IRS, and our Nation’s financial institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes and bringing to justice those who threaten to undermine the integrity our Nation’s financial system.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to defraud taxpayer-funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, which were established to provide assistance to American business owners during unprecedented times,” stated Inspector General J. Russell George. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in ensuring individuals engaged in criminal activity are held to account.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. Additional funding was authorized by Congress in December 2020. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within eight weeks of receipt and use at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount for payroll.
Fernandez operated multiple small businesses in the metro-Atlanta area from at least as early as 2016 through 2020. Fernandez submitted multiple PPP applications on behalf of several companies controlled by him or his associates that contained materially false information about the companies’ total number of employees, corporate expenses, and revenue. As a result of these false applications, he received over $1.6 million in fraudulent PPP funds. He then used these fraudulently obtained funds to make unauthorized expenditures, including purchases of a home, automobiles, and additional personal items.
Fernandez, who operated a tax preparation business for several years, also stole thousands of identities of his own clients, and of other individuals from a medical supply company, to file false tax returns claiming over $2 million in fraudulent refunds. The IRS was able to stop the vast majority of these funds from being issued to Fernandez.
In addition, Fernandez committed fraud against financial institutions. He obtained fraudulent credit cards in the names of family members and identity theft victims, which he then used to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. Finally, Fernandez obtained blank check stock that was to be used to print tax refund checks for his tax preparation business clients. He used those checks to attempt to fraudulently write more than $900,000 worth of checks to businesses under his control and to pay personal expenses and debt.
Jose Fernandez, 36, of Winter Haven, Florida, has been sentenced to five years and ten months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Fernandez was charged in a five-count criminal information on January 25, 2023, and pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Also, the Gwinnett County Police Department provided substantial assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Krepp and Tracia M. King prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Florida Resident Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A Florida resident has been sentenced in federal court to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, plus restitution of $158,250 on his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Adrian Orozco Perez, 26, of Kissimmee, Florida.
According to information presented to the court, Orozco Perez was part of a scam that targeted elderly victims in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia. As part of the scam, the elderly victims were falsely informed that their grandchildren were being detained by law enforcement and needed cash in order to pay their bail. Orozco Perez, who functioned as a courier for the scam, picked up cash from the elderly victims at their homes while posing as a bail-bondsman.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ranjan stated that Orozco Perez’s conduct had been egregious and emphasized the emotional and financial harm done to vulnerable victims. Orozco Perez was taken into the custody of the United States Marshals at the conclusion of the hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Orozco Perez.
Florida Man Sentenced for BriberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for paying bribes to receive contracts for work at a college in New York.
Willian Borges, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to two years of probation and forfeiture of $225,000. The government recommended a sentence of two years in prison. In October 2022, Borges pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay bribe payments and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
Borges was a principal of DWD Builders, a general contracting firm, from 2018 to 2019. During this time, Borges paid bribes to co-conspirator Floyd Young, who held positions involving facility maintenance at a New York college, in exchange for preference in obtaining contracts for construction, repair, maintenance and other work for the college. The bribes Borges paid Young during face-to-face meetings were made in cash and worth 15% of the contract. In addition, as Borges received payment for work done at the college, he paid Young bribes on a periodic basis. Borges paid approximately $225,000 in exchange for approximately $2,250,000 in contracts.In August 2020, Young pleaded guilty to steering contracts for construction, repair, maintenance and other work for the colleges to favored contractors, including Borges, in exchange for bribe payments typically in the amount of 15% of the contract.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Levy’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Five Milwaukee Men Federally Indicted for Involvement in Armed Robberies of U.S. Postal CarriersRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 27, 2023, five Milwaukee men were indicted for their involvement in several armed robberies of U.S. postal carriers that occurred between October 2022 and March 2023. Huria H. Abu, age 20, was charged with four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of conspiracy.
Jessie L. Cook, age 19, was charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy. Hussein A. Haji, age 21, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Darrion M. Allison, age 22, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, one count of theft of mail, and one count of conspiracy.
Abdi A. Abdi, age 22, was charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of crime of violence, one count of theft of mail, and one count of conspiracy. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants robbed the U.S. postal carriers of arrow keys. They then used the arrow keys to steal U.S. mail from mail receptacles.
If convicted, each individual faces up to 20 years in prison on each robbery count and a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years and up to life in prison on each charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted of conspiracy, each individual faces up to five years in prison and if convicted of theft of mail, each individual faces up to five years in prison.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department, in collaboration with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # #
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
414-297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Federal Jury Convicts Former Louisiana Police Officer of Civil Rights Violation for Using Dangerous Weapons to Assault a Non-Violent Loitering SuspectRead the Press Release
After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted a former Louisiana police officer on one charge of deprivation of rights under color of law for assaulting a non-violent loitering suspect.
