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29 March 2023
Sylvania Woman Sentenced to Prison for Providing False Statements to Law Enforcement Regarding Illegally Purchased FirearmRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – Taylor Elysse Corggens, 30, of Sylvania, Ohio, was sentenced on Monday, March 20, 2023, to 6 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr after she pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with her purchase of a firearm for a felon.
According to court documents, on May 24, 2021, Corggens and another individual, who was a convicted felon, entered a federally licensed firearms dealer together in the Oregon, Ohio, area. While in the store, court documents state that the felon picked out and handled a firearm despite being legally prohibited from such activities.
Court documents state that Corggens then used her identification to purchase the firearm from the dealer. Records show that the felon was later pulled over by Toledo Police Department officers and found to be in possession of the same firearm that Corggens purchased.
Later, in December 2021, federal law enforcement authorities interviewed Corggens about the firearm and asked Corggens if anyone was with her when she purchased the firearm. Corggens stated that no one was with her when she purchased the firearm despite surveillance video evidence from the firearms dealer showing Corggens and another individual arriving together in the same vehicle and entering the dealer simultaneously.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Toledo Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert N. Melching.
Statement from United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona on Fallen Huntsville Police Department Officer Garrett CrumbyRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – “My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and fellow officers of Huntsville PD Officer Garrett Crumby who tragically lost his life in the line of duty. Officer Crumby bravely put his life on the line every day to protect the citizens of Huntsville, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
My thoughts and prayers are also with Huntsville PD Officer Albert Morin who was wounded and is fighting for his life.”
Southwest Virginia Pair Sentenced to 10 Years in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Two people, who were sources of supply in a broader methamphetamine conspiracy, were sentenced last week to 10 years each in federal prison for their roles in the drug trafficking operation.
Chelsey Lynn Doss, 39, of Washington County, Virginia, and William Lee Whitt, 41, of Tazewell, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in July 2022, law enforcement arranged a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Doss based on information provided from a confidential source. When Doss and Whitt arrived at the scene, law enforcement searched their car and arrested them after finding more than 250 grams of high-purity methamphetamine, digital scales, and more than $3,500 in cash.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
South Carolina Man Arrested on Felony Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A South Carolina man has been arrested on felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Thomas Andrew Casselman, 29, of Walhalla, South Carolina, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds or buildings, all felonies, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building. He was arrested this morning in Walhalla and made his initial appearance in the District of South Carolina before Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.
According to court documents, Casselman is seen in images from Jan. 6, 2021, published widely, wearing a dark grey cap with design on the front, black face mask, American flag gaiter or scarf around the neck, black jacket, and backpack while in the crowd on the west side of the Capitol Building. Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from D.C. Metropolitan Police officers as well as open-source video footage show Casselman spraying law enforcement officers with an orange colored spray, presumed to be a chemical irritant, specifically, bear spray. A victim of the use of this chemical irritant also described the spray as bear spray.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Columbia, South Carolina Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Casselman as #363 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Beloit Woman Found Guilty of Bail-Jumping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A South Beloit woman was convicted on Friday for her participation in a bail jumping conspiracy following a five-day jury trial in federal court in Rockford.
According to the indictment and evidence at trial, PATRICIA WERSCHIN, aka PATRICIA FRISELLA, 56, conspired with others in June of 2016 to help her son, Adrian Peters, flee to Canada to avoid federal prosecution. In July 2015, Peters was charged with sexual exploitation of minors, a crime that carried a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. While the case was pending, Peters was on home confinement with a $15,000 cash bond and with Werschin acting as his third-party custodian.
Werschin played a critical part in the conspiracy to help her son try to evade his federal charges by fleeing the country. Instead of ensuring that her son abided by the conditions of pre-trial release, Werschin created fake identification documents for her son to use in Canada, worked with co-conspirators to recruit and pay others to drive her son to the border, and then arranged for court approval for her son to leave the house on June 28, 2016, under the pretext of a doctor’s appointment. Werschin dropped her son off at Rock Cut State Park where he was then picked up and driven to the Canadian border by a co-conspirator. Peters crossed into Canada on foot, but the coconspirator was stopped by border patrol as he pulled away from the crossing. The coconspirator confessed what he knew of the plan and Peters was apprehended in Canada the next day.
Once Werschin learned that border patrol had stopped the co-conspirator, she immediately fled from her home in South Beloit. Werschin traveled through multiple states, eventually crossing into Mexico.
Werschin faces a maximum potential penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The court must impose a reasonable sentence guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing for Werschin is scheduled for June 16, 2023. Sentencing for Werschin’s son, Adrian Peters, who was also charged in the conspiracy and previously pled guilty, is scheduled for June 30, 2016. Peters previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment for the original criminal charge.
The conviction was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The South Beloit Police Department, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Canadian Border Patrol Services Agency, Illinois Secretary of State, and United States Marshal Service assisted in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica S. Maveus, Talia M. Bucci, and Lisa Munch. AUSA Mike Love and former AUSA Scott Paccagnini provided significant assistance during the investigation.
Skagit County man sentenced to ten years in prison for drug and gun crimesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 24-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for drug trafficking while armed with multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Santos Gutierrez-Fosella was arrested on March 14, 2022, with more than 89,000 fentanyl pills, two kilos of methamphetamine and five firearms – one of them a ghost gun. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “The seriousness of your crimes has been escalating and all are tied to drugs…. You amplified the danger to the public, law enforcement and yourself by trying to protect your drugs with guns.”
“Mr. Gutierrez-Fosella took more than $130,000 to Arizona to load up on potentially deadly fentanyl pills – that conduct alone indicates he was a prolific drug distributor,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “When the Skagit County authorities tried to arrest him, he rammed a patrol car in a futile attempt to escape. In his pocket was a loaded 9mm ghost gun. His conduct posed a danger to the community on many levels.”
According to records filed in the case, Gutierrez-Fosella was indicted with two others on March 30, 2022. Robert Johnny was purchasing pills from Gutierrez-Fosella. He was sentenced in January 2023, to six years in prison. A third co-defendant, Steven Lopez Ruiz is scheduled for sentencing on April 5, 2023.
When law enforcement searched Gutierrez-Fosella’s car after the traffic stop, they found not only the fentanyl and methamphetamine, but S10,000 in cash and four firearms: a .40 caliber Hi Point handgun, a Beretta APX handgun, a Palmetto PA15 rifle, and a CZ Scorpion rifle. Gutierrez-Fosella had the loaded ghost gun and another $7,000 in cash in his pockets.
As part of the agreement to resolve the federal case, the Skagit County Prosecutor agreed to resolve its pending charges against Gutierrez-Fosella, including charges related to an armed robbery, by accepting pleas to the following charges pending in Skagit County: Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in the First Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, and Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree.
