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Thursday 20 April 2023
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Gulfport man pled guilty to producing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Derrick Patrick Flanagan, 38, was identified in February of 2022 in an investigation brought to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office had received two CyberTip Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. One of the reports used the name “John Adams” with a gmail.com email address and the other account was under the name of “Derrick Flanagan” and used another gmail.com email address. These CyberTips were ultimately found to be related to Hancock County Deputy Derrick Flanagan, who was assigned to work at the Diamondhead Police Department and resided in Gulfport.
Forensic examinations of a laptop and cellular telephones recovered during the investigation found multiple visual depictions of child sexual abuse material. In addition, the investigation recovered over 40,000 lines of chats sent via a SnapChat App that corresponded to multiple visual depictions.
Flanagan is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, unless he is determined to have a qualifying prior conviction under federal sexual exploitation statues, military law, or any state law, to include but not limited to, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, where he would then face a penalty of not less than 25 years nor more than 50 years in prison, and a fine of not more than $250,000. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Fugitive High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arrested on Terrorism and Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Houston, Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, also known as “Indio de Hollywood,” a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as “MS-13,” was transferred to the Eastern District of New York where he, together with 12 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders, are charged with directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere over the past two decades. Ayala-Alcantara was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) on April 18, 2023 when he arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The day before, Ayala-Alcantara had been located by Mexican authorities, who determined that he was an El Salvadoran citizen with no valid status in Mexico. He was expelled from Mexico to El Salvador but arrested while transiting through the United States. Specifically, Ayala-Alcantara is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide or conceal material support to terrorists, and narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY); Donald Alway, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Los Angeles Field Office; Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); and John J. Durham, Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), announced Ayala-Alcantara’s arrest and initial appearance.
“Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara’s abominable MS-13 career has come full circle — having joined the transnational gang when he lived in the United States, he was deported to El Salvador where he ascended to a leadership position, he is returning to face justice in the Eastern District of New York where MS-13 has wrought so much violence in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Peace.
“As most Angelenos know too well, MS-13 is a criminal enterprise that has wreaked havoc on communities in the United States and beyond for decades,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Alway. “The FBI is dedicated to dismantling this scourge on society and will work with our local and international partners to do so, regardless of where they hide. There is no safe haven for criminals who do the bidding of transnational gangs.”
“As alleged, Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara has led a life of violence and crime, which propelled him to a leadership position within the Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 street gang,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. “Ayala-Alcantara is accused of leading MS-13, directing the gang’s vicious appetite for power through carnage and bloodshed. HSI New York will exhaust every resource at our disposal to ensure criminals like Ayala-Alcantara are located and brought to justice. I commend the unified efforts of Homeland Security Investigations New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, and Mexico City, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles Field Division for locating and apprehending Ayala-Alcantara.”
“For over two decades, Ayala-Alcantara has been a zealous member and leader of MS-13, who directed violence and criminal activity across the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and beyond,” said JTFV Director Durham. “This arrest marks an important step towards holding Ayala-Alcantara accountable for decades of terrorist and criminal acts that he and his MS-13 co-conspirators have carried out internationally.”
Ayala-Alcantara’s indictment was unsealed on February 23, 2023, following the arrests of three of his co-defendants, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, also known as “Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales,” Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, also known as “Baxter de Park View” and “Bastard de Park View,” and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo, also known as “Rojo de Park View,” but he remained a fugitive until earlier this week. As set forth in court filings, Ayala-Alcantara and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales, and play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In total, 27 of the highest-ranking leaders of MS-13 have been charged in this indictment and the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al. A grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional, who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.”
As further alleged, Ayala-Alcantara, who was one of the founding members of the Hollywood clique of the MS-13 in Los Angeles, California, and later rose to become one of the criminal organization’s highest-ranking leaders, and his co-defendants have engaged in numerous violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the government of El Salvador (GOES). The defendants have used terrorist violence to obtain benefits and concessions from the GOES and to target GOES law enforcement and military officials. The defendants have actively engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, to obtain and control territory and to manipulate the electoral process in El Salvador. Several of these defendants have played prominent roles in MS-13’s past and current negotiations with the GOES.
Further, these defendants are alleged to have authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including numerous murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
Three co-defendants, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as “Cruger de Peatonales,” Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood,” and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” remain at large. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the fugitives. Six other co-defendants, Edwin Ernesto Cedillos-Rodriguez, also known as “Renuente de Abriles Dangers,” Carlos Tiberio Ramirez-Valladares, also known as “Snayder de Pasadena,” Dany Fredy Ramos-Mejia, also known as “Cisco de Teclas,” Dany Balmore Romero-Garcia, also known as “Big Boy de Normandies,” “Dig Boy de Normandies,” and “D Boy de Normandies,” Ruben Antonio Rosa-Lovo, also known as “Chivo de Centrales,” and Miguel Angel Serrano-Medina, also known as “Cabro de Park View,” are believed to be in custody in El Salvador.
Since its creation in August 2019, JTFV has successfully implemented a whole-of-government approach to combatting MS-13, including increasing coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. JTFV has also identified and targeted for prosecution the MS-13 programs, cliques and individuals that have had the most violent impact in the United States, and it has coordinated significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders.
JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the EDNY; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the FBI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the USMS; and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In addition, HSI also plays a critical role in JTFV.
Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the FBI’s Los Angeles, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Newark Field Offices, who spearheaded this investigation, with essential partnership provided by the Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, along with HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit and HSI’s New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Houston Field Offices. Additionally, FBI Legal Attachés in Mexico City and San Salvador, HSI Attaché Mexico City, USMS Legal Attaché in Mexico City, and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrest, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office and the USMS for the Southern District of Texas for coordinating the initial appearance in Houston.
Mr. Peace also thanked the numerous Department of Justice components that contributed to this indictment, including: the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office; the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, and Organized Crime and Gangs Section. In addition, the Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General, have provided critical support for JTFV’s mission.
These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Ayala-Alcantara faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly, Matthew Shepherd, and Stewart M. Young from JTFV, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell from the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.
Newly Arrested Defendant in U.S. Custody:
JOSE WILFREDO AYALA-ALCANTARA (also known as “Indio de Hollywood”)
Age: 55Defendants Previously Arrested and in U.S. Custody:
VLADIMIR ANTONIO AREVALO-CHAVEZ (also known as “Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales”)
Age: 47WALTER YOVANI HERNANDEZ-RIVERA (also known as “Baxter de Park View” and “Bastard de Park View”)
Age: 29MARLON ANTONIO MENJIVAR-PORTILLO (also known as “Rojo de Park View”)
Age: 47Fugitive Defendants:
JORGE ALEXANDER DE LA CRUZ (also known as “Cruger de Peatonales”)
Age: 45JUAN ANTONIO MARTINEZ-ABREGO (also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood”)
Age: 42FRANCISCO JAVIER ROMAN-BARDALES (also known as “Veterano de Tribus”)
Age: 45Defendants Believed to be in El Salvador Custody:
EDWIN ERNESTO CEDILLOS-RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Renuente de Abriles Dangers”)
Age: 35CARLOS TIBERIO RAMIREZ-VALLADARES (also known as “Snayder de Pasadena”)
DANY FREDY RAMOS-MEJIA (also known as “Cisco de Teclas”)
Age: 44DANY BALMORE ROMERO-GARCIA (also known as “Big Boy de Normandies,” “Dig Boy de Normandies,” and “D Boy de Normandies”)
Age: 48RUBEN ANTONIO ROSA-LOVO (also known as “Chivo de Centrales”)
Age: 52MIGUEL ANGEL SERRANO-MEDINA (also known as “Cabro de Park View”)
Age: 47E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 22-CR-429 (JMA)
Franklin County Man Indicted for Federal Child Exploitation ViolationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas - A Mount Vernon man has been indicted on federal child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Zachary Arzola, also known as Zachary Castenada, 26, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 19, 2023 charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor; traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to the indictment, from December 2022 until January 9, 2023, Arzola allegedly used the internet and social media and messaging applications to coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct. In December 2022, Arzola is alleged to have traveled from Texas to Ohio for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and in January 2023, transported a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity.
If convicted, Arzola faces up to life in federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety – CID, Mount Vernon Police Department and the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.
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Four Defendants Convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Cocaine Receive Sentences Totaling over 43 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES/LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants received lengthy sentences today for their participation in the trafficking of narcotics in the Lake Charles and Lafayette areas. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced two of the defendants in Lake Charles as follows:
Christopher Wayne Jones, II, 29, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 175 months (14 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. On November 4, 2020, while patrolling an area near 18th Street in Lake Charles, Louisiana, an officer with the Lake Charles Police Department observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later determined to be Jones, fled at a high rate of speed. After a short chase, Jones lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Jones exited the vehicle holding a red backpack and fled the scene on foot. Officers gave chase and Jones was apprehended shortly thereafter and placed under arrest. After a brief search, officers found the red backpack that Jones had been carrying in a nearby backyard. Inside the backpack officers found approximately 554 pills which weighed approximately 282 grams. Lab reports revealed that the pills contained a mixture of acetaminophen and fentanyl. In addition to the narcotics found in Jones’ backpack, officers also found a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in the front seat of his vehicle. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge on December 12, 2022. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Michael Javel Toefield, 52, of Baytown, Texas, was sentenced to 130 months (10 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 13, 2019, officers with the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Criminal Patrol Unit, conducted a traffic stop on May 13, 2019, of a vehicle which was driven by Toefield. A K-9 officer positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and officers began a search. During the search of the vehicle, officers discovered a white bag containing a cardboard Ultra beer box and inside were two clear plastic tubs containing over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Toefield admitted to knowing the drugs were hidden inside the box and pleaded guilty to the charge on November 12, 2022. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the following two defendants in Lafayette today:
Shane Christopher Malveaux, 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Malveaux pleaded guilty to the charge on November 29, 2022. According to information introduced in court, Malveaux was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy with others from August 2019 until January 2021. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into their organization and conducted controlled purchases from Malveaux’s co-conspirators. In addition, agents intercepted electronic communications between Malveaux and his co-conspirator, Shawn White, in which he purchased both powder cocaine and cocaine base from White on multiple occasions. Agents conducted physical and electronic surveillance of Malveaux and his drug trafficking activities, and he was charged with participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy. The case was investigated by the DEA, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Dallas Prejean, 60, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 113 months (9 years, 5 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Prejean was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy with several others and was charged in an indictment in October 2019. Through their investigation using physical and electronic surveillance of Prejean and his co-defendants, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence to secure a search warrant for a residence occupied by Prejean in Rayne, Louisiana. Agents found numerous firearms and large amounts of narcotics and other drug paraphernalia in the residence. Prejean admitted possession of the items to agents and pleaded guilty to the charge on October 13, 2021. The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.