The evidence at trial established that Dylan Hudson, 36, physically assaulted a loitering suspect during a daytime arrest in Shreveport, Louisiana. During the arrest, the defendant repeatedly struck the suspect in the head and face. The conduct described during the trial and played for the jury on video from police dashboard cameras included several applications of potentially deadly force. The defendant struck the suspect in the head with a loaded pistol, tased him at the base of the skull, and kicked him in the face. The defendant’s fellow officers testified that the loitering suspect was non-violent throughout the entire arrest, and that the defendant’s repeated violations of training and policy created a danger not only to the suspect, but to others as well.
“This defendant’s conduct, captured on video, was appalling,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When an officer so grievously abuses the authority entrusted to him by his community, the Justice Department will respond with the full force of the law.”
“Dylan Hudson’s conduct during this incident was unacceptable and he does not deserve the honor of wearing the badge. I hope the victim, our Shreveport community and even the Shreveport Police Department can now begin to heal from Hudson’s unlawful conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “This is the first trial resulting in a guilty verdict that we have ever had in the history of this district where the defendant was a member of the Shreveport Police Department. This administration is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting unjustified, use of force incidents to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Mr. Hudson’s despicable actions have no place in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI and its partners are dedicated to protecting the public from individuals who misuse the trust and authority of the badge.”
The maximum penalty for the charged crime is 10 years of imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Brown and Special Agent in Charge Williams made the announcement.
The FBI the investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Possession of Firearms as Convicted FelonsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a two-count indictment on May 2, 2023, charging two local men with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, John Lindsay, 35, and Rayshawn Lee, 35, both of Louisville, are each charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lindsay possessed a Taurus, Model G3C, 9-millimeter pistol. Lindsay was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 4, 2016, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of burglary in the third degree. On November 28, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence. On July 21, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts), trafficking in a controlled substance I schedule II cocaine less than four grams, wanton endangerment I (2 counts), illegal possession of a controlled substance schedule I marijuana while in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm, intimidating a participant in the legal process, strangulation II, assault IV third or subsequent offense, and criminal mischief I.
Also, according to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lee possessed a Kel-Tec, Model PF-9, 9-millimeter pistol. Lee was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 10, 2008, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lee was convicted of assault second degree. On August 14, 2017, Lee was convicted of wanton endangerment in the second degree.
The defendants made their initial court appearance on June 28, 2023, before a U S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Both defendants remain in federal custody. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by ATF and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Federal Bureau of Prisons Nurse Sentenced for Contraband Smuggling and Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Ruben Montanez-Mirabal, 33, who worked as a registered nurse for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) at the Federal Detention Center – Miami (“FDC-Miami”) has been sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to receive bribes and introduce prohibited objects, including controlled substances, into a federal prison, and to introducing prohibited objects into a federal prison, arising from his illegal deliveries of contraband to inmates at FDC-Miami.
From November 2021 through late August 2022, Montanez-Mirabal solicited and obtained illegal payments from FDC-Miami inmates in exchange for violating his official duties and FDC-Miami rules by bringing in and delivering to them prohibited objects, including sheets of paper that were soaked with synthetic cannabinoids. In exchange for this illegal activity, Montanez-Mirabal accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from these inmates and their associates. Along with these payments, Montanez-Mirabal also solicited and received other things of value from inmates, including the free use of a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce.
Montanez-Mirabal would bring these drug-soaked pages and other prohibited items into FDC-Miami and then either deliver them directly to the inmates or hide them in places where the inmate paying him would be able to recover the contraband. Those inmates would then re-sell the pages to other inmates at a rate of $1,500 per page. Montanez-Mirabal made a number of these deliveries, providing over 100 drug-soaked pages, worth more than $150,000 in total, to inmates inside FDC-Miami in exchange for the bribes he received.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez.
U.S. Attorney Lapointe commended the investigative efforts of the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force and DOJ-OIG in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20051.
###
Drug Smuggler Sentenced to 10 Years PrisonRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE – Dalila Miller, 39, of San Diego, California, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on October 23, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted Miller’s vehicle in a remote area in North Idaho near the U.S. and Canadian Border. Agents from both the U.S. and Canada responded to the area. When U.S. Border Patrol arrived at the location Miller’s vehicle was initially seen, they located two men standing near bags containing 227 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine. The two men immediately fled into Canada leaving the bags behind. U.S. Border Patrol agents eventually tracked down and stopped Miller in her vehicle leaving the area and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tracked down and arrested the two men who had fled into Canada after running from U.S. Border Patrol. The men arrested by the RCMP were identified as Lawrence Edward Dwyer of Cranbrook, British Columbia, and Jason Cyrus Arkinstall, of Mission City, British Columbia. Arkinstall is a member of the Mission City chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Both Arkinstall and Dwyer were prosecuted in Canada for their involvement in the incident.
