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Tuesday 21 February 2023
مكتب المدعي العام الأمريكي للمقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك ينضم إلى وزارة الأمن الداخلي، وزارة الخارجية ومتحف السميثونيان الوطني للفن الآسيوي في أكبر إعادة لممتلكات حضارية مسروقة إلى اليمنRead the Press Release
واشنطن – مساء الأمس، قام مكتب المدعي العام الأمريكي للمقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك ووزارة الأمن الداخلي الأمريكية ووزارة الخارجية الأمريكية ومعهد سميثونيان بالاشتراك في أحتفال تاريخي بإعادة 77 قطعة من ممتلكات الفن الحضاري المسروق والتي قام مسئولي حفظ القانون الأمريكي بالتحفظ عليها إلى حكومة جمهورية اليمن.
تشمل هذه الآثار 64 من الرؤوس الحجرية المحفورة و11 من صفحات مخطوطة للقرآن الكريم، وطبق من البرونز به كتابة، ونصب جنائزي من معان أو حضارات معين القبلية من المرتفعات الشمالية - الغربية في اليمن والتي تعود إلى القرن الأول قبل الميلاد.
تم مصادرة الرؤوس الحجرية المنحوتة ال 64 إلى الولايات المتحدة عن طريق تنفيذ أمر مصادرة قام به مكتب المدعي العام الأمريكي للمقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك متعلق بالإقرار بالذنب الخاص بمهرب للآثار يدعى موسى خولي ومعروف باسم "موريس خولي" في شهر أبريل 2012. وطبقا للشكوى القضائية المتعلقة بالمصادرة، تم تهريب الرؤوس الحجرية المنحوتة ال 64 إلى الولايات المتحدة من دولة الأمارات العربية المتحدة مع مراسلات وإيصالات تحتوي على العديد من المعلومات الغير متناسقة وتم التحفظ عليها من منزل ومعرض خولي. تم مصادرة آثار أخرى في نفس القضية وإعادتها إلى مصر في شهر أبريل 2015.
صرح المدعى العام الأمريكي بريون بيس أن "مكتبنا ليفخر أن العمل الذي قام به في هذه القضية أدى إلى إعادة هذه الآثار الثقافية الهامة إلى موطنها الأصلي في اليمن".
صرح القائم بإعمال مساعد مدير تحقيقات وزارة الأمن الداخلي التنفيذي ستيف ك. فرانسيس أن "يتشرف مكتب تحقيقات وزارة الأمن الداخلي أن يعمل يدا بيد مع شركائنا الذين يشملوا وزارة الجمارك وتأمين الحدود الأمريكية ووزارة الخارجية الأمريكية ومكتب المدعي العام الأمريكي للمقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك ومعهد سميثونيان والسفير محمد الحضرمي لإعادة كنز الآثار هذا إلى شعب اليمن،" كما أضاف أنه "كثيرا ما يحدث أن يتم إعطاء قيمة مالية للممتلكات والفن والتحف المسروقة في السوق، ولكن القيمة التاريخية والأهمية الحضارية لهذه الآثار تفوق بكثير أي قيمة مالية. أن مكتب تحقيقات وزارة الأمن الداخلي يفخر بأنه لعب دورا في وضع اليد واسترجاع هذا الأرث الحضاري الذي لا يُقدر بمال إلى الشعب اليمني ليستمتعوا به لأجيال قادمة".
صرح السفير محمد الحضرمي "بالنيابة عن حكومة اليمن، أعبر عن أمتناني الجزيل للحكومة الأمريكية وخاصة وزارة الأمن الداخلي الأمريكية ووزارة الخارجية الأمريكية ومكتب المدعي العام الأمريكي للمقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك لكل الجهد المبذول في استرجاع وإعادة هذه الآثار اليمنية. منذ بداية الانقلاب الحوثي في اليمن، أضحى أرثنا وتاريخنا تحت الهجوم، وأن سفارة اليمن ستظل مستمرة في تواصلها مع الحكومة الأمريكية لتعقب واسترجاع الممتلكات والأرث التاريخي المسروق الخاص باليمن. أود أيضا أن أؤكد على أمتناني الشديد لمتحف السميثونيان الوطني للفن الآسيوي لموافقته على الاحتفاظ بهذه الآثار بصفة مؤقتة حتى يتم اعادتها بالكامل إلى اليمن في المستقبل".
يشكل إعادة هذه الآثار المسروقة علامة فارقة في العلاقات الأمريكية - اليمنية حيث إن انتهاء التحقيق الأمريكي الدؤوب للتعرف على وتحديد أماكن هذه الممتلكات الحضارية والتحفظ عليها والتأكد من مكانتها هو تاريخيا أكبر عدد من هذه الآثار التي قامت الحكومة الأمريكية باعادتها إلى المسئولين اليمنين منذ ما يقرب من 20 عاما.
قامت حكومة اليمن بالتوصل إلى أتفاق مع متحف السميثونيان الوطني للفن الآسيوي للأحتفاظ بهذه الآثار لمدة عامين قابلة للتمديد بطلب من الحكومة اليمنية، وستقوم السفارة بتقديم النصح بخصوص الوصول والبحوث والمحافظة على هذه القطع.
قام مساعد المدعى العام الأمريكي كلير س. كاديشيان من القسم الجنائي، قطاع استرجاع الممتلكات، بالأدعاء في هذه القضية.
المتهمين:
موسى خولي، والمعروف بإسم "موريس خولي"
العمر: 38 سنوات
بروكلين، نيويورك
سجل المقاطعة الشرقية لمدينة نيويورك رقم: CR 11-00340 (EDNY) (ERK)
الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية ضد العديد من الآثار والممتلكات الحضارية الُمتحفظ عليها بأسم آثار وندسور و/أو موسى خولي وشركائه CV 11-2889 (ERK).
Woodland Woman Sentenced to 10 Years Conspiring to Distribute and Possessing with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Woodland, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on her convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Cassandra Wallace, age 37, of Woodland, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, from July 2019 to June 2020, Wallace did conspire to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Further, on December 18, 2019, Wallace did distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Wallace. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Woman Pleads to Voluntary Manslaughter While Armed in August 2022 KillingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Alexis Hawkins, 46, of Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the August 14, 2022 killing of Cynthia Stewart and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in an unrelated case, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The plea was entered on February 17, 2023, before the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The defendant faces a possible sentence of eight and a half to 12 years in prison, followed by supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 14, 2022, officers of the Metropolitan Police Department responded to an apartment in the 3900 block of 4th Street SE in reference to a stabbing. Upon their arrival officers discovered the decedent suffering from multiple stab wounds to the body, including a fatal stab wound to the chest.
The investigation revealed that prior to the killing, the decedent was inside an apartment with two other women. Hawkins came over to the apartment and began to argue with the decedent. The argument then turned physical when Hawkins began hitting the decedent. During the physical altercation, Hawkins grabbed a knife out of her bag and stabbed the decedent multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Hawkins was arrested on August 25, 2022. She has been in custody since that time.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Gilbert and Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Miles Janssen, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced to 300 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tysheen Gott, a/k/a, “LB,” age 46, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 17, 2023 to 300 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, and tramadol.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gott was responsible for having conspired to distribute in excess of 14 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin throughout Luzerne and surrounding counties.
Gott was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release upon release from custody.
Gott was one of eleven defendants indicted in May 2020. With the exception of Gott, all other co-conspirators pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Gott was convicted on all charges by a jury after a trial that took place in August 2021.
This case was the result of a year-long investigation, in part driven by multiple federal wiretaps conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Scranton Police Department, the Pittston City Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Robert O’Hara prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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West Texas Man Arrested, Charged with Bribing HSI AgentRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Seminole man was arrested Thursday in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged bribery of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent.
According to the criminal complaint, Pedro Thiessen, 70, failed to declare more than $10,000 when entering the United States at the Ysleta Port of Entry in October 2022. Thiessen filed a petition to recover the funds and was interviewed by an HSI agent in January 2023 regarding the petition. An affidavit attached to the complaint alleges that Thiessen offered to pay the agent an unknown amount of money if the agent assisted with the recovery. The agent reported the offer to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The affidavit alleges that Thiessen again proposed a monetary offer to the agent during a phone call on Feb. 6. On Feb. 15, the agent arranged a meeting with Thiessen for the following day. According to the court documents, Thiessen presented the agent with $1,000 at that meeting and was immediately arrested.
Thiessen is charged with bribery of public officials. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division made the announcement.
