Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
9 June 2023
Commercial Real Estate Investor Natin Paul Indicted on Eight Counts in AustinRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A federal grand jury in Austin returned an indictment Tuesday, June 6, 2023, charging Natin Paul, aka Nate Paul, with making false statements for the purpose of influencing the actions of financial institutions on applications for loans.
The indictment, unsealed during his initial appearance in Austin today, charges Paul with eight violations of Section 1014 of Title 18 of the United States Code, which prohibits knowingly making a false statement or report for the purpose of influencing the action of a financial institution on an application for a loan. According to the indictment, the lenders were based in Ireland, New York, Connecticut and Texas. The alleged violations occurred between March 2017 and April 2018.
The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000. The magistrate judge ordered the defendant released on bond.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr., of the FBI San Antonio Division made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Almonte and Alan Buie are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Columbia, KC Man Pleads Guilty to $1.1 Million Insurance Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who formerly lived in Columbia, Mo., has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a $1.1 million insurance fraud conspiracy that involved false claims of injuries suffered in car accidents, as well as to his role in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief benefits.
Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., on Thursday, June 8, to the charges contained in two separate federal indictments. In the first indictment, Lawhorn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. In the second indictment, Lawhorn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Lawhorn is among 17 defendants who have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme that defrauded six insurance companies from June 2017 to July 2020. Conspirators submitted false claims that they had suffered bodily injuries and that they would be personally liable for any medical bills related to insurance claims. Conspirators, some of whom were involved in multiple incidents, received thousands of dollars, and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars, based on these false claims. However, none of the conspirators made any payments to medical providers and instead used the funds for their personal expenses.
Lawhorn was directly involved in two incidents in which he received separate payments of $1,500 and $17,350 from insurance companies. In several other incidents, Lawhorn sent emails to insurance companies, made telephone calls to insurance companies, directed others what to tell insurance companies, reviewed insurance policies prior to incidents, witnessed release agreements, and assumed the identity of parties to the incidents or people related to parties to these incidents in communication with insurance companies.
By pleading guilty today, Lawhorn admitted to his involvement in nine automobile accidents in June and December 2017, in May and August 2018, and in January, February, August, October and December 2019 as part of the insurance fraud scheme that resulted in a total loss to his victims of $1,148,198. Most of the accidents were in Columbia and Kansas City, Mo., with one accident in St. Louis, Mo.
FBI agents seized Lawhorn’s iPhone and Apple Mac laptop when he was arrested in the insurance fraud case. A detective with the Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force found evidence of additional fraud after searching those devices, which led to Lawhorn being indicted in the second case.
By pleading guilty in the second federal indictment today, Lawhorn admitted that he fraudulently obtained three $10,000 COVID-19 economic relief loans for non-existent businesses in his name and in the names of two other individuals as part of a fraud conspiracy. He also applied online for loans in the names of five more individuals, but those applications were rejected.
Under the CARES Act, the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) provided loan assistance, including $10,000 in advances for small businesses. EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills associated with small businesses that could have been paid had the pandemic not occurred. A business applying for EIDL relief was eligible for an advance of $1,000 per employee up to 10 employees that did not have to be repaid.
Under federal statutes, Lawhorn is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the three conspiracy charges, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. They were investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison for Theft of Firearms from Retail StoreRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Christopher Cunningham, 34, of Columbia, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for stealing firearms from a licensed firearms dealer.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that on March 6, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Cunningham and a co-conspirator broke into a retail store on Garner’s Ferry Road and stole two shotguns and two rifles by forcefully opening a display case in the sporting goods section. The City of Columbia Police Department responded, viewed the surveillance video of the incident, and collected fingerprints from the display case. Cunningham was identified from the surveillance footage, and further investigation confirmed the fingerprints collected from the display case belonged to Cunningham. Cunningham had prior convictions for burglary, grand larceny, malicious injury to personal property, and multiple shopliftings.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Cunningham to 57 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was 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.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
###
Clay County Softball Coach Pleads Guilty to Producing and Attempting to Produce Sexually Explicit Images and Videos of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Andrew Lynn Overheul (43, Orange Park) has pleaded guilty to two counts of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material. Overheul faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to 60 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, on September 17, 2022, the parent of a 12-year-old child (MV1) contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to report a complaint MV1 had made about finding a cellular phone recording her changing clothes and using the shower in the bathroom at her softball coach’s house. CCSO responded that same night and interviewed the parent and MV1. The parent and MV1 said that they were at Overheul’s home in Orange Park, Florida on September 17, 2022, for a softball team family party, as Overheul was the child’s softball coach. The children decided to have an impromptu group sleepover at Overheul’s home. Overheul told MV1 that she could take a shower in the master bathroom shower, as another girl was showering in the other bathroom at that time. MV1 spotted a phone on the bathroom countertop propped up between two boxes, with the camera facing the shower. Upon closer inspection, MV1 discovered the phone was actively recording, and immediately grabbed the phone and stopped the recording. MV1 reviewed the video and discovered that it depicted her, so she deleted the video, placed the phone back on the counter, and called her parents to pick her up from Overheul’s residence. MV1’s parent sent a text message to Overheul at 8:17 p.m. indicating they were on their way to pick MV1 up and would tell Overheul about it when they got there. At 8:44 p.m., Overheul responded by text message, “Hey we talked with the girls. No one is addmitting [sic] to playing a joke. The others that were in that bathroom said they saw my phone charging but no other phones.”
After interviewing the parents and MV1, CCSO detectives responded to Overheul’s residence in the early morning hours of September 18, 2022, and interviewed Overheul, during which he acknowledged he was the only person that used or had access and control of his cellphone. He further acknowledged that his cellphone was in the bathroom and claimed he had placed it there to charge.
Agents obtained a federal search warrant for Overheul’s cellphone and a forensic review of the device found two photos of several minor females on the softball team wearing swimsuits and sitting on the floor in Overheul’s living room, dated September 17, 2022, with a time stamp of 5:36 p.m. Forensics also showed that, at 7:38 p.m., a search for “canon remote app” was conducted on the cellphone, and then the Canon Camera Connect app was installed a few seconds later. This app allows a camera to record remotely with live view imaging of the camera from a smartphone. Forensics also revealed a search in the evening of September 17, 2022, in the Google Play Store on Overheul’s cellphone for two applications, which were downloaded, and can be used to delete information from a person’s phone.
On November 18, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Overheul’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices. Agents discovered hundreds of photos and videos of minors that appeared to have been taken surreptitiously without their consent.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Chinese Woman Convicted of Setting Fire to a Montgomery Church and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Yesterday, a federal jury in Montgomery convicted 29-year-old Xiaoqin Yan, a Chinese national, of arson and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, during the early morning hours of September 30, 2021, the Montgomery Fire Department (MFD) responded to a fire reported inside First Baptist Church Montgomery. The MFD was able to extinguish the blaze, but only after the church sustained significant damage.
Surveillance videos taken from inside the church the day before the fire showed a woman carrying duffel bags and a plastic bag into the church during its Wednesday night service. Just after 2:00 a.m. on September 30, video showed the same individual removing silver containers from one of her bags and igniting multiple fires around the building. Investigators identified the vehicle driven by the suspect and obtained a tag number linking the vehicle to Yan. Law enforcement also learned that, on multiple occasions before the fire, church employees encountered someone matching Yan’s description on the church’s campus. During one encounter, a staff member escorted her off of church property due to her odd behavior. Investigators ultimately identified Yan as the same person encountered by the staff and in the surveillance videos.
During Yan’s arrest at a residence in Montgomery on October 4, 2021, agents found duffel bags identical to the ones seen in the church surveillance videos, as well as clothing matching the type worn by the suspect, gas containers, starter logs, and lighters. Officers also found a handgun. At the time of the arson and her arrest, Yan was in the United States illegally due to overstaying her non-immigrant visa and, therefore, could not lawfully possess a firearm.
Following the June 7, 2023, verdict, Yan faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Yan in the coming months.
The Montgomery Fire/Rescue Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Chelsea Phillips and Brandon W. Bates are prosecuting the case.
Brooklyn Center Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Insurance Fraud After Staging a Politically Motivated Arson AttackRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,850 in restitution and an $18,381 fine for filing fraudulent insurance claims for a staged arson, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 30, falsely reported to law enforcement that someone had lit his camper on fire and that three unknown males were near his home when he heard an explosion. Molla also reported that his garage door was vandalized with spray painted graffiti stating, “Biden 2020,” “BLM,” and an Antifa symbol, and that his camper was targeted because it had a Trump 2020 flag displayed on it. In reality, Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage.