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Former West Virginia Parole Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting ParoleeRead the Press Release
A former West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole officer was sentenced today in federal court in the Southern District of West Virginia to 15 years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act for violating the civil rights of a female parolee by sexually assaulting her while he was serving as her parole officer.
According to court documents, Anthony DeMetro, 44, admitted that on or about April 16, 2021, he used physical force and his position, authority and status as a state parole officer to force a female parolee to perform oral sex on him against her will. At the time, the parolee was attempting to complete residential drug and alcohol treatment as a condition of her parole. DeMetro admitted that he knew that the parolee did not want to have sex with him but that he coerced and forced her into doing so anyway, for his own sexual gratification.
“We thank the survivor for having the courage and strength to come forward to tell her story,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable public officials who exploit their power and authority to sexually assault and harm vulnerable people.”
“This office will continue to hold people accountable who use their position of power to sexually assault vulnerable victims,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson for the Southern District of West Virginia. “I want to thank the victim again for being brave enough to come forward, even though she was putting her personal safety and freedom at risk.”
“Mr. DeMetro was in a position of power and authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. “He used that authority to take advantage of and prey on a vulnerable woman. This behavior was in violation of the oath he took and cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate color of law abuses by public officials.”
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kathryn E. Gilbert and Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Coleman and Nowles Heinrich for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.
Former West Virginia Parole Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting ParoleeRead the Press Release
A former West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole officer was sentenced today in federal court in the Southern District of West Virginia to 15 years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act for violating the civil rights of a female parolee by sexually assaulting her while he was serving as her parole officer.
According to court documents, Anthony DeMetro, 44, admitted that on or about April 16, 2021, he used physical force and his position, authority and status as a state parole officer to force a female parolee to perform oral sex on him against her will. At the time, the parolee was attempting to complete residential drug and alcohol treatment as a condition of her parole. DeMetro admitted that he knew that the parolee did not want to have sex with him but that he coerced and forced her into doing so anyway, for his own sexual gratification.
“We thank the survivor for having the courage and strength to come forward to tell her story,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable public officials who exploit their power and authority to sexually assault and harm vulnerable people.”
“This office will continue to hold people accountable who use their position of power to sexually assault vulnerable victims,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson for the Southern District of West Virginia. “I want to thank the victim again for being brave enough to come forward, even though she was putting her personal safety and freedom at risk.”
“Mr. DeMetro was in a position of power and authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. “He used that authority to take advantage of and prey on a vulnerable woman. This behavior was in violation of the oath he took and cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate color of law abuses by public officials.”
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kathryn E. Gilbert and Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Coleman and Nowles Heinrich for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.
Former Vice President of Discovery Tours Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Joseph A. Cipolletti, 48, of Hudson, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, April 20, 2023, to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty to an 18-count indictment that charged him with wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud and false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.
“This defendant abused his position of trust by embezzling from $550,000 and $1.5 million from his family’s student travel company for his personal use,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Student trips to Washington, D.C. were canceled for dozens of schools across Ohio and more than 5,000 families lost the money they had previously paid for trip fees. Today’s five-year prison sentence reflects his reprehensible conduct.”
“Bilking customers in any line of business is appalling, and more so, as a business executive entrusted to provide memorable educational experiences for children and teens,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “Today’s sentence reflects the comprehensive investigative work of the FBI, and together with our federal, state, and local partners, highlights our commitment to uncover corrupt business dealings.”
According to court documents, Cipolletti was employed as Vice President of Discovery Tours, Inc., a business that offered educational trips for students to destinations such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Court documents state that as Vice President, Cipolletti managed the organization’s finances, general ledger entries, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Cipolletti also had signature authority on Discovery Tours’ business bank accounts.
Court documents state that from June 2014 to May 2018, Cipolletti, as Vice President, devised a scheme to defraud parents and other student trip purchasers by diverting payments intended for these trips to his own personal use on items such as home renovations and vehicles.
As a result of Cipolletti’s actions and subsequent attempts to cover up the scheme, in May 2018, Discovery Tours abruptly ended operations and filed for bankruptcy.
In addition, on December 10, 2018, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cipolletti knowingly made statements under oath in and in relation to his organization’s bankruptcy status. Cipolletti claimed that he did not owe his business any money when, in fact, and as he then knew, he had embezzled from his place of business and made false entries in the general ledger.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough.
Former Tennessee County Official Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Seven Women He Supervised in a County FacilityRead the Press Release
A former county commissioner and director of the Solid Waste Department in Cumberland County, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for sexually assaulting seven women who worked under his supervision at the Cumberland County Recycling Center.
Michael Harvel, 61, was previously convicted on nine counts of committing sexual assault. According to evidence introduced at trial – including testimony from 13 women who described Harvel’s sexual abuse – Harvel abused his authority as a county official to sexually assault women who worked under his control at the recycling center. Many of Harvel’s victims were sent to the recycling center to serve court-ordered community service, were required to keep a job as a term of their probation or were otherwise vulnerable because they struggled with substance abuse, were impoverished, or were sole caregivers for their dependents. The jury convicted Harvel of four counts of sexual assault that included kidnapping and three counts that included aggravated sexual abuse.
According to witness testimony at trial, Harvel told one victim to stop by his office at the end of the day, purportedly to discuss a job opportunity, then locked the door to his office and orally raped the woman. He falsely told a second victim that he needed her help with a county work project, then drove her to an isolated landfill in the woods and raped her in a guard shack. The jury also heard evidence that Harvel covered up his pattern of behavior by threatening his victims and other employees so that they would not report his crimes.
“The defendant abused his official position and authority to deprive the victims of their constitutionally-protected right to bodily integrity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While this sentence can’t undo the extraordinary pain and suffering the defendant caused these women, it should send a clear message to public officials they are not above the law and will be held accountable when they sexually assault and abuse people subject to their authority.”
“Michael Harvel is a predator who used his position of authority to victimize vulnerable women,” said U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “I am extremely proud of the work our office did, alongside our partners at the Civil Rights Division and FBI, to hold him accountable and to stand up for the rights of the victims.”
“This sentencing should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice anyone who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI is committed to protecting the civil rights of all people and will continue to vigorously investigate these kinds of cases alongside our local, state and federal partners.”
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Schiferle for the Middle District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
In 2021, in a separate civil action, the Justice Department secured $1.1 million from Cumberland County to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Cumberland County failed to take adequate precautions to prevent Harvel, as the director of the county’s Solid Waste Department, from sexually harassing women he supervised. According to the complaint, Harvel regularly subjected the women to unwanted sexual contact, including kissing and groping, and to unwelcome sexual advances.
Former State Employee Sentenced to 12 months in Prison for Role in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDSRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yvonne Gaide, 61, of Orangevale, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $472,717 in restitution for wire fraud in relation to a scheme to divert funds from the California Department of Public Health, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Gaide was employed as an analyst for grants and fiscal matters in the Office of AIDS within the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento. The Office of AIDS is responsible for working on behalf of the State of California to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Between December 2017 and November 2018, Gaide participated in a fraud scheme along with Schenelle Flores, 47, and Christine Iwamoto, 59, both former Office of AIDS employees from Sacramento. In total, the participants in the fraud scheme obtained at least $2 million in personal benefits, including cash and purchased items.
According to court documents, as part of the scheme, Flores directed a state contractor to make payments allegedly on behalf of the Office of AIDS and to charge those payments to the state. In reality, those payments benefitted Gaide, Flores, Iwamoto, and others personally rather than the Office of AIDS. For example, Gaide, Flores, and Iwamoto caused the contractor to pay for personal expenses on its debit cards, order gift cards for personal use, and pay false invoices to shell companies for services allegedly provided to the Office of AIDS. This included, among other things, $450,000 in phony invoices submitted by Iwamoto for a shell company that she had created to defraud the state, which Gaide and Flores then helped ensure would be paid. After the invoices were paid, Iwamoto shared the proceeds with Gaide by meeting in person to give Gaide cash, as well as giving Gaide blank checks that she could write out of the phony company’s bank account.
Gaide personally gained over $70,000 from the scheme including the following:
• $19,217 from personal fraudulent use of the state contractor’s debit cards, including for Disneyland, Universal Studios, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and apparel and home items;
• $20,000 to $25,000 (at least) in cash from Iwamoto in person, after helping process fraudulent invoices from Iwamoto’s fake shell company;
• $29,090 in checks written by Gaide out of the fake shell company’s bank account that Gaide knew housed fraud proceeds; and
• $3,500 in gift cards purchased by the state contractor and charged to a contract with the Office of AIDS that Gaide obtained for her personal use.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Public Health and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hales prosecuted the case.
On March 3, 2022, Flores was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution in a related case, United States v. Flores, 2:21-cr-025.
On April 7, 2022, Iwamoto was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $481,200 in restitution in a related case, United States v. Iwamoto, 2:21-cr-193.
Former Southwest Key employee arrested for sexual contact with unaccompanied minors aboard airplaneRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 61-year-old Harlingen resident, and former Southwest Key employee, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual contact with a ward, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Authorities arrested Rodolfo Alanis today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker tomorrow at 9 a.m.
A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment April 18, which was unsealed upon his arrest.
“The migrant children in these facilities are the most vulnerable; they are alone and often do not speak the language,” said Hamdani. “We have to entrust them to the care of others while there and as they are transported from point A to point B. As such, my office will seek to hold those accountable who allegedly violate that trust. These allegations are serious and we will follow the case to its end to ensure justice is served overall, but especially on behalf of any potential young victim.”
According to the charges, Alanis was a youth care worker at Southwest Key in both McAllen and Brownsville. Southwest Key operates several facilities that temporarily house immigrant children. They have facilities in McAllen and Brownsville.
Alanis allegedly engaged in sexual contact with three minor children who, at the time, were detained and under the custody and authority of Alanis. The indictment further alleges the sexual contact occurred on three separate occasions while on board an airplane.
If convicted, Alanis faces up to two years imprisonment on each count.
FBI and Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation with the assistance of Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia and Alexa Parcell are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Professional Wrestler Charged with Theft of Millions of Dollars in Federal Funds Intended for Needy FamiliesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a former professional wrestler with misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds intended for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, along with co-conspirators John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained federal funds – including from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program – that they misappropriated for their own personal use and benefit.
Davis was the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). As part of the alleged scheme, after federal funds were issued to MDHS, Davis directed MDHS to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations, Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. (FRC) and Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), which were operated by Webb and New, respectively. Davis then allegedly directed Webb and New to award sham contracts to various individuals and entities purportedly for the delivery of social services, including at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.
As further alleged in the indictment, under these sham contracts, FRC and MCEC provided millions of dollars in federal funds from MDHS to DiBiase and his companies for social services that DiBiase did not provide and did not intend to provide. DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures.
DiBiase is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, USDA-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Adrienne E. Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and John Meynardie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Professional Wrestler Charged with Theft of Millions of Dollars in Federal Funds Intended for Needy FamiliesRead the Press Release
A federal indictment was unsealed today in Mississippi charging a former professional wrestler with misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds intended for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, along with co-conspirators John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained federal funds – including from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program – that they misappropriated for their own personal use and benefit.