HSI and ICE OPR are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of A Firearm in Connection with A Murder and A Robbery, and for A Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Madani Ilara Tejan, a/k/a “Malik,” “Mylik,” and “Dani,” age 30, of Washington, D.C., late on February 17, 2023, for using a firearm in connection with murder and robbery, and for a drug distribution conspiracy.
The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Robert J. Contee of the Metropolitan Police Department; Director Corenne Labbé of the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections; and Director Thomas N. Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections.
According to the evidence presented at this nine-day trial, on October 3, 2018, Tejan met with a drug customer, to whom Tejan had arranged to sell drugs. During the meeting, Tejan shot and killed the drug customer, then stole the victim’s car, wallet, and other personal items. On October 20, 2018, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, associated with Tejan and law enforcement recovered the victim’s wallet, two bags of marijuana and a prepaid cellular phone. Investigation revealed that the prepaid phone had been in contact with the victim’s phone several times on October 3, 2018 and was used interchangeably with Tejan’s registered phone to communicate with the victim in the hours before his murder. Additionally, 1,013 fentanyl pills were seized from Tejan while he was residing in a government-run residential facility. Tejan’s social media accounts and phone messages revealed that he distributed fentanyl marketed as oxycodone as well as other prescription drugs and marijuana to multiple individuals, including the victim.
Tejan faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and for an armed commercial robbery; and a maximum of life in federal prison for use of a firearm to commit murder in relation to a crime of violence. No sentencing date has been set for Tejan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite commended the FBI, DEA, Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, D.C. Department of Corrections, for their work in the investigation and thanked the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin R. Cottingham and Trial Attorneys Gerald A. A. Collins and Lisa K. Man of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Washington Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2019 Murder of Alillia MinthornRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jordan Everett Stevens, age 31 of Wapato, Washington was sentenced by Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastian for the 2019 murder of Alillia “Lala” Minthorn. Stevens was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Following today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “the execution and murder of this young indigenous woman was horrific. It is the obligation of law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office to seek justice for all victims and their family members. Not everyone who suffered a loss in this case will be able to find solace despite the lifetime of imprisonment that was handed down today, and our hearts go out to Ms. Minthorn’s family.”
According to court documents and evidence elicited at trial, on May 3, 2019, a family member reported that Ms. Minthorn was missing. She was last seen in the Toppenish area, getting into a car. Approximately two weeks later, an eyewitness informed the FBI that Stevens shot and killed Ms. Minthorn in the closed portion of the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation, north of Brownstown, Washington. The witness told investigators she and another woman were present when Stevens killed Ms. Minthorn. FBI Special Agents and Yakama Nation Police Department officers searched the area described by the witness; however, because the area was remote and vast, Ms. Minthorn’s body was not found at that time. On May 29, 2019, the witness led agents to Ms. Minthorn’s body. An autopsy later confirmed that Ms. Minthorn had been killed by a single gunshot to the head.
The trial of Jordan Stevens began on June 7, 2021, and the jury returned a guilty verdict on June 10, 2021. Stevens was found guilty of one count of First-Degree Murder and one count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
At today’s sentencing, Chief Judge Stanley Bastian, who presided over the jury trial, stated that Stevens made “the decision to execute Alillia Menthord – a decision that [he] has to live with and a decision that [he] will have to pay for.” In pronouncing Stevens’s sentence, Chief Judge Bastian then expressed his heartfelt sorrow to the family of the victim and explaining that Stevens “victimized and hurt an entire community.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who worked to bring justice to the victims of Stevens’s crimes. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “This sentence demonstrates that those who victimize members of our community will be held accountable and punished to the full extent of the law. However, a lengthy sentence in this case cannot substitute for the tragic loss of the life of this young woman. As a result of today’s sentence, the Eastern District of Washington is safer and more secure. I am grateful for the dedication and perseverance of the FBI and the Yakama Nation Tribal Police, who worked closely with Assistant United States Attorneys Ben Seal and Rick Burson to see this case through.”
“Life in prison is not a sentence we see often” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “While no sentence will undue the crimes perpetrated by Mr. Stevens, it will prevent him from victimizing anyone on the Yakama Reservation again. I appreciate the work of our investigators and partners, who too often have to respond to scenes of violence like this.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Yakama Nation Tribal Police, Washington State Highway Patrol, the Klickitat County Sherriff’s Department, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Ben Seal and Rick Burson, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
1:19-cr-02038-SAB
Washington D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Assault Charges in Connection with a Triple ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Glenn Dolford, 30, of Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty to one count of 2nd degree murder while armed, one count of aggravated assault while armed and one count of assault with a deadly weapon for the murder of Raheem Murray and shooting of Corvell Hayden and Marco Harper on February 2, 2020 (Superbowl Sunday) in the 4000 block of 3rd Street, SE. Dolford entered his guilty pleas on February 17, 2023 before Judge Maribeth Raffinan. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 25, 2023.
On February 2, 2020, at approximately 4:00 PM, a dark colored sedan pulled into the 4000 block of 3rd Street, SE, where the three victims were standing on the sidewalk discussing where they were going to watch the Superbowl. As they chatted, the dark colored sedan pulled into the block and slowed to a stop in the middle of the street. Once the car was stopped, two individuals got out of the passenger side of the car and began shooting rifle styled firearms at the three victims. The defendant, got out of the back passenger side door while firing his weapon. Victims Corvell Hayden and Marco Harper immediately took off running from the scene, both sustained gunshot wounds. Corvell Hayden was shot ten times, Marco Harper was shot twice, and Raheem Murray fell to the ground. As the victims fled and Mr. Murray fell and the fifty-seven rounds of ammunition littered the block, two young children ages 4 and 6 who were not injured, also fled the scene with their father. As the onslaught continued and after Mr. Murray fell to the ground, the defendant ran to where Mr. Murray laid on the ground, stood over him, and shot him in the head.
Using video surveillance footage from before, during, and after the shooting, detectives created a still shot of the shooter and showed it to a witness familiar with the defendant. The witness was able to identify the person in the still from the video surveillance, the individual who shot Mr. Murray in the head, as Glenn Dolford.
The plea was an 11(c)(1)(c) plea. The agreed upon sentence is 22.5 years followed by five years of supervised release.
In announcing the plea, United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Contee, III, commended the work of the officers and detectives with the MPD, most notably the lead detective from the Homicide Unit, Michael Pepperman, as well as the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marybeth Manfreda.
Virginia Woman Sentenced in Cryptocurrency Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Virginia woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.
Lois Boyd, 76, of Amelia Court House, Virginia, pleaded guilty on June 14, 2022, to interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, Boyd was involved in a transnational money laundering network involved in the laundering of criminal proceeds derived from various fraud schemes. Boyd and her co-conspirators exchanged criminal proceeds for cryptocurrency and directed the cryptocurrency to wallets under the control of their foreign co-conspirators. In August 2020, Boyd and her co-conspirators traveled to Longview, Texas, where they attempted to exchange approximately $450,000 in criminal proceeds for Bitcoin.
On June 16, 2021, Boyd was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, charging her with interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises and money laundering.
On April 6, 2022, Boyd’s co-conspirator, Deependra Bhusal, 47, of Irving, Texas, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his role in the cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy.
This effort is part of Operation Crypto Runner, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigations arising from the operation are being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and are being led and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and L. Frank Coan, Jr., with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and the Department’s Office of International Affairs.
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Un“lucky” fugitive sent to prison for double firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 49-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sent to prison following his convictions of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Joe Adam Ramirez aka Lucky pleaded guilty March 2, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, ordered Ramirez to serve 160 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Ramirez was sending threatening letters while in a detention facility. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Ramirez’s significant and lengthy criminal history.
At the time of his plea, Ramirez admitted that on Sept. 4, 2020, he was in possession of drugs and a gun. Ramirez was a known fugitive.
On that day, authorities were able to locate him at a hotel in Corpus Christi. They conducted surveillance and observed him exit the hotel, enter the passenger side of a truck and depart the location. Law enforcement performed a traffic stop, at which time Ramirez attempted to flee on foot, but he tripped and fell.
Authorities discovered a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol, several bags of meth, Xanax and other prescription pills.
Ramirez admitted he was aware of being a convicted felon and was not allowed to own a firearm. He said he ran because he did not want to go back to prison.
Ramirez has five prior felony convictions involving burglary of a vehicle, burglary of a habitation, theft from a person, aggravated robbery and possession of controlled substance. As such, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
University City Man Admits Missouri Medicaid, Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from University City, Missouri on Tuesday admitted fraudulently obtaining a $135,000 pandemic loan and defrauding the Missouri Medicaid program.