The case was investigated by the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Swinomish Police Department, and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography and KidnappingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for two counts of Production of Child Pornography and two counts of kidnapping.
Derek Wayne Rondeau, age 32, was indicted in January of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 27, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on June 9, 2022, and again on June 15, 2023, Rondeau kidnapped two juvenile females and knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced them to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. Rondeau also knew and had reason to know that such depictions would be transported in interstate and foreign commerce, or mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, including by a computer.
The charges are merely accusations and Rondeau is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Rondeau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Maurice Sitting Bear, age 48, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 9, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Sitting Bear, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between April 12, 2021, and January 18, 2023.
The charge is merely an accusation and Sitting Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sitting Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for May 16, 2023.
San Jose Police Union Executive Charged with Attempted Illegal Importation of Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – The Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Joanne Marian Segovia with attempt to illegally import a controlled substance in connection with a scheme to bring synthetic opioids into the country and distribute them throughout the United States, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The criminal complaint was filed on March 27, 2023, and unsealed the next day.
According to the complaint, Segovia, 64, of San Jose, is the Executive Director of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association (SJPOA). The complaint alleges that Segovia used her personal and office computers to order thousands of opioid and other pills to her home and agreed to distribute the drugs elsewhere in the United States.
The complaint alleges that Segovia was apprehended as part of an ongoing Homeland Security investigation into a network that was shipping controlled substances into the San Francisco Bay Area from abroad.
The complaint alleges that between October 2015 and January 2023, Segovia had at least 61 shipments mailed to her home, originating from countries including Hong Kong, Hungary, India, and Singapore. The manifests for these shipments declared their contents with labels like “Wedding Party Favors,” “Gift Makeup,” or “Chocolate and Sweets.” But between July 2019 and January 2023, officials intercepted and opened five of these shipments and found that they contained thousands of pills of controlled substances, including the synthetic opioids Tramadol and Tapentadol. Certain parcels were valued at thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs.
Also alleged is that Segovia used encrypted WhatsApp communications to plan the logistics for receiving and sending pill shipments. For example, the complaint describes a three-year period between January 2020 and March 2023 during which Segovia is alleged to have exchanged hundreds of messages with someone using a phone with an India country code. The messages discussed details for shipping and payment of pills and contained hundreds of pictures of tablets, shipping labels, packaging, payment receipts, and payment confirmations.
The complaint alleges that Segovia used her office at the San Jose Police Officers’ Association to distribute controlled substances. For example, in spring 2021, Segovia was told by a supplier to send a package to a woman in North Carolina. Segovia then sent this supplier a photograph of a shipment made using the UPS account of San Jose Police Officers’ Association.
According to the complaint, Segovia continued to order controlled substances even after being interviewed by federal investigators in February 2023. On March 13, 2023, federal agents seized a parcel in Kentucky, containing valeryl fentanyl, addressed to Segovia. The package allegedly originated from China on March 10, 2023 and declared its contents as a “clock.”
Segovia is charged with attempt to unlawfully import valeryl fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a).
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and, like all defendants, Segovia is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Segovia faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order the defendant to serve at least 3 years of supervised release and to pay a fine of up to $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tartakovsky is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Margoth Turcios. This prosecution is the result of investigation by HSI.
St. John Man Charged with Possession of 18 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Calis Sewer of St. John made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged with possession with intent to distribute 18 kilograms of cocaine. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller ordered that Sewer remain in custody pending trial in this matter.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2023, Virgin Islands Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on a Suzuki Vitara driven by and registered to Sewer. During the stop, a drug canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the trunk of Sewer’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a black duffle bag containing 18 brick-shaped bundles the contents of which tested positive for cocaine.
Prior to the traffic stop, federal agents observed Sewer traveling down the Brown Bay Trail in St. John’s heading towards the beach, a location known to law enforcement for narcotics and human smuggling. Approximately 30 minutes later, Sewer was observed traveling up the trail carrying a large black duffle bag. Thereafter, Sewer was observed at his residence in St. John as he transferred the black duffle bag from a Dodge Journey and placed it inside the Suzuki Vitara. Sewer then drove the Vitara from his home and boarded the Car Ferry in St. John. Upon arrival in Red Hook, St. Thomas, VIPD immediately initiated a traffic stop of Sewer’s vehicle which led to the discovery of a black duffle bag containing 18 bricks of cocaine.
This case is being investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigation and Virgin Islands Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Edwards.
Repeat offender ordered to prison after re-entering the country…for the 6th timeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old from Mexico has been ordered to federal prison for illegal re-entry after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury found Laureano Mar-Peres guilty Nov. 29, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered him to serve 33 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Mar-Peres is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted that how Mar-Peres had been removed from the United States five times.
At trial, testimony revealed that on Jan. 11, 2022, authorities had encountered Mar-Peres attempting to circumvent the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Kenedy County. A fingerprint expert was able to identify Mar-Peres as the same individual previously ordered removed from the United States, the most recent being Oct. 22, 2021.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that because so many people are removed from the United States, there was no way to keep track of all of them. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
Mar-Peres has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.
Repeat offender heads back to prison for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Spring resident has been sent to prison…again, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Colt Jacoby Barnett pleaded guilty Oct. 17,2022, to multiple child pornography charges.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Barnett to prison for a total of 210 months for distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography as well as destruction of evidence. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that the troubling fact that he was a repeat offender. Barnett was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Barnett will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Offenders who exploit children by repeatedly traumatizing them via collecting and making their images available through the internet are a plague on our society,” said Hamdani. “This defendant was previously prosecuted and punished for similar behavior, and thankfully, the enhanced penalties for repeat offenders ensure he will spend even longer in prison this time, thus protecting our children further from his deviant criminal behavior.”
In January 2019, law enforcement conducted an investigation into the sharing of child pornography through the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. They soon downloaded a video from a particular internet protocol (IP) address that was over two minutes in length. It showed a female under the age of 12 engaged in oral sex with an adult male.
The IP address was traced back to Barnett’s residence in Spring. The investigation revealed he was a registered sex offender from a previous conviction in 2004 for receipt of child pornography.
Authorities conducted a search warrant at his residence, at which time Barnett attempted to destroy a laptop computer in his possession. A forensic examination of the hard drive from the damaged laptop revealed 55 videos containing child pornography.
Barnett was found to have received and distributed child pornography via peer-to-peer programs. Of the 55 videos he possessed, at least two depicted bondage of a child, another two were over five minutes in length and one depicted the penetration of a minor under the age of five.
Barnett was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI Houston conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2023.
Warren Hotchkiss, 42, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hotchkiss was indicted for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022.
In August of 2022, at Rapid City, Hotchkiss was found in possession of a semi-automatic rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required.
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 Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Hotchkiss was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Indicted for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.
John Ray Heath, age 51, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on March 24, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Heath attempting to engage an undercover law enforcement agent, posing as a 14-year-old female, in sexual activity between January and March of 2023.