According to court documents, Molla submitted multiple insurance claims seeking coverage for the damage to his garage, camper, vehicles, and residence caused by the fire. When Molla’s insurance company denied some of those claims, Molla submitted a written complaint to the insurance company claiming that it was defrauding him and threatened to report the company to the Department of Commerce and to the Attorney General. Molla also created and allowed others to create two GoFundMe accounts to benefit Molla and his family. In total, Molla submitted more than $300,000 in fraudulent insurance claims, and he received approximately $61,000 from his insurance company. Molla also received more than $17,000 from individual donors via GoFundMe.
Molla pleaded guilty on October 11, 2022, to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge David S. Doty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela M. Munoz prosecuted the case.
Belligerent Passenger Charged with Interfering with Flight CrewRead the Press Release
A Houston man who menaced a flight crew was charged with a federal crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Marcus Huff, 45, was indicted on April 25 for interference with a flight crew. He was arrested in Houston on Wednesday and made his initial appearance there on Thursday. He will return to the Northern District of Texas for his eventual arraignment.
According to court documents, Mr. Huff’s actions forced a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Houston to divert to Dallas Love Field.
Mr. Huff allegedly threw a drink at one flight attendant, yelled profanities at the entire flight crew, and refused to remain seated during the flight.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Huff is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas and Houston Field Offices conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is prosecuting the case.
Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kishaun Andre Jones, 23, of Beckley, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 20, 2021, Jones sold a substance containing methamphetamine to a confidential informant near South Kanawha Street in Beckley. Jones admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant on two other occasions in Raleigh County.
On February 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Beckley residence and found quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin as well as three firearms and $6,445. Jones admitted that intended to distribute the controlled substances.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-64.
###
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Angelo Johnson, 27, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 13, 2022, Johnson sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant, while aided and abetted by another, at a Ewart Avenue residence in Beckley. Johnson admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling a quantity of methamphetamine to the confidential informant in Daniels on October 31, 2022.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-13.
###
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for the Robbery and Murder of a Drug DealerRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced George Fields, a/k/a “Chin,” age 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a weapon during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to their plea agreements, on September 29, 2020, Fields and co-defendants Joseph Williams and Deron Johnson conspired to rob a 16-year-old of drugs and drug proceeds. Specifically, at approximately 4:24 a.m., Johnson and the victim pulled into the parking lot of a hotel in the 6500 block of Frankford Avenue in Baltimore, where Williams had been staying for several months, selling drugs under a fictitious name. Johnson was working as a “hack” driver and gave the victim a ride to the hotel on the ruse that the victim would be selling drugs to Fields and Williams.
As detailed in the plea agreements, Fields and Williams approached Johnson’s van and Fields held out money as though he was ready to make a purchase. Fields and Williams then began robbing the victim while Johnson walked to the rear of the van and smoked. Fields admitted that he pinned the victim down in the front passenger seat of the van and went through his pockets. The victim struggled, flailing his arms and legs. Williams admitted that he then pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot into the victim’s chest at close range. The victim stumbled away from the van and collapsed on the ground. Johnson, Fields, and Williams then got into the van and drove away. A hotel surveillance camera captured the entire incident. The victim died later that day after being taken to the hospital. No drugs, money, or cell phone were recovered from the victim’s personal effects.
Later that morning, the conspirators returned to the hotel in Johnson’s van, while police were still processing the scene. Fields, Williams, and Johnson entered the hotel together. Police recognized the van from the hotel surveillance footage and towed the van and detained Johnson. A search warrant was executed on the van and law enforcement recovered a single bullet from the front row carpet. On October 1, 2020, Johnson’s phone was searched and was found to contain evidence of the plan to rob the victim, including text messages between Johnson and Williams, a record of phone calls between Johnson and the victim, a photograph of Johnson with Fields and Williams, and Fields’ contact information was in Johnson’s contacts.
Joseph Williams, a/k/a “Blue,” age 33, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and up to life in prison for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery conspiracy. Judge Russell has scheduled sentencing for Williams on July 7, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
On May 24, 2023, co-defendant Deron Johnson, a/k/a “DJ,” age 52, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and to committing the robbery. Johnson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Johnson will be sentenced to at between 15 and 20 years in federal prison. Judge Russell has scheduled sentencing for Johnson on September 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Oldham, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on October 30, 2022, the Brooklyn Center Police Department located a vehicle that had previously been used to flee from law enforcement. Three people were inside the vehicle, including Kevin Ronnell Lynch, 55, who was seated alone in the backseat. During a pat down search of the driver, the officers observed Lynch moving around inside the vehicle. The officers removed Lynch from the vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm from his jacket. The recovered firearm was a Ruger model EC9 semiautomatic pistol. At the time of his arrest, Lynch was on pretrial release for two other firearm-related offenses. Since 1986, Lynch has at least 14 felony convictions, including for aggravated robbery, assault, domestic violence, and terroristic threats.
On February 2, 2023, Lynch pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal. Lynch was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.
8 June 2023
York County Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jayson Haley, age 33, of York County, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with child pornography offenses.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Haley with producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography, in York County in October 2022, and April 2023.
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.
The case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
The total maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is up to 70 years’ imprisonment, a term of up to lifetime 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.
###
Wynde Collins Sentenced to 121 Months for Expansive Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 8, 2023, Wynde Collins, 56, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 121 months by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Following a 12-day jury trial, which concluded on October 20, 2022, Collins was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, six counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h). Following her imprisonment, Collins will be on supervised release for three years. Collins was ordered to pay $855,374.21 in restitution to the victims’ financial institutions in this case and was further ordered to forfeit $100,000 of the fraud proceeds she personally obtained.
According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, investigators uncovered evidence of a fraudulent loan scheme during an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization. From June 2014 through December 2019, Collins directed the scheme to defraud financial institutions by falsifying employment, income, and collateral information on auto loan and mortgage loan applications with credit unions and banks. Once the financial institutions funded the loans, Collins directed others, including co-conspirators to launder the loan proceeds. In total, over two million in fraudulent loans were funded.
Co-defendant Alvin Johnson, an automobile broker who conspired with Collins, entered into a plea agreement with the United States and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2023.
“Collins’ fraud scheme caused financial hardship to individuals and exploited the loan practices of credit unions, all while the defendant enriched herself,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Francis M. Hamilton III. “It is critical that such fraudsters be stopped, and our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target criminal fraudulent activity.”
“Illegal activity involving fraudulent loans has brought financial hardship to banks, credit unions and individual borrowers, “stated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Special Agent in Charge, Charlotte Field Office, Donald “Trey” Eakins III. “IRS Criminal investigation is committed to using our accounting skills to help unravel complex fraud and money laundering schemes. We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who attempt to enrich themselves by fraudulent means, and to help put a stop to this and other types of white-collar crime.”
This case was the result of an investigation by the IRS– Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The investigation was led by IRS Special Agent Meredith Louden and DEA Task Force Office Nathan Stinnett.
Assistant United States Attorneys Anne-Marie Svolto and Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
###
Woman Who Pointed Gun at Officer During Boyfriend’s Arrest SentencedRead the Press Release
A woman who pointed a loaded gun at an FBI agent during her boyfriend’s arrest was sentenced today to almost six years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Rebekah Jones, 30, was charged via criminal complaint in December 2021 and indicted later that same month. She elected to proceed to trial. In November 2022, a federal jury found her guilty of assaulting a federal officer using a deadly weapon. She was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to 71 months in prison.
“The men and women of the FBI routinely risk their lives undertaking high-stakes operations, knowing each one could end in tragedy. This arrest was no exception. Thankfully, this agent’s deft action protected not only himself and his colleagues, but the defendants he would go on to apprehend,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We are immensely proud of our brothers and sisters in blue, and are dedicated to holding accountable those who would seek to harm them.”
“The defendant knowingly assaulted a federal officer attempting to conduct a lawful arrest. Her actions threatened the safety of not only this officer, but also others who were present. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Randall County’s Sheriff’s Office for assisting us in holding this individual accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge B. Chad Yarbrough. "The defendant's actions are a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day."
At her trial, agents testified that she became combative when they attempted to arrest her boyfriend, Christopher Stephen Brown, who’d been charged with threatening to kill certain members of the Beth-Din, a Jewish rabbinical court.