Deandre D. Horne, 32, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Sarah. E. Pitlyk to one count of health care fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Between July 6, 2017 and March 18, 2021, Horne, owner of Serenity Home Health Care CDS, fraudulently billed Missouri Medicaid for services that were not supported by valid timesheets or electronic visit verification (EVV) documents. EVV is a system in which personal care attendants electronically clock in and out by phone. Horne also created false EVV documentation to support bills, Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Reiter said during Tuesday’s plea hearing.
Horne admitted falsely claiming to be the personal care attendant for multiple Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries and billing for times when he was traveling elsewhere in the country or to foreign locations.
At sentencing, prosecutors will argue that the Missouri Medicaid program lost between $550,000 and $1.5 million due to Horne’s fraud.
In the other scheme, on July 15, 2020, Horne applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, which was intended to help small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Horne falsely claimed to be the sole owner of Budget Towing & Recovery LLC, inflated the number of employees and falsely claimed a monthly payroll of $40,000. He also falsely claimed that the money would be used to retain workers or pay business expenses. Horne received a $135,707 loan.
Horne is scheduled to be sentenced May 22. The health care fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both and the wire fraud charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Horne will also be ordered to repay the money.
The case was investigated by the Missouri Attorney General’s office, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Reiter is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney's Office for Eastern District of New York Joins Department of Homeland Security, Department of State and Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art for the Largest Repatriation of Stolen Cultural Property to YemenRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of State and the Smithsonian Institution participated in a milestone repatriation ceremony returning 77 pieces of stolen cultural property seized by U.S. law enforcement officials to the Republic of Yemen Government.
The antiquities included 64 relief carved stone heads, 11 Qur’an manuscript pages, a bronze inscribed bowl, and a Funerary Stele from Ma’în or Minaean tribal cultures in the highlands of North-West Yemen dating back to the 1st century BCE.
The 64 relief carved stone heads were forfeited to the United States in connection with an Eastern District of New York civil forfeiture action related to the April 2012 guilty plea of an antiquities smuggler, named Mousa Khouli, also known as “Morris Khouli.” As alleged in the government’s forfeiture complaint, the 64 relief carved stone heads were smuggled into the United States from the United Arab Emirates with correspondence and invoices that contained multiple inconsistencies and were seized from the home and gallery of Khouli. Other antiquities that were seized in this case were forfeited and subsequently repatriated to Egypt in April 2015.
“Our Office is proud that the work in our case is leading to these important cultural antiquities returning to their rightful home in Yemen,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.
“Homeland Security Investigations is honored to stand with our partners including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Smithsonian Institution, and Ambassador Mohammed Al-Hadhrami to return these treasured antiquities to the people of Yemen,” said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director Steve K. Francis. “Looted cultural property, art, and antiquities are often assigned a dollar value in the marketplace; however, the historical and cultural significance of these artifacts extends beyond any monetary value. HSI is proud to have played a role in the recovery and return of this priceless cultural heritage back to the Yemeni people so they can enjoy it for generations to come.”
Ambassador Mohammed Al-Hadhrami: “On behalf of the Government of Yemen, I express my deep gratitude to the US Government, in particular to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State and US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for all efforts exerted in the retrieval and return of these Yemeni artifacts. Ever since the Houthis’ coup in Yemen, our heritage and history have been under attack. The Embassy of Yemen will continue its close engagement with the U.S. Government in pursuit of the restitution of Yemen’s stolen cultural heritage and property. I also affirm my substantial appreciation to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art for agreeing to temporarily hold these antiquities until they are fully repatriated back to Yemen in the future.”
The return of these stolen antiquities marks a significant milestone in U.S.-Yemen relations, as the culmination of extensive U.S. investigative work to identify, locate, seize and confirm the status of this cultural property denotes historically the largest number of antiquities that have been returned by the U.S. government to Yemeni officials in nearly 20 years.
The Republic of Yemen Government and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art have entered into a two-year custodial agreement with the option to renew at the request of the Republic of Yemen Government. The Embassy will advise on access to, research on and conservation of the objects.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Criminal Division, Asset Recovery Section.
The Defendant:
MOUSA KHOULI, also known as “Morris Khouli”
Age: 38
Brooklyn, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. CR 11-00340 (EDNY) (ERK)
United State of America v. Various Antiquities, Cultural Property and Assets held in the name of Windsor Antiques and/or Mousa Khouli, et. al. CV 11-2889 (ERK)
Two from St. Louis Area Accused of Nearly $500,000 Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two people from the St. Louis, Missouri area have been indicted and accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $500,000 in pandemic business loans.
Pamela S. Hubbard, 45, of St. Louis, and Irwin Coats, 43, of Florissant, were each indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They each appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The indictment says that during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hubbard and Coats hatched a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans that were intended to help struggling small businesses. The pair planned to use the money to open a “Wing Strip” restaurant in Florissant, the indictment says.
On May 8, 2020, Coats applied for a $53,125 loan in the name of Abounding Protection LLC, a company he set up in 2007. Coats falsely claimed that the company had 12 employees and an average monthly payroll of $21,250 when there were no employees, wages, company operations or revenue, the indictment says.
On June 11, 2020, Hubbard electronically submitted a PPP loan application for Star Shyne LLC, a company she helped set up in 2019. She made false claims about employees and payroll, and submitted fake business, tax and lease paperwork and an altered check to bolster her claim, the indictment says. She eventually received $371,245.
On March 5, 2021, Coats submitted another application for Abounding Protection, seeking and receiving $24,166 with more false claims, the indictment says.
Hubbard and Coats used the money to construct the Wing Strip and for improvements on a condominium in Florissant, the indictment says.
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of any assets linked to the fraud, including money from the sale of the condominium.
The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
Charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.
To report suspected pandemic fraud, go to the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud or call the Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721.
Two Human Smugglers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Hostage TakingRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court in El Paso Wednesday to 144 months in prison, along with an El Paso man who was sentenced to 200 months in prison, for violation of federal law concerning hostage taking.
According to court documents, Carlos Villa-Miranda aka “Negro,” 42 of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and Enrique Quiroz Jr. aka “Kike,” 50 of El Paso were co-conspirators in a human smuggling organization through which they demanded money from the families of the undocumented individuals they were trafficking. Quiroz threatened to kill the trafficking victims if they were to speak to the police and urged the victims to tell their families to pay the ransoms. Villa-Miranda also made threats toward the undocumented individuals, on at least one occasion brandishing a butcher-style knife.
In December 2020, Villa-Miranda was arrested after he fled a secondary inspection at the Las Cruces U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate-10, and Quiroz was taken into custody during a search of his apartment.
“These human smuggling organizations are incredibly dangerous and prove that they value their pursuit of money and power through unlawful means far more than the lives of their trafficking victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “The agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) did an outstanding job tracking down these two criminals and putting a stop to their roles as human smugglers.”
“These sentences show the grave consequences human smugglers face when they exploit people in such a ruthless way,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division. “HSI is vehemently committed to using its ample authority to identify, investigate and arrest criminals who prey on the vulnerabilities of their human cargo with threats and acts of violence.”
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hines and Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case, along with former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert Bunton and Spencer Kiggins.
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Two Defendants Convicted of Distributing Fentanyl and Heroin Causing OverdosesRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted Keith Wyche, also known as “Marco,” of distributing fentanyl which resulted in the fatal overdose of a 43-year-old Staten-Island resident on April 18, 2017. Wyche and co-defendant Oneil Allen were also convicted of distributing heroin to a 28-year old woman on October 27, 2017, leading to her suffering serious bodily injury. In addition, the two men were convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and distributing those narcotics. The verdict followed a three-week trial in federal court in Brooklyn before United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry. When sentenced, both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.
“With today’s verdict, two drug dealers who sold lethal drugs without any regard for the lives they were endangering, have received a powerful response from the jury holding them responsible for their crimes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The opioid epidemic has had a devastating effect on our district, with Staten Island bearing a terrible toll, and this Office will continue working tirelessly to reduce the number of victims and the availability of dangerous drugs.”
“Dealers and pushers are hooking users with a dangerously addictive mix of drugs that shouldn’t ever be used outside of a medical environment. Mr. Wyche and Mr. Allen would text customers first thing in the morning to keep their clientele coming back. Their goal was to make more money, disregarding one man’s life and the lives of others to whom they sold. The FBI Newark Transnational Organized Crime Task Force has a message for criminals at the root of this growing epidemic plaguing our communities - there is a federal prison cell waiting for you as well,” stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Dennehy.
“Abuse of heroin and the deadly additive fentanyl has cut a wide swath across New York City and our nation, affecting people in all neighborhoods, from all walks of life,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “To combat this scourge, we seek to shut down the supply of illegal drugs and, ultimately, to save lives. That is why NYPD detectives probe every overdose to determine how the narcotics were obtained, and it was those efforts that led to today’s verdict. I commend the investigators in this case, and the strong collaboration of the NYPD and our law enforcement partners, all of whom are helping to stem the opioid crisis.”
As proven at trial, Wyche and Allen ran a narcotics delivery service, distributing heroin and fentanyl, among other drugs, in Staten Island. The defendants used a stash house in New Jersey to package and prepare narcotics, and traveled daily into Staten Island to sell their illicit product. On the days they distributed narcotics, they would alert customers early in the morning with text messages reading “Good Morning” or “Rise and Shine,” and then coordinate meetups with customers.
On April 18, 2017, the father of a 43-year old Staten Island man (“John Doe”) found his son dead in a bathroom of a residence in Staten Island. A hypodermic needle, tourniquet, and glassines containing fentanyl were on and around the body. By reviewing the deceased victim’s phone, NYPD detectives found a series of text messages from a number labeled “Marco 5.” These messages began with a text from the contact “Marco 5” that started with “Rise and Shine,” and showed that the user of this phone had sold narcotics to John Doe in the hours before his overdose.
On October 27, 2017, NYPD Officers responded to a 911 call for a 28-year old woman (“Jane Doe”) who was reported as unconscious inside a vehicle in Staten Island. After first responders administered several doses of Narcan to Jane Doe, she regained consciousness and was transported to a hospital. A review of messages on Jane Doe’s phone showed similar messages to those found on John Doe’s phone, including a message reading “Rise and Shine” on the day of Jane Doe’s overdose. Jane Doe testified at trial that she purchased narcotics from the defendants and later helped law enforcement gather evidence against them.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gilbert M. Rein, Irisa Chen, and James P. McDonald, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Teri Carby and Eileen Rosado.
The Defendants:
KEITH WYCHE (also known as “Marco”)
Age: 38
Staten Island, New YorkONEIL ALLEN (also known as “James”)
Age: 31
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-561 (S-1) (DLI)
Three Wilmington Men Among Those Charged Federally in Multi-State Fentanyl and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on February 16, 2023, Henri Sosa-Gomez, 36, New York, NY, Jamel Romero, 30, New York, NY, Leonel Abreu-Montero, 31, Wilmington, DE, John Doe aka Arison Hernandez-Acevado, 31, Wilmington, DE, and Christian Sanchez, 23, Wilmington, DE, have been charged by a federal grand jury sitting in Wilmington with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in the Wilmington, Delaware metropolitan area.
According to public documents and statements made in open court, this investigation began after a double overdose in Chester County, PA, resulting in the death of a 50-year-old woman in November 2022. Through a multi-state effort involving U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Chester County Detectives, law enforcement identified a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) headed by Sosa-Gomez and Romero that supplied fentanyl and cocaine from New York to Delaware.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Romero, who resided in the Bronx, traveled from New York to deliver the controlled substances and to collect proceeds from a network of sub-distributors, including defendants Abreu-Montero, Hernandez-Acevado, and Sanchez, who then carried out and completed the drug transactions in Delaware.
On January 17, 2023, law enforcement arrested Romero and Abreu-Montero after they completed a drug transaction in Wilmington. Law enforcement recovered approximately one (1) kilogram of baked crack cocaine mixed with fentanyl, approximately one (1) kilogram of fentanyl, and about $50,000 in U.S. currency from Romero and Abreu-Montero. Law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl after determining that the DTO buried narcotics in a densely wooded area near Hockessin, DE, off W. Rolling Mill Road.
Law enforcement also contemporaneously executed search warrants for several locations and vehicles in Delaware, New York, and Maryland. A Hazardous Materials (or “Hazmat”) Team was called in to conduct a search of a Bronx residence because the residence was deemed unsafe for entry due to the amount of fentanyl and cocaine that had been cooked, mixed, and processed within the residence. During the search of the Bronx residence, law enforcement recovered approximately twelve (12) kilograms of fentanyl, about one (1) kilogram of Xylazine (a potent horse tranquilizer not approved for human use that is being linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide), cocaine, cooking materials, cutting agents, gas masks, a kilogram press, money counters, and an additional $31,000 in U.S. currency.
In announcing the Indictment, U.S. Attorney Weiss stated: “As overdoses continue to ravage our community, we will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who knowingly sell drugs that kill. We are grateful for our state and federal law enforcement partners who acted vigilantly to remove harmful drugs from our streets and to help bring some justice to the victim’s family. My office will seek significant federal prison sentences against all who seek to profit from illegal drug sales.”
“Cases like the one announced today make a true difference in the communities of Delaware,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “Today’s announcement underscores HSI’s mission and highlights the importance of teamwork, tenacity, and partnerships. As a result, investigators and prosecutors, working side-by-side and sharing information seamlessly have disrupted a drug trafficking organization operating throughout the Northeast.”
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Weiss, HSI Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Wagner commended the work of those who investigated the case, including agents from HSI, DEA, and the Chester County Detectives. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Newport, DE Police Department, the Newark, DE Police Department, and the Delaware State Police; the Kennett Township, PA Police Department; the Elkton, MD Police Department, the Cecil County, MD Sheriff’s Office, the Cecil County, MD Drug Task Force, and the Maryland State Police; the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police; HSI’s Baltimore and New York Divisions; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Chester County District Attorney’s Office; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Maryland and the Southern District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Claudia L. Pare are assigned to prosecute the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
Three Men Sentenced for Illegal Firearms Possession and Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that three defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa for their roles in a marijuana trafficking ring on Pardee Street in Rochester, NY.
• J’Lyne Caldwell, 30, who was convicted of distribution of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 61 months in prison.
• Elisha Scott, 22, and Strong King, 20, who were convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, were both sentenced to serve 85 months in prison.Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Caldwell, Scott, and King were arrested August 11, 2022, in the area of 55 and 59 Pardee Street in Rochester, following the execution of search warrants at those residences. The search warrants were conducted after an investigation into the sale of marijuana and shootings in that area. Investigators seized marijuana packaged for sale, a loaded firearm, and U.S. currency.
The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren Cox, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
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Three Individuals Charged for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine on and Around the Red Lake ReservationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Three individuals from northern Minnesota have been charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that brought fentanyl and methamphetamine to the Red Lake Reservation and surrounding area, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Derek Jon Paddy, 27, of Bemidji, Erika Dawn Bellanger, 25, of Bemidji, and Raymond Allen Drouillard, 44, of Trail, knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other and others to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Paddy and Bellanger are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, while Drouillard is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Paddy and Bellanger made their initial appearances late last week in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby. Drouillard made his initial appearance on January 5, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Bemidji Police Department, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Red Lake Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren O. Roso is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Double Murder, Robbery, and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Jy’Quale Samari Grable (21, Tampa) to life in federal prison for conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and first-degree premeditated murder of two individuals. A federal jury had found Grable guilty on November 18, 2022.
According to evidence presented at trial, on December 22, 2020, Grable orchestrated a plan in which he and two co-conspirators drove to the Valrico Station Apartments in Brandon to conduct a robbery of marijuana. Grable went to the victims’ third floor apartment. On the back patio of the apartment, Grable shot B.B. in the neck, severing his spinal cord, and killing him instantly. Grable then shot M.M. in the chest, perforating his heart and lung, which lead to his death. Neighbors heard the gun shots and observed blood dripping from the third floor back balcony apartment down to the lower floors. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded and secured the scene.
According to evidence presented in court, Grable deleted messages and phone calls from his phone, had family members dispose of the murder weapon, and burned his bloody clothing.
“Combatting the drug-related violence plaguing our communities is one of DEA’s top priorities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Our joint partnerships were pivotal to the success of this investigation, and we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes and David P. Sullivan.
Sulphur Springs Shooter Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Thaddeus Timeaus Howard (30, Tampa) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Howard to forfeit the firearm and ammunition seized during his arrest. Howard had pleaded guilty on December 15, 2022.
According to court documents, on July 9, 2022, Howard fired approximately seven shots at his ex-girlfriend in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood of Tampa. After firing his weapon, Howard entered his vehicle and chased the victim, who had fled in a car driven by her cousin. That chase ended when Howard caused a multi-vehicle accident near the intersection of North Nebraska Avenue and East Broad Street, after swerving in and out of oncoming traffic. Howard fled the scene of that crash on foot and was apprehended by officers from the Tampa Police Department. Upon searching Howard, officers located a pistol in the pocket of his jeans.
At the time of the incident, Howard had prior felony convictions for armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
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.
St. Paul Felon Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A South St. Paul felon has been charged in a federal indictment for illegal possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on December 5, 2022, Nicholas Neil Nikiforakis, 33, was carrying a loaded, unserialized ghost gun while in possession of a distribution amount of fentanyl. Because Nikiforakis has multiple prior felony convictions in Dakota, Hennepin, and Anoka Counties, including domestic assault, first degree drug sales, and vehicle theft, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Nikiforakis with one count of felon in possession of ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on February 15, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. He was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Georgia man faces substantial prison time after admitting he distributed child pornographyRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Brantley County man faces up to 20 years in prison after admitting he distributed images of child sexual exploitation.
Gary Kreitzman, 35, of Nahunta, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Kreitzman’s guilty plea subjects him to a statutory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to 20; substantial financial penalties and restitution to victims; a requirement to register as a sex offender; and, at least five years of supervised release, up to life, after completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Protection of our most vulnerable citizens is vitally important,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “The vigilance of our law enforcement partners helps ensure our communities are protected from predators like Kreitzman.”
As described in court documents and testimony, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in June 2020 after detecting images of child sexual exploitation uploaded through an online chat application. With assistance from the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, agents determined the images had been uploaded through an account operated by Kreitzman, and in September 2020 conducted a search of his residence.
During that search, the agents found multiple electronic devices containing images of child sexual activity, and Kreitzman admitted sharing them through the Internet. Pursuant to a federal indictment out of the Southern District of Georgia, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office and FBI Brunswick Resident Agency executed the arrest warrant for Kreitzman in September 2022.
Sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will be scheduled upon completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said Michael Register, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our state and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”
“The internet is a very important and useful resource, but unfortunately can also be used for illegal activity as criminals like Kreitzman seek to prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to victimize children and prosecute those predators to the fullest extent of the law.”
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, and the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Schuylkill County Man Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alnaldo Perez-Rodriguez, age 36, of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Perez-Rodriguez, previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing a loaded Walther .380 caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge stems from an incident on December 3, 2021, in Shenandoah, in which State Parole Agents, members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force arrested Perez-Rodriguez for a violation of the conditions of his state parole. Perez-Rodriguez was found in possession of a loaded Walther .380 caliber pistol, an additional 35 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, packets of fentanyl for distribution, packages of methamphetamine for distribution, and $875 in U.S. currency.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, State Parole Agents, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Robeson County Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Trafficking Kilograms of Drugs from MexicoRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Maxton man was sentenced today to 252 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for moving kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from Mexico to Robeson County, North Carolina. On December 8, 2021, Jeremiah Eli Lowery pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, and possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin with intent to distribute.
“Deputies caught this drug trafficker bringing kilos of dope from Mexico to North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Now he faces the consequences of his repeated and persistent participation in the international drug trade. Today’s sentence should serve as a deterrent to others pushing drugs in our communities. We will investigate and prosecute you.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Lowery, 26, was identified during a multi-year investigation as a primary point of contact for a group of individuals who were trafficking kilograms of controlled substances from Mexico, through legal ports of entry, into the Brownsville, Texas area. Investigators learned that Lowery would travel to Texas, cross the border to meet with suppliers, and then personally transport kilograms of drugs across the border and ultimately back to Robeson County where the drugs would be sold.
On October 14, 2020, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a rental vehicle occupied by Lowery and two other individuals as they returned from Texas. Investigators located 2.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.98 kilograms of cocaine, 967.7 grams of heroin, and more than $58,000 in U.S. Currency inside the spare tire of the vehicle.
In the spring of 2021, investigators began to receive information that Lowery had resumed travelling to Texas to pick up controlled substances from the same suppliers. Through coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Customs and Border Patrol, Lowery was stopped at a border checkpoint near Brownsville, Texas on the way back into the United States from Mexico on April 8, 2021. After a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle, officers recovered 2.8 kilograms of cocaine and 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine from the spare tire.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-59-D-1.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced for Causing a Fire on U.S. Forest Service LandRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man charged with Causing a Fire pleaded guilty and was sentenced on February 17, 2023, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann.
Dillon Rose, age 23, was ordered to pay $16,704 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, a $500 fine, and $10 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stems from an incident that took place on March 6, 2021, when Rose, who had gone to the Agate Beds on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands to hunt for agates and other rocks, left the authorized trails and got his truck stuck in a creek bed. During one of the attempts to get out, Rose’s truck fuel line ruptured. The leaking gas and heat from the engine started a fire that burned approximately 2,600 acres of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Rose did not immediately report the fire to authorities.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges.
Pike County Man Convicted of Making a False Statement to a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pike County man pled guilty to making a false material statement to a federal officer in connection with an investigation into pandemic relief fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
According to court documents, Austin Darnel Bahm, 25, made a false statement to a special agent from the DOL-OIG who was investigating COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud. Bahm made the statement while he was an inmate at South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville, Mississippi. Bahm later admitted that he had lied to the federal agent.
Bahm is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Philadelphia Carjacker and Murderer Sentenced to 55 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Khalif Tuggle, 30, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 55 years in prison for committing carjacking and murder. United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson imposed the sentence on the defendant.
On August 27, 2020, a grand jury indicted Tuggle for carjacking, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and murder in the course of using a firearm, all stemming from his robbery, carjacking, and brutal murder of Thomas Petersen on January 24, 2017. Tuggle fired one shot into Petersen’s chest, dragged him out of the car, threw him on the road, robbed him, and left him for dead while Petersen was screaming in pain. Tuggle fled the scene in Petersen’s car, and Petersen died later at Temple University Hospital after two Philadelphia Police Officers rushed him from the scene. On April 18, 2022, Tuggle pled guilty to all three counts of the indictment.
"Today's sentencing stems from the carjacking and murder committed by Khalif Tuggle," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "The 55-year sentence handed down today will never bring back Thomas Peterson or heal the pain of losing him. However, it should warn other violent individuals that the federal system can and will be utilized to hold them accountable."
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph LaBar and Michael Miller.
Pasco Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Firearm and Trafficking in MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Thomas Bellere (40, Pasco), a/k/a Tommy Gunz, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Bellere has also agreed to forfeit the firearm, which is traceable to the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on January 30, 2022, Bellere was in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle with a stolen tag. A deputy from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office with a drug canine conducted an investigation (sniff) of the vehicle. The canine alerted on the car. Deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and observed a firearm (Smith & Wesson model 642, .38 caliber) partially under the driver’s seat. The firearm had been reported stolen. In addition, deputies located 107 grams of pure methamphetamine inside the vehicle.
Bellere has multiple felony convictions, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, and felony battery. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.
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.
Palm Beach Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Laundering Money from Art Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz pled guilty today to laundering money derived from his scheme to sell counterfeit artwork.
Bouaziz is the owner of art galleries in South Florida, including Danieli Fine Art (at 226A Worth Avenue) and Galerie Danieli (at 230 Worth Avenue), in Palm Beach County. According to the agreed-upon factual proffer in support of Bouaziz’s guilty plea, Bouaziz knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a transaction through a financial institution affecting interstate commerce of over $10,000 in money derived from the unlawful sale of counterfeit art in violation of the wire fraud statute.
Specifically, on or about October 25, 2021, Bouaziz sold counterfeit artwork to a customer, to include pieces purportedly by artist Andy Warhol (“Warhol”) out of his Palm Beach art galleries. Bouaziz had told the customer that the works that he was selling, for between $75,000 and $240,000, were authentic, original Warhol pieces, and that some of the pieces were signed by the artist. Relying upon these false and fraudulent representations, the customer purchased artwork from Bouaziz. The customer gave Bouaziz a $200,000 down payment for the artwork. The money was deposited into Bouaziz’s account and then the comingled funds were wired to other accounts, to include an account controlled by Bouaziz.
Bouaziz’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, in Fort Pierce.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam of the FBI Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency and IRS-CI Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Schall is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Laserna and Daren Grove are handling the asset forfeiture aspect of this case.
If you believe you have been a victim of art fraud, please contact the FBI’s Art Crime Team at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-80099.
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Owner of Suburban Manufacturing Company Sentenced to 9 Months and Ordered to Pay $3.3 Million on Tax FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The owner of a suburban Chicago manufacturing company has been sentenced to 9 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3,329,701 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and the Illinois Department of Revenue following his conviction for payroll tax fraud.
In June 2022, EDWARD T. ARNIERI, 71, of St. Charles pleaded guilty to a federal tax offense for withholding approximately $3.9 million dollars in employee payroll taxes and failing to remit the money to the Internal Revenue Service. Arnieri was the president and sole owner of Lane Tool & Manufacturing Company Inc., located in South Elgin. Payroll taxes are made up of both contributions by the employer and employee for Social Security and Medicare that are collected and remitted on a quarterly basis; as well as Federal Unemployment Taxes (FUTA) that are paid by the employer annually. Additionally, as an employer, Arnieri was required to withhold federal income tax from employees’ wages and send those amounts to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis. For approximately eight years, Arnieri caused his company to issue Forms W-2 and paychecks to its employees which falsely reflected that the company had withheld income and payroll taxes from their wages. Arnieri’s conduct also resulted in the filing of inaccurate individual tax returns for himself, resulting in additional tax loss of approximately $450,000.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jorge L. Alonso on September 15, 2023.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. King, Jr.
Owner of Insurance Firm Pleads Guilty in $40 Million Scheme to Steal Client Healthcare Funds and Defraud LendersRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ANTHONY RICCARDI, an owner and manager of the Connecticut insurance firm Employee Benefit Solutions LLC (“EBS”), pled guilty today in White Plains federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Between 2015 and 2019, RICCARDI and his co-conspirators used EBS as part of a widespread, $40 million scheme to misappropriate and steal client healthcare funds and defraud multiple lenders. RICCARDI pled guilty today before United States District Judge Philip M. Halpern.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Anthony Riccardi admitted today to leading a brazen, widespread scheme over nearly five years to abuse his position of trust by stealing millions in fiduciary money that was meant to pay for important employee healthcare expenses. To keep the scheme going, Riccardi also defrauded lenders out of millions. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners to untangle this fraud, Riccardi will now be held accountable for these serious crimes.”
According to the Indictment, the Complaint, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:
From at least 2015 and continuing through 2019, ANTHONY RICCARDI was the 50% co-owner and Executive Vice President of EBS, which offered a variety of healthcare insurance-related services to clients. EBS, among other things, provided third party healthcare claims administration (“TPA”) services to clients that elected to “self-fund” (or self-insure) their employee healthcare plans. As a TPA, EBS would purportedly administer, process, and pay healthcare claims for its clients’ employees in exchange for an administrative fee.
Between at least 2015 and continuing through 2019, EBS represented an automobile dealership chain (“Company-1”) headquartered in Westchester County, New York. During this time period, EBS served as a TPA for Company-1’s self-funded employee healthcare program and purported to process and pay claims to medical providers that treated Company-1’s employees. To do this, EBS generated bimonthly “check register” invoices for Company-1 that listed all employee healthcare expenses from healthcare providers during that two-week period. EBS also administered a bank account on Company-1’s behalf for the express purpose of paying Company-1 healthcare claims. Company-1 would fund each check register by paying the invoiced amount, expecting that EBS would promptly pay the claims to the healthcare providers. During this time period, Company-1 transferred approximately $26 million to EBS for the payment of healthcare claims.
In reality, a significant number of purported checks listed on the EBS “check register” invoices were never actually deposited by the healthcare providers. Instead, approximately $17.87 million in Company-1 healthcare payments were misappropriated with the overwhelming majority simply transferred by EBS into its own operating account, where they were used for non-healthcare expenses by the managers and owners of EBS. For example, a review of bank records indicates that Company-1 healthcare funds were used by RICCARDI and his co-conspirators to pay their home mortgage expenses as well as a personal credit card account with expenses relating to boating, luxury cars, and golf.
EBS, through RICCARDI and his co-conspirators, made decisions on what few Company-1 healthcare claims they did pay based on which healthcare providers were likely to complain if they did not receive payment or if the claims were connected to Company-1 executives.
The “check registers” sent to Company-1 also contained millions of dollars in fraudulent or inflated healthcare claims that were eventually paid by Company-1. EBS routinely inflated the Company-1 check registers at the direction of RICCARDI and his co-conspirators. Such efforts were typically accomplished through RICCARDI and his co-conspirators instructing others to manually create fraudulent entries in the EBS claims processing software, including fake claims under the name of a business controlled by RICCARDI. RICCARDI and his co-conspirators also took steps to conceal their fraud from Company-1 by creating and sending manipulated and fabricated bank statements and checks to create the appearance that healthcare claims were being paid by EBS, when in reality, they were not.
By mid-2017, as EBS buckled under mounting outstanding fiduciary obligations, RICCARDI and his co-conspirators began an elaborate effort to conceal and perpetuate the ongoing fraud on Company-1 by applying for multiple fraudulent bank loans and merchant cash advances designed in part to pay various fiduciary obligations that EBS owed to Company-1. RICCARDI and his co-conspirators fraudulently applied for and received millions of dollars in loans under the auspices of financing the purchase of upgraded billing software for EBS, which included RICCARDI and his co-conspirators submitting fabricated invoices from a fake company that supposedly sold the billing software.
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RICCARDI, 46, of New Canaan, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 30 years in prison. In connection with the guilty plea, RICCARDI agreed to pay $14,870,653.36 in restitution and forfeit $2,000,000.00.
The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 20, 2023.
RICCARDI’s co-defendant, Patricia Riccardi, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud before Judge Halpern. Patricia Riccardi’s sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2023.
RICCARDI’s co-conspirator, Erin Verespy, was previously sentenced to 66 months in prison following her guilty plea to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud before United States District Judge Cathy Seibel.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and the United States Secret Service, which are assisting in the investigation, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas S. Bradley is in charge of the prosecution.
Orange Park Man Arrested for Receiving and Accessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Allen Randall (70, Orange Park) has been arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint with receiving child sex abuse materials and accessing with the intent to view child sex abuse materials. Randall faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Randall has been detained pending a hearing scheduled for February 21, 2023.
According to the complaint, an investigation was initiated by law enforcement after they had received a CyberTip from an internet service provider indicating a user had uploaded child sex abuse materials. Further investigation determined the upload was tied to an IP address for Randall’s residence.
On February 16, 2023, agents and task force officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Randall’s residence and located a computer that was being used by Randall that had the search results for child sex abuse materials displayed on the screen. A preliminary review of the computer showed Randall had previously downloaded a file containing child sex abuse material.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Oneida County Man Sentenced for Mailing a Threatening LetterRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Richard Hileman, age 39, of Marcy, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for mailing a threatening letter.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Hileman admitted that on September 3, 2021 he mailed a letter to a woman who lived in Ballston Spa, New York. In the letter, Hileman threatened the woman not to end her personal relationship with him. Hileman wrote, in part, “i have 2 different guns and a vest . . .” and “i told you before if you left me someone will pay people dont really know me once I set my mind it’s set if you contact anyone it will not be nice [sic].” Hileman further wrote, in part, “. . . if you contact the jail or police your lovely kids wont have a mother i swear on my dead son they cant keep me forever I’ll get out one day [sic][.]”
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Hileman’s term of incarceration.
The FBI and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.
Omaha Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Eric D. Colclasure, 35, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 17, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Colclasure to 151 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge, and a consecutive 60 months on the gun charge. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On February 2, 2022, Douglas County Sheriff Deputies executed a search warrant on an Omaha hotel room rented by Colclasure, who was found inside. Officers located approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of heroin, and drug dealing paraphernalia. A gun was also found in a bag near the drugs with Colclasure’s identification. While deputies were collecting DNA evidence, Colclasure asked what would happen if his DNA wasn't on the gun. An officer responded that the gun was still located in a bag with Colclasure’s identification card and near narcotics. Colclasure responded, “That doesn't look too good, does it? You guys really caught me slippin.”
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Claude Parker, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 17, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Parker to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
In October 2021, Parker was on bond for a Douglas County charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. As a condition of that bond, he was ordered to submit to drug testing. On October 27, 2021, Parker was called in for a urinalysis exam. He placed his possessions on the desk of the officer administering the exam. Parker’s urine sample tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, and he was booked into the Douglas County Jail. His property was placed into evidence, searched, and inventoried.
Included in his property was a small black case, inside of which were six rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Parker is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law.
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, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Omaha Police Department.
Old Forge Man Sentenced to Six Years’ Imprisonment for Bribery, Perjury, and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on February 17, 2023, United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced James J. Peperno, Jr., age 58, of Old Forge, Pennsylvania, to 72 months of imprisonment. Peperno was convicted following a jury trial of nine counts of conspiracy, federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, Travel Act, false statement, and perjury offenses.
Peperno was convicted of soliciting cash payments and debt forgiveness from a local business owner, to provide to Robert Semenza, Jr., the former President of the Old Forge Borough Council. Peperno also was convicted of providing and promising cash and future employment to Semenza, in exchange for Semenza performing and promising to perform official acts, in relation to a state court civil litigation between Old Forge Borough and the local business owner. Semenza advocated on behalf of the local business owner with the Old Forge Borough Council, the Old Forge Borough Solicitor, and Old Forge zoning officials, including by proposing a resolution to the civil litigation that had been prepared by Peperno. Peperno kept the majority of the cash payments paid by the local business owner.
Peperno also was convicted of providing false statements and perjured testimony, in connection with an outstanding restitution obligation owed from a prior federal conviction for mail fraud. Peperno claimed, in a written filing and when testifying under oath, that he did not have any income or access to any bank accounts, despite receiving approximately $6,000 from the local business owner, in the weeks immediately preceding his false statements and perjured testimony. Peperno, who owed approximately $390,000 on his outstanding restitution obligation, had not made any payments towards that debt in approximately one and one-half years.
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Mannion labeled political corruption as “among one of the worst crimes one can commit,” describing how it “undermines the public’s trust in the people they elect,” and deeming it something “terrible for democracy.” Peperno also was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Robert Semenza, Jr., pleaded guilty in June 2021 to federal program bribery, and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
The case was investigated by the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and federal agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Jeffrey St John prosecuted the case.
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Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Bryanna Danielle Kern, 25, of Proctorville, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute suboxone.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 6, 2022, Kern was working as a kitchen employee at the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville, West Virginia, when she agreed to deliver a package containing suboxone to an inmate in exchange for $2,000. After Kern drove to the jail that day, her vehicle was searched by investigators who found the package and the payment.
Kern is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.
The inmate, Corey Michael Perkins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute suboxone, methamphetamine, and fentanyl and was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison on August 22, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-221.
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Norway Man Charged with PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Merton Weed Jr., 50, of Norway, Maine, was arrested today on an indictment charging him with filing fraudulent claims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and a fraudulent application for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgage.
According to the indictment, between May 2020 and January 2021, Weed filed five applications for PPP loans requesting over $150,000. The applications are alleged to have listed false average monthly payrolls and numbers of employees and to have been supported by false payroll records and bank records. The indictment also alleges that Weed filed a residential loan application for an FHA-insured mortgage in 2018, listing false employment and income information on the application.
If convicted, Weed faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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Nigerian National Extradited from the United Kingdom to Face Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging six Nigerian nationals – three residing in the United Kingdom and three residing in Spain – with operating a large transnational fraud scheme. One of the charged defendants made his initial appearance today, after being extradited from the United Kingdom.
Ezennia Peter Neboh, 48, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, 51, and Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, 49, of Madrid, Spain; and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham, 44, Emmanuel Samuel, 39, and Jerry Chucks Ozor, 43, of London, face federal charges in Miami. Neboh, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, Samuel, and Ozor were arrested in April 2022 by authorities in Madrid and London, based on an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida, and have remained incarcerated since then. Samuel made his initial appearance in Miami today. Okey Ezemma remains at large.
According to court documents, the defendants are charged with operating an inheritance fraud scheme. Over the course of more than five years, they allegedly sent personalized letters to elderly consumers in the U.S., falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who purportedly had died years before in Spain. Victims were told that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Victims sent money to the defendants through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to serve as money mules. According to the indictment, victims who sent money never received their purported inheritance funds.
“Schemes that prey on the elderly are particularly insidious,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. I thank the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom for their tireless efforts in assisting U.S. authorities to find and arrest these individuals so that they may face charges here in the United States.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long tradition of protecting citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas for the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “The indictment unsealed today is a testament of the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to protect our citizens from these scams”.
“The successful extradition of the defendant is the result of a dynamic and coordinated investigative effort by HSI, our law enforcement and judicial partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown for HSI Arizona Field Office. “Crimes aimed at the elderly have devastating financial effects. HSI will continue to aggressively investigate greedy swindlers who prey on the vulnerable for profit.”
The defendants are all charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as mail fraud and wire fraud. Emmanuel Samuel made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Neboh, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, and Ozor remain in extradition proceedings. If convicted, Samuel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI are investigating the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, the Portuguese Judicial Police, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Spanish National Police, all provided critical assistance.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses sustained due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New York Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Dominic Shapiro (33, Forrest Hills, New York) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Shapiro to register as a sex offender and forfeit a cellphone that was used in the commission of the offense. Shapiro had pleaded guilty on November 18, 2022.
According to court documents, Shapiro spent approximately six weeks communicating with an undercover detective, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, over various social media platforms including Kik, Snapchat, and text messages. During these conversations, Shapiro engaged the fictitious child in sexual conversations, sent images and videos of himself masturbating, and ultimately drove to a park for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities with this child.
“Predators, like Dominic Shapiro, use the pseudo-anonymity of the internet to lure children into a false sense of security before proposing to meet in person,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of our task force officers and law enforcement partners with the St. Petersburg Police Department along with support from HSI New York, the Federal Air Marshal Service, and the New York Police Department, he was sentenced to a decade behind bars.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
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 United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Darrel B. Twombly, 40, of Bayport, Minnesota, was sentenced on February 17, 2023, to 15 years and eight months for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture, 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and an unspecified amount of heroin by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Twombly will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On December 10, 2020, Twombly was stopped by a Lincoln Police officer on Interstate 80 for traffic violations. Twombly told the officer he had a methamphetamine pipe in his pickup which was then searched. During the search, officers found five packages of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately one pound. Testing of one of the packages showed at least 410 grams, (just under one pound), of actual methamphetamine. In addition to the methamphetamine, officers found a total of 892 fentanyl pills, 44 grams of fentanyl powder and three grams of heroin.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Monroe Avant, 32, of Inkster, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 13, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a shooting on the 1600 block of 11th Avenue in Huntington. Officers encountered a vehicle with two men passed out in the driver and front passenger seats. Officers saw that the passenger had a semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. Avant admitted that he was the passenger and possessed a Taurus Model 709 9mm handgun.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Avant is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for first-degree robbery in Cabell County Circuit Court on May 6, 2014.
Avant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-245.
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Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to and is Sentenced for Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Israel Garcia-Cocotle, also known as “Israel Cocotle Rayon” and “Israel Cococle-Garcia,” 33, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today to the felony offense of reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Garcia-Cocotle will be remanded to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of his sentence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 8, 2022, ICE agents arrested Garcia-Cocotle in Charleston, Kanawha County, following a traffic stop conducted of a vehicle he was driving. Garcia-Cocotle did not have a driver’s license and presented a Mexican consular identification document. Garcia-Cocotle admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported from the United States. Garcia-Cocotle had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States.
Fingerprints matched Garcia-Cocotle to nine prior removals from the United States to Mexico between 2009 and 2018. Garcia-Cocotle was previously convicted of felony third-degree rape and fourth-degree assault in Fayette County, Kentucky, Circuit Court on July 6, 2018. Garcia-Cocotle was also convicted of illegal entry into the United States in United States District Court for the District of Arizona on July 18, 2011. Garcia-Cocotle never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for any of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-11.
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Member of Brockton Drug Crew Sentenced to More Than Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of a Brockton drug crew has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl.
Jason Miranda, 27, of Brockton, was sentenced on Feb. 17, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 78 months in prison and six years of supervised release. On Sept. 14, 2022, Miranda pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, three counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In 2019, an investigation began into a violent Brockton-area drug crew that distributed large quantities of fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts. The drug crew ran a fentanyl delivery service that encompassed all of Brockton as well as neighboring cities. Specifically, drug users/customers placed orders for fentanyl by contacting a cell phone maintained and shared by crew members, which included brothers Jason Miranda and Natalio Miranda, Placido Pereira and Djoy Defrancesco, who worked together to deliver the fentanyl order.
“Despite having two previous convictions for drug distribution, and while out on release for a new drug distribution charge, Mr. Miranda chose to continue engaging in violent and destructive criminal activity. When you pump poison into our communities and profit off of people’s pain, we will find you and remove you from our communities,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “This career criminal and his fellow crew members plagued Southeastern Massachusetts with large quantities of deadly fentanyl. Massachusetts has lost far too many people to the opioid crisis. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, South Shore residents are safer. This case should be another warning to drug traffickers, especially those who are career criminals: the time you are facing in federal court is significant and we will find you.”
“Today’s sentencing of Jason Miranda is an excellent example of the amazing cooperation between HSI New England and our state and local law enforcement partners,” said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Mr. Miranda’s sentence reflects the damage he and his co-conspirators have done to the Brockton community. HSI New England will continue to exhaust every resource at our disposal to ensure criminals like Mr. Miranda are held accountable for their actions.”
Beginning in September 2019, an undercover law enforcement officer made six purchases of fentanyl from members of the crew. Jason Miranda participated in three of the six fentanyl sales. At the time of his sales, he was on release from state court on distribution of cocaine charges and had been twice convicted of state court drug distribution offenses. Placido Pereira participated in three of the six sales after he had previously been convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Natalio Miranda engaged in one fentanyl sale while he was on probation for a state drug trafficking offense.
During a search where Jason Miranda had been residing, a black Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a defaced serial number; two different ammunition clips containing 9 millimeter ammunition; a money counter; $28,000 in cash; and a painting of Jason Miranda holding up a large stack of cash were seized.
On Dec. 2, 2022, Placido Pereira pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Judge Stearns scheduled sentencing for April 5, 2023. On Feb. 8, 2023, Natalio Miranda, the last of the four charged defendants, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and six counts of distribution of fentanyl. Judge Stearns scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; HSI SAC Millhollin; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez; Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Whitman and Bridgewater State University Police Departments as well as the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Maryland Man Sentenced for “DMV Board” Dogfighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Capitol Heights, Maryland, man was sentenced today to 2 years in prison for conspiring to engage in dogfighting.
According to court documents, from May 2015 through at least August 2020, Charles Edward Williams, III, 50, and other conspirators from Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, used a messaging app private group, which they generally referred to as “The DMV Board” or “The Board,” as a place where they and their associates could discuss training fighting dogs, exchange videos about dogfighting, and arrange and coordinate dog fights, away from the view of law enforcement authorities. Members of The DMV Board also used the messaging app to compare methods of killing dogs that lost fights, as well as to circulate media reports about conspirators who had been caught by law enforcement and discuss methods to minimize the likelihood that they would be caught themselves.
Williams entered multiple dogs into fights. For example, in March 2018, Williams entered a dog into a fight at a warehouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement officers broke up the fight and apprehended several weapons and two injured dogs from the warehouse. They also arrested those who were present, including Williams.
In April 2019, Williams and coconspirator Michael Roy Hilliard, 37, of Fort Washington, Maryland, drove to Bunnlevel, North Carolina, with a dog belonging to Williams, so that he could enter the dog in a dog fight. The fight lasted less than 10 minutes before being won by the dog belonging to Williams. An unindicted conspirator shot and killed the dog that lost the fight.
In August 2022, Williams, Hilliard, and five others were indicted for a dogfighting conspiracy involving the “DMV Board.” In November 2022, Williams, Hilliard, and their co-defendants Derek Garcia and Ricardo Thorne pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.
Hilliard, Garcia, and Thorne are scheduled to be sentenced in March 2023. They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina Stam and Gordon Kromberg are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-154.
Man Travelling on I-55 Near Springfield, Illinois, Sentenced to Twenty-Five Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Kansas City, Kansas, man, Aquilla Jade Patrick Jessie, 33, was sentenced on February 17, 2023, by Senior United States District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to serve 25 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. He is also required to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.
At the sentencing hearing, evidence was admitted showing that on August 27, 2021, an Illinois State Police Trooper pulled over a car being driven by Jessie near mile marker 97 for following a car immediately in front too closely and for having an obstructed windshield. During the traffic stop, it was determined that Jessie had a suspended driver’s license and the car – of which he was the sole occupant – contained a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Jessie had previously been convicted of felony offenses in Kansas and Wisconsin.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a felon at the time of Jessie’s offense were up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $250,000. He has been detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his arrest.
The Illinois State Police, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Jessie 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.
Man Stopped on Interstate 70 Admits Transporting 10 Undocumented ImmigrantsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Mexico pleaded guilty to 11 federal charges Tuesday and admitted that he was caught on Interstate 70 in St. Peters while transporting 10 undocumented immigrants.
Francisco Ibarra-Hernandez, 36, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel to one count of illegal reentry of an alien and 10 counts of transporting illegal aliens.
Ibarra-Hernandez admitted knowingly transporting the undocumented immigrants to work in the construction industry, or recklessly disregarding the fact that the men were in the country illegally.
The 2011 Toyota Sienna overloaded with 11 people was headed east on Interstate 70 on August 24 when it was stopped by officers with the St. Peters Police Department for a traffic violation.
Ibarra-Hernandez told officers that he was taking the men to Ohio to work, and that he was paid to take Illegal immigrants from Phoenix to job sites around the country, the plea agreement says.
The passengers admitted illegally crossing the border in various locations in Arizona over the prior month.
At sentencing, both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of a year and a day in prison for Ibarra-Hernandez. He will then be deported. He was removed from the country more than 15 years ago, when he was using another name.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Peters Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake is prosecuting the case.
Man Shot While Robbing St. Louis Market Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a man who was shot while robbing a St. Louis market to 15 years in prison.
John L. Smith, 43, of Florissant, pleaded guilty in November to a robbery charge and a charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted entering the market in the 4500 block of Athlone Avenue on Aug. 19, 2020 and pulling a small black pistol before demanding, “Give me all you got!”
Smith threatened to kill one employee if he didn’t move faster to the register. Another employee retrieved a handgun and shot Smith. Smith fled the store with $30, but left his phone and his DNA behind. Police and the FBI found a black Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a court-authorized search of his home.
Judge Autrey ordered the 15-year sentence to run consecutive to any sentence he receives for violating his probation in a 2002 robbery case and a 2003 robbery case in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke prosecuted the case.
Man Convicted of Use of Firearm in Connection with Murder and RobberyRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Feb. 17 of using a firearm in connection with murder and robbery.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Madani Ilara Tejan, aka Malik, aka Mylik, aka Dani, 30, arranged to sell drugs to an individual (Victim). On Oct. 3, 2018, Tejan directed the Victim to meet him in a residential neighborhood in Lanham, Maryland, where he fatally shot the Victim. Prince George’s County police officers responded to a concerned citizen’s call about a shooting and found the Victim dead with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Tejan had also taken the Victim’s personal items, including drugs, money, his car, and wallet.
On Oct. 20, 2018, officers executed a search warrant on a residence associated with Tejan in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Officers recovered the Victim’s wallet, two bags of marijuana, and a backpack that contained a pre-paid Cricket Wireless phone. The device had been in touch with the Victim several times on the day of the murder and was used interchangeably with Tejan’s registered phone to communicate with the Victim during the hours leading up to his death.
Additionally, 1,013 fentanyl pills were seized from Tejan while he was residing in a government-run residential facility. Tejan’s social media accounts and phone messages revealed that he distributed oxycodone as well as other prescription drugs and marijuana to multiple individuals.
Tejan was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, Hobbs Act robbery, and use of a firearm to commit murder in relation to a crime of violence. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the use of a firearm to commit murder in relation to a crime of violence. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Thomas Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Robert J. Contee of the Metropolitan Police Department, Director Corenne Labbé of the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, Director Thomas N. Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections, and State Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Office made the announcement.
The FBI, DEA, Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, D.C. Department of Corrections, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Criminal Investigations Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Gerald A. A. Collins and Lisa K. Man of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin R. Cottingham for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Lexington Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bath Par Kuol, 27, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 17, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kuol to 63 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from federal prison, Kuol will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On January 29, 2022, Omaha police officers observed a vehicle fail to signal its turn. Officers conducted a traffic stop and upon contact with the vehicle observed two open containers of alcohol. Kuol was seated in the front passenger seat. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a Glock 19x 9mm handgun with a loaded 33-round magazine inside of the center console. Further investigation showed the firearm was not registered with the City of Omaha. A records check revealed that both Kuol and the driver were convicted felons and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. Both were taken into custody. Detectives obtained a search warrant to obtain a buccal swab of Kuol’s DNA and compared it to DNA found on the firearm. A forensic laboratory analysis determined the probability of the DNA being from Kuol as 108 trillion times more likely than from an otherwise unknown individual.
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 Omaha Police Department.