Davis was the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). As part of the alleged scheme, after federal funds were issued to MDHS, Davis directed MDHS to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations, Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. (FRC) and Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), which were operated by Webb and New, respectively. Davis then allegedly directed Webb and New to award sham contracts to various individuals and entities purportedly for the delivery of social services, including at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.
As further alleged in the indictment, under these sham contracts, FRC and MCEC provided millions of dollars in federal funds from MDHS to DiBiase and his companies for social services that DiBiase did not provide and did not intend to provide. DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures.
DiBiase is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, USDA-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Adrienne E. Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and John Meynardie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Owner of RI Ophthalmology Chain to Pay $1.1M in Settlement of False Claims Inquiry by the United StatesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The United States Attorney’s Office has reached an agreement with Paul S. Koch, M.D., the former owner of a chain of Rhode Island ophthalmology practices that bear his name, to resolve civil allegations that Koch paid kickbacks to optometrists who referred patients to him and his practice for cataract surgeries, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
The agreement, under which Dr. Koch will pay $1,166,072, resolves claims brought as part of a qui tam complaint filed in federal court in the District of Rhode Island by two whistleblowers.
“Patients should be able to feel secure that when their doctors make decisions that impact their health- whether about prescriptions, surgeries, or referrals- those decisions are based on sound medical judgment, and not illegal monetary incentives,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “When medical decision making is corrupted by kickbacks, at the expense of federal Medicare dollars, we will hold those responsible to account.”
“Kickback schemes undermine the integrity of medical decisions, subvert the health marketplace and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to hold accountable those who refuse to play by the rules and provide illegal incentives to influence the decision making of health care providers.”
“Kickback schemes can undermine our healthcare system, compromise medical decisions, and waste taxpayer dollars. Today’s settlement makes it clear that medical decisions by doctors should be based on what is best for each patient, not a doctor’s personal financial interest,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This unscrupulous scheme orchestrated by Dr. Koch is just one example of how the FBI and are partners are working hard every day to protect patients and federal health care programs from fraud and abuse by removing the corrupting influence of money.”
The government alleged that, during the roughly five-year period between January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2017, Dr. Koch, Koch Eye Associates and Claris Vision, paid financial kickbacks to referring optometrists whose patients elected to receive laser-assisted cataract surgery, for which patients paid up to $2,900 out-of-pocket per eye. The government alleges that these payments to the referring optometrists were illegal under the anti-kickback statute, a federal law that, among other things, prohibits financial payments to induce medical referrals that are reimbursed by federal healthcare payors, like the Medicare program.
In this case, the government alleged that the kickbacks resulted in the submission of false claims to Medicare under the federal False Claims Act. Through this settlement, the government is recovering twice the amount paid by Medicare for claims associated with the illegal kickbacks paid by Dr. Koch and his affiliates. Under the provisions of the False Claims Act, the whistleblowers will receive $256,534.84 out of the settlement payment.
The government’s case was litigated by Assistant United States Attorneys Dulce Donovan and Bethany N. Wong and was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
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Former Doctor Sentenced to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — A former Clarksville, Tenn., physician, John Stanton, 51, was sentenced on Thursday, April 13, to 120 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, following his conviction for conspiring to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
According to evidence presented at his trial, Stanton was a licensed physician and Medical Director at Gateway Medical Associates in Tennessee, which was registered as a pain management clinic. Evidence established that Stanton worked with John Maccarone, the owner of GMA, to prescribe controlled substances, often a combination of oxymorphone and oxycodone, to individuals who presented as patients to GMA. These individuals exhibited signs of diversion and abuse, such as repeatedly failing drug tests and displaying mental health issues. In prescribing in this manner, Stanton failed to adhere to accepted professional standards for prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of chronic pain.
Also, testimony at trial established that patients who were being treated by Stanton and Maccarone exhibited obvious signs of drug diversion and abuse, traveling more than four hours each way to GMA, from southern and eastern Kentucky, and waiting 10 hours or more to be seen. Patients often failed urine drug tests and avoided “mandatory” pill counts by paying a “no show fee.” GMA patients often paid more than $400 in fees (typically paid by prepaid debit card) to the clinic for each visit. At trial, the evidence also revealed that GMA served as a source of supply for drug traffickers during the conspiracy.
Stanton was convicted at trial in August 2022.
Stanton’s co-defendants were sentenced to the following, for their roles in the conspiracy:
• Dr. James Maccarone was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to forfeit his GMA property, approximately $204,000 held in bank accounts, to pay a $1.3 million money judgment, and to forfeit his medical license;
• Jeffrey Ghent was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay a $150,000 money judgment;
• Terry Prince was sentenced to 68 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $250,000 money judgement.
Under federal law, Stanton and his co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon his release from prison, Stanton will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. In addition to his prison sentence, Stanton was ordered to forfeit $318,300, forfeit his medical license, and pay a $100,000 fine.
Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General; Col. Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and David Rausch, Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; jointly announced the sentence.
This case as investigated, in part, by members Operation UNITE. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the London Police Department, with assistance from the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force, Clarksville, Tennessee Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office; and Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Smith.
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Former Cumberland County Official Sentenced to Federal Prison for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A former county commissioner and director of the Solid Waste Department in Cumberland County, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for sexually assaulting seven women who worked under his supervision at the Cumberland County Recycling Center.
Michael Harvel, 61, was previously convicted on nine counts of committing sexual assault. According to evidence introduced at trial – including testimony from 13 women who described Harvel’s sexual abuse – Harvel abused his authority as a county official to sexually assault women who worked under his control at the recycling center. Many of Harvel’s victims were sent to the recycling center to serve court-ordered community service, were required to keep a job as a term of their probation or were otherwise vulnerable because they struggled with substance abuse, were impoverished, or were sole caregivers for their dependents. The jury convicted Harvel of four counts of sexual assault that included kidnapping and three counts that included aggravated sexual abuse.
"Michael Harvel is a predator who used his position of authority to victimize vulnerable women," said U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis. "I am extremely proud of the work our office did, alongside our partners at the Civil Rights Division and FBI, to hold him accountable and to stand up for the rights of the victims."
According to witness testimony at trial, Harvel told one victim to stop by his office at the end of the day, purportedly to discuss a job opportunity, then locked the door to his office and orally raped the woman. He falsely told a second victim that he needed her help with a county work project, then drove her to an isolated landfill in the woods and raped her in a guard shack. The jury also heard evidence that Harvel covered up his pattern of behavior by threatening his victims and other employees so that they would not report his crimes.
“The defendant abused his official position and authority to deprive the victims of their constitutionally-protected right to bodily integrity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While this sentence can’t undo the extraordinary pain and suffering the defendant caused these women, it should send a clear message to public officials they are not above the law and will be held accountable when they sexually assault and abuse people subject to their authority.”
“This sentencing should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice anyone who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI is committed to protecting the civil rights of all people and will continue to vigorously investigate these kinds of cases alongside our local, state and federal partners.”
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Schiferle for the Middle District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
In 2021, in a separate civil action, the Justice Department secured $1.1 million from Cumberland County to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Cumberland County failed to take adequate precautions to prevent Harvel, as the director of the county’s Solid Waste Department, from sexually harassing women he supervised. According to the complaint, Harvel regularly subjected the women to unwanted sexual contact, including kissing and groping, and to unwelcome sexual advances.
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Five Springfield Residents Indicted for Meth Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Five Springfield, Mo., residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.
Dusty B. Lescard, 38, Anne Louise Currie, 61, Jeremy Moran Chambers, 44, Tilton Chase Tate, 39, and Erik C. Foster, 41, were charged in a 22-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on April 12, 2023. That indictment has been unsealed. Lescard, Currie and Tate remain in federal custody pending their detention hearings.
The federal indictment alleges that Lescard, Currie, Chambers, Tate and Foster participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from March 18, 2021, to Oct. 12, 2022.
In addition to the conspiracy, Lescard is charged with six counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, and two counts of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Lescard is also charged with one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Lescard allegedly possessed a Glock 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on Dec. 30, 2021, and a Glock 9mm pistol on Jan. 12, 2022.
Currie is also charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Chambers is also charged with one count of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Chambers allegedly possessed a Ruger .22-caliber pistol, two Glock 9mm pistols and a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver on July 22, 2021.
Tate is also charged with one count of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Tate allegedly possessed a Ruger .380-caliber pistol and a Stoeger 9mm pistol on April 14, 2022.
Foster is also charged with two counts of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property obtained from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including $11,960 that was seized by law enforcement.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FBI, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Republic, Mo., Police Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fentanyl Dealer Responsible for Two Drug Overdoses Is Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Megan Emily Tate, 29, of Sylva, N.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing a substance that contained fentanyl and caused two overdoses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees North Carolina, and Sheriff Doug Farmer of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
“Fentanyl is a highly potent substance that can quickly cause accidental drug poisoning. In many instances, victims do not know they are ingesting a potentially deadly drug until it’s too late,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The surge in fentanyl distribution is affecting families and communities everywhere. Law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local level are committed to dismantling fentanyl networks and holding accountable those who engage in the distribution of this dangerous drug.”
“Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and leaves behind a trail of devastation. Ms. Tate obviously had total disregard for the safety of others,” said Special Agent in Charge Murphy.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in April 2021, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tate for suspected distribution of fentanyl. While Tate was in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center, she supplied two inmates with fentanyl, causing them to overdose. As a result, both overdose victims were transported to the hospital and one victim was placed on a ventilator. Both victims later recovered from their drug overdose. According to court documents, over the course of the investigation into the drug overdose incidents, law enforcement determined that Tate had supplied each victim with a substance that contained fentanyl, which Tate had concealed and later retrieved from her body cavity while in the detention center.
According to the DEA, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. According to the CDC, more than 100,000 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022. Sixty-seven percent of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Some of these deaths were attributed to fentanyl mixed with other illicit drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, with many users unaware they were actually taking fentanyl.
On January 30, 2023, Tate pleaded guilty to distribution of a mixture of substance containing fentanyl. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA’s Asheville Post of Duty and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Felon Sentenced for Gang-Related Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Possession of a Semi-Automatic PistolRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced yesterday to over 10 years in prison for distributing thousands of fentanyl-laced pills.
According to court documents, Dashawn Dontia Blassingame, 24, between at least April of 2021 and May of 2022, conspired with others to distribute counterfeit pills bearing the appearance of pharmaceutically produced Oxycodone, but that in fact contained fentanyl. During that same time frame, the defendant also possessed firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol, while being prohibited from doing so due to his multiple prior felony convictions.