When Mr. Brown refused to obey agents’ commands to exit his residence, they entered his apartment and grabbed him. Ms. Jones, however, locked arms with Mr. Brown and attempted to pull him inside the bedroom.
She pointed a loaded gun at one of the agents, who immediately grasped it and pointed it in a safe direction. While wrestling with both Mr. Brown and Ms. Jones, the agent was eventually able to free the gun and fling it onto the floor.’’ The pair was subdued without injury.
Shortly before Ms. Jones’ trial, Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to interstate threats, admitting in court documents that he placed threatening calls to Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish organization that has provided spiritual guidance and assistance to Jewish people since before the Holocaust, and that he threatened to “execute” several prominent rabbis. He was sentenced in January to two years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Amarillo Resident Agency and the Randall County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in partnership with the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.
Whiteriver Man Will Serve 30 Months for Assault on Ex-GirlfriendRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Eli Myles Mansfield, 35, of Whiteriver, Arizona, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 30 months in prison. Mansfield pleaded guilty to Assault by Strangling.
On August 22, 2022, while on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Mansfield, a member of the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe, was in a vehicle visiting with his ex-girlfriend and their three children. Mansfield became angry and assaulted his ex-girlfriend multiple times in the presence of the children.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Anthony Church, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: 22-08122-PCT-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-090_Mansfield# # #
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.Ten Charged with Violent Kidnapping of A Minor in the Bronx and Related Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging ADONYS CASTILLO, a/k/a “Candela,” GERARD VALENTINE FRIAS, a/k/a “Monkey,” JADEL ARAUJO, a/k/a “Negro,” a/k/a “Negromoneymaker,” HENRY MARCANO, a/k/a “KC,” JOSHUA TORRES, EDWIN RAMIREZ, RANDY BAUTISTA, JARYLIZ ORTEGA, ELVIO TORIBIO, and CLAUDY BRATINI, a/k/a “Cilantro,” with conspiring to kidnap a minor in the Bronx, New York. The defendants have been charged in the violent abduction of a 16-year-old victim (the “Victim”). The Indictment is assigned to United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
CASTILLO, FRIAS, MARCANO, TORRES, BAUTISTA, ORTEGA, AND TORIBIO were arrested last night and this morning and are expected to be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. ARAUJO, who is currently in federal custody in connection with a separate firearms offense, and BRATINI, who was previously in state custody and has been transferred to federal custody, will also be presented later today. RAMIREZ is a fugitive.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, a 16-year-old child was beaten and kidnapped over the course of 19 hours before he was dumped on a desolate street under an overpass. The charges announced today hold the perpetrators responsible for their reprehensible crimes.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today and statements previously made on the record in this case and related matters:[1]
In the early morning hours of April 26, 2022, the Victim, along with two others, robbed a location where marijuana was sold. The defendants immediately gave chase, including EDWIN RAMIREZ and JOSHUA TORRES, who discharged a firearm as they pursued the Victim and his friends who had just stolen bags of marijuana from the drug-selling location. The defendants were able to capture the Victim. The defendants then held the Victim against his will for approximately 19 hours. During this time, the Victim was severely beaten and transported from one building in the Bronx to another before being dropped off under an overpass. The Victim was found by a bystander the next morning on April 27, 2022, after having been left on the street, hog-tied and drifting in and out of consciousness, the night before. According to a doctor who treated the 16-year-old Victim, the Victim suffered from lacerations to his brain.
All 10 defendants have been charged with conspiracy to kidnap a minor, and RAMIREZ and TORRES have been charged with the use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
* * *
A chart containing the names and ages of the defendants who were charged today, the charges, and the minimum and maximum penalties they face is attached. All of the defendants are residents of the Bronx, New York.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ni Qian and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant
Age
Charges
Minimum and Maximum Penalties
ADONYS CASTILLO
27
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
GERARD VALENTINE FRIAS
28
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
JADEL ARAUJO
23
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
HENRY MARCANO
27
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
JOSHUA TORRES
27
Kidnapping conspiracy; use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
EDWIN RAMIREZ
28
Kidnapping conspiracy; use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
RANDY BAUTISTA
21
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
JARYLIZ ORTEGA
28
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
ELVIO TORIBIO
27
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
CLAUDY BRATINI
27
Kidnapping conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
U.S. v. Castillo et al IndictmentSullivan County Woman Arrested for Multimillion-Dollar Money Laundering and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging TETIANA BERRIORS with conspiring to commit money laundering and bank fraud in connection with laundering the proceeds of a series of business email compromise (“BEC”) scams that sought to deceive victims into sending nearly $10 million to bank accounts that she and others opened using fake and stolen identities. The defendant was arrested and will be presented tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Tetiana Berriors exploited the United States financial system to launder millions of dollars of fraud proceeds. In doing so, she helped victimize over 15 different individuals, businesses, government entities, and public institutions. In furtherance of her illegal money laundering enterprise, she lied repeatedly to banks and stole the identities of at least three other innocent victims. Thanks to the efforts of this Office and its law enforcement partners, the defendant will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
USSS Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “Despite the defendant’s alleged efforts to conceal the wide range of criminal activity targeting individuals, businesses, and government alike, such attempts against discovery were no match for this investigation’s expert professional team. Today, I am privileged to recognize the invaluable partnerships that fuel the New York law enforcement community’s essential work to fight fraud, and the Secret Service’s New York Field Office especially thanks the Financial Crimes Task Force of the New York City Police Department for their critical assistance in this case.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
From at least in or about December 2020 through at least in or about October 2022, TETIANA BERRIORS laundered funds on behalf of individuals engaged in a series of frauds, primarily BECs, that targeted individuals, public institutions, government entities, and businesses located across the United States. The victims included, among others, a public research university in Pennsylvania, a housing developer in Texas, and a county-level government in California.
To launder those funds, BERRIORS created over a dozen fraudulent bank accounts, used those accounts to receive funds from victims of the frauds, and rapidly depleted those accounts through cash withdrawals, wire transfers, and cashier’s checks. Typically, the wire transfers and cashier’s checks were made payable to shell companies that BERRIORS or her co-conspirators controlled. In total, BERRIORS opened at least 13 fraudulent bank accounts in the name of at least five shell companies using four different female aliases. Three of those aliases were identities stolen from real individuals.
As a result of the frauds, more than 15 victims were directed to transfer nearly $10 million to bank accounts under the control of BERRIORS and her co-conspirators. Out of those nearly $10 million, BERRIORS and her co-conspirators successfully stole over $3.5 million in victim funds.
* * *
BERRIORS, 49, of Smallwood, New York, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. BERRIORS was also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USSS. Mr. Williams also recognized the assistance of the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. King is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
U.S. v. Berriors IndictmentStatement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Supreme Court Decision in Allen v. MilliganRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v. Milligan:
“Today’s decision rejects efforts to further erode fundamental voting rights protections, and preserves the principle that in the United States, all eligible voters must be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote free from discrimination based on their race.
The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, the right from which all other rights ultimately flow.
Over the past two years, the Justice Department has rededicated its resources to enforcing federal voting rights protections. We will continue to use every authority we have left to defend voting rights. But that is not enough. We urge Congress to act to provide the Department with important authorities it needs to protect the voting rights of every American.”
Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in Honor of Pride MonthRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in honor of Pride Month:
“As we recognize Pride Month and celebrate the LGBTQI+ community, the Justice Department renews its commitment to protecting the rights of every person to live free from discrimination and persecution based on who they are or who they love. The Justice Department is proud to stand in defense of the rights to which LGBTQI+ individuals, and all people in our country, are entitled.”
Fact Sheet: Justice Department Efforts to Protect the LGBTQI+ Community
The Justice Department works every day to ensure the rights of LGBTQI+ people are recognized and protected. Members of the LGBTQI+ community must be able to live their lives free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and threats of violence. The Justice Department prioritizes addressing threats and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in the workplace, at doctor’s offices, in their schools, communities, and more.