Miller was indicted in federal court in the District of Idaho for her role in the offense. She pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Law enforcement’s investigation showed that Miller had traveled from the Seattle, Washington area with the bags containing methamphetamine and cocaine and dropped them off at the border where it was to be packed across into Canada.
Miller was sentenced by Chief District Judge David C. Nye on Wednesday June 28, 2023, in
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Upon completion of her prison time, Miller was also ordered to serve an additional five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, credited the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Border Patrol, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which led to the charges.
###
Deputy U.S. Marshal Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Cell Phone Location Information UnlawfullyRead the Press Release
A deputy U.S. Marshal pleaded guilty today to misusing a law enforcement service to obtain cell phone location information for personal use.
According to court documents, Adrian Pena, 49, of Del Rio, Texas, used a law enforcement service to locate individuals with whom Pena had personal relationships and their spouses. Pena obtained the cell phone data by uploading blank and random documents to a system operated by Securus Technologies exclusively for authorized law enforcement purposes. Pena falsely certified that those documents were official and that they granted Pena permission to obtain the individuals’ data.
“Adrian Pena abused his position as a deputy U.S. Marshal when he used a law enforcement service to locate the cell phones of personal associates and their spouses, and then lied to cover up his illegal actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this prosecution demonstrates, the Justice Department and our partners are committed to holding accountable any official who violates the public’s trust and misuses sensitive law enforcement capabilities for personal ends.”
Pena also lied to law enforcement during the investigation. When Pena was asked, “Other than yourself, have you ever pinged anybody using the system? You know, family members, friends, ex-girlfriend?,” Pena falsely responded, “No.” After the interview, Pena attempted to cover up his illegal actions by asking one of the individuals for a notarized letter. Pena then drafted a statement in the individual’s name and caused the individual to sign it. The statement falsely stated that the individual granted Pena unlimited access to the individual’s social media and cell phone data, including call history, text messages, and cell phone location data.
“We trust law enforcement officers to act with integrity. Instead, Pena abused his access to sensitive information for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey C. Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Dallas Field Office. “The DOJ-OIG is committed to rooting out those who abuse their power and bringing them to justice.”
Pena pleaded guilty to unlawfully obtaining confidential phone records. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DOJ-OIG is investigating the case.
Deputy Chief Robert Heberle and Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from PIN Trial Attorney Alexander Gottfried.
Denton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Steven Michael Luedtke, 47, of Denton, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 29, 2023, to 15 years of imprisonment for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture, five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, with a prior serious drug felony conviction, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Luedtke will serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Information provided to law enforcement indicated between January of 2020 and June of 2021, Luedtke was a member of a conspiracy to obtain methamphetamine and other drugs in Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Alabama for transport to the Lincoln, Nebraska area for resale. Luedtke provided other members of the conspiracy with cash to buy drugs, made trips to obtain drugs, and sold firearms to another member of the conspiracy.
In March of 2021, Luedtke was contacted by law enforcement and was found in possession of approximately ¼ ounce of methamphetamine, ¼ ounce of marijuana and a digital scale. He admitted having purchased more than 70 ounces of methamphetamine for resale over the prior year. In June of 2021, Luedtke was contacted again and was found in possession of approximately 1 ¼ ounces of methamphetamine, 1 ½ ounces of marijuana, another digital scale and packaging materials. He admitted he had just purchased an ounce of methamphetamine before being contacted by officers.
Luedtke had a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Nebraska. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison in that case in March of 2006.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Denton County Sex Offender Sentenced for Child Exploitation ViolationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Michael Ray Guillory, 67, pleaded guilty to child exploitation violations and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, Guillory came to the attention of law enforcement when it was discovered that he was chatting with a 13-year-old child on an online social media platform. The messages from Guillory were sexually charged and included descriptions of the sex acts Guillory wanted to perform on the child when they met in person. In support of his interest, Guillory sent the child a number of pornographic images and videos, depicting the sex acts he described. Through investigation, law enforcement determined that Guillory had been engaging in similar chats with other suspected minors. Officers also discovered that Guillory is a registered sex offender in Denton County due to prior convictions for solicitation of a minor to commit sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
Guillory pleaded guilty to two counts of transferring obscene material to minors and was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently.
“Through social media platforms, predators like this defendant have access to our children’s bedrooms from anywhere in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “Repeat offenders like Mr. Guillory demonstrate an unwillingness or inability to stop committing these crimes, further contributing to the trauma already inflicted on child victims. Today’s sentence demonstrates the commitment of both state and federal law enforcement to make our children safer by ensuring that dangerous repeat offenders like Mr. Guillory are in prison where they belong.”
“This defendant preyed on innocent children without regard for the long-lasting harm his actions would cause,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “HSI will never relent in our commitment to identifying and prosecuting those who exploit and victimize children.”
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Denton Police Department, and West Jordan, Utah Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa J. Miller.
###