The charge is merely an accusation and Heath is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.
Heath was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Nathan David Hankins, age 30, of Rapid City, South Dakota, has been convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography following a court trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on March 23, 2023.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years up to of 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
Hankins was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2019.
Hankins was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in relation to a download of child pornography from Hankins’ Google account. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on Hankins’ residence and located several devices. A forensic examination of those devices found hundreds of images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Property Manager Defrauds Program for Elderly & Low IncomeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man admits to defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program of approximately $1 million intended to help elderly and low income residents with rental housing expenses. Perry Johnson, 55, of Ozawkie pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement on loan or credit applications.
Rural Development works with rental property owners to subsize rent and maintenance repair expenses on behalf of low income and elderly tenants. Rural Development has a policy requiring all properties to submit Identity of Interest (IOI) disclosures concerning any personal relationships with vendors performing work on properties.
According to court documents, between 2014 and 2017, Johnson worked as the regional manager of a company that managed 47 properties in Kansas. He was responsible for each property’s budget and approval of contracts. Johnson ignored the IOI policy and created approximately $1 million in vendor maintenance and repair invoices in the names of relatives and friends from which he financially benefited. Johnson also created false worksheets claiming his son resided at three different rural housing apartments although his son was never a tenant at any of those properties.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The USDA – Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting the case.
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Ponte Vedra Beach Contract Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Theft of MailRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Kori Ann Moreno (26, Ponte Vedra Beach) has pleaded guilty to theft of mail. She faces up to five years in prison and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Moreno was arrested on November 29, 2022, by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and subsequently released on a bond.
According to court documents, in 2020, Moreno began working as a highway contract carrier delivering U.S. Mail on multiple highway contract routes (HCRs), primarily in the area of Ponte Vedra Beach. In July 2022, the USPS-OIG received multiple complaints regarding a high volume of stolen and undelivered mail on various HCRs handled by Moreno. On July 13, 2022, the USPS-OIG put a greeting card containing two $20 bills in a mail depository for outgoing U.S. Mail at a condominium complex on one of Moreno’s HCRs in Ponte Vedra Beach. Later that morning, while Moreno was processing mail at the condominium complex, USPS-OIG agents determined that Moreno had opened the greeting card. Agents who were in the area approached Moreno and located the greeting card which had been opened and was missing the cash. Moreno subsequently handed the missing money over to the agents.
During an on-scene search of Moreno’s car and personal belongings, agents located mail and gift cards that had been stolen out of the mail. During an interview with agents, Moreno stated in substance that since around December 2021 she had been opening mail – two to three letters a day. If the mail contained cash and/or gift cards, she would steal the contents and throw the cards in the trash. She was unsure how much money she obtained through her theft of mail.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Pittsburgh Felon Indicted on Firearms Charges in Project Safe Neighborhoods CaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The three-count Indictment, returned yesterday, named Tyrenzo Morton, 36, currently incarcerated at the Butler County Prison, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about June 29 and Sept. 2, 2021, Morton, after a prior felony conviction, possessed firearms and ammunition. Under federal law, a convicted felon is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Additionally, on or about Sept. 2, 2021, Morton possessed a firearm, namely a .223 Remington caliber, AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle having a barrel less than 16 inches in length and bearing no serial number, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Baldwin Borough Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner, Butler County Detectives, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Theft of Firearms and Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Theft of Firearms and Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2023.
David Gibbons, a/k/a DJ Gibbons, 28, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $3,795 in restitution on the theft of firearms charge. Gibbons was also sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison on the assault of a federal officer case, of which two years were ordered to run consecutively with the theft of firearms charge, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.
Gibbons was indicted for Theft of Firearms by a federal grand jury February of 2021 and for Assault on a Federal Officer in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 4, 2022.
In September of 2020, Gibbons stole ten firearms, including a Derya Arms, 12-gauge, semi-automatic shotgun, from the True Value Hardware Store in Martin, South Dakota. Gibbons later traded several of those firearms for methamphetamine. Gibbons was arrested on the theft of firearms charge and was then held in custody at the Pennington County Jail. In September of 2021, while being held at the Pennington County Jail, Gibbons assaulted a Pennington County Jail Sheriff’s Department Correctional Officer.
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, the Rapid City Police Department, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Gibbons was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Philadelphia Man Convicted of Obtaining United States Citizenship by FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Sumo Dukulah, 49, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was convicted today at trial of procurement of citizenship by a false statement and unlawfully arising from his failure to honestly answer questions during the naturalization process about his prior criminal activity, including his rape of a child under the age of thirteen.
The defendant was indicted by a grand jury on June 24, 2021 and charged with procuring citizenship through a false statement and with procuring citizenship unlawfully. The defendant, from September 27, 2011 to January 9, 2012, in submitting his application for citizenship and in his sworn affirmations at his interview at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Philadelphia, falsely declared that he had never committed a crime, when in fact, he had been raping a minor female.
“The guilty verdict for Sumo Dukulah sends a message that you will be held accountable for lying about your criminal background on federal immigration forms,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Those who would lie in order to secure the precious privilege of U.S. Citizenship put the integrity of our immigration system at risk.”
“Today’s conviction of Mr. Dukulah illustrates HSI’s commitment to ensuring that our immigration system is void of fraud and deception, particularly from those perpetrating such heinous criminal conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “HSI will continue to tirelessly work with our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute and to revoke any fraudulently obtained citizenship from anyone that poses a threat to the most vulnerable amongst our communities.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Josh A. Davison and Patrick Brown.
Palm Beach Gardens Attorney Arrested for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A 53-year-old West Palm Beach licensed attorney has been arrested with possession of child pornography. Michael T. Dolce will appear in a West Palm Beach federal court tomorrow for his initial appearance.
According to the filed criminal complaint affidavit, on March 15, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Dolce’s West Palm Beach apartment. They discovered Dolce actively downloading child pornography using peer-2-peer software. Nearly 2000 images and videos of child pornography were recovered from his devices.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges.
FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.
A complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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, 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 the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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 23-mj-08161.
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Owner of Boston Pizzeria Chain Indicted on Additional Forced Labor ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of Stash’s Pizza has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston with forced labor charges for allegedly targeting and employing at least seven victims who lacked immigration status and forcing them to work while subjecting them to verbal and physical abuse, including repeated threats of deportation.
Stavros Papantoniadis, a/k/a “Steve Papantoniadis,” 48, of Westwood, was indicted on four counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor. Papantoniadis has remained in federal custody since his arrest on March 16, 2023. He was previously charged with one count of forced labor.
According to court documents, Papantoniadis is the owner and operator of Stash’s Pizza, a chain of pizzerias with locations in Dorchester and Roslindale, and previous locations in Norwood, Norwell and Randolph (d/b/a Boston Pizza Company), Weymouth (d/b/a Pacini’s Italian Eatery) and Wareham, Mass. Over the course of several years, Papantoniadis allegedly targeted victims who lacked immigration status, employed them at depressed wages and demanded that they work, in most cases, six to seven days per week, at times for far more than eight hours per day and often without breaks or overtime compensation. Papantoniadis also allegedly withheld wages.
Papantoniadis allegedly forced or attempted to force at least seven victims to work for him and comply with excessive workplace demands by means of violent physical abuse; threats of violence or serious harm; and repeated threats to report victims to immigration authorities to have them deported. Specifically, it is alleged that Papantoniadis violently attacked one of the victims several times, including kicking him in the genitals, slapping and choking the victim and causing him to lose teeth. It is further alleged that, when three other victims separately expressed intentions to quit, Papantoniadis threatened one victim by telling the victim that he knew where he lived; he attacked another victim, forcing him to run to safety in the parking lot; and filed a false police report on another victim who wanted to leave Papantoniadis’ operation. According to court documents, at least four of the victims feared that if they did not continue working for Papantoniadis, he would hurt them and/or report them to immigration authorities.
It is alleged that Papantoniadis’ conduct enabled him to obtain a substantial financial benefit and an advantage over other businesses in the local pizza market. He could operate Stash’s Pizza with fewer and cheaper workers over whom he allegedly exercised significant control, all of which reduced his businesses’ labor and operating costs.
The charges of forced labor and attempted forced labor each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Members of the public who have information or questions relevant to this case should call 888-221-6023, Option 5 or send an email with contact information to [email protected].
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy E. Moran, Chief of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit, and Brian A. Fogerty of Rollins’ Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Opelousas Man Sentenced for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
OPELOUSAS, LA - Elijah Jones, 31 has been sentenced by United States District Court Judge David Joseph to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for violation of one (1) count of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(l) punishable by 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(l)(C) – Distribution of Fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
On June 25, 2021, agents working in an undercover capacity negotiated a purchase suspected heroin from Elijah Jones. Agents contacted Jones via telephone to set up the transaction at the Cajun Fire Casino & Truck Stop in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Jones asked Agents to sit in his truck with him while they talked business and completed the heroin transaction. Jones agreed to selling a half-ounce of heroin and began to weigh and package the narcotics in a clear sandwich bag. Agents were able to purchase and executed three (3) different controlled buys of suspected heroin from Elijah Jones. Jones completed one transaction by placing the narcotics in Girard Park in Lafayette, Louisiana. The suspected heroin from all three purchases were sent to the Acadiana Crime Lab for analysis. Two reports indicate that the alleged heroin was in fact fentanyl. The third report indicate the substance is a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Elijah Jones was sentenced to 51 months custody followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.00.
This case was investigated by FBI, ATF, St. Martin Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
Omaha Woman Sentenced to more than 11 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Karen Barba-Franco, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Barba-Franco to 135 months’ imprisonment. After completing her term of imprisonment, Barba-Franco will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On July 19, 2021, Omaha police officers conducted a traffic stop in South Omaha of a vehicle containing Barba-Franco and two co-defendants, Mauricio Canales-Santiago and Antonia Lopez-Tiznado. Consent to search the vehicle was granted and officers located approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine. A subsequent search warrant was executed on their Omaha residence revealing an additional 19 pounds of methamphetamine. All three gave post-arrest statements admitting their involvement in distributing methamphetamine with one another during the prior two weeks.
Canales-Santiago has a trial date pending. Lopez-Tiznado pled guilty and was sentenced on February 8, 2023, to 135 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 71 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Bart Ely, 51 years old, of Ohio City, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Ely was sentenced to 71 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $401.00 to the victim bank.
According to documents in the case, on June 4, 2021, Ely entered a bank in Bluffton, Indiana. He wrote and presented a note directing the teller to not make a sound and give him money or he would shoot. After obtaining an amount of bank funds, Ely fled. He was arrested later in the day after being identified from photographs posted by law enforcement. Ely’s criminal history includes several prior robbery convictions in Ohio.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Indiana State Police, the Bluffton Police Department, the Wells County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. Federal, state, and local authorities in Ohio also assisted in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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North Sioux City Man Sentenced for Tax Returns ChargesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a North Sioux City, South Dakota, man convicted of one count of False Income Tax Return and three counts of Willful Failure to File Tax Returns. The sentencing took place on March 27, 2023.
James R. Winckler, age 60, was sentenced to three years of probation, a fine in the amount of $25,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $175.
Winckler was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2021. He pleaded guilty on October 3, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from Winckler’s actions while serving as the bookkeeper, daily operations manager, and president of a small cosmetics business known as Medco Lab, Inc.
In 2016, Winckler willfully made and filed his individual 2012 income tax return that understated his income by approximately $450,000. He received the funds from Medco Lab, Inc., to purchase his home in Dakota Dunes. As a result of his guilty plea, Winckler was required to pay $150,312 in taxes on his unreported income.
Winckler also willfully failed to file tax returns for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. Winckler received income from Medco Lab, Inc., but failed to file tax returns until after he learned the Internal Revue Service (IRS) was investigating him. Winckler knew he was required by law to make and file income tax returns to the IRS specifically stating his gross income.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring with Someone Posing as DEA Agent to Defraud Victim of GoldRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to his role in a conspiracy which resulted in a Massachusetts victim converting her bank account funds into gold, because she was tricked into believing that her accounts had been compromised by purported drug traffickers.
Gaurang Contractor, 38, a citizen of India living in Jersey City, N.J., pleaded guilty on March 27, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2023. Contractor was previously arrested on state charges in August 2022 and later indicted by a federal grant jury in December 2022.
A man posing as an agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who referred to himself as “Oscar White,” contacted a victim in early August 2022 and told the victim that her bank accounts had been “compromised” by drug dealers. “Oscar White” directed the victim to convert her life savings to gold. “Oscar White” provided the victim with the name of a jewelry store in Hadley, Mass. where the victim could purchase gold. “Oscar White” then directed the victim to leave the gold in her unlocked vehicle and promised to send a “court officer” to pick up the gold for safekeeping by the DEA. The victim became suspicious and contacted law enforcement.
On Aug. 8, 2022, Contractor, unaware that the victim had contacted law enforcement, drove from New Jersey to Hadley, Mass, and conducted surveillance at the jewelry store. Unbeknownst to Contractor, a law enforcement officer, posing as the victim, entered the jewelry store and completed a sham transaction for two buckets worth of gold. Contractor followed the victim’s vehicle containing fake gold to a nearby parking lot. Upon arriving at the meeting location in the parking lot, Contractor removed the two buckets he believed to contain gold from the victim’s vehicle and placed them in his own car. He was subsequently arrested.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to a $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan; and Hadley Police Chief Michael A. Mason made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial Bennett and Kaitlin Brown of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Military Contractors Convicted for $7 Million Procurement Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted three military contractors today on one count of conspiring to defraud the United States and two counts of major fraud.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, former Envistacom LLC President and co-founder Alan Carson, former Envistacom Vice President Valerie Hayes, and the owner of another company, Philip Flores, conspired to defraud the United States at least from September 2014 through November 2016, by preparing and procuring sham quotes for government contracts totaling over $7.8 million. Carson, Hayes, and Flores also fraudulently prepared “independent” government cost estimates and other procurement documents for the award of these contracts and made false statements, representations, and material omissions to federal government contracting officials regarding these estimates being legitimate independent cost estimates and the sham quotes being “competitive.”
“Today, a jury returned a verdict to hold accountable these defendants who defrauded the federal government,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute individuals who undermine the integrity of government procurement systems at American taxpayers’ expense.”
“Contractors are an integral part of our well-functioning government, and we expect them to be honest and forthright,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The evidence at trial and the jury’s verdict show that these defendants placed their own benefit above honest dealing with the government.”
“The convictions of these individuals ensure the integrity of the contracting system that supports our nation’s warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Southeast Field Office of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “Companies that circumvent the contracting process for personal gain will be thoroughly investigated and held accountable for their fraudulent actions.”
“As this case demonstrates, those who attempt to defraud the government will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Moreland of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “Army CID and our law enforcement partners will vigorously enforce laws that protect our government from fraud.”
Carson, Hayes, and Flores were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and major fraud. The individuals each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss, for conspiracy to defraud the United States. The maximum penalty for major fraud is 10 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, or, if the gross loss to the government or the gross gain to a defendant is $500,000 or greater, a fine of $5 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Army CID, and DCIS investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Brittany E. McClure of the Antitrust Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant, and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Miami-Area Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Connection with Nationwide Gas Station Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Yuny Hurtado Rodriguez, age 34, of Cutler Bay, Florida, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for his role in an access device fraud conspiracy.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea on December 30, 2020, Rodriguez admitted that between April 2016 and July 2019, he conspired with others to commit access device fraud by building skimming devices designed to steal gas station customer information, installing those devices inside gas pumps in Albany, Broome, and Montgomery Counties, and elsewhere, and then using the information collected by those devices to create fraudulent credit and debit cards. The fraudulent cards were used to obtain money orders, gift cards, cash, and other things of value. As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez agreed to be subject to a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $606,000.
Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release on Rodriguez to follow his term of incarceration.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Field Office and the USPIS Boston Division, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Miami and Pittsburgh, the USPIS Miami Division, and the United States Secret Service Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Sentenced to 27 Years for Large-Scale Drug-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national residing in Raymore, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Abel Miranda-Diaz, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 27 years in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 21, 2022, Miranda-Diaz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 50 grams of more of methamphetamine from 2015 to March 18, 2020.
On March 18, 2020, federal agents saw co-defendant Christopher Aldana-Vergara, 33, a Mexican national residing in Independence, Mo., deliver two kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine to co-defendant Sergio Villegas-Sandoval, 44, a Mexican national residing in Kansas City, Kan. Agents arrested Villegas-Sandoval and seized the drugs. Agents also followed Aldana-Vergara to his residence; when he left his residence a short time later, agents conducted a traffic stop and arrested him. They searched his vehicle and found more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Miranda-Diaz was found hiding under Aldana-Vergara’s residence, a trailer with an attached garage. Agents searched the residence and found a large-scale methamphetamine conversion laboratory. Agents found seven one-gallon containers that contained a total of 31 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, approximately 33 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, approximately two kilograms of heroin, drug ledgers, and a Mossberg sawed-off shotgun.
Miranda-Diaz admitted to investigators that he maintained stash houses in the Kansas City area for the purpose of storing methamphetamine and was paid for this service by a Mexican drug cartel. Miranda-Diaz described how he would unload shipments of methamphetamine, which were often hidden in compartments of car tires, the drive shafts of trucks, gas tanks and car batteries.
According to court documents, Miranda-Diaz is in the country illegally after having been previously convicted and deported for illegally entering the United States.
Miranda-Diaz is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case after pleading guilty to participating in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Aldana-Vergara was sentenced on Jan. 26, 2022, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Yanez-Sotelo was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 11 years in federal prison without parole. Villegas-Sandoval was sentenced on Oct. 18, 2022, to nine years in federal prison without parole.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Raskin and Patrick Edwards. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – William Mejia, 19, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from federal firearms licensees, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between August 29, 2021, and October 4, 2021, Mejia conspired with others to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees. During the course of the conspiracy, more than 40 firearms were stolen from Milford Firearms in Milford, Second Amendment Arms in Windham, and MacPhearson Firearms in Brentwood. Mejia’s fingerprints were found on one of the stolen firearms that was later recovered from a co-conspirator’s residence. Evidence recovered from a co-conspirator’s phone included pictures of Mejia holding stolen firearms as well admissions of his involvement in the conspiracy.
Mejia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski, John J. Kennedy and Geoffrey W.R.Ward.
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Maryland Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining more than $2 Million in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Maryland man admitted that he illegally obtained more than $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Mohamed Kamara, 42, of Greenbelt, Maryland, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to two counts of an indictment charging him with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From March 2020 to October 2020, Kamara and others made fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The SBA provided EIDLs collectively worth more than $750,000. Kamara received or attempted to receive funds in connection with the EIDLs.
From January 2020 to September 2020, fraudulent applications were submitted to the state of New Jersey for unemployment insurance benefits using the names, dates of birth, and/or Social Security numbers of other individuals. The state approved and transferred more than $1 million, including funds to an account Kamara controlled. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2023.
The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or gross loss suffered by the victims of his offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Jonathan Mellone in New York, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the FBI Baltimore Field Office; the Small Business Administration, and the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
kamara.indictment.pdfManchester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDUARDO COLON, 34, of Manchester, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2022, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force made a controlled purchase of 1,000 wax sleeves of fentanyl from Colon in front of his Manchester residence on Buckland Hills Road. Later that day, a court-authorized search of Colon’s residence revealed approximately 2,100 sleeves of fentanyl, approximately 250 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, and a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
Colon’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Colon pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Manchester Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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 Convicted of Alexandria and Monroe Bombings Gets SentencedRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, LA – Daniel Aikens, 40, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced March 28, 2023, to 16 years in prison for 8 counts of illegal explosive related charges by United States Senior District Judge Dee D. Drell announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. On November 18, 2022, the jury found Aikens guilty of 3 counts of Making a Destructive Device, 3 counts of Possession of a Destructive Device in violation of the NFA, 1 count of Use of an Explosive to Commit a Federal Felony and 1 count of Conveying Malicious False Information.
The government presented evidence at trial that on September 12, 2019, an explosion occurred at Cloyd’s Beauty School in Monroe, Louisiana. The victim was placing boxes inside a commercial garbage can when the explosion occurred and sustained burns on his hands and face. Remnants of the device were collected by agents for analysis by the ATF laboratory and found to contain a rocket motor commonly sold at hobby stores and a pressure cooker. Law enforcement was unable to identify a suspect at the time but obtained video footage from Hobby Lobby in West Monroe, LA showing a black male purchasing a rocket motor two days before the explosion. Agents also collected numerous items for DNA analysis, including a piece of tape located on the device. Further, on December 20, 2019, officers responded to reports of an explosion at a Texaco gas station located in Alexandria, Louisiana. 911 dispatch operators received a call from an unknown male caller advising that an explosion had occurred.
On the morning of January 2, 2020, an employee at the Payday Today located on MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana received a phone call from cell phone number 716-563-4031. The caller initially spoke with an employee about a set of lost keys. While the employee was in the parking lot looking for the keys, an explosive device detonated in a trash can near the building. The caller advised that he caused the explosion and demanded $10,000 in cash. The caller further advised that there was second device on the scene, and he would cause it to detonate if the employee did not comply. The caller then recited the employee’s home address and explained that he knew that she had three children. He then threatened to kill her and her family if she did not comply. The caller then asked why the employee was going there instead of the bank. This led the employee to believe that the caller was nearby and observing her actions. The employee advised the caller that she needed a bottle of water, but once inside the store, she panicked, and the call was disconnected. The employee ultimately did not provide any money to the bomber. Among the blast debris collected from the scene, investigators located metal pipe fragments, which is indicative of a pipe bomb detonation.
During the investigation, law enforcement contacted employees at a nearby gas station. The gas station is within approximately 400 feet of Payday Today and was determined to be an ideal overwatch location to observe any activity at PayDay Today. Surveillance footage retrieved from the gas station showed a white Jeep Cherokee at the location. A tall unidentified black male entered the store and made a small purchase, shortly before the explosion and call at PayDay Today. Surveillance footage even showed the male looking in the direction of PayDay Today while inside the store on the telephone. A BOLO alert was provided to Alexandria area law enforcement, with screen captures of a white Jeep Cherokee taken from the gas station and other businesses near the Payday Today bombing. 4 days later, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office located the Jeep Cherokee and initiated a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Daniel Aikens and matched the description of the subject that was present at the gas station shortly before the explosion. Investigators also secured a search warrant for Aikens’ home and pursuant to the search, observed damage in the kitchen area consistent with a blast and located what appeared to be fragments of galvanized pipe and blast debris indicative of a pipe bomb detonation.
When arresting Aikens, agents secured his cellular telephone and discovered that he had been communicating with a friend via text message concerning the Monroe bombing. Agents later interviewed this friend and the friend stated that Aikens communicated with him after the Monroe and Texaco bombings. He even stated that Aikens called him on the morning of the explosion from his personal cell phone and allowed him to listen in as he called Payday Today from the “bomb phone.” Forensic examination of Aikens’ personal cell phone revealed Google Street View images of the Ferrand Street area near Cloyd’s Beauty School in Monroe, Louisiana. The phone’s web history showed a search for “how to build a pressure cooker bomb” and included a possible pdf download. A piece of black electrical tape was recovered from the pressure cooker device and found to contain a mixture of a known DNA profile found to be 1 trillion times more likely to have originated from Aikens. Cell phone and 911 records confirmed that the “bomb phone” was also used to call emergency services during the Texaco explosion on December 20, 2019. The 911 recording depicts a male caller (who law enforcement identified as Aikens) advising that he was passing by, there was an explosion, and requests law enforcement. Location data from Aikens’ personal phone showed that he frequented several stores in Lafayette, LA, the day before the Texaco explosion. Specifically, it showed Aikens making stops near Home Depot, Academy Sporting Goods and Hobby Lobby. Surveillance video from Home Depot showed Aikens’ entering the store at 12:33pm. Twenty-three minutes later, he purchased a drill bit, two metal pipe caps, a steel pipe and adhesive.
Aikens’ cell phone was then located near Academy Sporting Goods a short time later. Agents reviewed sales receipts around the time that Aikens was in the store. They located a sales receipt at 1:39pm for 2lbs. of Hodgdon H335, Rifle Powder. Included in that same purchase were two children’s fishing rod and reel combos and a lady’s rod and reel combo. All three fishing combos were later collected from Aikens’ girlfriend who advised that she and her two children had received the fishing equipment as Christmas gifts from Aikens. Aikens then traveled to the nearby Hobby Lobby. A review of the December 19, 2019, surveillance video showed Aikens purchasing what appears to be rocket motor starters. Aikens returned to the store on December 21, 2019, and made another purchase identical to the one on December 19.
“Simply put, Daniel Aikens is a domestic terrorist. The citizens of the Western District of Louisiana should be able to move about their respective communities freely on a day-to-day basis without fear of hurt, harm or danger and this defendant deserves every single day of the sentence handed down by the court. The sentencing hearing showed that the victims involved still are healing emotionally and I hope we brought them some manner of justice. The prosecution team and state, local and federal investigators are to be commended for a job well done in collaborating to ensure that this defendant is held accountable. Given the investigator’s swift action, no other individuals were harmed. I pray that the conviction and sentence will serve as a deterrent for anyone thinking of committing such a selfish and inhumane crime,” stated United States Attorney Brown.
“ATF will continue to prioritize and aggressively investigate crimes involving the criminal use of explosives. Explosives can lead to serious injury, damage, and create fear in communities like happened to the citizens of Alexandria and Monroe,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF remains vigilant working with its partners to keep the public safe by investigating and perfecting charges against those who use explosives with criminal intent.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Fire Department investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alexandria Public Safety Commissioner and the City of Alexandria Mayor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog, LaDonte A. Murphy and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
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Madison Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Mario Johnson, 38, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 60 months in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Johnson pleaded guilty to this charge on September 14, 2022.
From May 2021 to August 2021, law enforcement agents conducted four controlled buys of methamphetamine from Johnson. The combined amount of methamphetamine from these controlled buys totaled over one pound.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley stated that Johnson had become involved in “serious drug dealing” for financial reasons and took note of Johnson’s prior criminal history, which included domestic abuse offenses. Ultimately, Judge Conley imposed a 60-month prison term followed by a four-year term of supervised release. He urged Johnson to use his time in prison to seek programming for his mental health, substance abuse, and anger management issues.
The charge against Johnson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Sun Prairie Police Department. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Wegner and Anita Marie Boor prosecuted this case.
Madison County Couple Indicted on COVID-19 Program Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Madison County couple were indicted today for defrauding the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
A five-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges John D. Scoggins, 43, and Jennifer C. Scoggins, 37, husband and wife, both of Huntsville, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the indictment, between February and June 2021, the Scoggins conspired to defraud the SBA and the United States Government by applying for and/or receiving approximately $1.7 million in fraudulent PPP loans on behalf of four purportedly operational businesses. The Scoggins submitted loan application containing material misrepresentations and supported by falsified and fraudulent documentation. The Scoggins used the PPP loan funds for a series of unauthorized purposes, including purchasing a home, taking a family vacation, and plastic surgery.
FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan “Jack” Harrington is prosecuting the case.
Throughout the country, federal, state, and local law enforcement are on high alert to investigate reports of individuals and businesses engaging in a wide range of fraudulent and criminal behavior. For more information about these scams visit
https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Leader of $8 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 95 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JULIO ALVARADO was sentenced to 95 months in prison for leading a sprawling scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars through the billing of fraudulent transportation claims. ALVARADO previously pled guilty to one count of healthcare fraud. U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Julio Alvarado was the leader of a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud Medicaid by filing false claims for medical transportation services that were never provided. He brazenly lined his own pockets with Medicaid funds meant to help the neediest New Yorkers. Today’s sentence makes clear that this type of criminal conduct will be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.”
According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings:
From August 2017 to February 2020, KJ Transportation C Services Inc. (“KJ”) was paid more than $20 million for providing transportation services for Medicaid enrollees in the New York City area. A large volume of those claims were fraudulent. In some instances, the Medicaid recipient was deceased or out of the country when KJ claimed it was transporting that person to medical appointments. In other instances, the company used stolen identities, whereby the Medicaid recipient had never heard of KJ and had never taken any rides with the company. In other instances, the Medicaid recipients had received unlawful kickbacks from defendants in exchange for either providing KJ their Medicaid information or for fraudulently scheduling trips they did not take.
ALVARADO, who supervised more than a dozen other participants in the scheme, was responsible for billing more than $8 million in fraudulent trip claims.
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In addition to the prison term, ALVARADO, 63, of Yonkers, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $8,507,115 in restitution and to forfeit $8,507,115.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. He also thanked the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kedar S. Bhatia and Brandon D. Harper are in charge of the prosecution.
Las Vegas Felon Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of Short-Barrel Rifle with Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A prior convicted felon and Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a short-barrel AR-15 pattern rifle with an obliterated serial number.
Martel Deavon Nelson, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2020, Nelson left his car running at the curb in the valet parking area outside a Las Vegas casino’s entrance. He entered the casino and walked bare-footed to the bar and said to the cashier “Give me my money.” He refused to leave the casino and he became belligerent, lunging at one of the security officers. While Nelson scuffled with security personnel inside the casino, a security officer outside the casino looked into Nelson’s car and observed an AR-15 pattern firearm between the driver seat and center console. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded and during the execution of a search warrant of Nelson’s vehicle recovered the short-barreled rifle with an obliterated serial number, a vertical fore-grip, and a large-capacity magazine inserted.
Nelson has a prior felony conviction in San Bernardino County, Calif., for attempted murder, and by law he is prohibited to possess a firearm.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
If you have information pertaining to illegal firearms activity such as a straw purchase, please contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Anonymous tips may also be submitted to ATF through the ReportIt mobile app.
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Lake City Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced John Nathan Hemingway (52, Lake City) to nine years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base – also known as “crack” cocaine – and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hemingway had pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022. As part of his plea, Hemingway agreed to forfeit the cash, firearm, and ammunition found in his home.
According to court documents, on multiple occasions, a confidential informant purchased crack cocaine that had been supplied by Hemingway at his home in Lake City. Following these controlled purchases, a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant authorizing the search of Hemingway’s home. On February 15, 2022, law enforcement searched the home and located a digital scale, plastic baggies, more than $11,000 in cash, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling the forfeiture of assets.
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.
Kaplan Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS –GRANT C. MENARD, age 36 and a resident of Kaplan, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
As according to court documents, MENARD conspired with RYAN MULLEN, DUANE DUFRENE, DILLON ARCENEAUX, LANCE VALLO, and ZEB SARTIN to use a number of shell Louisiana companies with no assets to defraud a merchant cash advance company based in Georgia. MULLEN and DUFRENE helped establish ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN as the owners of existing corporations. MULLEN and DUFRENE then created fake vendor accounts for the corporations, and MULLEN, with the aid of another person, created falsified bank records for the companies. MULLEN then used an alias, claiming to be a broker for the companies he helped create.
Through the aid of another broker, MULLEN supplied the victim merchant cash advance company with the fake vendor accounts and false bank records in order to obtain funding. The victim cash advance company approved the advances and began to electronically wire ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN millions of dollars in advances. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN laundered a portion of the funds by paying MULLEN and DUFRENE percentages of the funds. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN then closed their non-existent businesses before fully repaying the victim merchant cash advance company, resulting in overall losses of approximately $6.4 million. MENARD was responsible for approximately $649,990 in losses to the victim.
MENARD is to be sentenced on July 5, 2023 and faces a maximum sentence of five years on the wire fraud conspiracy, and a maximum sentence of up to twenty years on the money laundering conspiracy. After imprisonment, the defendant faces up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $500,000 fine on the money laundering count. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Andre Lagarde.
Jury Finds Oklahoma Man Guilty of Smuggling Firearm into MexicoRead the Press Release
ALPINE, Texas – A federal jury in Pecos convicted an Oklahoma City man last week for illegal smuggling of goods from the United States.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the two-day trial, Jesus Soto-Parra, 31, drove into Mexico in December 2022 and was turned back by Mexican authorities due to vehicle registration issues. As Soto-Parra returned through the Presidio, Texas Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers discovered a firearm, body armor and ammunition in his vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division made the announcement.
CBP and HSI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Cayton and Matthew Ellis are prosecuting the case.
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Jury Convicts Ionia Man of Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Ionia, Mo., man was convicted at trial today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County, Mo.
Thomas W. Pitts, 35, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distributing methamphetamine.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Pitts participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Feb. 18 to Nov. 16, 2021.
On Oct. 6, 2021, a confidential informant purchased approximately 28.8 grams of methamphetamine from Pitts for $700. An undercover federal agent was also present at Pitts’s residence during the transaction. On Oct. 28, 2021, the confidential informant and the undercover federal agent went to Pitts’s residence again. The confidential informant purchased approximately 57.6 grams of methamphetamine from Pitts for $900. Both of the transactions were recorded.
On Nov. 16, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Pitts’s residence and seized ammunition, a small amount of methamphetamine, and items associated with drug distribution.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for one hour and 10 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, ending a trial that began Monday, March 27.
Under federal statutes, Pitts is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole due to his prior drug-trafficking convictions, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Gregg R. Coonrod. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Clair County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Henry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Mailing Threatening LettersRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jesse Bartlett a/k/a the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” age 46, of LaFargeville, New York, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for mailing threatening letters.
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.
From about April 2021 to May 2022, and while using the alias “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” Bartlett mailed threatening communications to media outlets, government offices, houses of worship, and private businesses throughout New York, as well as in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. In the letters, which he signed as the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” Bartlett wrote that he killed people, ate their flesh, and that he intended to kill more people, including an unnamed bus driver.
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Bartlett’s term of incarceration.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with assistance from the New York State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case.
INTERPOL Washington Hosts International Cybersecurity WorkshopRead the Press Release
Today, INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes hosted INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Director Craig Jones for a cybersecurity workshop with law enforcement leaders from across the U.S. government. Participants in the workshop represented multiple agencies, each critical to our cybersecurity infrastructure.
"Cybercrime is a global problem that requires a global law enforcement response,” said Director Hughes. “With this workshop, we held some of t
Canvahe most important, timely, and relevant discussions in policing today. By strengthening our collaboration through workshops with international partners like INTERPOL, we can bolster our ability to take on new and emerging threats as a global community and work together to create a safer world.”
“We cannot underestimate the importance of partnerships,” said Director Jones. “This workshop was an excellent opportunity to understand how INTERPOL and our member countries can together counter and combat cybercrime nationally, regionally, and globally.”
Throughout the workshop, the law enforcement leaders discussed the role of police agencies in preventing cybercrime, the challenges of investigating cyber criminals, and the latest trends in the cyber landscape. U.S. leaders also discussed their plans to implement the U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy 2023, while Director Jones discussed INTERPOL’s Global Cybercrime Strategy 2022-2025. The workshop was instrumental in developing collaborative partnerships through INTERPOL that can help achieve a safer and more secure digital ecosystem for all Americans.
INTERPOL Washington Deputy Director Marc Zimmermann, INTERPOL Cybercrime Director Craig Jones, and INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes pose together during today's international cybersecurity workshop.A component of the U.S. Department of Justice co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—is the designated U.S. representative to INTERPOL. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
Hong Kong Company, CEO, Agree to Permanent Injunction, Abandon Funds Fraudulently Obtained from Iowa CompanyRead the Press Release
Gold Wings (HK) Limited (“Gold Wings”), a Hong Kong company, and its CEO, Min Zheng, have agreed to enter a consent decree to resolve allegations made by the United States that they participated in and furthered a fraud scheme against an Iowa company. In the consent decree, United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand prohibited Gold Wings and Zheng from continued fraudulent activity, exercising control over fraudulently obtained funds, and contesting ownership over certain fraud proceeds.
The United States alleged in a court filing that Gold Wings and Zheng participated in a scheme that defrauded an Iowa company of over $8 million by knowingly receiving and laundering $2.3 million sent to them for purposes of purchasing a chemical used to manufacture fertilizer. The United States alleged the victim company never received the promised chemicals, yet Gold Wings and Zheng almost immediately dissipated the victim’s funds, leaving only slightly more than $575,000 in the recipient bank account.
Under the parties’ consent decree, Gold Wings and Zheng disclaimed all property interests in the $2.3 million received from the victim company and agreed not to contest ownership of those funds in any future proceeding, which will allow for the return of fraudulently obtained funds to victims. They further are permanently enjoined from engaging in certain related financial transactions and engaging in future fraudulent or unlawful activity.
“Every day, individuals and entities around the country fall victim to bad actors committing scams both at home and abroad,” said United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “We take these schemes seriously and will use all tools at our disposal to prevent and remedy the damages stemming from such fraudulent schemes. In this case, we are pleased fraud victims will have the opportunity to recoup their funds.”
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Gillespie and Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CV-3015-LTS-KEM.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Honduran National Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARLON AMAYA-LOPEZ, also known as Elder Figueroa, 34, a citizen of Honduras last residing in Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arteron in New Haven to 12 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Amaya-Lopez was previously deported and removed from the U.S. to Honduras following a felony conviction in 2007 in Connecticut Superior Court for attempted robbery in the second degree, and again in 2015 following a misdemeanor conviction for theft of property. He illegally reentered the U.S. in 2016. In February 2020 and again in January 2021, Amaya-Lopez was arrested in Bridgeport for motor vehicle violations.
Amaya-Lopez has been detained since his federal arrest on November 30, 2022. He pleaded guilty to the offense on January 3, 2023.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Stephanie T. Levick and Neeraj N. Patel.
Home health care owner sent to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 63-year-old Sugar Land resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Joyce Agu pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered her to prison for a total of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional regarding Agu’s family and her charitable contributions. However, Judge Crane considered how extensive the fraudulent scheme was and the millions that were siphoned from the Medicare program. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of fraud.
At the time of her plea, Agu admitted she paid others to certify her clients for home health services in order to bill Medicare. These beneficiaries did not qualify for the services and, in some cases, did not receive them.
Medicare paid Agu’s companies over $3 million based on the fraudulent claims.
Agu was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Attorney General’s - Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case.
Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haverhill man pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl and to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
Elijah Declet, 26, pleaded guilty to the charge before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, who scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2023.
Declet was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug conspiracy centering around the Gangster Disciples in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. The investigation, which began in August 2020, intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples’ leaders, members and drug suppliers pertaining to their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail. Calls were intercepted between Declet and other gang members, who conspired to distribute cocaine and fentanyl pills, and on several occasions, Declet distributed cocaine and methamphetamine pills to a cooperating witness.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and John E. Mawn, Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is also a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hampton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Defrauding Elderly Victims and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for defrauding victims in the Hampton Roads area out of more than $630,000 and evading the assessment of more than $50,000 in income taxes.
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2019, Clarence M. Rice Jr., 56, falsely represented to victims that he was going to receive a sizeable inheritance from his father’s death, under the condition that Rice paid off all his existing debts. He tricked victims into giving him large sums of money using the false representations that he needed the funds to obtain his inheritance.
As a result of his fraud scheme, Rice stole more than $350,000 from a 75-year-old retired bricklayer and more than $140,000 from an elderly blind man. In total, Rice obtained at least $632,017.44 in fraudulent proceeds from the scheme. As part of the plea, Rice agreed that his victims were of limited financial means and suffered substantial hardship from his fraud.
Despite earning income from his fraud scheme, Rice has not filed taxes since 2011. Between 2015 and 2019, he defrauded the IRS by living a cash lifestyle, negotiating checks from victims for U.S. currency instead of depositing them in bank accounts, hiding assets on prepaid cards, and lying to law enforcement about his income and assets. The approximate tax due and owing resulting from Rice’s failure to pay his personal income tax is $52,064.18.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen.
Norfolk Police Department and Hampton Police Department provided significant assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Mack Coleman and Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
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. 4:21-cr-60.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Marcel Toussaint, 37 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Toussaint was sentenced to 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between June 25, 2020, and August 24, 2020, Toussaint distributed various quantities of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.