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21 June 2023
Gloucester County Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man was charged today with possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Kyle Daniel Reese, 29, of Williamstown, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in Camden federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October and November 2020, while Reese was serving a term of home detention due to a prior federal conviction for receipt of child pornography, Reese accessed child pornography using his iPhone. The child pornography was subsequently uncovered after his iPhone was seized by Reese’s probation officer. A search of the phone revealed 86 files containing child pornography.
The count of possession of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the Camden office.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
reese.complaint.pdfGeorgia bar and restaurant owner sentenced to federal prison, ordered to pay restitution for tax evasionRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: The co-owner of multiple bars and a restaurant in Georgia has been sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion.
Eugene R. Britt III, aka Trey Britt, 53, of Milledgeville, Ga., was sentenced to 24 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Tax Evasion, as jointly announced by Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg of the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randall Hall also ordered Britt to pay $362,249.53 in restitution and a fine of $10,000, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Trey Britt created a scheme to illegally withhold profits that should have been remitted to the U.S. Treasury,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Avoiding the obligation of paying taxes places a greater burden on all law-abiding taxpayers, and Britt is being held accountable for his actions.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Britt engaged in a scheme to evade taxes owed to the IRS on income from multiple bars and a restaurant he and others owned near college campuses in Georgia. As part of the scheme, Britt and others disguised their ownership in the bars by causing each establishment to be owned on paper by a single person. Britt and the other true owners then shared in the profits by skimming cash and disbursing it amongst themselves.
Britt personally controlled the distribution of cash for three of the establishments. As part of his guilty plea, Britt acknowledged that for approximately two decades he skimmed cash from his bars and restaurants and did not report it on his tax returns.
Additionally, Britt admitted to engaging in a similar cash skimming operation with respect to sales of beer at a music festival in 2015. Britt ensured that his individual tax return was false because he did not inform his accountant of the cash he received from the bars and the music festival during this year.
“Business owners have a responsibility to accurately report their income and not doing so is unlawful,” said Lisa Fontanette, acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will pursue those who disregard that responsibility in order to steal from taxpayers and the federal government.”
“Hard-working taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burden for people like Trey Britt who fail to pay their taxes because of greed,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will work with our partners to make sure there are serious consequences for those who intentionally avoid their tax obligations.”
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Casey Smith of the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, and the Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Georgia Bar and Restaurant Owner Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Georgia man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for evading taxes in connection with his ownership of multiple bars and a restaurant in Georgia, as well as beer sales at a music festival.
According to court documents and statements made in court, for the past two decades, Eugene R. Britt III, also known as Trey Britt, of Milledgeville, Georgia, engaged in a scheme to evade taxes owed to the IRS on income from bars and a restaurant he and others co-owned. Britt and others concealed their ownership interest by causing each establishment to be nominally owned by a single person. Britt and the other true owners shared in the profits generated by the establishments by skimming cash and disbursing it amongst themselves without reporting the cash as income to the IRS. Additionally, Britt used a similar organizational structure in the sale of beer at a music festival in 2015 and did not report the cash he received from the businesses or the music festival on his personal income tax returns.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall of the Southern District of Georgia ordered Britt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $10,000 fine and $362,250 in restitution.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Groover of the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
Gary Man Sentenced to 292 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Anthony Day, age 55, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after a jury found him guilty of armed robbery, brandishing a firearm during that robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Day was sentenced to 292 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to the documents in this case, the convictions stemmed from the October 8, 2019, robbery of a bank in Hammond, Indiana where the defendant brandished a gun during the commission of the offense. Wearing a disguise, Day approached a bank teller, displayed a gun and requested cash from the teller’s drawer. Day and his accomplice ordered the bank employees and patrons to lie down on the ground before fleeing the bank. When apprehended, Day’s DNA was on multiple items recovered, including a revolver, a firearm with an extended magazine, and his disguise.
Co-defendant, Omar Williams, pled guilty to armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during that robbery, and he was previously sentenced to 235 months in prison.
This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance of the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula and Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Grindlay.
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.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to Imprisonment of Life Plus 25 YearsRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Steven Hecke, 47 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after previously being found guilty following a 5 day trial in June 2022, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
The jury found Hecke guilty on all counts charged in the Indictment, which included distributing methamphetamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Hecke was sentenced to Life plus 25 years in prison. Hecke’s sentence was enhanced because he had previously been convicted of a serious drug felony and armed drug trafficking in a 2007 federal case in the Northern District of Indiana.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “As the trial evidence showed, Mr. Hecke was a cartel-connected drug trafficker who sold massive amounts of illegal drugs in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. This prosecution shows that my office will spare no effort to bring drug dealers to justice. Let Mr. Hecke’s life sentence plus 25 years warn those engaged in illegal drug trafficking that when justice is served, the consequences are rightfully harsh.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is focused on disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations at all levels, specifically those with connections to Mexican drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel. Mr. Hecke had those criminal connections. Through his violent, drug related crimes, Mr. Hecke caused great harm and damage to northern Indiana, but thanks to a collaborative law enforcement effort, he is no longer a threat to Hoosiers. DEA will continue to strive for a safer and healthier northern Indiana and America,” said Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville District Office.
According to documents in the case, Hecke was distributing massive quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in both powder and pill form, along with other drugs. Law enforcement conducted several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Hecke in November and December 2019. Agents and officers arrested Hecke at his Fort Wayne home after he returned with a drug shipment from Chicago in January 2020. In this one shipment, Hecke possessed approximately 19 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. From Hecke’s residence and a separate stash house, law enforcement recovered additional methamphetamine, fentanyl powder and pills, other drugs, ammunition and high-capacity magazines, body armor, and nine firearms, including two AK-47 style rifles and other rifles and pistols. The investigation further revealed that Hecke had obtained multiple prior drug shipments and that he was working closely with the Sinaloa Cartel by supplying them with vehicles, ATVs, generators, firearms, and other merchandise. Hecke demonstrated a significant potential for violence and danger to the community in several ways: by protecting his drug houses with multiple firearms; making threats of violence against others to collect drug debts and to protect his drug operation; and invoking cartel members as intimidation and as a means of enforcing his threats.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Allen County Drug Task Force, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Special Weapons and Tactics Team, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, the New Haven Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 144 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Joseph Golden, 36 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Golden was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Golden engaged in the sale of methamphetamine and heroin to law enforcement on two occasions in August and September 2022. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement located over 800 grams of methamphetamine in Golden’s vehicle, which had a purity level of 99 percent.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brent Ecenbarger.
Former Mayor of Aguas Buenas Sentenced for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The former mayor of the municipality of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Javier García-Pérez, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments in exchange for the awarding of municipal contracts and the payment of invoices related to those contracts.
García-Pérez, 47, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of conspiracy to engage in a bribery scheme. According to court documents and statements made in connection with his plea and sentencing, García-Pérez was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Aguas Buenas from 2017 until 2022. Starting in 2017, García-Pérez, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. Specifically, García-Pérez received at least $32,000 in cash payments from August 2020 through September 2021 from the two businessmen. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the defendant was sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe, Chief of the Public Corruption and Financial Fraud Section for the District of Puerto Rico, are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation.
These cases are part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. See United States v. Félix Delgado-Montalvo, 21-463 (RAM); United States v. Oscar Santamaria-Torres, 21-464 (RAM); United States v. Raymond Rodríguez, 21-465 (RAM); United States v. Mario Villegas-Vargas, 21-468 (FAB); See United States v. Ángel Pérez-Otero, 21-474 (ADC); United States v. Radamés Benítez-Cardona, 21-475 (PAD); United States v. Luis Arroyo-Chiques, 21-485 (SCC); United States v. Eduardo Cintron-Suarez, 22-151 (SCC); United States v. Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, 22-186 (PAD); United States v. Ramon Conde-Melendez, 22-221 (PAD); United States v. Pedro Miranda-Marrero, 22-251 (RAM); United States v. Jose Cruz-Cruz, 22-276 (SCC); and United States Jose Bou-Santiago, 22-379 (ADC).
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Former Lawson Business Owner Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lawson, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing and distributing child pornography over the internet.
Lance M. Berry, 36, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, June 20.
Berry, the owner of a flower shop in Lawson at the time of his offense, has a prior Ray County, Mo., conviction for deviate sexual assault, which requires him to register as a sex offender.
The federal indictment charges Berry with one count of distributing child pornography over the internet on June 1, 2022, and with one count of possessing child pornography on June 17, 2022.
Berry was arrested at his former business on June 17, 2022, by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers. Berry struggled with troopers when they seized his cell phone and troopers were forced to spray him with pepper spray before placing him in handcuffs.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former Jersey City Board of Education President and Former Acting Executive Director of Jersey City Employment and Training Program Admits Embezzlement and FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former president of the Jersey City Board of Education (JCBOED) and former acting executive director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP) today admitted embezzling JCETP funds and committing wire fraud in connection with his use of funds from his 2016 JCBOED campaign account, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Sudhan M. Thomas, 47, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to two counts of an indictment charging him with embezzling funds from JCETP, an organization that received federal funds, and wire fraud for embezzling money from his 2016 JCBOED campaign.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Thomas served as JCETP’s acting executive director from January 2019 until his resignation in July 2019. JCETP was a nonprofit organization that operated to assist Jersey City residents to prepare for and enter the workforce. JCETP received substantial amounts of funding from federal grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Using his access to JCETP funds and control of JCETP’s bank accounts, from March 2019 through July 2019, Thomas embezzled more than $45,000 from JCETP. Thomas caused checks to be drawn from JCETP accounts that were made payable to others, but ultimately received by Thomas or used to pay his debts and expenses. Thomas embezzled JCETP funds by issuing JCETP checks made out to cash that Thomas either cashed himself or used to obtain bank checks that he made payable to Next Glocal, an entity for which Thomas was a director, which were deposited into a bank account for his personal use.
Thomas ran for and was elected to a seat on the JCBOED in 2016, ultimately serving as vice president and then president of the JCBOED. From September 2016 to November 2016, Thomas collected campaign contributions and caused them to be deposited into a bank account opened for the 2016 campaign that he controlled. Under the guise of collecting repayments for loans to the campaign or reimbursement for other purported campaign-related expenses, Thomas embezzled more than $8,000 from his 2016 campaign for his own personal use.
The embezzlement charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The wire fraud charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. Both charges carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2023.
Thomas originally was charged by indictment in November 2020 with Paul Appel, 81, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, who is an attorney and who also served as treasurer for Thomas’ 2016 campaign. Appel’s case is pending before Judge Martini, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou, Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit of the Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine J. Calle of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
thomasappel.indictment.pdfFormer Goldman Sachs Investment Banker Convicted at Trial of Insider Trading Scheme and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that BRIJESH GOEL, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, was convicted of insider trading and obstruction of justice. GOEL was convicted after a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 19, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Brijesh Goel, a senior banker at a leading investment bank, betrayed the trust of his employer and unlawfully shared inside information with his squash partner in an agreement to trade on that information. A federal jury has now convicted Goel of insider trading, and he faces time in prison for his conduct. Today’s verdict should remind those in the capital markets that if you engage in insider trading, we will catch you and hold you accountable.”
According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial:
BRIJESH GOEL was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in New York, New York. In that position, GOEL received confidential, internal emails directed to Goldman Sachs’s Firmwide Capital Committee and Credit Markets Capital Committee, which contained detailed information and analysis about potential merger-and-acquisition transactions Goldman Sachs was considering financing. In violation of the duties that he owed to Goldman Sachs, GOEL misappropriated that confidential information and tipped a friend (the “Friend”), who worked at another investment bank in New York, New York, with the names of potential target companies from those internal emails during in-person meetings (such as when the two met at New York Health and Racquet Club). The Friend then used that confidential information to trade call options, including short-dated, out-of-the-money call options, in brokerage accounts that were in the name of the Friend’s brother. GOEL and the Friend agreed to split the profits from their trading. Between approximately 2017 and 2018, GOEL tipped the Friend on at least six deals in which Goldman Sachs was involved, yielding total illegal profits of approximately $280,000.
Between approximately May and June 2022, GOEL also obstructed investigations by a Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, GOEL deleted and asked the Friend to delete electronic communications regarding the insider trading scheme, including during an in-person meeting that the Friend consensually recorded.
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GOEL, 38, of New York, New York, was convicted of four counts of securities fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and tender offer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Naftalis, Samuel P. Rothschild, and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Financial Director of Monroe Hospital Sentenced for Committing Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Edward Calloway, 44, of West Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced on federal wire fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. At the sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Calloway to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented to the court, Calloway served as the Financial Director for Ouachita Parish Hospital Service District’s G.B. Cooley Hospital (“Cooley Hospital”) from 2016 until October 2019. Prior to serving as their Financial Director, Calloway was the First Staff Accountant from 2010 until 2016.
Beginning in 2012, Calloway began stealing from Cooley Hospital by transferring money from the hospital’s general fund, sinking fund, and payroll accounts to his personal accounts at Richland State Bank and Louisiana Capital Federal Credit Union. Calloway used a computer to initiate the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) bank transfers. The bill of information filed in this case charged Calloway with causing an ACH transfer of $1,945.34 to be transferred by an interstate wire from a Cooley Hospital account to his personal bank account. Calloway’s theft continued until October 2019 and resulted in a total loss of $892,602.18. Calloway pleaded guilty to the charge of wire fraud on December 12, 2022.
“G.B. Cooley Hospital Service is an iconic medical and counseling services provider to northeast Louisiana residents who need specialized care due to mental and physical issues and is funded by state and federal taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Mr. Calloway had a fiduciary duty as Financial Director to oversee these state and federal funds in a prudent fashion to the benefit of Cooley’s residents and clients, not himself. Instead, he took advantage of these individuals by stealing this money for his personal gain and has now been held accountable. We will be vigilant and unwavering in our duty to protect the interests our most vulnerable citizens in the district and the taxpayer dollar.”
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Louisiana Office of State Inspector General and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
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Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—On June 20, 2023, a former Veteran’s Administration police officer and resident of Roseburg, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison for repeatedly placing hidden cameras in sensitive personal locations to capture sexually explicit photos and videos of minors.
Robert Wayne Roady, 50, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release.
In October 2020, Roady’s conduct was reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office who opened an investigation. Roady later admitted to hiding the cameras.
On November 5, 2020, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Roady with attempted sexual exploitation of a child. On March 1, 2023, Roady pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with attempted transportation of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph and Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon with assistance from Allison D. Eichmann, Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
Anyone who has information the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former FBI Analyst Sentenced for Retaining Classified DocumentsRead the Press Release
A former analyst with the Kansas City Division of the FBI was sentenced in federal court today for illegally retaining documents related to the national defense at her residence.
Kendra Kingsbury, 50, of Garden City, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Kingsbury pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2022, to two counts of unlawfully retaining documents related to the national defense.
According to court documents, Kingsbury was an intelligence analyst for the FBI for more than 12 years, from 2004 to Dec. 15, 2017. Kingsbury was assigned to a sequence of different FBI squads, each of which had a particular focus, such as illegal drug trafficking, violent crime, violent gangs and counterintelligence. Kingsbury held a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance and had access to national defense and classified information. Training presentations and materials specifically warned Kingsbury that she was prohibited from retaining classified information at her personal residence. Such information could only be stored in an approved facility and container.
Kingsbury admitted that, over the course of her FBI employment, she repeatedly removed from the FBI and retained in her personal residence (at that time in North Kansas City, Missouri) an abundance of sensitive government materials, including classified documents related to the national defense.
In total, Kingsbury improperly removed and unlawfully and willfully retained approximately 386 classified documents in her personal residence. Some of the classified documents she unlawfully removed and kept in her home contained extremely sensitive national defense information. According to court documents, Kingsbury put national security at risk by retaining classified information in her home that would have, if in the wrong hands, revealed some of the government’s most important and secretive methods of collecting essential national security intelligence.
Kingsbury admitted to investigators that she retained and destroyed other documents over the years that could have contained classified and/or national defense information. The documents retained by Kingsbury in her personal residence included documents in electronic format on hard drives, compact discs and other storage media.
The national defense information that Kingsbury unlawfully retained included numerous documents classified at the SECRET level from the FBI that describe intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts related to counterterrorism, counterintelligence and defending against cyber threats. These documents included details on the FBI’s nationwide objectives and priorities, including specific investigations across multiple field offices that were open at the time Kingsbury unlawfully retained the documents. In addition, Kingsbury retained documents relating to sensitive human-source operations in national security investigations, intelligence gaps regarding hostile foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations and the technical capabilities of the FBI against counterintelligence and counterterrorism targets.
The national defense information that Kingsbury unlawfully retained also included numerous documents classified at the SECRET level from another government agency. These documents described intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts to collect intelligence on terrorist groups. The documents included information about al Qaeda members on the African continent, including a suspected associate of Usama bin Laden. In addition, there were documents regarding the activities of emerging terrorists and their efforts to establish themselves in support of al Qaeda in Africa.
The FBI investigated what uses Kingsbury put to the classified documents she illegally removed from the secure workspace, but according to court documents, the investigation revealed more questions and concerns than answers.
Investigators reviewed Kingsbury’s telephone records, which revealed a number of suspicious calls. Kingsbury contacted phone numbers associated with subjects of counterterrorism investigations, and these individuals also made telephone calls to Kingsbury. Investigators have not been able to determine why Kingsbury contacted these individuals, or why these individuals contacted her. Kingsbury declined to provide the government with any further information.
The FBI Omaha Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Edwards for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
Former FBI Analyst Sentenced for Retaining Classified DocumentsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former analyst with the Kansas City Division of the FBI was sentenced in federal court today for illegally retaining documents related to the national defense at her residence.
Kendra Kingsbury, 50, of Garden City, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to three years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Kingsbury pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2022, to two counts of unlawfully retaining documents related to the national defense.
Kingsbury was an intelligence analyst for the FBI for more than 12 years, from 2004 to Dec. 15, 2017. Kingsbury was assigned to a sequence of different FBI squads, each of which had a particular focus, such as illegal drug trafficking, violent crime, violent gangs, and counterintelligence. Kingsbury held a TOP SECRET//SCI security clearance and had access to national defense and classified information. Training presentations and materials specifically warned Kingsbury that she was prohibited from retaining classified information at her personal residence. Such information could only be stored in an approved facility and container.
Kingsbury admitted that, over the course of her FBI employment, she repeatedly removed from the FBI and retained in her personal residence (at that time in North Kansas City, Mo.) an abundance of sensitive government materials, including classified documents related to the national defense.
In total, Kingsbury improperly removed and unlawfully and willfully retained approximately 386 classified documents in her personal residence. Some of the classified documents she unlawfully removed and kept in her home contained extremely sensitive national defense information. According to court documents, Kingsbury put national security at risk by retaining classified information in her home that would have, if in the wrong hands, revealed some of the government’s most important and secretive methods of collecting essential national security intelligence.
Kingsbury admitted to investigators that she retained and destroyed other documents over the years that could have contained classified and/or national defense information. The documents retained by Kingsbury in her personal residence included documents in electronic format on hard drives, compact discs, and other storage media.
The national defense information that Kingsbury unlawfully retained included numerous documents classified at the SECRET level from the FBI that describe intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts related to counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and defending against cyber threats. These documents included details on the FBI’s nationwide objectives and priorities, including specific investigations across multiple field offices that were open at the time Kingsbury unlawfully retained the documents. In addition, Kingsbury retained documents relating to sensitive human-source operations in national security investigations, intelligence gaps regarding hostile foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations, and the technical capabilities of the FBI against counterintelligence and counterterrorism targets.
The national defense information that Kingsbury unlawfully retained also included numerous documents classified at the SECRET level from another government agency. These documents described intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts to collect intelligence on terrorist groups. The documents included information about al Qaeda members on the African continent, including a suspected associate of Usama bin Laden. In addition, there were documents regarding the activities of emerging terrorists and their efforts to establish themselves in support of al Qaeda in Africa.
The FBI investigated what uses Kingsbury put to the classified documents she illegally removed from the secure workspace, but according to court documents, the investigation revealed more questions and concerns than answers.
Investigators reviewed Kingsbury’s telephone records, which revealed a number of suspicious calls. Kingsbury contacted phone numbers associated with subjects of counterterrorism investigations, and these individuals also made telephone calls to Kingsbury. Investigators have not been able to determine why Kingsbury contacted these individuals, or why these individuals contacted her. Kingsbury declined to provide the government with any further information.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Edwards for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by the FBI Omaha Field Office.
Former Bangor Resident Sentenced to 7+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Bangor resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Wayne Smith, 32, to 85 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Smith conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Miller knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy. His participation resulted in contacts with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, drug paraphernalia, and other items.
There are 21 defendants in this and related cases. Ten other defendants have pleaded guilty in this case, and four other participants in the conspiracy were sentenced in prior related cases. Six additional defendants have been charged; a charge in a criminal complaint or an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Former Bangor Resident Sentenced to 7+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Bangor resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Wayne Smith, 32, to 85 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Smith conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Miller knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy. His participation resulted in contacts with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, drug paraphernalia, and other items.
There are 21 defendants in this and related cases. Ten other defendants have pleaded guilty in this case, and four other participants in the conspiracy were sentenced in prior related cases. Six additional defendants have been charged; a charge in a criminal complaint or an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Flint-Area Medical Practice to Pay $200,000 and Establish a Victim Fund to Resolve Disability Discrimination CaseRead the Press Release
FLINT, MI –Flint Neurological Centre P.C. has agreed to pay up to $200,000 and to establish a victim fund to resolve a disability discrimination case that alleged the medical practice violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide auxiliary aids and services required to ensure effective communication with patients and their companions who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In the March 2022 complaint which started this litigation, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan alleged the medical practice had a long history of ADA violations, including a prior investigation by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) that resulted in the practice entering into a 2018 settlement agreement with MDCR that included compensation to a patient.
“Effective communication is paramount for the deaf and hard of hearing, especially in the context of providing medical services,” said Dawn N. Ison, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “The ADA guarantees that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have the ability to exchange critical information with medical providers,” she added. These guarantees are a longstanding provision of the ADA, and our office will aggressively enforce the ADA to protect individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Under the terms of the three-year Consent Decree, Flint Neurological Centre, P.C. will pay a total of $150,000 in damages to ten patients and companions. It will also establish a $40,000 victim fund for additional individuals who may have been harmed by its past practices, and it will pay a $10,000 civil monetary penalty to the government. The Consent Decree requires Flint Neurological Centre to adopt a policy statement which notifies patients and their companions of their right to obtain sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services free of charge. The medical practice is also required to train its staff on various topics, including how to provide effective communication to members of the deaf community.
Patients and their companions of Flint Neurological Centre, P.C. who believe that the practice failed to provide them with an effective means of communication may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine if they are entitled to compensation. They can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office by calling (313) 226-9151 or sending an email to [email protected].
The full and fair enforcement of the ADA is a priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Disability Rights Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Ackenhausen, Acting Chief of the Civil Rights Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nedra Campbell, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael El-Zein, and Executive Assistant United States Attorney Luttrell Levingston.
Final of Fifteen Defendants Sentenced for Lansing-Based Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Defendant Edward Washington to serve 396 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for his role in distributing fentanyl throughout the Lansing, Michigan area. Defendant Washington was the final of fifteen defendants to be sentenced in an investigation and prosecution that focused on two drug trafficking organizations distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the greater Lansing area.
“These drugs are taking more lives across Michigan and the United States than ever before and my office is committed to disrupting the pipelines that distribute these poisons across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.
“Edward Washington oversaw the distribution of bulk quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout the Lansing area,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “This successful prosecution and sentencing is a reminder that the DEA will pursue these criminals to not only stop the illegal distribution of poisons in our community, but also to prevent the associated violence.”
The DEA and Lansing Police Department (LPD), including Lansing Police Department Special Operations Section (LPD SOS), led this interagency investigation. The investigation and convictions were the culmination of an interagency investigation conducted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. Interagency investigations are a crucial part of how the Department of Justice combats illegal drug trafficking. Often, agencies partner through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The following individuals were convicted and sentenced as part of the investigation:
Name
Sentence
Edward Washington
396 months
Davanti Heard-White
324 months
John Humphrey
276 months
Arnon Lake
181 months
Jeffrey Humphrey
180 months
Jordan Suttles
180 months
Maguel Villanueva
151 months
Demetrus Heard
121 months
Demanuel Porter
120 months
Marquise Brooks
96 months
Jamar Street
87 months
Jerome Till
70 months
Angela Dority
60 months
Michael Terry
57 months
Latisha Mack
37 months
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro, Stephen P. Baker, and Theodore J. Greeley, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney B. René Shekmer prosecuted the case.
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FCI Schuylkill Inmate Charged with Possessing ContrabandRead the Press Release
Scranton – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Scranton charged Turkory Hargrove, age 23, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, with possessing contraband.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Hargrove was found in possession of an inmate made weapon; specifically, a 7-inch piece of plastic sharpened to a point with a cloth handle, commonly referred to as a “shank.” This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Gallagher is prosecuting the case.
Hargrove faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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FCI Schuylkill Inmate Charged with Possessing ContrabandRead the Press Release
Scranton – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Scranton charged Brian Foster, age 40, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, with possessing contraband.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Foster was found in possession of an inmate made weapon; specifically, a 5-inch piece of plastic sharpened to a point with a taped handle, commonly referred to as a “shank.” This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Gallagher is prosecuting the case.
Foster faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Eufaula Resident Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wendy Dawn Johnson, age 38, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On January 13, 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge. On March 18, 2021, Johnson was driving on State Highway 9 in Eufaula with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit. She crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car, killing the driver. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Johnson will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Essex County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography in New Jersey and AbroadRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 360 months in prison for producing multiple videos depicting the sexual assault of children, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Antonio Del Prado, 62, of Millburn, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count each of production of child pornography and production of child pornography abroad with intent to transport into the United States. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October 2020, law enforcement officials learned that Del Prado had uploaded multiple items of suspected child pornography to an internet-based cloud storage system. The investigation also revealed that Del Prado had a woman livestream a video of a child being sexually assaulted for Del Prado. Del Prado was arrested at his home in November 2020, at which time agents seized multiple electronic devices that were found to contain child pornography. Further investigation revealed that on multiple occasions, Del Prado sexually assaulted children in the Philippines and transmitted video recordings of those assaults into the United States.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Del Prado to 10 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
EU-U.S. Joint Statement Following the EU-U.S. Ministerial on Justice and Home AffairsRead the Press Release
On June 21, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) hosted the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs in Stockholm. The European Union was represented by Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, as well as Swedish Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer. The incoming Presidency of the Council was represented by Spanish Minister of Justice Maria Pilar Llop Cuenca and Spanish Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The United States was represented by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Secretary for Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
The meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the European Union and the United States to a strong transatlantic partnership, at a time of major geopolitical challenges.
The United States and the European Union once again condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine. They discussed their intent to deepen their cooperation in assisting Ukraine in the area of justice reform and the rule of law. The United States and the European Union remain committed to provide protection to those who had to flee Ukraine as a result of the Russian aggression.
Specifically, the United States and the European Union reaffirmed their unequivocal commitment to ensure full accountability for the international crimes committed in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, respecting the important role of the International Criminal Court, Ukrainian courts, and other courts. They welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Justice and the prosecuting authorities of the national members of the Joint Investigation Team on Ukraine, set up with the support of Eurojust, and the upcoming establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which will benefit from the United States' support. The United States and the European Union saluted the start of operations of the Core International Crimes Evidence Database at Eurojust and look forward to the database becoming fully operational and to contributing thereto.
The United States and the European Union also intend to continue to take the discussions on international accountability mechanisms forward to ensure effective accountability for the crime of aggression.
The United States and the European Union reiterated their commitment to ensure that Russia pays for all the damages it causes in Ukraine. Relatedly, they welcomed the establishment, within the Council of Europe, of a register of damage for Ukraine.
The United States and the European Union reconfirmed their intent to continue their close cooperation on the full enforcement of sanctions, including by taking action consistent with their respective legal frameworks to freeze and seize, and where appropriate confiscate, assets linked to criminal activities such as sanctions evasion, money laundering, or corruption. They reiterated the importance of cooperating with other international partners, including G7 countries, to avoid any enforcement gap and welcomed the first United States' transfer of funds seized from Russian oligarchs to aid Ukraine.
The United States and the European Union remain steadfast in their efforts to fully account for holdings of immobilized assets of the Central Bank of Russia in the respective jurisdictions.
The two sides reiterated their commitment to address security threats stemming from the war, including cooperation with Ukraine to reinforce the collective capacities to prevent trafficking of firearms, trafficking in human beings, and critical infrastructure protection, as well as law enforcement cooperation on information exchange and joint operational actions. They highlighted the importance of the support to help strengthen the Republic of Moldova’s security sector in the face of destabilizing activities by external actors and advance the necessary rule of law and justice reforms.
The United States and the European Union expressed strong concern with the rise of violent extremism, based on the rejection of democratic values and motivated by hate, racism, xenophobia and/or related intolerance. They stressed their willingness to work jointly to identify and take effective action in situations in which violent extremist groups cooperate transnationally for the purpose of committing criminal offenses, as well as to address the challenges arising from lone actors acting at their own initiative.
Both sides stressed the need to further address the significant challenges arising from the spread of terrorist and violent extremist content online, including the role of algorithmic amplification. They encouraged companies to take action to prevent misuse of their platforms to promote violence and exploit children.
The United States and the European Union reaffirmed the importance of effective information sharing to combat terrorism. To that end, they plan to continue and build upon the existing pilot project between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Europol addressing security risks associated with terrorist travel. The United States and European Union welcomed the continued sharing by the U.S. Department of Justice of terrorist information, including battlefield evidence, with Europol.
The United States and the European Union discussed the U.S. Enhanced Border Security Partnership and the value of bilateral information sharing under this program. They also expressed their intent to discuss future cooperation at the EU level.
The United States and the European Union welcomed the relaunch of the negotiations for an EU-U.S. agreement facilitating access to electronic evidence in criminal proceedings at the beginning of 2023. This agreement will complement a robust network of existing instruments that have built trust and cumulatively provide a framework for transatlantic cooperation in criminal matters and protection of public safety subject to strong safeguards. In this context they recognized the value of the recently adopted OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data held by Private Sector Entities. They also welcomed the strides taken by the United States and the European Union with respect to transatlantic transfers of data between commercial operators in a manner that satisfies the requirements of their respective legal systems.
The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and its Second Additional Protocol remain the primary instruments for international cooperation on cybercrime. At the same time, in the context of their close coordination towards a new UN convention on cybercrime, the United States and the European Union support a convention that advances international cooperation to fight cybercrime and respects human rights and the rule of law.
The United States and the European Union recognized the benefits and risks associated with new and emerging online technologies. They discussed the importance of maintaining the ability of judicial and law enforcement agencies to lawfully access data in order to effectively prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute crime, while safeguarding cybersecurity and confidentiality of communications.
The United States and the European Union concurred on the need to enhance joint efforts to prevent and combat child sexual abuse in all its forms, online and offline.
The United States and the European Union remain committed to reinforcing cooperation against cross border organized criminal networks, in particular, those involved in the illicit manufacture and trafficking of cocaine and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. Both parties resolved to further their exchanges in relation to supply and demand reduction at the EU-U.S. Dialogue on Drugs, and at appropriate multilateral bodies. They jointly endorsed work on a project between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Europol to develop additional intelligence on entities known or suspected of participating in the transnational trade in synthetic drugs. They also welcomed ongoing cooperation between the agencies of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security and of the EU. The United States and the European Union underlined the need for joint efforts to address synthetic drugs in the context of the Global Coalition. Both expressed hope that the launch event on July 7 would provide avenues for concrete action to address this shared health and security problem.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to intensify their cooperation against environmental crime, including working together on cross-border criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as developing best practices.
The United States and the European Union welcomed the progress made by the three EU Member States not yet in the Visa Waiver Program and reiterated their willingness to pursue efforts in the context of the tripartite process and bilateral discussions. The two sides concurred on the importance of reciprocal visa-free travel under their respective legal frameworks.
Reaffirming their joint commitment to advance together towards common solutions in all these areas, the United States and the European Union decided to meet again in the second half of 2023 in Washington, D.C.
District Man Sentenced to More Than 20 years in Prison for Deadly Shooting That Left One Dead and Two InjuredRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Glenn Dolford, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to 270 months in prison for 2nd degree murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and assault with a deadly weapon, for killing one man and shooting two others in February of 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Judge Maribeth Raffinan ordered five years of supervised release.
On February 2, 2020, Dolford fatally shot Raheem Murray and wounded two other people in the 4000 block of 3rd Street, SE. Dolford pleaded guilty on February 17, 2023.
On February 2, 2020, at approximately 4:00 PM, a dark colored sedan pulled into the 4000 block of 3rd Street, SE, where the three victims were standing on the sidewalk discussing where they were going to watch the Super Bowl. The dark colored sedan slowed to a stop in the middle of the street at which time the defendant and another individual got out of the passenger side of the car and began shooting rifle styled firearms at the three victims. Police found 57 rifle cartridge casings at the scene. Victim Marco Harper ran from the scene after sustaining two gunshot wounds; victim Corvell Hayden was able to get himself to the end of the block where he collapsed having suffered 10 gunshot wounds. Raheem Murray fell to the ground. The defendant ran to Mr. Murray and, from inches away, shot Mr. Murray in the head with his rifle style weapon.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of the officers and detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Marybeth Manfreda, who prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced for Perpetrating Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Suzgo Phiri, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered restitution of $108,000. Phiri pleaded guilty February 21, 2023.
According to court documents, between 2018 and his arrest in March of 2022, Phiri - who used multiple false identities including: “Malcolm Tucker,” “David Campbell,” “Eric Brooks,” “Aaron Brooks,” “John Sanders,” “Jaamal Brooks,” “Brady Jones,” and “Payton Deel” – committed multiple fraud schemes. In one fraud, he generated approximately $10,000 per week through a scheme that exploited weaknesses in the payment processing systems used by Square and American Express. The defendant moved fraudulent “tip” amounts that were instantly credited by Square to bank accounts that he had opened using one of many false identities and then quickly withdrew those funds before the fraud could be detected. The government has identified at least $300,000 in gross proceeds from that scheme.
In addition to the fraudulent identity scheme, the government has identified numerous other instances in which the defendant has possessed false identification documents, bank records, and bank cards for individuals other than himself.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
DeMotte Man Sentenced to 210 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Thomas Spangle, age 42, of DeMotte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Spangle was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.
According to the documents in this case, on or about July 19, 2019, Spangle began his 15-year term of supervised release following his conviction for distribution of child pornography. In March 2021, information was received that Spangle was viewing child pornography on his cellphone while on supervised release. While being monitored, several potential images of child pornography were identified. In April 2021, a search warrant was conducted on his electronic devices and a forensic exam revealed his cell phone contained 48 videos files, 31 of which depicted child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (GRIT) with assistance of the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A. Morgan and Philip C. Benson.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Council Bluffs Woman Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs woman was sentenced June 15, 2023 for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Amanda Marie Sprinkel, 33, was sentenced to 60 months in prison following her plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Sprinkel must serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2022, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant on a home in Council Bluffs. Amanda Sprinkel was located sitting in a vehicle in the driveway of the Council Bluffs residence. Officers witnessed Sprinkel throw an object on the driver side floorboard. A backpack was found containing 62 grams of suspected methamphetamine. A search of Sprinkel’s phone would later show messages negotiating narcotic transactions and other messages arranging and discussing narcotic sales.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 27 Years for Violating Federal Firearms LawRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A Marshal County man was sentenced on Tuesday to more than 27 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm.
According to evidence presented at the jury trial and sentencing hearing, Charles Derryberry was the 46-year-old leader of a Mississippi-based street gang, the Nines. In February 2022, Derryberry committed a string of robberies, and fired shots at one of his victims. On February 27, 2022, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office deputies received information that Derryberry possessed a large quantity of narcotics. Deputies stopped the truck Derryberry was riding in and found a gun under Derryberry’s seat. At the time he illegally possessed a firearm, Derryberry had three or more felony convictions for crimes of violence or drug offenses and was subject to increased penalties under the Federal Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Under the ACCA, Derryberry faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison. Evidence revealed that Derryberry actually had seventeen prior felony convictions on the day he possessed the firearm.
On June 20, 2023, United States District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Derryberry to 327 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant’s entire adult life has been spent committing an unending series of crimes, many of them violent,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The prosecutors and investigators in this case have made the public safer by ensuring that Derryberry is where he belongs – behind bars.”
“Sending a career criminal like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood. “The sentence imposed in this case sends a message to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow and Julie Addison prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Ismael Ortiz-Vargas, 37 years old, of Bristol, Connecticut, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Ortiz-Vargas was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in November 2022, the car Ortiz-Vargas was driving was stopped on the Indiana Toll Road and police discovered that he was transporting a kilogram of cocaine from Connecticut to Wisconsin to sell in Milwaukee. At the time of the stop, an arrest warrant had been issued for a violation of his federal supervised release based on his previous federal conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Indiana State Police as part of a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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Connecticut Man Sentenced to 235-Month Prison Term for Inducing a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that John Griffin, 45, formerly of Norwalk, Connecticut, was sentenced yesterday afternoon following his guilty plea to using a facility of interstate commerce to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. According to court records, since 2019, Griffin communicated over the internet with parents of minor daughters in an effort to allow him to train their girls in sexual submission. In furtherance of this plan, in the summer of 2020, Griffin paid for a mother, who he had met online, and her 9-year-old daughter to fly to Logan Airport in Boston, where he picked them up and drove them to his house in Ludlow, Vermont. While in Vermont, Griffin engaged in what he considered to be sexual training of the child. This “training” included Griffin forcing the child to perform a sex act with him and using the child to engage in bondage and sado-masochistic activity.
United States District Judge William K. Sessions III sentenced Griffin to a prison term of 235 months, to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, Judge Sessions described Griffin’s conduct as “outrageous,” and explained that such conduct warranted a severe penalty. Griffin was also ordered to pay approximately $1.1 million dollars in restitution to the child victim, and to forfeit the Tesla he used to transport the girl and her mother from Boston to Vermont, among other items.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest said, “Leveraging his personal wealth, John Griffin targeted and sought to abuse vulnerable young girls. The sentence he received reflects the seriousness of Griffin’s horrific crime. We are grateful for the tremendous investigatory work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the invaluable assistance of both the Ludlow, Vermont and Henderson, Nevada Police Departments. This office along with its partners will continue to prioritize protecting the vulnerable and prosecuting dangerous offenders such as Griffin.”
“Mr. Griffin preyed on a vulnerable woman and her child, using his wealth to lure them to his home to manipulate and sexually exploit them,” said Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “This sentence reinforces the message that the victimization of children will not be tolerated by law enforcement, and the FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure justice is served to those who cause irreparable harm and trauma to these innocent young victims.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from the police departments of Ludlow, Vermont and Henderson, Nevada. The case is docket number 2:21-cr-00109-wks and the plea agreement is linked here: US v. John Griffin Plea Agreement
Griffin was represented by David Kirby, Esq., of Pound Ridge, New York. The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Michael Drescher.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Darryl McDonald, 39, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to ten years in prison for conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. McDonald pleaded guilty to this charge on March 15, 2023.
The government’s investigation revealed that McDonald, who resided in Chicago, began providing cocaine to various people for redistribution around the Madison, Wisconsin area. One source of information (SOI) stated that she began transporting cocaine to the Madison area from Chicago for McDonald in 2016. She made numerous trips where she transported cocaine for McDonald and received approximately $1,500 per trip. The arrangement between the SOI and the defendant went on for several years until the SOI was arrested in May 2018 in Illinois with approximately a half-kilogram of cocaine.
The SOI reported that she had picked up a kilogram of cocaine from McDonald in Chicago and delivered half of it to a customer in Illinois per McDonald’s instructions. She was driving to Madison to distribute the second half when she was pulled over and arrested. The SOI communicated with McDonald before and during this trip via text message and the messages corroborated that she was delivering the cocaine for McDonald. Upon getting pulled over with the cocaine in her car, the SOI immediately texted McDonald for help and provided a pin with her location.
Between 2016 and 2021, financial records show that McDonald had very little verifiable income, though he made several large purchases and conducted most transactions using cash. Financial records also show that McDonald deposited over $250,000 in cash into his checking account during the same timeframe.
A total of eight individuals have pleaded guilty to participating in this cocaine distribution scheme and have all now been sentenced by Judge Peterson.
The charge against McDonald is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Madison Police Department, and the Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Cheyenne Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Failure to File a Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Carissa Joy Dunn-Pollard, age 45, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for wire fraud and failure to file a tax return. U.S. District Court Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 21, 2023. Pollard also will be required to serve three years on supervised release following her prison term and must pay $220,481.57 in restitution to the Cheyenne Little Theatre, $113,451.58 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and a $125 special assessment.
According to court documents, Pollard worked as the part-time bookkeeper Cheyenne Little Theater Players Inc., a non-profit organization based in Cheyenne. From September 20, 2020 to May 30, 2022, Pollard devised and engaged in a scheme to obtain money by means of material false and fraudulent pretenses and representations. As a result of this scheme, Pollard admitted to embezzling at least $220,481.57 from the Theatre by causing ACH “payroll deposits” to be made into her bank account from the Theatre’s bank account.
In addition to the wire fraud, as of November 30, 2022, when the complaint in this case was filed, Pollard was aware of her obligation to file tax returns with the IRS but failed to do so for tax years 2018-2021 as required by law. The amount of taxes she owed for the four-year period totaled $113,451.58.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that the sentence brings a measure of justice to the Cheyenne Little Theater and members of the community affected by Pollard’s fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanked the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office, and the Cheyenne Police Department for their roles in the investigation which led to the successful prosecution of Pollard.
“Ms. Dunn-Pollard used her position to defraud not only her employer, but the honest hardworking Americans who pay their tax obligations every year,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “This is a great example of IRS-CI’s expertise in conducting federal tax investigations that also holds accountable those that commit crimes against community institutions like the Cheyenne Little Theater.”
Cheshire Medical Center to Pay $2 Million to Settle Allegations of Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces today that Cheshire Medical Center (CMC) in Keene will pay $2 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, including opioids.
“Cheshire Medical Center’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the Controlled Substance Act enabled the theft of prescription narcotics – including powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which led to a shockingly high percentage of drugs missing from CMS’s inventory. The failures uncovered warranted a multi-million-dollar penalty and a stringent corrective action plan,” said U.S. Attorney Jane Young. “This is one of the largest settlements of drug diversion claims against a hospital in the country.”
“The DEA is committed to ensuring that all registrants are in compliance with the required regulations, which are enforceable through the Controlled Substances Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Failure to do so increases the potential for diversion and jeopardizes public health and public safety. DEA pledges to work with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure these rules and regulations are followed.”
The CSA deters the illegal distribution, possession, dispensing, and improper use of controlled substances, all of which have contributed to the opioid epidemic. The CSA requires the accurate inventorying, tracking and recordkeeping of each controlled substances to prevent misuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation of CMC after a nurse had stolen twenty-three intravenous bags of fentanyl solution from an automatic medication dispensing machine. CMC initially disclosed this theft to the DEA in February 2022. CMC later reported that an additional six hundred thirty-four bags of fentanyl were unaccounted for. The nurse that allegedly stole these drugs died on March 3, 2022. In April 2022, DEA investigators conducted audits of eight controlled substances at CMC’s inpatient pharmacy, which included audits of fentanyl 2ml vial; fentanyl 50 ml vial; fentanyl 50 ml IV bag; midazolam 2ml vial; lorazepam 1ml vial; hydromorphone 4mg tablet; hydromorphone 1 ml vial; and morphine sulfate 1ml vial.
This audit revealed an additional 17,961 missing controlled substance units and various related recordkeeping deficiencies on the part of CMC, such as failing to maintain accurate purchase and dispensation records. The audit also revealed that, among other things, CMC failed to regularly review reports to look for possible diversion, to have sufficient structures in place to alert it to the greatly increased purchasing of controlled substances from one month to the other, and to enforce various controlled substance security policies.
The settlement resolved the allegations that CMC violated the recordkeeping requirements of the CSA and its regulations. As part of the settlement, in addition to the improvements voluntarily undertaken by CMC before and after the DEA investigation, CMC has agreed to additional security and recordkeeping measures.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation leading to the settlement agreement. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz.
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Charlotte Woman Faces Federal Charges for Producing and Selling Fake DocumentsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging a Charlotte woman for operating a fraudulent document scheme which she advertised on Facebook, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment charges Chaiya Maley-Jackson, 23, with eight counts of unlawful production of false identification documents, eight counts of unlawful transfer of false identification documents, one count of wire fraud, and one count of making false statements to a financial institution.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, as early as January 2020, Maley-Jackson was the owner and operator of Diva Documents/CPN Services (Diva Documents). The indictment alleges that Diva Documents advertised the sale of false and fraudulent documents on Facebook as well as two websites, divadocuments.com and divadocuments.onuniverse.com. As alleged in the indictment, Maley-Jackson used her personal Facebook page under the name Yaya Flowers to advertise a pricelist for the fake documents she produced, which included paystubs, lease agreements, COVID-19 hardship letters, bank statements, W2 forms, Social Security Cards, and driver’s licenses, both digital and hard copies, among others. The indictment alleges that the price for the fake documents ranged from $15 to edit a paystub to $150 for a hard copy of a driver’s license, and that Maley-Jackson required customers to pay half of the payment upfront and the balance upon completion of the fabricated documents.
According to allegations in the indictment, Maley-Jackson communicated with clients via emails and text messages and provided the fraudulent documents to customers via email and mail. As alleged in the indictment, Maley-Jackson was aware that she was producing and transferring fake documents and knew that customers would use the fake documents for PPP loan applications, car loan applications, and apartment rentals, among other things. According to the indictment, between January 2020 and August 2022, Maley-Jackson created at least 400 Social Security Cards, eight driver’s licenses, and six COVID-19 vaccine cards, and earned more than $320,000 in fees from producing, selling and transferring false documents.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charge of unlawful production of false identification documents carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison per count. The charge of unlawful transfer of false identification documents carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison per count. The maximum penalty for the wire fraud charge is 20 years in prison, and the maximum penalty for making a false statement to a financial institution is 30 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited the FBI in Charlotte for the investigation which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
California Skilled Nursing Facility and Management Company Agree to Pay $3.825 Million to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Referring PhysiciansRead the Press Release
Alta Vista Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC (Alta Vista), a skilled nursing facility in Riverside, California, and its management company, Rockport Healthcare Services (Rockport), have agreed to pay the United States and California a total of $3.825 million to resolve allegations that they submitted and caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid by paying kickbacks to physicians to induce patient referrals. The settlement amount was negotiated based on Alta Vista’s and Rockport’s lack of ability to pay.
The Anti‑Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying remuneration to induce the referral of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded programs. It is intended to ensure that medical decision-making is not compromised by improper financial incentives and is instead based on the best interests of the patient.
From 2009 through 2019, Alta Vista, under the direction and control of Rockport, gave certain physicians extravagant gifts, including expensive dinners for the physicians and their spouses, golf trips, limousine rides, massages, e-reader tablets, and gift cards worth up to $1,000. Separately, Alta Vista paid these physicians monthly stipends of $2,500 to $4,000, purportedly for their services as medical directors. At least one purpose of these gifts and payments was to induce these physicians to refer patients to Alta Vista.
“Kickbacks can impair the independence of physician decision-making and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to preventing illegal financial relationships that undermine the integrity of our public healthcare programs.”
“Decisions that affect patient health should be made solely on the basis of a patient’s best interest,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “When a healthcare company cheats and offers kickbacks to gain an unfair advantage, it jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of those who rely on its services. These illegal schemes also make public services and programs costlier, and ultimately waste valuable taxpayer dollars. Today, I thank the U.S. Department of Justice for teaming up with the California Department of Justice on this case. This settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of Medi-Cal, and the taxpayer dollars that support the program."
“The administrators and beneficiaries of the Medicare and Medicaid programs expect that providers will make decisions based on sound medical judgment, not their personal self-interest,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “As this case demonstrates, our office will take decisive action to address allegations that medical providers are paying or receiving improper financial benefits that could impact care provided to patients.”
“Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system, compromise medical decision making, and taint the doctor-patient relationship,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to prevent the waste of valuable taxpayer dollars and protect the integrity of federal health care programs.”
The defendants’ conduct allegedly resulted in false claims to Medicare and California’s Medicaid programs, the latter of which is jointly funded by the federal government and California. Under the settlement, they will pay $3,228,300 to the United States and $596,700 to California.
The settlement announced today stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2015 by a former Alta Vista accounting employee, Neyirys Orozco, pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. Orozco will receive $581,094 as her share of the federal government’s recovery in this case.
In addition to resolving their False Claims Act liability, Alta Vista and Rockport have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the HHS-OIG which requires, among other compliance obligations, an Independent Review Organization’s review of Alta Vista’s and Rockport’s physician relationships.
The United States’ settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the HHS-OIG, at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).
This matter was handled by the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the California Department of Justice, with investigative support from the HHS-OIG.
The case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Neyiris Orozco v. Shlomo Rechnitz et al., No. 15-cv-6177 (C.D. Cal.).
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
CEO of Clean Energy Company Convicted by Jury of Fraud, Identity Theft, Money Laundering, and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that James Abrams, age 40, of Easley, South Carolina, was convicted following a jury trial of all 48 counts in an indictment charging wire and mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, unlawful monetary transactions, obstruction of justice, and false statement offenses. The trial, held before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, spanned nine days, and the jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Abrams was the Chief Executive Officer of EthosGen LLC, a company operating in the clean energy industry. The evidence at trial showed that in 2017 and 2018, Abrams provided extensive forged documents and false information to induce several investors to invest $1,100,000 in his company. The false documentation included forged teaming agreements and intellectual property licenses, where Abrams substituted his and EthosGen LLC’s name for other companies and individuals, claiming that EthosGen LLC owned technology it did not own. During a pre-investment due diligence process, Abrams also provided forged tax returns and false financial statements that fabricated an existing customer base, and inflated EthosGen LLC’s historical revenues, business activity, and profitability, thereby making it a more attractive investment. Abrams further provided forged contracts and purchase orders to potential investors, in which he claimed to have a revenue stream that, in reality, belonged to other companies. Following an initial investment of $900,000, Abrams provided additional forged contracts and false customer sales documentation to induce an investor to advance another $200,000 to EthosGen LLC.
As a result of those activities, the jury convicted Abrams of 18 counts of wire fraud, and one count of mail fraud. The jury also convicted Abrams of five counts of aggravated identity theft based on his forging multiple individuals’ signatures and using their personal information on falsified documentation, without their authorization.
The evidence at trial also showed that Abrams used approximately $800,000 of the investors’ money to purchase a personal residence in Easley, South Carolina. To conceal his financial activities, Abrams transferred $700,000 of the funds through a series of five bank accounts under his control, and opened in the names of shell companies, before purchasing the residence. He then lied to investors and to his own financial professionals, claiming that he used the funds to purchase company inventory for EthosGen LLC. Abrams provided investors with falsified company reports, certifications, and accounting records to corroborate his misrepresentations about the use of the investment funds. He also provided forged bank account statements and false information to both of EthosGen LLC’s sequential Chief Financial Officers, and to its accounting professionals. In reliance on those forgeries and lies, the accounting professionals unknowingly included false entries in EthosGen LLC’s books and records. As a result of those actions, the jury convicted Abrams of one count of money laundering, and 12 counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
The evidence at trial further showed that, upon becoming aware of the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigation, Abrams took several steps to obstruct investigators. Namely, he used misrepresentations and forged bank statements to induce EthosGen LLC financial professionals to create false documents and accounting records that purported to classify his embezzlement of investor funds as a shareholder loan. Abrams also met with investigators on two occasions and provided materially false statements in response to their questions. Those false statements included lies about purchasing inventory for EthosGen LLC, that EthosGen LLC owed him $800,000, that he provided his investors with truthful information when they evaluated his company during a due diligence process, and that he was ignorant about the origin of multiple forged contracts that he sent to investors. As a result of those activities, the jury convicted Abrams of four counts of obstruction of justice, and seven counts of providing false statements to federal investigators.
At the conclusion of trial, the jury also found that the residence Abrams purchased in Easley, South Carolina, was subject to forfeiture, as the illegitimate proceeds of his crime.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Jeffery St John are prosecuting the case.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious offenses are 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The aggravated identity theft charges carry mandatory, consecutive two-year minimum sentences of imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances, and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Burkina Faso Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraud, Interstate Vehicle Theft and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A citizen of Burkina Faso has been sentenced in federal court to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $131,338.45 in restitution on his conviction of wire fraud, interstate vehicle theft, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Serge Ahmed Zeba, age 32.
According to information presented to the court, from November 2020 to January 2022, Zeba executed a scheme to steal high-end vehicles from car dealerships located throughout the United States. During the course of the scheme, Zeba stole seven vehicles and attempted to steal 19 more from numerous car dealerships using fake or altered money orders and the stolen personal identifiable information of at least 16 individuals.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Department of State and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Zeba.
Brookings Man Sentenced for Making Counterfeit U.S. CurrencyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Brookings, South Dakota, man convicted of Making Counterfeit U.S. Currency. The sentencing took place on June 20, 2023.
Julian Huffman, age 28, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Restitution and forfeiture were ordered.
Huffman was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 31, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between September 9, 2022, and November 21, 2022, when Huffman made dozens of counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve notes and passed them at various businesses in and near Brookings.
This case was investigated by the Brookings Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Huffman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Brockton Man Indicted for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly lying that his United States passport had been lost in order to secure a replacement to enter the country, when in fact, the passport had been confiscated by prosecuting courts in Cabo Verde following his arrest for murder.
Johnny Barros Brandao, 40, was indicted on one count of passport fraud. Brandao was previously charged by criminal complaint on May 7, 2023 and arrested on May 9, 2023. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, on March 27, 2014, in Cabo Verde, Brandao shot an individual in the head using a .45 caliber revolver, took one million and five hundred thousand Cape Verdean Escudo and then dumped the victim’s body on the side of a road. It is further alleged that on July 26, 2021, Brandao shot and killed another individual using a 9mm caliber firearm and threw the victim’s body over a cliff.
Brandao was arrested in Cabo Verde on these charges. On Dec. 12, 2022, after a period of pretrial detention, Brandao was released subject to supervision. The Cabo Verde court also ordered that Brandao not depart Cabo Verde – confiscating his Cabo Verdean national ID card as well as his United States and Cabo Verde passports.
According to the charging documents, on Dec. 28, 2022, Brandao applied for a replacement United States passport at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. In the section of the form that directs the applicant to explain how his prior passport was lost or stolen, it is alleged that Brandao reported he had lost his passport while out to dinner on Dec. 25, 2022.
The charge of passport fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Blood Gang Leader Armed with Machine Gun Pleads Guilty with Co-Conspirator to Distributing Fentanyl from ChinaRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – The leader of the 1831 Piru Blood criminal street gang in Athens and a co-conspirator pleaded guilty to federal fentanyl distribution charges this week resulting from “Operation Tourniquet,” a lengthy FBI-led investigation.
Gregory O’Neal Wade, Jr. aka “Woop” aka “Big Homie” aka “OOG,” 31, of Athens, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and one count of possession of an illegal machine gun. Wade, Jr. faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by a maximum of five years of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Co-defendant Johnathan Edward Brown aka “Zeus,” 31, formerly of Riverdale, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Brown faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison to be followed by a maximum of five years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. The hearings occurred before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on June 20. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2023.
“Fentanyl, Glock switches and gangs is a particularly deadly combination and one which has no place on the streets of Athens,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Operation Tourniquet’s success is the result of the excellent partnership between many law enforcement agencies focused on reducing violent crime and the spread of fentanyl.”
“The gangs pushing deadly fentanyl in our communities have a role in fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is determined to continue working with our partners to cut the head off the snake by targeting the leaders of these operations and removing them from our streets.”
“Criminal street gangs continue to wreak havoc in Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Mike Register. “The results from Operation Tourniquet underscore the importance of law enforcement partnerships to tackle violent crimes and these serious drug offenses. The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners.”
“This successful outcome of Operation Tourniquet is a testament to the invaluable partnerships we have with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The collaborative efforts have allowed us to disrupt a significant threat to our community,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “I want to emphasize that we will not tolerate the presence of gangs, or the distribution of deadly substances like fentanyl within our community and will continue to prioritize our efforts against such networks.”
According to court documents, Wade and his 1831 Piru associates were the subjects of a lengthy joint investigation into violent crime and fentanyl distribution in the Athens-Clarke County region named “Operation Tourniquet.” The 1831 Piru Bloods are a set of the nationally affiliated Piru street gang, which originated in the 1960s in Compton, California. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the 1831 Piru Bloods engaged in numerous illegal acts involving drugs and firearms in the Athens-area, when Wade was its leader. The criminal street gang claimed two Athens apartment complexes as their territory—The Flats and Regency Park Apartments, referred to as “The Trenches” by gang members—and frequently sold guns and drugs from those locations.
As a result of “Operation Tourniquet,” agents ultimately executed a search warrant at Wade’s Jennings Mill Parkway apartment in July 2021. Wade attempted to evade arrest by leaping out of a third story window but was quickly apprehended by a police K-9 and his handler. Inside the apartment, officers found Brown and D’Angelo Caleb Perkins aka “Yak,” 26, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, who had been staying with Wade. The apartment contained almost a kilogram of fentanyl, approximately 90 grams of cocaine and over eight pounds of marijuana. In Wade’s bedroom dresser drawer, officers found a Glock 19 with an auto sear switch, a mechanism that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. In the same drawer, a 30-round extended magazine and a 50-round drum (high capacity) magazine was recovered. Wade admitted that he kept the machine gun as protection from those who might do him harm. Officers found additional firearms, a “kilo press” used to compress illegal drugs purchased by Brown and a money counter in Wade’s apartment.
On June 6, 2021, Brown communicated with a drug supplier in China who was using the name "Convert.” Brown requested to purchase one kilogram of fentanyl to which Convert sent a reply message: "Sorry, the product you interested are controlled product in China." Brown then began to communicate over WhatsApp with a new source named "Marcus" and negotiated a one-kilogram fentanyl transaction. Wade, along with Brown, admitted to buying and selling large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs for distribution in the Athens community.
Co-conspirator Perkins is wanted on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Perkins remains at-large. Anyone with information regarding Perkins’ whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
This case was investigated by the FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the GBI Gang Unit, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department Gang Unit, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Battlefield Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Leading Conspiracy to Distribute Nearly 38 Kilos of FentanylRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Battlefield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy that distributed nearly 38 kilograms of fentanyl in southwest Missouri and resulted in several overdose deaths. Two Springfield, Mo., residents were also sentenced as co-conspirators in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
James D. Collins, also known as “Red,” 49, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 30 years in federal prison without parole.
Co-defendant Rufus H. Jones, also known as “Shorty,” 73, of Springfield, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Heather R. Kinnison, 31, of Springfield, was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison without parole.
On Aug. 17, 2022, Collins pleaded guilty to leading the conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Greene County from Jan. 31, 2019, to May 18, 2020, and to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jones and Kinnison also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Collins is responsible for the distribution of 37.8 kilograms of fentanyl. Collins transported at least 300 grams of fentanyl by vehicle from either St. Louis, Mo., or Chicago, Illinois, to Springfield twice a week. Collins then distributed fentanyl to co-conspirators, including Jones. Collins admitted to investigators that he had been dealing with his source of supply for the past 10 years.
On April 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Collins’s residence. They found a large plastic bag that contained 331.1 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement seized more than 700 grams of fentanyl during the course of the conspiracy.
According to court documents, multiple overdose deaths occurred related to Collins’s distribution of fentanyl. After he was incarcerated in the Greene County Jail, Collins bragged to his cellmate about multiple overdoses caused by the drugs he was distributing.
For example, in March 2020, co-defendant Elmer E. Freeman Jr., also known as “Duck,” 56, sold fentanyl (supplied by Collins) to Randi Highfill, who in turn, distributed the fentanyl to an individual identified in court documents as “J.G.” J.G. died, and Highfill pleaded guilty in state court to involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with this incident. On Oct. 22, 2019, another individual identified in court documents as “J.W.” overdosed and died.
According to court documents, Collins led a conspiracy that was distributing significant amounts of fentanyl laced with an assortment of other dangerous substances, including xylazine. The DEA recently issued a Public Safety Alert warning about the newly widespread threat of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. As a result, xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. Moreover, people who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation.
Lab results indicate that the fentanyl seized from Collins’s residence contained fentanyl, tramadol, cocaine, and xylazine. Fentanyl seized from one of his co-conspirators contained fentanyl, tramadol, and xylazine.
In his plea agreement, Collins admitted that he purchased a 2015 GMIC Yukon XL with a $7,000 cash down payment and two additional cash payments totaling $13,500. The vehicle was purchased in a co-conspirator’s name with the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.
Collins also possessed a Smith & Wesson .45-caliber pistol in connection with his drug trafficking activities and maintained a stash house to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Collins, Jones and Kinnison are among five defendants who have been sentenced in this case. Freeman is among seven defendants who have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Eatmon and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
OCDETF
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Augusta man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 scheme that netted more than $4.5 million in loans and grantsRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Richmond County man has been sentenced to federal prison for conducting a scheme to submit fraudulent applications for COVID-19 small business relief funding that netted more than $4.5 million in payments.
Kamario Thomas, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 38 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Thomas to pay $4,546,945 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we continue to pursue those who illegally profited from a COVID-19 program designed to help struggling small businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Kamario Thomas defrauded the government and aided other individuals in stealing money from the taxpayers, and this sentence holds him accountable.”
The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided more than $650 billion in funding for qualifying small businesses facing financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with grants and forgivable loans available through the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
As described in court documents and testimony, Thomas completed false and fraudulent EIDL applications for himself, and received hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in return for completing and submitting fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of others. To create those applications, Thomas fabricated IRS forms and tax records.
In total, the scheme caused the disbursement of more than $4.5 million in fraudulent CARES Act loans and grants.
“Individuals who provided fraudulent information to gain access to SBA funds intended to support eligible small businesses will face justice,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
“IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who fraudulently received funds from programs under the CARES Act,” said Lisa Fontanette, acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Kamario Thomas’ sentencing sends a clear message that individuals who defraud the government will be held accountable.”
“Greed has no place in the relief programs intended to aid the nation’s hardworking small business owners who struggled during the pandemic,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence should serve as an example to others that the FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to stop people like Thomas who illegally profit from these programs and hurt law abiding business owners.”
The case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer A. Stanley.
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.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Jesse James Hunt, age 55, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 5, 2023, to 120 months in prison for two counts of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence, which included 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment, restitution in the amount of $57,000, and a $200 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation received over 100 cybertips on Hunt who was using several aliases to set up different social media accounts. A search warrant was conducted and over 1,000 images and videos were recovered from Hunt’s phone and an online account. When interviewed, Hunt admitted possessing child pornography. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
Drug Trafficking
Breanna Elizabeth Oliver, age 31, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 5, 2023, to 72 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin as well as distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence, which included four years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. According to the evidence presented, in 2021, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation identified Oliver as a distributor of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. Oliver would travel to Colorado and Arizona to obtain the controlled substances. She then distributed these drugs in Natrona, Laramie, Albany, Campbell, and Fremont counties.
Rondell Yokenya Baker, age 31, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 14, to 44 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence, which included three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, on March 2, 2022, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Baker for speeding twice. During the second stop, a drug-detection canine alerted to Baker’s vehicle. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a duffle bag containing two packages of methamphetamine, weighing about 7.95 pounds. This crime was investigated by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
Marcus Morris, age 43, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 15, 2023 to 180 months’ imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence, which included five years of supervised release, $1,000 in community restitution, and a $300 special assessment. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) made several controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine from Morris between March and May 2022. On June 30, 2022, DCI executed a search warrant at Morris’ residence where they located plastic baggies containing methamphetamine and cocaine inside a briefcase belonging to Morris. This case was investigated by DCI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Firearms Offenses
Matthew Pruitt, age 20, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced on May 26, 2023, to 27 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence, which included three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case.
Firearms and Drug Trafficking
Isaiah Williams, age 21, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 14, 2023, for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, to 12 months and one day in prison with three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence. On April 14, 2022, Casper Police Department stopped Williams for a traffic violation. Smelling marijuana, the officer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle where he found marijuana and a handgun. When asked about the firearm, Williams admitted it was his. The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
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Arrests Made in Joint Federal/local Investigation Targeting Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, and Gadsden CountiesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In excess of 50 individuals have been arrested on warrants related to drug-trafficking as part of a long-term investigation conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration, local, and state law enforcement. The arrests were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“I am proud of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support the efforts our law enforcement partners as we work together to investigate and prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”
The multi-agency operation netted seizures of over 35 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, multiple kilograms of cocaine, multiple ounces of fentanyl, over 60 firearms, and over $100,000 in United States currency.
Federal defendants arrested today were: • Joshua Leo Carr, 40, of Marianna, Florida
• Michael Christopher “City Boy” Garner, 38, of Chattahoochee, Florida
• Joncy Torrianne Hall, 31, of Marianna, Florida
• Robert Blake Howell, 45, of Marianna, Florida
• Helen Christine Jones, a/k/a Christine Howell, 41, of Marianna, Florida
• Amos E. “Pops” Rogers, 58, of Chipley, Florida
• Matthew Ottovio Aliffi, 45, of Marianna, FloridaAlready in custody elsewhere and scheduled for federal arraignment are: • Ashley Marie Albert, 29, of Mariana, Florida
• Royce Allen “R.J.” Alday, 30, of Marianna, Florida
• Ryan Wade “Bobo” Massey, 32, of Chipley, Florida
• Holly Gay Newton a/k/a Holly Nichols, 43, of Altha, Florida
• Dewayne Deshun “Max” Thornton, 23, of Dothan, AlabamaPrevious federal arrests from this same investigation include: • Brian Beauchamp, 37, of Grand Ridge, Florida
• Anthony Lamar “Kool Aid” Brown, 46, of Quincy, Florida
• Eric Shane Daniels, 27, of Blountstown, Florida
• Daniel B. Foster, 40, of Blountstown, Florida
• Cornelius Montez Garner, 33, of Chattahoochee, Florida
• Gary Lamar “G” Murphy III, 37, of Tallahassee, Florida
• Savannah Price, 23, of Marianna, Florida
• Jessica Nicole Pynes, 35, of Bristol, Florida
• Shelby Roney, 49, of Malone, Florida
• Curtis Vickers, 38, of Dothan, Alabama
• Latoya Latasha White, 34, of Lake Wales, FloridaThe defendants charged federally face penalties of up to life imprisonment and fines of up to $20,000,000.
State defendants' arrested: • Tara Baxley
• Cheryl Bernhard
• Destiny Bryan
• Paul Childress
• Jeffrey Davis
• Arthur Goodwin
• Dawn Herndon
• Richard Outlaw
• Darryl Owens
• Abdullah Muhammad
• Nikolaus Rabon
• Forrest Reed, Jr.
• James Shelmon
• Ashley Smith
• Giselle Sukanec
• Keith Edward Summerlin
• Paul WrightThese arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). This joint federal, state, and local cooperative targeted drug trafficking west of Tallahassee, particularly in Jackson County.
Investigative agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Chattahoochee Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s office, the Holmes County Sheriff’s office, the Dothan, Alabama Police Department, the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The federal Northern District of Florida cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Jessica S. Etherton, Joseph A. Ravelo, and Eric K. Mountin.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
63,000 Fentanyl Pills Removed from Utah Streets and Alleged Drug Dealers Indicted and in CustodyRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging two foreign nationals living in Utah with multiple federal crimes including possession and distribution of narcotics.
According to court documents, Lenin Rafael Rodriguez-Villafranca, a/k/a “Jose Santiago Funez Villafranca,” 23, of Magna, Utah, and Onesy Basilo Avilez-Flores, a/k/a Rafael Flores Onesy Basilo,” 22, of Magna, Utah, are in federal custody. According to a criminal complaint, in May 2023, the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF), initiated a criminal investigation into Rodriguez-Villafranca and other members of a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing large amounts of narcotics in Utah. During the execution of a search warrant for Villafranca’s residence on June 6, 2023, agents saw Avilez-Flores with narcotics, which were consistent with blue fentanyl pills. Avilez-Flores attempted to retreat further into the residence and dispose of the narcotics. Agents recovered counterfeit blue M-30 pills on the floor of the residence and in the toilet. Agents also recovered approximately 6,288 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl (totaling approximately 63,000 pills), approximately 2,737 grams of field-tested positive heroin, and approximately 1,096 grams of field-tested positive cocaine.
Rodriguez-Villafranca and Avilez-Flores are charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and reentry of a previously removed alien. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearance on the indictment June 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Utah are 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.
20 June 2023
U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announces departure from U.S. Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown today announced he is resigning as United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington effective June 21, 2023.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, and humbled to have been selected by President Biden to serve in this important role. Building safe and healthy communities is one of the most important challenges we face as a state. Leading the federal partners who work to keep our communities safe and learning from our community partners has reinforced for me the need to tackle these difficult challenges head on,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “I hope to return to public service in the future, but I know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its excellent work under the career attorneys and professional staff who assisted me during my time in office. I would like to thank each of them for entrusting me to lead this incredible team.”
During his years in office, U.S. Attorney Brown put an emphasis on protecting civil rights, addressing the fentanyl crisis, combatting gun crime, and empowering community voices in our public safety efforts.
Brown was selected in 2021 to chair the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights. The U.S. Attorney’s Office under Brown put a priority on preventing and prosecuting hate crimes, protecting the most vulnerable and members of marginalized communities.
U.S. Attorney Brown partnered with state and local officials to lead multiple prosecutions of the groups that bring drugs to our communities and use firearms as part of their criminal conduct. Under U.S. Attorney Brown, the office brought multiple cases regarding illegal trafficking in firearms and “ghost guns” – firearms that were manufactured without serial numbers.
Understanding that law enforcement is just one of the factors in fostering community safety, U.S. Attorney Brown testified before congress about the community partnerships supported by his office that work to interdict gun violence and enhance reentry to the community by those who have been incarcerated. The office also engaged in new ways with a diverse group of community stakeholders.
Under Brown’s leadership the office pursued several initiatives, creating a new unit to combat cybercrime, pursuing a variety of fraud cases related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and prosecuting those involved in human trafficking.
U.S. Attorney Brown took the oath of office on October 8, 2021. His full biography is available here.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman will serve as the Acting U.S. Attorney.
Two Louisville Nursing Homes Agree to Shut Down and Pay over $1 Million in Civil Monetary Penalties Resulting from Noncompliance with Medicare Rules and RegulationsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced today that two nursing homes that filed federal lawsuits seeking injunctive relief against the United States in an effort to remain open, have dismissed their cases, agreed to shut down, and will pay a total of $1,026,409 in civil money penalties to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Hillcreek Rehab and Care (Hillcreek), is located at 3116 Breckenridge Lane in Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Matthews Care and Rehab Center (St. Matthews), is located at 227 Browns Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Both facilities are owned and operated by Medical Rehabilitation Centers, LLC, d/b/a Exceptional Living Centers, which is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
“This office will vigorously defend the actions of CMS when it seeks to hold accountable nursing facilities that fail to comply with Medicare rules and regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Nursing homes must meet all federal program requirements and provide their residents, which include some of our most vulnerable citizens, with the quality care and services they deserve. When facilities fail to meet these requirements, CMS is authorized to hold the facilities accountable.”
“CMS takes seriously our role in promoting the health and safety of nursing home residents. As was shown during onsite inspections, the residents of these two nursing homes did not receive the care they were entitled to,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We appreciate the efforts of the State of Kentucky to assess the quality of care through the survey process and support the relocation of residents to safer settings.”
The Kentucky Division of Health Care performed numerous site visits, called “surveys,” of Hillcreek and St. Matthews beginning in September 2022 and continuing through May 2023. These surveys found substantial noncompliance with Medicare rules and regulations. As noted in filings with the Court, in the case of Hillcreek, those surveys included the following findings, among others:
- Hillcreek repeatedly used blood glucometers on multiple patients without disinfecting the glucometers.
- Hillcreek left a resident in an unheated room, on the floor with skin tears, covered in urine and feces, who ultimately died of hypothermia.
- Hillcreek was infested with rodents, with rats and their droppings in plain view in various parts of the facility including resident rooms, and a resident was bitten by a rodent.
- Hillcreek left residents in soiled clothing and linens without appropriate checks from staff.
- Hillcreek left garbage cans in resident rooms and elsewhere overflowing with soiled adult briefs.
- Hillcreek failed to implement care plans for multiple residents, each of whom later suffered serious harm.
- A March 2023 survey found that Hillcreek improperly kept medications past expiration and improperly left medications unlocked.
- Hillcreek hired personnel despite disqualifying criminal convictions.
- Even though Hillcreek corrected some deficiencies cited by Kentucky, Hillcreek failed to be in substantial compliance even after a fourth revisit. Many Hillcreek resident rooms still had malfunctioning and nonfunctioning heating and cooling units, including one left pulled out of an exterior wall, allowing rodents to enter.
In the case of St. Matthews, filings with the Court showed that CMS surveys included the following findings, among others:
- St. Matthews failed to protect residents from abuse.
- St. Matthews used blood glucometers on multiple patients without disinfecting them properly between uses.
- St. Matthews’ personnel files failed to show that complete and proper background checks had been performed on its employees, with some employees having disqualifying events that proper background checks should have revealed.
- St. Matthews failed to ensure that alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown source and misappropriation of resident property, were reported immediately.
- St. Matthews failed to develop and implement care plan interventions for residents with physician’s orders for oxygen.
The federal lawsuits were filed by Hillcreek and St. Matthews in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on May 24, 2023. The cases were styled St. Matthews Care and Rehab Center, LLC v. Becerra, et al. (3:23-cv-261) and Hillcreek Rehab and Care, LLC v. Becerra, et al. (3:23-cv-265). The United States filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits and sought to dissolve the temporary restraining orders initially entered by the Court. Following a brief hearing with the Court on June 1, 2023, Hillcreek and St. Matthews agreed to terminate their provider agreements with Medicare, dissolve the temporary restraining orders, dismiss their cases, with prejudice, and close their facilities within 30 days. As part of the closure process, Hillcreek and St. Matthews will be required to safely transfer Medicare and Medicaid residents in their respective facilities to other facilities and submit a comprehensive closure and relocation plan for each facility that is acceptable to CMS.
As a result of their noncompliance with federal rules and regulations, Hillcreek and Exceptional Living Centers will pay to CMS a Civil Monetary Penalty of $636,752.75 and St. Matthews and Exceptional Living Centers will pay to CMS a Civil Monetary Penalty of $389,656.25, for a combined total of $1,026,409.
Defense of these cases was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Snyder, William F. Campbell, and Benjamin S. Schecter. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the General Counsel and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided substantial support in response to these cases.
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Tucson Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms from the United StatesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Luis Eduardo Terminel Jr., 27, of Tucson, was sentenced on June 14, 2023, by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Terminel also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Terminel pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States.
Terminel and his co-conspirators concocted a scheme to smuggle firearms and firearm magazines from the United States into Mexico from November 2019 leading up to June 27, 2020. As part of the conspiracy, Terminel and his co-conspirators purchased and transported firearms and magazines in Arizona and elsewhere, made false statements to firearms dealers, and provided funds to others for the purchase of firearms and magazines.
The firearms and magazines that Terminel and his co-conspirators intended to bring across the border are prohibited from being exported from the United States into Mexico without a valid license. None of the conspirators had a valid license or any other lawful authority to export the items to Mexico.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Bolling and Sandra Hansen, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00880-JAS-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-095_Terminel, Jr.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.The United States and the Netherlands Reaffirm Their Commitment to Pursuing Justice and Accountability for Russia’s Unlawful Invasion of UkraineRead the Press Release
On June 19, Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra met with U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in The Hague, where they discussed support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression that is causing death and destruction across Ukraine, and sowing instability around the world. Those responsible for atrocities in Ukraine must not go unpunished. The Ukrainian people deserve justice. The United States and the Netherlands are both deeply committed to domestic, regional, and international efforts to promote accountability and combat impunity in Ukraine. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) will play a critical role in the ecosystem for prosecuting atrocity crimes committed in Ukraine.
Ministerie van Justitie en VeiligheidDutch Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius and AG Garland.
Ministerie van Justitie en VeiligheidDutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and AG Garland.
“Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting with Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra, in The Hague, Netherlands,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The U.S. partnership with the Netherlands is one of our oldest and closest, and our strong bilateral relationship is critically important as we confront common challenges. Ensuring accountability for Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine was at the top of our agenda. We are grateful that the Netherlands has agreed to host the ICPA, which will be based at Eurojust. I am pleased to announce that I have appointed an experienced federal prosecutor, Jessica Kim, to serve as the United States’ Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression and our representative in this important effort. We will continue to seek justice alongside, and stand with, our Ukrainian partners, for as long as it takes.”
“The Netherlands is the host nation to the ICPA against Ukraine and is honored to do so,” said Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. “We view the ICPA as the first step towards justice for the crime of aggression committed by the Russian Federation and its leadership. We see the commitment by the United States to appoint a Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression as very valuable and call on other states to support this endeavor to ensure justice and exclude impunity.”
“The Netherlands greatly appreciates the close cooperation with the United States in supporting Ukraine, and in the fight against impunity for atrocities committed by Russia’s unjustified war of aggression,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra. “We will continue to work together to bring those responsible to justice, including through the work of the ICPA, as well as the Register of Damages Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which will also have its seat in The Hague. The Register will serve as a record of evidence and claims information on damage, loss or injury caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Tax and Firearm Charges Filed Against Robert Hunter BidenRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – The United States Attorney for the District of Delaware filed charges today against Robert Hunter Biden (“Hunter Biden”) of Los Angeles. Hunter Biden has been charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense and has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the tax offenses and enter into a pre-trial diversion agreement with regard to the firearm charge at a proceeding to be scheduled by the assigned United States District Court judge.
According to the tax Information, Hunter Biden received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018. Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year.
According to the firearm Information, from on or about October 12, 2018 through October 23, 2018, Hunter Biden possessed a firearm despite knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.
Hunter Biden is charged with two violations of failure to pay income tax and one violation of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison on each of the tax charges and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the firearm charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, made the announcement. The investigation is ongoing.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
An information contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Attachments:
rhb_information1.pdf rhb_information_2.pdf