Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
19 April 2023
Justice Department Hosts Forum in Newark, New Jersey to Highlight Nationwide Effort to Combat Modern-Day RedliningRead the Press Release
The Justice Department hosted a forum in Newark, New Jersey, to discuss efforts to combat modern-day redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in certain communities because of the race, color or national origin of the residents of those communities.
The forum, which commemorated Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, featured Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who each spoke at today’s program about their respective agencies’ response to the pernicious problem of residential redlining. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also provided opening remarks at the event, which was hosted at Seton Hall Law School.
“We must use every tool available to us to confront modern-day redlining and to hold banks and financial institutions accountable when they fail to provide communities of color equal access to lending opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Since the launch of the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, we have secured nearly $85 million dollars in relief for communities that have suffered from lending discrimination. Redlining, appraisal discrimination, so-called crime-free ordinances and racial steering stand as continued threats to fair housing and economic opportunity in our country – we are committed to eradicating these unlawful practices that have caused harm to communities of color for far too long.”
“Redlining is not a relic of the past. It exists in new forms, including in the physical and digital worlds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When it comes to modern-day redlining, the CFPB is prioritizing efforts with federal and state prosecutors to uncover illegal digital redlining by algorithms and artificial intelligence, reverse redlining through predatory targeting, and harmful discrimination by nonbanks.”
“Part of the promise of America is equal opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Sellinger. “Achieving that dream should be color blind – whether you get a home loan should not depend on the color of your skin or national origin. Redlining is racist, pure and simple. This type of systemic and intentional discrimination cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”
“Access to quality and safe housing is a right that should be enjoyed by all,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “As we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, we still have work to do to ensure that no one is denied that right due to the color of their skin or national origin. New Jersey’s strong housing laws and our federal fair lending laws send the message that we will not tolerate discriminatory practices in housing access, and, as a nation, we must ensure that those laws are enforced.”
“Redlining has been historically pervasive and deliberate in this country, and cities like Newark have been at the front end of the abuse. While redlining is illegal, we know that this ugly form of racism is still widely practiced,” said Mayor Baraka. “To deny people, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Newark, mortgage-lending services, based strictly on their race, robs and makes the American dream of homeownership unattainable. It impedes families from building generational wealth and widens the racial wealth gap. We must hold lenders accountable for their illegal and racist policies and behaviors and take deliberate action to reverse the effects of redlining and stop it.”
The forum also featured Seton Hall Law professors as well as civil rights stakeholders in New Jersey, who provided their invaluable perspectives on the effects of redlining on communities of color in New Jersey, and the vital role that community engagement can play in combating redlining. In connection with the event, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also released a fact sheet highlighting the successes of the Combating Redlining Initiative.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. The initiative has expanded the department’s reach by strengthening partnerships with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, regulatory partners and its partners in state Attorneys General offices. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced six redlining cases and settlements and nearly $85 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country, including a $31 million settlement with City National Bank, the largest redlining settlement in department history. The settlements also include two agreements with Trident Mortgage Company, for $20.4 million, and the Lakeland Bank, for $13.4 million. These two settlements provide tens of millions of dollars to increase credit opportunities for residents of communities of color in and around Camden and Newark, New Jersey.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at Fair Lending Program. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report civil rights violations through www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.
Justice Department Hosts Forum in Newark to Highlight Nationwide Effort to Combat Modern-Day RedliningRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department hosted a forum in Newark, New Jersey, to discuss efforts to combat modern-day redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in certain communities because of the race, color or national origin of the residents of those communities.
The forum, which commemorated Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, featured Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who each spoke at today’s program about their respective agencies’ response to the pernicious problem of residential redlining. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also provided opening remarks at the event, which was hosted at Seton Hall Law School.
“Part of the promise of America is equal opportunity,” U.S Attorney Sellinger said. “Achieving that dream should be color blind – whether you get a home loan should not depend on the color of your skin or national origin. Redlining is racist, pure and simple. This type of systemic and intentional discrimination cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”
“We must use every tool available to us to confront modern-day redlining and to hold banks and financial institutions accountable when they fail to provide communities of color equal access to lending opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Since the launch of the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, we have secured nearly $85 million dollars in relief for communities that have suffered from lending discrimination. Redlining, appraisal discrimination, so-called crime-free ordinances and racial steering stand as continued threats to fair housing and economic opportunity in our country – we are committed to eradicating these unlawful practices that have caused harm to communities of color for far too long.”
“Redlining is not a relic of the past. It exists in new forms, including in the physical and digital worlds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When it comes to modern-day redlining, the CFPB is prioritizing efforts with federal and state prosecutors to uncover illegal digital redlining by algorithms and artificial intelligence, reverse redlining through predatory targeting, and harmful discrimination by nonbanks.”
“Access to quality and safe housing is a right that should be enjoyed by all,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “As we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, we still have work to do to ensure that no one is denied that right due to the color of their skin or national origin. New Jersey’s strong housing laws and our federal fair lending laws send the message that we will not tolerate discriminatory practices in housing access, and, as a nation, we must ensure that those laws are enforced.”
“Redlining has been historically pervasive and deliberate in this country, and cities like Newark have been at the front end of the abuse. While redlining is illegal, we know that this ugly form of racism is still widely practiced,” said Mayor Baraka. “To deny people, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Newark, mortgage-lending services, based strictly on their race, robs and makes the American dream of homeownership unattainable. It impedes families from building generational wealth and widens the racial wealth gap. We must hold lenders accountable for their illegal and racist policies and behaviors and take deliberate action to reverse the effects of redlining and stop it.”
The forum also featured Seton Hall Law professors as well as civil rights stakeholders in New Jersey, who provided their invaluable perspectives on the effects of redlining on communities of color in New Jersey, and the vital role that community engagement can play in combatting redlining. In connection with the event, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also released a fact sheet highlighting the successes of the Combatting Redlining Initiative.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland launched the Justice Department’s Combatting Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. The initiative has expanded the department’s reach by strengthening partnerships with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, regulatory partners and its partners in state Attorneys General offices. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced six redlining cases and settlements and nearly $85 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country, including a $31 million settlement with City National Bank, the largest redlining settlement in department history. The settlements also include two agreements with Trident Mortgage Company, for $20.4 million, and the Lakeland Bank, for $13.4 million. These two settlements provide tens of millions of dollars to increase credit opportunities for residents of communities of color in and around Camden and Newark, New Jersey.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at Fair Lending Program. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report civil rights violations through www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Guilty of Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Thelonious Wayne Kirby (51, Jacksonville) has been found guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, following a bench trial. Kirby faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Kirby is currently in state custody and appeared in federal court on a writ. He is currently serving a state prison sentence for unrelated charges.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2020, Kirby sold a .38 caliber revolver to an undercover officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Kirby had eight prior felony convictions and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is
handling the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition.
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.
Hanford Site Subcontractor and Its Tennessee Owner Indicted by Grand Jury for Stealing More than $1.4 Million in COVID-19 Relief FundingRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging Hanford Site Subcontractor BNL Technical Services, LLC (BNL) and its owner, Wilson Pershing Stevenson III, age 44, of Nashville, Tennessee, with eleven counts of fraudulently obtaining more than $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funding intended for struggling businesses. The charges in the Indictment are the most recent announced by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, which was created in 2022 to combat fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed loans to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.
“COVID-19 relief programs quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, which meant that some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We created the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our community in Eastern Washington that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud. The Strike Force is one way to ensure that limited resources are provided to deserving local businesses that provide vital services for our communities.”
In February 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others. Cases investigated and prosecuted by the Strike Force have resulted in numerous indictments, convictions, and civil penalties, and have returned millions of dollars in fraudulently-obtained funds to the public.
Between 2020 and 2021, BNL provided contract labor services to Hanford Site prime contractors. As alleged in the Indictment, BNL’s labor costs and payroll continued to be paid by DOE throughout the pandemic, including when BNL employees were not able to physically work at the site and instead were teleworking or simply home in “ready” status. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III, on behalf of BNL, nonetheless fraudulently sought and obtained more than $1.3 million in PPP funding for these employees despite their pay and benefits already being covered by DOE contract funds and other federal sources. The Indictment further alleges that Stevenson III transferred nearly all of the fraudulently-obtained CARES Act funding to himself and his family, including to a family trust, to pay off personal debts, and to personal accounts for himself and his wife. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III then fraudulently and improperly sought and obtained forgiveness for more than $1.3 million in PPP funds by falsely representing that they had been used for payroll and other eligible business expenses.
The fraud charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, Richland Field Office, the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Dan Fruchter are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States v. Wilson Pershing Stevenson III et al., Case No: 4:23-cr-06014-MKD
Greensboro, N.C. Clinic Owner Indicted for $4.7 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The owner of a Greensboro, N.C. area clinic has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a health care fraud scheme that defrauded the North Carolina Medicaid Program (Medicaid) of more than $4.7 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The 10-count indictment charges Aljihad Shabazz, 44, of Kernersville, N.C., with health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Division (MID), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The federal indictment alleges that Shabazz owned and operated Reign & Inspirations, LLC (R&I), a clinic that purportedly provided outpatient behavioral services in Greensboro and surrounding areas. According to allegations contained in the indictment, between 2017 and 2020, Shabazz allegedly conspired with other individuals to carry out an extensive health care fraud scheme involving the fraudulent submissions of fake reimbursement claims to Medicaid, for services that were never provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. Shabazz allegedly obtained the personal identifying information (PII) of Medicaid beneficiaries through community outreach programs, including football and mentoring programs, and misused the beneficiaries’ PII to create and submit hundreds of fraudulent reimbursement claims and to receive payment for services that were never in fact provided by R&I. During the relevant time period, Shabazz and his co-conspirators allegedly used the beneficiaries’ PII to submit more than 1,500 fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicaid, some of which claimed that R&I provided services that exceeded 24 hours in a single day.
The indictment also alleges that the reimbursement payments made by Medicaid were deposited in bank accounts under Shabazz’s control. Shabazz used a portion of the fraudulent proceeds to pay kickbacks to his co-conspirators and to cover personal expenses, including to pay for personal travel, luxury items, and timeshares, and to make cash withdrawals, among other things.
“Health care fraud hurts individuals who rely on government-funded programs to cover legitimate patient care needs. Working with our law enforcement partners we will investigate and hold accountable health care fraud cheats and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney King.
“This desire for money, along with the power and material items it buys, allegedly drove the defendant to perpetrate crimes against our healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. “Thanks to the financial expertise and diligence of IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to uncover these schemes and pursue individuals who allegedly operate counter to laws protecting the federal healthcare programs.”
"This health care provider allegedly used people's personal data to steal millions in Medicaid dollars, said Attorney General Stein. "I want to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI for working with our Medicaid Investigations Division to hold accountable providers who cheat taxpayers."
A summons has been issued and Shabazz will appear in federal court for his initial appearance. The health care fraud conspiracy and health care fraud offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count. The money laundering conspiracy and money laundering offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count.
The charges against Shabazz are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and the North Carolina Medicaid Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassye Cole and Mike Savage and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jermaine Sellers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Former Venezuelan National Treasurer and Her Husband Sentenced in Money Laundering and International Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
The former National Treasurer of Venezuela and her husband were each sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme.
According to court documents, Claudia Patricia Díaz Guillen, 49, and her husband, Adrian José Velásquez, 43, accepted and laundered over $136 million in bribes from co-conspirator Raúl Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan billionaire businessman who owned Globovision news network. Gorrin allegedly paid bribes to Díaz, including through Velásquez, to obtain access to purchase bonds from the Venezuela National Treasury at a favorable exchange rate, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of profit. The conspiracy involved bulk cash hidden in cardboard boxes, offshore shell companies, Swiss bank accounts, and international wire transfers allegedly sent by Gorrin for Díaz and Velásquez’s benefit, including to purchase multiple private jets and yachts, and to fund a high-end fashion line started by Díaz and Velásquez in South Florida.
“As a result of the Department of Justice’s relentless efforts, the defendants will serve lengthy prison terms for their roles in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme in which Díaz abused her role as the Venezuelan National Treasurer,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this prosecution demonstrates, the Criminal Division never wavers in its determination to hold accountable corrupt officials who subvert the rule of law and use our financial system to launder money related to their illicit schemes.”
“The sentences imposed against former Venezuelan National Treasurer Díaz and her husband send a clear message: The United States will not tolerate its financial systems being used as personal money laundering tools by corrupt foreign officials,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
“The significant sentencings and judgments imposed today against Díaz and Velásquez Figueroa demonstrate that individuals who use their positions of trust to launder illicitly obtained funds through the U.S. financial systems will be held accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office. “HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force South will continue to work with our global partners to pursue those individuals and organizations who are involved in these multibillion-dollar conspiracies and money laundering schemes.”
Díaz and Velásquez were each convicted after trial in December 2022 of money laundering offenses. Gorrin was first charged by indictment in August 2018 and remains charged in the superseding indictment as a co-conspirator in the same money laundering scheme. He is currently a fugitive residing in Venezuela.
HSI Miami, FBI Miami, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The department appreciates the significant cooperation provided by authorities in Spain and Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice.
Trial Attorneys Paul Hayden and Michael Culhane Harper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Lunkenheimer and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Private School Teacher and Private Tutor Sentenced to 25 Years for His Enticement of A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOHN MUESER was sentenced to 25 years in prison by United States District Judge Vincent Briccetti for his enticement of a seven-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity and his possession of child pornography. The sentencing today followed MUESER’s guilty plea on January 10, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “To the world, John Mueser presented himself as a dedicated teacher. But in reality, Mueser exploited the trust placed in him as an educator in order to gain access to the victim’s home and to carry out his sickening abuse. As today’s sentencing underscores, we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who exploit children.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
On May 1, 2019, JOHN MUESER, a private school teacher and a private tutor at the time, induced a 7-year-old minor (“Victim-1”), whom he was tutoring, to engage in sexually explicit conduct and used his iPhone to record the activity.
MUESER’s iPhone was found to contain hundreds of images, many of which were sexually explicit, of Victim-1.
In addition to the numerous images of Victim-1 found on MUESER’s phone, MUESER’s phone was also found to contain numerous sexually explicit images and videos of other prepubescent children.
Years before his abuse of Victim-1, MUESER sexually abused two other children. With respect to both of those victims, the abuse continued for years.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Briccetti underscored that the defendant’s criminal conduct was “truly reprehensible,” asking “Is there anything more evil than sexually abusing small children for your own sexual gratification?” Judge Briccetti recognized that the defendant’s “abuse of these children spanned decades.” He said that the sentence he imposed “might amount to a life sentence,” and “that does not trouble me at all.”
* * *
In addition to the prison sentence, MUESER, 72, of Tuckahoe, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenwich Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
Former High School and Youth Football Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Former high school and youth football coach, Moshe Michael Imel, age 53, of Owings, Maryland, pleaded guilty late yesterday in U.S. District Court to two counts of production of child pornography involving two minor victims. As part of his plea agreement to the federal charges, Imel also agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of minors in three cases in the Circuit Court for Calvert County, which is scheduled for May 2, 2023. Imel remains detained.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey.
According to his plea agreement, between July 2018 and November 2020, Imel was an assistant football coach at a Calvert County High School. In March 2021, law enforcement interviewed two victims who reported that beginning when Imel coached the individuals in a youth football program and continuing through high school, Imel groomed and then sexually abused the victims. Specifically, Imel admitted that he directed each victim to expose and touch himself in a sexual way and ultimately engaged in sexual contact with the victims on numerous occasions. Imel also created sexually explicit videos of the victims documenting his abuse.
A search warrant was executed at Imel’s home and confirmed that the basement—including the action figures lining the walls, the computer setup, the cameras, sex toys and other paraphernalia—was as the victims had described it to law enforcement. A review of fourteen electronic devices seized at Imel’s residence revealed that they all contained child pornography or evidence of Imel’s sexual contact with minors.
Imel and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Imel will be sentenced to between 25 and 40 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. As detailed in the plea agreement, Imel will be sentenced for the state case after his federal sentencing. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the federal case and recognized Rebecca N. Cordero, who is prosecuting Imel’s case in State court.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Former Employee Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Molotov Cocktail Attack on St. Charles RestaurantRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A disgruntled former employee of a St. Charles, Missouri restaurant who attacked it with Molotov cocktails was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.
On the evening of April 30, 2021, Rashaad Cotton, 25, of St. Louis County, first threw a Molotov cocktail on a residential street in a suburban area in St. Charles. Twenty minutes later, he threw another on the northeast side of the Sauce on the Side restaurant on Beale Street and one near the front door. A juvenile female with Cotton threw a Molotov cocktail at a patio area. The restaurant was open and serving customers. The pair then ran back to Cotton’s vehicle and fled, but were arrested after they crashed.
Cotton told police that he had been fired from the restaurant the night before and wanted to scare people.
Cotton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to a felony charge of attempting to commit arson.
Cotton also has pending charges in St. Charles County Circuit Court related to the attack.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is prosecuting the case.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction for Assaulting Three Incarcerated People with a Riot-Baton and Falsifying a ReportRead the Press Release
A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts of the indictment against a former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) sergeant for assaulting three incarcerated persons with a riot-baton and then writing a false report to cover up the beating.
In April 2022, a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned a four-count indictment against Lorenzo Mills, 55, that included three civil rights charges and a charge for writing a false report. Evidence presented at trial proved that on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a correctional sergeant with ADOC, subjected three incarcerated persons to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden riot-baton. According to trial evidence and testimony, one victim suffered a broken arm, and two others suffered injury, including pain and bruising, as a result of the beating. After the unlawful use of force, the defendant authored a use of force report wherein he denied using any force against the victims.
“This verdict shows that our community members agree that no person is above the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Constitution protects the rights of all people, including those in our jails and prisons. We will continue to prosecute correctional officers who abuse their power and use our federal civil rights laws to protect the rights of those detained inside our jails and prisons.”
“Correctional officers have an important and difficult job,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “These officers are tasked with maintaining good order and safety in our prisons, while protecting the constitutional rights of the inmates they supervise. Although most correctional officers serve honorably, my office will work tirelessly to ensure rogue officers are held accountable.”
“An individual's rights do not end after being convicted of a crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the Mobile Field Office. “The FBI takes any violation of civil rights seriously, especially allegations against those sworn to protect and uphold the law. The few who tarnish the badge and illegally use their official capacity will be caught and tried like any other criminal.”
Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Brown made the announcement.
The FBI Mobile Field Office and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney David Reese of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Federal Indictment Charges Duo with Mail Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment charging Tressa Nichole Baucom, 30, of Charlotte, and Jennings Peter Keziah, also known as Christian Thomas Carpenter, 35, of Stanley, N.C., with mail theft and wire fraud, for stealing thousands of pieces of mail in North Carolina and South Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from October to December 2021, Baucom and Keziah executed a mail theft scheme that targeted residential mailboxes in Charlotte and Gastonia, N.C., and York County, S.C. Over the course of the scheme, Baucom and Keziah allegedly stole more than 3,700 pieces of mail, including credit cards, checks, gift cards, driver’s licenses, bank statements and a passport. The indictment alleges that Baucom and Keziah used the stolen credit cards for personal expenditures, including to make purchases at Walmart, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Quick Trip, and Best Buy. The indictment further alleges that Baucom and Keziah also possessed a stolen United States Postal Service key.
Baucom and Keziah are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail and three counts of possession of stolen mail, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count, and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The charges against Baucom and Keziah are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King commended the USPIS for its investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Fairbanks Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Drug Distribution and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS - On April 14, 2023, Senior District Judge Ralph R. Beistline of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska sentenced Jason Benjamin O’Bryan, 30, of Fairbanks, Alaska, to 121 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to distribute 897 grams of methamphetamine and possession of nine firearms.
On March 9, 2021, agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received a suspicious package. USPIS obtained a search warrant for the package and seized 897 grams of methamphetamine. On March 11, 2021, USPIS replaced the 897 grams of methamphetamine with a representative sample and “sham” drugs and performed a controlled delivery. Law enforcement observed Jason O’Bryan retrieved the package and take it inside his residence. An hour later, surveillance observed O’Bryan leave the residence in his truck; law enforcement initiated a traffic stop and searched the vehicle where they found 50 grams of methamphetamine, 1 gram of heroin, and multiple fentanyl patches and pills. A subsequent search of O’Bryan’s residence resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine, heroin, and nine firearms. O’Bryan later confessed that he sold methamphetamine in Fairbanks and intended to distribute the 897 grams. O’Bryan, having a prior felony conviction, also admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess the nine firearms.
O’Bryan previously pled guilty to attempted possession and distribution of the 897 grams of methamphetamine and felon in possession of multiple firearms.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), North Slope Borough Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department (FPD), North Pole Police Department (NPD), and Alaska State Troopers (AST) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey and Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
###
usao/ak/23-027
FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force Seizes a Large Quantity of Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills in Spokane Valley, WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of multiple local law enforcement partners, executed several federal search warrants at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 30, 2023. As a result of the execution of these search warrants, the Task Force seized approximately 24.7 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills (approx. 83,000 pills), 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 pound of cocaine, as well as 2 firearms, and over $13,000 in US Currency. Two individuals, Jordy Deboer and Matthew Sailors (a.k.a. Rabbit) were also arrested and have been federally indicted.
Prior to this incident, Deboer was previously arrested and federally indicted for allegedly trafficking in large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills from the Tri-Cities, Washington area to the Spokane, Washington area. After his indictment, Deboer was released from federal custody to attend inpatient drug treatment.
According to information provided in court documents and proceedings, a short time after Deboer’s release from custody, the Safe Streets Task Force received information he had re-engaged in drug trafficking activities, this time with Sailors. Deboer and Sailors were located at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley engaging in apparent drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement acted quickly, obtaining multiple federal search warrants that resulted in the large seizure of controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the joint efforts of law enforcement, which acted quickly to remove dangerous controlled substances from our community. “Illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, continue to harm our communities. I’m grateful for the FBI Safe Streets Task Force’s strong partnership with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure and removal of dangerous narcotics –including over 24 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills – from the streets of Spokane.”
This ongoing case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of agents of the FBI and United States Border Patrol, as well as detectives for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Valley Police Department, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
2:22-CR-94-TOR
2:23-CR-41-TOREight Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Niko Wimbley (30, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wimbley had pleaded guilty on January 12, 2023.
According to court documents, on December 26, 2021, Wimbley was driving a stolen sedan with another convicted felon as his passenger. Both men were armed with fully loaded, semi-automatic pistols. Wimbley and his passenger were arrested that night during a traffic stop in the Rivergrove neighborhood of Tampa, near the intersection of East Sligh Avenue and Rowlett Park Drive. The officers had followed the stolen vehicle until Wimbley and the passenger exited the car. When ordered to stop, both men fled on foot, leaving behind their loaded semi-automatic pistols in the stolen vehicle. During a search of the stolen car, the officers recovered a loaded black SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol on the driver’s seat, and a loaded black Springfield XDS (HS Produkt) .45 caliber pistol in the passenger side footwell. Wimbley’s DNA was found on the SCCY CPX-1 pistol. Wimbley agreed to forfeit the pistol and ammunition, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
East Providence Businesswoman Charged with Visa Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – An East Providence businesswoman who allegedly arranged for eight Columbian Vallenato musicians to obtain work visas to enter the United States, purportedly to work in the performing arts industry, has been charged in federal court with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in documents filed with the court that Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, operator of Tu Voz Es Musica (“TVEM”), a music talent school she operates out of her residence, created and provided false itinerary information on work visa applications submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of each of the musicians. Included with each application were contracts on TVEM letterhead that described agreements TVEM had with venues in seven states, including Rhode Island, where the Vallenato musicians were scheduled to perform.
According to information presented to the court, a review by Homeland Security Investigations of the contracts submitted with the visa applications to USCIS revealed discrepancies, including, for example, similar looking signatures on six contracts with five different venues. It is alleged that venue managers/owners whose names and signatures appear on the contracts did not authorize nor endorse the information; and that venue operators confirmed that the Vallenato musicians had not performed nor were scheduled to perform at their respective venues.
As further alleged in court documents, this matter came to the attention of federal authorities when an East Providence resident provided information that Caicedo Grandos restricted the movements of the Columbian musicians, forced them to sleep on the floor of an apartment from which they have since been evicted, attempted to confiscate their passports, and threatened them with immigration consequences.
Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond on Tuesday and was released on unsecured bond.
Work visas issued to eight Vallenato musicians have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
###
Duquesne Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Escape from Renewal Reentry CenterRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release on his conviction of escape from custody, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Keenan Williams, age 25.
According to information presented to the court, on Sept. 26, 2022, the defendant escaped from the Renewal, Inc. Residential Reentry Center, where he had been confined pursuant to a judgment and commitment order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Williams was arrested by the Monroeville Police Department on Oct. 4, 2022.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Marshals Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
Des Moines, Washington, woman sentenced to 30 months in prison for bank fraud and identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 49-year-old Des Moines, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jennifer Suazo, aka Jennifer Esperanza, was arrested in August 2022 after fleeing from law enforcement at an earlier encounter. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “… identity theft is something that everyone lives in fear of …. Having one’s identity stolen steals that person’s sense of confidence, faith, and security too ….”
According to records filed in the case, Suazo purchased victims’ identifying information from various sources, including the dark web, which she then used to open accounts at financial institutions in the victims’ names and to take over victims’ existing bank accounts. To carry out this fraud, Suazo created identification documents in victims’ names but with her photograph on the ID. Suazo also changed the mailing addresses for the accounts created or taken over so that she would receive all communications about the accounts and thereby hide her fraud and theft from the victims. Suazo also deposited victims’ checks into her personal bank account. Between 2019 and 2022, Suazo defrauded individual victims and financial institutions of at least $107,472.
When law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at her home, they discovered notebooks with the personal information of some 316 victims.
Suazo pleaded guilty in January 2023.
Due to her history of drug addiction, Judge Lin recommended Suazo participate in the Bureau of Prisons’ intensive Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).
In sentencing materials, Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly noted the harm posed by identity theft, writing, “… the ramifications of her actions were wide-reaching: Suazo not only drained state and federal law enforcement resources to identify victims and trace the fraudulent transactions, but also caused victims ongoing anxiety about the security of their accounts and credit after their information was compromised.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for April 22, 2023Read the Press Release
BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana, including a DEA site in Billings. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
“We can all do something to help stop the epidemic of overdose deaths and addictions plaguing Montana by getting rid of expired or unused prescription drugs in our homes. Dropping off these drugs at DEA Take Back Day collection sites across the state is a convenient way to keep loved ones, friends, and our communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
“Opiate overdoses are occurring throughout the United States, and Montana is no different. But we can all pitch in to help stop this epidemic,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain. “I encourage everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and nightstands of expired or unneeded prescription medicine, especially opioids, and to bring them to DEA’s designated Take Back locations. Together, we can make a difference.”
The DEA will have a drop off location in Billings at the Billings Fire Station #5, 605 S. 24th Street W.
More than 28 sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
During the last Take Back Day held on Oct. 29, 2022, 4,340 law enforcement participants at 4,902 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 647,163 pounds, or 324 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 16.6 million pounds, or more than 8,318 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the October 2022 event, Montanans turned in 1,450 pounds of prescription drugs at 27 collection sites. Thirty law enforcement agencies participated.
In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on April 22, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 22 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
XXX
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today, April 18, 2023, to 48 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On February 27, 2022, Jake Campbell, 38, was stopped driving a vehicle that was reported stolen. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded Smith and Wesson firearm under the driver’s seat, along with other items belonging to Campbell. The firearm was reported stolen. Campbell was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction, and he was a methamphetamine user. Campbell must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Construction Company President Pleads Guilty to 25-Year Fraud on the U.S. Government and to Bribery of A Public OfficialRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SINA MOAYEDI, the owner of a construction company, Montage, Inc., pled guilty today to a 25-year fraud on the United States Government. MOAYEDI pled guilty to three counts: conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official, and aggravated identity theft. Under the terms of his plea agreement, MOAYEDI also admitted to obstructing justice by, among other things, deleting electronic evidence of his fraud shortly after his release on bail in this case, which resulted in his pretrial detention. MOAYEDI pled guilty before United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, to whom MOAYEDI’s case is assigned.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “From 1995 until 2021, Sina Moayedi defrauded the U.S. Government and various of its agencies by lying in various respects. Moayedi lied that his construction company was woman-owned; he lied about his employees’ qualifications; he lied about his company’s construction experience; and he lied about his company’s financial condition. He also repeatedly paid bribes to a State Department employee to illegally obtain inside information to help Moayedi’s company win government contracts. His frauds netted his company at least 27 lucrative government construction contracts, including contracts to build sensitive U.S. embassies and consulates. And following his arrest in this case, Moayedi obstructed justice by destroying electronic evidence of his frauds less than one month after his release on bail. Moayedi now faces the consequences of his quarter-century fraud on the federal government, which harmed the government, taxpayers, and his competitors.”
According to the filings and statements made in Manhattan federal court:
In the 1980s, MOAYEDI founded Montage, Inc. (“Montage”), a U.S.-based business that is primarily involved in worldwide Government construction projects, including embassies, military posts, consulates, and similar overseas properties owned and operated by the United States Government. In total, the U.S. Government has paid Montage more than $200 million on government contracts. Since 2014, Montage appears to have focused primarily on competing for and obtaining contracts with the State Department. During that period, the State Department awarded Montage approximately six overseas U.S. Embassy/Consulate construction project contracts totaling $100 million.
MOAYEDI defrauded the U.S. Government — including the State Department, Treasury Department, Department of Defense, and General Services Administration — by lying in various respects. In submissions to the Government (i.e., bids for contracting work), MOAYEDI mispresented his company’s ownership, his employees’ qualifications, his company’s construction experience, and his company’s financial condition.
As to ownership, MOAYEDI falsely represented, repeatedly, that Montage was a female-owned business (or a female- and minority-owned business) in order to secure unmerited advantages in the bidding process. In fact, MOAYEDI founded, owned, ran, and controlled Montage, and he made all material decisions on Montage’s behalf. As MOAYEDI revealed to a bank that inquired about Montage’s ownership status in 2016, “I am the sole owner and president of Montage and have always been.”
As to employees’ qualifications, MOAYEDI significantly overstated the qualifications of various Montage employees in order to, among other things, meet State Department and contractual requirements for minimum experience in certain key positions. For instance, MOAYEDI claimed, falsely, that certain Montage employees possessed engineering degrees, and he claimed, falsely, that certain individuals worked for Montage when, in fact, they did not.
As to Montage’s construction experience, MOAYEDI submitted bids to the Government in which he repeatedly falsified Montage’s purported construction experience in order to burnish its alleged credentials. To ensure that the U.S. Government did not uncover these lies, MOAYEDI “backstopped” these fabricated prior projects by creating fraudulent email accounts and personas, so that someone else appeared to be “vouching” that Montage had performed this prior work. This required creating online web domains (the “Fabricated Domains”), so that Montage’s purported references appeared legitimate. These Fabricated Domains were extremely similar to, but one character or word different from, the legitimate web domain associated with the actual entity. MOAYEDI purchased the necessary online infrastructure to create these Fabricated Domains.
As to financial condition, MOAYEDI paid a Certified Public Accountant to prepare at least four different sets of books and records, each of which was provided to a different recipient (e.g., one fraudulent set for the U.S. Government, another fraudulent set for the bank, another fraudulent set for a company that sold construction bonds, etc.).
In furtherance of his fraud on the U.S. Government, MOAYEDI also used the identities of at least 10 individuals, including some of his relatives.
In addition, between 2014 and 2020, MOAYEDI repeatedly paid cash bribes and kickbacks to an engineer in the State Department’s Overseas Building Operations division, May Salehi, in exchange for confidential inside information relating to several State Department construction projects, including projects in Ecuador, Spain, and Bermuda. For instance, in late 2016 and early 2017, MOAYEDI paid approximately $60,000 in cash to Salehi after Salehi provided confidential inside bidding information to MOAYEDI about the relationship between Montage’s original bid and his competitors’ bids — information that allowed Montage to raise its bid by nearly $1 million yet remain the lowest bidder on a construction project that was ultimately awarded to Montage.
MOAYEDI also defrauded his primary bank (“Bank-1”) through various misrepresentations. MOAYEDI and Montage had a multi-million-dollar line of credit at Bank-1, which they maintained through misrepresentations about Montage’s ownership and the value, progress, status, and existence of construction projects that Montage was performing for the United States Government. For instance, in or about both 2014 and 2019, MOAYEDI made material misrepresentations to Bank-1 in support of an annual extension of Montage’s line of credit, including misrepresentations about purportedly lucrative “classified” government construction projects which, in fact, did not exist.
MOAYEDI also obstructed justice in multiple respects. These include: (i) in September 2021, shortly after his release on bail in this case, MOAYEDI destroyed electronic evidence of his fraud on the U.S. Government by deleting at least seven Fabricated Domains, which (as noted) he had used to help inflate Montage’s purported construction experience in bids for U.S. Government construction projects; (ii) shortly after the execution of search warrants at Montage’s offices in September 2020, MOAYEDI attempted to witness tamper by, among other things, pressuring a co-conspirator to lie in order to impede the Government’s ongoing criminal investigation; and (iii) during a civil lawsuit between the State Department and Montage, MOAYEDI lied during a sworn deposition in 2019 by claiming to be the Vice President of Montage and by falsely claiming that a Hispanic woman had been the President of Montage “ever since” 2002.
* * *
MOAYEDI, 67, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, pled guilty to three counts: one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory prison term of two years, which must run consecutively to any other prison term.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as MOAYEDI’s sentence will be determined by Judge Rakoff.
MOAYEDI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rakoff on August 10, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Under the terms of his plea agreement, MOAYEDI also agreed to pay restitution of $6,588,679.63 and forfeiture of $17,795,098.50.
May Salehi was previously sentenced to one year in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000, and forfeiture of $60,000.
Mr. Williams praised the exceptional investigative work of the State Department, Office of Inspector General; Special Agents from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and the Internal Revenue Service.
The Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is handling this criminal case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Louis A. Pellegrino are in charge of the prosecution.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Aalik Wilsher, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money, admitting to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $20,459.33 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2021, Wilsher applied for a PPP loan for his purported business, “Aalik Wilsher.” Wilsher admitted that he falsely certified that “Aalik Wilsher” was established in 2019 and was in operation on February 15, 2020. Wilsher further admitted to submitting a false IRS Form 1040, Schedule C, to state that “Aalik Wilsher” had earned $97,587 in gross income during 2019.
The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, offered emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.
Wilsher’s fraudulent PPP loan application was approved and $20,330 was electronically deposited from a financial institution in Florida to Wilsher’s bank account in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 30, 2021.
Wilsher later applied to have the fraudulent PPP loan and $129.33 in accrued interest forgiven. Wilsher admitted that he had not spent the loan proceeds on permissible business expenses. The SBA forgave Wilsher’s fraudulent PPP loan on December 13, 2021.
Wilsher is scheduled to be sentenced on July 5, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Wilsher also owes $20,459.33 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-51.
###
Carthage Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carthage, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for sexually exploiting a child from Michigan whom he met online.
Charles Ward Kuentzel, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Tuesday, April 18, to 24 years and five months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Kuentzel to 20 years of supervised release following incarceration. Kuentzel will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On Sept. 12, 2022, Kuenzel pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child. Kuentzel admitted that he used a child victim to produce child pornography from Sept. 1, 2020, to April 21, 2021.
The mother of the child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1, contacted law enforcement in Michigan because her daughter was in an inappropriate online relationship with an adult man. The child victim told investigators she met Kuentzel in a public Discord game server, through which they communicated. FBI agents in in the Detroit division were able to identify Kuentzel in the online chats, in which Kuentzel and the child victim sent one another sexually explicit images of themselves. Kuentzel engaged in video chats and sexual conversations with the victim.
Officers executed a search warrant at Kuentzel’s residence on Aug. 26, 2021, and seized his cell phone and microSD card. Numerous images of the child victim, including child pornography, were found on the cell phone and the microSD card.
During the forensic examination, investigators also found several sexually explicit images of another child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 2. She told investigators she was 14 years old when she met Kuentzel on Omegle, and they communicated through the Snapchat and Kik applications. Kuentzel requested nude images from Jane Doe 2, which she provided. Today’s sentence encompasses this criminal behavior with a sentencing enhancement for Kuentzel’s pattern of illegal sexual conduct.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Canton, Mich., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Cape Girardeau Felon Admits New Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A felon on probation for a gun crime pleaded guilty Wednesday and admitted being caught with another firearm in December.
Trenier Roosevelt Jackson, 22, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being the passenger in a speeding vehicle pulled over by Cape Girardeau police on Dec. 1, 2022. After the vehicle stopped, Jackson immediately got out and walked away. The officer asked Jackson to return, but he ran away again when the driver said he had a gun and officers said they would search for weapons.
Jackson dropped a bag containing a stolen Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and multiple forms of identification as he ran. He was arrested a short distance away. At the time, Jackson was on probation after having been convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.
Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. on July 27. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.
Canton Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding HUD Section 8 Housing ProgramRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DONNA CARNEY, 67, of Canton, was sentenced today by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one month of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) program.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under HUD’s housing choice voucher program. From approximately 2004 to 2019, Carney failed to report to HUD that she was married to her landlord and therefore had an interest in the home in which she lived, failed to report certain others living in her home, and falsely claimed that unauthorized residents were live-in aides.
Judge Merriam ordered Carney to pay $33,594.
On October 12, 2022, Carney pleaded guilty to theft of government property.
Carney, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 29.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations and the Canton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.
California Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking Violations in East TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas - A Bakersfield, CA man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Pablo Antonio Sandoval, 24, pleaded guilty on August 8, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 18, 2023.
According to information presented in court, in October 2021, Sandoval supplied more than 500 grams of methamphetamine to drug dealers in Cherokee County, Texas, which he sourced from suppliers in California. Sandoval was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas in April 2022.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Jacksonville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
# # #
Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bribing City of Atlanta and DeKalb County Officials to Obtain ContractsRead the Press Release
The former executive vice president of PRAD Group Inc. pleaded guilty to paying bribes to two City of Atlanta officials in exchange for steering city business worth millions of dollars to his company, to paying bribes to a former DeKalb County, Georgia, official in an attempt to obtain county contracts, and to evading over $1.5 million in taxes.
According to court documents, Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, 72, of Alpharetta, Georgia, oversaw PRAD Group’s finances. From 1984 to 2018, PRAD Group was an architectural, design, and construction management firm headquartered in Atlanta that performed services for the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County.
From January 2003 to February 2017, Adam Smith was the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the City of Atlanta and supervised the city’s purchasing activities and its expenditure of billions of dollars of public money. From April 2011 to May 2016, Jo Ann Macrina served as the City of Atlanta’s Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management, a cabinet-level position from which she managed the city’s drinking water and wastewater systems and was responsible for an annual budget exceeding $500 million.
Jafari gave Smith and Macrina cash and other items of value to obtain business with the City of Atlanta. In exchange for those payments, Smith and Macrina conspired with Jafari to ensure that PRAD Group received city business worth millions of dollars, including by agreeing to replace two evaluators on the selection team for the city’s architectural and engineering contract and to re-score an evaluation so that Jafari’s company would be awarded a contract.
During Smith’s tenure as the CPO, the City of Atlanta awarded contracts worth millions of dollars to PRAD Group and joint venture projects of which PRAD Group was a partner. For years, Jafari met privately with Smith on multiple occasions, frequently at local restaurants. During these meetings, Jafari and Smith discussed City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations, often while Jafari was actively seeking additional work and/or assistance with ongoing city projects. After most of the meetings, Jafari paid Smith $1,000 in cash in the bathroom of the restaurant. In return for these bribe payments, Jafari expected Smith to use his position and power to assist Jafari with contracting and procurement with the City of Atlanta. From at least 2014 to January 2017, Jafari paid Smith more than $40,000 in cash with the intent to influence Smith in his role as the city’s CPO.
In February 2017, Jafari became aware of the federal investigation into his bribe payments to Smith. In response, Jafari confronted Smith at City Hall to convince Smith to lie to the FBI by instructing Smith to deny taking bribe money from him.
From at least 2013 through May 2016, Macrina met with Jafari to discuss City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations, often while Jafari was actively seeking contracts, projects, and work with the City of Atlanta. To obtain city work, Jafari promised Macrina a lucrative job with PRAD Group and, directly or through a PRAD Group employee, gave Macrina $10,000 in cash, jewelry, a room at a luxury hotel and luxury shopping trip in Dubai, and landscaping work at her home. Shortly after the City of Atlanta fired her, Macrina began working for Jafari and PRAD Group. Between June and September 2016, Jafari and/or PRAD Group paid Macrina $30,000 in four separate payments.
On April 8 and Aug. 21, 2014, the FBI conducted two undercover operations using a confidential source (who at the time was a high-ranking DeKalb County official). During the surreptitiously recorded meetings, the confidential source met with Jafari at local restaurants, where Jafari sought assistance from the confidential source to obtain work in DeKalb County. After the meetings, Jafari directed the confidential source to the bathroom of the restaurants where Jafari paid the confidential source between $1,000 and $1,500 in cash.
From 2014 to 2016, Jafari neither filed personal tax returns, nor paid any income taxes to the IRS. During those years, Jafari withdrew large amounts of cash from corporate bank accounts and took money from the PRAD Group’s corporate accounts to pay for various personal expenses, including several luxury vehicles. Jafari evaded the payment of at least $1.5 million in taxes.
Jafari pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiratorial bribery, substantive bribery, and tax evasion. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19 and faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery, 10 years for substantive bribery, and five years for tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In January 2018, Smith was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiratorial bribery. In February 2023, Macrina was sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being convicted at trial of conspiratorial and substantive bribery.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office and IRS-CI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Jolee Porter of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis and Nathan P. Kitchens for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
Businessman Jeff Jafari pleads guilty to bribing City of Atlanta and DeKalb County officials to obtain contractsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, the former Executive Vice President of PRAD Group, Inc., has pleaded guilty to paying bribe money to two City of Atlanta officials in exchange for steering city business worth millions of dollars to his company, to paying bribes to a former Dekalb County official in an attempt to obtain county contracts, and to evading more than $1.5 million in taxes.
“Contractors and the public deserve a fair and impartial government procurement process,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “For years, Jeff Jafari corrupted, and attempted to corrupt, those processes in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County by paying tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments to several high-ranking government officials. Not surprisingly, after illegally obtaining city contracts he never paid a dime of personal income tax on millions of dollars he earned.”
“Jafari tried to buy his way around a process that is meant to be fair to all contract applicants, and in doing so contributed to the public’s distrust in government,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Today's plea is the direct result of the FBI and our partners continuous hard work and commitment to end public corruption in the city of Atlanta”
“Jafari bribed city government officials to avoid fair competition in bidding for government contracts,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Greed consumed Mr. Jafari, after being awarded the government contracts, he willfully failed to file tax returns reporting the income and pay the appropriate taxes undermining the American tax system.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From 1984 to 2018, PRAD Group was an architectural, design, and construction management firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that performed services for the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County, Georgia. Jafari served as PRAD Group’s Executive Vice President and oversaw PRAD Group’s finances.
From January 2003 to February 2017, Adam Smith served as the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Atlanta. From that position, Smith supervised the City of Atlanta’s purchasing activities and its expenditure of billions of dollars of public money. From April 2011 to May 2016, Jo Ann Macrina served as the City of Atlanta’s Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management. As Watershed’s Commissioner, Macrina held a cabinet-level position from which she managed the City’s drinking water and wastewater systems and was responsible for an annual budget exceeding $500 million.
Jafari gave Smith and Macrina cash and other items of value to obtain business with the City of Atlanta. In exchange for those payments, Smith and Macrina conspired with Jafari to ensure that PRAD Group received City business worth millions of dollars, including conspiring to replace two evaluators on the selection team for the City’s Architectural and Engineering contract and to re-score an evaluation so that Jafari’s company would be awarded a contract.
During Smith’s tenure as the Chief Procurement Officer, the City of Atlanta awarded contracts worth millions of dollars to PRAD Group and joint venture projects of which PRAD Group was a partner. For years, Jafari met privately with Smith on multiple occasions, frequently at local restaurants. During these meetings, Jafari and Smith discussed City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations. Often at the time of these meetings, Jafari was actively seeking additional work and/or assistance with ongoing City projects. Jafari paid Smith $1,000 in cash in the bathroom of the restaurant after most of the meetings. In return for these bribe payments, Jafari expected Smith to use his position and power to assist Jafari with contracting/procurement with the City of Atlanta. From at least 2014 to January 2017, Jafari paid Smith more than $40,000 in cash with the intent to influence Smith in his role as the City of Atlanta’s Chief Procurement Officer.
In February 2017, Jafari became aware of the federal investigation into his bribe payments to Smith and confronted Smith at City Hall. Jafari insisted that Smith lie to the FBI by denying that Smith took bribe money from him.
From at least 2013 through May 2016, Macrina met with Jafari to discuss City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations. Often at the time of these meetings, Jafari was actively seeking contracts, projects, and work with the City of Atlanta. To obtain city work, Jafari promised Macrina a lucrative job with PRAD Group and, directly or through a PRAD Group employee, gave Macrina $10,000 in cash, jewelry, a room at a luxury hotel in Dubai, a luxury shopping trip in Dubai, and landscaping work at her home. Shortly after the City of Atlanta fired her, Macrina began working for Jafari and PRAD Group. Between June and September 2016, Jafari and/or PRAD Group paid Macrina $30,000 in four separate payments.
On April 8 and August 21, 2014, the FBI conducted undercover operations using a confidential source (who at the time was a high-ranking DeKalb County official). During two surreptitiously recorded meetings, the confidential source met with Jafari at local restaurants, where Jafari sought assistance from the confidential source to obtain work in DeKalb County. After the meetings, Jafari directed the confidential source to the bathroom of the restaurants where Jafari paid the confidential source between $1,000 and $1,500 in cash.
From 2014 to 2016, Jafari neither filed personal tax returns, nor paid any income taxes to the IRS. During those years, Jafari withdrew large amounts of cash from corporate bank accounts and used money from the PRAD Group’s accounts to pay for various personal expenses, including several luxury vehicles. Jafari evaded the payment of at least $1.5 million in taxes.
Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, 72, of Alpharetta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiratorial bribery, substantive bribery, and tax evasion. Sentencing is scheduled for July 19, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis and Nathan P. Kitchens, Trial Attorney Jolee Porter of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, and Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Heroin Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILFREDO ROSADO-RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Turtle,” 40, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rosado-Rodriguez was a close associate of Ivan Rosario, also known as “Ghost,” who headed a Bridgeport-based heroin trafficking organization that, between approximately April 2015 and March 2017, received at least 30 kilograms of heroin that had been transported from Mexico to Bridgeport hidden inside motorcycles equipped with secret compartments. The organization then distributed the drug in the Bridgeport area.
Rosado-Rodriguez’s primary role was transporting the organization’s cash proceeds to money launderers. In October 2015, law enforcement stopped a car Rosado-Rodriguez was driving and seized approximately $120,000 in suspected drug proceeds that he was couriering to New York.
On March 16, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez and five other individuals with heroin trafficking and related offenses. Rosado-Rodriguez was arrested on October 28, 2021. On September 20, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Rosado-Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest.
Rosario was convicted of a related charge and, on July 18, 2019, Judge Bryant sentenced him to 210 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boogaloo Movement Supporter Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A supporter of the “Boogaloo” movement pleaded guilty today to being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition, and for making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Timothy Allen Teagan, 23, of Plymouth, Michigan, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Sean F. Cox.
According to court records, Teagan is a supporter of the anti-government Boogaloo movement. Members of the Boogaloo movement advocate for the violent overthrow of the government. They believe that a civil war or uprising against the government is coming to the United States, and they refer to that conflict as the “Boogaloo.” On July 17, 2022, Teagan completed a Firearms Transaction Record, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, in connection with the acquisition of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Westland, Michigan. Teagan applied for the purchase of a Glock 34, 9 millimeter pistol. On the ATF Form 4473, Teagan checked “no” to the question concerning drug use. At the time Teagan prepared the ATF Form 4473 and submitted it, he was a frequent and habitual user of marijuana and was also addicted to the drug. Teagan lied on the ATF Form 4473 because he knew that he would be legally prohibited from purchasing and possessing a firearm if he answered truthfully and admitted that he was addicted to marijuana, or a habitual user of marijuana. Teagan subsequently purchased the Glock 9 mm pistol on July 20, 2022.
In addition, in October 2022, Teagan possessed a Diamondback Arms, Inc. DB-15 .556 caliber semi-automatic rifle and ammunition. Teagan stored the rifle and some of the ammunition in his bedroom at his father’s home located in Plymouth, Michigan. Teagan purchased the rifle in December 2019 from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Canton, Michigan. At the time of the December 2019 purchase, Teagan knew that he was a frequent and habitual user of marijuana and therefore not permitted to possess the firearm.
On October 27, 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Teagan’s father’s residence in Plymouth. During the search, agents recovered the DB-15 rifle, Level IV body armor, gas masks, dozens of rounds of rifle and pistol ammunition, an ACOG rifle sight, firearm magazines, and Boogaloo movement flags and patches. The Glock 9 mm pistol was recovered from a nearby vehicle.
“Individuals who illegally possess firearms and who lie to purchase them present a danger to our community,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “We will aggressively prosecute those who would violate and seek to circumvent federal firearms laws.”
“Working with our law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute individuals who lie about their habitual drug use in order to purchase a firearm helps keep our communities safe,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Investigations such as this show the FBI in Michigan is working diligently and tirelessly to protect the American people and uphold the United States Constitution.”
Teagan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the firearms possession charge, and a maximum of ten years in prison on the false statement charge. A sentencing hearing is set for August 16, 2023.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Bloodhound Brims Leader and Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering and Attempted Murders on Long IslandRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a 22-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging Jussiah Herbert, a leader of the Bloodhound Brims (BHB) street gang, and BHB gang members Brandon Hicks and Janell Johnson with racketeering, attempted murders in aid of racketeering, assaults and attempted assaults in aid of racketeering, firearms charges and narcotics possession and distribution. Herbert was arrested today in North Carolina and will make an initial appearance tomorrow in federal court in Winston-Salem. Hicks and Johnson were previously arrested and will be arraigned at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, Herbert showed zero regard for others by ordering his underlings to carry out shootings that wounded numerous victims and endangered the community just so he could maintain and increase the violent reputation of the ruthless street gang that he led,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue working relentlessly to address gun violence in our district and bring to justice members of violent gangs.”
“Jussiah Herbert is accused of using violence, fear, and intimidation to maintain his leadership of the Bloodhound Brims (BHB) street gang,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “He is alleged to have ruthlessly ordered gang members to commit horrific acts, to include attempted murder against suspected rival gang members to further his criminal enterprise and control Long Island neighborhoods so the BHB could thrive. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and free of violent gang members.”
As alleged in the indictment and court filings and proceedings, Herbert directed other BHB gang members, including Hicks, to shoot at members of rival gangs on August 16, 2020, August 25, 2020 and October 15, 2020 at locations in Brentwood, Central Islip and West Babylon, New York. During those shootings, four individuals were shot and suffered injuries as a result of the shootings. In a fourth incident, which occurred on September 15, 2021, in Bay Shore, New York, Herbert and other BHB members, including Johnson, shot at individuals whom they believed to be rival gang members.
Hicks was previously arrested on federal narcotics and firearms offenses in April 2021 and Johnson was previously arrested in December 2022 in connection with New York State conspiracy offenses. Both Hicks and Johnson are currently incarcerated and awaiting trial on the earlier charges.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Herbert faces up to a maximum sentence of 60 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant Arrested Today:
JUSSIAH HERBERT (also known as “Loko” and “Lokkoo BeenHoundin”)
Age: 26
Blanch, North CarolinaThe Defendants Previously Arrested:
BRANDON HICKS (also known as “Bang Swoop” and “Swoopy”)
Age: 21
Hauppauge, New YorkJANELL JOHSNON (also known as “Jahh Jahh” and “Glizzy”)
Age: 20
Shirley, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-164 (GRB)
Bemidji Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Murder and Assault on the Red Lake Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Bemidji woman has been sentenced to 240 months in prison for her role in a murder and an assault that took place in August 2019 on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, shortly before 1:00 a.m. on August 12, 2019, Alexia Gah Gi Gay Mary Cutbank, 21, Mia Faye Sumner, 21, of Duluth, and Daniel Charles Barrett, 31, of Redby, entered the garage of a Red Lake residence where Daniel Alan Johnson was known to reside. Cutbank, Sumner, and Barrett were masked and armed. Once inside, Cutbank fired multiple gunshots, fatally wounding Johnson and seriously injuring a second victim, T.B.S. The three defendants returned to the waiting vehicle and left the scene. To assist the defendants in avoiding arrest, Rose Celeste Siewert, 50, of Cass Lake, drove Cutbank, Barrett, and Sumner off the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
On September 20, 2022, Cutbank pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting murder in the second degree and one count of aiding and abetting assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Cutbank was sentenced yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. Sumner was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 120 months in prison and Siewert was sentenced on March 8, 2023, to 48 months in prison. Barrett will be sentenced at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the FBI, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Duluth Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad prosecuted the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Sacramento AreaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jose Manuel Navarro, 65, of San Luis, Arizona, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2019, a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity (UC) negotiated with an unknown male, using a Mexico telephone number, for the delivery of methamphetamine to the Sacramento area. The unknown male informed the UC that a third party would be calling the UC to coordinate an in-person meeting in the Sacramento area.
On May 19, 2019, Navarro called the UC and arranged to meet at a Target parking lot the following day. At the meeting, Navarro told the UC he had the “product” hidden in his truck. The two agreed to travel to a more discreet location to finish the deal. On the way to his location, a law enforcement officer pulled Navarro over for various traffic violations. Navarro consented to a search of his truck, and the officer found 68 pounds of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was 99% pure.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team with assistance from the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
Ardmore Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KEVIN BRUCE McGUIRE, 60, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder in Indian Country, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against McGuire alleging that he committed second-degree murder while illegally driving under the influence of alcohol.
Today, McGuire pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot to second-degree murder in Indian Country. According to public record, McGuire was driving under the influence of alcohol going the wrong direction on Highway I-35. He collided head-on into another vehicle, killing its driver. Public records further reflect that McGuire has six prior felony DUI convictions.
At sentencing, McGuire faces up to life in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years supervised release. In determining McGuire’s sentence, the Court will consider the nature and circumstances of the offense, McGuire’s history and characteristics, and the need to protect the public from further crimes of McGuire. Sentencing will take place in approximately 120 days.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
1st Adult & Pediatrics Healthcare to Pay $3 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. –1st Adult & Pediatrics Healthcare Services, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, has agreed to pay $3,000,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in fraudulent billing activities between January 2017 and May 2021 with regards to pediatric in-home health, personal care, and related services.
From 2017 and continuing through May 2021, 1st Adult & Pediatrics billed Virginia Medicaid for reimbursements for in-home health care services for pediatric patients who were actually hospitalized at the time the in-home services were billed. In addition, 1st Adult & Pediatrics routinely billed Virginian Medicaid for home health services that were not actually provided.
“The Medicaid and Medicare systems are important safety nets for many in our communities, especially vulnerable patients, like the seriously ill children involved in this case. We must do our part to keep them free of waste, fraud, and abuse,” Principal Deputy United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “I am grateful for our partnership with the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services in resolving this matter.”
“Those who take advantage of Virginians during some of their most vulnerable times must be held accountable. Thanks to the excellent work done by my office and our federal partners, this organization will have to answer for its illegitimate billing methods that exploited hospitalized pediatric patients,” Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said today.
“Providers that submit false Medicaid claims disregard their legal requirement to bill for services legitimately and, simultaneously, cheat the program on which their patients greatly rely,” stated Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In collaboration with fellow agencies, HHS-OIG is committed to preventing and detecting fraud in taxpayer-funded health care programs.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act against 1st Adult & Pediatrics. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement if the government takes over the case and reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant. In this case, the United States and Commonwealth of Virginia intervened in the whistleblower’s case and obtained default prior to settlement. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Patterson & Williams v. 1st Adult & Pediatrics Healthcare Services, Inc., Civil Action No. 6:19-cv-68.
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, the Office of the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lugar and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Division investigated the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
18 April 2023
United States Attorney's Office Launches Reentry Simulation Initiative to Commemorate National Second Chance MonthRead the Press Release
Philadelphia, PA - On Monday, April 17, 2023, in partnership with the National Constitution Center, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero hosted a Reentry Simulation to raise awareness about the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face when they reenter society. The event marked the launch of the United State Attorney's Office’s "Reentry Simulation Kits," distributed to community organizations and other stakeholders to encourage greater understanding and support efforts to promote successful reintegration.
Reentry Simulations are designed to help people understand the significant challenges faced by citizens returning home from prison. Versions of this exercise have been facilitated by U.S. Attorney's Offices and community and criminal justice organizations nationwide.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania redesigned the kits to facilitate conducting Simulations with easy-to-use, high-quality and reusable materials designed to replicate the challenges encountered such as obtaining identification, finding employment, and accessing essential services.
What is a Reentry Simulation?
The Simulation is a two-hour activity that prompts participants to walk in the shoes of someone who has just returned home from prison by providing them with tasks to complete within a certain amount of time.
The exercise is divided into four 15-minute segments, representing four weeks (the first month) of someone returning home. The participants receive a "wallet" with an "Identity Sheet," which lists information about their criminal offense and life circumstances. They also receive a "Life Card," which details the tasks they must complete, including complying with the terms of probation, finding a job, attending treatment, managing family responsibilities, paying bills, and purchasing food and transportation. The participants must move among several corresponding “stations” to complete the tasks at each station within the allotted time.
The Simulation is followed by a debrief and discussion about the criminal justice system and the complexities of Reentry. This exercise can create awareness about the barriers to Reentry, change perceptions about returning citizens and the criminal justice system, deepen empathy, and inspire people to think more about the workings of our criminal justice system.
“Promoting successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals is why we are here today to commemorate National Second Chance Month with the launch of the Reentry Simulation Initiative," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "In my previous role as an Assistant United States Attorney, I participated in the office's Reentry Court for years and I saw the struggles. I hope that our Reentry Simulation Kits and numerous simulations hosted after today will open up many more eyes and inspire understanding."
The United States Attorney's Office is committed to raising awareness about the importance of Reentry and to supporting initiatives that promote successful reintegration into society. Over the next several months, the Office will facilitate Simulations across the District with law enforcement, community members, non-profits, and people from all walks of life. By working together, we can ensure that our returning citizens have the tools and resources they need to succeed in their journey home.
U.S. Citizens and Russian Intelligence Officers Charged with Conspiring to Use U.S. Citizens as Illegal Agents of the Russian GovernmentRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, returned a superseding indictment charging four U.S. citizens and three Russian nationals with working on behalf of the Russian government and in conjunction with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to conduct a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States. Among other conduct, the superseding indictment alleges that the Russian defendants recruited, funded and directed U.S. political groups to act as unregistered illegal agents of the Russian government and sow discord and spread pro-Russian propaganda; the indicted intelligence officers, in particular, participated in covertly funding and directing candidates for local office within the United States.
Additionally, in a separate case out of the District of Columbia, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging Russian national Natalia Burlinova with conspiring with an FSB officer to act as an illegal agent of Russia in the United States.
“Russia’s foreign intelligence service allegedly weaponized our First Amendment rights – freedoms Russia denies its own citizens – to divide Americans and interfere in elections in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The department will not hesitate to expose and prosecute those who sow discord and corrupt U.S. elections in service of hostile foreign interests, regardless of whether the culprits are U.S. citizens or foreign individuals abroad.”
“Efforts by the Russian government to secretly influence U.S. elections will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As today’s announcement demonstrates, the Criminal Division is committed to eradicating foreign malign influence from the U.S. political system and helping ensure the integrity of our elections.”
“Today’s announcement paints a harrowing picture of Russian government actions and the lengths to which the FSB will go to interfere with our elections, sow discord in our nation and ultimately recruit U.S citizens to their efforts,” said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “All Americans should be deeply concerned by the tactics employed by the FSB and remain vigilant to any attempt to undermine our democracy. The FBI remains committed to confronting this egregious behavior and ultimately disrupting our adversaries and those who act on their behalf.”
United States v. Ionov, et al.
According to the superseding indictment returned in the Middle District of Florida, Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a resident of Moscow, was the founder and president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), an organization headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and funded by the Russian government. Ionov allegedly utilized AGMR to carry out Russia’s malign influence campaign. Ionov’s influence efforts were allegedly directed and supervised by Moscow-based FSB officers, including indicted defendants Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov.
“The prosecution of this criminal conduct is essential to protecting the American public when foreign governments seek to inject themselves into the American political process,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We thank our partners at the FBI for their tireless investigation of these events and their commitment to ensure justice is done.”
Among other illegal activities, the superseding indictment alleges that Ionov, Sukhodolov and Popov conspired to directly and substantially influence democratic elections in the United States by clandestinely funding and directing the political campaign of a particular candidate for local office in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2019. For instance, the superseding indictment alleges that Popov expressly referred to this effort on behalf of the FSB as “our election campaign,” and Ionov referring to the candidate as the “candidate whom we supervise.” Ionov and Popov allegedly intended that this election interference plot would extend beyond the 2019 local election cycle in St. Petersburg, and subsequently discussed that the “USA Presidential election” was the FSB’s “main topic of the year.”
Moreover, from at least November 2014 until July 2022, Ionov allegedly engaged in a years-long foreign malign influence campaign targeting the United States. As a part of the campaign, Ionov allegedly recruited members of political groups within the United States, including the African People’s Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement (collectively, the APSP) in Florida, Black Hammer in Georgia and a political group in California (referred to in the superseding indictment as U.S. Political Group 3), to participate in the influence campaign and act as agents of Russia in the United States, including the following indicted defendants:
- Omali Yeshitela, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as the chairman and founder of the APSP;
- Penny Joanne Hess, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as the leader of a component of the APSP;
- Jesse Nevel, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as a member of a component of the APSP; and
- Augustus C. Romain Jr., aka Gazi Kodzo, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Atlanta, who served as a leader of the APSP and a founder of Black Hammer in Georgia.
One focus of Ionov’s alleged influence operation was to create the appearance of American popular support for Russia’s annexation of territories in Ukraine. For example, in May 2020, Ionov allegedly sent a request he stated was from “Russia, the Donetsk People’s Republic” – an apparent reference to a Russian-occupied region in eastern Ukraine – to Yeshitela and members of other U.S. political groups to make statements in support of the independence of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a Russian-backed breakaway state in eastern Ukraine. Ionov later allegedly touted to the FSB that Yeshitela’s video-recorded statement of support was the first time that “American nonprofit organizations congratulated citizens” of the occupied region.
Ionov’s use of the APSP to promote Russian propaganda relating to Ukraine allegedly continued after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022, Ionov allegedly emailed Nevel an “URGENT MESSAGE” which contained pro-Russian talking points in support of the invasion. Thereafter, throughout March 2022, the APSP repeatedly hosted Ionov via video conference to discuss the war, during which Ionov falsely stated that anyone who supported Ukraine also supported Naziism and white supremacy, and Yeshitela and another APSP member allegedly made statements of solidarity with the Russian government.
Ionov, Sukhodolov, Popov, Yeshitela, Hess, Nevel and Romain are charged with conspiring to have U.S. citizens act as illegal agents of the Russian government within the United States without providing prior notification to the Attorney General, as required by law. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel are also charged with acting as agents of Russia within the United States without such prior notification. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan for the Middle District of Florida, Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorney Demetrius Sumner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
United States v. Burlinova
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint unsealed in the District of Columbia, Russian national Natalia Burlinova, a resident of Moscow, conspired with an FSB officer to recruit U.S. citizens from academic and research institutions to travel to Russia to participate in a public diplomacy program called Meeting Russia. The program was operated by PICREADI, a Russian organization led by Burlinova, funded by the Russian government and devoted to promoting Russian national interests.
“The defendant is accused of subverting our foreign agent notification laws to promote Russian national interests here in the United States, concealing from the public that her recruitment efforts were funded by a Russian security service,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to expose these serious crimes and hold all who perpetrate them accountable.”
The affidavit alleges that the FSB officer provided funding and other support for Burlinova’s foreign recruitment and her efforts to advance Russian interests in the United States. In return, Burlinova provided the FSB officer with extensive information about U.S. citizens who were recruited to attend her programs, including their résumés, passport information, photographs and analyses of their views toward Russia. Burlinova further identified for the FSB officer particular U.S. citizens who, in Burlinova’s view, had expressed positive attitudes towards Russia and were prepared to continue to collaborate. During a recruitment trip to the United States in fall 2018, Burlinova met with U.S. citizens at various universities and research institutions and provided to photographs of her meetings to the FSB officer. The FSB officer used the information Burlinova provided prepare FSB intelligence reports. Burlinova never notified the Attorney General of these efforts or otherwise disclosed to the public that her recruitment efforts were supported and funded by a Russian security service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Friedman for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Emma D. Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment and a complaint are merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Citizens and Russian Intelligence Officers Charged with Conspiring to Use U.S. Citizens as Illegal Agents of the Russian GovernmentRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, returned a superseding indictment charging four U.S. citizens and three Russian nationals with working on behalf of the Russian government and in conjunction with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to conduct a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States. Among other conduct, the superseding indictment alleges that the Russian defendants recruited, funded and directed U.S. political groups to act as unregistered illegal agents of the Russian government and sow discord and spread pro-Russian propaganda; the indicted intelligence officers, in particular, participated in covertly funding and directing candidates for local office within the United States.
Additionally, in a separate case out of the District of Columbia, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging Russian national Natalia Burlinova with conspiring with an FSB officer to act as an illegal agent of Russia in the United States.
“Russia’s foreign intelligence service allegedly weaponized our First Amendment rights – freedoms Russia denies its own citizens – to divide Americans and interfere in elections in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The department will not hesitate to expose and prosecute those who sow discord and corrupt U.S. elections in service of hostile foreign interests, regardless of whether the culprits are U.S. citizens or foreign individuals abroad.”
“Efforts by the Russian government to secretly influence U.S. elections will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As today’s announcement demonstrates, the Criminal Division is committed to eradicating foreign malign influence from the U.S. political system and helping ensure the integrity of our elections.”
“Today’s announcement paints a harrowing picture of Russian government actions and the lengths to which the FSB will go to interfere with our elections, sow discord in our nation and ultimately recruit U.S citizens to their efforts,” said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “All Americans should be deeply concerned by the tactics employed by the FSB and remain vigilant to any attempt to undermine our democracy. The FBI remains committed to confronting this egregious behavior and ultimately disrupting our adversaries and those who act on their behalf.”
United States v. Ionov, et al.
According to the superseding indictment returned in the Middle District of Florida, Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a resident of Moscow, was the founder and president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), an organization headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and funded by the Russian government. Ionov allegedly utilized AGMR to carry out Russia’s malign influence campaign. Ionov’s influence efforts were allegedly directed and supervised by Moscow-based FSB officers, including indicted defendants Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov.
“The prosecution of this criminal conduct is essential to protecting the American public when foreign governments seek to inject themselves into the American political process,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We thank our partners at the FBI for their tireless investigation of these events and their commitment to ensure justice is done.”
Among other illegal activities, the superseding indictment alleges that Ionov, Sukhodolov and Popov conspired to directly and substantially influence democratic elections in the United States by clandestinely funding and directing the political campaign of a particular candidate for local office in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2019. For instance, the superseding indictment alleges that Popov expressly referred to this effort on behalf of the FSB as “our election campaign,” and Ionov referring to the candidate as the “candidate whom we supervise.” Ionov and Popov allegedly intended that this election interference plot would extend beyond the 2019 local election cycle in St. Petersburg, and subsequently discussed that the “USA Presidential election” was the FSB’s “main topic of the year.”
Moreover, from at least November 2014 until July 2022, Ionov allegedly engaged in a years-long foreign malign influence campaign targeting the United States. As a part of the campaign, Ionov allegedly recruited members of political groups within the United States, including the African People’s Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement (collectively, the APSP) in Florida, Black Hammer in Georgia and a political group in California (referred to in the superseding indictment as U.S. Political Group 3), to participate in the influence campaign and act as agents of Russia in the United States, including the following indicted defendants:
- Omali Yeshitela, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as the chairman and founder of the APSP;
- Penny Joanne Hess, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as the leader of a component of the APSP;
- Jesse Nevel, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, who served as a member of a component of the APSP; and
- Augustus C. Romain Jr., aka Gazi Kodzo, a U.S. citizen residing in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Atlanta, who served as a leader of the APSP and a founder of Black Hammer in Georgia.
One focus of Ionov’s alleged influence operation was to create the appearance of American popular support for Russia’s annexation of territories in Ukraine. For example, in May 2020, Ionov allegedly sent a request he stated was from “Russia, the Donetsk People’s Republic” – an apparent reference to a Russian-occupied region in eastern Ukraine – to Yeshitela and members of other U.S. political groups to make statements in support of the independence of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a Russian-backed breakaway state in eastern Ukraine. Ionov later allegedly touted to the FSB that Yeshitela’s video-recorded statement of support was the first time that “American nonprofit organizations congratulated citizens” of the occupied region.
Ionov’s use of the APSP to promote Russian propaganda relating to Ukraine allegedly continued after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022, Ionov allegedly emailed Nevel an “URGENT MESSAGE” which contained pro-Russian talking points in support of the invasion. Thereafter, throughout March 2022, the APSP repeatedly hosted Ionov via video conference to discuss the war, during which Ionov falsely stated that anyone who supported Ukraine also supported Naziism and white supremacy, and Yeshitela and another APSP member allegedly made statements of solidarity with the Russian government.
Ionov, Sukhodolov, Popov, Yeshitela, Hess, Nevel and Romain are charged with conspiring to have U.S. citizens act as illegal agents of the Russian government within the United States without providing prior notification to the Attorney General, as required by law. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel are also charged with acting as agents of Russia within the United States without such prior notification. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan for the Middle District of Florida, Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorney Demetrius Sumner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
United States v. Burlinova
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint unsealed in the District of Columbia, Russian national Natalia Burlinova, a resident of Moscow, conspired with an FSB officer to recruit U.S. citizens from academic and research institutions to travel to Russia to participate in a public diplomacy program called Meeting Russia. The program was operated by PICREADI, a Russian organization led by Burlinova, funded by the Russian government and devoted to promoting Russian national interests.
“The defendant is accused of subverting our foreign agent notification laws to promote Russian national interests here in the United States, concealing from the public that her recruitment efforts were funded by a Russian security service,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to expose these serious crimes and hold all who perpetrate them accountable.”
The affidavit alleges that the FSB officer provided funding and other support for Burlinova’s foreign recruitment and her efforts to advance Russian interests in the United States. In return, Burlinova provided the FSB officer with extensive information about U.S. citizens who were recruited to attend her programs, including their résumés, passport information, photographs and analyses of their views toward Russia. Burlinova further identified for the FSB officer particular U.S. citizens who, in Burlinova’s view, had expressed positive attitudes towards Russia and were prepared to continue to collaborate. During a recruitment trip to the United States in fall 2018, Burlinova met with U.S. citizens at various universities and research institutions and provided to photographs of her meetings to the FSB officer. The FSB officer used the information Burlinova provided prepare FSB intelligence reports. Burlinova never notified the Attorney General of these efforts or otherwise disclosed to the public that her recruitment efforts were supported and funded by a Russian security service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Friedman for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Emma D. Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment and a complaint are merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Second Community Hate Crimes Prevention PresentationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced the completion of an event designed to help community members and leaders have a better understanding of hate crimes and how to report them to law enforcement.
Yesterday evening, EDVA hosted a presentation called “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Hate Crimes” at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. Members of the Richmond community, as well as organizations representing those who are at risk of being targeted in hate crimes, were invited to the event. The goal of this event series is to empower community members to prevent and respond to hate crimes and incidents by meeting and facilitating conversations with the law enforcement members to whom they can direct questions and reports about hate crimes and hate incidents.
“Hate or bias-motivated crimes are some of important crimes that we prosecute in EDVA. All citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation, regardless of their background or identity, deserve to live freely and without fear of discrimination and violence,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The United Against Hate event is only the beginning of many conversations and action steps that our office and our law enforcement partners are taking to increase public awareness about hate crimes and how to report them. EDVA, alongside community organizations such as the Weinstein JCC, encourage the community to come together to call out hatred, report all incidents of hate crimes, and help us create neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming to all.”
The speakers at the event included U.S. Attorney Aber and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Anthony and Nick Durham. Speakers also included law enforcement professionals from the FBI Richmond Field Office and Virginia State Police.
Through hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, United Against Hate promotes robust interaction between community members and law enforcement participants. Program topics include defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.
To request a United Against Hate presentation at your organization, house of worship, or school, please contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Durham, EDVA Civil Rights Coordinator, at (703) 299-3700.
On May 27, 2021, Attorney General Garland issued a memorandum on “Improving the Department’s Efforts to Combat Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents,” which emphasized the importance of prioritizing community outreach around hate crimes. The United Against Hate presentation, developed by the Department’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative, is designed to meet that objective. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia applied for and was proud to be selected for the first national phase of this important program.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Two fraudsters sent to prison for COVID-19 fraud schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Florida man and Texas woman have been ordered to prison following their conviction of wire fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dylan Kinlock, 30, Orlando, Florida, and Felicia Garza, 37, Houston, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the United States of COVID-related disaster loan proceeds.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Kinlock to serve 56 months in federal prison, while Garza received 24-month-term of imprisonment. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following completion of prison terms. Additionally, the Court ordered Dylan Kinlock to forfeit to the United States $312,573.05 in funds found in a bank account as well as his home in Orlando. Kinlock was also ordered to pay restitution to the United States in the amount of $939,379, offset by the amount recovered by the forfeiture.
Kinlock and Garza admitted they devised a scheme to solicit others to fraudulently apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided. The two utilized victims’ personal information to create falsified documents and applied for a PPP loan on their behalf.
The fraud scheme resulted in at least 241 fraudulent PPP loans which led to the distribution of more than $1 million. Kinlock received at least $939,379 in fee income from individuals he assisted in securing the fraudulent PPP Loans. Garza was paid by Kinlock to refer PPP clients to him. She also helped Kinlock file a fraudulent PPP loan application on her own behalf.
Numerous individuals residing in the Southern District of Texas applied for PPP loans through Kinlock. They were referred to Kinlock by Garza and they all reported that Kinlock attached fraudulent documents to their application without their knowledge, and the applications contained false statements about the number of employees their business had.
The false documents included fictitious Schedule C tax forms reporting profit or loss from a business, 1099-MISC forms and invoices reporting incorrect income to qualify for the loans. Kinlock and Garza solicited each victim to execute a contract in which they agreed to share a portion of their PPP loans.
After clients received their PPP loan funds, Kinlock directed the client to send fees through various means including direct deposit into a bank account or electronic payment methods such as Zelle, CashApp or Venmo. Fees ranged from $3000 to $4,000 per loan or 20% of the amount the client received.
Both used the monies for their personal benefit. Notably, Kinlock used some of the funds to pay off his home in Florida. As part of his plea, he also agreed to forfeit that residence.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 27, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who suffered the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kinlock will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Garza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.
Two charged in scheme to illegally purchase firearms and transfer them to othersRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two South King County men were charged today with multiple firearms offenses for their involvement in the purchase of more than 100 firearms in an apparent “straw purchaser” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Dion Jamar Cooper, 31, of Kent, Washington and De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, aka Deondre Lamontia McDougle, 32, of Federal Way, Washington were charged by criminal complaint. Phillips and Cooper will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
“The alleged straw purchaser in this case bought more than 100 firearms in less than two years – and two dozen of the firearms have been linked to crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Schemes like this put our community at significant risk. We will use all tools – including new criminal statutes passed by congress – to stop such conduct.”
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in late January with the assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley. The victim was able to flee in her car. Police found a firearm in her vehicle that had been dropped by one of the assailants. A check of the firearm revealed it had been purchased by Dion Jamar Cooper on December 10, 2022. That recovery led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) to check Cooper’s purchase history. Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021. On 24 different instances he purchased multiple firearms – sometime four or more. Of the 107 firearms identified as being purchased in this scheme, 24 of the guns have been recovered and linked to crimes.
During March and April 2023, agents surveilled Cooper as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. Agents identified De’ondre Lamontia Phillips as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he purchased the firearms. Phillips is prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms due to convictions for distribution of heroin (2014) and convictions for illegal firearms possession and two counts of assault (2009). Surveillance of the two revealed Cooper turning the firearms over to Phillips who stored them in his residence.
Cooper and Phillips are charged with Straw Purchasing of Firearms, involving ten different guns. Both men are also charged with two counts of trafficking in firearms. Phillips is charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Phillips is also charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
Straw Purchasing of Firearms and Trafficking in Firearms are both punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possession of controlled substances in this case is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years and up to 40 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other charges. Unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Two Individuals Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach sentenced José Luis González Rivera to 292 months (24 years and four months) in prison and 10 years of supervised release for production of child pornography and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
According to court documents, from March 2019 through March 2020, José Luis González Rivera knowingly employed, used, induced, and coerced a female minor when she was between the age of 14 to 16 years old to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing videos and still images using a cell phone with camera capabilities, which was manufactured outside of Puerto Rico. Also, the defendant transported the female minor victim to a motel with the intent to engage in sexual activity and to produce sexually explicit images.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force agents in Ponce, Puerto Rico, investigated the case.
In a separate case, U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado sentenced Luis Márquez Díaz to 204 months (17 years) in prison and seven years of supervised release for production of child exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material.
According to court documents, defendant Márquez Díaz communicated via social media with at least two female minors in a sexually explicit manner, sent them sexually explicit images and requested that the minors send him sexually explicit images.
A forensic review of the electronic devices seized from defendant Márquez Díaz revealed more than 600 images, both still images and videos, of child pornography, to include sexually explicit images of minors under the age of twelve and images depicting sadistic and masochistic abuse of minors and toddlers. The FBI investigated this matter.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico, HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph González made the announcements.
Assistant United States Attorney Jenifer Hernández, Chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, prosecuted the cases.
# # #
Three Individuals Indicted on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that FERMIN DANIEL PUENTE-MONTOYA, age 31, ALEJANDRO AGUILAR-RAMOS, age 30, and ELIAS SALAS, age 19, were all indicted on April 14th, 2023 on two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846. PUENTE-MONTOYA was also indicted on one count of Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, PUENTE-MONTOYA, AGUILAR-RAMOS, and SALAS conspired to traffic large quantities of illegal narcotics from Houston, Texas to Kenner, Louisiana. If convicted on the drug counts, all three defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment , up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Regarding the illegal reentry count, PUENTE-MONTOYA faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U. S. Attorney Evans also praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kenner Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Sturgis Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 14, 2023.
Dallas Ford, 29, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ford was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2023.
The charge stems from Ford illegal possessing a .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol in December of 2021 in Sturgis.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, and the Sturgis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Ford was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney Randy SeilerRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Today, United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell of the District of South Dakota issued the following statement on the death of former U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler:
“With profound sadness, our office mourns the untimely passing of our friend and former colleague Randy Seiler. Randy served South Dakota for over two decades as a federal prosecutor and, ultimately, as United States Attorney. He led with unparalleled dedication to the cause of justice and equality under the law. Randy was an inspiring and tenacious leader, and we will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with Randy’s wife, Wanda, and their family during this difficult time.”
Somerville Tax Preparer Arrested for False Tax Returns SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Somerville tax preparer has been arrested for allegedly preparing false tax returns in the names of taxpayers.
Yves Isidor, 67, was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns. Isidor was arrested on April 14, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was released on conditions and an unsecured bond.According to the indictment, from at least 2012 through 2016, Isidor operated under the name Tax and Realty Pro – a Malden tax preparation business – to file more than 1,200 tax returns in the names of clients, charging from $100 to $500 per return. He allegedly added false information to returns to claim deductions for fictitious medical and dental expenses, personal property taxes, gifts to charities, general sales taxes and unreimbursed employee business expenses. As a result, the indictment alleges that some taxpayers paid lower taxes than they owed and, in most cases, received tax refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses to the IRS.
The charges of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. 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 Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sioux City Woman to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine with others was sentenced on April 14, 2023, to 37 months in federal prison.
Kimberly Hansen, 58, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on October 21, 2022, in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Hansen was involved in a conspiracy with 7-8 other persons that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2019. On 12 occasions, Hansen received multiple pounds of meth through the mail from California for local drug dealer Melroy Johnson Sr. Hansen also traveled to California and acquired multiple pounds of methamphetamine from the same California source, then transported the meth back to Sioux City, Iowa, for distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hansen was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 2-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Hansen remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4086. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sex Offender from Advance Sentenced to Serve 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Darrell D. Meador, Jr., 38, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 11 years in federal prison for the offense of possession of child pornography.
Meador appeared for his sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Meador, of Advance, in Stoddard County, Missouri, began serving a term of supervised release in 2018 following his release from federal prison for a prior child pornography conviction, according to court documents. Last May, Meador’s probation officer discovered images of child pornography on a cell phone Meador was using.
At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Meador admitted that he used the cell phone to search for child pornography over the internet. After serving his 11-year sentence, Meador will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life. He will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the Government.
Security guard detained for attempted human smugglingRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 59-year-old legal permanent resident of Mission has been ordered to remain in custody for his role in attempting to smuggle an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ernesto Gaona-Gonzalez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano who found him to be a danger to the community and a flight risk and ordered him to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
A federal grand jury retuned the indictment April 5, which was unsealed upon his arrest April 12.
Gaona allegedly attempted to transport an alien by motor vehicle through Mission.
Gaona was employed as a security guard for the purpose of checking vehicles entering Anzalduas Park in Mission.
At the hearing today, the court heard that on Sept. 4, 2022, a female undocumented non-citizen was allegedly being held against her will. Gaona allegedly had the victim in his vehicle and contacted a friend for money in exchange for releasing her.
If convicted, Gaona faces up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and the Federal Air Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Russian Public Diplomacy Advocate Charged with Acting as Agent of Russian Federation in the United StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging Russian national Natalia Burlinova with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation in the United States without prior notification to the Attorney General.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division Matthew G. Olsen, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office James A. Tarasca.
“The defendant is accused of subverting our foreign agent notification laws in order to promote Russian national interests here in the United States, concealing from the public that her recruitment efforts were funded by a Russian security service,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “We will continue to expose these serious crimes and hold all who perpetrate them accountable.”
“The defendant is accused of exploiting academic and research institutions’ commitment to the free exchange of ideas in order to promote Russian interests,” said Special Agent in Charge Tarasca. “The FBI will continue to prioritize counterintelligence because of the importance of protecting our nation’s vital secrets, and we will work with our partners to investigate and stop individuals who hide their work for foreign governments.”
According to the affidavit in support of criminal complaint, Burlinova recruited U.S. citizens from academic and research institutions to travel to Russia in order to participate in a public diplomacy program called Meeting Russia. The program was operated by a Russian organization called PICREADI that was funded by the Russian government and devoted to Russian national interests. Burlinova’s co-conspirator was employed by the Russian Federal Security Service (“FSB”), Russia’s principal security service with counterintelligence and surveillance responsibilities. The FSB Officer provided funding and other support for Burlinova’s foreign recruitment and her efforts to advance Russian interests in the United States.
The affidavit in support of criminal complaint states that Burlinova provided extensive information to the FSB Officer about the U.S. citizens that were recruited to attend her programs, including resumes, passport information, photographs, and analysis of their views towards Russia. Burlinova informed the FSB Officer about particular U.S. citizens who, in Burlinova’s view, had expressed positive attitudes towards Russia and were prepared to continue to collaborate. The FSB Officer used the information to prepare security service reports. During a recruitment trip to the United States in fall 2018, Burlinova met with U.S. citizens at various universities and research institutions and provided to photographs of her meetings to the FSB Officer. Burlinova never notified the Attorney General of these efforts or otherwise disclosed to the public that her recruitment efforts were funded by a Russian security service.
Burlinova was sanctioned by the Department of the Treasury on July 29, 2022.
The factual allegations in a criminal complaint are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant faces up to ten years of imprisonment if convicted.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Emma D. Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Red Lake Felon Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Firearm Possession, Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 22, 2022, after Matt Dion Sayers, 47, had escaped from Red Lake Police custody, agents began investigating Sayers for suspected ongoing drug distribution from a motel in Bemidji. Agents observed Sayers arrive and park his vehicle at the motel, and then enter and exit a silver van parked nearby. Law enforcement detained Sayers moments after he left the van for suspicion of controlled substance sales and driving without a valid driver's license. Sayers told agents that he was staying at a room inside the motel, for which agents had already obtained a search warrant. During a search, agents found approximately 46 grams of fentanyl powder in Sayers’ pants pocket. During a search of Sayers’ Chevy Impala, law enforcement located approximately $11,000 in cash, a small safe containing various packaged controlled substances (including but not limited to multiple additional fentanyl and methamphetamine in small baggies). Law enforcement also located a loaded UZI Pro Brand 9 x 19 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was found on the front driver's side floorboard.
Sayers pleaded guilty on December 13, 2022, to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 16, 2023, before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion and Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.