According to court records, the defendant and some of his co-conspirators were members of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips criminal street gang. The members of the conspiracy arranged for parcels containing thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to be mailed to Virginia from Arizona for further redistribution. The defendant was charged after a package containing over 7,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, destined for the defendant and his co-conspirators, tore open in the ordinary course of mail delivery and was seized by law enforcement. The defendant and his co-conspirators worked together to distribute these pills containing fentanyl in Northern Virginia and elsewhere for a profit. Prior to his arrest on the federal charges, the defendant had multiple Virginia state convictions, including felony eluding of police, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and multiple convictions for felony possession of controlled drugs.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Prince William County Police Department provided significant assistance on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Bredemeier and Heather Call prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-19.
Federal Jury Convicts Seminole Resident of First-Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Coker Dean Barker, age 36, of Seminole, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of First-Degree Murder in Indian Country, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Causing Death with a Firearm.
The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, April 3, 2023, and concluded on Monday, April 10, 2023, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in April of 2019, Barker brutally attacked and killed a 43-year-old Seminole man. During the fatal attack, Barker stabbed and beat the victim, and fired multiple rounds into his body. Autopsy results revealed the victim sustained 18 broken ribs, two punctured lungs, and bullet wounds from multiple firearms. After killing the victim, Barker burned the evidence to evade prosecution, and attempted to flee to Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended Barker before he crossed the border and returned him to Oklahoma for prosecution. After his indictment in 2021, the defendant escaped from jail, but was captured by U.S. Marshals and returned to custody.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the Defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. The defendant will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Zachary Parsons represented the United States.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Radcliff Man for Four Bank Robberies in Western KentuckyRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned an indictment on April 12, 2023, charging a Hardin County, Kentucky, man with four bank robberies.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Sheriff Dale Bozarth of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
The indictment charges Ramon Alvarez, 36, with the following four bank robberies: (1) the WesBanco Bank in Meade County, Kentucky, on May 22, 2018, stealing $8,292; (2) the Hancock Bank and Trust in Hancock County, Kentucky, on June 7, 2018, stealing $9,407; (3) the Casey County Bank in Casey County, Kentucky, on June 25, 2018, stealing $5,400; and (4) the Wilson and Muir Bank in Grayson County, Kentucky, on July 2, 2018, stealing $5,000.
Alvarez entered federal custody on April 17, 2023, and subsequently made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Bowling Green Field Office, the Kentucky State Police, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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El Paso Man Pleads Guilty in San Antonio to Fentanyl Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – An El Paso man pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio Wednesday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Albert Medina Jr. aka “Tots,” 37, sent at least 60,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent in San Antonio in 2021. Federal agents seized six bundles containing a total of seven kilograms of fentanyl during the transaction between the undercover agent and Medina’s courier, co-defendant Francisco Javier Ortiz. Ortiz pleaded guilty in December 2022 and currently awaits his sentencing hearing.
Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26 and faces a minimum of 10 years in prison with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The DEA is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is prosecuting the case.
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El Departamento de Justicia emite una carta a los Estimados Colegas de los tribunales sobre multas y honorarios para jóvenes y adultosRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia emitió hoy una Carta a los Estimados Colegas de los tribunales estatales y locales, y las agencias de justicia juvenil con respecto a la imposición y aplicación de multas y honorarios a jóvenes y adultos. La carta aborda las prácticas comunes de multas y honorarios impuestos por los tribunales, y advierte contra aquellas prácticas que pueden ser ilegales, penalizar injustamente a las personas que no pueden pagar o que de otro modo tienen un efecto discriminatorio. El departamento proporciona esta carta como parte de su compromiso continuo con la equidad, la justicia económica y el combate ante políticas que contribuyen a la participación desproporcionada de las comunidades de bajos ingresos en el sistema de justicia.
La carta destaca una serie de cuestiones principales relacionadas con multas y honorarios, tal como la importancia de realizar una evaluación significativa de la capacidad de pagar antes de imponer consecuencias adversas por el incumplimiento de pago, considerar alternativas a multas y honorarios, proteger contra sanciones excesivas y garantizar la protección del debido proceso, incluida la asistencia de un abogado cuando corresponda.
La carta les recuerda a los sistemas de tribunales y a otros beneficiarios de asistencia financiera federal de sus obligaciones continuas de no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo y discapacidad; proporcionar acceso significativo a personas con dominio limitado del inglés; y garantizar que el mantenimiento adecuado de registros pueda ayudar a identificar y evitar posibles violaciones de las leyes federales contra la discriminación. El departamento también dará seguimiento a esta carta mediante la creación de una guía de mejores prácticas, destacando el trabajo innovador de los estados y los líderes judiciales en esta área.
"La justicia en los Estados Unidos no debe depender de los ingresos o antecedentes de uno", dijo la Fiscal General Asociada Vanita Gupta. "Las directrices actualizadas del Departamento de Justicia abordan las prácticas que afectan desproporcionadamente a las comunidades de bajos ingresos y a las personas de color, puedan atrapar a las personas y sus familias en patrones de pobreza y castigo, y pueden violar los derechos civiles de adultos y jóvenes por igual. Muchas jurisdicciones han hecho innovaciones para reducir la dependencia de multas y honorarios, y el Departamento de Justicia está aprovechando ese impulso para promover la igualdad de justicia y la seguridad pública para todos".
"La imposición sin restricciones de multas y honorarios en todo el país ha atrapado a las personas pobres, muchas de las cuales son personas de color, en un ciclo de aumento del endeudamiento, encarcelamiento innecesario y enredo debilitante en nuestro sistema de justicia", dijo la Fiscal General Adjunta Kristen Clarke de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. "Al enfrentar los daños que pueden resultar de la imposición agresiva de multas y honorarios, podemos poner fin a las prisiones de deudores y promover la igualdad de justicia ante la ley para todos. El Departamento de Justicia está preparado para ayudar a los tribunales y agencias de justicia juvenil a implementar reformas y prácticas que aborden las necesidades de seguridad pública para proteger los derechos civiles y constitucionales".
"Las obligaciones de satisfacer multas y honorarios suponen un efecto devastador en los adultos y jóvenes sujetos a pobreza y otras adversidades económicas, atrapando a muchos en un ciclo interminable de pobreza y endeudamiento", dijo la Directora Rachel Rossi de la Oficina de Acceso a la Justicia. "Estas obligaciones también pueden interferir con el acceso pleno y justo a nuestro sistema de justicia. Por estas razones, debemos permanecer vigilantes para evitar prácticas perjudiciales que no sirven a los intereses de la justicia. Esta carta es un paso importante en ese proceso constante".
"Las prácticas de honorarios y multas en los sistemas de justicia penal y justicia juvenil les imponen la carga más pesada a los que menos pueden pagar, sumergiéndolos más en el sistema de justicia", dijo la Fiscal General Adjunta Principal Amy L. Solomon de la Oficina de Programas de Justicia. "Vamos a colaborar con jurisdicciones de todo el país para poner fin o limitar estas prácticas injustas, para que los adultos y jóvenes en el sistema de justicia tengan la oportunidad que necesitan para avanzar en sus vidas".
En las próximas semanas, la Oficina de Asistencia Judicial también publicará una solicitud que busca un proveedor de entrenamiento y asistencia técnica para trabajar con un número selecto de jurisdicciones interesadas en comprender y reformar sus políticas y prácticas de multas y honorarios. El objetivo final es ayudar a estas jurisdicciones a reducir el uso de multas y honorarios injustos, y redirigir los recursos utilizados en estos sistemas hacia actividades con un mayor beneficio a la seguridad pública.
La carta se basa en principios constitucionales, incluidas las Enmiendas Sexta, Octava y Decimocuarta, así como en estatutos federales contra la discriminación, incluido el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI) y la Ley Ómnibus de Control del Crimen y Calles Seguras de 1968 (Ley de Calles Seguras). Una copia de la carta de hoy se puede encontrar aquí. Información adicional sobre el trabajo de la División de Derechos Civiles para defender y proteger los derechos civiles y constitucionales está disponible en línea en www.justice.gov/crt. Las denuncias sobre prácticas discriminatorias pueden ser reportadas a la División de Derechos Civiles a través de su portal de denuncias en Internet en civilrights.justice.gov.
El Departamento De Justicia Y La Epa Anuncian Acuerdos De La Ley De Aire Limpio Con Tres Procesadores De Gas NaturalRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia y la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) hoy anunciaron tres acuerdos separados con procesadores de gas natural que requerirán que las compañías paguen $9.25 millones combinados en multas civiles y hagan mejoras en 25 plantas procesadoras de gas y en 91 estaciones de compresores. Esos acuerdos reducirán la contaminación perjudicial del aire y mejorarán la calidad del aire en 12 estados, incluso en comunidades afectadas desproporcionadamente por la contaminación y en la nación indígena. Los estados de Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Dakota del Norte, Virginia del Oeste y Wyoming, y la Tribu de los Indios Ute del Sur, también están resolviendo reclamaciones contra las compañías.
Cuando estén completamente implementados, los acuerdos combinados con las compañías The Williams Companies, Inc., MPLX LP, y WES DJ Gathering LLC anteriormente conocida como Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC reducirán la contaminación que produce ozono en lo que se calcula que serán 953 toneladas al año y gases de efecto invernadero en 50,633 toneladas al año del equivalente de dióxido de carbono, incluso metano. Esta reducción equivale a quitar de las carreteras a 11,267 vehículos de pasajeros a base de gasolina por un año. Los acuerdos, presentados simultáneamente hoy en los Tribunales Federales del Distrito de Colorado y Utah, resuelven las acusaciones de que las compañías violaron la Ley de Aire Limpio y las leyes estatales de control de la contaminación de aire.
“Estos tres acuerdos mejorarán considerablemente la calidad del aire de comunidades en 12 estados y en la Nación Indígena”, dijo el Fiscal General Adjunto Todd Kim de la División de Recursos Naturales y Medioambiente del Departamento de Justicia. “El anuncio de hoy destaca el compromiso de esta administración para reducir la contaminación atmosférica nociva– incluso las emisiones que agravan los cambios climáticos – y brinda justicia ambiental a aquéllos que están afectados de manera desproporcionada”.
“La EPA continúa brindando aire más limpio a través de la aplicación rigurosa de la Ley de Aire Limpio”, dijo el administrador adjunto interino Larry Starfield de la Oficina de Cumplimiento y Garantía de Cumplimiento de la EPA. “Las fugas de válvulas, bombas y conectores en las plantas procesadoras de gas natural y las emisiones de las estaciones de compresores son una fuente considerable de la contaminación atmosférica dañina. Nosotros continuaremos responsabilizando a estas compañías y trabajando para reducir estas emisiones ilegales a la atmósfera”.
Los acuerdos presentados hoy abordan las acusaciones de que las compañías The Williams Companies, Inc., MPLX LP, y WES DJ Gathering LLC violaron las leyes federales y estatales de aire limpio relacionadas con los requisitos de detección y reparación de fugas (LDAR, por sus siglas en inglés) para las plantas procesadoras de gas natural en distintas instalaciones que poseen y operan en todo el país. Esas instalaciones emiten compuestos orgánicos volátiles (VOCs, por sus siglas en inglés), óxidos de nitrógeno (NOx, por sus siglas en inglés), contaminantes atmosféricos peligrosos tal como benceno y formaldehído y gases de efecto invernadero, de acuerdo con las denuncias presentadas en contra de las compañías.
Los compuestos orgánicos volátiles son componentes clave en la formación del esmog u ozono de nivel de suelo, un contaminante que irrita los pulmones, agravan las enfermedades como el asma. Y pueden aumentar la susceptibilidad a las enfermedades respiratorias, tales como la neumonía y la bronquitis. El óxido de nitrógeno reacciona con los compuestos orgánicos volátiles en la presencia de la luz solar para formar el ozono. Los niños, las personas con enfermedades respiratorias, las personas mayores y aquéllos que trabajan o se ejercitan al aire libre tienen un riesgo mayor de salir perjudicados al respirar el ozono.
Las emisiones en las instalaciones de los acusados también emiten gases de efecto invernadero, tales como metano, un potente gas incoloro e inodoro que es el principal componente del gas natural y el cual contribuye considerablemente al calentamiento global cuando se emite a la atmósfera. Vea https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases (describe el equivalente del dióxido de carbono).
Según los acuerdos, las compañías gastarán aproximadamente $16 millones combinados en sus medidas de acatamiento. Para minimizar las emisiones en las plantas procesadoras de gas natural, los acusados instalarán y operarán nuevas tecnologías, así como también mejorarán y expandirán las técnicas de control existentes. Estos compromisos incluyen la instalación de equipos que tengan menos fugas, realizarán auditorías, revisarán el acatamiento de los requisitos de detección y reparación de fugas y repararán el equipo con fugas con más rapidez. Las compañías mejorarán la capacitación del personal para la detección y la reparación de fugas en sus instalaciones, y han acordado usar tecnología de imágenes ópticas de gases en sus instalaciones para mejorar la detección visual de fugas y repararlas rápidamente.
Por último, las compañías The Williams Companies, Inc., MPLX LP y WES DJ Gathering LLC implementarán proyectos adicionales para mitigar el perjuicio causado por el exceso de emisiones causadas por sus violaciones a la Ley de Aire Limpio. Esos proyectos varían de compañía en compañía, y puede encontrarse más información sobre cada proyecto en las Hojas de Datos adjuntas a este comunicado de prensa.
Los decretos de consentimiento presentados hoy son: Los Estados Unidos y colaboradores contra The Williams Companies, Inc., y colaboradores; Los Estados Unidos y colaboradores contra MPLX LP y Los Estados Unidos y colaboradores contra WES DJ Gathering LLC anteriormente conocida como Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC.
Para cada uno de los acuerdos individuales, los Estados Unidos publicarán un aviso de la presentación del decreto de consentimiento en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos en el Registro Federal y aceptará comentarios del público durante 30 días después de que se publique cada aviso. Los avisos del Registro Federal también incluirán instrucciones para enviar comentarios del público.
Los tres acuerdos con procesadoras de gas natural anunciados hoy son parte del continuo enfoque por parte de la EPA y el Departamento de Justicia por reducir la contaminación del aire proveniente de instalaciones de petroleo y gas natural. El anuncio de hoy se produjo tras el anuncio del 27 de marzo de 2023 por parte de la EPA, el Departamento de Justicia y el Departamento del Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México del acuerdo con la Matador Production Company, otro acuerdo histórico con una compañía de petróleo y gas natural.
Dubuque Man Sentenced to over 15 years for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a Local ParkRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to more than 15 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Deandre P. Davis, age 33, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Hilltop Park in Dubuque, Iowa.
At his plea hearing, Davis admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In the fall of 2020, Davis coordinated with Nicole Jarvis and personally distributed heroin and fentanyl throughout the city of Dubuque.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Davis was sentenced to serve 188 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 12-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Davis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.
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Disbarred Attorney Arrested for Involvement in Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the arrest today of GERALD SHAW, a convicted felon and disbarred attorney, in connection with his involvement in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme. SHAW is accused of serving as the purported “Chief Compliance Officer” for a purported financial institution, Dominion Bank and Trust Company Limited (“Dominion Bank”), which claimed to be able to extend financing for small businesses but, in fact, operated an advance fee fraud scheme. SHAW was arrested this morning in Claremont, California, and will be presented later today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Gerald Shaw served as the supposed ‘Chief Compliance Officer’ for Dominion Bank, which held itself out as a legitimate financial institution that could extend or facilitate millions of dollars in financing for small businesses. But in fact, Dominion Bank was also a fraud. In his role, Shaw, a disbarred attorney and convicted felon, drafted financial instruments that were worthless. Shaw knew that Dominion Bank was a fraud, but he continued to draft these financial instruments anyway. Shaw now faces serious charges for his alleged crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “The defendant is alleged to have participated in a scheme which defrauded clients of millions of dollars through the promise of financing in exchange for an advance fee. Complex financial frauds of this nature damage faith in our financial systems and institutions, and they can cause untold harm to the victims of the fraud. The FBI is dedicated to investigating individuals who operate unscrupulous businesses and ensuring that their crimes are answered for in the criminal justice system.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “As Dominion Bank and Trust’s purported Chief Compliance Officer, Gerald Shaw is alleged to have participated in a conspiracy that defrauded investors of millions of dollars through the issuance of fraudulent financial instruments. These types of crimes have devastating effects on the victims and can erode trust in the financial system. HSI will aggressively pursue individuals and organizations that perpetrate these fraudulent schemes to bring justice to the victims and restore faith in our financial institutions. I am especially grateful for the dedication and investigative acumen of HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and HSI Los Angeles for their support in this investigation.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]
From its formation in or about late 2015 until in or about July 2020, Dominion Bank (along with its affiliates) was a purported financial institution that claimed to be able to extend and facilitate financing for small businesses in exchange for an advanced fee or deposit. In fact, Dominion Bank operated an advance fee fraud scheme (the “Scheme”). As part of the fraud, Scheme members instructed victims to wire tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to Dominion Bank as a deposit or servicing fee for future financing or credit based on representations that Dominion Bank could provide such services. Those representations were false. In fact, no financing existed; the victims did not receive the promised credit; and the victims were generally unable to get their money back, as Dominion Bank typically did not return funds to victims but, instead, kept victims’ money and, in some instances, even responded to refund requests by sending invoices for additional amounts. Dominion Bank defrauded at least approximately 60 victims in total (individual and corporate) out of more than approximately $4 million.
One way that Dominion Bank defrauded victims was by issuing them worthless financial instruments — such as a standby letter of credit (“SBLC”) — in exchange for large upfront payments. An SBLC is a legal document between a bank and its client, in which the bank vouches for the client’s creditworthiness and also becomes the guarantor, i.e., the bank promises that, if its client cannot meet its obligations, the bank will do so. Among other things, Dominion Bank lacked the assets necessary to issue such financial instruments. According to several victims of the Scheme, other financial institutions have described SBLCs issued by Dominion Bank as being worthless. As one victim explained, a potential counterparty described Dominion Bank’s SBLC as a “worthless piece of paper.” Another individual explained that a potential counterparty described Dominion Bank’s $4 million SBLC as not “worth the paper it’s printed on.”
From at least in or about October 2016 through in or about April 2020, Dominion Bank’s Chief Compliance Officer was SHAW. In that role, SHAW’s responsibilities included drafting various documents, including SBLCs, that were sent to victims in exchange for payments from the victims. In June 2018, SHAW sent an email to two Dominion Bank officers in which SHAW acknowledged that Dominion Bank lacked funds. SHAW wrote that Dominion Bank was “20 weeks behind” in paying SHAW’s “$500 a week salary,” and SHAW added that, “On several occasions, I have indicated to you that I know Dominion does not have the money to pay my $500 a week [salary].” Nonetheless, SHAW continued his involvement in the Scheme thereafter, despite his awareness that Dominion Bank was selling worthless financial instruments because it lacked the assets and ability to back up its representations. For instance, in December 2018, SHAW was involved in Dominion Bank’s issuance or sale of an approximately $50 million financial instrument and an approximately $25 million financial instrument. In each instance, Dominion Bank represented, as guarantor, that it had assets sufficient to cover each financial instrument when it did not.
* * *
SHAW, 75, of Claremont, California, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carry a maximum potential prison sentence of 20 years.
The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and HSI. He also thanked FBI Los Angeles, HSI Los Angeles, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance.
Mr. Williams also noted that the investigation is ongoing. If you believe you have information about the defendant, this case, or if you believe you are a victim of any crimes related to Dominion Bank, please email: [email protected].
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Complaint 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 Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Detroit Resident Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT, MI - A Detroit man pleaded guilty today to a wire fraud scheme in which he stole $297,000 of pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits from the State of Michigan, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Special Agent in Charge John Marengo of the United States Secret Service’s Detroit Field Office.
Terrell Heard, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Matthew F. Leitman.
According to court records, Heard committed fraud by obtaining pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) to which he was not entitled. The plea documents indicate that in approximately April 2020, Heard began to submit electronic applications for PUA benefits to the State of Michigan in the names of various individuals without those individuals’ authorization. In some instances, the PUA benefits were sent to bank accounts Heard controlled. In other instances, the PUA benefits were loaded onto Bank of America debit cards which were then mailed to addresses to which Heard had access.
According to the plea papers, Heard continued submitting false claims to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency until approximately July 2020. He managed to obtain approximately $297,000 from the agency as a result of this fraud, and has agreed to a money judgment forfeiting that amount as part of his plea agreement. He also agreed that his criminal conduct involved more than ten identity theft victims.
Sentencing is set for August 21, 2023 before Judge Leitman. Heard faces a maximum of twenty years in prison.
“Fraud involving COVID-19 relief programs is sadly widespread, both in our community and nationally,” U.S. Attorney Ison stated. My office alone has charged over 100 defendants with such crimes since the pandemic began. Today’s guilty plea marks another positive step in our ongoing effort to bring to justice those who defrauded pandemic assistance programs.”
“Terrell Heard engaged in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme targeted at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Heard conspired to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the names of other individuals. Today’s guilty plea affirms the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the unemployment insurance program. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“Thank you to the Department of Labor and the US Attorney’s Office for their continued support in prosecuting COVID relief fraud. The U.S. Secret Service will continue to work cases that impact our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Marengo.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General and the Secret Service, with assistance from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Detroit Man Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Henderson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 15 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 3, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in downtown Charleston of a vehicle in which Henderson was a passenger. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in a duffel bag belonging to Henderson. Officers searched the bag and found approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman 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. 2:22-cr-65.
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Clairton Drug User Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Tyrieke Hammonds, age 26, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in May of 2021, the Allegheny County Police were assisting the Clairton Police in an attempt to stop some of the shootings in that area that attributable to gang violence. On May 13, 2021, Allegheny County Police detective were patrolling in Clairton after a shooting earlier that day when they approached the defendant’s vehicle, which was also occupied by three other individuals, including Jamiel Green, who had two outstanding active warrants for his arrest.
As the detectives approached Hammonds’ vehicle to arrest Green, Green got of the vehicle and began to run. A detective tased him and found a gun on his person. At that time Green had two prior felony convictions, including an illegal gun possession conviction. When the detectives went back to Hammonds’ vehicle, the detectives smelled marijuana and observed that each of the three remaining occupants had a loaded firearm. A later search revealed three loaded firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, marijuana, and approximately 13 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and cocaine.
Hammonds later admitted to possession of a firearm and that he was an unlawful user of marijuana. Federal law prohibits unlawful users of marijuana from possessing firearms.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for August 23, 2023. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten 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 and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police, with assistance from the Clairton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hammonds.
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.
Chicago Man Charged with Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been charged with child pornography charges for allegedly enticing four minors to produce sexually explicit images.
MICHAEL RAMOS, 46, of Chicago, is charged with four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of an electronic device containing child pornography, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Ramos is currently detained in federal custody. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment before U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Tucker.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each production count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The possession count carries a maximum sentence of ten years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you or someone you know may have been a victim of Michael Ramos, email the FBI at: [email protected]. All responses are voluntary, and all identities of victims will be kept confidential. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law.
Cherry Hill Gang Member Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Including Murdering an Individual Believed to be a Rival Gang MemberRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced Travis Alewine, a/k/a “Sticks,” age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 253 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the “Hillside” gang, operating in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Alewine admitted that as part of his gang activities, he participated in a murder.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, Alewine was a member of “Hillside” a group which operated in the 600 block of Cherry Hill Road and other locations throughout Cherry Hill and in west and southwest Baltimore. Members of Hillside distributed powder and crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana, and used the proceeds of their narcotics sales to purchase firearms, to enrich themselves, and to further the activities of the organization, including narcotics trafficking. Hillside members operated stash houses in Cherry Hill to cut and package narcotics for distribution and committed acts of violence, including robberies, homicides, and non-fatal shootings.
As stated in Alewine’s plea agreement, Hillside members and associates have been in a long-running dispute with persons not part of the gang, including Up Da Hill (“UDH”), the Lakebrook Circle Boys, and others. Members and associates of Hillside have engaged in acts of violence, including murder, directed at members of these rival organizations, or persons who impeded on Hillside’s territory. Alewine knew members of Hillside sold narcotics and committed violent acts against rival gangs or others who impeded on Hillside’s territory. It was reasonably foreseeable to Alewine that Hillside was responsible for the distribution of between one and three kilograms of heroin; between 280 grams and 840 grams of crack cocaine; between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine; as well as marijuana and oxycodone.
As part of Alewine’s participation in the Hillside enterprise, Alewine and three other members of Hillside discharged a .45-caliber firearm, shooting and killing Anthony Cureton, whom they mistakenly believed was a member of UDH and attempted to murder another individual nearby; Alewine possessed firearms, including a loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a loaded .44-caliber revolver; and he possessed with intent to distribute narcotics, as well as participated in the preparation of narcotics for sale.
All 21 defendants charged in this case have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Alewine and co-defendant Deaven Cherry fled after their indictment and were fugitives until their arrests in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Cherry was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison on April 17, 2023. The other Hillside co-defendants were sentenced to up to 30 years in federal prison.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Brandon K. Moore, who are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Barron also recognized Paralegal Specialist Andrew Murray for his assistance.
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-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Charlotte Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Separ, 40, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in July 2021, an investigation began into Separ’s drug distribution activities. On July 28, 2021, CMPD officers pulled over Separ’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Over the course of the traffic stop, Separ attempted to flee the scene. Following that incident, court documents show that officers conducted a search of Separ’s vehicle, seizing more than half a kilogram of methamphetamine, nearly half a kilogram of cocaine, almost a kilogram of marijuana, and four firearms and ammunition. On July 29, 2021, a search warrant was executed at Separ’s residence, and law enforcement seized more drugs, two additional firearms, and ammunition.
On November 16, 2022, Separ pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited an investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigative efforts.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
Assistant United States Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Cargo company fined for failing to screen for explosivesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Texas company operating in Harris County has been ordered to pay a significant penalty after admitting they failed to comply with regulations regarding proper screening of cargo through Bush International Airport (IAH), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Air Cargo Screening & Solutions LLC (ACSS) pleaded guilty June 7, 2022, admitting they made material false statements in relation to the proper screening of air cargo for explosives on commercial flights.
Today. U.S. District Judge Charles D. Eskridge ordered them to pay a $415,508.16 fine which included the profits for the screenings they did not conduct. The company will also be on probation for five years. At the hearing, the court noted these screening procedures were put in place after 9-11 to provide for the safety and security of passengers and air cargo and that ACSS had violated this trust.
“Checking packages for explosives, packages destined for aircraft carrying passengers, is vital to saving lives and protecting the national security,” said Hamdani. “Whether through significant fines or federal prison time, we will pursue those charged with such security who knowingly shirk that duty. Put simply, companies must answer for potentially putting lives and the nation at risk.”
The Aviation and Transpiration Security Act, passed two months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, mandates the screening for explosives on cargo transported on passenger aircraft. To meet these requirements, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) established guidelines to certify facilities in the United States that screen cargo prior to tendering it to passenger aircraft.
Pursuant to this program, ACSS screened air cargo for domestic and foreign air carriers that traveled through IAH. However, a comparison of records from explosive trace detection machines and forms ACSS employees completed showed that ACSS falsified records, claiming they had screened 100 percent of the cargo passing through their facility when, in truth, they had not.
TSA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.
Canton Man Sentenced to 81 Months in Prison for Possession of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Canton, Illinois man, Derek Lee Pollitt, 37, of the 100 block of South Avenue H, has been sentenced to 81 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the United States presented evidence that in April 2022 Canton police officers stopped a car in which Pollitt was a passenger. On the front passenger-side floorboard, where Pollitt had been seated, officers found a large zip-lock style baggie containing 29.2 grams of actual methamphetamine. They also found that Pollitt had in his possession $129 in cash, along with various pills. Officers obtained records from CashApp that showed Pollitt was using the mobile financial service to transfer money to drug suppliers and customers.
Pollitt was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2022 and pleaded guilty in December 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute are not less than five years and up to forty years imprisonment, not more than a $5,000,000 fine and four years to life of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Canton Police Department, and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the United States in the prosecution.
The case against Pollitt is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. 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.
COVID-19 Fraudsters Charged in Utah for Allegedly Manufacturing, Selling and Distributing at least 120,000 Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination CardsRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging a Utah and South Carolina man for running a scheme to defraud the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by obstructing the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
According to court documents, Nicholas Frank Sciotto, 32, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kyle Blake Burbage, 32, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, manufactured, sold, and distributed at least 120,000 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards across the country between March 2021 through September 2021. Sciotto, a former resident of Weber County, Utah, started and operated an online business where he began to fraudulently manufacture and sell the COVID-19 vaccination record cards. As alleged in the indictment, most of Sciotto’s buyers lived in New York where they were subject to more stringent COVID-19 vaccine restrictions. Sciotto’s co-conspirator, Burbage, purchased counterfeit vaccination record cards from Sciotto and then resold some of the counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards and distributed them in South Carolina. By collectively manufacturing, selling, and distributing thousands of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendants significantly undermined the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination program and other governmental health-and-safety regulations and protocols. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Sciotto primarily sold the counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards online through Facebook and charged approximately $10 each, for orders of 10 or more cards, and $7.50 each, for orders of 100 or more cards.
The case is part of a nationwide coordinated law enforcement action by the Department of Justice to combat health care fraud related to COVID-19. In total, DOJ announced criminal charges against 18 defendants in nine federal districts across the United States. These cases allegedly resulted in over $490 million in COVID-19 related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally-funded pandemic programs. See national DOJ release here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-nationwide-coordinated-law-enforcement-action-combat-covid-19
Sciotto and Burbage are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearances April 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Todd Bouton, of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bộ Tư Pháp Ban hành Thư Gửi Đồng nghiệp tới Toà án Về Tiền phạt và Chi phí cho Người lớn và Thiếu niênRead the Press Release
Bộ Tư Pháp hôm nay đã ban hành một Thư Gửi Đồng nghiệp tới Toà án tiểu bang và địa phương và các cơ quan tư pháp vị thành niên về việc áp đặt và thực thi tiền phạt và chi phí cho người lớn và thiếu niên. Bức thư đề cập đến việc thực hiện tiền phạt và chi phí toà án thường hay-áp-dụng, và cảnh báo về những áp dụng đó có thể là bất hợp pháp, những cá nhân bị xử phạt bất công là những người không thể chi trả hay nói cách khác bị tác dụng phân biệt đối xử. Bộ cung cấp bức thư này như một phần của sự tiếp diễn cam kết về tính công bằng, công lý kinh tế và chiến đấu chống những chính sách nào đóng góp một cách không cân xứng sự tham dự vào hệ thống tư pháp của các cộng đồng có thu-nhập-thấp.
Bức thư nêu bật một số vấn đề chính yếu về việc tiền phạt và chi phí, như sự quan trọng của việc thực hiện dánh giá có ý nghĩa khả-năng-chi-trả trước khi áp đặt những hậu quả bất lợi cho sự thất bại trong chi trả, quan tâm đến các thay thế cho tiền phạt và chi phí, giám sát chống mức phạt quá đáng và bảo đảm việc bảo vệ đúng thủ tục, bao gồm các cố vấn trợ giúp khi phù hợp.
Bức thư nhắc nhở các hệ thống tòa án và các cơ quan khác nhận trợ cấp tài chánh liên bang về nghĩa vụ liên tiếp của họ không được phân biệt đối xử trên cơ bản dòng giống, màu da, nguồn gốc quốc gia, tôn giáo, giới tính và sự khuyết tật; để cung cấp truy cập có ý nghĩa cho các cá nhân có giới hạn Anh ngữ lưu loát; và bảo đảm rằng việc lưu trữ hồ sơ phù hợp có thể giúp xác lập và phòng tránh những vi phạm luật chống phân biệt đối xử của liên bang có thể xảy ra. Bộ đồng thời cũng theo sát với lá thư này bằng cách thiết lập một hướng dẫn thực hành tốt nhất, nêu bật việc đổi mới bởi các lãnh đạo toà án và tiểu bang trong lãnh vực này.
“Công lý tại Hoa Kỳ không thể bị lệ thuộc vào lợi tức hay lý lịch của một người,” Phó Tổng Chưởng lý Vanita Gupta đã nói. “Sự hướng dẫn cập nhật của Bộ Tư pháp giải quyết những thực hành gây ảnh hưởng không cân xứng đến các cộng đồng lợi-tức-thấp và người da màu, có thể làm mắc kẹt những cá nhân và gia đình họ trong những khuôn mẫu của sự nghèo khổ và hình phạt và có thể vi phạm quyền công dân của người lớn cũng như của thiếu niên. Nhiều thẩm quyền tài phán đã đổi mới để giảm thiểu việc dựa vào tiền phạt và chi phí, và Bộ Tư pháp đang xây dựng trên quán tính đó để nâng cao công lý bình đẳng và an toàn công cộng cho tất cả.”
“Sự áp đặt không bị ràng buộc của tiền phạt và chi phí trên toàn quốc đã gài bẫy người nghèo, quá đông trong số họ là những người da màu, trong một chu kỳ của sự leo thang nợ nần, tống giam không cần thiết và làm cho vướng víu suy nhược trong hệ thống tư pháp của chúng ta,” Trợ lý Tổng Chưởng lý Kristen Clarke thuộc Bộ phận Dân quyền của Bộ Tư pháp đã nói. “Bằng cách đối đầu với các tác hại mà có thể có hậu quả áp đặt cách hung bạo của tiền phạt và chi phí, ta có thể đem đến sự chấm dứt tù tội của các con nợ và cổ vũ công lý bình đẳng trong luật pháp cho tất cả. Bộ Tư pháp đã sẵn sàng trợ giúp các toà án và các cơ quan tư pháp vị thành niên để đặt vào vị trí những cải tổ và thực hành để giải quyết nhu cầu an toàn công cộng trong khi bảo vệ quyền công dân và quyền hiến pháp.”
“Nghĩa vụ để thoả mãn tiền phạt và chi phí đã có ảnh hưởng tàn phá trên người lớn và thiếu niên là những người đang trải nghiệm sự nghèo khó và những nghịch cảnh kinh tế khác, bẫy rập nhiều người trong một chu kỳ bất tận của sự nghèo khó và nợ nần,” Giám đốc Văn phòng Tiếp cận Tư pháp Rachel Rossi đã nói. “Những nghĩa vụ này có thể đồng thời cản trở sự truy cập đầy đủ và công bằng vào hệ thống tư pháp của chúng ta. Vì các lý do này, chúng ta vẫn phải thận trọng để ngăn ngừa những thực hành có hại mà không phục vụ lợi ích của công lý. Bức thư này là một bước quan trọng trong tiến trình đó.”
“Những thực hành tiền phạt và chi phí trong hệ thống tư pháp hình sự và vị thành niên áp đặt gánh nặng to lớn nhất trên những người ít khả năng chi trả nhất, đẩy họ vào sâu hơn trong hệ thống tư pháp,” Phó Trợ lý Chính của Tổng Chưởng lý Amy L. Solomon thuộc Văn phòng Chương trình Công lý đã nói. “Chúng ta sẽ làm việc với các thẩm quyền tài phán trên toàn quốc để chấm dứt hay giới hạn những thực hành bất công này, để cho người lớn và thiếu niên trong hệ thống tư pháp có cơ hội họ cần để tiến tới trong cuộc đời của họ.”
Trong những tuần sắp tới, Văn phòng Trợ lý Tư pháp sẽ đồng thời công bố một mời gọi tìm kiếm một nhà cung cấp huấn luyện và trợ giúp kỹ thuật để làm việc với một số thẩm quyền tài phán chọn lọc nào có ý muốn tìm hiểu và cải tổ chính sách và thực hành tiền phạt và chi phí của họ. Mục tiêu tối thượng là để giúp những thẩm quyền tài phán này giảm thiểu sự sử dụng tiền phạt và chi phí bất công và chuyển hướng những nguồn tài nguyên đã dùng trong những hệ thống này vào những hoạt động với kết quả lớn hơn về an toàn công cộng.
Bức thư căn cứ trên những nguyên tắc hiến pháp cơ bản, bao gổm Tu chính án thứ Sáu, thứ Tám, và thứ Mười bốn, cũng như các quy chế liên bang chống phân biệt đối xử, bao gồm Tiêu đề VI của Bộ luật Dân Quyền năm 1964 (Title VI) và Bộ luật Kiểm soát Tội phạm và Luật An toàn Đường phố Omnibus năm 1968 (Safe Streets Act). Một bản sao của bức thư này có thể tìm được ở đây. Các thông tin phụ thuộc về công việc của Bộ phận Dân quyền để bảo vệ và giữ vững quyền hiến định và dân quyền cũng có sẵn trực tuyến tại www.justice.gov/crt. Những khiếu nại về thực hành phân biệt đối xử có thể báo cáo về Bộ phận Dân quyền qua cổng báo cáo trực tuyến của họ tại civilrights.justice.gov.
Business Owner Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Defrauding Medicare of $8 Million Through Claims for Durable Medical EquipmentRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MATTHEW TAYLOR WITKOWSKI was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud by fraudulently trafficking in orders for durable medical equipment such as back, knee, and elbow braces. WITKOWSKI previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced today before United States District Judge Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, Matthew Taylor Witkowski faced justice for illegally selling orders for durable medical equipment and thus bilking Medicare out of more than $8 million. This sort of fraud substantially harms the Medicare program — and will not be tolerated.”
According to statements made in court and publicly filed documents in this case:
From at least August 2019 through the date of his arrest in July 2022, WITKOWSKI and his co-defendant, Christopher Margait, engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare by illegally obtaining and selling fraudulent written orders for goods and services paid for by Medicare, particularly including for durable medical equipment (“DME”). Using a business that he jointly owned and operated with Margait, and a call center that WITKOWSKI owned and operated in the Dominican Republic, WITKOWSKI illegally generated and purchased fraudulent written orders for DME and then sold those fraudulent orders to pharmacies and DME suppliers, including suppliers in New York City. Those pharmacies and DME suppliers then used those fraudulent orders as the basis for more than $8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Many of these fraudulent orders used names and personal health information of actual Medicare beneficiaries, without the beneficiaries’ authorization or prior knowledge. Many of these fraudulent orders also contained professional information of doctors and other healthcare providers enrolled in the Medicare program, as well as the purported electronic signatures of these providers, which were falsified and created without the authorization or knowledge of these providers.
During the course of the scheme, WITKOWSKI and Margait received more than $4 million in illegal kickbacks from DME suppliers, who made these payments to True Prospects Marketing, Inc., a company controlled by WITKOWSKI and Margait, and to Sales Drive Marketing LLC, a company owned and controlled by WITKOWSKI.
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WITKOWSKI, 38, a U.S. citizen who resided in the Dominican Republic, pled guilty on January 19, 2023, to a single count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to the prison sentence, WITKOWSKI was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $4,065,995 and restitution of $8,131,990 to the Medicare program.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raymond Lewis is in charge of the prosecution.
Billings felon admits to firearms crimes after illegally possessing stolen gunRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who was on state supervision for felony convictions admitted today to firearms crimes after law enforcement found him in possession of a stolen gun, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Joseph Lee Doney, 41, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a stolen firearm. Doney faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Doney was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 13, 2022, Billings Police Department officers arrested Doney on a probation violation warrant after he was spotted in a stolen truck the previous night. Doney had absconded from state supervision in January 2022. In a search of a trailer where Doney had been living, officers seized a stolen Ruger .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Doney admitted to an officer that there was ammunition in his trailer and that he was in the stolen truck the night before. In a recorded jail call after his arrest, Doney admitted he knew the gun was stolen. The owner of the stolen truck and pistol confirmed that the gun was in his truck, which was parked outside of his home, when both were stolen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Timothy Gross, 39, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting to making a fraudulent payment with an employer-issued credit card as part of a scheme to divert more than $65,000 in credit card charges to his personal bank account.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gross was hired by Amerihost LLC in 2020 as a maintenance worker for Beckley Town Homes, a multi-unit apartment building in Beckley. Amerihost issued Gross a credit card for legitimate business purposes and not for personal use.
On April 5, 2020, Gross used his Amerihost-issued credit card to submit a $1,712 payment to “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing.” Gross admitted that no work had been conducted to justify the payment, and that he created a fraudulent invoice that described the payment as being for eight circuit-breaker panel boxes. Gross further admitted that he opened an account for “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing” on the Square payments platform to divert payments from the Amerihost-issued credit card for his personal use, and linked that Square account to his personal bank account.
On at least 38 separate occasions from at least January 1, 2020, until at least April 15, 2020, Gross used the Amerihost-issued credit card to send more than $65,000 in unauthorized, fraudulent payments to “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing” for work that was not performed. Gross created false work invoices as part of his scheme.
Gross is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Gross owes more than $65,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell 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. 5:22-cr-191.
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Baton Rouge Man Charged in Federal Court with Wire Fraud and Engaging in Unlawful Monetary TransactionsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Adolphus A. Obioha, age 64, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with wire fraud and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
The indictment alleges that in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $425,000 in funds under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, Obioha, who operated a medical transport business prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, submitted multiple fraudulent loan documents to the U.S. Small Business Administration. He allegedly used the EIDL Program funds to purchase a rental property and personal vehicle and to wire nearly $175,000 overseas. The government seized a total of $136,234.09 from multiple bank accounts held by Obioha.
If convicted of these charges, Obioha faces a statutory maximum sentence of fifty years in prison.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline B. Gardner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Audubon County Man Sentenced for a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Audubon County man was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to 60 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On September 15, 2022, Audubon County Sheriff’s Department, Atlantic Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa State Patrol, responded to a call of shots fired. Deputies found Adam Lee Karstens, 41, standing outside the residence by a locked pickup truck. A search of the vehicle revealed a nine-millimeter Taurus handgun with an obliterated serial number underneath the driver’s seat. Karstens was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction. Karstens must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Asheville Methamphetamine Trafficker and Pill Distributor Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – An Asheville methamphetamine trafficker and pill distributor was sentenced to 151 months in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. John Paul Roberts, 40, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger imposed today’s sentence.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s hearing, in January 2020, an investigation began into Roberts’ drug distribution activities, after law enforcement determined that Roberts and an associate were mailing pills containing methamphetamine via the U.S. Mail to customers throughout the United States. The investigation eventually revealed that Roberts and his associate used the Dark Web to obtain the methamphetamine. Roberts then mixed the methamphetamine with other ingredients and used pill presses to manufacture thousands of pills, which he and his associate falsely marketed and sold on the Dark Web as Adderall®. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement documented that Roberts and his associate manufactured and sold thousands of pills containing methamphetamine and mailed pills to customers in 19 states. Court records show that Roberts and his associate also sold methamphetamine in wholesale quantities to local drug traffickers, with a combined street value of more than $1 million.
On December 5, 2022, Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI and USPIS for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Armed Drug Trafficker Receives 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Cameron Hansen, 39, of Holly Ridge, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for trafficking drugs with a sawed-off shot gun. On January 11, 2023, Hansen pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court, and other documents, on February 14, 2021, Hansen was stopped by deputies from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation while travelling South on Highway 17 in Jacksonville. Hansen stopped his truck in the parking lot of a local business. An Onslow County Sheriff’s K-9 detected the odor of narcotics coming from the truck. Law enforcement searched the truck and recovered a sawed-off shotgun and approximately one ounce of 95 percent pure methamphetamine. The investigation uncovered that Hansen distributed methamphetamine in the Holly Ridge area. Hansen has a prior federal conviction for possession of a stolen firearm.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Onslow County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00081-FL.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Tolleson, Arizona, man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Ethan Roberts, 28, met a then 14-year-old juvenile online in January 2022. The juvenile lived in Norfolk. Roberts engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the minor for a seven-month period, repeatedly asking her to create and send sexually explicit images of herself to him. In August 2022, Roberts traveled by bus from Arizona to Norfolk. He picked up the minor and the pair traveled back to Roberts’ apartment in Arizona. While in Arizona, the juvenile logged into her online gaming account. The juvenile’s friend noticed her online, and informed law enforcement. Using the information from her online gaming account, the FBI was able to locate and rescue the juvenile from Roberts’ apartment.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Michael C. Maslow, Acting Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-141.
Alabama Resident Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – QUINCY WHITE, age 43, a resident of Alabama, was sentenced on April 18, 2023 to 188 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry. WHITE had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on October 24, 2021, federal and local agencies conducted a controlled delivery of 970 grams of pure methamphetamine to WHITE. The delivery occurred in the parking lot of a Home Depot in LaPlace, Louisiana. After being arrested, WHITE admitted he paid $10,000 for the packages of “methamphetamine” that were located inside the spare tire of the vehicle he was driving.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, and the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
18 Individuals Involved in Drug Trafficking Organization in Wayne County and Cleveland IndictedRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Federal, county and local law enforcement officials today announced that 18 individuals were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of fentanyl in Cleveland and the Wayne County area. Some were arrested during an early morning operation and transported to federal court in Cleveland.
This announcement is made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tom Gergye, and Director Joshua Hunt of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency.
“While so many of us have been working tirelessly to make our communities a safer and better place to live, the defendants charged in these indictments have been doing otherwise,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Today’s indictments and arrests reflect the resolve of law enforcement at all levels to hold drug traffickers accountable and return our neighborhoods to a better tomorrow.”
“Possession and distribution of illegal narcotics and the illegal possession of firearms will not be tolerated in our communities or by the good citizens who live there,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tom Gergye. “Likewise, the DEA will continue its targeted, exhaustive, and collaborative efforts with our local, state and federal partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that bring poison and violence into our neighborhoods.”
“Our unending commitment to this community is to work relentlessly in collaboration with our law enforcement partners at every level, bringing every combined resource to bear with the unified mission to deliver those persons to justice who contribute to this deadly scourge” said Director Joshua Hunt of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency located in Wayne County, Ohio. “I'm immensely proud of the collective achievements born from this 2-year investigation, while I also remain dedicated to ensuring that this important work continues well into the future.”
The following is a breakdown of the charges:
Charged in a 36-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense are:Charles Daniels, 45, State of Ohio Custody; Deandre Wilson, 46, Federal Custody; Jason Johnson, 46, State of Ohio Custody; Blaze Cody Mclaughlin, 32, Federal
Custody; Anthony Ray Lies, 40, Rittman, Ohio; Nicholas Knapik, 39, State of Ohio Custody; Jordan Jarvis, 34, State of Ohio Custody; David Stark, 45, State of Ohio Custody; Roger Stark, 44, Wooster, Ohio; Sebastian Yeagley, 32, Wooster, Ohio; Cody Smith, 28, Wooster, Ohio; John Harig, Jr. 43, Wooster, Ohio; Caleb Smith 30, State of Ohio Custody; Elijah Goshen 31, Cleveland, Ohio; Cassandra Vojacek, 40, Perry, Ohio; Chad Anderson, 38, Columbus, Ohio; Blake Nowak, 45, Burton, Ohio.According to the indictments, between as early as on or about October, 1, 2020, and continuing through on or about February 28, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Johnson was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of a firearm and U.S. Currency.
Charles Daniels recruited drug dealers from Wayne County, Ohio, to purchase fentanyl from sources designated by him, including but not limited to Deandre Wilson and Jason Johnson for further distribution throughout the Northern District of Ohio.
Daniels contacted Wilson and Johnson and arranged for them to sell fentanyl to the Wayne County drug dealers at a discounted price per gram. Daniels provided the Wayne County drug dealers with the contact information for Wilson and Johnson for the purpose of obtaining fentanyl for distribution.
Charged in a 2-count indictment with distribution of a controlled substance containing methamphetamine is Markus Ellison of Wooster, Ohio, State of Ohio Custody.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the DEA, Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, the Wooster Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Patrol, Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and the Ohio National Guard Intelligence Analysts. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian.
Wednesday 19 April 2023
‘Modern-day Bonnie and Clyde’ sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for using stolen mail to raid bank accountsRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A South Carolina man who referred to himself and his girlfriend as the “modern-day Bonnie and Clyde” was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a scheme in which he used information from stolen mail to steal or attempt to steal more than a million dollars from multiple victims.
Michael H. Boatwright, 33, of Chesterfield, S.C., was sentenced to 150 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Wire, and Bank Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randall Hall also ordered Boatwright to pay $427,131.37 in restitution for actual losses to the victims, and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
Boatwright’s co-defendant, Stephanie Michelle Lea Napier, 29, also of Chesterfield, is serving a 28-month prison term for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“These thieves didn’t just steal their victims’ mail; they stole their money, their privacy, and their sense of security,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “They are now being held accountable for their insidious acts.”
As described in court documents and proceedings, Boatwright and Napier called themselves the “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” when, in a period from about November 2020 to June 2021, they drove around Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida to steal mail from mailboxes, capturing personal identifying information from the stolen mail, and then using that information to gain access and control of their victims’ bank accounts.
Using that information, the two stole, or attempted to steal, hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims, including those residing in the Statesboro area, with actual and attempted financial losses of more than $1.5 million.
“The sentencing should serve as a warning to those who intend to steal and misuse the U.S. Mail for criminal activity,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This is a great example of how law enforcement partnerships work together across state lines to vigorously investigate and deliver justice to mail thieves.”
“As evidenced by the length of the prison sentence in this case, fraud is a pernicious crime, especially when it involves identity theft,” said Craig Reno, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Savannah Resident Office. “The result of this case should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to steal from others and attempt to escape the long arm of the law. The Secret Service, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to holding these criminals accountable for their fraudulent activities.”
The case is being investigated by the Jacksonville, Fla. and Savannah, Ga. offices of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and the Statesboro Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Grover.
Wellsburg man admits stealing $150,000 from volunteer fire departmentRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wellsburg, West Virginia, man has admitted to stealing $150,000 from the volunteer fire department where he formerly served as treasurer.
Daniel Keener, 46, pled guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud. Keener admitted that he used his position as treasurer of the Bethany Pike Volunteer Fire Department to divert funds from the Department’s bank accounts for his personal use over a five-year period. Keener used the stolen funds to purchase concert tickets, make payments on personal credit cards, pay for a family member’s educational expenses, and to purchase jewelry.
“Mr. Keener abused the trust placed in him by his colleagues at the fire department and now he must pay the consequences,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.
Keener is facing up to 20 years in federal prison, and he must make $150,000 in restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. The West Virginia State Auditor’s Office assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Utah Truck Driver Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging a Utah man after he allegedly attempted to meet with a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to the court documents, on February 16, 2023, Kendrick Aristotle Eastes, 31, of Taylorsville, Utah, attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity in the District of Utah. He did so by communicating through the internet, a means of foreign commerce. According to statements made in open court on April 19, 2023, Eastes was employed as a truck driver at the time of the alleged crime. Using a social networking application, on February 16, 2023, Eastes contacted an undercover agent whom he believed was the stepfather of a 7-year-old boy. As the chat continued, Eastes and the undercover agent planned a meeting so that Eastes could meet with and engage in sexual activity with the minor. Estes arrived at the meeting site intending to have sex with the minor but was immediately arrested and taken into custody.
Eastes is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography. The defendant had his initial court appearance April 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The weight of the evidence is substantial,” said Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead, and ordered Eastes remain in custody.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Las Vegas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mark Y. Hirata, of the District of Utah 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 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Spokane Police Department Announce Spring Take Back DayRead the Press Release
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration has announced the date of its 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, April 22, DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.
Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
When: Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Who: United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Spokane Police Department
Where: NorthTown Mall, 4750 North Division Spokane, WA 99207 (Northwest parking area)
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.
Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
“The United States is committed to reducing tragic drug overdose deaths. By participating in events like Prescription Drug Take Back Day, federal, state, local, and tribal community leaders help remove expired narcotics from our communities, prevent medication misuse, and make Eastern Washington safer and stronger,” U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated. “Drug take back events are one way our community can positively impact the opioid crisis and protect loved ones. Prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths do not discriminate – they can impact individuals of any age, race, gender or demographic.”
“The DEA is committed to protecting our communities,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “One way we do this is with our National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. By removing unused and unwanted prescription drugs we eliminate the first step that leads to misuse and drug addiction.”
“We have a critical drug use issue in our community. From the open use of dangerous drugs like fentanyl by those stuck in addiction, to the misuse of prescription drugs, overdose deaths are all too common in Spokane,” stated Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl. He continued, “From February 2022 through February 2023, the Medical Examiner reported 185 overdose deaths in Spokane County. Our officers see the heartbreak and expense of drug related crimes – property and violent crimes – every day. Drug Take Back Day is one tangible way community members can step in and help address the drug crisis in a positive way.”
For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit to Co-Sponsor United Against Hate Event at BSURead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit along with Boise State University, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of the Pacific Northwest, and Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel are convening a United Against Hate meeting on April 26 at Albertsons Library at Boise State University in conjunction with the last day of the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibition. The event is free and is open to the public. Registration is required to attend. Register here no later than Monday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m. Free parking for From History to Today: Shared Legacies, Shared Aspirations is available in the Liberal Arts parking lot (map).
United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving efforts to combat hate crimes and hate incidents through relationship building at the local level. Through this endeavor, the Office seeks to create and strengthen trust and partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders, and residents.
“As Attorney General Garland has said, this is a moment for an all-hands-on-deck approach to combatting unlawful hate,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I look forward to meeting community members and hearing different perspectives on how we can work together to stand up to unlawful hate in Idaho.”
The April 26 event will include a presentation by U.S. Attorney Hurwit about hate crimes laws and reporting mechanisms followed by an hour-long community panel featuring leaders from the Jewish, Black, and Japanese American communities.
“For me, holding this event in conjunction with the ‘Americans and Holocaust’ exhibit is a great way to explore how difficult history can inspire a hopeful future,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful to BSU, the ADL of the Pacific Northwest, and Congregation Ahaveth Beth Israel for our collaboration.”
Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel###