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25 April 2023
United States Attorney's Office Releases 2023 First Quarter Immigration Enforcement StatisticsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office announced its immigration enforcement statistics for January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the Tucson and Yuma Sectors of the Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the three-month period ending March 31, 2023, the United States brought criminal charges in Arizona against more than 1,700 individuals who illegally entered or re-entered the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 335 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling undocumented noncitizens to and within the District of Arizona.
Reducing migrant smuggling and mitigating the risk to communities impacted by these offenses continues to be a priority for the Office and its law enforcement partners. Some of these prosecutions are directed against leaders and coordinators of alien smuggling organizations. Other prosecutions are aimed at deterring young adult drivers, often recruited over social media platforms, from engaging in this dangerous activity. Prosecutions against young drivers include three cases brought against juvenile smugglers during this time period.
These statistics represent United States Attorney’s Office prosecutions only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-060_2023 First Quarter Immigration Enforcement Statistics
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.United States Attorney's Office Observes National Crime Victims' Rights WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is observed from April 23 to 29, 2023.
According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2021, there were more than 4.6 million violent victimizations and 11.7 million property crimes, the latest year for which such information is available.
“Every April, we join our neighbors, law enforcement partners, and victim service providers in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to pay tribute to victims of crime and to the dedicated professionals who advocate on their behalf,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirms its unwavering commitment to seeking justice for all victims; and we thank the countless advocates throughout Nevada and the nation for ensuring victims are informed, have a voice, and receive the services and support needed to heal.”
The federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by raising awareness of victims' rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.” Partner organizations are committed to engaging with victims of crime; learning from their lived experiences; amplifying their voices; and fostering an environment where they are heard, believed, and supported.
For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2023/overview.
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U.S. Attorney, Vermont Attorney General, and Rutland Area NAACP to Co-Host Orange County Hate-Free Vermont ForumRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney’s Office, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, and the Rutland Area NAACP will be co-hosting a Hate-Free Vermont Forum for the Orange County community in Randolph on May 8, 2023, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This forum will be the fourth held in an ongoing series that started in 2019; recent Hate-Free Vermont Forums have taken place in Franklin County (2023), Rutland, and Bennington (2022).
“The Forum aims to bring policymakers, stakeholders, and community members together for productive and difficult conversations that will work to reduce animus, discord, and misunderstandings,” said co-facilitator Etan Nasreddin-Longo. “Many community members have told us they do not feel comfortable reporting bias incidents to the police or feel that is not an effective option. What additional options for reporting and addressing harm and conflict already exist in your community, and what new or improved options would you like to see?”
Participants are welcome to share what they want their government officials to know about their experiences, and to ask questions of their government officials about bias and discrimination. The Forum will be hosted in Randolph, but everyone from the Orange County community is invited.
When: Monday, May 8, 2023, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: The Forum will be hosted in person and remotely.
* Physical location: Randolph Union Middle/High School – Cafeteria, 15 Forest St, Randolph, VT 05060
* Remote registration link: bit.ly/HateFreeRandolph
Who: All are welcome.Registration is required for remote attendance.
U.S. Attorney Charges Convicted Sex Offender on Probation with Sexual Exploitation of A Minor and Making Extortionate Interstate CommunicationsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of CAMERON MCEWEN, a 21-year-old convicted sexual offender, in Middletown, New York. The Complaint charges that MCEWEN persuaded a 16-year-old girl living in Alaska (“Victim-1”) to engage in sexually explicit activity, take photos and videos of herself doing so, and transmit the photos and videos, via Snapchat, to MCEWEN. MCEWEN threatened to hack into Victim-1’s cell phone and Snapchat account if she did not comply with his demands. MCEWEN was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court and detained without bail.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Cameron McEwen was on probation following a previous conviction for rape when he allegedly continued to commit sexually abusive and vile crimes, including with a minor victim. This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them, and this Office is committed to safeguarding children from these predators.”
According to the criminal Complaint filed yesterday in White Plains Federal Court:[1]
In April 2023, MCEWEN knowingly used a social media platform to communicate with and entice Victim-1, as well as send extortionate interstate threats to Victim-1.
MCEWEN, using Snapchat display names “X,” “Cam,” and “fendii.kashout,” and posing as multiple different people, initially connected on Snapchat with an 18-year-old individual, who he offered to pay for sexually explicit images and videos. When that individual sent MCEWEN the requested content, he threatened to leak the images and videos to the individual’s family and friends and harm her if she did not find another person to send MCEWEN sexually explicit material.
The individual sought out Victim-1, who connected with MCEWEN on Snapchat. MCEWEN then began sending Victim-1 messages threatening to hack Victim-1’s Snapchat account and cell phone if she did not send him sexually explicit photos and videos.
CAMERON MCEWEN, a/k/a “X,” a/k/a “Cam,” a/k/a “dzys.world,” a/k/a “itsbeendrippy,” a/k/a “fendii,” a/k/a “fendii.kashout,” was convicted in Orange County Court on January 13, 2022, of rape in the second degree and was on New York State probation when he committed the alleged offenses charged herein.
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CAMERON MCEWEN, 21, of Middletown, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison, and one count of making extortionate interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agents in both Alaska and New York, the New York State Police Troop F, and the Middletown Police Department. He also thanked the Ketchikan Police Department for its participation and support in this ongoing investigation.
Mr. Williams stated that the investigation is ongoing and requests that any individuals with information concerning CAMERON MCEWEN and any individuals who may have encountered someone using the Snapchat user names “X,” “Cam,” “dzys.wlrd,” “itzbeendrippy,” “fendii,” and “fendii_kashout,” please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI and reference this case.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Wheelock and Marcia S. Cohen and are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations contained 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 herein are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Plaquemines Parish Men Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARON WILLIAMS, age 47, and JOSHUA MACKEY, age 37, residents of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 24, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
WILLIAMS pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, as well as possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
MACKEY pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, a DEA investigation revealed that WILLIAMS and MACKEY were involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, WILLIAMS regularly distributed quantities of methamphetamine. Agents surveilled WILLIAMS as he conducted a hand-to-hand methamphetamine transaction prior to their making a traffic stop and seizing a quantity of methamphetamine from WILLIAMS.
Court documents further revealed that MACKEY regularly distributed quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine. Agents executed a search warrant at MACKEY’s residence and seized quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as an illegal firearm.
For each drug offense, WILLIAMS and MACKEY face up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, MACKEY faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Two Marion County Kentucky Women Sentenced for Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two Marion County women were sentenced yesterday for their roles in an over $500,000 elder fraud scheme. Donna Jean Bradshaw, 57, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by 48 months of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $582,635. Tammy Lynn Gilbert, 49, of Bradfordsville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 5 years of supervised release, including 12 months of home incarceration, and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $1,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, between March 2013 and June 2016, Bradshaw, aided by Gilbert, engaged in multiple schemes to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Bradshaw, with Gilbert’s aid, engaged in various means to defraud an elderly victim of funds, including creating a fictitious United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration mortgage loan reimbursement program and fabricating documents from a Louisville law firm to create the appearance of a fictitious inheritance.
Bradshaw pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and eight counts of wire fraud on January 25, 2023. Gilbert pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and eight counts of wire fraud on June 25, 2020.
The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Weiser and Corrine Keel prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. In response to the growing need and targeting areas of greatest concern, the Department of Justice initially stood up 10 task forces made up of 11 federal districts to combat a variety of elder abuse, including elder financial exploitation. Kentucky’s federal districts make up two of the 11 districts under the Initiative. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.
In October, the Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
To report elder fraud, for non-life-threatening emergencies, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (or 833-372-8311).
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Two Arrested for Allegedly Using Stolen Identities to Rent Apartments Used for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man and Boston woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently rent two apartments under stolen identities to be utilized for drug trafficking activities.
Terrence Pyrtle, a/k/a “Big T,” a/k/a “T,” a/k/a “big_t558,” 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl and 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance on April 20, 2023 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Pyrtle was detained pending a hearing set for April 27, 2023.
Ashley Roostaie, a/k/a “Lola,” a/k/a “dropdeadlola,” 36, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Roostaie was released on conditions following an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Boal on April 20, 2023.
According to the charging document, Pyrtle and Roostaie utilized the personal identification information (including Social Security number) of another individual to apply for and enter into lease agreements for two apartments in Braintree and Somerville, respectively. As part of their conspiracy, Pyrtle and Roostaie allegedly created an email account under the name of the individual’s identity that they had submitted in connection with the apartments as well as transmitted a purported driver’s license containing the individual’s name and some of their personal identification information, but depicting a different individual’s photograph. By placing the apartment leases under another individual’s personal identification information, Roostaie and Pyrtle were able to conceal their connection to and use of the apartments, which Pyrtle allegedly used to participate in a drug conspiracy involving distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and methamphetamine.
It is further alleged that Pyrtle and Roostaie used another individual’s personal identification information (including Social Security number) to obtain and use a prepaid debit card to make certain payments associated with each of the apartments.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of access device fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year prison term consecutive to any term of imprisonment received on a predicate, substantive count, up to a one-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Westport Police Departments and the Bristol County and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Twelfth Defendant Charged in International Money Laundering Conspiracy Apprehended in New YorkRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was arrested today for his alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization involving cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy).
Qing Hua Sun, a/k/a “Ben,” 48, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sun was arrested in Brooklyn today and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York. He will appear in federal court in Boston on May 30, 2023.
Today’s arrest marks the 12th defendant charged in connection with the conspiracy. In October 2022, a federal grand jury in Boston returned an indictment charging 11 individuals from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and California for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization led by Jin Hua Zhang.
According to the charging documents, Zhang’s network was first detected in the greater Boston area, but leaders and members of the organization were later identified throughout the United States and overseas. During the investigation, Zhang allegedly directed his co-defendant couriers, and others, to deliver to undercover agents hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and millions of dollars in wire transfers and bank deposits. In exchange, Zhang allegedly sought to obtain cryptocurrency, which he believed would enable his organization to transfer illicit funds without detection by banks’ security teams or law enforcement.
Over the course of several lengthy recorded meetings, Zhang, Sun, and others allegedly discussed efforts to launder funds from drug trafficking and other frauds by converting the funds to cryptocurrency for a fee. According to court documents, Zhang and Sun’s laundering operation included funds derived from fraud operations based in Cambodia, which Sun was responsible for cultivating. In total, Zhang, Sun, and other members of the money laundering conspiracy allegedly sought to launder at least $25 million.
It is alleged that, to date, funds have been traced from the Zhang Organization to Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations. Additionally, a portion of the funds Zhang, Sun and their associates sought to launder, was seized.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan Cleary of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trafficker sent to prison for smuggling cocaine in tractor trailer differentialRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – A 28-year-old San Benito resident has been ordered to federal prison after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to do so, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury convicted Baltazar Reyes-Herrera Jan. 20, following a two-day-trial and approximately seven hours of deliberation.
Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered Reyes-Herrera to serve 100 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Reyes-Herrera was taking 18 bundles of cocaine to Mississippi for payment of $10,000 and bringing the currency back for the sale of the 19.52 kilograms of cocaine. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of cocaine and the harm it brings to individuals in the United States.
On Oct. 19, 2020, Reyes-Herrera arrived at the Sarita checkpoint close to midnight driving a tractor trailer. He told authorities he was driving to Houston to pick up a truck from an auction. Following a K-9 alert, law enforcement crawled underneath the tractor and observed handprints on the bolts that hold the rear differential in place. Reyes-Herrera denied knowledge of the 18 bundles of cocaine concealed in the hollow differential.
The estimated street value of the drugs is $500,000.
According to evidenced present at trial, Reyes-Herrera purchased truck insurance two hours prior to arriving at the checkpoint. He did not have valid travel logs for the trip and did not possess a valid commercial license.
Reyes-Herrera will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in
Three Individuals Sentenced for Soliciting Millions of Dollars in Contributions to Scam PACsRead the Press Release
Three individuals were sentenced for orchestrating and implementing a scheme to solicit millions of dollars in contributions to two political action committees (PACs) based on false and misleading representations that the funds would be used to support presidential candidates during and after the 2016 election cycle.
On April 24, Matthew Nelson Tunstall, 36, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Tunstall previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to cause false statements to the Federal Election Commission and one count of money laundering.
Robert Reyes Jr., 40, of San Juan Bautista, California, was sentenced today to seven years in prison. Reyes previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to cause false statements to the Federal Election Commission and one count of money laundering.
Kyle George Davies, 31, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced today to five years of probation. Davies previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to cause false statements to the Federal Election Commission.
According to court documents, from 2016 through at least April 2017, Tunstall, Reyes, and Davies operated two PACs – Liberty Action Group PAC and Progressive Priorities PAC – that solicited contributions from the public via robocalls and radio and internet advertisements. The two PACs represented that the contributions would be used to support the presidential nominees of the two major political parties, respectively. Instead, the co-conspirators used the funds to enrich themselves and to fund additional fraudulent solicitations. Specifically, the two PACs raised approximately $4 million in contributions during the 2016 election cycle and subsequent months.
To conceal the origin and nature of the proceeds, Tunstall and Reyes instructed a third-party vendor to withdraw approximately $353,000 from the two PACs in excess of the payments for services rendered, then deposit the excess payments into accounts held by shell companies that they controlled.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Antonio Field Office, Austin Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Michael N. Lang and Celia Choy of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Rebecca Schuman also contributed significantly to the investigation.
Texas Man Sentenced for Role in Scamming Seniors in Rhode Island and Elsewhere in Online Romance ScamsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Texas man who participated in a conspiracy that fraudulently used the identities and images of two United States military Generals, and others, to defraud seniors in at least eleven states, including Rhode Island, of at least $1.5 million through online romance scams, was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Fola Alabi, 52, of Richmond, Texas, previously admitted to a federal judge that he created companies and opened bank accounts that were used to launder the proceeds realized from the romance scams. According to court filings, the funds laundered by Alabi were often wired overseas to China and India.
According to information presented to the court, a member of the conspiracy befriended unsuspecting seniors online, often fraudulently posing as a General in the U.S. military who was serving overseas. The conspirator feigned a personal, and sometimes romantic, interest in his victims, and convinced them to send substantial sums of money, usually in the form of bank checks or cash, to addresses and companies in Texas that were controlled by Alabi. Alabi received the money and either deposited it or directed that it be deposited into one of several bank accounts that he controlled. He quickly withdrew or transferred the funds to other accounts, including some that were overseas, and used the funds to pay the mortgage of his house.
Among Alabi’s victims is a Rhode Island widow who was contacted by a member of the conspiracy falsely claiming to be a “General Miller,” a four-star General, who convinced the victim to provide $60,000 to finance shipment of his personal belongings to the United States. At the fraudster’s direction, a check was made payable a company created by Alabi and mailed to Alabi’s Texas residence. The victim was prepared to send an additional significant sum of money to the purported “General Miller,” when it was determined by her bank and the Westerly Police Department that she was likely the victim of fraud.
In brief victim impact statements delivered to the court, the two actual U.S. military Generals whose identities were used as part of the scheme acknowledged that they continue to be victimized by online romance scams through the use of their likeness and identities. One of the Generals urged seniors to be diligent and to be aware of the significant potential of being scammed.
Alabi, arrested in May 2022, pleaded guilty on January 13, 2023, to conspiracy and money laundering. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to thirty-seven months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release; pay restitution to identified victims of the romance scams totaling $1,495,421; and to forfeit funds contained in a bank account that he controlled containing $31,773, and to forfeit his Texas residence which was valued at the time of his arrest at $560,000.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Sara Miron Bloom.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Westerly, RI, and Prescott Valley, AZ, Police Departments; Texas Department of Public Safety; West Virginia State Police; the Santa Clara, CA, County District Attorney’s Office; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
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Taunton Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Toddler in His CareRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for sexually exploiting an 18-month-old toddler in his care and for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Cody Mercure, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 25 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release. In January 2023, Mercure pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography.
“It is challenging to find the words that capture just how abhorrent and destructive this conduct was. This man sexually exploited an innocent 18-month-old child – a defenseless toddler who, at the time, was still in diapers – and recorded the abuse to watch again and again for his own sick gratification,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Cases of child exploitation are among the most difficult yet most important prosecutions our office handles. My office remains relentless in our work to ensure the safety of our children, remove dangerous predators like Mr. Mercure from our communities, and seek justice for victims.”
“Mercure committed monstrous acts against a child and caused irrevocable pain in the lives of so many. We hope that today’s sentence offers resolution and peace for the victim and their family in this incredibly difficult time,” said Michael Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI works every day to uncover the abuse and exploitation of children and seek justice for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”
On Feb. 19, 2021, Mercure sexually abused a toddler in his care and video-recorded the abuse. Mercure also distributed numerous files of CSAM over the internet using a messaging application. On Jan. 16, 2021, Mercure distributed CSAM depicting the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child to another user of the messaging application. Hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography were stored on both of Mercure’s phones which were seized at the time of his arrest and in a cloud storage account. In April 2021, Mercure was arrested on related state charges, and he has been in custody since.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI Acting SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Rhode Island State Police and the Taunton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Southern Arizona Human Smuggling Coordinator Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Tyler Myers, 25, of Sierra Vista, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 3, 2023, in connection with his role as the coordinator for a human smuggling organization operating in the Tucson and Sierra Vista, Arizona area. Specifically, Myers pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit.
Between 2018 and 2022, Myers conspired to transport undocumented non-citizens for profit on at least 13 occasions. Myers utilized social media applications Snapchat and Telegram to recruit drivers and also to manage, supervise, and coordinate the smuggling, often in real time.
United States Border Patrol agents and Cochise County Sheriff’s officers arrested at least 44 undocumented non-citizens whose transportation in southern Arizona was connected to Myers’ role in the conspiracy.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.
Sentencing is set before United States District Judge Scott H. Rash on June 12, 2023.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-1144-TUC-SHR-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-061_Myers# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit Justice.gov/AZ
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.South Carolina Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Jeffrey Harmon, of Lexington, pleaded guilty after his jury trial had begun to two counts of filing false tax returns.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Harmon owned and operated TFL Worldwide, a tax preparation business through which he willfully prepared and filed returns for clients that claimed fraudulent deductions relating to, among other things, rent, utilities, meals, gifts, dues, and depreciation.
In his plea, Harmon admitted to filing a false 2012 tax return for himself and to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a 2016 tax return claiming false deductions for rent and depreciation for one of his clients. Harmon agreed that the total tax loss from his criminal conduct was approximately $320,000.
Harmon faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count. He also faces a period of court-ordered supervision, monetary penalties, and restitution. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted Harmon’s guilty plea and will determine any sentence after considering a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge Donald Trey Eakins of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
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Shiprock Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Courtney Frank made an initial appearance in federal court on an indictment charging her with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Frank, 19, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for April 27.
According to the indictment, on Sept. 28, 2022, Frank operated a motor vehicle without due caution and circumspection and with a wanton and reckless disregard for human life when she knew and should have known that her conduct imperiled the lives of others. Frank, who was driving drunk, crashed her car head-on into a car driven by a mother and son, killing the mother and injuring the son.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Frank faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Craig Foley, age 57, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to failing to update his sex offender registration. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.
Foley pled guilty to violating the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which requires a convicted sex offender to register, and keep that registration current, wherever he resides. As part of his guilty plea, Foley admitted that he was previously convicted of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree in Utica City Court, and because of that conviction was required to register as a sex offender. Foley further admitted that he moved from Pennsylvania to New York in or about November 2020 and, from then until he was arrested in this case, failed to register as a sex offender in New York or update his registration to reflect his place of residence.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2023 before District Court Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Foley faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between five years and life to begin after he is released from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshal Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sanostee Man Charged with Assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Melvin C. Smith was arraigned on an indictment charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Smith, 62, of Sanostee, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Smith on April 11. According to the indictment, on Oct. 6, 2022, Smith assaulted two victims, identified as John and Jane Doe, with a long wooden stick with the intent to cause bodily harm to both John and Jane Doe, doing so within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Smith faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Roseville Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Pornography Using AppRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pablo Ramos, 50, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to two counts of distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 1 and Sept. 3, 2020, Ramos used Kik Messenger to distribute multiple files containing child pornography.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin F. Scott and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case.
Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 8, 2023. For each count of conviction, Ramos faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and potentially a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Retired CHP Officer Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Timothy Allen Horwath, 53, formerly of Redding, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 25, 2019, and Oct. 10, 2019, Horwath knowingly received visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of his offense, Horwath was employed as a patrol officer by the California Highway Patrol. Horwath’s pretrial release was revoked on Feb. 24, 2023, after he violated his bond conditions by accessing the internet and using smart phones and tablet computers that he was prohibited from possessing. Horwath agreed to deposit $75,000 into the Court’s financial registry to be used to pay any court-ordered restitution to victims, assessments, and other financial penalties.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol’s Computer Crime Investigation Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case.
Horwath is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22, 2023, by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. Horwath faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution to the victims of the offense. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Reno Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Dealing Large Amount of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Chief Judge Miranda M. Du to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing a large amount of methamphetamine.
James Raymond Ellis, 53, also known as “Jimbo,” pleaded guilty in December 2022 to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and June 2021, Ellis sold over 4 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 firearms, including an AR-15, to confidential informants. On August 20, 2021, law enforcement seized approximately 12 pounds of methamphetamine from Ellis’ residence. The Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force arrested him that day in Reno. When Ellis was taken into custody, he had a 9mm pistol in his vehicle. Ellis has a prior felony conviction in Nevada for possession of a chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of members from the FBI, Reno Police Department, Nevada State Police, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
This effort was 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.
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Readout of U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Meeting with Ukraine Chief Justice Vsevolod KniazievRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with Ukraine Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev.
The Attorney General reaffirmed the Department’s steadfast commitment to accountability for Ukraine. Chief Justice Kniaziev thanked Attorney General Garland for the Justice Department’s support.
In the meeting, Chief Justice Kniaziev spoke about Ukraine’s justice system – the challenges posed by wartime conditions, his dedication to continuity of operations, and Ukraine’s ongoing implementation of justice sector reforms consistent with our countries’ shared democratic values that will deliver justice and uphold the rule of law. Both leaders discussed the need for openness and transparency in ensuring public trust in the judiciary and expanding access to justice, especially in those areas most affected by the war. Chief Justice Kniaziev and Attorney General Garland agreed on the importance of deepening U.S.-Ukraine cooperation to strengthen democracy and to build a judicial system that can provide justice for all, including victims of war crimes and other atrocities.
Also at the meeting was Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova.
U.S. Attorney General Garland with Ukrainian Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev and Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova U.S. Attorney General Garland with Ukrainian Chief Justice Vsevolod KniazievReadout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco’s Trip to California and ColoradoRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa O. Monaco traveled to San Francisco, California, and Aurora, Colorado this week to highlight the Justice Department’s forward-leaning approach to disrupting cyber threats and the weaponization of technology, and its efforts to root out sexual abuse at the Bureau of Prisons.
Deputy AG Monaco delivered an opening keynote at RSA Conference 2023, where she discussed the Justice Department’s pivot in its cyber strategy to prioritize near-term disruptions and victim protection. In a conversation moderated by Chris Krebs, the first director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Deputy AG emphasized that victim reporting has been integral to the success of disruptive law enforcement actions and stressed that true partnership involves the government and private industry working hand in hand, explaining: “We cannot get after these threats if we’re not working together.”
At the RSA Conference, Deputy AG Monaco also emphasized the Justice Department’s heightened focus on the emerging threat posed by adversaries abusing critical technology and data. Earlier in the day, she led a roundtable discussion, hosted by the Silverado Policy Accelerator, with legal, technology, and venture capital executives to discuss the Department’s partnership with private industry in these efforts, including through the newly created Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a multi-agency effort targeting illicit proliferation of critical technologies and hardening supply chains.
While in San Francisco, the Deputy AG also spoke at a gathering of cybersecurity officials from law enforcement agencies and governments around the world about the importance of strong cross-border collaboration to tackle the cyber threats of today and prepare for those of tomorrow.
In Colorado, Deputy AG Monaco addressed all wardens of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) during their first in-person training since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She commended the wardens for their dedication to BOP’s dual responsibility to provide safe and humane custodial conditions, and to ensure that those in custody return to their communities fully prepared to be good neighbors. The Deputy AG also echoed the importance of the BOP’s new mission statement announced today by Director Peters, which emphasizes safety, security, normalcy, and reentry.
Speaking during Sexual Assault Awareness month, the Deputy AG thanked the wardens for their commitment to the Department’s ongoing efforts to address sexual misconduct within the BOP. She stressed: “It is only by empowering Bureau officials, at every level, to report abuse; by setting a tone of respect and humanity from the top; by fostering a culture that does not tolerate even one instance of sexual abuse—only then can we make true progress in addressing this problem. Let me be clear: this is a top priority at the highest levels of the Department of Justice, and it must be a top priority for each of you.”
The Deputy AG also announced the creation of the Sexual Abuse Facility Evaluation & Review (SAFER) teams, which will visit women’s facilities in each of the BOP’s six regions to measure progress in implementing the more than 50 recommendations issued last November by a working group of senior Department officials reviewing the issue of sexual abuse at BOP facilities. The SAFER teams, comprised of members of the Department’s standing Advisory Group dedicated to the issue, will deploy over the coming weeks and engage directly with both BOP personnel and incarcerated individuals to ensure a safe environment for all.
Private Oklahoma City School Pays $354,000 to Settle Allegations of Submitting False Claims to Tricare for Services Provided to Students with AutismRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Good Shepherd Catholic School, Inc. (“GSCS”), paid $354,000 to settle civil claims by the United States stemming from allegations that GSCS submitted false claims to TRICARE for services provided to students with autism, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
GSCS is a non-profit private educational institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. TRICARE is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. GSCS serves students with autism and other neurological disorders. As part of its program, GSCS provides Applied Behavior Analysis therapy ("ABA") services to students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. GSCS submitted claims to TRICARE for providing ABA services to TRICARE beneficiaries. TRICARE requires that ABA services be delivered by a TRICARE authorized provider to a TRICARE beneficiary on a one-on-one basis.
The United States alleges that from May 13, 2013, to December 20, 2016, GSCS knowingly submitted false or fraudulent claims to TRICARE for providing ABA services to TRICARE beneficiaries. The claims were allegedly false or fraudulent because the ABA services were provided in a group setting and not on a one-on-one basis as required. To resolve the claims, GSCS agreed to pay $354,000 to the United States.
In reaching this settlement, GSCS did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.
Pharr man pleads guilty to exporting .50 caliber ammunitionRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 21-year-old Pharr resident has pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Pedro Cruz Almeida Jr. admitted to attempting to export .50 caliber tracer-equipped linked ammunition without a license to export.
On Feb. 3, Almeida was driving a red Hyundai Elantra, at which time authorities conducted a traffic stop.
A subsequent search led to the discovery of 600 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. Almeida admitted he intended to transfer the ammunition to an individual waiting at the Port of Entry driving a vehicle with a Tamaulipas, Mexico, license plate. In Mexico, he received cash to order the ammunition. Almeida admitted he ordered ammunition approximately 30 occasions over the past year.
On Feb. 9, agents subsequently seized an additional 300 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition postmarked to Almeida.
At the plea today, Almeida informed the court he was attending a local police academy at the time of his arrest.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 27. At that time, Almeida faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Almeida was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Brostowin is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
Pawtucket Man Admits to Being an Armed Heroin TraffickerRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man admitted to a federal judge on Monday that he was in possession of more than two kilos of fentanyl, a loaded Glock handgun, and nearly $80,000 in cash when Pawtucket Police executed a court-authorized search of his home and arrested him in October 2019, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Appearing in U.S. District Court, Adrian Montalvo, 36, pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to information presented to the court, members of the Pawtucket Police Department’s Special Squad /Narcotics Unit developed information that Montalvo, previously convicted multiple times in state courts for trafficking narcotics, was selling large quantities of fentanyl in the city of Pawtucket. Following an investigation that included surveillance of Montalvo and his residence, Pawtucket Police requested and received a court-authorized search warrant for his residence. Pawtucket Police executed the search warrant on October 1, 2019, and seized a total of 2,118.35 grams of fentanyl; $79,106 in cash; a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number; as well as several items used in the preparation and packaging of fentanyl for distribution.
Montalvo is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2023. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
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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Oklahoma City Man Charged with Setting Fire to Local ChurchRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, a criminal complaint was unsealed that charges OSCAR REYNALDO GOMEZ, 54, of Oklahoma City, with arson of the God of No Limits Church located at 7200 South Walker Avenue, in Oklahoma City, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Public records reflect that on April 23, 2023, Gomez was charged by criminal complaint with one count of arson. An affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that the Oklahoma City Fire Department was dispatched to the God of No Limits (GONL) Church in the early morning hours of April 17, 2023. Fire crews arrived and observed fire emanating from the GONL, which caused significant damage to its roof.
According to the affidavit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) identified Gomez as the person responsible for setting the fire and thereafter arrested him.
Yesterday, Gomez had his initial appearance on the complaint in federal court. The court ordered Gomez detained pending further proceedings in the case. If found guilty of arson, Gomez faces not less than five years and up to twenty years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the National Response Team for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Oklahoma City Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley J. West is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reference is made to public records for more information.
Oficial de inteligencia militar extranjero condenado por su papel en un concierto internacional de narcotráficoRead the Press Release
Un ex oficial colombiano de inteligencia militar fue condenado hoy a una pena de 12 años de prisión por su participación en un concierto para distribuir cocaína para su importación a Estados Unidos.
De acuerdo con documentos judiciales, desde agosto de 2017 hasta abril de 2018, Fabián Humberto Tovar Caicedo, de 41 años, un sargento del Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército Nacional de Colombia, ayudó a una organización de narcotráfico y concertó para enviar cargamentos de miles de kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a México para su importación final a Estados Unidos. Entre otros servicios corruptos que Tovar Caicedo ofrecía a la organización de narcotráfico, se incluyen la colocación en el puerto de Santa Marta de policías dispuestos a facilitar la exportación de cocaína a cambio de remuneración; la sugerencia de utilizar los mismos teléfonos que la DEA usa para seguridad; la puesta a disposición de su experiencia militar para encriptar dichos teléfonos para seguridad adicional y el intento de venderle una lista de cooperadores de la DEA a la organización de narcotráfico.
Tovar Caicedo coordinó múltiples reuniones en apoyo del ardid para distribuir la cocaína. Él y sus cómplices concertaron para enviar múltiples cargamentos, que comenzaron en unos 1.000 kilogramos y alcanzaron hasta 10.000 kilogramos de cocaína por cargamento. Según la declaración de los hechos, un miembro de la organización de narcotráfico viajó a México para negociar la entrega de la cocaína con un oficial de alto rango de las fuerzas armadas de México.
Uno de los cómplices de Tovar Caicedo, Fabián Andrés Leyton Vargas, se aprovechaba de su cargo como oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de Colombia del Ministerio de Defensa de Colombia para identificar a funcionarios de seguridad y del orden público en el puerto de Santa Marta y comunicarse con ellos para sobornarlos. Una vez que dichos funcionarios recibían sus pagos corruptos, ellos aseguraban que los contenedores contaminados con cocaína pasaran por el puerto sin inspeccionarse. Empleando este método, Leyton Vargas, junto con los cómplices Antonio Aldemar Ávila Acevedo y José Mauricio Castañeda Garzón, intentaron enviar 1,773 kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a Guatemala en ruta hacia Estados Unidos en julio de 2017, así como 2,081 kilogramos de cocaína de Colombia a México en ruta hacia Estados Unidos en marzo de 2018. Las fuerzas del orden público colombianas incautaron ambos cargamentos antes de que pudieran salir del puerto.
Un acusado en una causa relacionada, José María Fragoso D’Acunti, aprovechándose de su cargo anterior con la Policía Nacional de Colombia, además de conexiones personales, identificó y sobornó a funcionarios de seguridad y del orden público en el puerto de Cartagena en Colombia, para apoyar al tráfico de cocaína por parte de su organización. Fragoso D’Acunti y sus cómplices planearon traficar cocaína en cantidades de cientos de kilogramos, con un valor de millones de dólares estadounidenses, a Europa, al causar que dicha cocaína se ocultara a bordo de contendores comerciales de embarque. En noviembre de 2018, en el puerto de Savannah, Georgia, las autoridades del orden público de EE. UU. incautaron 516 kilogramos de cocaína enviados de Cartagena por la organización de narcotráfico de Fragoso D’Acunti, en ruta a Amberes, Bélgica. La cocaína se había mezclado con piñas en un contendor de embarque. En diciembre de 2018, de nuevo en el puerto de Savannah, Georgia, las autoridades del orden público de EE. UU. incautaron otros 205 kilogramos de cocaína enviados de Cartagena por la organización de narcotráfico de Fragoso D’Acunti, también en ruta a Bélgica. La cocaína se había mezclado con limas en un contendor de embarque. En apoyo del concierto, Fragoso D’Acunti pagó mil millones de pesos colombianos, lo cual equivale a más de $300,000 dólares estadounidenses, de soborno a un oficial de seguridad portuaria.
Fragoso D’Acunti, Fabián Andrés Leyton Vargas y Antonio Aldemar Ávila Acevedo fueron condenados a 12 años de prisión. El cómplice José Mauricio Castañeda Garzón fue condenado a siete años y cuatro meses de prisión.
Las Fuerzas de Tarea contra la Delincuencia Organizada y los Delitos Asociados al Narcotráfico (OCDETF, por sus siglas en inglés) apoyó estas causas. OCDETF identifica, interrumpe y desarticula a organizaciones delictivas transnacionales, pandillas, narcotraficantes y lavadores de dinero de gran envergadura que amenazan a los Estados Unidos, mediante una estrategia multiinstitucional, dirigida por fiscales y basada en inteligencia, la cual moviliza el potencial de los organismos de seguridad federales, estatales y locales en contra de redes criminales.
El fiscal general auxiliar Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, la fiscal de EE. UU. para el Distrito Este de Virginia Jessica D. Aber y el agente especial a cargo de la División de la DEA en Louisville (estado de Kentucky) J. Todd Scott hicieron el anuncio.
La División de la DEA en Louisville y la Oficina de la DEA en Cartagena investigaron el caso, con cuantiosa asistencia de la Unidad de Explotación de Documentos y de los Medios de la Oficina de Inteligencia Especial de la DEA; y la Unidad de Investigaciones Bilaterales de la División de Operaciones Especiales, además de las oficinas de la DEA en Bogotá, Panamá, Ciudad de Guatemala, San José (Costa Rica), Bruselas, Ciudad de México, Madrid, Fráncfort, Londres, París, Roma, La Haya, Viena, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Savannah, Detroit, Tampa – PANEX y Nueva Orleans. El Centro Nacional de Identificación de Objetivos de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglés) también brindó cuantiosa asistencia. La Policía Nacional de Colombia, la Policía Federal de Bélgica, el Zolfahndungsamt de Alemania, la Policía Nacional de los Países Bajos y la Guardia di Finanza de Italia también brindaron asistencia clave.
Los fiscales litigantes Douglas Meisel y Janet Turnbull de la Unidad de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas (NDDS, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar de EE. UU. Anthony T. Aminoff del Distrito Este de Virginia procesaron la causa.
Los fiscales litigantes de NDDS Meisel y Teresita Mutton y el fiscal auxiliar de EE. UU. Aminoff del Distrito Este de Virginia están procesando la causa contra Fragoso D’Acunti.
Los fiscales auxiliares de EE. UU. Aminoff (entonces de la NDDS), Katie Rumbaugh y Dave Peters para el Distrito Este de Virginia procesaron la causa contra Leyton Vargas, Ávila Acevedo y Castañeda Garzón.
La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia y la Agregaduría Judicial en la Embajada de EE. UU. en Bogotá brindaron cuantiosa ayuda para lograr la detención y extradición de los acusados.
New York Lawyers and Doctor Sentenced for Defrauding New York City-Area Businesses and Their Insurance Companies of More Than $31 Million Through Massive Trip-And-Fall Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that attorneys GEORGE CONSTANTINE and MARC ELEFANT and orthopedic surgeon ANDREW DOWD were sentenced yesterday and today for their participation in a massive trip-and-fall fraud scheme between 2013 and 2018. CONSTANTINE and DOWD, who were convicted at trial in December 2022 of mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, were each sentenced to 102 months in prison. ELEFANT, who pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein imposed all three sentences.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “George Constantine, Andrew Dowd, and Marc Elefant abused their professional licenses and degrees and exploited some of the most vulnerable members of society – many of whom were poor, drug addicts, or homeless – in order to enrich themselves through this egregious trip-and-fall fraud scheme. As officers of the court, Constantine and Elefant had a duty to honestly represent their clients and uphold the rule of law. Instead, they filed hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits that were filled with lies and stole millions of dollars from small businesses and insurance companies. Likewise, Dowd, as a medical doctor, took an oath to do no harm. But motivated by pure greed, Dowd performed hundreds of medically unnecessary surgeries, earning thousands of dollars per surgery. These sentences send a clear message to all who chose to engage in fraud – no matter their professional title or degree – that they will be held accountable.”
According to the Indictment, the evidence presented in court during trial, and other statements made during court proceedings:
Between 2013 and 2018, CONSTANTINE, ELEFANT, and DOWD, among others, engaged in an extensive fraud scheme (the “Fraud Scheme” or “Scheme”), through which Scheme participants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging trip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged trip-and-fall accidents. CONSTANTINE and ELEFANT were personal injury lawyers involved in the Scheme, while DOWD was an orthopedic surgeon.
Fraud Scheme participants recruited individuals (the “Patients”) to stage or falsely claim to have suffered trip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout the New York City area (the “Accident Sites”). In the course of the Fraud Scheme, Scheme participants recruited more than 400 Patients. Members of the Fraud Scheme often recruited Patients who were extremely poor. For example, it was common for Patients to ask for food when they would appear for their intake meetings with the lawyers. Many of the Patients did not have sufficient clothing to keep them warm during the winter and had poor quality shoes. Members of the Fraud Scheme also recruited Patients who were drug addicts, and it was common for Scheme participants to recruit Patients from homeless shelters in New York City.
In the beginning, Scheme participants would instruct Patients to claim they had tripped and fallen at a particular location, when in fact, the Patients had suffered no such accidents. Eventually, at the direction of the lawyers who filed fraudulent lawsuits on behalf of the Patients, Scheme participants began to instruct Patients to stage trip-and-fall accidents, i.e., to go to a location and deliberately fall. Common Accident Sites used during the Fraud Scheme included cellar doors, cracks in concrete sidewalks, and purported “potholes.”
After the staged trip-and-fall accidents, Patients were referred to specific attorneys, including CONSTANTINE and ELEFANT, who would file personal injury lawsuits (the “Fraudulent Lawsuits”) against the owners of the Accident Sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the “Victims”). The Fraudulent Lawsuits did not disclose that the Patients had deliberately fallen at the Accident Sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all. During the course of the Fraud Scheme, the defendants, together with others, attempted to defraud the Victims of more than $31,000,000. CONSTANTINE personally filed nearly 200 Fraudulent Lawsuits and earned more than $5 million dollars in settlement fees from these fraudulent cases. ELEFANT likewise filed nearly 200 Fraudulent Lawsuits and earned millions of dollars in settlement fees.
The Patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors, including DOWD. The Fraud Scheme participants advised the Patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery, which was critical to boosting the value of any potential settlement. Patients generally were told to undergo two surgeries. Fraud Scheme participants looked for doctors, like DOWD, who were willing to perform surgeries, even when others would not. During the course of the Scheme, DOWD performed nearly 300 medically unnecessary surgeries and earned more than $3.2 million dollars. DOWD received approximately $10,000 per surgery.
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In addition to their prison terms, CONSTANTINE, 60, of Plainview, New York, DOWD, 67, of Miller Place, New York, and ELEFANT, 50, of Woodmere, New York, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release. CONSTANTINE was further ordered to pay $4,774,709 in forfeiture. DOWD was further ordered to pay $2,900,905 in forfeiture. ELEFANT was further ordered to pay $955,281.54 in forfeiture. Restitution will be decided by the Court within 90 days of today’s sentencings.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Chiuchiolo, Nicholas Folly, Danielle Kudla, and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Money Laundering to Promote Sanctions Violations by Associate of Sanctioned Russian OligarchRead the Press Release
A New York attorney pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to make approximately $3.8 million in U.S. dollar payments to maintain six real properties in the United States that were owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned oligarch.
According to court documents, Robert Wise of Pelham, New York, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Wise also agreed to forfeit more than $3.7 million and to be satisfied by a payment of $210,441. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.
According to the allegations in the information filed in Manhattan federal court today and other public filings:
On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Vekselberg as a Specially Designated National (SDN) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. On or about March 11, 2022, OFAC redesignated Vekselberg as an SDN and blocked Vekselberg’s yacht and private airplane.
Prior to his designation by OFAC, between approximately 2008 and 2017, Vekselberg, through a series of shell companies, acquired six real properties in the United States, specifically, (i) two apartments on Park Avenue in New York, New York, (ii) an estate in Southampton, New York, (iii) two apartments on Fisher Island, Florida, and (iv) a penthouse apartment also on Fisher Island, Florida (collectively, the Properties). As of the date of this information, the Properties were worth approximately $75 million.
Voronchenko, Vekselberg’s longtime associate, retained Wise, an attorney who practiced in New York, New York, to assist in the acquisition of the Properties. Wise also managed the finances of the Properties, including by paying common charges, property taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees associated with the Properties in U.S. dollar transactions from Wise’s interest on lawyer’s trust account (IOLTA account).
In particular, prior to Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, between approximately February 2009 and March 2018, shell companies owned by Vekselberg sent approximately 90 wire transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million to the IOLTA account. At the direction of Voronchenko and his family member who lived in Russia, Wise used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties.
Immediately after Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, the source of the funds used to maintain and service the Properties changed. The IOLTA Account began to receive wires from a bank account in the Bahamas held in the name of a shell company controlled by Voronchenko, Smile Holding Ltd., and from a Russian bank account held in the name of a Russian national who was related to Voronchenko. Between approximately June 2018 and March 2022, approximately 25 wire transfers totaling approximately $3.8 million were sent to WISE’s IOLTA account. Although the source of the payments changed, the management of the payments remained the same as before: Wise used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties, and he did so knowing that he was promoting sanctions violations. Additionally, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018, Voronchenko, Wise, and others tried to sell both the Park Avenue apartment and the Southampton estate. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for these payments or attempted transfers.
An indictment charging co-conspirator Vladimir Voronchenko, aka Vladimir Vorontchenko, who is a fugitive, was unsealed on Feb. 7. A civil forfeiture complaint was filed against the Properties on Feb. 24.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, and OFAC provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Joshua A. Naftalis, and Sheb Swett for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Money Laundering to Promote Sanctions Violations by Associate of Sanctioned Russian OligarchRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Andrew C. Adams, the Director of Task Force KleptoCapture, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ROBERT WISE, a New York attorney, pled guilty to participating in a scheme to make approximately $3.8 million in U.S. dollar payments to maintain six real properties in the United States that were owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned oligarch. WISE pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said “With today’s guilty plea, Robert Wise has admitted that he misused his position of trust as a lawyer, laundering money to promote sanctions violations by Viktor Vekselberg’s longtime associate, Vladimir Voronchenko. This Office is proud to continue its work to enforce the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.”
Director of Task Force KleptoCapture Andrew C. Adams said: “From its inception, the Task Force has targeted those enablers of money laundering and sanctions evasion who aim to hide crime behind a veneer of professionalism. Admission to the bar carries with it a public trust that attorneys will act with honesty and integrity – a trust that Robert Wise chose to betray in exchange for an easy, illicit paycheck. The Task Force will continue to pursue those who have made the same poor decision.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The ill-gotten proceeds of Russia’s oligarchs do not move and hide themselves. Instead, the funds derived from Russia’s crony capitalism are secreted around the world in luxury assets by a professional class of enablers who specialize in secretive methods to shield the true owners and beneficiaries of the assets from detection, investigation, and enforcement. Today, working with our partners at the Department of Justice, HSI continues to fulfill our promise to hold all individuals accountable for their actions, especially those that betray their ethical codes.”
According to the allegations in the Information filed in Manhattan federal court today and other public filings:
On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Vekselberg as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. On or about March 11, 2022, OFAC redesignated Vekselberg as an SDN and blocked Vekselberg’s yacht and private airplane.
Prior to his designation by OFAC, between approximately 2008 and 2017, Vekselberg, through a series of shell companies, acquired six real properties in the United States, specifically, (i) two apartments on Park Avenue in New York, New York, (ii) an estate in Southampton, New York, (iii) two apartments on Fisher Island, Florida, and (iv) a penthouse apartment also on Fisher Island, Florida (collectively, “the Properties”). As of the date of this Information, the Properties were worth approximately $75 million.
Voronchenko, Vekselberg’s longtime associate, retained WISE, an attorney who practiced in New York, New York, to assist in the acquisition of the Properties. WISE also managed the finances of the Properties, including by paying common charges, property taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees associated with the Properties in U.S. dollar transactions from WISE’s interest on lawyer’s trust account (“IOLTA account”).
In particular, prior to Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, between approximately February 2009 and March 2018, shell companies owned by Vekselberg sent approximately 90 wire transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million to the IOLTA account. At the direction of Voronchenko and his family member who lived in Russia, WISE used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties.
Immediately after Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, the source of the funds used to maintain and service the Properties changed. The IOLTA Account began to receive wires from a bank account in the Bahamas held in the name of a shell company controlled by Voronchenko, Smile Holding Ltd., and from a Russian bank account held in the name of a Russian national who was related to Voronchenko. Between approximately June 2018 and March 2022, approximately 25 wire transfers totaling approximately $3.8 million were sent to WISE’s IOLTA account. Although the source of the payments changed, the management of the payments remained the same as before: WISE used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties, and he did so knowing that he was promoting sanctions violations. Additionally, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018, Voronchenko, WISE, and others tried to sell both the Park Avenue apartment and the Southampton estate. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for these payments or attempted transfers.
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WISE, of Pelham, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. WISE also agreed to entry of a forfeiture order in the amount of $3,771,727.67, to be satisfied by a payment of $210,441.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
An Indictment charging co-conspirator Vladimir Voronchenko, a/k/a “Vladimir Vorontchenko,” who is a fugitive, was unsealed on February 7, 2023. A civil forfeiture complaint was filed against the Properties on February 24, 2023.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of HSI and FBI. Mr. Williams further thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs and OFAC for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.
On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Task Force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Joshua A. Naftalis, and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, SHAWN BREAUX, age 29, resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to a two-count indictment for federal weapons violations, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans . BREAUX’s sentencing is set for August 16, 2023.
In Count 1 of the indictment, BREAUX is charged with illegally possessing firearms as a felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). If convicted, BREAUX faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. Count 2 of the indictment charges BREAUX with being in possession of a machine gun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). If convicted, BREAUX faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each count, BREAUX faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 6 years in Federal Prison for Mail Theft, Identity Theft and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARQUIS WILLIAMS, 46, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for operating a mail theft, identity theft, and bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least 2018 through November 2019, Williams and his then-girlfriend, Dara Morrison, stole mail from hundreds of residential mailboxes in Connecticut. The mail pieces contained checks, driver’s licenses, passports, social security cards, banking information, and other personally identifying information from businesses and individuals throughout Connecticut, including elderly nursing home residents. Williams and Morrison used stolen identities to produce fake identification, and then used the fake identification to cash or deposit stolen checks. Williams and Morrison also used the stolen checks to create additional, forged copies of checks that they then cashed or deposited into accounts they opened using stolen identities. Morrison also used and attempted to use stolen credit cards.
Williams was arrested on November 14, 2019. In association with his arrest, investigators searched his residence and vehicles and found numerous drivers’ licenses and identification cards with photographs of Williams or Morrison, but with different names and addresses; multiple passports, social security cards, drivers’ licenses, and other documents in the names of victims; approximately 50 debit and credit cards in the names of victims; notebooks containing handwritten identifying information of victims; approximately 130 checks, some showing signs of alteration, written from and to potential victims; items used to alter checks and make false identifications; and trash bags filled with stolen mail.
More than 70 bank fraud victims were identified during the investigation.
Judge Bryant ordered Williams to pay $116,152.26 in restitution to his victims.
On May 19, 2022, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Morrison pleaded guilty to the same offense. On April 18, 2023, after Morrison had been detained for approximately 37 months, Judge Bryant sentenced her to time served.
Williams’ and Morrison’s criminal histories include prior federal convictions for similar crimes. In 2002, Williams was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment for conspiracy, identity fraud and credit card fraud offenses.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the Hamden, Wallingford, Waterford, Guilford, and Old Saybrook Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Oakes and Hal Chen.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorneys for the Judicial Districts of New Haven, Fairfield, Middlesex, Ansonia/Milford, New London, Norwich, and Stamford/Norwalk for their cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 888-USPS-OIG or by visiting https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint.
New Haven Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRIQ MARTIN, 22, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a court-authorized search of Martin’s Snapchat account in the spring of 2022 revealed numerous photos and videos of Martin in possession of firearms. On June 15, 2022, New Haven Police arrested Martin in the area of Ferry Street and Chatham Street on an outstanding state warrant for firearm and narcotics offenses. At the time of his arrest, Martin possessed a loaded Polymer 80 privately made firearm. A subsequent search of the car Martin was seen driving revealed 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
In July 2021, Martin was convicted in state court of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, stemming from the shooting of two victims, for which he was sentenced to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after 16 months, and three years of probation.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Martin has been detained since his arrest. On January 9, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow in state court on related charges.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Rahul Kale through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Six YearsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –Taylor Melton Addington, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on April 13, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to six years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Addington also was ordered to pay a $5,000.00 fine. Addington pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In September 2019, Addington sold approximately four pounds of methamphetamine to undercover government agents at his auto shop in Phoenix. In the weeks that followed, Addington negotiated with an undercover agent to provide an additional 100 pounds of methamphetamine, which the parties agreed would be delivered to a location in Washington State. While the transaction was being negotiated, Addington sent the attached photo to the undercover agent of a partial shipment of the drugs.
Addington was arrested on October 23, 2019, in Oak Harbor, Washington, when he delivered 50 pounds of methamphetamine, as the first part of the 100-pound transaction, to the undercover agent.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Stefani K. Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR19-03120-TUC-JGZ (MSA)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-059_Addington# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Lead Man Sentenced for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Lead, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 14, 2023.
William Jacob Stone, 73, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Stone was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in September of 2021. He pleaded guilty on December 16, 2022.
Between March 2020 and June 2021, Stone used the internet to download visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He then used Adobe PhotoShop software and his Apple iPad to superimpose naked images of himself sexually abusing the child pornography images he had downloaded, as well as clothed photos of local children known to Stone through his decades-long career as a school bus driver. This conduct was brought to the attention of law enforcement through a Cybertip sent by Adobe to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox Sazama prosecuted the case.
Stone was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Bank Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing a spree of bank robberies on the same day.
Jasmine Bernard Austion (35) pleaded guilty in January 2023 to three counts of bank robbery.
According to court documents, on October 26, 2021, Austion entered a bank in North Las Vegas and passed a note to the teller. The note read “$20,000 all money robbery got gun now.” Bank employees told Austion they were calling 911 and he fled the bank. He then ran across the street and entered a second bank. He pushed an elderly customer away from a teller window and demanded money from the teller. The teller refused and Austion fled from the bank. A short time later, Austion entered a third bank and passed a note to a teller. The note read “I will harm people all money all drawers.” After the teller refused to give Austion money, he banged a fire extinguisher against the barrier in an attempt to break into the teller area. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT responded and arrested Austion.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Bianca Pucci prosecuted the case.
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Keene Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business That Facilitated ScamsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Keene woman was sentenced in federal court for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Aria DiMezzo, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release. DiMezzo was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, and to forfeit 1.93 bitcoin and more than $14,000 in U.S. currency.
“The defendant’s unlicensed bitcoin business allowed scammers of all kinds to obtain their victims’ money anonymously,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The sentence today sends an important message that those who sell bitcoin, like other money exchangers, must register and comply with the rules meant to ensure that these businesses are not used to facilitate frauds.”
Between June 2020 and January 2021, DiMezzo charged a fee to exchange fiat currency (mostly U.S. dollars) for virtual currency. DiMezzo recruited customers on websites, including localbitcoins.com. Her customers sent money to her through bank accounts in her name, and in the name of an organization she created, the Reformed Satanic Church. DiMezzo then sent customers bitcoin or other virtual currency in return. DiMezzo also worked with Ian Freeman, selling virtual currency to customers that Freeman recruited, and she paid Freeman a percentage of the profits from the sales. A federal jury found Freeman guilty of money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, and tax evasion, on December 22, 2023. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2023.
DiMezzo sold more than $3 million worth of virtual currency through her business. DiMezzo did not register her business as a money transmitting business and she did not comply with any of the various regulations imposed on money transmitting businesses. For example, DiMezzo never filed currency transaction reports for transactions over $10,000 or suspicious activity reports for transactions over $2,000 that may have involved funds derived from illegal activity, among other things.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team provided substantial assistance in the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John J. Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe.
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Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Joins Officials from CFPB, EEOC and FTC Pledging to Confront Bias and Discrimination in Artificial IntelligenceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) jointly pledged today to uphold America’s commitment to the core principles of fairness, equality and justice as emerging automated systems, including those sometimes marketed as “artificial intelligence” or “AI,” become increasingly common in our daily lives – impacting civil rights, fair competition, consumer protection and equal opportunity.
“As social media platforms, banks, landlords, employers and other businesses that choose to rely on artificial intelligence, algorithms and other data tools to automate decision-making and to conduct business, we stand ready to hold accountable those entities that fail to address the discriminatory outcomes that too often result,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This is an all hands on deck moment and the Justice Department will continue to work with our government partners to investigate, challenge and combat discrimination based on automated systems.”
“Technology marketed as AI has spread to every corner of the economy, and regulators need to stay ahead of its growth to prevent discriminatory outcomes that threaten families’ financial stability,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Today’s joint statement makes it clear that the CFPB will work with its partner enforcement agencies to root out discrimination caused by any tool or system that enables unlawful decision making.”
“We have come together to make clear that the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, must be consistent with federal laws,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “America’s workplace civil rights laws reflect our most cherished values of justice, fairness and opportunity, and the EEOC has a solemn responsibility to vigorously enforce them in this new context. We will continue to raise awareness on this topic; to help educate employers, vendors and workers; and where necessary, to use our enforcement authorities to ensure AI does not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination.”
“We already see how AI tools can turbocharge fraud and automate discrimination, and we won’t hesitate to use the full scope of our legal authorities to protect Americans from these threats,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “Technological advances can deliver critical innovation – but claims of innovation must not be cover for lawbreaking. There is no AI exemption to the laws on the books, and the FTC will vigorously enforce the law to combat unfair or deceptive practices or unfair methods of competition.”
In the statement, the agencies reaffirmed that their existing legal authorities apply equally to the use of new technologies as they do to any other conduct. The joint statement summarizes recent accomplishments, including policy guidance and enforcement actions, the agencies have taken to combat illegal behavior committed through the use of automated systems. The joint statement also explains common problems related to automated systems, including when those systems rely on data and datasets which incorporate historical bias, that many automated systems are “black boxes” whose internal workings are not clear to most people and that the design of automated systems may not fully contemplate their ultimate use.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work to uphold and protect civil and constitutional rights is available online at justice.gov/crt. Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division through its internet reporting portal at civilrights.justice.gov.
Jeffrey Dean Biddle Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, announced that Jeffery Dean Biddle was sentenced to life in prison. Biddle, 42, of Deming, pleaded guilty on Oct. 26 to production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, and enticement and attempted enticement of a minor.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, in 2021, Biddle, a registered sex offender, started a conversation with a minor victim he met through Facebook. The conversation eventually moved to text messages and Biddle coerced the victim to take pornographic photos to send to him. Biddle specifically requested “naked” pictures and asked for nude photographs approximately 24 times. During these text exchanges, Biddle also sent the victim nude photographs of himself.
Biddle had entered into a global plea agreement where he also agreed to plead guilty in state court to multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration in the First Degree (Child under 13), and Criminal Sexual Penetration in the Second Degree (Child under 13). That conduct involved Biddle’s sexual abuse of an 18-month-old child. On December 5, 2022, Biddle pled guilty in state court and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. When Biddle was originally arrested on those charges, he admitted to molesting at least eleven children, most of whom were under the age of five.
“This sentence was eminently fitting, given the abhorrent acts committed against innocent and vulnerable children,” said Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge for HSI El Paso. “This case demonstrates once again how producing child pornography and abuse can go hand-in-hand. For that reason, child exploitation investigations are a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations, and we will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to hold devious sexual predators accountable for their actions.”
“One child is too many. Eleven is unspeakable. Today, the Court imposed the only sentence which will ensure this serial child molester will never add another name to his terrible list,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “This case highlights what is possible when local, state, and federal agencies team up to relentlessly pursue sexual predators who seek to harm our most vulnerable population.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Las Cruces District Office, New Mexico State Police, the Deming Police Department, Luna County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial District as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program is a nationwide network of task forces including over 90 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in New Mexico dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to Internet crimes against children.
Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Houstonian ordered to prison following HPD officer shootingRead the Press Release
HOUSTON ‐ A 24-year-old Pasadena man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of firearm and drug trafficking offenses related to his role in the shooting of a Houston Police Department (HPD) officer, announced U.S. Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jimmy Caston Bryan pleaded guilty Oct. 13, 2022, to possessing with intent to distribute meth and to carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal handed Bryan a 100-month term of imprisonment for drug trafficking meth. He also received 120 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 220-month prison term will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Bryan’s lengthy criminal history and the violent nature of the offense.
“Almost a year ago, Bryan, a known drug trafficker, shot an HPD officer during a traffic stop,” said Hamdani. “That cruel act carries severe consequences, especially in the federal system, and today’s 220-month prison sentence reflects those consequences.”
At the time of his plea, Bryan admitted that on May 4, 2022, he fired multiple shots at an HPD officer near 14300 Gulf Freeway.
Bryan previously trafficked narcotics in the Houston area, had possessed meth and was believed to be in the possession of multiple firearms. On May 4, 2022, authorities conducted a traffic stop, at which time two HPD officers approached Bryan’s truck and requested identifying information.
Bryan did not comply which led law enforcement to ask him to step out of the vehicle. As one officer opened Bryan’s door, Bryan quickly reached into his waistband and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun.
At the time of his plea, Bryan also admitted he shot and struck the other HPD officer twice - once in the chest and once in the right hip.
Both officers returned gunfire and struck Bryan.
A search of Bryan’s vehicle revealed over 48 grams of meth, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, a digital scale and two additional handguns.
Bryan has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, HPD, Texas Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.
Hammond Man Charged in Federal Arson CaseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TERRENCE COE, age 29, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was charged by a federal grand jury in a one-count indictment with arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, on or about December 24, 2022, COE, maliciously damaged and destroyed by means of fire, the building, known as Walmart, located at 2799 W. Thomas Street in Hammond, Louisiana. If convicted, COE faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, and the Hammond Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Greensburg Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Westmoreland County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison and three years' supervised release on his conviction of being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Dale Kuhn, age 75, of Greensburg, PA 15601. Kuhn was also ordered to forfeit multiple firearms and ammunition to the United States.
According to information presented to the court, on or about Feb. 19, 2021, Kuhn, previously convicted of a felony, did knowingly possess 32 firearms. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez-Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Kuhn.
Georgia Man Indicted for Scheme to Defraud Elderly Suffolk County Victim of More Than $5 MillionRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging Odera Odabi, a resident of Georgia, with conspiring to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Odabi was arrested today in Georgia and made his initial appearance in federal court in Atlanta where he was ordered detained pending trial. Odabi will be arraigned in federal court in Central Islip at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.
“Odabi and his co-conspirators callously abused the trust of an elderly victim to line their pockets with millions in stolen cash,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our partners will work tirelessly to ensure that those who prey upon some of the most vulnerable members of our community are called to account for their crimes.”
“As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators took advantage of an elderly individual, deceiving the victim into sending more than five million dollars, which the schemers used for their own personal benefit. Financial frauds targeting elderly members of our communities are sadly rising at an alarming rate. The FBI is resolute in ensuring those who financially exploit the elderly face the consequences in the criminal justice system,” stated Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
As alleged in the Indictment and in court filings and proceedings, between approximately April 2020 and December 2021, Odabi and his co-conspirators falsely informed an elderly Suffolk County resident (John Doe) that he needed to send around $5.3 million to various bank accounts in order to obtain a purported “Certificate of Origination” from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and claim a purported inheritance in Singapore. In fact, the IMF does not issue such Certificates and has posted a warning on its website alerting the public to fraudulent schemes involving purported IMF certificates.
As a result of the false communications, John Doe sent Odabi and his co-conspirators approximately $5.3 million, including approximately $2 million to accounts held in the name of Oh-Dabi Properties, LLC and American Commodity Exchange, Inc., two Georgia-based companies that Odabi operated. Ultimately, Odabi and his co-conspirators stole nearly all of John Doe’s funds to benefit themselves, including through purchases at an Apple Store and Louis Vuitton, except for $197,000 that was frozen by bank officials on suspicion of fraud.
If convicted of the charges in the Indictment, Odabi faces up to a maximum term of 40 years’ imprisonment.
If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York conducts presentations by Assistant U.S. Attorneys about ways to protect yourself and your community against scams, especially those targeting seniors. To request a presentation please email [email protected].
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ODERA ODABI (also known as “Chief Odera Odabi”)
Age: 54
Lawrenceville, GeorgiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-169 (JS)
Fremont Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Crimes in Scheme to Avoid Millions of Dollars in Income TaxesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE –Roger Chi Quan, pleaded guilty to crimes related to a scheme to underreport his 2017 business income by over $4 million, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Kareem Carter, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS - Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office. The guilty plea was accepted by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, United States District Court.
Quan, 55, of Milpitas, Calif., owned and operated QXQ, Inc. (“QXQ”), a manufacturer of circuit board test fixtures based in Fremont, Calif. QXQ shipped its products to customers in the United States and Asia. According to his plea agreement, Quan admitted that since before 2014, QXQ maintained two sets of QuickBooks bookkeeping files. One set of books recorded sales to customers in the United States and all QXQ’s expenses. The second set of books recorded sales to customers in Asia. Quan directed QXQ’s customers in Asia to wire transfer their payments to QXQ’s bank accounts in New Zealand. Quan admitted that he retained an income tax preparer but provided the preparer only with the QuickBooks bookkeeping file that recorded QXQ’s sales to customers in the United States and all of its expenses. Further, Quan acknowledged he knowingly did not provide his income tax return preparer with, or disclose to the tax preparer the existence of, the bookkeeping file that recorded QXQ’s sales to customers in Asia or the statements from his and QXQ’s foreign bank accounts. Quan agreed his actions caused his 2017 federal income taxes to be underreported by $1,783,339.
The plea agreement contains further details of the scheme. For example, Quan admitted that he had signature authority over at least eleven foreign bank accounts in 2017. One of these accounts held a balance of at least $12,137,288.50 on April 15, 2018. Quan admitted that he knowingly did not report the existence of these accounts as required. For example, Quan was required to report the existence of the accounts on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Quan also did not report the interest earned in foreign bank accounts to his tax return preparer.
On March 27, 2023, Quan was charged by felony information with one count each of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2), and willfully violating foreign bank account reporting requirements, in violation of 31 U.S.C. §§ 5314 and 5322(a). Quan pleaded guilty to both counts.
Judge Davila scheduled Quan’s sentencing for September 25, 2023. The maximum penalty for willfully violating foreign bank account reporting requirements, in violation of Title 31 U.S.C. §§ 5314 and 5322(a), is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for filing a false tax return, in violation of Title 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2), is three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Quan agreed to pay $8,167,733 of restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for the tax years 2014 through 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Sampson is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation International Tax and Financial Crimes (ITFC), a group dedicated to investigating international tax crimes.
Former Union President Ordered to Serve Probation and Pay Restitution for Embezzling Union FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Crystal R. Mathis, the former president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1812, was sentenced to 12 months, suspended, and three years of probation for embezzling funds from the union. The sentence was announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Mark Wheeler, Director of the Washington District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Mathis, 51, of Cheverly, Maryland, pleaded guilty in February 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of first-degree theft. She was sentenced by the Honorable Errol R. Arthur, who also ordered her to pay more than $10,000 in restitution to the union and ordered three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Mathis used her position as president of a local union of federal employees of the U.S Agency for Global Media to improperly access the union’s bank account between December 17, 2019, and June 21, 2021. During that period, Mathis made more than 35 separate unauthorized purchases, withdrawals or bill payments to fund personal vacations, dinners, and expenses.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and District Director Wheeler commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin D. Bleiberg and Brian P. Kelly, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Former Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Norman Merrill II, 46, of Chester, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday to serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material, previously referred to as child pornography. United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered that after Merrill’s release from prison, Merrill must serve a ten-year term of supervised release. Merrill was also ordered to pay $3,750 in restitution, a $5,000 fine, and a $3,000 special assessment to be paid to the Child Pornography Victims Reserve Fund.
According to court records, on May 7, 2022, Chester Police Officers received reports concerning potential voyeurism occurring at Merrill’s home. During the investigation, witnesses alleged they had found a hidden recording device in a bathroom at Merrill’s home, and that Merrill was surreptitiously recording young girls who were walking in front of him while at Green Mountain High School, where he was employed as a teacher. After interviewing witnesses, Chester Police Officers obtained search warrants for Merrill’s home and electronics, which were executed on May 11, 2022. Chester Police Officers seized numerous electronic devices, including cellular phones, digital storage media, “pinhole cameras,” and a “spy camera.”
The Vermont State Police conducted a preliminary forensic examination of a memory card seized from the residence which revealed numerous voyeuristic videos taken in residential bathrooms. Some of these videos were taken in a bathroom of Merrill’s residence and were determined to depict nude minor children. Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agreed to assist local and state authorities with examining the contents of Merrill’s devices to determine whether any of the images and videos qualified as child pornography under federal law.The HSI investigation revealed that Merrill had placed hidden cameras in a deliberate effort to obtain video footage of a particular female minor. Merrill placed hidden cameras in the bathrooms of two residences, including one hidden camera placed underneath a bathroom sink, to capture the minor female’s genitalia while she occupied the bathroom. Merrill possessed screen-captures created from the videos of the minor female, which were intentionally created to focus solely on her genitalia. With the hidden cameras, Merrill also captured voyeuristic videos of additional children and some adults who used the bathroom in his residence. Some of these videos captured nudity, such as exposed breasts and/or visible genitalia.
The review of Merrill’s electronic devices revealed additional misconduct involving children, including a single file depicting the sexual abuse of a child, a file which Merrill did not create. Merrill also had a number of photographs of female children, the faces of which appear to have been clipped and digitally overlaid onto images of adult pornography. Merrill was also in possession of videos that appear to have been covertly taken at a school, suspected to be the school where Merrill was employed, depicting females in revealing clothing.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Chester Police Department, Vermont State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt handled the prosecution. Devin McLaughlin, Esq. represented Merrill.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former School Board President of Madison District Public Schools Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
DETROIT – The former School Board President of the Madison District Public Schools pleaded guilty today to taking bribes from a local school contractor in a pay-to-play scheme and to tax evasion, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michigan Division; Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.
Albert Morrison, age 62, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Laurie Michelson to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery from 2014 through 2018 and tax evasion. Morrison was the elected President of the Madison District Public Schools Board of Education from 2012 through 2018. While Morrison was President, co-defendant John David was one of the owners of a building maintenance and reconstruction company, Emergency Restoration (a/k/a Emergency Reconstruction), that was awarded over $3.1 million in maintenance and construction projects in the Madison District Public Schools.
David, who was a long-time friend of Morrison, wrote over $550,000 in checks from his company to Morrison’s company, Comfort Consulting, from 2014 through 2018. Morrison deposited the checks from David into his own bank account. The investigation uncovered $561,667 in payments from David to Morrison. David admitted he had to “pay to play” in the school district, and David’s companies received approximately $3,167,275 from the Madison District during the bribery conspiracy. Morrison spent the money from David on personal luxuries such as vacations in Florida and a boat slip. David pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy and bribery on April 13, 2023.
To keep the payments secret from the school board and the community in the Madison Schools, Morrison, when publicly confronted at a Madison District school board meeting, denied having any financial ties to David or Emergency Restoration. Morrison and David also failed to disclose to State of Michigan auditors the payments Morrison received from David.
Morrison did not declare to the IRS David’s payments to Comfort Consulting as income in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018. In a further effort to conceal the payments from David, Morrison did not file a federal income tax return in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. By not declaring to the IRS the payments from David as income, Morrison avoided paying approximately $118,200 in taxes.
“This pay- to -play scheme damaged the Madison District Public Schools and undermined the community’s trust in the education system, ,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This prosecution demonstrates we will not allow the greed of corrupt school officials to harm the interests of our children.”
"Today, Mr. Morrison admitted to accepting bribes while he was president of the Madison District Public School Board. His actions intentionally betrayed the public's trust that he would act in the best interest of the school district and children. Further, his actions destroyed the public's trust that contracts would be awarded through a fair and transparent process." said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “We thank the IRS and Department of Education Office of Inspector General for working alongside the FBI to investigate these allegations and expose Mr. Morrison’s corruption.”
“The citizens of our community deserve trustworthy public officials, instead of an elected individual who abuses their power to enhance their own lifestyle," said Charles Miller, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office. "IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make sure everyone pays their fair share of taxes, especially those individuals in positions of trust like Morrison."
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Education. It is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Resnick Cohen, Karen Reynolds, and Gjon Juncaj.
Former New York City Correction Officer Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Smuggling Contraband into Rikers IslandRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, former New York City correction officer Katrina Patterson was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol B. Amon to a year and a day in prison for accepting more than $34,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island. Patterson was employed by the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) and worked as a correction officer at Rikers Island.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York Field Office (HSI), New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance on the case.
According to court documents and facts presented at today’s sentencing proceeding, Patterson accepted at least $34,090 in bribes from co-conspirators in exchange for Patterson’s smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for inmate (and co-defendant) Michael Ross. Ross, who was incarcerated on unrelated offenses, arranged for the bribes to be sent to Patterson. DOC subsequently located narcotics and cell phones in Ross’ cell. Law enforcement also recovered Patterson’s text messages, including messages where a co-conspirator told Patterson that some of the contraband would be “4 black joints in 1 paper,” and Patterson responded, “it better be wrapped so many times I don’t want to smell it.” Patterson also discussed with her co-conspirator the need to delete their text messages.
Ross previously pleaded guilty in July 2022 to bribing Patterson and was sentenced today by Judge Amon to 18 months’ imprisonment to run consecutive to the 16 years to life sentence he is serving in state custody for an unrelated conviction.
The government’s case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Pilmar in the Office’s Public Integrity Section.
The Defendants:
KATRINA PATTERSON
Age: 32
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-196 (CBA)
Former Missouri State Highway Patrol Inspector Admits Accepting Cash BribesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former supervisory motor vehicle inspector with the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Tuesday admitted taking thousands of dollars in cash bribes to falsely certify that vehicles had been inspected and were roadworthy.
Larry S. Conrad, 67, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of using a facility in interstate commerce, a cellular telephone, to facilitate his bribery scheme. He admitted accepting a total of about $14,020 in individual bribes to falsify forms and approve inspections of vehicles that had been damaged and had salvage titles or were listed as “abandoned,” even if he never saw the vehicle.
Conrad’s primary duty was to perform motor vehicle inspections at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop C facility in south St. Louis County. There is no fee for the inspections. If the vehicle passes, an inspector signs and certifies forms required for motor vehicle owners to apply for original Missouri Certificates of Title.
Conrad admitted accepting individual cash bribes ranging from $40 to $160 to pass vehicles. He often falsified certificates to indicate there was no apparent damage when there was visible damage to the vehicle being inspected.
On multiple occasions, Conrad took money for the inspection of vehicles that he never saw, including at least one that was not drivable, the plea agreement says.
Conrad communicated with the vehicle owners via text messages and cell phone conversations and had them place the cash bribes in the driver’s side door pocket. Conrad would then take the money at the time he was to be performing the inspection.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said Conrad’s bribery scheme thwarted procedures that are designed to make sure that vehicles are roadworthy and safe for both the occupants of that vehicle and others on the road.
Conrad is scheduled to be sentenced July 27. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with the cooperation of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.
Former Methodist Hospital Employees Plead Guilty to HIPAA ViolationsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Five former Methodist Hospital Employees and Roderick Harvey, 41, of Memphis, have pled guilty to unlawfully disclosing patient information in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as “HIPAA.” United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty pleas today.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, between November 2017 and December 2020, Harvey paid Kirby Dandridge, 38, Sylvia Taylor, 43, Kara Thompson, 31, Melanie Russell, 41, and Adrianna Taber, 26, to provide him with names and phone numbers of Methodist patients who had been involved in motor vehicle accidents. After obtaining the information, Harvey sold the information to third persons including personal injury attorneys and chiropractors.
HIPAA was enacted by Congress in 1996 to create national standards to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without a patient’s knowledge or consent. HIPAA’s provisions make it a crime to disclose patient information, or to obtain patient information with the intent to sell, transfer or use such information for personal gain.
On April 21, 2023, Harvey appeared before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker and entered a guilty plea to conspiring with Dandridge, Taylor, Taber, Thompson, and Russell to violate HIPAA. Harvey faces a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release. Sentencing for Harvey is set for August 1, 2023.
Dandridge, Taylor, Taber, Thompson, and Russell previously entered guilty pleas to disclosing the information to Harvey in violation of HIPAA. Each of those violations carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment, a $50,000 fine, and one-year of supervised release.
Sentencing hearings for Dandridge, Taylor, Taber, Thompson, and Russell are scheduled before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker as follows:
• Dandridge – April 25, 2023
• Taylor – May 17, 2023
• Taber – May 25, 2023
• Thompson – May 2, 2023
• Russell – June 21, 2023
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @ WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.