Prosecuting hate crimes based on LGBTQI+ status. As recent FBI statistics confirm, hate crimes are on the rise, including hate crimes targeting members of the LGBTQI+ community. The Justice Department is pursuing those who commit acts of hate based on sexual orientation or gender identity to the fullest extent of the law. For instance, the Justice Department has:
-
Obtained a conviction of a Montana man of hate crimes for firing an AK-style assault rifle at the residence of a woman who identified as a lesbian and was home at the time. The defendant was on a self-described mission to rid the town of its lesbian and gay community;
-
Charged two South Carolina men with hate crimes and obstruction offenses for the murder of a transgender woman because of her gender identity;
-
Obtained a 45-year sentence against a Louisiana man who was convicted of kidnapping and attempting to murder a gay man as part of a hate crime scheme targeting users of a dating app for gay men;
-
Secured a 21-year sentence against a Missouri man for committing a hate crime by shooting a local teenager eight times in an attempted murder because of his sexual orientation;
-
Charged a Texas man for threatening a Boston doctor providing care to members of the transgender community; and
-
Obtained a conviction against a Washington man who pleaded guilty to one count of committing a hate crime for the arson of an LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub in Seattle.
Educating the public about protecting the LGBTQI+ community. The Justice Department and FBI are conducting outreach to share information about practical steps to protect the LGBTQI+ community from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence.
-
On Sept. 27, 2022, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI hosted a meeting with national LGBTQI+ groups about protecting LGBTQI+ communities in light of the increase in hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. The event served as an opportunity to connect law enforcement leaders with civil rights leaders and exchange ideas, raise awareness, and find new points of collaboration.
-
On March 30, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Community Relations Service (CRS) wide that addressed practical steps for protecting LGBTQI+ communities from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. The Justice Department and FBI shared information about steps to take in the event of an emergency, suspected hate crime, or threat of violence, and proactive measures to protect organizations, facilities, and communities. The webinar built on themes discussed at the September 2022 meeting with national LGBTQI+ groups.
Combating discrimination and harassment against LGBTQI+ people. The Department of Justice is also working to protect the rights of all LGBTQI+ people to live free of harassment and discrimination at school, at work, at home, and in their communities. For example, the Civil Rights Division has:
-
Resolved allegations of harassment and a hostile environment based in part on sexual orientation in a Vermont school district, and filed amicus briefs supporting a school’s decision to require employees to use the names and pronouns that match transgender students’ gender identities in Indiana, and a transgender boy’s right to use the boys’ restroom at his school in Florida;
-
Filed briefs in support of a transgender employee of a state prison in Georgia who suffered intentional misgendering and harassment in the workplace, a teacher in Maine who alleged her employer discriminated against her because of her advocacy for LGBTQI+ people, and a former Georgia deputy sheriff whose employer-sponsored health insurance did not cover treatment of gender dysphoria;
-
Filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court supporting the right of LGBTQI+ people to access public accommodations;
-
Challenged an Alabama law making it more difficult for transgender people to obtain driver’s licenses that reflect their gender identity;
-
Brought a lawsuit against the owners and managers of a rental property in Wisconsin for harassing a tenant because of his sexual orientation, and reached a landmark $4.5 million settlement in a lawsuit against a New Jersey landlord who sexually harassed both female tenants and tenants who were gay or bisexual men; and
-
Filed a statement of interest supporting the right of transgender inmates to safe living conditions and necessary medical treatment in Georgia prisons.
Defending transgender youth. The Justice Department has intervened or filed statements of interest supporting multiple challenges to state laws that restrict the rights of transgender youth and has educated the public about the rights of transgender youth. For example, the Civil Rights Division has:
-
Challenged discriminatory laws in Alabama and Tennessee that deny necessary medical care to transgender youth, including in instances when parents consent to that care;
-
Filed statements of interest and amicus briefs in support of litigation challenging similar bans on medical care for transgender youth in Arkansas and Kentucky;
-
Filed a statement of interest and an amicus brief in support of a transgender girl’s challenge to West Virginia’s law that banned her from playing on school sports teams consistent with her gender identity; and
-
In collaboration with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, issued a back-to-school message of support for transgender students.
The Justice Department also issued a letter to all state attorneys general notifying them that transgender youth have federal constitutional and statutory protections that shield them from discrimination, including efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming health care.
Improving law enforcement response to LGBTQI+ crime victims. The Department of Justice issued updated guidance to help law enforcement agencies improve their response to sexual assault and gender violence by identifying gender bias. Sexual assault and domestic violence are crimes that disproportionately harm women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people in the United States. The updated guidance addresses the ways that gender bias can intersect with other forms of bias to disproportionately affect survivors from marginalized communities, including the LGBTQI+ community. The Community Relations Service will also partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to increase the number of law enforcement officers who have completed CRS’s training programs on engaging with transgender and non-binary youth and building relationships with transgender communities.
Supporting organizations that serve LBGTQI+ victims and survivors. The Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has made it a priority to improve outreach, services, civil and criminal justice responses, prevention, and support for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from underserved communities, particularly LGBTQI+ survivors and others from historically marginalized communities. Through its Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations and its Training and Technical Assistance Initiative, OVW funds numerous projects and organizations, including:
-
An Albany, New York, based organization serving LGBTQI+ people of color, to provide services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in upstate New York, many of whom are transgender or gender non-conforming.
-
A network of organizations in Orlando, Florida, to expand outreach and victim services for LGBTQI+ survivors of sexual assault in Central Florida.
-
A community coalition in Pennsylvania, to address long-term safety and stability for LGBTQI+ survivors of color, build the capacity of service providers to provide culturally appropriate services, and develop culturally and linguistically appropriate materials, and provide housing assistance.
-
A Milwaukee organization, to provide mental health counseling, case management, support groups, safety planning, advocacy services, and economic resources to LGBTQI+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Additionally, OVW is administering grants supporting LGBTQI+ organizations and LGBTQI+ community-specific services through the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and its STOP Formula Grant program.
Addressing discrimination based on HIV status. The Justice Department has brought lawsuits addressing discrimination based on HIV status, which is a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For instance, the Justice Department:
-
Resolved claims that two doctors in California and nine dental offices in North Carolina violated the ADA by refusing to provide routine medical care to patients with HIV;
-
Brought suit against a town in Indiana after the police department unlawfully revoked a job offer to a qualified police officer because of his HIV status;
-
Resolved allegations against an in-home caregiving company in Wisconsin that refused to provide services to an individual with HIV; and
-
Reached a settlement with the state of Nevada to ensure that Nevada Department of Corrections inmates are not illegally segregated or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of their HIV status.
More information about the Justice Department’s work to uphold and protect the civil and constitutional rights of LGBTQI+ people is available online at www.justice.gov/crt/lgbtqi-working-group. Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
-
Social Worker Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Defrauding Program for Developmentally Delayed ChildrenRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, social worker Enock Mensah was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 42 months’ imprisonment for health care fraud and theft of federal funds after a jury found him guilty of defrauding the New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP), a public program designed to provide remedial services to developmentally delayed children. Mensah was also ordered to pay over $177,000 in restitution. Mensah was convicted in December 2019 following a one-week trial.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the sentence.
“Mensah shamefully enriched himself at the expense of the children who the Early Intervention Program is meant to benefit,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “With today’s sentence, the defendant paid the price for abusing the trust placed in him as a social worker for vulnerable families. This case should deter others who would attempt to defraud public benefit programs.”
“With today's sentence, Mr. Mensah will face the consequences of taking advantage of a program designed to assist those in need of specialized care. For all those willing to exploit the public benefit system for their own self interest, let this case serve as a warning. The FBI and our partners are committed to eradicating abuse and fraud in these systems,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“This defendant’s reprehensible scheme deprived children with special needs of assistance they required and deserved; today he faces the serious consequences of his illegal conduct,” stated DOI Commissioner Strauber. “DOI is proud to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI to protect the public funds that support critical services for New York’s children and families.”
Between August 2013 and October 2018, Mensah fraudulently billed Medicaid and EIP for more than 1,700 therapy sessions that never occurred, resulting in the theft of more than $145,000 in Medicaid funds and more than $29,000 in New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene funds. At the trial, several parents of special needs children testified that Mensah did not provide therapy sessions to which their families were entitled under the program, despite documents showing that Mensah claimed to have done so and submitted claims forms for payment to the health care agencies. One parent testified that she was in the Dominican Republic with her autistic child when Mensah billed for two purported therapy sessions with them. Mensah fabricated more than one thousand session notes in order to receive payment for work he had not done. In some cases, he forged the parents’ signatures on these claims forms; in others, he persuaded them to sign blank forms, which he later filled with falsified information and used to justify payment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, and Oren Gleich are in charge of the prosecution with assistance of Paralegal Specialist Melissa Bennett.
The Defendant:
ENOCK MENSAH
Age: 62
Franklin Park, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-60 (S-1) (AMD)
Seven Mile Man Sentenced to 32 Months for Assault on Police OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Troy Pete Curtis, 33, of Seven Mile, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 32 months in prison. Curtis pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
On April 12, 2021, while on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Curtis, a member of the Navajo Nation Indian Tribe, was in the vicinity of a White Mountain Apache Tribal police officer when the officer heard Curtis load a firearm. The officer confronted Curtis and Curtis walked away from the officer. While walking away, Curtis discharged the firearm multiple times over his shoulder in the direction of the officer.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Anthony Church, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08141-PCT-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-089_Curtis# # #
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.Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ramel Gulley, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and to possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Gulley admitted that on February 28, 2022, he possessed heroin-fentanyl mixtures weighing a total of 2,035 grams that he intended to distribute. Gulley also admitted that he possessed four firearms in order to protect the drugs, $12,625 in drug proceeds, and his drug trafficking business.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Gulley faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia is prosecuting the case.
San Francisco Residents Charged with Allegedly Committing Crimes in Front of Surveillance Cameras of Federal BuildingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Two defendants allegedly committed crimes while standing in front of the surveillance cameras of the federal building on Seventh and Mission Streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. A federal grand jury indicted Rodolfo Sagastume-Pineda and the Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint against Natalin Mauricio Martinez-Hernandez—both charging documents involve felonies the defendants allegedly committed within view of surveillance cameras monitoring the streets outside the federal building. The announcement of Sagastume-Pineda’s case was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The announcement of Hernandez case was made by United States Attorney Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.
The Sagastume-Pineda Case
According to a complaint filed May 25, 2023, Sagastume-Pineda was on the sidewalk of Seventh Street between Natoma and Mission Streets when he was observed engaging in a series of hand-to-hand drug transactions. The complaint describes four hand-to-hand drug sales that allegedly occurred on April 24, 2023, over the course of several minutes. Sagastume-Pineda was arrested the same day.
The complaint describes certain details regarding the circumstances of Sagastume-Pineda’s arrest. For example, the complaint alleges Sagastume-Pineda was carrying a backpack that contained 96.7 grams of fentanyl and over 30 grams of methamphetamine. Further, according to the complaint, the backpack also contained 11.1 grams of heroin, 4.3 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale.
A federal grand jury indicted Sagastume-Pineda on June 6, 2023, charging him with two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), as well as one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(C).
Sagastume-Pineda appeared yesterday before Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim who ordered Sagastume-Pineda detained. Sagastume-Pineda’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 12, 2023, for a status conference before Hon. Charles R. Breyer, United States District Judge.
The Hernandez Case
The complaint filed May 26, 2023, describes how Hernandez was observed on three occasions near the federal building at 90 Seventh Street in San Francisco.
On the first occasion, August 14, 2022, San Francisco Police officers were alerted to shots fired near the federal building. The law enforcement officers did not apprehend the shooter, who fled, but watched security video footage showing the incident. The complaint describes how video footage allegedly showed Hernandez near the federal building and eventually arguing with an unidentified man who brandished and put away what appeared to be a machete. The video allegedly showed Hernandez responding by removing a firearm from a backpack and firing in the direction of the unknown man. The unknown man apparently was not struck or injured by the firearm. The video showed the shooter leaving the area on a scooter.
The second occasion occurred more than a month later, on October 24, 2022, when San Francisco Police officers again were alerted to Hernandez’s presence near the federal building. On that day, a security guard who had reviewed footage from the August 14, 2022, shooting reported that he recognized Hernandez as the August 2022 shooter when Hernandez parked a vehicle near the federal building. Hernandez left the scene before law enforcement officers arrived.
The following day, October 25, 2022, Hernandez was sighted near the federal building for a third time and, this time, was arrested. During the arrest, officers seized a backpack that Hernandez was wearing that allegedly contained a loaded, black, 9mm Ruger Security 9 semi-automatic pistol; a pair of silver brass knuckles; and three .38 caliber bullets. Officers also allegedly recovered from Hernandez’s jacket pockets multiple baggies containing a total of 104.5 grams of fentanyl.
The complaint charges Hernandez with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Hernandez is next scheduled to appear on June 9, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for a detention hearing.The Hernandez complaint and Sagastume-Pineda indictment merely allege that crimes have been committed, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, both defendants may be ordered to serve an additional period of supervised release and to face additional monetary assessments. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dahlke is prosecuting the cases with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman and Jasmine Sanders. The Hernandez case is being investigated by the FBI and the Sagastume-Pineda case is being investigated by the DEA, both with the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department and the Federal Protective Service.
San Antonio ‘Boogaloo Boi’ Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison on Felon in Possession ChargeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday to 100 months in prison for one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court filings, Mark Ryan Hauser, 35, a three-time convicted felon, posted in an online chat group that he wanted to kill law enforcement officers and that he adhered to the “Boogaloo” ideology, which includes violent anti-government sentiment with a goal of hastening a second civil war. He posted that he wanted to purposely get pulled over by law enforcement so that he could go “pig hunting.” He also used his 3D printer to create gun parts, including “auto sears,” which unlawfully convert semi-automatic firearms to fully automatic.
On multiple occasions throughout June and July 2021, Hauser disclosed to FBI sources that he possessed various firearms and carried a concealed .45 caliber pistol. In July 2021, Hauser posted in an online chat group that he was selling an AR-15 rifle. On Aug. 12, 2021, he met with undercover FBI employees posing as people with connections to criminal organizations. The undercover FBI employees purchased the rifle and provided him with cash for materials needed to 3D print a firearm suppressor. Hauser subsequently boasted on-line that he would be selling the suppressors “to some cartel.” Agents arrested Hauser on Sept. 26, 2021. At the time of his arrest, Hauser was in possession of his .45 caliber pistol.
“We take seriously the threats to our law enforcement colleagues. This felon posed a real danger to the community, knew that what he was doing was illegal, and chose to ignore our federal laws which are designed to ensure peace and public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to our partners at the FBI and their task force for helping us bring this individual to justice and protect our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to address violence, threats of violence, and criminal activity with every lever available,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. for the FBI San Antonio Division.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Stephenson and Bill Lewis (retired) prosecuted the case.
###
San Antonio Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Federal Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday to 235 months in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Thomas McKay Beck, 46, used peer-to-peer file sharing software to distribute 14 files containing CSAM. The files contained sexually explicit videos of infants, toddlers and prepubescent children. A forensic analysis of Beck’s computer revealed 295 CSAM images. Beck was arrested April 28, 2022 and has remained in custody since. He pleaded guilty to count one of the two-count indictment Oct. 24.
In addition to the 235 month imprisonment, Beck was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution. He will also incur a lifetime of supervised release following his sentence and register as a sex offender.
“This defendant engaged in reprehensible acts and his lengthy sentencing serves as a powerful demonstration of our dedication to protecting the vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “With the valuable assistance of our law enforcement partners at federal, state, local and tribal levels, my office will continue to strongly prosecute anyone who exploits innocent children.”
“The significant sentence imposed on Thomas Beck sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those individuals who exploit children. Beck will serve the next 19 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “We remain committed in working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society, our children.”
HSI and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ChargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Denzell D. Easter-Stevenson, 28, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie M. Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on November 28, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Smith Street in Rochester, recovering approximately 41 grams fentanyl and 4-ANPP, approximately 3.8 grams of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, approximately 1.1 grams of fentanyl and tramadol, 108 glassine baggies of fentanyl packaged for sale, marijuana packaged for sale and approximately $1,207 in United States currency. In addition, a semiautomatic pistol loaded with one round of ammunition, a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and a variety of ammunition was also recovered.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
# # # #
Roberts man accused of kidnapping womanRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Roberts man accused of kidnapping a woman in Wyoming and holding her at his residence until she escaped appeared today in federal court on a kidnapping charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Adolfo Vargas Lepe, 59, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with kidnapping. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lepe faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Lepe was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from April to May 29, Lepe kidnapped a woman, identified as Victim #1, from a residence in Lander, Wyoming, and took her to his residence in Roberts, where the victim was not free to leave. Lepe is accused of repeatedly assaulting and mentally abusing the victim. The victim escaped on May 29 and called 911 for help.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, Billings Police Department and Lander, Wyoming, Police Department conducted the investigation.
PACER case reference. 23-100.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
XXX
Rhode Island Priest Admits to Federal Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Father James W. Jackson, a Rhode Island priest previously assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Providence, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island today to a charge of receipt of child pornography, admitting to a federal judge that he downloaded files of child sexual abuse using a peer-to-peer-file-sharing network, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to information presented to the court, in September 2021, an East Providence Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force identified an IP address assigned to the rectory at St. Mary’s Church that was being utilized to share files of child sexual abuse material.
A court-authorized search of a computer and digital device located in a church rectory bedroom utilized by Father Jackson was found to contain images and videos of child sexual abuse, including multiple images involving prepubescent females, some of which involved acts of bestiality and sadomasochism. A forensic audit of the devices subsequently identified over 12,000 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography.
The defendant, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint and arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence on November 3, 2021, was later released while awaiting trial to the custody of his sister, who resides in Kansas.
In June 2022, members of the Kansas ICAC identified a computer sharing child pornography via a peer-to-peer network. Through investigation, the IP address was traced to the residence in Kansas where Father Jackson was staying. Acting on a court-authorized search warrant, members of the Kansas ICAC seized a portable computer and an external hard drive from Jacksons bedroom; an analysis of the storage device revealed evidence that numerous files with names indicative of child sexual abuse material had been deleted.
Father Jackson was returned to Rhode Island and ordered detained while awaiting trial on charges filed in U.S. District Court, charges which were brought based on the initial investigation by the Rhode Island ICAC. He pleaded guilty today in that matter to a charge of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Kevin L. Hubbard. U.S Attorney Cunha expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas ICAC.
.
###
Rhode Island Beef Slaughterhouse, Owner Admit to Violating the Federal Meat Inspection ActRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Johnston, RI, beef slaughterhouse and an owner of the company have admitted to a federal judge that they committed fraud when they claimed that product they processed and suppled to customers had been federally inspected and passed as required under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) when, in fact, it had not, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Rhode Island Beef and Veal and one of its owners, Michael A. Quattrucci, pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding customers by claiming that beef had been inspected under the FMIA, as well as by preparing beef without complying with inspection requirements of the FMIA. Rhode Island Beef and Veal also pleaded guilty to a charge of defrauding customers by use of an official inspection mark of the Secretary of Agriculture without authorization.
According to information presented to the court, on August 20, 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service served RI Beef and Veal with a notice of suspension and withdrew its inspector.
Eight days after the suspension was imposed and the inspector was withdrawn, a USDA supervisor visited the plant and found employees packing various cuts of meat and applying USDA marks of inspections to the meat. Additionally, packaged meat with USDA stickers attached was found stored in five bins. No inspector was present, as is required by law for these marks to be applied.
A day later, a USDA investigator visited the slaughterhouse and took photos of the illegally marked packages of beef that had been retained from the day before; he also noted 224 pounds of unmarked ground beef and a 594-pound half carcass of beef that had been freshly cut into primal parts for delivery to a customer in Connecticut who supplies meat products to restaurants.
Michael Quattrucci is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2023; Rhode Island Beef and Veal is scheduled to be sentenced on September 7, 2023. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zechariah Chafee and Dulce Donovan..
The matter was investigated by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
###
Revere Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with drug trafficking activities involving cocaine.
Edgar Castro, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.An individual in Puerto Rico attempted to ship a box containing approximately 29 kilograms of cocaine to an automotive repair garage in Lawrence. After a routine inspection of the box, employees of the shipping company found packages appearing to be narcotics wrapped in plastic and notified law enforcement. A search of the package revealed a total of 29 kilograms of cocaine. Following a controlled delivery of the package to the recipient address in Lawrence, Castro and his co-conspirator Julio Ortiz were observed unpacking the box and moving containers of cocaine into another vehicle. Ortiz and Castro were arrested on site.
In November 2022, Ortiz was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Massachusetts State Police and the Woburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for possession of images depicting child sexual abuse material.
Russell Hamblin (63) pleaded guilty in November 2022, to one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2008, Hamblin was convicted of receipt of child pornography in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. As a result of his conviction, he was sentenced to prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. On April 12, 2022, during a home visit, U.S. Probation Officers observed printed papers on the floor depicting nude or partially dressed young females. They seized multiple flash drives and cell phones belonging to Hamblin. He admitted that he possessed between 10 and 150 items of child pornography on the seized devices.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Repeat Domestic Abuser Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms During Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Harold Sanders, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, on June 13, 2022, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers received a 9-1-1 phone call from Sanders’ girlfriend who was screaming for help as Sanders was assaulting her. During the phone call, Sanders was heard asking where his other pistol was and making verbal threats.
Officers responded to the residence and found the girlfriend with visible injuries. She told officers that Sanders had struck her in the head seven times with a firearm. A search of the residence yielded one loaded .380 caliber handgun under a bedroom mattress, and another one loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine inside the microwave. The girlfriend’s blood was found on the 9mm firearm.
Sanders is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm again because of his prior felony convictions for Assault by Means Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury, Infliction of Corporal Injury on a Spouse, and First Degree Criminal Domestic Violence.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.
“Again and again, we see armed domestic abusers inflict injury and death on those closest to them,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “We must interrupt the cycle of violence through aggressive federal prosecution of the worst offenders, like the defendant here. Through our L.E.A.T.H. initiative, we will continue working alongside IMPD and ATF to protect victims by sending these dangerous offenders to federal prison, where they belong.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Sanders be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Abhi Kambli, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
This case is also 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.
###
Registered Sex Offender from Harwich Indicted for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Harwich man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston on child pornography offenses.
Jonathan Fleischmann, 35, was indicted today on one count of possession of child pornography. Fleischmann was previously arrested and charged on May 16, 2023 and remains in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, Fleischmann’s co-workers reported to law enforcement that, between March 17 and March 18, 2023, Fleischmann’s cellphone was allegedly observed downloading suspected child pornography media files while his phone was left open and charging on a counter at their workplace. During a subsequent search of Fleischmann’s cellphone allegedly identified approximately 255 image files and 55 video files that contained suspected child pornography.
Fleischmann is currently facing separate state charges in Barnstable Superior Court for allegedly invading a Yarmouth home and forcibly taking a 16-year-old female at gunpoint into her house as she arrived home from school in 2020. That investigation allegedly revealed that Fleishmann had accessed a dark web hidden service on his cellphone dedicated to the trafficking of child pornography. The case remains pending.
Fleishmann is a Level 3 sex offender due to prior convictions in Barnstable District Court of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 in 2006 and Open and Gross Lewdness in 2017.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five 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 Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Peabody Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Peabody man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Donald Ruby, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley to 27 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Ruby was also ordered to forfeit $28,110 which was previously seized during a search of his Peabody apartment. On Jan. 13, 2023 Ruby pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving 40 grams or more of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Ruby was arrested in May 2022 after he had distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in a number of separate controlled purchases at his home. A subsequent search of Ruby’s residence in Peabody resulted in the seizure of 85 grams of fentanyl disguised as counterfeit oxycodone pills, 132 grams of methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills and 85.3 grams of powder cocaine. It was later revealed that Ruby had been trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine for a decade.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Peabody Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Orleans Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Concealment of Bankruptcy Related AssetsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – JOSHUA BORGES (“BORGES”), age 38, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on to one count of Concealment of Assets, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, on or about April 17, 2018, BORGES knowingly and fraudulently failed to disclose property that belonged to him in a bankruptcy case. Specifically, he knowingly and fraudulently failed to disclose to the trustee charged with control of the debtor’s property and from the creditors and the United States Trustee, $9,000.00 in cash on hand, and his business interest in Elite Enterprise Holding, LLC, which had a value of at least approximately $89,771.08.
Sentencing will be September 28, 2023, and BORGES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Office of the U.S. Trustee for the Eastern District of Louisiana with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.
North Little Rock Man Sentenced to Prison for Falsifying Disability ClaimsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK— A North Little Rock man was sentenced to prison for submitting a falsified disability application to the Veteran’s Administration (VA) and receiving more than $91,000 in disability payments. Darold Maxfield, Jr., 30, was sentenced to four months in federal prison today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
This is a case of stolen valor. In October 2018, Maxfield filed for disability benefits from the VA, alleging he sustained psychological trauma after he recovered the remains of a cadet who died while conducting a land navigation exercise at West Point Military Academy. At the time, Maxfield was enrolled at the United States Military Academy Prep School. Maxfield’s VA disability application was approved, and he began receiving $1,567 per month.
The VA was alerted of potential fraud regarding Maxfield’s benefit application in May 2020 after it was discovered that the physician’s signature on Maxfield’s disability benefit questionnaire had been cut and pasted onto Maxfield’s application from another application. Upon further investigation, agents were able to verify that, three days after Maxfield enrolled at the United States Military Academy Prep School, a cadet at West Point Military Academy died during a field training exercise. However, agents found no evidence that Maxfield was anywhere near the proximity where the remains were located; he was not on the land navigation course on the date of the cadet’s death; and the two cadets who did find the dead cadet’s remains stated they were the only two present when the body was located.
“Today, this defendant was held accountable for falsely claiming to be disabled in order to steal taxpayer dollars from a program meant to benefit deserving service-disabled veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is dedicated to ensuring the integrity of VA’s benefits programs and services. The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.”
On June 1, 2021, Maxfield was charged in an indictment with theft of public money and making a false statement or representation to a department or agency of the United States. Maxfield pled guilty to the indictment on January 19, 2023. Maxfield was sentenced to four months in prison on each count, to be served concurrently, three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $91,651.70 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorneys J. William Crow and Jana Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
# # #
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
New York Woman Admits Bribing Mail Carriers to Steal Postal Arrow KeysRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York woman man today admitted her role in a scheme to bribe mail carriers to steal postal arrow keys in order to unlock mail receptacles and to use stolen items from the mail to obtain funds fraudulently from banks, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Halimatou Ndiaye, 27, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of bribery of U.S. Postal Service mail carriers and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ndiaye schemed to bribe mail carriers in East Orange and Newark by offering them cash, typically $5,000, in exchange for the mail carriers giving her and another individual a postal arrow key, which could be used to access a variety of postal service mail receptacles. Ndiaye and others sought USPS arrow keys so that they could steal mail. For example, from June to July 2021, Ndiaye and the other individual drove to various locations in East Orange and Newark, where they stopped mail carriers and handed them a note indicating they would give $5,000 to the mail carrier in exchange for an arrow key.
In addition, from January 2021 to July 2021, Ndiaye conspired with others to obtain funds fraudulently from banks by using stolen checks and bank cards to draw funds from bank accounts linked to the stolen items and using the identification of others to fraudulently obtain funds.
The bribery charge to which Ndiaye pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the bank fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Oct. 25, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
ndiaye.information.pdfNew Orleans Man Sentenced for Violation of Federal Drug Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – TIMREK ANDREWS, age 43, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 08, 2023, to time served (15 months imprisonment) by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, a violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. ANDREWS was additionally ordered to serve a three (3) year term of supervised release and to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to previously filed court documents, ANDREWS and a co-defendant were under surveillance by investigators. When agents approached, they found a firearm in the floorboard of the driver’s seat where ANDREWS had been previously sitting. ANDREWS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous conviction for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crimes Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced on Federal Drug and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTIAN GUITY, age 26, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 87 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee on Counts One, Two, and Three of a four-count indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Count One of the indictment charged GUITY with possession with intent to distribute dangerous substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). Count 2 charged GUITY with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code Sections 924(c). Count 3 charged GUITY with possessing a machine gun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o).
On July 29, 2021, New Orleans Police Officers conducted a stop on a vehicle containing three individuals, including GUITY. During this stop, two of the occupants fled the vehicle but were later apprehended by officers. Officers also observed GUITY in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. After searching the vehicle, officers discovered illegal drugs and weapons, including a machine gun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Federally Charged in a Superseding Indictment with Producing Files Depicting the Sexual Victimization of Children, Extorting Minor Females to Send Sexually Explicit Depictions, and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – On May 19, 2023 COLE DIGGS a/k/a Kevon Godson, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment with production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a), interstate communications with intent to extort, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 875(d), and distribution and receipt of CSAM, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 2252(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
DIGGS faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty (30) years as to each of Counts 1, 3,4, 5, and 6, a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years as to each of Counts 2 and 7, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years as to Count 8, and a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years as to Count 9. DIGGS also faces a lifetime of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine that applies to each count. DIGGS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee per count and can be required to register as a sex offender.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
New Jersey Man Indicted in Money Laundering Conspiracy SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging Angel Mendez, a resident of New Jersey, with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the indictment, between July 2020 and January 2021, defendant Angel Mendez, 33, conspired with other persons to launder millions of dollars of illicit proceeds derived from Business Email Compromise (“BEC”) schemes. A BEC is a type of internet fraud that occurs when an employee of a company is fooled into interacting with an email message that appears to be, but is not, legitimate. Criminal actors use such schemes to defraud companies into sending large payments to their criminal organization instead of the intended legitimate recipient.
Specifically, the Indictment alleges that Mendez laundered money that derived from two separate BECs: a fraud perpetrated on “Victim A” and a fraud perpetrated on “Victim B.” The Indictment alleges that bank accounts controlled by Mendez received, and subsequently laundered or attempted to launder, over $2.1 million fraudulently obtained from “Victim A” and over $1.2 million fraudulently obtained from “Victim B.”
Mendez is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. 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, and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore Cyber Task Force also assisted with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Samuel S. Frey are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-44.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
New Hampshire Man Who Shipped Kilos of Fentanyl in the Mail, to Grand Rapids and Across the Country, Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Craig Warme, 24, of New Hampshire was sentenced to 156 months in the Bureau of Prisons after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Jane M. Beckering also ordered that when Warme is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three years.
“Foolishly, Mr. Warme thought he could illegally operate an online store on the dark web trafficking poison across our state and country,” said U.S Attorney Totten. “My office will hold traffickers peddling drugs accountable.”
From June 2022 through December 2022, Warme operated an online store on the dark web under the username “DopeKingUSA.” Warme advertised various forms of heroin for sale on the site and mailed drug orders across the country, including to several customers and undercover investigators in Grand Rapids, using the United States Postal Service. Investigators determined that the drugs that Warme provided were actually fentanyl, not heroin, as advertised. Warme received a total of $417,355 in gross sales in the seven months his dark web store was operational. The Court found that he was responsible for trafficking more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl during that time.
“Postal inspectors work every day to prevent the flow of illicit drugs through the U.S. mail and to ensure the safety and security of the American people,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division. “This investigation and resulting sentence imposed today on Craig Warme is a testament to the commitment postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners have to identifying and seeking prosecution of individuals who are deliberately distributing deadly fentanyl into our communities. The Postal Inspection Service is committed to combatting the opioid and fentanyl epidemic by pursuing drug traffickers who attempt to exploit the distribution channels of the Postal Service while wrongly believing the dark web allows them to engage in criminal activity with anonymity.”
“This investigation clearly demonstrates the dark web does not provide a safe haven from which criminals can anonymously distribute fentanyl and other illicit drugs,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene. “DEA and our partners will relentlessly pursue individuals like Mr. Warme, no matter where they operate or the means by which they distribute their illicit and deadly products.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Michigan State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Team and the New Hampshire State Police.
###
New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Edwin Collazo, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl; and to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 5, 2023. Collazo was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022.
Between approximately March 2022 and June 2022, Collazo purchased fentanyl from the DTO that he then redistributed to others. Intercepted communications revealed Collazo discussing purchasing fentanyl from the DTO and surveillance footage showed other members of the DTO visiting Collazo’s residence for brief periods of times, which is consistent with illegal drug trafficking. Fentanyl was also seized during a search of Collazo’s residence in July 2022.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
NE Georgia Man Convicted of Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A Madison County, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury yesterday evening of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), days after GBI investigators discovered evidence that he was continuing to distribute CSAM on a social media app and had concurrently cut off his ankle monitor to escape custody.
Christopher Snow, 35, of Carlton, Georgia, was convicted on June 7 of one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material following a two-day trial that began on June 6 before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self, III. Snow faces a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, for a maximum of 40 years in prison. In addition, he is facing up to a lifetime of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. Snow will remain in federal custody awaiting sentencing on Oct. 3 in Athens.
“By cutting his ankle monitor prior to trial, Snow attempted to evade justice for actively distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving young children; he’s lost his freedom and will no longer be able to hurt innocent and vulnerable kids in this way,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “It often takes many different groups to stop a child predator, as demonstrated in this case. I am thankful for the excellent collaboration at every level to protect children.”
“This conviction serves as a strong reminder of our commitment to protecting children from the atrocities of child sexual abuse. The GBI remains resolute in its pursuit of justice and will not tolerate those who exploit the innocence of our most vulnerable population,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
“Snow not only distributed the disturbing material for years but didn’t stop even after he was under arrest and facing trial,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that people like this receive their full measure of justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, GBI received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Aug. 2018 that a Facebook user distributed suspected CSAM via Facebook Messenger. As a part of their investigation, GBI was able to determine that the user of that Facebook account resided in Carlton, Madison County, Georgia. A search warrant was executed at Snow’s residence in Carlton; law enforcement seized several electronic devices that Snow kept in a padlocked room. A digital forensic examiner later determined that those electronic devices, including the phone that was found on Snow the day of the search warrant, contained at least 45 images and 17 videos of CSAM. The material contained images of children under the age of 12.
As a condition of Snow’s pretrial release, he was required to wear an ankle monitor and not have access to electronic devices. On June 1, 2023, GBI received an additional Cybertip indicating that Snow may have been continuing to distribute CSAM on the Kik messenger app in 2022, while awaiting trial. Snow was scheduled for a federal hearing on June 2 prior to his trial but cut off his ankle monitor on June 1. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals on June 5.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the GBI, with assistance from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Kalim and Robert McCullers are prosecuting the case for the Government.Michael Wayne Lee Sentenced for Drug Offenses Related to an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On June 8, 2023, Michael Wayne Lee, 45 of Blaine, Tennessee, was sentenced to 87 months in prison by the Honorable Clifton Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Lee will be on supervised release for three years.
Following a 4-day trial, ending on January 27, 2023, Lee was convicted by the jury of Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); Abetting the Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(c), and 18 U.S.C. § 2; and Using a Communication Facility to Conspire to Distribute Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 843(b) and (d)(1).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on May 15, 2020, two inmates at the former Northeast Correctional Complex, Carter County Annex (NECX) of the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) were transported to a local hospital for treatment related to a fentanyl overdose; one inmate died. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and TDOC investigators responded to the facility to investigate the incident. During the investigation, they learned that Lee, an inmate at NECX, used a contraband cell phone to communicate with a co-defendant, Debra Kathleen Vekasi. Vekasi would acquire narcotics and transport them to Carter County. She would hide the narcotics in tennis balls, which were thrown over a security fence and into the recreation yard. Inmates would collect the narcotics-filled tennis balls for Lee, who would distribute the drugs throughout NECX. On May 15, 2020, the narcotics that Vekasi provided to the inmate in NECX included 30 fake oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl. A search of Vekasi’s cell phone included text messages between her and Lee that discussed the receipt and distribution of narcotics, as well as the receipt and payment of money for the narcotics.
On May 25, 2023, Vekasi, 70, of Knoxville, Tennessee, who was also convicted at trial, was sentenced by the Honorable Clifton Corker to time served (28 months) and three years of supervised release, for her role in the conspiracy.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the TBI and TDOC’s Office of Inspection and Compliance. The investigation was led by Special Agent Jason Roark of TBI.
Assistant United States Attorneys B. Todd Martin and Mac D. Heavener represented the United States.
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.
###
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Unauthorized AliensRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on June 7, 2023, Rodolfo Arzola-Carrillo, age 39, Mexican National residing in Tifton, Georgia, pled guilty in Federal Court, Fargo, ND, before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, to the offense of Conspiracy to Transport Unauthorized Aliens. Chief Judge Welte imposed the sentence of 18 months in Federal Prison, one-year supervised release and $100.00 Special Assessment.
An investigation determined that Rodolfo Arzola-Carrillo conspired, coordinated, and partially carried out the smuggling of a group of seven undocumented noncitizens from Mexico, including two minor children, across the United States - Canada border into North Dakota and down to Georgia in November 2022. The plan fell apart when weather conditions deteriorated, putting lives at risk. The harsh temperature, snow, and wind caused the group to seek assistance from the Pembina County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to aid all nine individuals and then alerted U.S. Border Patrol.
Arzola-Carrillo’s co-defendant, Ernesto Falcon Jr., is set for a change-of-plea and sentence hearing on August 21, 2023.
“As this case and others have shown, attempting to smuggle human beings across the northern border is not just illegal and exploitative, it is also a threat to human life,” Schneider said. “The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue working with the U.S. Border Patrol and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold smugglers accountable, maintain the rule of law, and keep people safe.”
“The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this case was outstanding. This incident is a testament to our long-standing partnership with the Pembina County Sheriff’s Office. Human smuggling can be very dangerous and I’m glad that this came to a successful law enforcement resolution. As a reminder, anyone who puts their lives in the hands of a smuggler, is putting their life, and the lives of their family at risk.” Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett said.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol, with assistance from the Pembina County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker.
# # #
Mercer Man Pleads Guilty to Threats against FBIRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of interstate threats and influencing or retaliating against a federal officer by threat, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Adam Bies, age 47, pleaded guilty to fourteen counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Bies made threats to murder, injure, and assault agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the days following the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida on August 8, 2022, pursuant to a federal search warrant.
Sentencing in this matter has been scheduled for October 4, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant be detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Adam Bies.
Mercer County Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 130 months in prison for his role as the leader of a Trenton drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of heroin in the Trenton area, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Robert M. Gbanapolor, 36, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of heroin.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From June 2018 through May 2019, Gbanapolor and others engaged in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in the areas of Stuyvesant, Hoffman, and Highland avenues in Trenton, as well as in the area of Barbary Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gbanapolor obtained regular bulk supplies of heroin from Duane Paulino-Escalera, whom Gbanapolor referred to as “Papi.” Gbanapolor, in turn, distributed this heroin for profit to other members of the drug-trafficking organization, who distributed the heroin in and around Trenton. Paulino-Escalera pleaded guilty in January 2020 and was sentenced on May 7, 2021, to five years in prison.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Gbanapolor to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; and task force officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve Wilson, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked detectives and officers of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman; detectives and officers of the Gloucester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Harkins; members of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives and officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Pesce; and special agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.
This case 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.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney in Charge of the Trenton Office, and Michelle Gasparian, Chief of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
Massachusetts Man Arrested for Knowingly Concealing the Source of Material Support or Resources to a Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wakefield, Mass. man was arrested today for knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources that he intended to go to a foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
Mateo Ventura, 18, was charged today in a criminal complaint with one count of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Ventura will appear in federal court in Worcester at 12:30 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.
According to the charging documents, Ventura provided multiple gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter, with the intention that the gift cards be sold on the dark web for a little less than face value and resulting profits be used to support ISIS. Ventura allegedly stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers). In total, it is alleged that between January and May 2023, Ventura donated $705 intended to support ISIS.
The charge of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Massachusetts State Police and Wakefield Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy H. Kistner and Laura J. Kaplan of Levy’s National Security Unit are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorneys Charles Kovats and Andrea Broach of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
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.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Elias Nick Costianes, age 44, formerly of Nottingham, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession of firearms and ammunition by an unlawful user of any controlled substance.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, on February 12, 2021, the FBI executed search warrants at Costianes’s residence, his vehicle, and on his cellphone. Costianes was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Costianes was advised of his Miranda rights and voluntarily agreed to be interviewed. Costianes told agents that he kept four firearms in cases in the basement. Law enforcement searched the basement and recovered the four firearms described by Costianes: a 9mm pistol; a M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle; a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle; and a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition, including 9mm, .22 caliber, .223 caliber, and shotgun cartridges. A box containing 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition was also found in the trunk of Costianes’ vehicle. Two of the firearms were semiautomatic and capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine.
As detailed in his plea agreement, during the search, law enforcement also recovered marijuana and four vials containing either testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate, both controlled substances. The electronic evidence from Costianes’ phone, including photographs and text message conversations, revealed that Costianes illegally used cocaine, testosterone, and marijuana and that his use of each substance was consistent, prolonged, and recent. Constianes admitted that not only did he purchase cocaine and testosterone for his personal use, but that he also conspired to distribute, and did distribute, cocaine and testosterone to others.
Costianes and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, the government will recommend that Costianes not be sentenced to more than 37 months in prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2023, at 10 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the federal case. Mr. Barron also thanked Paralegals Andrew Branigan, Mark Phares, Matthew Kerrigan, and Derek Harwerth, and Intelligence Research Specialist Angelina Thompson for their assistance.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #